In this edition: Congolese authorities say they'll clamp down on shoddy construction after an accident in Kinshasa in February in which 26 people were killed. Also, a top Nigerian model agency launches a search for the face of a continent. And we head into the deep blue with South African freediving instructor Zandi Ndhlovu.

After 130 years away, 26 stolen artefacts from Benin are finally being displayed at home after having been returned by France. The pieces were looted by French soldiers from the kingdom of Dahomey in 1892 and are now taking pride of place at the presidential palace. Our team on the ground reports.

US-led sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe two decades ago have had far-reaching effects on the country's economy. Some are now calling for a rethink. Also, South Africa has opened a new Covid-19 vaccine plant. The site is the first on the continent to cover the entire process from start to finish. And French filmmaking collective Kourtrajmé heads to Senegal, where it hopes to help students go from dreaming to screenings.

We report on how Burkinabé refugeees who have fled jihadist violence have been trying to start new lives in Ivory Coast. Also, the "people's horse" Kommetdieding streaks to victory at the 2022 Cape Town Met. And Salima Mukansanga, the first woman referee to take charge at the Africa Cup of Nations, speaks to FRANCE 24 about her historic role.

The financial freeze on Mali brought in by regional group ECOWAS has hit its economy hard. Key sectors like the cotton industry have been struggling to overcome the impact of the trade penalties. Also, as the excitement of the Africa Cup of Nations winds down, we head to two-time tournament hosts Gabon, where once-gleaming stadiums have fallen into disrepair. Finally, a Malawian musician finds runaway fame on TikTok at the age of 92.

Kenya's president pays tribute to the late conservationist Richard Leakey, who has died aged 77. Leakey spent his life defending his country's endangered wildlife. Also, we sample the pan-African offerings of award-winning experimental chef Dieuveil Malonga at his Kigali restaurant. And the Great Green Wall struggles to flourish, but dozens of gardens have already sprung up in the Senegalese desert.

Exclusive photos obtained by FRANCE 24 show Russian mercenaries, believed to be of the Wagner group, operating in Mali. Also, Ethiopians in Lalibela marked the Orthodox Christmas under the shadow of conflict. Just months ago, the historic town was occupied by Tigrayan rebels. And Senegal's national dish has gone global. Thieboudienne, made with rice and fish, has been added to UNESCO's cultural heritage list.

Senegal's book industry has been riding high on the wave of Mohamed Mbougar Sarr's Goncourt prize. The 31 year-old sensation is reviving interest in Senegalese writers after he won France's top literary award earlier this month.

FRANCE 24's reporters take us to Khartoum's breadbasket to hear how Sudanese farmers feel about the coup and the protest movement rocking the country.

At COP26, richer countries are told to pull their head out of the sand and deliver on climate change promises. Africa is paying dearly for the environmentally destructive policies of developed nations. Also, Covid-19 has kept the border between DR Congo and the Republic of Congo closed for a year and a half. The impact on trade has left communities struggling. And more than a century after they were looted by French colonisers, dozens of artefacts are finally back home in Benin.