Eye on Africa

In tonight’s edition, dozens are killed in northern Nigeria following a gasoline tanker explosion.

Also, Ivorian authorities say their pre-election tightening of security is aimed at ensuring Saturday’s vote runs smoothly, while opposition voices claim the dozens of convictions amount to a deliberate crackdown.

And in Nigeria, soaring inflation has led many property owners to hike the rents they charge tenants.

In tonight's edition: Khartoum international airport's vicinity suffers a drone strike, just one day before domestic flights were set to resume. Also, the crisis at a phosphate processing plant in the Tunisian city of Gabès deepens as workers walk off the job. Plus hundreds of Ivorians flee to Ghana, fearing potential unrest just days ahead of a critical election.

In Lagos, tensions have been boiling over as protesters demand the release of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. Police used tear gas on demonstrators while there were also reports of gunshots being fired, with dozens arrested. Kanu, who is the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra group, is currently on trial on terrorism charges. His case has caused tension in southeastern Nigeria, where the Igbo ethnic group allege marginalisation by the Nigerian government.

In tonight's edition: Kenya bids farewell to opposition icon Raila Odinga at a state funeral, but the emotional goodbye is marred by chaos and a deadly stampede. Also, in Madagascar, Colonel Michael Randrianirina is sworn in as president after a military takeover. And a new space has just opened in Paris, the Maison des Mondes Africains. It aims to be a home for creativity and reflection for artists of African descent.

At least three people have been killed at a stadium in Nairobi after security forces opened fire on large crowds who had gathered to view the body of the late Raila Odinga. The 80-year-old's remains had been returned from India, where he had died earlier that week. Supporters flocked to the Kasarani Stadium to pay their respects and have accused the police of taking an unnecessarily heavy-handed approach.

Kenya has lost one of its most prominent political figures with the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The 80-year-old spent much of his career in opposition and ran unsuccessfully for president five times. However, his ability to form strategic alliances with former adversaries earned him the nickname “Agwambo” (or the mysterious one). Current President William Ruto – one of the figures with whom Odinga reconciled – was among those who paid their respects following news of Odinga’s death at a health retreat in India.

The situation in Madagascar escalated on Tuesday as the army announced it was taking control of the country, dissolving most governing institutions except for the lower house of Parliament. Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who led a mutiny of an elite army unit over the weekend, said the military would run the country alongside a transitional government for up to two years while elections are arranged. President Andry Rajoelina’s whereabouts remain unclear; he is reportedly in hiding and may have left the country. He has refused to resign despite growing calls for his exit following weeks of protests, which began as a youth-led outcry over water and power utilities before evolving into a broader rejection of his leadership.

The whereabouts of Madagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, remain unclear, though he has addressed the nation from an undisclosed location, claiming he fled for his safety. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have escaped in a French military aircraft. Calls for his resignation have grown after an elite military unit backed youth-led protests over the weekend. French President Emmanuel Macron has yet to confirm whether France helped Rajoelina flee. In his speech, Rajoelina called for constitutional measures to resolve the crisis. FRANCE 24 speaks to opposition MP Mamy Rabenirina to get his perspective on what the military’s support for the protests could mean for Madagascar’s political future.

In tonight's edition, voters in Cameroon are preparing to head to the polls. President Paul Biya, aged 92, is seeking an eighth term amid criticism over his lengthy rule, the exclusion of key opposition figures, security concerns, and growing frustration among the youth. Meanwhile, parts of the country’s English-speaking regions remain under a near-total lockdown.

In tonight's edition: Nigeria slams recent accusations from the US's political right that a "Christian genocide" in Africa's most populous country has escaped global attention. Also, Kigali says the ball is in DR Congo's court over efforts to end the M23 insurgency that has devastated the country's east after the Congolese leader urged Rwanda's president to pull support for the militia group. Plus London's Tate Modern museum is spotlighting Nigerian modernist art in its latest exhibition.