In South Africa, Thabo Mbeki announced Sunday he is resigning as president of South Africa following allegations that he interfered in a corruption case against political rival and current African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma. On Saturday, the executive committee of the ANC demanded that Mbeki step down for meddling in the case against Zuma. Mbeki said he was agreeing to resign but denied the charges against him.

Thabo Mbeki: “I have been a loyal member of the African National Congress (ANC) for fifty-two years. I remain a member of the ANC and therefore respect its decisions. It is for this reason that I have taken the decision to resign as President of the Republic, following the decision of the National Executive Committee of the ANC.”

In 1997, Mbeki succeeded Nelson Mandela to become South Africa’s second post-apartheid president.