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How often does a handshake capture the world's attention? When Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met eye-to-eye, during the 38th African Union Summit in bustling Addis Ababa, their handshake was much more than a diplomatic formality. It was laden with the weighty hopes of peace and collaborative future—a substantial step forward since the historical signing of the Ankara Declaration. But let's not put the cart before the horse: what led to this compelling moment and what does it…

Dear Esteemed Senators and Honorable Members of the House, Here’s the scoop: America's sway in Africa is on a slippery slope. Years of policy hiccups from the United States have whittled away its influence, leaving a wide-open avenue for China to stroll through with its infamous Belt and Road Initiative. While Uncle Sam focused largely on social changes and security blues, Beijing busied itself ringing Africa with shiny new infrastructure—roads, railways, and ports galore. It's like lending a fancy toolkit but with the…

Celebrating Heritage: Language, Identity, and New Beginnings Before indulging in a traditional Karen porridge prepared by their instructor, Ehtalow Zar, a question lingered in the air. Why exactly is this dish emblematic of Karen culture?” she inquired, engaging her students. One eager participant ventured the guess that its origins traced back to a time when jungles were home. "Absolutely," Zar confirmed with a knowing nod. Back then, food choices like rice, meat, or vegetables weren’t bountiful. “Therefore, our…

Somalia: Hassan Sheikh Reverses His Stance on Jubaland's Election Framework MOGADISHU, Somalia - A political showdown brews in the Horn of Africa nation as Jubaland's leader, Ahmed Islam Mohamed Madobe, turns his back on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's direct election vision. Instead, Jubaland is veering towards holding indirect elections. Recently, Madobe made a dramatic exit from Mogadishu, declaring that implementing nationwide voting rights would undoubtedly lead to extending presidential terms—a notion that, he…

This morning, the iconic bells of Notre-Dame in Paris echoed through the air for the first time since a devastating fire swept through the historic cathedral back in 2019. The resonant chimes of eight bells from the northern belfry emerged just a month ahead of the highly anticipated reopening of the cathedral, following five arduous years of restoration efforts following the calamity. “This is a significant, poignant moment,” remarked Philippe Jost, who oversees the public entity dedicated to the cathedral's restoration…

Angela Merkel convened again, on Friday 27 August 2021, a meeting of the "Compact with Africa", an initiative that brought together twelve countries launched after the German Presidency of the G20 2017. If we previously spoke mainly about economics, the meeting has this time took place in hybrid form and was particularly devoted to the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccines. It was also for the German Chancellor…

On Sunday, President Kaïs Saïed fired his prime minister, froze the work of the National Assembly for 30 days and lifted the deputies' immunity. However, one week after Tunisia, if the president has not yet appointed a new prime minister, Kaïs Saïed has been very active, while the economic horizon is still blocked and the epidemic is progressing.…

In Tokyo, on Saturday 24 July, there will be 11 African runners from the 130 competitors, representing 7 different nations, to take part in the Olympic road race, such as Burkinabè Paul Domont or the Algerian Hamza Mansouri. But on a very demanding course where the competition will be tough, we should not expect miracles from them.…

In South Africa, donations of food and essentials have been introduced throughout the weekend. The destruction of hundreds of shops and supermarkets in the KwaZulu-Natal region put pressure on the poorest populations, and for a few days it was difficult to find bread or at prices far above normal. With our special correspondent…

For the first time since he took office, Evariste Ndayishimiye agrees to give a long interview to foreign media. For this he chose RFI and France 24. The President of Burundi was interviewed by RFI's Special Envoy to Kinshasa, Sonia Rolley, and by France 24's correspondent in Kinshasa, Clément Bonnerot. He spoke in particular on human rights in Burundi, on the resumption of dialogue with the EU and on…