Barely 77 kilometres north-east of Ouagadougou, Boussouma has been reduced to a shell of its former self. The trading posts that once pulled in merchants from surrounding villages sit silent, fields have…
Author: Martin Ngu
Journalist
What Mali’s 2026 independence celebration means for citizens and businesses across the AES
The 66th anniversary of Mali’s independence, observed in Bamako on 22 September 2026, was far more than a ceremonial milestone. Because the country marks its national day while simultaneously belonging to the…
Gabon’s bold move on EU fishing talks: what it means for local jobs and economy
Economy Gabon’s bold move on EU fishing talks: what it means for local jobs and economy 107 No comment Libreville, September 23, 2026 — The Gabonese government is set to renegotiate its…
Chad faces crisis as minors in military attire spark national security concerns
Video exposing military-dressed minors triggers urgent judicial response in Chad When a video surfaced online featuring five minors dressed in military uniforms delivering harsh criticisms of state leadership and institutions, Chad’s judicial…
Why a shipment of trucks and servers in Cotonou could mean faster rescues across Benin
Faster rescue times: the consequence that matters most On Tuesday 22 September 2026, inside the grounds of the Ministry of Interior and Public Security in Cotonou, the Beninese Civil Protection Agency (ABPC)…
How Senegal’s BRVM bond debut reshapes West African debt markets
The Republic of Senegal has achieved a landmark financial milestone with its first-ever bond listing on the regional stock exchange. By debuting four sovereign bond issuances totaling 305 billion West African CFA…
What the ‘Nanga’ armored vehicle saga is already costing Burkina Faso’s people and economy
Nearly 300 armored vehicles bearing the name “Nanga” — scorpion — are said to have been built or converted inside Burkina Faso since November 2025. Captain Ibrahim Traoré, head of the Transition,…
Moussa Kaka’s vanishing in Niamey: what it now costs Niger’s journalists, businesses and citizens
When a broadcaster of Moussa Kaka’s standing goes quiet in Niamey, the damage spreads well beyond one family’s doorstep. The director general of Radio Télévision Saraounia (RTS) and one of the most…
Cameroon’s miniature scandal: how a minor case upended four careers and stoked press freedom debates
In Cameroon, what began as a seemingly trivial incident involving a pair of government-issued glasses spiraled into a judicial storm that reshaped the lives of four journalists and sent shockwaves through the…
Nigeria’s Ondo methanol disaster: families, businesses and a region’s economy count the cost of 48 preventable deaths
The methanol-contaminated alcohol crisis in Nigeria’s Ondo State has moved far beyond a single grim statistic. With 48 people confirmed dead and roughly 180 others seriously poisoned, the consequences are now unfolding…
Mali’s 66 years of independence: the heavy toll of conflict on households, businesses and the state
On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Mali marks the 66th anniversary of its accession to international sovereignty. But for the vast majority of Malians, this year’s milestone arrives with little to celebrate and…
The Nanga question: what an unverified armoured vehicle programme means for Burkina Faso’s soldiers and public finances
Every armoured vehicle that rolls out of a workshop carries a price tag, and in Burkina Faso the bill for the Nanga programme is being settled before anyone outside the security apparatus…