AU - Africanews

1. Mali: amidst adversity, Bamako's puppets bring joy to the streets

   As a severe fuel blockade paralyzes Mali's capital, giant colorful marionettes danced through Bamako's streets this week in a defiant celebration of resilience, with the annual Rendez-Vous Chez Nous festival determined to bring joy to a city grappling with militant threats and economic collapse.

2. Algeria pardons jailed French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal

   Algeria granted a humanitarian pardon to French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal on Wednesday, releasing the 76-year-old writer after a year-long imprisonment that had sparked international condemnation and exposed deep diplomatic fissures between Algiers and Paris.

3. Morocco prepares volunteers ahead of Africa Cup of Nations

   As the Africa Cup of Nations fast approaches, Morocco is stepping up preparations by training hundreds of young volunteers to help ensure the tournament’s success.

4. Political war erupts in Senegal between President Faye and PM Sonko

   A fierce public power struggle has erupted between Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, shaking the nation's ruling coalition and raising fundamental questions about who truly holds political authority.

5. African Union says continent's rising debt crisis undermines development

   The chairperson of the AU Commission says many governments are spending more on servicing debt than on investments in human development.