Burkina Faso’s market borrowing: the sovereignty paradox behind the 40 billion CFA franc bond
On 7 October 2026, Burkina Faso’s treasury returned to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UMOA) financial market to raise 40 billion CFA francs from private investors. The operation was completed, but it exposes a structural tension that has been building for months: a government that publicly champions self-relianceContinue Reading
Niger’s fuel queues: what lies beneath the official denial
In Niger today, an intriguing paradox is unfolding: fuel queues are visible on the streets, yet they seem to vanish from official statements. This discrepancy raises profound questions about the nature of governance and communication in times of strain. The roots of the denial Behind the scenes, the dynamics areContinue Reading
Benin’s 2027 budget: what the 4,757 billion FCFA plan really signals
Benin has taken a decisive step in shaping its 2027 fiscal year. The draft finance bill has been sent to the National Assembly for review and vote, carrying a balanced envelope of 4,757.029 billion FCFA in both resources and expenditure. That is a 14.7% jump from the 4,148.357 billion FCFAContinue Reading
Benin’s new claims to France: the inside story of a restitution machine
Why Cotonou is scaling up its restitution strategy When Benin secured the return of 26 royal treasures from France in 2021, it looked like a one-off victory. Three years later, the machinery behind that success is running at full speed. President Romuald Wadagni has now formally asked his French counterpart,Continue Reading
What’s behind Boko Haram’s resurgence in Cameroon’s Far North
By Alasane OUEDRAOGO — JournalistContinue Reading
Inside the missed handshake: why Anicet Ekane’s Yaoundé wait for Issa Tchiroma Bakary reveals deeper fractures in Cameroon’s opposition
By AMINATA KABORE — JournalistContinue Reading
Inside Chad’s solar push: why N’Djamena is betting big on photovoltaics
By Alasane OUEDRAOGO — JournalistContinue Reading
Why Angola’s diplomatic mission to Kinshasa signals deeper regional calculations in eastern DRC
By AMINATA KABORE — JournalistContinue Reading
Inside the EU’s first trade mission to Benin: what lies behind the Cotonou push
Something more calculated than a routine diplomatic gesture is unfolding in Benin. On Wednesday, 7 October 2026, the European Union formally opened its first-ever economic mission on Beninese soil in Cotonou, bringing with it a delegation of European companies eager to scout local investment openings. The timing and scale ofContinue Reading
Cotonou’s port efficiency: the hidden mechanics behind 36-72 hour container turnaround
Why Cotonou stands out in West Africa’s congested port landscape West African ports are choking under unprecedented congestion, yet Benin’s Cotonou Autonomous Port is quietly rewriting the rules. Container dwell times of just 36 to 72 hours have positioned this facility among the region’s most fluid maritime gateways — aContinue Reading
Aux origines du procès de Me Lirwana : quand la justice nigérienne resserre l’étau sur les réseaux sociaux
Le barreau nigérien sous pression : anatomie d’une affaire qui dépasse un simple avocat Le dossier de Me Abdourahamane Lirwana, avocat poursuivi pour ses publications en ligne, révèle une mécanique judiciaire qui interroge bien au-delà de sa personne. Placé sous mandat de dépôt il y a quinze jours, il comparaissaitContinue Reading
How Benin’s democratic DNA is quietly shaping West African justice
When Désiré Henri Aihou swore the judicial oath in Abuja on 6 October 2026, the moment looked like routine protocol. In reality, it offered a window into a deeper dynamic: how a country whose modern political identity was forged in a single decisive national conference is now exporting that institutionalContinue Reading