The Latest Breaking News from Radio France Internationale

Senegal's Faye backs former president Sall's bid for UN top job in U-turn

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has endorsed former president Macky Sall's candidacy to become the next United Nations secretary-general, the foreign ministry said on Monday, giving his predecessor crucial backing from his home country despite deep political divisions.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 21

Countdown to the ballot: Zambia gears up for August elections

This week on Spotlight on Africa, we're heading to Zambia, where general elections are set to take place on the 13th August. Voters will go to the polls to elect a president, members of the National Assembly, councillors and council chairs. Incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema has already picked up endorsements…

Radio France Internationale · Jul 21

French MPs aim to reach agreement on social media ban in time for new school year

French lawmakers are mobilising to reach a compromise on legislation that would ban children under 15 from using social media, aiming to have the restrictions in place for the start of the new school year in September.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 21

Burnham becomes UK's seventh PM in a decade after Starmer resigns

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said politicians “need to be better” as he delivered his first speech on Monday as the United Kingdom's new leader.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 20

France welcomes Gabon's Oligui as mineral and military ties defy African rift

Gabon's President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema begins a three-day official visit to France on Monday, underlining the close relationship between Paris and one of its few remaining key allies in Francophone Africa.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 20

Hungary PM proposes former chess champion Judit Polgar for president

Hungary's prime minister has proposed former chess grandmaster Judit Polgar for president, a position that will become vacant following last week's constitutional amendment.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 20

France skipper Mbappé denies Messi to win second Golden Boot award

Kylian Mbappé will return to France from the World Cup with his reputation as one of the best strikers of his generation enhanced, having become the first player to win the competition's Golden Boot award twice.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 20

Turkey marks a decade since the coup that never was, but never really ended

On 16 July, Turkey marked a decade since the failed coup that shook the nation. Its defeat is widely viewed as the final curtain on military meddling in politics and as the moment when President Erdogan cemented his grip on power, yet the aftershocks for human rights and foreign relations…

Radio France Internationale · Jul 20

Madagascar's wave of disappearances exposes 'deeper institutional failings'

A recent surge in disappearances and violent killings on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar has fuelled fears across the country and prompted the government to deploy hundreds of security personnel. Anti-corruption campaigner Ketakandriana Rafitoson, of Transparency International Initiative Madagascar, told RFI the violence reflects a broader "crisis of confidence"…

Radio France Internationale · Jul 20

Ecowas appoints Senegal's Birame Diop to drive regional reforms

West African leaders have appointed Senegal's former defence minister, General Birame Diop, to lead the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) Commission, placing a military figure with extensive UN peacekeeping experience at the helm as the bloc seeks to recover from the departure of three member states.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 20