With close to 100 cases reported, COVID 19 is gaining a foothold on the continent that has thus far been lightest hit by the virus.

Burkina Faso’s Health Minister Claudine Lougue says the two cases of coronavirus in her country come from a woman who recently visited France.

Her husband is also infected. They are quarantines in a Ouagadougou hospital. A person who has been in close contact with her is under observation.

South Africa’s seven cases put its third on the continental list behind Egypt, which has 54 cases and Algeria with 19. Cameroon, Senegal, Togo and Nigeria have also reported cases.

Worldwide COVID 19 cases increased by 3994 yesterday, bringing the total to 109 578.

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it is believed the Fulani inhabitants were attacked because of their suspected links with Islamist extremists.

No-one has claimed responsibility for the attacks on Dinguila and Barga.

Most of the i habitant are Fulani herdsmen.

They are suspected of having links with jihadis responsible for terrorist attacks in the troubled Sahel country.

A Dinguila resident, whose identify has been withheld for his safety, told reporters he saw Fulanis  give shelter to jihadis.

New of the attack comes as Burkina Faso confirms that it has become the ninth African country treating confirmed cases of COVID 19.

As couple that has checked positive for infection have been quarantined in a Quagadougou hospital.

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He has also prayed for and end to wars in Africa.

There was a heavy African flavour to the traditional Christmas message read by Pope Francis.

He prayed for migrants seeking refuge from violence and better lives for their families, and urged the United Nations to take more muscular actions to deal with their plight.

And he prayed for peace in Burkina Faso where a Christmas Eve attack by jihadis has left 35 people – many of them women – dead.

He also prayed for South Sudan, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Nigeria.

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Burkina President Roch Marc Baborè says 38 people died and 60 were injured in the worst ever-attack of its kind in his country.

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No one has claimed responsibility for the attack on a convoy carrying workers to the Boungou gold mine.

It’s believe to be the work of a group linking Al Qaeda and so-called Islamic State.

Following earlier security problems, foreign workers are transported to the mine by helicopter.

Local workers still travel by road with a military escort.

President Roch Marc Kaborè’s  declared three days of mourning following the killings and called for a volunteer defense force to be mobilized against the terrorists.

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Scientists have genetically engineered a spider fungus that develops a venom that kills mosquitos that bite humans.

The transgenic fungus produces a naturally occurring pathogen that kills 99% of mosquitos that bite humans.

The tests undertaken at a giant mosquito sphere, build of mosquito netting, in Burkina Faso are not designed to eradicate malaria but rather to kill the mosquitos carrying the disease.

Scientists from the University of Maryland and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine says the results of the tests are very good and the process developed could save many lives.

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This brings to 19 the number of Christians gunned down in this religiously diverse country this past month.

Two people were wounded along with the four killed while celebrating mass yesterday.

As with the previous attacks, no-one has claimed responsibility .

Authorities suspect Mali-based Islamist militants moving across the border to attack churches in this country where 60% of the 20-million population are Muslims.

Catholic Bishop Justin Kientega says Christians reject the growing spiral of violence in Burkina Faso.

Four Catholics were killed in church the previous Sunday.

A priest and five parishioners were killed earlier in May. 

Last month six Protestants were killed during a religious service.

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The report to be released to tomorrow says 90% of Africa’s cultural heritage currently lies outside the continent.

It was in Ouagadougou last year that visiting French President Emmanuel Macron said it was unacceptable that African artwork taken without permission should be kept in European museums.

French law prevents him from return these pieces, as he said he would like to begin doing within five years.

He commissioned a Senegalese writer and French historian to report on this.

They travelled to four African countries gathering facts. 

Their report could cause other European powers to consider the provenance of  their collections.

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The so called G5 have a three-fold increase in attacks from Al Qaeda and Islamic state this past year, resulting in 895 deaths.

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The Stuttgart-based US Africa Command promised $60-million dollars to the West African force comprising Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali,  Mauritania and Nigeria.

US military spokesperson Samantha Reho says that amount now been upped to $111-million.

It will be used to meet the needs and strengthen the capabilities of the force set up a year ago.

The administration of President Donald Trump has been accused to presenting the political frozen mitt to Africa.

Militarily, though, it is increased financial and logistical support for fighting terror on the continent.

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This was the third deadly mass  attack in the Burkina attack in the past three years.

A former Burkina Faso soldier, fired from the army after a mutiny seven years ago, is believed tp have  participated in Friday’s simultaneous attacks by al-Qaeda-linked extremists.

Many of the militants were wearing army uniforms. Some were from Burkina Faso, including two men arrested in connection with the attack. Security Minister Clement Sawadogo says the attack on the army installation  narrowly missed a meeting of top officers, which would have beheaded the military leadership.

Terrorist hit a Turkish restaurant  Ougadougo last year killing 19 people snd 30 people died when a hotel was struck in 2016.

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He’s in Burkina Faso  today in well go to Aghan after the summit in Cote d’Ivoire, becoming the first French President to visit the former Gold Coast.

Emmanuel Macron was not yet born when France divested itself of its African colonies.

So FranceAfrique and his country’s post colonial hold on West Africa is not on his agenda.

He even wants the 14 African countries using the African franc to abandon this legacy of the past.

Leaving Senegal out of his first African tour has seriously put out of joint noses  inDakar which regards itself as the strongest French ally in West Africa.

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