Month: May 2026

A year behind bars for Chad’s opposition figure succÈs masra

Ousmane Tandja

This Saturday, May 16, marks a full year since Succès Masra, a prominent Chadian opposition figure, was taken into custody. As the anniversary of his imprisonment passes, questions arise about the current state and future of Les Transformateurs, the political party he established. The former Prime Minister and leader of Les Transformateurs party was apprehended for allegedly inciting hatred following intercommunal unrest in the country’s southern region. In August 2025, he received a 20-year prison sentence. For the leadership and members of Les Transformateurs, this Saturday, May 16, marks a…

Read More

Senegal’s may turmoil: a month of protests and social unrest

Ousmane Tandja

The month of May has long been synonymous with social upheaval in Senegal, a tradition stretching back to the global labor rights movements of 1968. Coinciding with International Workers’ Day on May 1st, this period now amplifies ongoing discontent across multiple sectors in 2024. Workers, students, and civil servants are uniting in a crescendo of demands that show no signs of easing. From Dakar’s bustling transit systems to the corridors of academic institutions, tensions are reaching boiling points that threaten to disrupt daily life throughout the country. Transportation sector paralyzed…

Read More

Harvey elliott’s loan disaster at aston villa clouds liverpool future

Aïcha Abdou

Harvey Elliott faces an uncertain future at Liverpool after Aston Villa made it clear the 23-year-old would not feature in their upcoming clash against his parent club. Even if the fixture hadn’t been on the cards, Unai Emery wouldn’t have selected him. The decision isn’t about preserving Elliott for next week’s Europa League final against Freiburg—it’s about avoiding a costly financial obligation. The England international hasn’t played a single minute since March, as one more appearance would trigger a £35 million (£46 million) buy clause that Villa simply cannot afford…

Read More

Côte d’Ivoire: tabaski sheep shortage looms as Burkina Faso halts exports

Ousmane Tandja

Côte d’Ivoire: is a sheep crisis imminent before Tabaski? Concerns are mounting across Côte d’Ivoire following Burkina Faso’s recent decision to indefinitely halt its livestock exports. With the upcoming Tabaski celebration, Côte d’Ivoire’s demand for sacrificial sheep is projected at 350,000 head, with a staggering 75% typically sourced from neighboring countries. The crucial question now is whether the nation faces a significant sheep shortage. As the festive period approaches in just ten days, how is the Ivorian government strategizing to avert a potential crisis? Furthermore, should consumers brace for an…

Read More

N’Djamena refutes un claims of civilian deaths in Lake Chad strikes

Ousmane Tandja

Fichier généré le Lire dans l’app Chad’s government has firmly rejected allegations from the United Nations concerning civilian casualties resulting from military operations in the Lake Chad region. Gassim Chérif Mahamat, the Minister of Communication and government spokesperson, addressed national media on Thursday, asserting that such accusations are designed to discredit the Chadian army and undermine its integrity. He underscored the Chadian armed forces’ unwavering professionalism and their crucial role at the forefront of the fight against terrorism across the Sahel and within the Lake Chad basin. These accusations follow…

Read More

Malian refugees in Mauritania: a delicate balance between hope for return and fear of further displacement

Ousmane Tandja

“If the Russian mercenaries depart, we will return home.” This sentiment, shared by Mosso*, a Malian refugee in Mauritania, encapsulates the fragile hope for repatriation following significant attacks in late April against the Malian army and its Russian allies from Africa Corps. These coordinated assaults, executed by the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) separatists and jihadists from the Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (Jnim, affiliated with Al-Qaeda), dealt an unprecedented blow to Mali’s ruling junta, in power since a 2020 coup, even claiming the life of…

Read More

Abidjan hosts a dynamic mobile technology exhibition

Ousmane Tandja

The third annual mobile phone and application exhibition has successfully opened its doors in Abidjan, underscoring Côte d’Ivoire’s strategic drive to forge a robust digital mobile sector, integrating both national and international industry players. This significant event brings together equipment manufacturers, application developers, telecommunication operators, and institutional representatives within a nation where smartphones have become the primary gateway to internet access. The 2024 edition builds upon the foundations laid by its two predecessors, which initiated crucial dialogues between the industry and public authorities. Strategically, this gathering occurs as the Ivorian…

Read More

The sister of chadian opposition figure succès masra raises alarm over his deteriorating health

Ousmane Tandja

The situation surrounding Succès Masra has now entered its second year, drawing significant attention from Western diplomatic missions monitoring Chad’s transitional government. Arrested a year ago in N’Djamena, the former Prime Minister and leader of Les Transformateurs party is currently serving a twenty-year prison sentence. His sister, Chancelle Masra, residing in France, has publicly voiced her profound concerns, describing his detention conditions as unsuitable given her brother’s declining health. This urgent appeal emerges amidst a tense political atmosphere, marked by the ongoing consolidation of power by Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno.…

Read More

Marseille vs rennes: where to watch, teams and odds ahead of the clash

Ousmane Tandja

The final matchday of Ligue 1’s 2025/26 season is set to deliver high-stakes drama as Olympique de Marseille host Stade Rennais at the Stade Orange Vélodrome this Sunday. With Europe’s qualifying spots hanging in the balance, this showdown promises intensity, tactical battles, and a fight for pride between two teams with contrasting ambitions. While the Stade Rennais team aims to secure a top-four finish and potential UEFA Champions League qualification, Marseille faces a must-win scenario to avoid slipping behind AS Monaco in the race for a European spot. The stakes…

Read More

Tchad denies un accusations over civilian casualties in Boko Haram strikes

Ousmane Tandja

Tchad denies UN accusations over civilian casualties in Boko Haram strikes Breaking news. The Chadian government strongly refuted on Thursday allegations from the United Nations regarding civilian deaths during military operations against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. While N’Djamena firmly rejects these claims, it has expressed readiness to launch investigations into the incidents. N’Djamena stands by its armed forces The Chadian government’s spokesperson, Gassim Chérif Mahamat, condemned on Thursday accusations that he claimed could undermine the credibility of the country’s military. He emphasized that the Chadian armed forces…

Read More

Laurent Gbagbo remains PPA-CI leader amid Ivorian political shifts

Aïcha Abdou

Laurent Gbagbo has been reaffirmed as president of the Parti des peuples africains-Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI) in a decisive congress held in Abidjan, marking a new chapter for the party he founded in 2021. At 81, the former Ivorian head of state secured another term, despite ongoing legal restrictions that have kept him from electoral participation. The gathering, the first of its kind since the party’s inception, unfolded against a backdrop of shrinking influence for radical opposition groups in Côte d’Ivoire. Rebuilding political relevance amid electoral setbacks The PPA-CI’s decision to…

Read More

Chad denies un accusations over civilian deaths in Boko Haram strikes

Ousmane Tandja

The Chadian government has firmly rejected accusations by the United Nations that civilian casualties occurred during airstrikes against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region. During a press briefing held this Thursday, May 14, officials demanded concrete evidence and offered to host an independent investigation team. The UN had previously stated that airstrikes attributed to Nigeria and the Chadian Armed Forces resulted in nearly a hundred civilian deaths in northeastern Nigeria and Chad, some of which occurred during operations targeting Boko Haram. The international body called for an immediate inquiry…

Read More