Supporters of the ruling Niger junta and civil society groups gathered in the capital of Niamey on Thursday to protest foreign sanctions and demand the departure of some 1,500 French troops stationed in Niger. In the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told youth leaders from Africa Wednesday that collaboration as equal partners is necessary to meet today's challenges in Africa, at a closing ceremony of The Mandela Washington Fellowship Summit in Washington. Plus, economic improvement remains elusive in Zimbabwe as inflation remains the highest in the world at over 100%.