In June 2025, cultural scenes in France, Africa, Europe and as far away as Chicago will be ablaze with creations, tributes and debates around African and Afro-diasporic cultures. Exhibitions, festivals, performances and literary encounters weave a lively and committed network, to be discovered both indoors and outdoors.

Visual arts in the spotlight

Ana Silva in Paris: women as guardians

At Galerie Magnin-A, Angolan artist Ana Silva unveils As guardiãs, a series of works combining embroidery, crinoline and narrative. The exhibition explores the place of women through narratives as dreamlike as they are powerful.

John Madu in Amsterdam: meeting Van Gogh

For the first time, the Musée Van Gogh welcomes an African artist: John Madu. With Paint Your Path, the Nigerian painter creates ten works inspired by the Dutch master, offering a contemporary reinterpretation rooted in West African aesthetics.

Ian Mwesiga in Paris: the rules of perspective overturned

Galerie Mariane Ibrahim presents the paintings of Ugandan artist Ian Mwesiga, a blend of intimate lyricism and classical heritage, in which he explores a fascinating “inner topography”.

Joseph Kojo Hoggar: from Van Eyck to Ghana

Galerie Christophe Person presents Le turban rouge, a series by young Ghanaian artist Joseph Kojo Hoggar, born in 1999, who revisits the great European masters through an African lens.

Festivals and shows: movement and voices

Marseille, Mediterranean capital of creativity

The Marseille Festival (June 12-July 6) resonates with the voices of artists from the shores of the Mediterranean and its diasporas. An open, festive space where struggles and hopes meet.

Montpellier Danse with Nadia Beugré

The Ivorian choreographer presents Epic! (for Yikakou) a vibrant creation in memory of a vanished village and a heritage to be reinterpreted.

Afropolis in Noisiel: dances of identity

On June 7, at La Ferme du Buisson, Qudus Onikeku and The QDance Company host Charivari Afropolis, an event where young people engage in dialogue through movement.

Cinema and memory

Annecy Festival: African shorts in the spotlight

Among the 3,900 films selected, My Brother, My Brother and Blinded by Light explore African realities with originality and intensity.

Diaspora Film Festival in Chicago

From June 13 to 15, ADIFF explores the African diaspora in India with All the World’s a Stage and Rhythm of Dammam. A program that questions the unexpected intersections of history.

Yaoundé laughs with Festico

The International Comedy and Humor Film Festival returns from June 24 to 28, with a focus on comedy as a tool for social transformation.

History, memory and transmission

Haiti, between revolution and knowledge

On June 5 and 6, an international symposium in Paris revisits the Haitian Revolution through an interdisciplinary approach to power, emancipation and memory.

Vichy: Namsa Leuba, portraiture as an exploration of identity

At Portrait(s), the Helvetian-Guinean photographer celebrates the richness of tradition in a pop aesthetic.

Mission Dakar-Djibouti: the counter-inquiry exhibition

At the Musée du Quai Branly until September 14, researchers revisit Griaule’s ethnographic mission (1931-1933), revealing the invisible voices of the colonized.

Koyo Kouoh: a tribute in Dakar

On June 14, Raw Material Company pays tribute to its founder, the visionary curator who passed away in May. A moment of collective emotion and reflection.

Works in dialogue with the intimate and the political

Mohamed El Khatib at the Grand Palais

With Le grand palais de ma mère, the French artist of Moroccan origin explores family and cultural ties, between installations, theater and encounters.

Mathieu Josset: Queen Music through textiles

Aboard the Bateau Phare in Paris, the artist’s monumental 100 m² work pays tribute to Afro-Caribbean cultures through the prism of femininity and freedom.

Kassou Seydou, Elladj Lincy Deloumeaux, Rachel Marsil in Dakar

At Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, the Cour intérieure exhibition presents scenes of life and introspection from a wealth of contemporary African perspectives.

Sharing our heritage

Mucem celebrates Amazigh cultures

Until November 2, the Marseilles museum explores the cultural wealth of the Amazigh world through 150 pieces of art, everyday objects and symbolic ornaments.

Africa Basel: fair and reflection

From June 18 to 22, contemporary African art takes center stage in Basel. The Africa Basel Conversation event invites dialogue between creators, experts and audiences from all over the world.

Conclusion: a month of creation, memory and reinvention

Juin 2025 is set to become a key event on the Afro-descendant cultural scene, a time for celebration, reflection and transmission. From Paris to Dakar, from Yaoundé to Amsterdam, artists take hold of their heritage, reinvent it and share it. A month to listen, see, debate and feel the many faces of contemporary African cultures.

L’article African cultures: the must-see events of June 2025 est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

On June 4, 2025, 75 Nobel laureates signed a tribune published in the newspaper Le Monde, calling for international mobilization in the face of continuing suffering in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The initiative is spearheaded by Dr. Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, recognized for his fight on behalf of women victims of sexual violence used as weapons of war.

A tragedy ignored for three decades

The signatories – from fields as diverse as peace, medicine, literature and chemistry – denounce the persistent global silence in the face of a major humanitarian crisis. They point out that for over 30 years, the eastern DRC has been the scene of recurrent armed conflict, massive human rights violations and a systemic impunity that maintains the spiral of violence.

“A forgotten and neglected tragedy that must be placed at the top of the international agenda,” they write.

An alarming humanitarian situation

According to the UN, nearly 7 million people are currently displaced by insecurity in the country. Civilians are paying a heavy price, exposed to violence, looting, instability and lack of protection.

International peace conference called for

The 75 Nobel laureates are calling for an urgent international peace conference to mobilize the international community and bring the Congolese conflict out of its geopolitical invisibilization.

They also denounce the continued presence of the Rwandan army in eastern DRC, which they describe as“illegal aggression”, despite a UN resolution passed last February expressly calling on Rwanda to cease its support for the M23 armed group.

Denouncing double standards

In their appeal, the signatories highlight the international community’s inequitable treatment of conflicts. They point to a “double standard”, comparing inaction in the DRC with reactivity in the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

Conclusion

With this collective appeal, 75 Nobel Prize winners are calling for global awareness of the human tragedy that continues to unfold in the east of the DRC, in the midst of general indifference. By calling for a high-level international conference, they hope to break the wall of silence and put peace in the Congo back at the heart of diplomatic priorities. A strong signal that inaction is also a form of complicity.

L’article DRC: 75 Nobel Prize winners call for international action to end suffering in eastern DRC est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has launched construction work on the El Wak-Modogashe road, a 749-kilometer section of the Isiolo-Mandera corridor, considered to be one of the most important infrastructure projects for Kenya’s development by 2030. The project receives financial support from the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB), as part of the Horn of Africa Gateway Development Project (HoAGDP).

A regional ambition: open up, connect, develop

Located in the north-east of the country, this strategic road aims to open up historically marginalized areas, while strengthening regional connectivity with neighboring countries such as Somalia andEthiopia. The Isiolo-Mandera corridor is also connected to LAPSSET, a regional integration project that includes the port of Lamu.

According to local press reports, preparatory activities are already underway, including site reconnaissance, environmental impact studies, community meetings and logistical mobilization. The El Wak-Modogashe section, once reduced to a dirt track with difficult access, is a priority link in this network.

Massive financing and an integrated vision

The project is financed to the tune of $971 million, including $756.3 million from the World Bank for the modernization of 365 kilometers of main and secondary roads. The AfDB is contributing $215 million. The infrastructure comprises several segments: Isiolo-Kulamawe-Modogashe, Modogashe-Wajir, Wajir-Kutulo-El Wak, and El Wak-Rhamu-Mandera.

In addition to the road component, the project includes technological and customs components: installation of fiber optics, modernization of checkpoints and customs posts, deployment of digital services and road safety awareness programs. These advances should help to improvedigital inclusion andaccess to education, and stimulate local economies, particularly in pastoral sectors.

Operational challenges to overcome

Completion of the project, scheduled for June 2028, still faces a number of risks and uncertainties. Among them: security threats linked to the presence of the Al-Shabaab group in certain areas, extreme climatic conditions such as seasonal flooding, and administrative blockages, which have already delayed certain milestones.

Conclusion

The launch of work on the El Wak-Modogashe road represents a major step forward in Kenya’s ambition to open up its outlying regions, stimulate economic growth and strengthen regional integration. The project embodies a long-term development vision, combining infrastructure, digital connectivity and regional cooperation. Its success, however, will depend on the authorities’ ability to manage security risks, maintain logistical focus and guarantee the sustainability of investments in a historically neglected area.

L’article Kenya: work begins on the El Wak-Modogashe road, the backbone of regional development est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

From May 19 to 22, 2025, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made a state visit to the United States, marking a key moment in bilateral relations between Pretoria and Washington. The aim of this diplomatic visit was to repair ties that have been weakened in recent months, notably by political and trade decisions taken by the US administration.

A decisive meeting with Donald Trump

Speaking at a parliamentary session in Cape Town on May 27, Ramaphosa said that his meeting with former President Donald Trump at the White House had restored dialogue between the two nations. He emphasized that this initiative was aimed at avoiding negative economic repercussions for South Africa and reorienting relations towards a mutually beneficial partnership.

Strengthened cooperation

The South African president said that discussions had focused on sensitive issues such as tariffs, investment flows and economic cooperation. He also took advantage of the visit to invite Donald Trump to the G20 summit in South Africa, and to promote American investment on South African soil.

In addition to the economic aspects, Ramaphosa stressed the importance of existing collaboration between the two countries in areas such as health (notably via the PEPFAR program to combat HIV/AIDS), security, the environment, education and scientific research.

A context of recent tensions

Since January 2025, relations between the two countries had deteriorated sharply. An American decree allowing white Afrikaners to apply for asylum had provoked a strong reaction from Pretoria. This was compounded by the introduction of a 30% tax on South African products and the suspension of certain U.S. aid, further exacerbating the diplomatic crisis.

Trade still going strong

Despite these tensions, trade between the USA and South Africa reached $20.7 billion in 2024, according to the International Trade Centre, testifying to a still significant economic partnership.

Conclusion

Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Washington and his meeting with Donald Trump appear to have led to a warming of diplomatic relations between South Africa and the United States. While recent disputes have tested the solidity of this partnership, the commitments made at this meeting mark a shared desire to strengthen cooperation on the economic, political and social fronts. It remains to be seen whether these advances will translate into concrete measures in the months ahead.

L’article Diplomatic renewal between South Africa and the United States est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

On June 2, 2025, a UN humanitarian convoy was violently attacked nearEl Fasher, in North Darfur, killing at least five people, wounding several others and destroying part of its precious cargo. The convoy, comprising some fifteen trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP) andUNICEF, was carrying vital aid from Port Sudan to the town, which is under siege from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF ).

An attack condemned, responsibilities unclear

The exact circumstances of the attack remain unclear. While the Sudanese army accuses the RSF of bombing the convoy with drones, the paramilitaries claim that it was the army that targeted the trucks. Eva Hinds, spokesperson for Unicef, strongly condemned the attack: ” The trucks were clearly marked. Any attack on a humanitarian convoy is unacceptable. ” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an urgent investigation to identify those responsible for this unspeakable attack.

A worsening humanitarian crisis in El Fasher

The town ofEl Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in Darfur, has been under siege for two years. Living conditions are catastrophic. Trapped by the fighting, the inhabitants suffer from an acute lack of food, healthcare and security. The situation has worsened with the recent arrival of thousands of displaced persons, fleeing the deadly attack on the Zam Zam camp. The attack on the convoy has once again deprived these populations of vital aid.

Conclusion: humanitarian aid targeted in a hopeless conflict

The attack on the humanitarian convoy in Darfur marks another tragic turning point in the war that has been ravaging Sudan since 2023. It highlights the total lack of respect for humanitarian law in this conflict, where civilians are paying an inordinate price. Until those responsible are identified, and the safety of humanitarian workers guaranteed, access to aid for the most vulnerable will remain seriously compromised.

L’article Sudan: a deadly attack on a humanitarian convoy in Darfur est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

On June 3, 2025, Greenpeace Africa and the Centre for Energy and Clean Air Research (Crea) published a damning report on air pollution in South Africa. The findings highlight dangerously high exposure to fine particles, mainly in industrial areas such as Johannesburg and Mpumalanga. These pollution levels, largely due to coal-fired power stations and petrochemical complexes, have dramatic consequences for public health.

Pollution that kills in silence

According to the report, the year 2023 saw some 42,000 premature deaths attributable to air pollution, including more than 1,200 children under the age of five. The economic cost of this health crisis is estimated at 960 billion rand, or 14% of South Africa’s GDP. These figures reflect a health disaster that is all too often relegated to the background.

Invisible managers and lax regulation

In the most polluted areas, residents live with the effects of pollution on a daily basis. Sharon Mbonani, a resident of one of Sasol’s largest plants, denounces the impunity of large industrial companies: “No one is held responsible…”. The report also criticizes national air quality standards, which are much more lax than WHO standards, and calls for an immediate overhaul of authorized thresholds.

Conclusion: an urgent environmental and human crisis

Exposure to fine particles in South Africa can no longer be ignored. It is a major issue of public health and environmental justice. Given the scale of the damage, the authors of the report call on the South African government to act quickly, by tightening regulations, better monitoring air quality, and holding polluters to account. Otherwise, the population will continue to pay a heavy price for avoidable pollution.

L’article Exposure to fine particles in South Africa: an ignored health emergency est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

On Monday June 2, 2025, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of Senegal and Mauritania signed two major migration agreements. One concerns residence conditions for nationals of each country, the other the fight against illegal immigration. These two agreements aim to harmonize population movements between the two neighboring states, which share a long history of migration.

A more accessible residence permit

One of the key measures is the introduction of a compulsory residence permit after three months on the territory of the other country. A special feature of this provision is that the first card can be issued for a period of one year, without the need for a work contract or proof of income. Proof of income will only be required at the time of renewal.

This new framework replaces a 1972 agreement, deemed obsolete in the face of current migration dynamics. It also comes after a series of mass expulsions of Senegalese nationals from Mauritania, which were described as “undignified” and “inhumane treatment” by Senegalese Minister Yassine Fall last February.

Facilitating free movement

The text signed commits both countries to removing obstacles to the free movement of Senegalese and Mauritanian citizens. This measure is particularly eagerly awaited by Senegalese fishermen who regularly work in Mauritanian waters, often without any regularized status. For them, it represents the hope of better recognition of their rights and their economic activities.

Minister Yassine Fall welcomed this step forward, seeing it as a strong signal of regional cooperation:

“These two agreements enable us to ensure that people are able to move around and contribute to development.”

A framework to combat illegal immigration

The second agreement aims to strengthen coordination between the two countries in the fight against illegal departures, particularly by sea. As Mauritania is a major transit route to Europe, cooperation with Senegal is considered essential to prevent human tragedies and organize safer, more controlled migration.

Conclusion

With these two migration agreements, Senegal and Mauritania begin a new chapter in their bilateral relationship, marked by greater dialogue, regulation and humanity in the management of population movements. By regularizing stays and working together to combat irregular migration, the two countries are affirming their desire to make mobility an opportunity for shared development, rather than a factor of tension.

L’article Senegal-Mauritania: A bilateral agreement to better manage migration est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is about to make a diplomatic comeback: on June 3, 2025, in New York, the United Nations General Assembly willelect the non-permanent members of the Security Council for the period 2026-2027. The DRC and Liberia are the two candidates for the two seats reserved for Africa, and barring any surprises, they are likely to be elected without major opposition.

A first since 1992

This is an unprecedented event in over 30 years: the DRC’s last participation in the Security Council dates back to 1992. Since then, despite its regional weight and numerous security issues, the country had not occupied this global forum. Today, Kinshasa intends to regain its place, backed by the broad support of the African Union, which has validated its candidacy alongside that of Liberia.

A long-term campaign

For several months, the Congolese authorities have been stepping up their diplomatic efforts, notably through the efforts of Foreign Minister Thérèse Wagner, to convince international partners of the relevance of this candidacy. In her words, the DRC is “a country oriented towards cooperation and solidarity, with a long experience in conflict management”.

Kinshasa sees this seat as more than just a symbol of recognition. It is a political lever to make its voice heard, at a time when the DRC is facing persistent regional tensions, particularly in the east of the country. The challenge is to plead the cause of an aggressed country, denounce violations of sovereignty, and push for reforms within the UN itself, notably concerning the role and effectiveness of peacekeeping missions.

An African consensus

The June 3 elections offer little in the way of suspense. As one Kinshasa-based diplomat pointed out, theAfrican Union has played a key role in achieving a continental consensus. “It’s one of the organization’s strong points: avoiding competing candidacies to maximize African chances”, he recalled at a ceremony in support of the DRC a few days before the vote.

One more voice for Africa at the Council

This seat could enable the DRC tobring a unique perspective to major UN discussions on peace, security, climate and global governance. By taking a seat on the Security Council, Kinshasa also intends to contribute actively to multilateral debates, while defending its national and regional interests.

A strong comeback, then, for a country that hopes to transform this mandate into a diplomatic platform and a tool for international mobilization for peace and development in Central Africa.

L’article At the UN, the DRC applies for a seat on the Security Council est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

Nigerian students living abroad are sounding the alarm. In a video posted on social networks, several student associations based in Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Turkey and Russia denounce long delays in the payment of their scholarships. These delays, sometimes in excess of a year, jeopardize their ability to pursue their studies in dignified conditions.

Critical financial situations

Testimonies are unanimous: precariousness is worsening. Many students have only received the first instalment of the scholarship for the 2023-2024 academic year. In Tunisia, where almost 1,000 Nigeriens are studying, the majority depend on these quarterly allowances, equivalent to around 900 euros. Without these funds, they struggle to pay for accommodation, food and, above all, tuition fees, which exposes them to sanctions from their host universities.

A sacrificed generation?

“The situation is critical,” warns an anonymous student. Delays are compromising their academic performance and mental health. These young people, often perceived as the future intellectual elite of Niger, find themselves in distress thousands of kilometers from their country. They point out that education is a right, and appeal directly to the transitional authorities, in particular the Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (CNSP), to find a rapid solution.

Conclusion

The plight of Nigerien students abroad symbolizes the direct human consequences of Niger’s financial and political crisis. By neglecting these scholarship holders, we are jeopardizing part of the country’s future. It is now up to the authorities to respond to this urgent appeal, to guarantee not only the right to education, but also the hope of a better future for these young exiles.

L’article Niger: Scholarship students abroad sound the alarm est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.

A convoy of munitions intercepted by a militia allied with the Sudanese army has revealed a disturbing supply chain: the seized munitions bore markings identifying their European origin , more precisely Bulgaria , before being exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) .

According to an investigation conducted by the editorial staff of the France 24 Observers , these weapons were then redirected to Sudan , a country subject to an international embargo on arms sales due to the civil war that broke out in April 2023.

UAE’s controversial role in Sudanese conflict

Sudanese authorities accuse the UAE of providing logistical and military support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) , the powerful paramilitary militia engaged in a bitter war against the national army. Although the UAE has repeatedly denied providing military support to the warring parties, physical evidence such as that from this convoy has rekindled suspicions .

This indirect transfer of arms raises serious questions about the circumvention of embargoes and the responsibility of exporting states , as well as third countries acting as relays.

An increasingly internationalized war

For two years, Sudan has been embroiled in a deadly conflict between the regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (alias Hemeti) . More than 13 million displaced people , tens of thousands of deaths and a humanitarian situation described by the UN as “the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world” bear witness to the scale of the ongoing tragedy.

Regional powers, such as the Emirates, Egypt and Chad, are regularly accused of playing an opaque role in fueling the conflict with men, resources and equipment.

Conclusion

The case of the intercepted convoy sheds a harsh light on the flaws in the international arms export control system . As Sudan descends into chaos, this revelation underscores the need for greater transparency in arms sales channels and strengthened oversight mechanisms to prevent European weapons from ending up in the hands of groups implicated in war crimes.

L’article Investigation – European weapons found at the heart of the conflict in Sudan est apparu en premier sur Synerginfo.