Eye on Africa

Elite cyclists are getting in gear for UCI World Road Cycling Championships in Rwanda. It’s the very first time the event is being staged on African soil. For many young African riders, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to test themselves against the world’s best. We meet some of the bright hopes flying the flag for the continent.

Free schooling, a key policy of President Félix Tshisekedi in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is now under threat. The M23 rebels have introduced school fees in areas they control, raising concerns among the poorest parents.

Cameroon's presidential election is due to take place on October 12. More than eight million voters will go to the polls to elect their president for the next seven years. Incumbent Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1982, is seeking an eighth term in office at the age of 92. But what are the hopes of the country's youth for this election?

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.