Togo’s press freedom under scrutiny after journalist’s sanction The sanction imposed on journalist Emmanuelle Sodji has reignited concerns about the state of press freedom in Togo, raising critical questions about the intersection of regulatory enforcement and the public’s right to know. As the debate intensifies, the implications stretch beyond newsrooms,Continue Reading
The economic and diplomatic ripple effects of Benin’s latest strategic outreach to Rwanda have begun to unfold, as President Romuald Wadagni concluded a landmark 48-hour working visit to Kigali. The high-level engagement—his first official trip to Rwanda since assuming office—sends a strong signal about Cotonou’s commitment to deepening one ofContinue Reading
The abrupt downfall of one of Niger’s most powerful generals isn’t just a military shake-up—it’s sending shockwaves through everyday life, business operations, and the national economy. General Moussa Salaou Barmou, once a central figure in Niamey’s ruling junta, has been placed under house arrest following his removal as Chief ofContinue Reading
Three tripartite agreements signed in Lomé on 11 September have set a process in motion whose consequences will reach far beyond the negotiating table. Benin, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso and the UN refugee agency have laid down a framework to prepare the voluntary, safe and dignified return of Burkinabè whoContinue Reading
Four ministries changed hands in Niamey within hours, wrapped up in a presidential decree and presented as an ordinary administrative refresh. For the millions of Nigeriens living with the fallout, it is anything but ordinary. The Niger post-coup purge triggered by the aborted takeover of 28-29 August has now reachedContinue Reading
Benin’s strategic push to upgrade the Cotonou-Niamey logistics corridor is reshaping daily realities for businesses, households, and regional economies. Backed by a €30 million investment from the European Union and Belgium’s Enabel agency, this infrastructure overhaul aims to turn Benin into West Africa’s most reliable trade gateway—but what does thatContinue Reading
When Saudi air defence batteries brought down a Houthi drone over the southern approaches to Mecca, the number that mattered most was zero: no deaths, no injuries, no debris in the streets. Yet the real consequences of that single interception stretch well beyond the tactical scoreboard. For the worshippers crowdingContinue Reading
On August 21, 2026, Niger witnessed a security failure so profound it shattered public trust in the military regime. Moments after Friday prayers ended, heavily armed militants surrounded multiple mosques, sealed all exits, and forcibly marched nearly 500 worshippers—men, elders, and boys—into dense forest cover. Days later, their fate remainsContinue Reading
The Nigerian military’s relentless counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast have reshaped the conflict with Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Lake Chad basin. In a landmark briefing from Maiduguri, outgoing Joint Task Force HADIN KAI commander Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar unveiled devastating losses for the jihadist factions: over 1,100 fightersContinue Reading
For twenty-six days, from 22 September to 17 October 2026, the Fnac Paris Saint-Lazare will turn its third-floor forum into a showcase for Benin. Exhibitions, talks, debates, film and music make up a programme designed to connect history, memory, spirituality and contemporary creation. The stakes go well beyond a culturalContinue Reading
The cost of an unfinished law For weeks, lawmakers in Senegal have been trying to bring special funds under some form of legal framework. That effort remains unfinished, and the absence of a final mechanism is exactly why a significant share of discretionary state spending still escapes effective scrutiny byContinue Reading
KIGALI — Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni began a two-day official visit to Rwanda on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in a diplomatic trip that carries far-reaching implications for citizens and businesses back home. The visit, his first official journey abroad since taking office in May, brought him to the Rwandan capital,Continue Reading