♪ anchor:lence in kenya with the result of the presidential election. ruto's narrow victory prompting a face-off and more violence on the streets of nairobi. france has pulled out the last of its soldiers from mali. the operation ends in bitterness. women vowed to fight for their rights on the first anniversary of the taliban seizing power in afghanistan. a year that has delivered little

but poverty and insecurity all around. we will be assessing the situation. thank you for being with us. kenya has announced the winner of its presidential election amid violent scenes in nairobi. this happened at the election commission, as the victory of william ruto was announced. his opponent was already accused of vote-rigging. members of the election commission have concerns about what they call the opaque nature of the final vote. it shows that voters were swayed by ruto's policies rather than the familiar picture of a vote divided along tribal lines. odinga is not accepting the result. >> the main point here is that what everybody wants to avoid is a repeat of the violence we've

seen in previous elections in kenya going back to 2007 when over 1000 people died postelection, and even in 2017, over 100 people died when the election was contested and nullified. this time around, it looks like odinga is going to file the petition to the supreme court to contested the result of the election. he was not present this afternoon for the reading out of the election result. what will happen then is there is a seven-day waiting period during which supreme court will decide to confirm the victory of ruto, meaning odinga has lost. if it decides it is odinga who is the legal winner, there will be a 60 day period before new elections can be held in the country.

that is the period that could be very dangerous as far as election violence is concerned. anchor: tell us about william ruto and why did he win? >> mother politician -- neither politician are novices in the political game. we have seen them time and again, trying to become president of kenya. this time around, ruto has a vast program that in a way is quite comparable to odinga. both men have pledged to clamp down on one of the big scourges in kenya, corruption. sayingorruption is responsible for spoiling wide sectors of the economy in kenya. ruto has come up with a series of measures to improve the conditions for all canyons. that is important, all kenyans

in his speech, he said it was not going to be separated along ethnic lines. he's saying he wants to make od cheaper, for example, he wants to reduce inflation. wants to prioritize employment for young people. he also wants to set up a fund for small businesses. just one figure that puts it in order, it is like 46% of kenyans are finding itard to find enough food to eat because of climate changend the widespre drought in the country. there is this open demand for whoever is going to become president of kenya, has got to get the ball rolling quickly to satisfy the demands of the people who voted for tm. and the others who did n vote for him but are in need of a situation that will improve their lives. anchor: our international

affairs editor. continue to watch for developments on the situation in kenya. next come the french military has completed its withdrawal from malley -- mali six months after president macron announced his intent to withdraw. mali is at loggerheads with other countries in the european union, mostly because the junta has hired mercenaries at the cost of $10,000 a month to the taxpayers. they are trying to remove islamist extremists from power. reporter: it was the last contingent of france soldiers in the operation. on monday, they packed up and left following rising tensions

with the ruling junta. the nine-year operation leaves a mixed legacy, but for now, the departing soldiers are focused on the dangerous journey ahead. >> we are not scared. >> is our last battle, it is all good. >> are you happy it is your last one? >> is all good. >> you're not scared? >> no, there soldiers with us. reporter: the soldiers have days to move equipment and bring it to the french base in niger. as they depart, the soldiers seem to have mixed feelings about what they are leaving behind. >> you are leaving in a few hours? >> we are leaving this theater of operations in a few hours. >> how do you feel, seeing as

you are leaving? >> how could i put it? it is complete, our mission is completed. it is very important we leave altogether and in good health. reporter: over the years, the influence of the islamist state group has expanded on the border. the journey ahead is daunting. >> we try to rotate positions so you don't always have the same people at the front or back of the convoy. we constantly rotate, rotate. because otherwise you sink into habits and routine and that can be dangerous. reporter: for these soldiers, getting comfortable can be dangerous. as he contemplates what lies ahead, this commander says he expects the departure of the force will be felt. >> i think it will be much more complicated for the malians by our side all these years.

the situation will probably be worse, i think our departure will open a crack for groups that will continue their people -- their evil works. reporter: it is the last sunset the soldiers will see over the base. in august, 42 malian soldiers were killed in an attack. the french soldiers's sense of frustration is clear. >> when you are a soldier, you can think about the political choices our government makes. we have one mission and our only goal is that mission. you cannot mix between these things. reporter: only a few more vehicles remain at the base. soon they will be gone and with them, the presence of the french army in mali. anchor: women across afghanistan

are vowing to continue the struggle for education and opportunities after a year of taliban rule that has confirmed what most people expected. promises that the new regime would allow women and girls the freedom to learn and grow have not been capped. across the country, -- have not been kept. across the country, poverty has forced even selling young girls into marriage eddie -- marriage at a time they should be in primary school. there is a shortage of all products and supplies that makes life under the taliban more difficult than many people feared it could be. reporter: less than a year after he was forced out of his country, this man is still adapting to his new surroundings. the 28-year-old afghan special forces officer says he was ready to die for his country and its leader. the former lieutenant with the field eight of the army chief of staff. he was on the front lines as kal fell on august 15, 2021.

>> that is me and that is the general. reporter: a few days later, he had to flee his country, like thousands of other soldiers. >> when i saw that picture, i never was thinking that one day we would be in that situation. we go to the inside of that

airplane. this is more than 700 people. yeah. that is the special forces soldier helping my son. reporter: he no longer wears his uniform but he is still faithful to his general. the former head of the afghan already was also expelled traded by the americans and now -- and was also removed by the americans and now lives at a secret location in virginia. every week, he brings together people like them, who once commanded to state that no longer exists. >> you are the dr., i've heard about you. you have a friend who went to canada, right? >> that's right. reporter: together these special forces officers, magistrates and

civil servants are dreaming up ways to reclaim their country. but for the 37-year-old general, they must first learn from past mistakes. >> as an army general, i was pushing still for martial law. we had a point of contact that was a two star u.s. general that was in charge of afghanistan in august. we had to discuss this with him, that we wanted to conduct martial law, but his answer was no. reporter: these images show the general speaking with the u.s. general in question. a few days later he made headlines when he became the last u.s. soldier to leave afghanistan after 20 years of war. >> we are talking to some u.s. officials that are trying to be engaged in afghan policymaking. we are still trying to find more

support for this firm to become reality, to bring the afghan young together and make a strong party for the future of afghanistan. there are some friends that are still there that used to work for me, some of the commanders. yeah, i do talk to them. reporter: hatching plans of armed resistance that must stand on solid political ground. >> we should share our ideas and we should take care of the narrative, and we should advise america and all of the western countries how to engage back with afghanistan. not the same way they did in 2001. that doesn't work anymore. reporter: for 20 years,

americans tried and failed to it impose democracy in afghanistan. now a new generation of afghans is dreaming of a future for their country halfway across the globe in the united states. anchor: our coverage of afghanistan continues as does our coverage of all world news. stay with us, you're watching france 24. ♪ ♪ ♪

host: 3000 miles from paris, the gap is being bridged. this artists latest record is an ode to multiculturalism. irma joins us in the studio. irma: thank you for having me. host: let's start with the latest record, i believe this is the first language in french. why shift now? irma: i wrote this during the first lockdown, and during this crazy period of time, i guess we all wanted to go back to the roots, the core of who we were, who we are, and to me, it was getting closer to my mother

language, to get closer to my roots too. i don't know, i just had to reconstitute some of these parts of me. olivia: it was definitely a time of soul-searching. let's get some more, here's a clip. [singing in french] ♪ being of that cultural mix, you

were born in cameroon, lived in france, and in new york as well. how do you blend that mix of places culturally and musically? irma: it has been a wild journey. obviously when you come from africa and you move to the western world, you try to figure out who you are your entire life. i realized i was at home everywhere and i did not have to ask myself that many questions, except the environment where i was, learn from it. i guess i just let go, you know, of the want to define myself. just where i am and go along with the vibe. olivia: that identity shines through in your music. i heard in terms of the creative process, you start with the melody, the instrumental side of things, and do lyrics later.

does the melody bring you the acid some way of the song -- the message some way of the song? irma: yes, and there is just trust in music that is and expect a bow, the notes can convey so much that even words cannot do. that's why like to start with the notes. surrounding with my instruments and just playing around like a child, trying to find the melody that will stick in my ear for hours and hours. olivia: the sound inspires you. as well as the composition and the interpretation of your songs, you produce them on the label. i read it is a variety -- i read it is named after a variety of wood that is very strong and can withstand any kind of force. where does your strength come from? irma: i guess it comes from my educational background, but also

everything i have lived. i met a lot of different people from different cultures and i had this chance to make music since i was very young. i guess the strength also comes from adversity, a lot of adversity. you know, just being pushed into the world at a very young age, you learn how to get tough. but also keep your sweetness because you don't want the fact that you are strong to destroy this sweetness we all have. olivia: it is interesting you point that out, on the flipside, one single talks about having weak spots or fractures or flaws. let's get a taste of the intimate, vulnerable mood on that track. [singg in french]

it is quite a brave choice to talk about facing your own weaknesses. tell us more about exploring those personal issues on the album. irma: it started at a moment where i was feeling very low, i am not going to lie. i realized i was not going to find if yo -- find any light if i was not willing to face my dark sides. what i consider being flaws and weakness. i come from this very -- the performance background, you have

to be at your best and mistakes are not allowed. doing so, i realized i cut myself off from a huge part of myself because we are humans, after all, and a mix of all of those things. today i realize how flaws and mistakes are actually the essence of who we are and what makes us human. olivia: your career started with a bang when you were very young, i think it was almost a bit of an accident, your debut album a huge success. when you look back at that time, what advice would you give to the young woman you were then? irma: so many advise to [laughter] -- so many advice. [laughter] the main thing would be to stay true to yourself no matter what must a true to what she believes in. olivia: do you think you managed to do it? irma: i guess so, i hope so. olivia: at that time, social media was really instrumental in

getting your music out there. your online presence seems to be more of a mood board or a lab for experiment imputing even aesthetically -- for experimenting. even aesthetically. irma: the digital world is a gold mine, as well as something that can be distracting from what you want to do. if you can use it to bring forward your vision and for your own purposes, it can be very powerful. there is a lot of creativity out there, a lot of inspiration. i guess, this is now how we feed each other's work. i think it is pretty amazing, what we can nourish with the digital world. olivia: where has it taken you recently? have you gotten sucked into

visual influences or sounds? irma: right now when i am using the internet and the social networks, it is mainly to watch certain videos. [laughter] i bend watch -- binge watch his videos and i think a lot of people are. that's one of the strengths of the internet, those kind of messages you could not have a few years back, and right now it is just on the internet and accessible and you can have them. olivia: a strong spiritual dimension as well. i read that when you were a child, you have a strong memory of what social injustice was and you've never been able to accept it. do you see yourself as an artist

who will rock the boat a little bit or raise awareness? irma: i guess as an artist, you don't have to have that mission, but for me, my mission is ultimately to help people get closer to their emotions and inner world, you know what i mean? through art, through sounds, through other things. i think that is ultimately the arts's mission is to help people get closer to what is going on and sign, because otherwise it is just a reflection. olivia: i know you will be playing some concerts this summer in france, but you kindly agreed to give us a little live taste of that music. can you tell us the name of the song? irma: a song we talked about earlier. olivia: fantastic. thank you for being with us. i will let you take it away.

irma: [singing in french] [gentle guitar strumming] ♪

♪

08/15/22 08/15/22 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] amy: from new york, this is democracy now! >> symbolilly and lely siifican onof theotenti legal violatio underonsideraon by t departmt of jusce senda strongessage, nely, at t justi departmt is tang this investigion to new lev, that t stakes e highnd the is suspion