Month: May 2026

The Confédération africaine de football has selected Congolese official Jean-Jacques Ndala to oversee the first leg of the Ligue des champions final. The high-stakes match between Mamelodi Sundowns and AS FAR is scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria, South Africa. At 38 years old, the referee from the Congo remains a prominent figure in African football, famously having officiated the final between Sénégal and Maroc. Although his performance in that game drew significant criticism, the continental governing body has reaffirmed its faith in him by assigning him to major club…

Renowned Jurist Théodore Holo Commends Romuald Wadagni’s Vision for Benin In a recent interview with Bip Radio, Théodore Holo, former president of Benin’s Constitutional Court, expressed strong approval for the historic leadership transition marked by Romuald Wadagni’s election as President. Holo, a distinguished professor of public law, highlighted the promising early days of the new administration, particularly its balanced approach to infrastructure development and human rights protection—two critical pillars he believes are vital for national progress. A balanced vision for Benin’s future According to Théodore Holo, the priorities outlined in…

In Burkina Faso, the Fula community is facing severe human rights violations, according to independent investigators from the United Nations. Reports detail a surge in extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detentions, abductions, and forced disappearances during military and security operations targeting jihadist groups in the Sahel region. These abuses paint a grim picture of repression and targeted violence. un experts highlight systemic abuses against fula civilians The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed deep concern over the grave violations endured by the Fula people in Burkina…

Nearly four months after the Africa Cup of Nations final—a match won by Senegal on the pitch but later awarded to Morocco by the CAF appeal jury—the legal status of Senegalese fans detained in Rabat remains unchanged. Although three individuals have been granted release, those identified as the main instigators of the pitch invasion and subsequent altercations with security and police forces continue to serve their sentences. During a televised broadcast, the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, spoke about the Lions of Teranga supporters currently facing prison terms of…

Under the scorching Dakar sun, the synthetic turf of CICES buzzes with an unusual energy. Away from the hustle of VDN Boulevard, Be Sport Academy buzzes like a hive of activity. Fifteen-year-old Souleymane meticulously tightens his laces while teammates slip into jerseys and adjust shin guards. The session should have started ten minutes ago, but no one utters a superfluous word—everyone is focused. The moment the ball starts rolling, young faces light up. Passes flow, runs synchronize, and movements become fluid under the watchful eyes of coaches. For these adolescents,…

On what marks World Press Freedom Day, the current assessment reveals a deeply concerning reality: in West Africa, the act of reporting has transformed into a perilous, even heroic, endeavor. Following the ascendance of military administrations, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—collectively forming the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES)—are experiencing an unprecedented crackdown on information. A tightening grip on journalistic integrity Whether through the abrupt cessation of transmissions by the Malian channel Joliba TV, the closure of the Burkinabè daily L’Observateur Paalga, or the recent abduction of journalist Serge Oulon…