Senegal floods: what Sonko’s two years at the helm actually delivered
By Maimouna Kaboré — Journalist
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Cotonou port’s transit traffic jumps from 9.6 to 14.7 million tonnes
The port of Cotonou is pressing ahead with its transformation, cementing its position among West Africa’s leading gateways for imports and exports. As regional trade patterns shift, Benin’s flagship maritime infrastructure is widening its reach and pulling in new cargo flows. That strategy is already delivering measurable results. Transit traffic has risen sharply, driven largely […]
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Niger’s uranium gamble: behind the curtain of Niamey’s post-Orano power play
Why Niamey’s uranium strategy after Orano is a high-stakes balancing act The coup of July 2023 didn’t just shift Niger’s political compass—it redrew the entire map of its uranium sector. By breaking ties with France’s Orano, Niamey sought to reclaim control over a resource that has long defined its economic identity. Nationalising the state-owned Somaïr, […]
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Behind the scenes at Cotonou: how Algeria’s deal-making reveals Africa’s integration challenges
Why Algeria’s economic push at Cotonou exposes the hidden costs of closed borders Cotonou’s Benin Deal Room 2026 isn’t just another investment forum—it’s a pressure test for Africa’s South-South cooperation model. As Algerian firms jostle for partnerships in pharmaceuticals, energy, and infrastructure, the closed border between Niger and Benin looms as a stark reminder: no […]
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Inside the Nigerian military ATR-42 disaster: why routine flights demand scrutiny after Igbokoda tragedy
Uncovering the hidden triggers behind the ATR-42 crash near Igbokoda When a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 vanished from radar during what officials described as a routine flight, it wasn’t just the aircraft that went missing — it was public trust in the safety of military aviation. The crash near Igbokoda, Ondo State, on October 5 […]
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Behind Cotonou port’s transit surge: how Burkina Faso reshaped West African trade flows
When the political crisis between Benin and Niger disrupted traditional trade routes in 2023, few expected the port of Cotonou to not only survive but thrive. Instead of collapsing under the strain, the Beninese maritime hub pivoted—redirecting its transit flows toward new hinterland markets, with Burkina Faso emerging as the standout beneficiary. By 2025, nearly […]
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Unpacking the strategic forces behind Benin’s 65.5 billion FCFA pact with France
Behind the high-profile ceremony at the Élysée Palace lay a carefully crafted economic blueprint, not just another round of diplomatic handshakes. The 65.5 billion FCFA financing package signed between Benin and France is the result of months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, sector-specific feasibility studies, and alignment between Cotonou’s national development plan and Paris’s strategic investment priorities. […]
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Unpacking the $250,000 US aid package for Benin’s human trafficking crackdown
Behind the curtain of Benin’s latest anti-trafficking initiative lies a carefully engineered $250,000 grant from the United States—one that reveals deeper systemic challenges and strategic responses rather than just a financial infusion. The funds arrived not as a broad donation, but as a targeted toolkit designed to plug critical gaps in victim identification, case tracking, […]
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Inside Niger’s media crackdown: why Moussa Kaka’s disappearance exposes deeper threats to press freedom
Behind the disappearance of one of Niger’s most prominent journalists lies a broader, unsettling shift in the country’s media landscape. Since the July 2023 military takeover that brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power, the space for independent reporting has tightened dramatically. Arrests have escalated, critical media outlets have faced suspension, and legal pressure has become […]
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Burkina Faso: examining the intersection of patriotism and national priorities in the absence of the Stallions
The absence of Burkina Faso’s national football team from its scheduled participation in Argentina has ignited a debate over the country’s evolving priorities. Reports suggest the entire squad was requisitioned for what authorities term ‘patriotic insertion,’ raising critical questions about the balance between national duty and athletic competition. The mechanics behind the requisition: understanding the […]
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Cotonou port’s transformation: how a logistics hub is rewriting West Africa’s trade narrative
Cotonou port’s strategic pivot: beyond hinterland dependence The Port of Cotonou has long been viewed as primarily dependent on trade flows to its landlocked neighbors. However, recent performance data reveals a deliberate and transformative strategic shift. While regional corridors face persistent disruptions, the Béninois port is aggressively diversifying its traffic sources, expanding its operational scope, […]
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The silent arbitrator: Clément Atangana’s death and the unspoken tensions within Cameroon’s constitutional council
The passing of Clément Atangana, a towering figure in Cameroon’s judiciary, marks not just the end of an era but the unraveling of an institution long perceived as a monolith of political control. His death in Paris at the age of 84, following a prolonged illness, leaves behind a constitutional council that many now question: […]
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