CONTINENTAL DRIFT

It gets your goat

A university speech by Guinean President Alpha Condé devolved into a shouting match between him and protesting students, who were demanding that he deliver on a pledge to provide free tablets to all students. “You are like baby goats!” said Condé, clenching his fists and jumping up and down on the podium. Not everyone could stand the tension. “The vice-rector of Lansana Conté University, an establishment close to the capital, had a heart attack on the spot and died. A rector from another university was hospitalised following the incident,” reported AFP.

Abortion ban relaxed

In a victory for civil society campaigners, Angolan legislators have backed down from a proposed Bill that would have outlawed abortion in all instances. A revised Bill allows for terminations in cases of rape or risk to maternal health. “We have decided to listen to the pressure from society,” said a senior MP from the ruling party. It doubtless helped that Isabel dos Santos, the president’s influential daughter, was among the critics of the blanket ban on abortion.

Going after gold

Tanzania’s President John Magafuli warned the country’s largest gold mining company to clean up its act — and to pay tens of billions of dollars in compensation. A government report has accused London-based Acacia Mining of underdeclaring its revenues for decades and said the company does not have a valid licence to operate in Tanzania. Acacia “strongly” rejects the accusations and says it is open to further dialogue with the government.

Islands transfer approved