Author: Aïcha Abdou

The National Assembly of Senegal has ratified a sweeping constitutional amendment in a landmark plenary session held on June 29, 2026. Despite a coordinated boycott by opposition legislators, the bill secured overwhelming support from the 129 ruling Pastef party deputies present in the chamber. Following the vote, the Assembly President, Ousmane Sonko, addressed the nation’s leader, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, in a pointed public statement. Sonko’s remarks underscored deepening policy disagreements between the two key figures who once spearheaded the Pastef movement to victory in the March 2024 presidential election. Sonko…

In Mali, thousands of people who had fled their homes are now returning to their villages in the Bankass area, located in the central part of the country. This return has been made possible by local agreements between village communities and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate. The villagers are allowed to go back to their houses and cultivate their fields, though under conditions imposed by the jihadist groups. These include mandatory wearing of the veil for women and a ban on Western-style education in…

National Assembly president Ousmane Sonko has called on President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to promulgate the constitutional revision law passed by a qualified majority of deputies on Monday. According to Sonko, the head of state cannot pick and choose which constitutional provisions he accepts, nor can he submit the text to a referendum, since in his interpretation the three-fifths vote of the National Assembly constitutes both adoption and approval. Speaking after the reform was voted through, Sonko reminded that “constituent power” lies with the National Assembly when it is in session.…

Mali: Human Rights Watch report accuses JNIM, army and rebels of civilian abuses On Monday, June 29, 2026, Human Rights Watch released a report accusing JNIM jihadists, Tuareg rebels from the FLA, Mali’s army, and Russia’s Africa Corps of committing serious abuses against civilians since the coordinated attacks in April. The report details that all parties have carried out illegal attacks on civilians, destroying and looting homes and businesses. The fighting, triggered by the joint JNIM and FLA offensive against junta positions on April 25 and 26, left at least…

Football fans across the globe are buzzing with anticipation as Yan Diomandé, the dynamic Ivory Coast winger, inches closer to a blockbuster deal with Paris Saint-Germain. The young starlet, whose performances at the recent World Cup have turned heads, may finalize his move to the French capital far sooner than expected. This development could redefine PSG‘s summer transfer strategy, potentially outpacing even their other high-profile negotiations. Despite Liverpool’s relentless pursuit, Diomandé has opted for the Parisian club, sending shockwaves through the transfer market. The Reds had tabled two staggering bids…

As the 2026 World Cup is in full swing, Paris Saint-Germain is stepping up its summer recruitment. The capital club is accelerating efforts, particularly regarding the transfer of Maghnes Akliouche. The French international has reportedly made a decision about his future in case he leaves AS Monaco this summer. After winning the Champions League for a second consecutive year, PSG is clearly planning a busy transfer window this summer. The capital club wants to provide new options for Luis Enrique next season and has therefore stepped up its recruitment efforts.…

Gabon achieved a trade surplus of $6.9 billion in 2025. This result, reached despite global trade contraction, falling oil prices, and disruptions to maritime routes, highlights the structural strength of the country’s external position. The surplus stems from a net difference between exports of $10.73 billion and imports of $3.83 billion. With an export-to-import ratio above 2.8 to 1, Gabon holds a favourable position within the Cemac zone, where several other economies have seen their trade balances shrink due to rising freight and input costs. The global context was unfavourable.…