Africa StreaM

In northeastern Ivory Coast, along the border with Burkina Faso, tension has become a permanent reality. The jihadist threat spreading from the Sahel is no longer the only concern. A new danger has emerged: the Volunteers for the Defence of the Homeland, or VDPs – auxiliary forces supporting the Burkinabé army. FRANCE 24's Julia Guggenheim, Damien Koffi and M'ma Camara report.

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.

Over the past few years, cryptocurrency has become part of everyday life for nearly one in 10 Nigerians. Some use it to get around the naira, the Nigerian currency, which has lost much of its value in recent years. Others, particularly young people, buy and sell crypto assets on trading platforms in the hope of quick returns. Yassin Ciyow reports.

In Senegal, a generation of young men pin their hopes on football as a chance for a better future. These footballers are prepared to sacrifice everything to reach foreign leagues, making them the perfect targets for fake recruiters. FRANCE 24's Sarah Sakho and Simon Martin investigate this shadowy network and the measures being put in place to stop it.

Jihadists from the Islamic State (IS) group have established a stronghold in Somalia’s Puntland region, operating largely undisturbed across a vast mountainous area after setbacks in Iraq and Syria and using it as a base for wider operations in Africa and beyond. Local authorities have launched a major offensive, driving fighters from villages into cave positions amid ongoing clashes and mounting casualties, in a campaign officials say is crucial to restoring stability in Somalia and countering a broader global security threat. A report by Bastien Renouil, Will Swanson and ARTE.