After the deadly JNIM offensives, Malian authorities face mounting pressure In a series of coordinated strikes that have sent shockwaves through Mali’s central regions, the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) has intensified its campaign against government forces in Dioura and Sévaré. The latest assaults, which left no fewer thanContinue Reading
The recent assault on the Dioura military camp in central Mali has ignited a fierce debate across the Sahel and beyond. With dozens of Malian soldiers and Russian Africa Corps personnel killed, questions are mounting about the effectiveness of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) security strategy and its relianceContinue Reading
In a bold Independence Day address, Mali’s transitional leader, General Assimi Goïta, has sparked intense public reaction by pledging both a military escalation against jihadist groups and a sweeping national reconciliation effort. Delivered as deadly attacks against Malian forces surge, the address marks a pivotal moment, leaving citizens and analystsContinue Reading
After the wake-up call: what Cameroon’s public debate reveals about security threats The director of communication at Cameroon’s Ministry of Defense has ignited a national conversation by framing the country’s security challenges as a test of enduring patriotism. Addressing the public in a recent editorial, Atonfack Guemo warned that theContinue Reading
Mali’s national budget is buckling under an unprecedented squeeze, hammered by sanctions and a slowing economy. At the same time, the cost of hosting Russian paramilitary forces — first the Wagner Group and now its Kremlin-supervised successor, Africa Corps — has climbed to dizzying heights. Consolidated estimates and financial leaksContinue Reading
With the fourth quarter now in view, economic signals remain strongly favourable for Benin’s public treasury. Buoyed by a solid mid-year performance — 2,329.6 billion FCFA already mobilised by the end of June, equal to 56.2% of the revised annual target of 4,148.4 billion FCFA — the government is enteringContinue Reading
The scale of United Russia’s victory in the 2026 State Duma elections is now clear. With 355 of the chamber’s 450 seats, Vladimir Putin’s party has secured a two-thirds majority that will shape the country’s legislative direction for years to come. But the immediate question in Moscow and beyond isContinue Reading
The release of a new Amnesty International report has ignited fierce debate across eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The document details alleged human rights violations by the M23 armed group, accused of systematically exploiting artisanal miners in critical mineral sites like Rubaya and Lomera. Repercussions are already spreadingContinue Reading
The gap between Bamako’s assertive public messaging and conditions on the ground has become increasingly difficult to dismiss. Over recent months, Malian forces have sustained heavy losses at the hands of JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Attributing these outcomes solely to a lack of courage among soldiers doesContinue Reading
Senegal’s 2029 political landscape rocked by Sonko’s playful challenge to Mané in Bambali The air still hums with laughter from Bambali after Ousmane Sonko, President of Senegal’s National Assembly, turned a routine agro-industrial groundbreaking ceremony into a political statement. His lighthearted jibe at football star Sadio Mané—declaring that while footballContinue Reading
Paris Saint-Germain’s narrow victory over Marseille has intensified scrutiny over the state of French football this season, as clubs grapple with performance gaps, financial pressures, and the sustainability of their ambitions. The Narrow Path to Victory Despite a lackluster display that fell short of high expectations, Paris Saint-Germain secured aContinue Reading
The palace in Niamey: a climate of fear and regret Does he ever miss the days when he was simply the head of the presidential guard, working in the shadows without a care? Today in Niamey, the atmosphere inside the presidential palace has become suffocating. A little over three yearsContinue Reading