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Eye on Africa

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On Tuesday, 7.2 million registered voters in Malawi will head to the ballot boxes for a day of voting in three elections: presidential, parliamentary and local. In the presidential election, incumbent Lazarus Chakwera is seeking a second term in office, while former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda are attempting political comebacks. All 17 candidates have pledged to address Malawi’s worsening economic hardship, which is the defining issue of this election. Soaring inflation, unaffordable fuel prices, mass unemployment and a lack of foreign exchange are all exacerbating the country's already dire situation.
In tonight's edition: a South African court has reopened an inquest into the death of anti-apartheid leader Steve Biko, 48 years after he died of brain injuries in police custody. Also, South Sudan's opposition rejects treason and murder charges against Vice-President Riek Machar, calling them fabricated. And a group of young Togolese are reinventing African storytelling by moving away from clichés and creating illustrations that resonate with children.
Fourteen West Africans who had been deported from the United States have been received in Ghana before being sent on to their home countries. President John Mahama said that Ghana had agreed to accept West African nationals due to a regional visa-free agreement. This makes Ghana the fifth African nation to accept US deportees, a decision which has been questioned by lawyers and activists.
In the east of DR Congo, militants from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) – who are linked to the Islamic State group – have been increasing their attacks in recent weeks. The North Kivu region has seen multiple attacks this week, leaving at least 89 civilians dead, according to officials.
Standing 170 metres high and stretching nearly 2 kilometres across the Blue Nile, Ethiopia has officially unveiled the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa. While it is expected to supply electricity to millions of Ethiopians, it also risks exacerbating tensions with neighbouring Egypt and Sudan, who are concerned about their water reserves.
Some 53 African heads of state gathered in Addis Ababa for the launch of the second continental climate summit this Monday. Many called for increased cooperation, more funds and a focus on climate justice for Africa, which suffers disproportionately from the climate crisis, but attracts less than 2 percent of global green investments.
In tonight's edition: The UN accuses M23 rebels, the Congolese army and other armed groups of committing serious rights violations, including torture and executions, in eastern DR Congo. Also, the fifteenth edition of the African Diaspora International Film Festival is underway in Paris: we take a look at the documentary "Father's Day" with director Ayana O'Shun. And the newly reconstructed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium is officially inaugurated in Rabat.
In tonight's edition: A new Ebola outbreak has been declared in DR Congo, with at least 15 people killed. Also, we take a look at the youth's role in Malawi's upcoming elections. With half the country's population aged under 35, their vote could be a potential game-changer. Plus we follow the story of one Sudanese journalist who returned home after two years in exile to find the country's once-flourishing media landscape driven to a standstill.
In tonight's edition: Sudan has recovered 270 bodies from under the mud after a landslide buried a remote mountain village in the Darfur region. Also, in the Sahel, jihadist violence is spiralling. Al Qaeda’s JNIM now dominates Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, but the Islamic State group is also fighting back, fuelling a deadly new wave of attacks. And in the Somalian capital Mogadishu, a sweeping clean-up campaign is now gaining momentum as authorities and residents work to reclaim the city's former beauty and civic pride.
In tonight's edition: Sudan is reeling after a devastating landslide in the Marra Mountains killed over 1,000 people. Also, the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime releases a report highlighting the growing presence of Western Balkan drug traders in West Africa. And Madagascar marks the return of three skulls believed to be that of King Toera of the Sakalava people and two of his warriors.
The new school year has begun in DR Congo, with millions of pupils returning to class after the summer break. In the conflict-torn east, this is the first new school year since the M23 rebels seized large parts of North and South Kivu. Despite fears that classrooms might remain closed, pupils are attending school.
In tonight's edition: At least 32 more bodies are unearthed in Kenya, reportedly linked to a doomsday cult that left over 400 followers dead two years ago. Also, in a new report, Human Rights Watch accuses Mauritanian security forces of committing abuses against migrants, including torture and rape. And a new wave of comedians in Burundi take on the government and the tightly controlled media with punchlines.
In tonight's edition: Africa says it's time the world sees it at the right size. The African Union has backed a campaign to replace the centuries-old Mercator map, which shrinks the continent, with the more accurate Equal Earth projection. Also, Tanzania's election campaign officially begins. Plus, Nigeria bans the export of raw shea nuts for six months, aiming to become a global supplier of refined shea butter and skincare products.
In tonight's edition: Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye visits his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysée Palace. Also, Russia courts Niger with offers to build a nuclear power plant in a bid to displace France's decades-long dominance in the uranium sector. And the final battle has been decided for the African Nations Championship: two-time champions Morocco will take on first-time finalists Madagascar in Nairobi on Saturday.
France has formally returned three colonial-era skulls to Madagascar, one of which is believed to belong to a Malagasy king who was beheaded by French troops during a massacre in 1897. His skull was then taken back to Paris as a trophy and placed in the archives of the Natural History Museum. It's the first restitution of human remains since France passed a law to facilitate their return two years ago.
In the Atlantic islands of Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa, recovery efforts are ongoing after Tropical Storm Erin brought torrential downpours. At least nine people were killed and hundreds more were displaced when the rainfall turned streets into raging rivers, triggering landslides and destroying vital infrastructure. Hundreds of families have lost their homes and livelihoods and are now wondering how they will get by.
Two separate investigations by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have revealed devastating human rights abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in areas controlled by the M23 rebels. The reported atrocities include executions and gang rapes of civilians. While M23 has been accused of perpetrating many of these crimes, Congolese state forces have also been implicated. The United Nations has described the decades-long conflict in eastern DR Congo as “one of the most protracted, complex, and serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”
The world is becoming increasingly dangerous for humanitarian workers. New data from the Aid Worker Security Report reveals that a record 383 aid workers were killed in the line of duty last year. On World Humanitarian Day, we speak with the report’s author to understand the surge in attacks on NGO personnel – and explore what can be done to better protect them.
In Kenya, gambling is increasingly being recognised as a public health issue. More and more people are being drawn to games of chance and sports betting in the hopes of hitting the jackpot. However, many punters are finding themselves trapped in addiction – and financial ruin.
Negotiators in Geneva are scrambling to salvage a global treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution, as talks enter their final day. Nearly 100 countries are pushing for an agreement, but opposition from oil-producing nations threatens to derail progress.