Central Africa referendum vote could extend Touadera’s rule

Battling forces in Sudan are locked in a military deadlock and lack the political backing to rule alone, researchers say. Meanwhile, the paramilitary RSF militia announced a new cease-fire starting Wednesday evening.

Talking Europe interviews Rastislav Káčer, Slovakia's straight-talking minister for foreign and European affairs. Slovakia became the first NATO country to deliver warplanes to Ukraine, and Káčer discusses what difference that delivery could make, as well as Slovakia's plans to double its ammunition production.

Guinea's opposition has also called for a investigation into this week's killing of seven protesters and accused security forces of using excessive force. It wants the military junta to hand back power to civilians.

Islamophobia, antisemitism and xenophobia are widespread in eastern Germany. A majority of respondents to a survey by Leipzig University said they would like to see a "strong man" or a "strong party" leadership.

Ten years ago this week, Egypt's first democratically elected president was ousted in a coup d'état. Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was propelled to power by the Arab Spring. His dramatic fall was orchestrated by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a military general who promised to bring stability to Egypt. A decade later, the country's economy is in dire straits and Sisi rules with an iron fist.

The European Commission will withhold funds from Poland and Hungary as punishment for breaches cited in its annual rule of law report this week.

Polls have opened in Uzbekistan for a presidential election that is expected to hand incumbent Shavkat Mirziyoyev a third term. Recent constitutional changes extended term limits, meaning he could hold power until 2037.

Central African Republic voted on a constitutional referendum on Sunday which, if it passes, could remove a presidential term limit and allow President Faustin-Archange Touadera to run for a third term in 2025. Touadera was first elected in 2016 for a five-year term and won reelection in 2020 for what was supposed to be his final term in office.

Four years after the Indian government revoked Kashmir's special status, locals say things have gotten worse. Now they are pinning their hopes on India's Supreme Court to get their autonomy back.

In Niger, the country's new military rulers refused to allow a West African peace mission to visit from neighboring Nigeria. Niger's junta appears unwilling to back down, even as other countries impose sanctions and trade restrictions.

As global interest in the war-torn country diminishes, many Afghans feel abandoned. In the two years since the Taliban retook control they have imposed draconian restrictions on society, especially women and girls.

The Bongo family has ruled Gabon for more than 50 years. Saturday's presidential election isn't expected to change that. The tiny oil-rich nation is grappling with high unemployment while the elite live luxuriously.