Pencamer

The Lagos State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has commiserated with the family of Dr Tunji Braithwaite, who died in a Lagos hospital on Monday at the age of 82. In a statement signed by Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary, of the PDP, Lagos State Chapter, described the late Braithwaite as a patriot, fearless speaker, astute politician and an intelligent lawyer. "May his revolutionary soul rest in peace, as we pray that the Lord should give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected president of Congo-Brazzaville after the constitution was amended to allow him to seek a third term. He won 60% of the vote, against 15% for his nearest challenger, the interior minister announced. The opposition says the vote was marred by "massive fraud".  It says the communications blackout announced during the vote was designed to prevent observers from monitoring the election.

Incumbent Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou conceded defeat earlier on Monday before the commission announced the official results. "I called Patrice Talon tonight to congratulate him on his victory and wish him luck," Zinsou said in a statement on his Facebook page. Some 4.7 million people were eligible to cast their ballots in the vote to elect a successor to Benin's outgoing President Thomas Boni Yayi. He is bowing out after serving a maximum two five-year terms, marking him out from many African leaders who have tried to change their country's constitution to stay in power. “There have been hardy celebrations across Benin’s commercial capital of Cotonou by supporters of Patrice Talon,” said FRANCE 24’s correspondent Katerina Vitozzi. Zinsou finished first in the first round of elections held on March 6 with 27.1 percent of the vote, compared to 23.5 percent for Talon. The prime minister, who was a candidate for Boni Yayi's Cowry Forces fo

Congo-Brazzaville voted Sunday under a nationwide media blackout, in a tense vote expected to see President Denis Sassou Nguesso prolong his 32-year rule over the oil-rich but poor nation. Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou wrote to telecommunication companies urging them to shut off telephone, Internet and SMS services for 48 hours for "reasons of security and national safety". A government source said the shutdown was intended to stop any "illegal" publication of the results. Tensions have been running high in Congo since October, when a public referendum backed removing a two-term limit that would have kept 72-year-old former paratrooper colonel Sassou Nguesso from power. The vote also removed a 70-year age limit for the presidency that could have forced one of Africa's five longest-serving leaders to step down. The changes were approved in a referendum by 94.3 percent, dubbed "a constitutional coup" by the opposition, and prot