Month: September 2026

A blunt warning that unsettles the official narrative General Yacouba Isaac Zida has delivered a stinging judgment on the political theatre surrounding Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). His words leave little room for ambiguity: genuine sovereignty does not mean selecting which foreign power to depend on; it means building the capacity to depend on none. That formulation cuts through the rhetoric of the Burkinabè transition and exposes what he describes as a sovereigntist illusion. Zida is not a neutral observer. He once led Burkina Faso’s…

In a street of Niamey, bags of drinking water intended for the Russian personnel of Africa Corps were slashed open and crushed underfoot. What looked like spontaneous vandalism was something far more pointed: a public statement of the fracture separating ordinary Nigeriens from the Russian troops based in the country and from the military government of General Abdourahamane Tiani. Shredded plastic scattered across the ground and clean water seeping into the dry soil of the Sahel, under the clamour of an angry crowd — the scene, filmed and shared endlessly…

Burkina Faso has barred its former prime minister, Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla, from travelling abroad, under a decision issued by the authorities of Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The move adds another chapter to the gradual tightening of control exercised by the transitional government over a set of political and public figures. Appointed to lead the government by Ibrahim Traoré in October 2022, Kyélem de Tambèla ran the executive until his departure in December 2024. An exit ban aimed at a man who no longer governs The restriction therefore falls on someone…

The Burkinabè government has approved a 104.175 billion CFA franc initiative to expand its electricity transmission and distribution networks, connect more than 250,000 households, and lift the electrification rate to 70% by 2030. The plan falls under the National Energy Pact and the RELANCE 2026-2030 programme. A bold target with an unresolved funding question At first glance, the announcement carries obvious appeal. Yet it raises a far more practical issue: where will the money come from, and does Burkina Faso have the financial credibility to back such an ambition? Existing…

As terrorist threats persist along its northern borders, Bénin’s government is doubling down on a clear strategy: never let asymmetric warfare dictate the timeline. The decision to close and relocate several schools from the “red zones” of the Atacora and Alibori departments to secure perimeters is part of this doctrine of prevention and state prudence. By staying one step ahead of danger, public authorities are cutting short the intimidation tactics of non-state armed groups, whose methods traditionally rely on surprise attacks against vulnerable targets. In several countries across the sub-region,…

LOMÉ, 14 September 2026 — A leading figure in Togolese medicine and higher education has taken charge of West Africa’s health policies as of 1 September 2026. Professor Palokinam Pitché has been appointed to lead the West African Health Organisation (WAHO). Selected as part of the renewal of ECOWAS governing bodies for the 2026-2030 term, this Togolese academic brings top-tier clinical and strategic expertise to the community institution. A driving force in the fight against HIV For two decades, Palokinam Pitché has shaped the medical response to major epidemics in…

The dismissal of Moussa Salaou Barmou from the helm of Niger’s armed forces, coming less than a fortnight after the attempted coup of 28-29 August, raises a far deeper question than a mere military reshuffle. In this crisis, General Barmou emerges above all as the symbol of a fault line: how far can Niger accept that a foreign force takes direct part in a confrontation between Nigeriens? Barmou is not the traitor some would like to see General Moussa Salaou Barmou is no stranger to the Nigerien army. A former…

Le camp militaire de Dioura, situé dans la région de Mopti, au centre du Mali, a été la cible d’une attaque meurtrière le 10 septembre. Selon les informations recueillies, près de 80 militaires maliens auraient perdu la vie lors de cet assaut. Le Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (JNIM), affilié à Al-Qaïda, a revendiqué l’opération quelques heures plus tard, affirmant avoir pris le contrôle de la position avant de se retirer. Plusieurs soldats sont toujours portés disparus et d’autres auraient été capturés. Pour les populations locales, ce…

Entre 50 et 80 militaires maliens et membres d’Africa Corps (ex-Wagner) ont perdu la vie le jeudi 10 septembre lors d’une attaque djihadiste visant le camp militaire de Dioura, dans le centre du Mali. L’ampleur de ce massacre a été confirmée par les autorités locales le lundi 14 septembre, qui ont également annoncé des « opérations aéroterrestres contre les assaillants ». Monde 3min En dépit d’un conflit qui dure depuis une quinzaine d’années, l’attaque djihadiste de grande envergure contre le camp militaire de Dioura (centre du Mali), le jeudi 10…