Inside the cycle: why farmer-herder clashes keep pushing Nigerians across the border into Cameroon
Société Inside the cycle: why farmer-herder clashes keep pushing Nigerians across the border into Cameroon Every new wave of farmer-herder violence in Nigeria sets off the same chain reaction: families pack what they can carry and head for the hills, crossing into Cameroon’s North West. Behind the latest arrival of more than 600 Nigerians in […]
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Niger’s general Tiani: from power grab to prisoner of his own regime
The turning point: how a coup trap became a personal nightmare for General Tiani Back in 2023, General Abdourahamane Tiani was content to lead the presidential guard from the sidelines. No threats, no public pressure—just quiet authority. Today, however, the palace halls of Niamey hum with tension. More than three years after seizing power in […]
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Inside Mali’s media shift: how one news portal became the army’s unofficial mouthpiece
In Mali’s fragile media landscape, where the line between factual reporting and wartime propaganda has long been contested, a critical transformation has unfolded behind the scenes. What was once a reputable digital news platform has shifted from independent journalism to an uncritical conveyor belt of official military narratives, reshaping how citizens perceive the country’s security […]
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Senegal’s palm oil push with Indonesia: the real story behind the 60,000-hectare plan
Senegal’s long-stalled palm oil sector is suddenly back in the spotlight. For years, cultivated area never rose above 12,000 hectares — now Dakar is betting on Indonesian know-how to leap to 60,000 hectares. The real story is not just about planting more trees. It is about why a decade of inertia went unchallenged, and why […]
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Gabon-EU fisheries talks: the strategic calculations behind a reset
When Gabon’s Council of Ministers convened at the presidential palace in Port-Gentil on Friday, 18 September 2026, the decision to authorize negotiations for a new Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) and its implementing protocol was more than a routine procedural step. It marked the culmination of a carefully calibrated strategy that began more than a […]
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Senegal’s local elections: inside Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s strategic silence
The mechanics behind an undeclared election date In Senegal, the absence of a firm date for the next local elections is not a simple administrative oversight. It is the product of a deliberate political calculation that has kept the country’s political class, civil society, and international observers guessing. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who came to […]
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Behind Cotonou’s savings revolution: how West Africa’s idle cash could fuel financial independence
At a time when West African economies grapple with the dual pressures of rapid development and external financial dependency, a pivotal shift is unfolding in Cotonou. From September 17 to 18, 2026, the second edition of the Regional Equity Ownership Forum brought together institutional leaders, corporate executives, and financial experts under the banner “Equity Ownership […]
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How Benin and Spain are leveraging art to redefine their global partnership
The unexpected strength of the Benin–Spain cultural alliance lies not in grand proclamations, but in the quiet mechanics of shared ambition. Behind the scenes, diplomats and cultural strategists in Cotonou and Madrid are reshaping how two nations—one West African, one European—cooperate across art, heritage, and modern creativity. This is not just about cultural diplomacy; it’s […]
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Niger’s junta at a crossroads: how a thwarted coup reshaped power under Tiani
In the world of politics, few moments are as revealing as a leader who gains power through an unconstitutional takeover only to later fear being toppled in a similar fashion. This paradox now defines the Nigerien junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani. Less than three months after surviving a violent coup attempt on August 29, […]
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Bénin and Cuba’s hidden momentum: how old ties are driving new economic strategies
The unsung roots of Benin-Cuba economic revival Behind the official handshakes and signed agreements lies a deeper phenomenon: the strategic reawakening of Benin and Cuba’s half-century partnership. What began as diplomatic courtesy has quietly evolved into a calculated economic reset, driven by geopolitical shifts and mutual ambition. The meeting between Cuban Ambassador Denisse Amaro Salabarría […]
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Togo’s silent playbook: how one year in detention reveals the mechanics of political suppression
The anatomy of a strategic silence: what Marguerite Gnakadé’s year in detention exposes One year. That’s how long Marguerite Essossimna Gnakadé, Togo’s former defense minister, has been held in detention. Arrested on September 17, 2025, her case has become a stark reminder of a long-standing political pattern in Lomé: crossing the government’s red line often […]
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Behind Baudelaire Ndong Ella’s Washington debut: the strategy driving Gabon’s US reset
When Baudelaire Ndong Ella formally stepped into his role as Gabon’s ambassador to the United States last Tuesday, the moment was more than a ceremonial formality. The veteran diplomat presented his credentials to President Donald Trump at the White House, signaling the start of a mission designed to deepen the partnership between Libreville and Washington. […]
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