Burkina Faso’s official reports claim near-total cereal self-sufficiency, yet the reality on the ground tells a far different story. In the bustling markets of Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, and rural towns, the stark contrast between government statistics and everyday life is impossible to ignore. For most Burkinabè families, the cost of stapleContinue Reading
Despite the official establishment of the Guaranteed Interprofessional Minimum Wage (SMIG) at 52,000 FCFA in Benin, numerous businesses continue to underpay their employees. In response, the government is intensifying its stance, urging workers to report violations to the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) while warning employers of severe penalties forContinue Reading
The International Monetary Fund has exposed the staggering cost of Niger’s border closures—over 117 billion West African CFA francs in lost public revenue. As political tensions escalate across the Sahel, the economic fallout is no longer just a regional shockwave; it’s a crisis threatening the very foundations of public services.Continue Reading
In Chad, the recent sentencing of opposition leaders from the Groupe de Concertation des Acteurs Politiques (GCAP) is far more than a judicial ruling—it is a stark declaration of intent by a regime that equates dissent with criminality. Since the Conseil Militaire de Transition (CMT) seized power in April 2021,Continue Reading
Amid rising insecurity and terrorist threats plaguing multiple localities in Niger, stakeholders are rallying behind innovative peacebuilding initiatives to forge sustainable solutions. At the heart of this collective effort lies inclusive dialogue—a powerful tool for strengthening social cohesion and countering violent extremism. Recognized as a national priority, this approach transcendsContinue Reading
The prolonged absence of President Paul Biya has reignited discussions about a potential power vacuum at the helm of Cameroon’s government. Speaking to the media on Thursday, July 23, Joshua Osih, leader of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) and member of parliament, described the situation as deeply troubling, warning thatContinue Reading
The struggle for press freedom in Burkina Faso has evolved beyond newsrooms and streets, now unfolding through clicks and orchestrated harassment campaigns on social media platforms. The rise of the BIR-C: virtual battalions targeting dissent A recent investigation reveals how the military junta, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has cultivatedContinue Reading
The Trump administration is weighing the possibility of launching military strikes in Mali against the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant organization. While no final decision has been made, the potential move is already sparking sharp divisions among U.S. officials. On the ground inContinue Reading
Few bilateral ties have endured as long and evolved as dynamically as the partnership between Washington and Rabat. What began as a historic gesture in the 18th century has matured into a complex, resilient alliance shaped by shared interests, geopolitical shifts, and mutual pragmatism. On June 23, 1786, Morocco etchedContinue Reading
challenges in gold sector governance: calling for national and foreign operators to account In Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, efforts to regulate the gold mining sector persist, yet their impact remains minimal. State revenues from gold exports are dwindling, revealing a troubling gap in accountability. This stark realityContinue Reading
Hidden in the revised 2025 finance bill’s revenue table lies a staggering adjustment—one that dwarfs all others in scale. The projected corporate tax from the mining sector has plummeted by 97%, collapsing from 53.2 billion CFA francs to just 1.47 billion. No other taxpayer group faces such a drastic revision.Continue Reading
The agro-industrial group Swami Agri, a subsidiary of the Indo-Senegalese conglomerate Senegindia, is breaking new ground in Senegal’s financial landscape. The company is launching the region’s first agricultural green bond—a 30 billion FCFA issuance to fund solar-powered cold storage units and a photovoltaic power plant. This landmark transaction marks aContinue Reading