Mali; government to propose new amnesty law in ongoing peace process

The Malian government will propose a law of “national understanding” extending amnesty to “all those involved in an armed rebellion”, provided they have “no blood on their hands,” announced President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in his end-of-year message.

The head of state also used the occasion to“put an end to some speculation” on a possible postponement of the elections scheduled for 2018, reiterating “the assurance that all elections – and more particularly the presidential and legislative – will be held in the respect of constitutional deadlines “, without saying whether he would be a candidate.

Angola's Pres. Lourenco excites revelers at a beach in Luanda

Angolans were treated to a delightful surprise when their new president, Joao Lourenco decided to spend the new year holidays with his wife, at a beach in the capital, Luanda.

Clad in a grey t-shirt, grey shorts and donning a blue cap, the president was received warmly by the revelers at the beach in Mussulo.

Kenya's cargo railway service becomes operational

The first standard gauge railway cargo train arrived in Kenyan capital Nairobi from Mombasa at the ultra-modern inland container depot which was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta a fortnight ago.

The arrival of the cargo train is in line with President Kenyatta’s promise to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.

In his New Year message, President Kenyatta said the new commercial cargo train would cut costs and delays in trade for Kenyans and its neighbours.

Pres. Buhari insists that Boko Haram has been defeated

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday reiterated his administration’s stance that the Boko Haram terror group has been defeated.

The president spoke in his New Year broadcast to Nigerians.

“We have since beaten Boko Haram,” he said.

South Africa:Soweto's pollution alarms residents,children at risk

In Johannesburg, tens of thousands of South Africans live at the foot of mountains of mining waste, a remnant of gold mining that has enriched the country, but now threatens the health of residents .

“Look at the state of my spinach field, this yellow sand right there, it destroys everything,” says 50-year-old Thabo Ngubane, who has been farming since 1990 at the foot of a poisonous slag at Snake Park,north of Soweto.