Niger’s hidden power struggle: how a 1.8 billion FCFA monthly fund reshapes elite dynamics
The Nigerien power elite is locked in a behind-the-scenes confrontation that stretches far beyond military doctrine. At the center of this internal power game is the Commandement des Forces de Protection et de Développement (CFPD), a specialized unit tasked with safeguarding the country’s most vital infrastructure. Behind its official mandate, however, lies a much more […]
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Mali’s media reforms: behind the facade of unity in a fractured industry
What appears on the surface as a unified front among Mali’s media owners during recent consultations may simply be a desperate attempt to salvage a sector on the brink of collapse. The show of solidarity masking the Cadre de concertation des faîtières (ASSEP, Groupement patronal, UNAJEP) hides a decade-long history of infighting, power struggles, and […]
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Niger’s general Tiani: the hidden calculus behind Libya’s southern power play
The coup that brought General Abdourahamane Tiani to power in Niamey in July 2023 didn’t just redraw Niger’s political map—it reset the country’s strategic compass. While the world watched for signs of domestic consolidation, behind the scenes Tiani’s regime began quietly recalibrating its foreign policy, with Libya’s southern desert emerging as a critical inflection point […]
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Niger’s defense restructuring: how hidden financial and power struggles shape national security
The creation of Niger’s Command of Protection and Development Forces (CFPD) in May 2024 was meant to secure critical infrastructure—from oil pipelines to mining sites. But behind its stated mission lies a deeper power struggle over control of troops, funds, and ultimately, the future of the country’s defense apparatus. From decree to dilemma: how a […]
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Mali’s shifting security calculus: why Bamako seeks US aerial intelligence despite Russian ties
Behind the scenes: Mali’s quiet pivot toward Washington The partnership between Mali and Russia, once hailed as an unbreakable alliance, is showing unexpected cracks. While Bamako hasn’t formally severed ties with Moscow, the Malian junta is quietly but decisively exploring alternatives—particularly with Washington. The driving force behind this shift isn’t ideological alignment but a pragmatic […]
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What’s really driving civilian deaths in Mali’s drone war?
The transformation of Mali’s conflict through drone warfare has been as rapid as it has been devastating. What were once marketed as precision weapons capable of surgically targeting militant groups now appear to be causing systemic harm to civilians. Between 2023 and 2026, 731 non-combatants lost their lives across 199 air strikes—figures that go far […]
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Nigeria’s presidential election: unpacking the police’s behind-the-scenes security strategy
The upcoming Nigeria presidential election has thrust the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) into the spotlight—not just for its traditional role in crowd control, but for its behind-the-scenes strategy to safeguard a process many Nigerians fear could be derailed by violence, fraud, and deep-rooted political tensions. The stakes could not be higher. With Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s […]
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What Benin’s tax office isn’t saying about the Parakou, Comè and Lokossa online rollout
Behind the rollout: why these three cities, and why now The General Directorate of Taxes is set to bring its e-services platform to partner taxpayers attached to the Small Business Tax Centres of Parakou, Comè and Lokossa, with a staggered activation beginning 21 September 2026. On the surface, the announcement reads as a routine extension […]
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Mali’s prison crunch: how mass arrests are reshaping justice and society
Mali’s prison system is straining under an unprecedented crisis, pushing facilities beyond their limits and exposing deeper structural weaknesses within the justice system. While chronic overcrowding has long been a challenge, recent years have seen the situation escalate dramatically due to a surge in detentions driven by intensified security operations and political transitions. The hidden […]
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Burkina Faso’s flawed agricultural model: how sovereignty overlooks the farmers who feed the nation
The reality in Tougan is starkly different from the rhetoric. Behind the headlines celebrating national sovereignty and industrialization, local farmers are grappling with a harsh truth: selling their harvests at a loss, drowning in debt, and, in extreme cases, contemplating migration just to survive. A farmer from Tougan shares their experience: “Last year’s maize harvest […]
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Inside the World Bank’s Abidjan youth opportunity push: what the 2026 Open Days reveal about jobs and entrepreneurship
The World Bank Group is preparing to host Open Days on 21 and 22 September 2026 at the Patinoire of the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan, a two-day event designed to bridge the gap between young Ivorians and the concrete opportunities available in education, training, employment, and entrepreneurship. Behind the scenes, the initiative reflects a […]
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Behind Niger’s youth rallying call: how the FPL’s bold move is rewriting the security narrative
The Nigerien military junta’s persistent failure to restore security has pushed the Front Populaire pour la Justice (FPL) into uncharted territory. In a sweeping outreach campaign, the rebel movement has unveiled a multilingual video appeal that cuts across linguistic and regional divides, directly targeting the nation’s youth with an urgent call to arms. Far from […]
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