Dioura’s aftermath: the human and economic toll of Mali’s unspoken defeat

The cost of silence: what Dioura means for Mali’s soldiers, families and economy When Mali’s chief of general staff dismissed the situation at Dioura with a curt “there is nothing…

What Cotonou’s savings agenda means for everyday wallets and West African businesses

When West African households keep their money in short-term deposits or idle cash, the region’s businesses feel the pinch first. That reality was front and centre in Cotonou, Benin, on…

Niger: how losing citizenship under Tiani reshapes lives, livelihoods and the economy

In Niger, nationality has become a privilege that can be revoked at the whim of the ruling general. Since the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) seized…

What Alain-Georges Moukoko’s appointment means for Libreville’s justice system and citizens

Politics What Alain-Georges Moukoko’s appointment means for Libreville’s justice system and citizens Libreville, Friday, September 18, 2026 – The appointment of Alain-Georges Moukoko as the new prosecutor general at the…

How the Benin–Spain cultural alliance will reshape jobs and tourism in West Africa

The cultural partnership taking shape between Benin and Spain is no longer a matter of protocol alone. For the thousands of artisans, tour guides, restorers and small tourism operators who…

Niger: how Tiani’s post-coup crackdown is reshaping daily life for citizens and businesses

The decree signed on 17 September against five Nigeriens, including former Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, lands in a political and military climate already stretched to breaking point. Having survived an…

Niger’s CFPD fund: how 1.8 billion FCFA a month shapes daily life and business

When a monthly financial flow of 1.8 billion FCFA becomes the object of a quiet struggle at the very top of the state, the consequences do not stay locked inside…

Mali’s press reforms: what the employers’ unity means for journalists, publishers and the wider economy

The recent employers’ consultations and the proposed prefiguration cell for media self-regulation have been presented as a show of unity. Yet the reality on the ground tells a different story.…

What Niger’s role in Libya’s Fezzan power struggle means for citizens and the Sahel economy

The real-world cost of Niamey’s deepening involvement in southern Libya The consequences of General Abdourahamane Tiani’s growing involvement in southern Libya are already being felt far beyond the desert battlefields.…

Benin–Cuba trade revival: the real impact on businesses and households

The renewed economic partnership between Benin and Cuba is no longer just a diplomatic talking point — it is beginning to shape the commercial landscape that businesses and households in…

Togo’s silencing playbook: the real cost of Marguerite Gnakadé’s year in detention

The price of dissent in Lomé One year. That is how long has passed since Marguerite Essossimna Gnakadé, a former minister of the armed forces, was taken into custody on…

Niger’s CFPD dispute: growing fallout, fierce public debate and a 1.8 billion FCFA question still without answers

Why a 2024 decree still shapes today’s argument A signed decree. Billions that could theoretically be mobilised. A brand-new defense architecture. A reshuffling of responsibilities. Then the arrival of yet…