Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo stretched into two days, or even three due to logistical problems in many parts of the country. Results are still being tallied, but incumbent president Felix Tshisekedi appears to have a substantial lead. The government has banned planned opposition protests against the election.  

The Rapid Support Forces, a regional militia backed by the United Arab Emirates, have made significant gains against the Sudanese Armed Forces, including in former strongholds like Wad Madani, prompting civilians to take up arms in response. DW talks to civil society activists in and out of Sudan, who are still working towards a democratic future for the country. BBC profiles exiled artists like Galal Yousif and Tibian Bahari, whose work calls attention to the civil war.

• In Africa Is a Country: Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o has written a tribute to Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, a Kenyan playwright, poet and activist who passed away in June of this year.
• The NATIVE magazine hosted their 7th NATIVELAND festival in Lagos. This year’s lineup included Ayra Starr, ODUMODUBLVCK, and South African DJ Uncle Waffles.
• The Republic’s last issue of 2023 documents “The Age of Afrobeats.”
• The Conversation ends the year with roundups of their favourite Nollywood films and favourite books out of East Africa in 2023.

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Image: Agents of DRC’s Independent National Electoral Commission (Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante - CENI) in a warehouse during 2011 elections. 26 November 2011. Photo credit: Picasa.