Month: June 2026

Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé hosted two senior United Nations officials on Monday, 8 June 2026, in Lomé. The envoys are James Swan, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and head of MONUSCO, along with Huang Xia, the special envoy for the Great Lakes region. This meeting formed part of the biannual review of the African Union’s mediation efforts. Discussions focus on mediation progress The talks centred on the current state of diplomatic initiatives and the United Nations’ role in backing African-led mediation.…

Lomé hosted a high-level gathering on Monday, 8 June 2026, dedicated to african mediation over the crisis shaking eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region. Chaired by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the mediator appointed by the African Union, this meeting focused on a central challenge: better coordinating still scattered peace initiatives. Around the table sat the facilitators designated by the African Union, along with representatives from the United Nations, EAC, ECCAS, SADC, ICGLR and ICRC. The presence of these actors reflects the complexity of a file…

Libreville, Tuesday 9 June 2026 – The strategic dialogue held in Libreville between Gabon and the European Union goes far beyond the protocol of an annual diplomatic meeting. In the context of the Fifth Republic born from the April 2025 presidential election, this session reveals a profound shift in the relationship between Libreville and Brussels. Gabon no longer wishes to be seen as a recipient of international aid. It now aims to establish itself as a full-fledged economic, political and environmental partner. Through the exchanges held at the Omar Bongo…

A recent military intelligence report has disclosed that Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces have begun operating Turkish-made Bayraktar Akıncı drones, manufactured by Baykar. Satellite imagery of the sixth air base in Ben Guerir confirmed their presence. The images indicate that Morocco received these drones early last year and integrated them into the base, where they now operate alongside Bayraktar TB2 drones. By Ousmane Tandja — Senior correspondent

African Union envoy faure gnassingbé intensifies efforts for peace in eastern DRC As the African Union’s (AU) designated mediator for the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region, Faure Gnassingbé, President of Togo and current AU Council Chairperson, convened an urgent high-level review in Lomé to assess six months of mediation efforts in the conflict-stricken area. The meeting brought together senior representatives from the AU facilitators, alongside delegates from the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and key regional blocs including…

Economy Libreville, Tuesday, 9 June 2026 – Just hours after officially launching work on the Kobe-Kobe deepwater port on Gabon’s Atlantic coast, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema convened a strategic circle of ambassadors and representatives from the major powers involved in the project in Nyonie. More than a simple diplomatic audience, this meeting set the tone for an ambition now openly embraced: transforming Gabon into a leading industrial, logistics, and mining hub in Central Africa. Through this high-level exchange, the head of state aimed to send a clear message to…

A court in Bamako has sentenced French lieutenant-colonel Yann V. to twenty years in prison, nearly a year after his arrest in Mali. The officer, who was officially assigned to the French embassy, was also fined 3.6 million FCFA for alleged crimes against state security. Malian authorities accuse him of taking part in operations meant to destabilise the country’s institutions by rallying political figures, civil society actors, and senior army officers. Paris strongly rejects these allegations, calling the case baseless and demanding his release. This case comes amid heightened tensions…

The official launch of construction on the Kobe-Kobe deepwater port on Monday, June 8, 2026, marks far more than the start of an infrastructure project. It ushers in a new chapter in Gabon’s economic history. Behind the bulldozers and technical studies lies a national transformation project whose consequences could permanently reshape the country’s role in African and global trade. At Nyonié, on the Atlantic coast of Estuaire province, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema gave the starting signal for a program that brings together several strategic ambitions: industrialisation, economic sovereignty, diversification…