Month: June 2026

Senegal’s constitutional council dodges key issue in Sonko affair

Ousmane Tandja

The Constitutional Council’s U-turn: from bold guardian to procedural evasion On February 15, 2024, Senegal’s Constitutional Council made headlines by boldly asserting its role as the ultimate protector of the Constitution and the institutional balance of power. Yet, in a striking reversal, its June 17, 2026 ruling on Ousmane Sonko’s reinstatement as a deputy shied away from the core constitutional issues at stake. The Council chose not to rule on the merits of the case. Instead, it declared itself incompetent—raising a pressing question: what vision does the Council now hold…

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Burkina Faso: bad outlines 2027 strategy roadmap

Aïcha Abdou

In the heart of Ouagadougou, the African Development Bank Group is charting a new course for Burkina Faso’s future. From May 4 to 8, 2026, a high-level delegation led by Lamin Barrow, the Bank’s West Africa Director-General, initiated a series of consultations to shape the Country Strategy Paper 2027-2031. This framework will guide the Bank’s support to align with the nation’s evolving development priorities. The visit served a dual purpose: assessing the outcomes of the interim cooperation framework for 2022-2026—recently extended through year-end—and identifying key focus areas for the upcoming…

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Bénin: massive drug incineration in Ouidah by Anracs

Aïcha Abdou

Massive drug incineration in Ouidah sends a strong message against organized crime in Benin Benin’s unwavering commitment to dismantling organized crime networks took a public and decisive turn in Ouidah on June 18, 2026. The National Agency for the Recovery of Confiscated and Seized Assets (Anracs) carried out a high-profile incineration of significant quantities of illicit substances, including 95 kilograms of cocaine, in Ahozon commune. This public demonstration underscored the country’s zero-tolerance stance against drug trafficking and related criminal activities. The operation, conducted at the waste management site operated by…

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Eastern DRC resilience: aime boji rejects claims of national abandonment in occupied zones

Ousmane Tandja

eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: those who believe our brothers and sisters in occupied territories can renounce their national identity are mistaken, says aime boji People arrested by AFC/M23 rebels in Goma Security Friday, June 19, 2026 – 10:44 The President of the National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Aimé Boji Sangara, has praised the resilience of populations affected by armed conflicts in the eastern regions of the country. He simultaneously reinforced the National Assembly’s unwavering stance on national unity and territorial integrity. Speaking during the closing session…

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Ivory Coast advances in professionalizing domestic work sector

Ousmane Tandja

West Africa news Ivory Coast advances in professionalizing domestic work sector The Ivorian government is reinforcing its commitment to formalize and elevate the domestic employment sector, recognizing its vital role in the nation’s economy and daily life. — 2 min read The Ivorian government has renewed its dedication to formalizing the domestic employment sector, a cornerstone of the national economy and household operations across Côte d’Ivoire. On June 16, 2026, in Abidjan-Cocody, Maurice Grah, Deputy Director of Studies and Development at the Social Security Department, reiterated this pledge during the…

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Bénin parliament to review urgent budget and governance laws

Aïcha Abdou

Bénin parliament to review urgent budget and governance laws Lawmakers in the Bénin’s 10th legislature are set to convene at the Palais des Gouverneurs this Friday for a critical legislative session. Two priority bills will take center stage during the plenary meeting, both submitted under urgent procedures. Key bills on the agenda The first is a revised national budget for 2026, which will be presented to deputies for swift approval. The second focuses on amending the law governing the office of the Médiateur de la République, a key institution for…

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Burkina Faso assembly debates religious freedom law amid security concerns

Aïcha Abdou

The National People’s Assembly (ANP) is set to deliberate a pivotal bill on religious freedom this Saturday, marking a critical juncture in Burkina Faso’s legislative process. The proposed law, approved by the Council of Ministers on March 19, will undergo its first major parliamentary review, with lawmakers expected to assess its implications for secularism and national cohesion. The draft legislation arrives at a time when security challenges have intensified the debate over how to safeguard both religious liberties and public order. While Burkina Faso has long been celebrated for its…

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Senegal’s political crisis: what lies ahead for the nation

Aïcha Abdou

Since March 2024, the political landscape in Senegal has undergone a seismic shift. The rise of the Pastef party—led by Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Ousmane Sonko—marked a decisive break from traditional governance. Yet what began as a unified front has now evolved into a high-stakes power struggle between the presidency and the parliamentary majority, reshaping the nation’s institutional balance. Following the removal of Ousmane Sonko from the Prime Minister’s office and his subsequent election as President of the National Assembly, a new chapter has unfolded—one that tests the resilience of…

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DRC east: AFC/M23 accuses mediators of complicity in Kinshasa’s peace process sabotage

Ousmane Tandja

Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo – The political wing of the Allied Forces of Congo/Movement 23 March (AFC/M23) has sharply criticized what it calls the dangerous and bellicose rhetoric of President Félix Tshisekedi, delivered during a recent address in Houston, United States, to a segment of the Congolese diaspora following the DRC-Portugal World Cup match. The AFC/M23 leadership, represented by its political coordinator Corneille Nangaa, issued a statement from Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, condemning the President’s remarks regarding the security situation in eastern DRC. Nangaa emphasized…

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East dr Congo: afc/m23 accuses mediators of complicity in peace process failure

Aïcha Abdou

East DRC: AFC/M23 condemns international mediators’ silence as Kinshasa sabotages peace efforts Goma, June 19, 2026 Leaders of the AFC/M23 movement during a critical meeting with MONUSCO representatives in Goma Mounting international condemnation of Kinshasa’s hardline stance The Allied Forces of Congo/Movement 23 March (AFC/M23) has issued a scathing statement accusing international mediators and regional partners of complicity in what it describes as the deliberate sabotage of peace initiatives in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a press conference held Thursday in Goma, North Kivu’s provincial capital, AFC/M23’s political…

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Morocco and gambia deepen strategic partnership with barrow’s message to mohammed vi

Aïcha Abdou

Morocco and Gambia strengthen strategic alliance with key message from President Barrow to Rabat A special envoy from Banjul delivers a letter to King Mohammed VI, highlighting the excellent state of bilateral relations between the two African nations. Diplomatic relations between Morocco and Gambia have entered a new phase of mutual understanding in Rabat. Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, held a meeting this Thursday with his Gambian counterpart, Sering Modou Njie, who arrived in the Moroccan capital as a special envoy of President Adama Barrow. The focal point of the…

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Gabon braces for un anti-corruption evaluation in 2026

Ousmane Tandja

From 29 June to 1 July 2026, Gabon will host a high-level international assessment team as part of the second review cycle of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The visiting experts—drawn from UNODC, Chad and Libya—will scrutinise the country’s progress in preventing graft and recovering illicit assets. The upcoming country visit phase marks a decisive milestone in Gabon’s long-standing anti-corruption drive. After years of institutional reforms and tighter public-sector oversight, the National Commission to Fight Corruption and Illicit Enrichment (CNLCEI) has confirmed that Libreville will serve as the host…

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