A week of political and social events across the African continent: exclusive reports and analysis. Every Thursday at 5.45 pm Paris time.
We bring you a week of political and social events from across the African continent. This week, Uganda's constitutional court threw out a challenge to the homophobic law adopted last May. Also, Congolese wordsmiths the Tetra collective use slam poetry to explore their deep love of Congolese and French literature. And many women farmers in Senegal struggle to secure access to land in the rural communities where they are sidelined from ownership.
There is increased focus on education at the COP28 climate talks amidst growing acknowledgement of the importance of the sector in responding to the uncertainty and displacement caused by climate change. FRANCE 24's Georja Calvin-Smith speaks to Yasmine Sherif, the head of the Education Cannot Wait fund, as she sets out the stakes from the crucial talks in Dubai.
Students are among the victims of Nigeria's rampant inflation, as they face tuition fee hikes of over 300 percent. Also, the clock is ticking down towards DR Congo's general elections, in which President Felix Tshisekedi is running for a second term. Plus, Nairobi hosts international talks on the reduction of plastic pollution.
Benin's forests have long been seen as places of hope for believers of the voodoo religion, but urbanisation threatens the green spaces. Also, Ivory Coast's ghost children are invisible to the state. The number of babies whose births are undeclared are on the rise.
As Africa's cultural heavyweights gather in Lagos for its 13th iconic Fashion Week, we speak to the event's founder about a unique UN study that lines the continent up as a major influence on the future of fashion. Also, the march of progress in Dakar tramples over the Senegalese capital's green spaces in a building boom. And as the numbers of Africa's penguins continue to plummet, scientists are warning that in little over a decade there may not be enough left to survive in the wild.
The conflict between warring factions in Sudan has left thousands dead and millions have been forced to flee. Half a year on since the outbreak of the fighting, the humanitarian situation is worse than ever, with many refugees in Chad on the brink of famine. Also in this edition: what the gradual lifting of the state of siege in North Kivu and Ituri province means for DR Congo. Finally, Kibera Fashion Week celebrates the talents of local designers.
Increasing numbers of would-be Senegalese migrants are heading to Central America in the hopes of making it to the United States. But the journey is often fraught, expensive and uncertain. Also, in Kenya, the rising cost of living has added to the mental health struggles of many who are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet. Plus, the rising water levels of Kenya's largest freshwater lake have led to an explosion in the crocodile population that's now threatening communities' lives, limbs and livelihoods.
Every few years, Malagasy communities hold joyful ceremonies where the remains of lost loved ones are exhumed, cared for and introduced to the newest members of the community. Also, although Tunisia was decades ahead of many other countries in giving women the right to choose whether to go ahead with pregnancies, taboos remain. Finally, we meet some hearing-impaired Beninese children thriving in specially adapted classrooms.
Professor Jean-Jacques Muyembe is a scientific icon in DR Congo. He's also an inspiration for the next generation of Congolese biologists. Also in this edition of Across Africa, more than 30 percent of harvests are lost to pests and disease. A team of Ghanaian engineers are coming up with new ways to identify risks early. And we see how Gambian rising star Maryama Cham is carving out a path for herself in a music industry largely dominated by men.
There's a special reason to celebrate in Senegal as millions of Mouride pilgrims come together for the Grand Magal. This year also features an exhibition of rare photos of the order's founder. Also, relatives of the 73 Gambian children killed by toxic cough syrups sue Indian drugmaker Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Finally, Beninese students expanding their tech horizons wow judges with their creations.
World Suicide Prevention Day was marked on September 10. Six of the 10 countries in the world with the highest suicide rates are African, with Lesotho the worst affected. Also in this edition: Kenya tackles wastage in the agricultural sector and Rwanda celebrates its latest mountain gorilla births.
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