High risk, high stakes: DR Congo on edge ahead of overdue elections

March 17, 1992: This date will forever be remembered in South Africa as the day when whites voted to end the apartheid system that privileged them and oppressed others. The country has seen momentous change since then — but is still wracked by injustice and poverty.

Senegalese President Macky Sall, who is the current chair of the African Union, granted an interview to FRANCE 24 and RFI in Paris. He discussed his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin last week in Sochi, which focused on the issue of grain supplies stuck in Ukrainian ports. Sall said he stressed to Putin that Africa is suffering from the war in Ukraine, as it already faces a shortage of grain and fertiliser. He warned of a possible "famine" on the continent if African farmers have insufficient fertiliser for their crops.

Emmanuel Macron's alliance is in a tight race with the new left-wing union NUPES according to initial projections. Macron is predicted to win a greater number of districts which could grant him a parliamentary majority.

Colombians will choose between construction magnate Rodolfo Hernandez and former guerilla Gustavo Petro in the upcoming presidential election on June 19. But Hernandez had so far refused to debate Petro.

Tax revenues could make a vital contribution to the development of African countries. But the untapped informal sector, also known as the shadow economy, and inadequate collection of taxes stand in the way.

Voters in Colombia decided between leftist Gustavo Petro and businessman Rodolfo Hernandez, whose sudden rise prompted comparisons with Donald Trump.

French papers look at the political bombshell for President Emmanuel Macron, whose centrist bloc emerged from Sunday's second round of the legislative elections well short of an absolute majority in parliament. Libération, the main left-wing daily, describes the results for his group as a "slap", while Le Parisien and Le Figaro headline that France is now "ungovernable". Macron will be unable to push on with his legislative agenda without significant opposition support.

French papers look at the political bombshell for President Emmanuel Macron, whose centrist bloc emerged from Sunday's second round of the legislative elections well short of an absolute majority in parliament. Libération, the main left-wing daily, describes the results for his group as a "slap", while Le Parisien and Le Figaro headline that France is now "ungovernable". Macron will be unable to push on with his legislative agenda without significant opposition support.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid have agreed to dissolve parliament and call early elections. It will be Israel's fifth election in three years.

A new deal paves the way for the development of the first African-owned Covid-19 vaccines. Cape Town-based Afrigen is working with a Belgian biotech company to develop mRNA shots. Also, Kenya has no reproductive health legislation but the public is going to give its input on a regional bill that could make a big difference to sexual health services. Finally, in football news, Senegal's Sadio Mané moves to Bayern Munich.

A new deal paves the way for the development of the first African-owned Covid-19 vaccines. Cape Town-based Afrigen is working with a Belgian biotech company to develop mRNA shots. Also, Kenya has no reproductive health legislation but the public is going to give its input on a regional bill that could make a big difference to sexual health services. Finally, in football news, Senegal's Sadio Mané is moving from Liverpool to Bayern Munich.

German pharmaceutical company BioNTech has begun construction of an COVID-19 vaccine plant in Rwanda. When completed, it will be the first mRNA vaccine plant in Africa.