Africa StreaM

Ethiopians voted on Monday in parliamentary and regional elections expected to hand Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ruling Prosperity Party a landslide win. There was no election in the Tigray region due to “unfavourable conditions”, and voting in the Oromo and Amhara regions were interrupted due to security problems, according to election officials.

Ethiopians are heading to the polls for general elections that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party is expected to win. Ahmed, who has been in power since 2018, is accused of authoritarianism and of cracking down on dissent. With his "corridor project", launched in 2024, he wants to modernise the capital Addis Ababa and other cities. But the project has led to the mass eviction of over 10,000 people in Addis Ababa alone. FRANCE 24's Tom Canetti reports.

As Ethiopia prepares to hold its seventh General Elections on June 1, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the ruling Prosperity Party are widely expected to secure a landslide victory. But the stakes for him are high nonetheless: restoring stability and projecting an image of national unity. Critics warn that growing restrictions on press freedom and political dissent are casting a shadow over the vote. And with 70% of the country still affected by armed conflict, many question whether the conditions for a truly democratic election are in place. Report on the ground by our correspondent Tom Canetti.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus traveled to Bunia in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday to show his support to the residents of the capital of Ituri Province, the epicentre of a severe Ebola virus outbreak. There have been at least 1,077 suspected cases in the country since the outbreak was declared on May 15.

While much of the international spotlight remains fixed on conflict in eastern DR Congo and renewed fears around Ebola outbreaks, some members of the Congolese diaspora are choosing to return home and invest. Jean Luc Luboya Tshishimbi, the CEO of Bio Happy Farms, shares his perspective – that of an entrepreneur betting on opportunity despite instability.

The number of suspected cases of Ebola continues to rise by the day... now above the thousand mark. On the ground, Congolese authorities are scrambling to provide protective equipment which is in short supply, and to establish trust within communities to help fight the spread of the virus. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is visiting Bunia today. Details by Camille Knight.

A patient in the DRC has been confirmed to have recovered - a first since the outbreak was detected in mid-May. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited the country on Friday, where authorities are still struggling to contain the spread of the disease. Story by Jennie Shin.

WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus arrived in Kinshasa ahead of a planned visit to the eastern province of Ituri, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak. We also speak to an investor who returned to DR Congo to grow chillis. Finally, the Caen Memorial in France is presenting an exhibition dedicated to sub-Saharan Africa, its history and its artists.

Ghana's parliament on Friday approved a law that would make the promotion, sponsorship or intentional support of LGBTQ activities punishable by three to five years in prison. The law is now awaiting ratification by President John Mahama.

Located about 150 kilometres north of Zambia's capital Lusaka, Kabwe is considered one of the most polluted places in the world, following decades of lead and zinc mining. A simple blood test of two children confirms reports of severe lead contamination. FRANCE 24's Caroline Dumay, Stefan Carstens and Eunice Masson report.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, said Thursday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed more than 200 people, can still be contained despite conflict in the country's east. The WHO on Friday announced that one patient was confirmed to have recovered from the virus, for which there is no vaccine or treatment.

In tonight's edition, 16 students have lost their lives after a fire tore through a boarding school in central Kenya. Also, May 28 is World Hunger Day, and it comes as many farmers and families across the continent are grappling with the fallout from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. And finally, it has been 10 years since Chadian dictator Hissène Habré was found guilty of horrific human rights abuses by a special tribunal in Senegal.

In tonight's edition: Senegal's parliament elects Ousmane Sonko as its speaker, three days after President Bassirou Diomaye Faye fired him as the country’s prime minister. Also, communities affected by the spread of Ebola in DR Congo are trying to navigate the economic effects of the crisis. Plus, in the run-up to the major Islamic festival Tabaski, livestock markets in Abidjan have slowed down.

In tonight's edition: 300 Ghanaians arrive back home from South Africa on an emergency repatriation flight for nationals fleeing anti-immigrant protests, threats and attacks. Also, Human Rights Watch accuses the United Arab Emirates of having recruited Colombian mercenaries to send to Sudan in support of the RSF paramilitary. Plus as Muslims around the world begin to celebrate Eid al-Adha, in DR Congo the Muslim holiday has begun with a focus on health and safety rather than celebration.

The ongoing conflict between armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has made it harder for health workers to contain the worsening Ebola outbreak, World Health Organization Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday.

African creatives have global clout, but talent is only part of the picture, and in reality the starving artist is not a romantic figure but an unsupported one. No more. Georja speaks to one of the biggest advocates for the development of the continent's artistic industries – Marie Lora Mungai's new book "Creative Cash Flow" walks African creatives through the financial sense and business practicalities needed for their gifts to keep on giving.

A group of Senegalese football supporters jailed following their country's chaotic, violence-plagued Africa Cup of Nations final in Morocco in January returned home on May 24 after being pardoned by the Moroccan king. In February, Moroccan courts had sentenced them for hooliganism following the controversial AFCON final which opposed Senegal to Morocco. FRANCE 24's Caitlin Kelly tells us more.

Ghana is introducing a new e-visa system, which is to be free of charge for all African citizens. The country hopes that this free visa will attract both tourists and investors, as Ghana hopes to improve its economy. It is now the sixth African country to remove all visa fees for African citizens. But there are concerns over control at the borders. FRANCE 24's Justice Baidoo spoke to Ghanaians over the new measure.

As the US's conflict with Iran continues to block crucial shipping lanes, Sudanese farmers are warning it is disrupting food production in an already unstable nation. The country is still in the midst of a war between the army and the RSF paramilitary, and fuel and fertilizer price hikes are forcing cutbacks in summer planting. FRANCE 24's Clemence Waller tells us more from the ground.