Both candidates in Madagascar's presidential election have claimed victory in the fierce battle for power in the Indian Ocean island. Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana -- who have each held the top job in the impoverished country before -- declared themselves winners in the run-off which analysts warned was likely to draw claims of fraud. ...

Counting is underway in Madagascar following the second round of presidential elections on Wednesday featuring two ex-presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina. Early indications suggest that turnout for the runoff vote was lower than for the first round which saw almost half of registered voters abstain. There's between four and five ...

Undocumented migrants living in makeshift camps in northern France have been subjected to an unprecedented violation of their basic rights over the past three years, the country's human rights ombudsman said in a report Wednesday. Jacques Toubon said that migrants camped out along France's northern coast and in Paris were in a state of extrem ...

Madagascar voted on Wednesday in a two-man contest between former presidents who have waited years to come face-to-face in a fiercely personal battle for power in the Indian Ocean island. The clash between Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana could spark fresh instability in the impoverished country if the result is rejected by the losing candi ...

From the countries who share the Democratic Republic of Congo's vast border -- some of which stirred its devastating conflicts -- to international powers invested in peace efforts, the impact of upcoming elections looks set to reverberate far and wide. Here are some of the implications of the DR Congo's crucial December 23 vote to replace Presid ...

Madagascar's second-round election on Wednesday pits two former presidents against each other in a long-awaited and bitter battle for power in which their strong personalities dominate over policies. Ravalomanana: milkman-turned-millionaire Marc Ravalomanana, 69, was ousted in 2009 and is now looking for revenge at the ballot box. ...

Madagascans head to the ballot box on Wednesday in a run-off election between two rivals who have waited years to come face-to-face in a fiercely personal battle for power in the Indian Ocean island. The clash between Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina could revive instability in the impoverished country if the result is rejected by the losin ...

For months, they have bombarded voters with campaign slogans and speeches by their candidate, but on Tuesday, two fiercely-partisan media groups in Madagascar fell silent a day before the presidential run-off election. The ceasefire -- in line with electoral law -- is in stark contrast to the battle of the airwaves that has raged between the ...

A group of non-governmental organizations hailed the United Nations General Assembly signing of the Global Compact on Refugees on Monday, in the hopes that the non-binding voluntary plan will have an impact on the world refugee crisis. Some 181 countries voted in favor of the Global Compact on Refugees , put forward by the UN Refugee Agency, UNH ...

A group of non-governmental organizations hailed the United Nations General Assembly signing of the Global Compact on Refugees on Monday, in the hopes that the non-binding voluntary plan will have an impact on the world refugee crisis. Some 181 countries voted in favor of the Global Compact on Refugees, put forward by the UN Refugee Agency, UNHC ...

Accra, Dec. 18, CDA Consult - Participants at a two-day media workshop organised by the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) have agreed to set up a Network to foster information and experience sharing for professional reporting of elections for the entrenchment of democracy in West Africa. In a Communiqu eacute; issued at the end of ...

A court in Comoros has sentenced a top opposition figure to seven years behind bars for assault during a controversial referendum on changes to the constitution. It was the latest in a string of sentences handed down to political figures who opposed a series of constitutional reforms enabling President Azali Assoumani to extend his term in offic ...

One after another, the mothers sat their babies in the shade, on a mat placed on the dusty ground. This morning at least, their children will have enough to eat. In the village of Ifotaka, at the southern tip of Madagascar, the noise and excitement of the country's election campaign seems far away as locals confront more pressing needs in a dail ...

Women may be shouting louder than ever for equal treatment and pay, but a report out Tuesday indicates it will take centuries to achieve gender parity in workplaces around the globe. The World Economic Forum (WEF) report said there had been some improvements in wage equality this year compared to 2017, when the global gender gap widened for the ...

At least one person was killed and over 80 injured in weekend clashes between supporters of rival candidates just days ahead of DR Congo's crucial presidential election, sources said Monday. The country is on edge ahead of the December 23 vote to replace President Joseph Kabila, who has ruled the resource-rich nation since 2001. Unrest erupte ...

Madagascar's past three presidents all had their terms tarnished by political crises. Two of them -- Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina -- are through to Wednesday's second-round election run-off. Here is a look back at the turbulent recent history of the Indian Ocean island: 2002-2009: Ravalomanana Marc Ravalomanana, a milkman ...

Madagascar's second-round election on Wednesday pits two former presidents against each other in a long-awaited and bitter battle for power in which their strong personalities dominate over political policies. Ravalomanana: milkman-turned-millionaire Marc Ravalomanana, 69, was ousted in 2009 and is now looking for revenge at the ball ...

Saffron farmers in southern Morocco have long taken pride in the coveted spice they produce from the purple-petalled Crocus sativus, but some are worried knockoff versions are threatening their business. The pure saffron of Taliouine is the best in the world, according to experts, local grower Barhim Afezzaa boasted, proudly noting his spice's ...

Madagascar heads to the polls on Wednesday in a crunch head-to-head election between two arch-rivals who have dominated political life on poverty-stricken Indian Ocean island for years. The showdown between Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina could revive instability in the country if a close result is rejected by the losing candidate, accordi ...

The annual 2018 Doha Forum, which happens to be the 18th edition organised by Qatars 39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has placed efforts at making and building peace high on its agenda. The forum this year sought to address building a peaceful co-existence by promoting free speech, dialogue and forging alliances among nations. The for ...