African News for October 18, 2026

Here is today's essential African news, selected from the press. Each headline links to the full article on its publisher's website.

Somalia: the general election calendar is already being contested — Somalia finally has a calendar for its future general elections. Legislative elections will be held in April 2027 and the presidential election in May. The Independent National Electoral Commission announced this on Thursday the 15th... (RFI)

Caine Prize: a Zimbabwean author awarded and in turn accused of using artificial intelligence — The Caine Prize rewards the best short story in English written by an African author each year. For 2026, it was Zimbabwean Simbarashe Kundizeza who won it at the beginning of the month with his text The Blue... (RFI)

Tunisia: several thousand people demonstrate against the rising cost of living and the decline of freedoms — Between 3,000 and 6,000 people demonstrated on Saturday, October 17, in Tunis at the call of the UGTT trade union center and nine other organizations, including the Tunisian Human Rights League and the bar association... (RFI)

What is "smiling depression" and how do you recognize it? — If you appear happy on the outside while suffering on the inside, you may be experiencing an atypical form of depression; however, hiding your true feelings can be harmful to... (BBC Afrique)

Why the Rwanda agreement for the Formula 1 Grand Prix remains controversial — Formula 1 will return to Africa in the early 2030s, but the deal reached with Rwanda to host a race has sparked accusations of "sportswashing" against the country. (BBC Afrique)

Anglophone Cameroon – Felix Agbor Balla: "The government must understand that dialogue is not a sign of weakness" — Ten years after the outbreak of the conflict in the North-West and South-West (Noso) regions, lawyer and human rights activist Felix Agbor Balla continues to campaign for the "self-determination" of the people... (Jeune Afrique)

More than 3,000 people in Tunis against the high cost of living and for public freedoms — In Tunisia, several thousand protesters answered the call of the UGTT trade union center and nine civil society organizations to take to the streets and denounce what they describe as the failure of... (France 24)

Osvalde Lewat: from Cameroon to literature, the body, freedom, and taboos — How can one remain free when society, conventions, or our own bodies seem to decide for us? In the Saturday Focus of the Journal de l'Afrique on France 24, Fatimata Wane hosts Osvalde Lewat... (France 24)