Month: May 2026

economic investigation2026 Tabaski in Senegal: why the sheep feast is pushing families into debt Every year, millions of Senegalese families plunge into debt to buy a sheep for Tabaski. From rotating savings clubs to microfinance lenders and informal loan sharks, an entire ecosystem of debt has grown around a religious celebration now turned social crisis. While Morocco has found a solution, Senegal still waits. Two weeks before Tabaski, the same anxiety grips fathers of families in Dakar—from working-class neighborhoods to the Almadies. The price of a sheep has climbed again:…

The legal saga involving Fadilou Kéita, Director-General of Senegal’s Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), and two prominent figures from Kaolack has intensified. This Wednesday, Serigne Mboup, the city’s mayor, and Habibou Lèye, operations manager of the ‘Cœur de Ville’ urban renewal project, were summoned to Dakar’s urban security offices for questioning. The move follows the formal filing of a complaint by the CDC chief, escalating a dispute that has taken on political dimensions. Challenging powerful local figures in Kaolack Serigne Mboup, a respected business leader and former president of…

Defence minister’s home raided in Burkina Faso’s financial scandal The Burkina Faso military is reeling from a betrayal at the highest level after a shocking theft of public funds. General Célestin Simporé, the country’s Defence minister, has been the victim of a brazen daylight robbery—170 million F CFA in cash vanished from his private residence. Shockingly, the alleged thief was not an outsider but one of his own trusted bodyguards, who is now reportedly hiding across the border. A breach of trust within the ranks The incident, first whispered among…

Chad’s economic transition is entering a critical phase, with the government pushing forward its « Tchad Connexion 2030 » initiative—a bold roadmap designed to steer the country away from its heavy reliance on oil revenues. International partners, including multilateral and bilateral donors, have reaffirmed their backing in N’Djamena, sending a strong political signal for a Sahelian nation long sidelined by regional instability. The real test now lies in whether this diplomatic alignment will translate into tangible financial flows matching the country’s pressing needs. Chad’s economic landscape remains fragile. Landlocked and…

The presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire unfolded under heavy security and heightened vigilance, yet concluded without significant incidents according to early reports from Abidjan. Polling stations across the nation functioned smoothly, with voters casting ballots under a reinforced security framework. Authorities had preemptively addressed concerns about potential communal clashes or post-election unrest, and the day passed without the feared escalations. High-stakes vote tests Ivory Coast’s political resilience This election took place against a backdrop of deep scrutiny. As West Africa’s largest economy within the West African Economic and Monetary Union…

Niger has officially inaugurated the Timersoï Uranium Mining Company (TSUMCO), a new national entity poised to assume control over uranium extraction operations in the strategically vital Arlit deposits, located in the country’s northern region. This pivotal establishment simultaneously signals the conclusion of the long-standing concession granted to the French conglomerate Orano, formerly Areva, over one of the Sahel’s most significant mining zones. This decisive action aligns with the broader agenda of natural resource reclamation pursued by the transitional authorities in Niamey. A new national enterprise for Arlit’s uranium The formation…