A paradox of sovereignty: how the AES finances itself through the regional market At the heart of the Alliance of Sahel States lies a persistent contradiction. The three member nations…
Month: September 2026
Benin’s schools reopen nationwide as security improves and fees are waived
A new school year begins across Benin On Monday, 14 September 2026, classrooms throughout Benin came back to life. From the far north to the southern coast, pupils and teachers…
TEXFORCES-BF: Burkina Faso’s textile gamble with pension funds
A high-stakes wager on Burkina Faso’s industrial future TEXFORCES-BF, a flagship textile initiative, has been presented as a cornerstone of Burkina Faso’s economic sovereignty and industrialisation drive. Official enthusiasm is…
Niger’s external liabilities hit 12,900 billion FCFA as economic independence remains elusive
Official rhetoric in Niger continues to celebrate a break from foreign influence and economic emancipation, but the hard numbers from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) paint a…
Benin’s school meals programme reaches 1.9 million children as government bets on social and economic returns
Benin’s school canteen programme has crossed a significant threshold. For the 2026-2027 academic year, roughly 1.9 million children now receive a hot meal on every school day, up from 1.4…
Alger’s olive branch to Bamako: a thaw that hides old wounds
A handshake in Bamako that speaks louder than words In the gilded salons of the Koulouba palace, Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Grine stood shoulder to shoulder with Mali’s military leader,…
Martinez Zogo case: key hearing wraps up for lead investigator in Cameroon
Investigator defends his work in court Colonel Jean-Pierre Otoulou took the stand to justify the investigation he led. He stated that he had gathered evidence, particularly regarding journalist Bruno Bidjang,…
Burkina Faso: the financial cost of proclaimed sovereignty
Since Captain Ibrahim Traoré assumed power, an official narrative has steadily taken hold: that of a Burkina Faso which has reclaimed control over its own destiny, diminished its external dependence,…
Dioura attack: 130 soldiers killed, 70 captured as Mali’s army suffers worst defeat against JNIM
A devastating blow in central Mali On the morning of Thursday, 10 September 2026, the town of Dioura, located in the Tenenkou circle in central Mali, became the site of…
Niger’s 334 billion FCFA tax arrears: a state held hostage by corporate giants
A fiscal system rigged against the small player While tax inspectors hound small informal traders with relentless zeal, they bow before the true titans of the economy. The disclosure of…
Benin’s AME teachers: what shifts in pay, welfare and integration for 2026-2027
A new chapter opens for Benin’s aspiring teachers As the 2026-2027 academic year gets underway, Benin’s Aspirants au Métier d’Enseignant (AME) are stepping into a fresh phase of their professional…