Burkina Faso’s militarisation drive: mounting backlash as more citizens flee
Building a military elite while civilians keep running for their lives is a contradiction that Ouagadougou has yet to confront. Burkina Faso now intends to train its own officer corps, a move presented by Ibrahim Traoré’s government as a decisive step toward strategic sovereignty. The Tiéfo-Amoro Higher Military Education InstituteContinue Reading
Gabon’s fisheries overhaul: public debate erupts as EU renegotiation deadline looms
The Gabonese government has formally launched negotiations for a new sustainable fisheries partnership with the European Union, sparking intense public and political reactions. In a decisive move on September 18, 2026, the Council of Ministers approved the framework for these talks at the presidential palace in Port-Gentil, marking a criticalContinue Reading
Cameroon’s B- sovereign rating holds amid political transition fears
Standard & Poor’s has reaffirmed Cameroon’s sovereign credit rating at B-/B with a stable outlook, a decision that appears reassuring at first glance but places the spotlight squarely on the country’s looming political transition. Announced in mid-September, the ratings decision arrives at a pivotal moment when the succession to PresidentContinue Reading
Senegal’s revised budget 2026 lands in parliament after public pressure
The clock was ticking on Senegal’s budget calendar Friday when parliamentary leaders confirmed receipt of the 2026 revised finance bill – three days past the deadline Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô had set for September 15. What began as a routine finance document ended up at the center ofContinue Reading
Senegal’s local elections: public outcry grows as Diomaye Faye’s delay tactics spark debate
As the January 2027 deadline for Senegal’s local elections looms, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s persistent silence on the issue is triggering a wave of reactions across the nation. Critics accuse him of political brinkmanship, while supporters argue the delay may be a calculated move to strengthen democratic foundations. With noContinue Reading
Dioura fallout: the debate Bamako can no longer contain after JNIM’s damning counter-narrative
When Mali’s chief of defence staff flatly claimed there was “nothing at Dioura,” the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) answered with a communiqué whose toll left little room for doubt. By claiming the assault in granular detail — complete with photographic and video evidence — theContinue Reading
After Cotonou’s savings summit, West Africa debates what comes next
The second Regional Shareholding Forum in Cotonou has ended, but the debate it ignited is only gathering pace. Over two days in September 2026, institutional players, company leaders and market specialists pressed for a deep shift in how people across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) invest theirContinue Reading
Niger’s citizenship revocations under Tiani: the backlash, the debate and what comes next
The fallout keeps widening. Since the CNSP seized power by force in July 2023, Niger’s rulers have moved from jailing critics to erasing them legally — and the reactions are now coming from every direction. General Abdourahamane Tiani’s government no longer settles for silencing opponents through prison or exile; itContinue Reading
Gabon’s justice system under scrutiny: how Alain-Georges Moukoko’s appointment could reshape Libreville’s prosecutor’s office
Justice & Policy Gabon’s justice system under scrutiny: how Alain-Georges Moukoko’s appointment could reshape Libreville’s prosecutor’s office Editorial Team September 18, 2026 108 No comment Libreville’s judicial landscape faces a pivotal moment as newly appointed prosecutor general Alain-Georges Moukoko takes office amid rising public expectations for efficiency and transparency inContinue Reading
Benin–Spain cultural alliance: the reactions, the debate, and what comes next
The cultural partnership taking shape between Cotonou and Madrid is no longer a quiet diplomatic footnote. It has become a genuine talking point in both countries, sparking reactions from artists, cultural operators, tourism professionals and observers who now want to know one thing: what happens after the applause fades? TheContinue Reading
Niger: the unraveling of Tiani’s rule after the failed coup and what it means for the country’s future
When a leader who seized power through a coup begins to fear being toppled himself, the consequences ripple far beyond the presidential palace. In Niger, the fallout from the 29 August coup attempt has sparked a far-reaching purge that is reshaping the country’s political landscape and raising uncomfortable questions aboutContinue Reading
Niger’s CFPD fallout: what the 1.8 billion FCFA monthly fund fight means for the junta’s future
The fallout from Niger’s CFPD battle: a power struggle measured in 1.8 billion FCFA a month A fierce internal battle is reshaping Niger’s military leadership, and the fallout is now spilling into public debate and the country’s political outlook. At the heart of the fight is the Commandement des ForcesContinue Reading