Niger’s uranium after Orano: what the breakaway really costs citizens and businesses

Since the July 2023 coup, Niger has made a dramatic break from Orano, the French company that mined its uranium for over half a century. The nationalization of Somaïr, the…

Closed borders, open ambitions: what Algeria’s Cotonou bet really costs West Africa

When an Algerian multisectoral delegation walked into the Benin Deal Room 2026 in Cotonou from 16 to 18 September, the message was clear: Algiers wants its African presence to translate…

Igbokoda air disaster: how a military ATR-42 crash disrupts lives, livelihoods and confidence in Nigeria’s air force

What the crash means for people and businesses in Ondo state A Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 went down on Monday, October 5, in the Igbokoda area of Ondo state, south-west…

Burkina Faso’s transit boom at Cotonou port: what it means for jobs, prices and regional trade

When diplomatic tensions between Benin and Niger disrupted the region’s established trade routes, many expected the port of Cotonou to suffer. Instead, the platform quietly redirected its flows toward other…

How Benin’s 65.5 billion CFA franc deal with France will reshape daily life for citizens and businesses

A landmark financing package with real-world stakes for Benin Benin and France have taken a significant step forward in their partnership, unveiling a set of financial commitments worth 65.5 billion…

How Benin’s new $250,000 trafficking toolkit could change outcomes for victims on the ground

The United States has committed $250,000 to Benin to overhaul how trafficking cases are tracked, how victims are identified, and how quickly they receive help — a funding package that…

What Moussa Kaka’s disappearance costs Niger’s citizens, businesses and information economy

The evening of 31 August 2026 began like any other for Moussa Kaka. Around 7 p.m., the veteran journalist and director of Radio-Télévision Saraounia left his Niamey office to drive…

Burkina Faso: how the football team’s reported requisition affects citizens, sports, and the wider economy

A national team’s absence that carries consequences beyond the pitch The reported absence of Burkina Faso’s senior national football team from a scheduled engagement in Argentina has raised pressing questions,…

How Cotonou’s port surge is reshaping Benin’s economy and regional trade

A strategic shift that goes beyond the docks For years, the Port of Cotonou was seen primarily as a gateway for goods moving to and from its landlocked neighbours. Now,…

Clément Atangana’s death leaves Cameroon’s electoral disputes in uncertain hands

Eight years at the helm of Cameroon’s constitutional council come to an end Clément Atangana, the first president of Cameroon’s constitutional council, has died at 84 in Paris after a…

Cameroon’s 15,607 billion FCFA debt pile: what it means for jobs, prices and public services

Cameroon’s debt burden hits households and businesses where it hurts Cameroon’s public debt has climbed to 15,607 billion FCFA, and the effects are already rippling through the daily lives of…

What a Russian corridor through Lomé port could mean for Sahel households and traders

The expanding partnership between Lomé and Moscow is entering a more consequential phase. Beyond the stated intention to turn the port of Lomé into a transit platform for Russian goods…