At first light on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the banks of the Niger river on the outskirts of Gao became the scene of a blood-soaked assault blamed on Russian mercenaries…
Year: 2026
Gabon’s public debt falls back below 70% of GDP after audit
Gabon now has a clearer picture of its public debt. Following an audit launched by the state and finalised as of 31 December 2025, the consolidated stock has been set…
Land digitalisation in Gabon: economy minister joins SNEDAI GROUPE protocol
The move is part of a broader push to establish a fully computerised, secure and interconnected land and cadastral system. The aim is to make data more reliable, improve plot…
Somaïr’s uranium collapse in Niger: when technical incompetence hides behind a logistics smokescreen
A production freefall that exposes a broken model Once paraded as the crowning proof of reclaimed sovereignty, the running of the Société des mines de l’Aïr (Somaïr) by an entirely…
Niger’s military unravels: why soldiers are abandoning Tiani’s ranks
Mass desertions toward armed groups, chronic shortages of equipment and deadly clashes with Russian Africa Corps operatives — the military government of General Abdourahamane Tiani is confronting mounting rejection from…
Sahel alliance states carry 7,727 billion CFA francs in regional market debt
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…
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,…