AFCON 2017: Best photos from 20 January

This Wednesday is International Wetlands Day. Worldwide, wetlands cover 12.1 million km². But more than 30 percent have been lost over the past 50 years, despite them playing a crucial role in mitigating the impact of climate change. One example is the Mangroves National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It's the only marine park in the country and it's home to a wide variety of plants and rare animals, including sea turtles. But the park is increasingly threatened by poaching and illegal logging. The construction of a deep water port in the vicinity has also sparked controversy. Our correspondents report.

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara granted an exclusive interview to FRANCE 24 and RFI ahead of an EU-African Union summit in Brussels. He criticised the planned departure of French and European troops from Mali, saying it "creates a void". Ouattara added that it was the responsibility of domestic African armies to "solve problems in their own countries.

Baky Meïté is a former captain of the Ivory Coast rugby team. Back in the spring of 2020, he put his rugby career on hold to work as a janitor in a geriatric hospital in Paris. He has now published a book, "Les Chiffons Bleus", as a tribute to his former colleagues who appear somewhat forgotten today. He joined us for Perspective.

A Pakistani helicopter deployed as part of the UN's peacekeeping mission in the DRC has crashed with eight people on board. The Congolese army says rebels in the country's east shot the aircraft down.

After a ten-year lull, M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo have attacked Congolese soldiers. As a result, tens of thousands of people have fled to neighboring Uganda, fearing renewed violence.

Eye on Africa, we go to the Democratic Republic of Congo where six people have died following an explosion in a military camp in Goma. The DRC’s president travels to Nairobi to sign his country’s treaty of accession to the East Africa Community. And items illegally excavated and shipped from Libya to the United States have been returned to Tripoli.

In this edition of Eye on Africa, we go to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where six people have died following an explosion in a military camp in Goma. Meanwhile, the DRC's president travels to Nairobi to sign his country’s treaty of accession to the East Africa Community. And we see how items illegally excavated and shipped from Libya to the United States have been returned to Tripoli.

Congolese authorities say they'll clamp down on shoddy construction after an accident in Kinshasa in February in which 26 people were killed. Also, a top Nigerian model agency launches a search for the face of a continent. And we head into the deep blue with South African freediving instructor Zandi Ndhlovu.

In an unexpected announcement, Prime Minister Patrick Achi and his Cabinet have tendered their resignation. The leader of Ivory Coast's government had held the job for a little over a year.

A weekly news show produced with photos, videos and personal accounts from FRANCE 24 Observers around the world – all checked by our staff here in Paris.

DR Congo marks one year since President Tshi-shékédi placed the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri under martial law. We take stock of the long lasting security measures in the country's east. Also the programme: a Senegalese court decides on the fate of six midwives, fter the death of a pregnant woman. And France 24 interviews of Kenyan sporting legend Kip Keino.

DR Congo marks one year since President Tshi-shékédi placed the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri under martial law. We take stock of the long-lasting security measures in the country's east. Also on the programme: a Senegalese court decides on the fate of six midwives after the death of a pregnant woman. Finally, we interview Kenyan sporting legend Kip Keino.