Africa StreaM

In tonight's program, a grim new milestone in the fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as cases surpass 4,000. Also low rainfall and failing pipes leave taps dry in the Gabon capital. Finally rising water levels at Lake Baringo in Kenya push communities into closer contact with crocodiles, leading to increased attacks.

Sharon Gaffney is pleased to welcome Heather Kerr, Country Director for Congo at the International Rescue Committee. The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is unprecedented, not simply because of its scale, but because it spread undetected for months before it was correctly identified. According to Kerr, the response has been hindered by delayed diagnosis, the complexity of distinguishing this Bundibugyo strain from other common illnesses, and the immense operational challenges of working in an active conflict zone.

In his Lagos studio, Nigerian artist Emmanuel Olatunde is transforming the way portraits are painted, using clay sourced from the earth beneath his feet. The 39-year-old artist has developed a unique technique that turns natural clay into paint, using his background in science and his passion for art.

South Africa's textile industry is facing a workforce crisis after thousands of migrant workers fled the country in the past few months, in the wake of violent xenophobic protests. The campaign led by anti-immigrant group March and March sought to free up jobs for South Africans, one-third of whom are unemployed. But factory owners in Newcastle on say they have yet to fill vacancies left by foreign workers who fled.

Ethiopian security agents abducted, assaulted and detained Yonas Kedir, the editor-in-chief of independent media outlet Addis Standard, the publication said on August 7, the latest sign of a worsening climate for the press. Addis Standard, a print and online outlet, is one of Ethiopia's few independent media platforms, with nearly one million followers on X. FRANCE 24's Tom Canetti reports.

At least 308 people abducted in different attacks in the northern part of Nigeria were rescued, the country’s president said August 5. Those rescued include 163 people abducted from Woro community in February 2026, and 145 people kidnapped mostly from Niger state. It was described as the “largest rescue operation ever” undertaken in the country on a single day by security forces.

Turning to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Ebola outbreak continues to spread rapidly. Africa’s top health agency announced Thursday that it will roll out a vaccine targeting a previous Ebola strain, in an effort to help contain the latest outbreak. Nearly three months in, global health officials warn the virus is spreading faster than the response, with new cases doubling in some hotspots. Some frontline health workers have also gone on strike, saying they have not been paid for months. Simon Moritz has the story.

Nigerian security forces say they've returned 308 abductees home after freeing them from their kidnappers in a northern forest. Also, in South Africa, the textile industry is facing a workforce crisis after thousands of migrant workers fled the country in the past few months in the wake of violent xenophobic protests. And in Lagos, a Nigerian artist is turning ordinary clay into vibrant portraits, blending science, tradition and creativity in a technique he hopes will redefine the canvas.

DR Congo has recorded nearly 4,000 confirmed cases of Ebola and over 1,800 deaths, as the epidemic resurges. The country is experiencing the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ebola outbreak is spreading, with the number of infections rising rapidly. Declared in mid-May, this seventeenth Ebola outbreak has already claimed more than 1,700 lives. To address this situation, the World Health Organisation has called for an "intensified" medical response. Teams of doctors have been sent to the DR Congo, and specialised centres have been set up in the hardest-hit provinces while trials to find an effective vaccine continue.

In Cape Verde, almost nothing remains of the postcard-perfect image of certain beaches on the island of Santiago. For decades, the illegal extraction of sea sand for the construction industry has been eroding the coastline. This illegal trade now threatens ecosystems, contributes to the salinization of farmland, and forces women to risk their health just to survive.

The UN says drone attacks have become the leading cause of death in Sudan, accounting for 80% of civilian casualties during the first four months of 2026. Sudan plunged into all-out war in April 2023, between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese military, leaving at least 59,000 people killed, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a conflict monitoring group. Aid groups say the figure is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic ⁠of Congo is spreading faster than efforts to fight it, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. Families said many frontline workers in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, have gone on strike over pay issues, worsening access to healthcare.

Nigerian authorities announced the rescue of 308 people abducted by armed groups, including 163 villagers seized during a deadly attack earlier this year, calling it the country's largest single-day hostage rescue operation.

More than 80 percent of civilian deaths in Sudan at the start of this year were due to drone attacks, according to the UN. Also, Spain is trying to work out what to do with over 1,000 unaccompanied minors who remain in Ceuta as they cannot legally be deported.

A rare video filmed on July 21 in Sabha, Libya shows a woman accused of adultery being sentenced to 100 lashes. Shared on social media, it has sparked outrage for various reasons: Some are appalled by the fact that the punishment was carried out in a public space, whilst others are shocked by the ongoing existence of a law on extramarital relationships.

Rwandan cinema has never enjoyed such a spotlight. Last May at the Cannes Film Festival, Ben'Imana by Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo won the 'Caméra d'Or' – the first Rwandan feature film ever to do so. The achievement has lifted an entire local film scene now in full bloom: in Kigali, restored movie theatre, open-air festival and a new generation of filmmakers reflect this momentum.

The DR Congo is set to open its largest Ebola treatment facility. Construction is nearing completion as health authorities race to contain an outbreak that the World Health Organization has described as intensifying at an "exceptional" pace. As of July 30, the WHO reported 3,605 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,587 deaths in the DR Congo. Officials hope the expanded treatment capacity will strengthen response efforts and improve care for patients as the outbreak continues to spread.

Cameroon's President ⁠Paul Biya ​reshuffled senior military staff, promoting the head of the Presidential ​Guard to a brigadier general and replacing commanders in four of the country's five joint military regions, according to ​three separate ‌presidential decrees signed on August 3. Biya, the world's oldest head ⁠of state, has been out of the public eye since June 7.