Can Mali’s civilians ever be safe when war crimes go unanswered?

Bamako — A new human rights investigation into Mali’s long-running conflict paints a deeply troubling picture of what happens when the line between counterinsurgency and civilian harm collapses. The report,…

Mali’s fuel crunch: can an emergency $13 million loan from the West African Development Bank keep the lights on?

What happens when a nation’s fuel supply runs dangerously low and its national power utility can no longer pay for the diesel that keeps the grid alive? That is the…

Can Burkina Faso truly claim ownership of its refined gold after RAFFINOR-BF?

A refinery unveiled amid promises of economic sovereignty On 28 September 2026, Ibrahim Traoré inaugurated Burkina Faso’s first national gold refinery in Ouagadougou, named RAFFINOR-BF. Officials presented the facility as…

Niger’s competitive dialogue at three years: has the reform delivered, or was it all for show?

A question three years in the making: did Niger’s competitive dialogue ever stand a chance? When Decree No. 2022-743/PRN/PM was unveiled on 29 September 2022, it was presented as a…

Benin’s UN diplomacy: can a dual approach of force and development win the Sahel security battle?

At the United Nations headquarters in New York, Benin used the final day of the general debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly to lay out a…

Can the Cotonou civil society assembly really reshape francophone peace before Cambodia?

What leverage can grassroots organisations truly wield when the cameras leave and the final communiqué is filed? That is the question hanging over Cotonou as the 16th ordinary plenary assembly…

Can Ghana keep its health data and still get global funding? the $109 million question that Africa is now asking

Accra has turned down a health agreement with Washington over access to medical records, pathogen information and alleged restrictions on drug oversight — a decision that has reignited the debate…

Kribi at 15: can China’s deep-water port keep powering Cameroon’s rise?

Fifteen years ago, Mboro on the outskirts of Kribi, a town in southern Cameroon, was little more than an isolated fishing village, its few homes linked by narrow, winding dirt…

Senegal’s UK transit visa conundrum: can Dakar preserve its global mobility strategy?

In a move that has caught West African capitals off guard, the United Kingdom has expanded its airport transit visa requirements to include Senegal and eight other nations from the…

Who really controls Côte d’Ivoire’s airwaves — and what happens if that control fails?

Abidjan, 28 September 2026 – What exactly is a radio frequency, and why should its management matter to ordinary Ivorians? How are these invisible signals allocated across Côte d’Ivoire, and…

The Faso Armored dilemma: can Burkina Faso’s 300 armored vehicles claim survive scrutiny?

Is Burkina Faso’s much-touted armored vehicle program a genuine industrial breakthrough or a carefully staged political performance? That is the question at the heart of the controversy surrounding Faso Armored,…

Benin’s AEO gateway to China: can small exporters truly seize the prize?

A customs passport that opens Asia’s largest market Benin’s commercial ties with China have entered a new phase. The rollout of the mutual recognition agreement under the Authorized Economic Operator…