It is the latest financial twist in Lomé: the World Bank Group has just approved a massive $200 million package to upgrade transport infrastructure and revive a moribund railway network. Official statements…
Category: Analysis
Ouagadougou experiences widespread beer scarcity amidst market strain
For many residents of Ouagadougou, the simple act of sharing a beer with friends after a day’s work has transformed into a challenging quest. Over recent months, store shelves have rapidly emptied,…
Four years after the french departure, the Sahel’s sovereignty illusion unravels
The ambitious vision of a ‘second independence’ for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, heralded by the expulsion of French forces and a severing of ties with the West, has encountered a harsh…
Burkina Faso: opposition figure guy hervé kam remains detained without trial amidst health concerns
The circumstances surrounding the detention of Guy Hervé Kam continue to generate significant inquiry across Burkina Faso. The prominent lawyer, who co-founded the civic movement Balai Citoyen and presides over the political…
From Mali to lake Chad: how the absence of a security policy hands the Sahel to global jihadism
The sahelo-saharan strip has officially become the epicentre of global jihadism. From western Mali to the edges of the Lake Chad basin, millions of Sahelian civilians now live under the yoke of…
Russian houses: Moscow’s soft power lever in Africa
Russian cultural centres, known as Russian Houses, have become a central component of Moscow’s influence campaign across Africa, with a presence stretching from Bamako in Mali to Bangui in the Central African…
Niger formally begins withdrawal from international criminal court
Niger has officially initiated its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that aligns with the broader shift in policy undertaken by the military authorities since they assumed power in…
Niger three years after russian military shift insecurity worsens
Three years following the strategic military realignment with Russia in the aftermath of the July 2023 coup, Niger continues to grapple with an escalating jihadist insurgency. Despite the transitional authorities’ stated objective…
Burkina Faso faces EU criticism with defiance over human rights concerns
Following a resolution from the European Parliament addressing human rights and public liberties in Burkina Faso, the military-led administration that emerged from the September 2022 coup has reportedly opted to summon the…
Gabon’s untapped potential in intra-african trade under zlecaf
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers Gabon a gateway to a vast market of 1.4 billion consumers. Yet, despite this unprecedented opportunity, the country exports only 8.9% of its goods…
Burkina Faso’s economic narrative under captain Ibrahim Traoré
The ascension of Captain Ibrahim Traoré as Burkina Faso’s leader has positioned him as a prominent figure in Africa’s sovereignist movement. Through aggressive public relations campaigns and an extensive online presence, government…
Togo: Marguerite Gnakadé’s prolonged detention highlights political repression
In Togo, the case of Marguerite Gnakadé has emerged as a poignant illustration of the political tensions gripping the nation. A former Minister of Defense from 2020 to 2022—making her the first…