Behind closed doors: how Faure Gnassingbé turned Lomé into a hub for Chadian rebels
Unseen power dynamics: the hidden calculus behind Togo’s rebel sanctuary policy What appears on the surface as a gesture of regional mediation masks a far more calculated strategy. The presence of top figures from the Chadian opposition—now living under asylum in Lomé—reveals a tacit exchange that goes beyond diplomatic appearances. Behind closed doors, Faure Gnassingbé’s […]
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Niamey’s shadowy silence: what’s really behind the vanishing of journalist Moussa Kaka?
The sudden disappearance of Moussa Kaka, a venerated Nigerien journalist and director-general of Radio Télévision Saraounia (RTS), has cast a long shadow over Niamey’s media landscape. Kaka, whose decades-long career includes high-profile reporting on Sahelian security crises and political dynamics, vanished without explanation weeks ago, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions about his whereabouts […]
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Cameroon’s eyeglasses affair: behind the verdict that landed four journalists in court
When four Cameroonian journalists walked into a courtroom over a story about a minister’s eyeglasses, few expected the case to become a defining moment for the country’s press. The verdict that followed has raised hard questions about how far the law can go in punishing what began as a routine piece of reporting. How a […]
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Mali’s Africa Corps: Why 358 Russian deaths in three years expose a flawed security model
The deployment of Africa Corps in Mali, Moscow’s latest military rebranding effort, has reached a grim milestone that challenges the narrative of rapid territorial recovery promised by local and Russian authorities alike. Independent conflict trackers and security analysts now estimate that at least 358 Russian fighters have been killed in Mali since late 2021, a […]
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Unmasking the hidden killer: behind Ondo’s methanol-tainted alcohol tragedy that left 48 dead
How a cheap drink became a silent mass killer in Ondo State The death toll from a stealthy methanol poisoning outbreak in Ondo State, Nigeria has climbed to 48, with nearly 180 people rushed to hospitals in critical condition. What began as a routine weekend gathering for many turned into a race against time as […]
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The hidden economic calculus behind Sahel’s shifting stance on US migration deals
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has long positioned itself as a staunch critic of Western influence, particularly from France and the United States. Yet, behind the rhetoric of anti-colonial sovereignty lies a complex financial balancing act. Washington’s latest offer of $410 million to fund migrant outsourcing programs is testing the limits of this ideological […]
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Mali’s independence anniversary amid deepening security and economic strain
On September 22, 2026, Mali marked its 66th year of independence, but the occasion was far from celebratory. Instead of national festivities, the country faced intense security challenges and economic hardship, exposing the widening gap between official rhetoric and ground realities. The anniversary highlighted the stark contrast between the promise of sovereignty and the harsh […]
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Mali’s leadership under scrutiny: how Assimi Goïta’s independence speech clashes with harsh realities
On the occasion of Mali’s independence anniversary, the transitional government led by General Assimi Goïta presented a speech brimming with optimism. It painted a picture of economic resurgence, military progress, and renewed sovereignty. Yet beneath the official rhetoric lies a stark contrast between declared achievements and the lived experiences of Malians across the country. The […]
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Burkina Faso’s Nanga armored vehicles: unraveling the truth behind the ‘made in Burkina’ claim
The Burkinabè government has hailed the Nanga armored vehicles as a milestone in the country’s military sovereignty. Yet beneath the bold announcements lies a persistent question: what is the real origin of these vehicles? The official narrative: progress without transparency In late September, coup leader Ibrahim Traoré declared that nearly 300 Nanga vehicles had been […]
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Behind the strikes on Sévaré: how Mali’s security gamble is failing against jihadist resilience
The devastating attack on Mali’s Sévaré airbase and Konna barracks, carried out on September 20 and claimed by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), has exposed the fragile underbelly of Bamako’s security strategy. Despite heavy investment in advanced weaponry, Russian-backed mercenary support, and a shift away from Western partnerships, the […]
Read MoreMali’s deadly week: inside the JNIM’s coordinated strikes on Dioura and Sévaré
The past several days have marked one of the most intense episodes of violence in Mali’s recent security crisis, as the jihadist group JNIM launched a series of coordinated attacks against Malian armed forces and their Russian partners in Dioura and Sévaré. The scale of the assaults has sent shockwaves through Bamako, prompting President Assimi […]
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Behind the scenes: how Benin’s Sèmè field revival reshapes its economic future
By October 2026, Benin will make a historic return to the global oil stage with the first shipment of 250,000 barrels of crude from the offshore Sèmè field. This milestone isn’t just a commercial milestone; it’s the result of years of behind-the-scenes geopolitical, technical, and economic decisions that reveal how a nation’s energy strategy evolves […]
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