In the early hours of Thursday, an Air Senegal flight, HC 301, was involved in a runway incident at Dakar's Blaise Diagne airport in Senegal. The Boeing 737-300 aircraft was departing for Bamako, the capital of Mali, when it skidded off the runway, leading to injuries among the passengers and crew on board.

According to a statement issued by the airport, at least 10 people were injured in the incident, with four of them sustaining serious injuries. Fortunately, the majority of the 78 passengers onboard were unharmed, despite the scare. The pilot also suffered minor injuries.

A video posted on social media, verified by the BBC, revealed the chaos as people quickly fled the burning plane. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.

In other news, US General Michael Langley has highlighted three major destabilizing factors in Africa: Islamist extremism, transnational crime, and climate change. He emphasized that these factors continue to have a significant impact on the region.

Meanwhile, the devastating floods in Kenya have claimed the lives of hundreds of people. Grishon Waiganjo, who lost two of his sons in the recent flooding, joins numerous other affected families grieving their loved ones. President William Ruto of Kenya has pledged to deploy all available resources to tackle the flood emergency and provide support to those affected.

The heavy rains in East Africa, which have caused the flooding, have been attributed to a combination of global weather events. The impact has been felt across the region, with incidents like a bus being swept off the road while traveling to Nairobi.

On a more positive note, Bassirou Diomaye Faye has been inaugurated as the fifth president of Senegal at a ceremony held in the capital city, Dakar. Faye, expected to become Senegal's youngest-ever president, assumes office at a crucial time as the country currently witnesses ongoing presidential elections, with approximately seven million people casting their votes to choose their new leader.

In the midst of the political dynamics, Dakar's schools are also engaging students in the democratic process. One school in Dakar recently held its own elections, providing an opportunity for young students to experience firsthand the workings of democracy.

As investigations into the Air Senegal incident continue, our thoughts are with those injured, and we hope for a quick recovery.