African sporting fans are holding their breath on the eve of the official opening of the Paris Olympics. Some of the action has already kicked off with the Rugby Sevens and football having started on Wednesday – two sports that are particularly close to the heart of many South Africans. Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton Mckenzie told FRANCE 24's Georja Calvin-Smith about the squad's excitement about going for gold in the French capital.
Also in this edition:
Kenyan President William Ruto has nominated someone to take over as inspector general of police. Douglas Kanja has been filling in in the role since his predecessor resigned earlier this month over accusations of a heavy-handed police response to youth lead protests. The Gen Z rallies have entered their second month, with a raft of political demands still unmet. Many took to the streets once again on Thursday, demanding justice for those who were killed in earlier crackdowns.
Finally, the UN has warned that the number of casualties from this week's landslides in southern Ethiopia has risen to 257 but is likely to climb as high as 500. Rescuers have kept up their grim search for survivors in Kencho Sacha Gozdi. The first landslide followed heavy rains on Sunday. More than 15,000 people will need to be evacuated because of the risk of further shifts.
