Ivorian land fraud: social media influencer Rita Djédjé jailed, Apoutchou National and Serey Dié face legal probe

The Ivorian judiciary has taken a decisive step in the country’s largest land fraud scandal, with social media celebrity Rita Bénédicte Djédjé Grahon—known publicly as “Maman Caï-Caï”—being remanded in custody…

France expels two Nigerien intelligence officers amid escalating diplomatic standoff

France has ordered the expulsion of two intelligence officers from Niger’s external security agency (DGDSE) who were stationed at the Nigerien embassy in Paris, marking a further deterioration in relations…

Oryx Energies sells for $1B: Africa’s fuel giant shifts hands in landmark deal

Oryx Energies, the Swiss-based hydrocarbons trader with deep roots in Africa, has been sold in a $1 billion deal, reshaping the continent’s energy landscape. The acquisition marks one of the…

Benin launches 14 health centers and Ouidah maternity upgrade to bridge rural care gap

Benin has taken a decisive step in its public health modernization drive, greenlighting the construction of 14 new health centers nationwide alongside a complete overhaul of the Ouidah zone hospital’s…

Benin launches new coastal authority to balance tourism and wetland protection in Fidjrossè-Ouidah corridor

Benin has taken a decisive step to regulate development along its critically important Fidjrossè-Ouidah coastline by establishing a dedicated authority. The move aims to accelerate tourism growth while preventing unchecked…

Burkina Faso’s 40 billion FCFA debt quandary: market borrowing trumps sovereignty claims

Despite repeated declarations of economic sovereignty and self-reliance, Burkina Faso has once again turned to regional financial markets to secure critical liquidity. On October 7, 2026, the government finalized a…

Niger’s fuel supply crisis: reality clashes with official statements

Official denials meet visible shortages at Niger’s pumps Niger appears to be the only nation where fuel shortages manifest dramatically in daily life yet remain absent from official reports. As…

Benin formally requests 35 cultural artifacts from France in latest restitution push

Benin escalates cultural recovery with formal request to France The government of Benin has officially submitted a request to France for the restitution of 35 additional cultural artifacts and historical…

EU kicks off groundbreaking trade mission in Cotonou to unlock Benin’s economic potential

The European Union has launched a landmark economic mission in Benin’s economic hub, Cotonou. This three-day trade initiative, launched on October 7, 2026, brings together European business leaders and Beninese…

Niger court sets precedent: lawyer faces five-year sentence over social media posts

Five-year term sought for Niamey lawyer Abdourahamane Lirwana Niamey’s criminal court has delivered a stern warning to legal professionals daring to challenge state narratives online. Lawyer Abdourahamane Lirwana, held in…