Author: Aïcha Abdou

How science protects West African communities: an interview with Dr. Bintou Dembélé Bamako – To celebrate World Health Day 2026, themed “Unite for Health. Support Science,” the World Health Organization (WHO) is highlighting dedicated professionals who leverage scientific advancement to enhance lives across the African Region. Dr. Bintou Dembélé, a physician and public health specialist, has spent years combating infectious diseases and fortifying healthcare frameworks in Mali and throughout West Africa. She is a firm believer that scientific knowledge must serve the public. Her work focuses on utilizing research to…

Voter rolls read like empty promises when ambitious candidates face financial walls before the first ballot is cast. Across Africa’s electoral landscape in 2025, presidential races were routinely decided long before campaign posters ever went up. Two recent contests—Djibouti on April 10 and Benin on April 12—epitomize this trend. In Djibouti, incumbent President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh secured a sixth term with 97.8% of the vote, while in Benin, Romuald Wadagni—handpicked successor to Patrice Talon—claimed 94% of ballots. Such lopsided outcomes reveal elections stripped of genuine competition. Ballot access priced out…

cotonou – benin holds its breath, but calmly. since 7:00 am this morning, beninese voters have been heading to the polls for the first round of the 2026 presidential election. a crucial vote that marks the end of the patrice talon era and shapes the future of benin. the country presents an image of serenity on this sunday, april 12, 2026. across the national territory, the 17,764 polling stations opened their doors at dawn to welcome citizens. orderly queues formed outside voting centers in cotonou, porto-novo, parakou, and even in…

Morocco and Mauritania strengthen security ties amid rising Sahel instability Rabat and Nouakchott deepen military collaboration focusing on border security, terrorism and organized crime as regional tensions escalate Introduction to Morocco-Mauritania security cooperation Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid’s visit to Nouakchott Morocco-Mauritania Joint Military Commission Institutional ceremony and political recognition Key topics discussed in bilateral meeting Military training and joint exercises Regional context and strategic priorities Introduction to Morocco-Mauritania security cooperation Enhanced security and defense collaboration between Morocco and Mauritania addresses deteriorating regional conditions marked by rising insecurity in the Sahel…

Officer’s body remains adrift on riverboat more than 24 hours after incident. Niamey, April 9, 2026 Captain Maman Ada Sahabi, commander of the Say gendarmerie group, was killed in an ambush by Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) elements on the Niger River on Wednesday, April 8, late in the afternoon, along with at least two of his men. More than twenty-four hours after the attack, the boat carrying the senior officer’s body continues to drift, with authorities unable to organize its retrieval. According to local security sources, Captain Sahabi was…