The Africa Week

This week: Why the biggest test could lie ahead for Madagascar as its president flees. Farewell Raila Odinga. Cape Verde punches well above its weight as the World Cup comes into view. And re-evaluating historical injustices at Thiaroye.

References/further reading:

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20251017-madagascar-military-leader-colonel-michael-randrianirina-sworn-in-as-president

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15p3k9kxkeo

https://www.arise.tv/burkina-faso-rejects-us-deportee-deal-as-washington-suspends-visa-services-amid-trump-immigration-crackdown/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lx5r2z475o

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/14/cape-verde-celebrate-historic-2026-world-cup-qualification

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20251016-senegal-hopes-report-will-reveal-truth-on-french-massacre-in-thiaroye

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Madagascar upheaval continues - the president wants a year fix things. Justice delayed seems not to be justice denied in Darfur. Paul Biya pops up in Cameroon, there must be an election around the corner. How do you say Somalia in Kiswahili? And growth is looking up in sub-Saharan Africa. 

References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07v33mg9m2o

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/10/1166040

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/6/icc-convicts-ex-janjaweed-leader-ali-ali-kushayb-of-war-crimes-in-darfur

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn82dv8lrdro

https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/08/burkina-fasos-military-junta-arrests-european-ngo-workers-for-spying

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20251007-burkina-faso-s-military-junta-arrests-european-humanitarian-ngo-workers-for-spying

https://apnews.com/article/cameroon-biya-campaign-rally-presidential-election-c8f0b4343867fb69f02f719918789589

https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/africa-pulse

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/world-bank-raises-sub-sahara-africa-growth-forecast-inflation-drop-2025-10-07/

https://www.news24.com/southafrica/russian-plane-on-us-blacklist-landed-in-sa-with-helicopters-and-acrobatic-planes-govt-says-20251007-0552

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Gen-Z on the streets in Madagascar and Morocco - with a big 'like' for Nepal. Kabila gets the maximum sentence in the DRC - but he's not there. The Seychelles set to do it all over again. And Nike puts a big foot forward on the continent for the first time. 

Episode 63: References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz082y8j3jzo

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/02/first-deaths-in-moroccos-youth-led-anti-government-protests-as-police-open-fire

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/2/kabila-sentenced-to-death-what-it-means-for-drc-and-whats-next

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/30/business/agoa-uncertainty-africa-us-trade-deal-intl

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9wdne7kdw8o

https://apnews.com/article/seychelles-election-rerun-vote-presidential-election-ef1a2fa39707b0272e753dd9df64aa6a

https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/fashion/nike-bets-big-on-africa-with-air-afrique-collab

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Sarkozy on his way to jail over Libya scandal. Peter Mutharika stages a massive comeback in Malawi. Real hope for those living with HIV/Aids. And the juntas tell the ICC to jog on. 

Episode 62: References/further reading: 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/25/nicolas-sarkozy-found-guilty-of-criminal-conspiracy-in-libya-trial

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ejmrd3m0lo

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/25/rights-advocates-accuse-eswatini-of-stalling-case-weighing-us-deportees

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/t%C3%AAte-%C3%A0-t%C3%AAte/20250925-unless-the-un-is-reformed-its-own-survival-is-at-stake-kenya-s-ruto-says

https://www.president.go.ke/president-ruto-calls-for-reforms-of-the-un/

https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2025/2025-09/landmark-agreement-to-make-hiv-prevention-tool-lenacapavir-affordable-in-lmics.html

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmzn8802d7o

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/09/1165854

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/23/military-run-niger-mali-and-burkina-faso-announce-joint-icc-withdrawal

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/voters-guinea-approve-new-constitution-with-89-support-2025-09-24/

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Malawi votes with an economy on its knees. More lives lost as Sudanese risk all to get to safety. Why are chameleons causing a crackdown in Zambia? And Kenyan athletes will fly high from now on.

Episode 61: References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/16/malawi-counts-votes-after-presidential-election-amid-economic-crisis

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20250918-100-sudanese-refugees-dead-in-shipwrecks-off-libyan-coast

https://globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/land-and-environmental-defenders/documenting-killings-and-disappearances-of-land-and-environmental-defenders/

https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/09/18/ramaphosas-comments-about-da-run-municipalities-not-the-full-picture-former-anc-wc-spokesperson#error=login_required&state=f8414da9-f159-4242-801e-16ef5b3444e6

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjr57rr9598o

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/british-army-kenya-murder-agnes-wanjiru-b2827463.html

https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-09-18-kenyan-medalists-to-fly-business-class-after-uproar

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Which African leaders did Trump pick to play on his team - and do they all speak English? Why Lesotho is panicking about jobs. A breakthrough in the treatment of malaria for babies and infants. And how can the enormous wealth gap be closed in Africa?

Episode 60: References/further reading:

https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-holds-africa-summit-with-leaders-senegal-gabon-2025-07-09/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y72w17vpwo

https://www.news24.com/world/lesotho-declares-state-of-disaster-over-mass-unemployment-as-us-tariffs-devastate-economy-20250708-1043?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--_zCPNJX8J9BPUvfjX0XMDkNt0q56MZCOO_8R6j4v2ZhUEVvVaO34diweg4mSbdk7VDrm5HTN_6psJEqmfxPhFbLUyBNDKgZC-1wjwEnZDBH6BTew&_hsmi=113083472&utm_content=113083472&utm_source=hs_email

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/10/us-aid-cuts-could-lead-to-millions-more-hiv-aids-deaths-by-2029-un

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/09/health/malaria-drug-babies-africa-intl

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/9/at-least-31-dead-532-arrested-in-kenyas-antigovernment-protests

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dgv5e6447o

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20250710-four-african-billionaires-richer-than-750-million-people-living-on-the-continent

https://www.oxfam.org/en/research/africas-inequality-crisis-and-rise-super-rich

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: The US eyes the riches of peace in the eastern DRC. Ethiopia looks to a brighter future but annoys the neighbours. Obi and Atiku pitch a tent together in Nigeria. And Angélique Kidjo's star finally arrives in Hollywood.

Episode 59: References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg3721np9go

https://www.rfi.fr/en/middle-east/20250703-ethiopia-s-mega-dam-on-the-nile-now-complete-pm

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2470d7x40o

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-03-ramaphosa-confirms-death-of-former-deputy-president-david-mabuza-aged-64/

https://allafrica.com/stories/202507040126.html

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: More protesters killed on the streets of Kenya. A South African court steps in to stop Edgar Lungu's funeral. Mali leans in further to Moscow. And reading Africa's book industry - what's the good news? 

Episode 58: References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjwn257j7y2o

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-court-halts-burial-zambias-ex-president-lungu-2025-06-25/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78nw1xy21no

https://www.treasury.gov.za/comm_media/press/2025/2025062301%20Media%20Statement%20-%20South%20Africa%20and%20the%20World%20Bank%20Sign%20US$1.5%20Billion%20Development%20Policy%20Loan%20Agreement.pdf

 https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-infrastructure-energy-transportation-world-bank-ceb8af11c31241e9508ec612fccdc2a5

https://investingnews.com/drc-extends-cobalt-export-ban/

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/africas-book-industry-unesco-highlights-its-economic-and-cultural-potential-new-report

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: Have the DRC and Rwanda really buried the hatchet? A potential medical breakthrough for those living with HIV, but will it reach the medicines reach those who need it? And banned over a bra in a Nigerian university. 

Episode 57: References/further reading:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr795jjrnnlo

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/06/18/g-s1-73130/hiv-prevention-drug-lenacapavir-fda-breakthrough

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/16/un-warns-of-starvation-in-hunger

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-president-tinubus-pardon-ogoni-nine-draws-ethnic-groups-rejection-2025-06-13/

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20250617-togo-suspends-french-broadcasters-rfi-france-24-for-three-months

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0r1rrjzpllo?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_Xz4XlsTdWpdMlvoHpiL1pCgIn39EERag_6fjJO91PA_M85wwzHcsBNsO0GPEGRGu_-iqb

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/19/africa/nigerian-university-no-bra-no-entry-policy-scli-intl

topcastmedia.co.uk

This week: More protests in Kenya over police brutality. The lights could go on in the DRC. Counting the cost of extreme weather in South Africa. And trying to avoid malaria and missiles in Djibouti.

Episode 56: References/further reading:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/12/police-fire-tear-gas-on-crowds-protesting-kenya-bloggers-death-in-police-custody

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4qe2gnl5no

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20250611-burundi-s-ruling-party-wins-all-seats-in-parliamentary-vote-as-opposition-cries-foul

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/06/03/new-inga-3-development-program-to-start-with-investments-in-local-afe-congolese-communities

https://african.business/2025/06/energy-resources/world-bank-commits-250m-to-controversial-inga-dam-scheme

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgqwg9gej7o

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