The challenge of unifying a country divided

In Madagascar, some of the country's highest authorities are accused of bankrolling teams to create fake profiles on Facebook which then share biased or false information for political gain. These fake Facebook accounts stir up controversy, sing the praises of President Andry Rajoelina and criticise journalists and opposition politicians. The communications minister, accused of playing a key role, denies any wrongdoing. Our correspondents report.

Javier Milei is the embodiment of anti-establishment rebellion. For years, the economist did the rounds on talk shows and slammed the country's politics. Now he wants to be its leader. Young voters think that's good.

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo vowed on Sunday (October 17) to continue in politics "until my death" as he launched a new party following his acquittal by the International Criminal Court and return from a decade abroad. Gbagbo, president from 2000-2011, returned to Ivory Coast in June after being acquitted in 2019 by the Netherlands-based court on war crimes charges for his role in a civil war sparked by his refusal to concede defeat in an election.

After years in hiding, Seif al-Islam, the son of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi, will run for president in upcoming Libyan elections. Experts believe his return complicates things even further in the unstable nation.

Amid a global pandemic that’s threatening lives and livelihoods, politics instead seem infused with culture clashes and identity wars. Why is so much of the conversation in the run-up to France’s presidential election about outsourced industry and loss of identity? Where’s the left? In uncertain times, when citizens want a state that protects them, many arguments center around which side is more elitist. Are we looking at a breakdown of the social contract?

France has never had a woman as president. With a number of female candidates in the election race this time, could that finally change? Challenges range from a #MeToo campaign to an "invisible" barrier to the top job.

For more than 30 years, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has been investing in countries in Central and Eastern Europe. It's since expanded into the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa and has plans to move into Sub-Saharan Africa too. The EBRD's President Odile Renaud-Basso discussed some of the challenges facing the development lender, including climate finance, transitioning away from fossil fuels and the Bank's pro-democracy mandate.

The week began with Emmanuel Macron heading to Moscow for what he hopes will be the start of the long road to de-escalation over Ukraine.

French actress Isabelle Huppert has appeared in over 120 films and was just awarded a Golden Bear for lifetime achievement at the Berlin International Film Festival. FRANCE 24 film critic Lisa Nesselson speaks to Alison Sargent about Huppert's new film "Les Promesses", an involving and entertaining look at contemporary French politics. The thriller sees Huppert star alongside Reda Kateb as a mayor in suburban Paris forced to choose between personal ambition and loyalty to her working-class constituents.

Although Somalia now has a quota system for female lawmakers, women are frequently held back from pursuing leadership roles due to pervasive cultural and social barriers.

Sri Lanka is facing one of the worst economic crises in recent decades, triggering public anger and mass protests, which have fostered unity across ethnic and religious lines.

Israeli lawmakers have voted in favor of a preliminary measure to dissolve parliament. It is the first step toward a fifth election in less than four years. The vote could take place in autumn.