African News for October 30, 2026

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

Hosting the Olympic Games in Africa 'is not an insurmountable mountain' — 'Africa hosts, Dakar celebrates.' This is the slogan for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which open on Saturday, October 31, in the Senegalese capital. This will be the first time Africa has hosted an Olympic competition. A moment… (RFI)

Chad: French fighter jets expected for a 'technical stopover,' a first since January 2025 — French fighter jets will land in Chad once again. The Joint Staff of the Armed Forces confirmed this on Thursday, October 29. Two Mirage 2000s and a CASA transport aircraft will make a stopover there 'very soon'… (RFI)

Mauritania: 204 migrants rescued at sea en route to the Canary Islands — In Mauritania, the National Navy announced that it intercepted 204 West African migrants at sea, including 20 minors and 10 women, on Tuesday, October 27, during a maritime surveillance patrol. According to sources close to… (RFI)

A Russia-Africa summit to Moscow's advantage? — Is economic cooperation between Russia and Africa on an equal footing? The question arises as the 3rd summit held in Moscow concludes. Vladimir Putin is insisting on strengthening this… (France 24)

10 things to know about Khalid Hatimy, Morocco's new Minister of Agriculture — He spent a long time in the business world before carving out a place for himself in the corridors of power, and then taking the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture. A portrait of a minister previously known mostly to insiders. (Jeune Afrique)

National banks: who are the real winners of 2026? — While our ranking of national financial institutions shows clear dynamism, the growth of many players comes, for the most part, from exchange rate effects, sovereign debt, and… (Jeune Afrique)

Russia-Africa summit to strengthen political ties? — The third Russia-Africa summit launched on Wednesday, October 28, for two days. Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered representatives from 48 countries on the continent in Moscow. The discussions are notably… (France 24)

Russia-Africa summit: Moscow showcases its economic ambitions — The third Russia-Africa summit concludes this Thursday, October 29. It is a way for Moscow to intensify its efforts to strengthen its ties with the continent. Twenty-two African heads of state made the… (France 24)