Football 2025 preview: Top events and exciting matches

Cameroon has been gripped by a bloody conflict in its Anglophone regions since 2016, sparked by the brutal suppression of peaceful protests. The conflict has caused over 6,000 deaths and displaced more than 1 million people. Displaced women and girls are rebuilding their lives amid precarious conditions, facing domestic violence and resorting to negative coping strategies to survive.

This year promises to be another season of mouthwatering football contests. There will be no shortage of spectacular soccer showpieces in 2025. A diverse array of premier events has been lined up for the players to shine and bank handsome prizes. As for the fans, they'll just sit back, watch, and celebrate the variety.

The African Union's inclusion in the G20 represents a significant shift in global governance and the continent's place at the big table. With concerns of the Global South often appearing to be ignored, will Africa's voice be capable of shaping policies that directly impact its future when it comes to issues like debt relief, and trade reforms like climate change?

Several global events will occur across Africa in 2025. Why should that matter to Africa, and how should it reposition itself amid global challenges?

In 2024, Kenya and Uganda both experienced civil unrest and protests, as citizens tried to hold their governments accountable. So what were the highs and the lows of 2024 in both countries? And what lies ahead in 2025? We're talking to Shikoh Kihika, a youth activist from Kenya and Frank Yiga, DW correspondent in Kampala, Uganda to assess why East African countries dominate the news agenda.

The year 2024 has been a turbulent one in Africa's hotspots and volatile regions like eastern DRC and the English-speaking regions in Cameroon. DW's Eddy Micah Jr. talks to Ivan Mugisha, a social and political commentator on the Great Lakes region, and Jean Marie Ngong Song, DW's correspondent in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Nigeria faced surging inflation and living costs in 2024 after President Bola Tinubu ended a fuel subsidy, tripling food and transport prices. Once Africa's largest economy, Nigeria grappled with insecurity and hardship. Analyst Adamu Kabiru and DW's Ben Shemang analyze the country's struggles in 2024 and its outlook for 2025.

As Russian president Vladimir Putin marks 25 years in power, experts analyze his country’s influence across Africa. So what is Russia’s historical relationship with the continent of Africa, and how is it manifested on the ground today?

DW correspondents in Kenya, Zambia, and Ghana speak about Christmas in their countries and what ordinary people think about the coming year 2025.

The Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Apple of using minerals sourced from illegal mining. Local communities impacted by illicit mining explore the consequences of a potential victory against the tech giant. DW's Josey Mahachi and Alex Ngarambe discuss the fallout with Alex Vines from British think tank Chatham House.