Eye on Africa

In Mali, some hostages taken on Tuesday, April 16 near Bandiagara were set free. Over 100 passengers from three buses traveling between Bankass and Bandiagara in the country's central region were stopped by armed men. Local sources report that the kidnappers are Jihadists from the JNIM (Group to Support Islam and Muslims), affiliated with al-Qaeda. Other hostages remain captive, and the selection process was not random.

In Somalia, President Mohamud praised Turkey as a reliable ally, following a security pact between the two nations. The agreement allows Turkey to safeguard Somalia's 3,333-kilometer coastline from threats, particularly from neighboring Ethiopia. This move came after Ethiopia signed a deal with North Western of Somalia for 20 kilometers of the Red Sea. In exchange for security, Turkey will assist in oil exploration in Somalia as they aim to defend their territorial integrity. President Mohamud highlighted the importance of…

A purported corruption scandal is making headlines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government signed a contract worth over 300 million dollars for building a thousand water treatment plants nationwide. However, this expense seems to involve overbilling, as claimed by various civil society organizations.

In Guinea, the Lero district has been a hotspot for tension for over a week. This small area, located 140 km from the gold-rich city of Siguiri, near the Malian border, is experiencing unrest and riots targeting the mining company SMD. Locals claim that the gold company has not honored its commitments regarding hiring and infrastructure. Since the military entered the town last Monday, residents have reported deaths and gunshot injuries.

During tonight's broadcast: Rwanda could soon welcome migrants from the UK as part of a controversial agreement. Meanwhile, trade is rebounding at the Niger-Nigeria border, bringing relief to struggling importers. Lastly, we introduce Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge, who aims to win gold at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

The renowned singer Patience Dabany, also known as former First Lady Joséphine Bongo, filed a complaint against eight top officials of the party for expelling her from the PDG at the beginning of March. She believes this action has caused an "unlawful disturbance." However, yesterday, Tuesday, the expected pleadings have not yet started in English at the First Instance Court.

A little over a month ago, leaders of the rebel coalition in Central African Republic, hosted in Chad, publicly complained about the halt in Angolan funds. The money they were receiving as part of Angola's mediation efforts, following the Luanda agreement for peace in CAR. Despite multiple inquiries to the silent Chadian authorities, they decided to go to the media. However, these revelations did not sit well with the higher-ups. What is the current situation?

Sentenced to 25 years in prison for "intellectual complicity in embezzlement of public funds", Cameroonian Marafa Hamidou Yaya breaks his silence. The former secretary general of the presidency, detained since 2012, gave an interview to Jeune Afrique on Tuesday. Very critical of the regime, the former collaborator of Paul Biya, now 71 years old, appeals for help regarding his health. Several personalities, including former French President François Hollande, had already called for his release on health grounds.

In Senegal, the 15th contemporary African art biennial may not open on May 16 as planned due to insufficient funding. This globally renowned art event is held biennially in Dakar.

Guido Crosetto, the Defense Minister of Italy, visited Tunis on Tuesday, April 23. This visit comes as relations between the two countries have been improving recently. Discussions included military cooperation and border surveillance.