By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on France 24
The Youth Olympic Games have opened in Dakar, bringing together 2,600 athletes aged 14 to 17 in 153 events until 13 November. This edition is the first Olympic competition held in Africa and marks the return of Russian athletes, according to France 24 Afrique.
Ongoing story · day by day
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games flame arrives in Senegal and is celebrated in several countries, while Dakar prepares for the Games.
31 OctSenegal sanitation office commits 250 million CFA francs for Dakar Youth Olympics
31 OctMacron and Nawrocki withdraw from Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics
30 OctCoventry reassured by Dakar Youth Olympic Games securityKhaby Lame, ambassador for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, visited the Olympic village and met young athletes. He said he was proud that Africa was hosting the competition for the first time, according to France 24 Afrique.
🇸🇳 Senegal · Source: France 24 ·
Thirty-nine young Moroccan athletes are set to compete in 17 disciplines at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, scheduled for 31 October to 13 November 2026. The delegation includes ten futsal players, five track and field athletes and four beach-wrestling competitors, according to the Moroccan National Olympic Committee, cited by AFP.
🇲🇦 Morocco · Source: Senego ·
The participation of 13 Russian athletes at the Dakar Youth Olympics, with their flag and anthem, is reviving the debate over sports neutrality during wartime. IOC president Kirsty Coventry defends separating sport and politics, while Ukraine’s Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi opposes it, AFP reports.
🇷🇺 Russia · Source: The Namibian ·
Senegal’s women’s and men’s teams are due to take part in the futsal events at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The matches are scheduled from 1 to 7 November at Dakar Arena and the Iba Mar Diop complex.
🇸🇳 Senegal · Source: Senego ·
Astou Pierre murder suspect arrested in MauritaniaAlioune Badara Gaye, suspected of attacking Astou Pierre Ndiaye with acid, was arrested in Mauritania on Friday after several months on the run, according to Libération, as cited by Seneweb, and SeneNews. Preparations are under way to repatriate the suspect to Senegal so that he can answer the allegations against him.
Cycling: Tom Wijfje wins Tour du Faso opening stageDutchman Tom Wijfje won the first stage of the 2026 Tour du Faso between Ouagadougou and Kaya, over 144 kilometres, in 3 hours 29 minutes 10 seconds. He took the yellow jersey with an eight-second lead over Burkina Faso’s Souleymane Koné, while South Africa’s Gustav Basson completed the podium, AIB reports.The week in Africa
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