Author: Ousmane Tandja

Journalist

Côte d’ivoire: disciplinary measures hit 61 ppa-ci members ahead of congress

Ousmane Tandja

The PPA-CI is navigating turbulent waters as it approaches its first ordinary congress scheduled for 14-15 May 2026 in Abidjan. The party’s leadership, under the presidency of Laurent Gbagbo, has issued a stern warning to its ranks: discipline will be enforced without exception. In a formal statement released on 13 May 2026, the party’s secretary-general, Tchéidé Jean Gervais, announced disciplinary actions against 61 cadres and activists, deemed ‘undisciplined’ by the leadership. The decision, validated by the party’s presidency and grounded in Council Strategy and Policy (CSP) resolution No. 02-2026/CSP/PPA-CI/KKJ/07052026, underscores…

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Mali conflict shifts beyond battlefield to legitimacy battle

Ousmane Tandja

The security landscape in Mali has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Coordinated offensives by jihadist factions and separatist movements in the northern regions have placed unprecedented pressure on the Malian state. Yet beneath the surface of these military confrontations, a more subtle but decisive shift is unfolding: the conflict’s center of gravity has moved elsewhere. What is unfolding in Mali today transcends a mere battlefield struggle. For over a decade, the Malian crisis has been framed through a security-first lens. Military interventions, supported by successive international partners, have…

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Tchad: eight opposition leaders handed eight-year prison terms

Ousmane Tandja

In Chad, the sentencing of eight leaders from the Political Actors Consultation Group (GCAP) to eight years in prison has ignited a fierce political debate. Five days after the verdict, Hissein Abdoulaye, spokesperson for the opposition coalition, broke his silence to denounce what he calls a deliberate attempt by authorities to silence dissent. The ruling coincides with a period when Chadian leadership is striving to solidify the institutional framework emerging from the transition. Sentence seen as a political message The opposition coalition argues that the severity of the sentence is…

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Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral commission dissolved: a new era for political calm?

Ousmane Tandja

A significant transition is underway in Côte d’Ivoire as the nation closes a chapter on its electoral history. After a quarter-century of overseeing and organizing national elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has officially ceased to exist. This institution, which frequently faced strong opposition criticism, leaves behind a complex legacy. The central question now revolves around the future: What assessment can be made of the CEI’s long tenure? More importantly, what shape should the successor body take to truly guarantee fair and peaceful elections across the country? The aspirations for…

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Côte d’Ivoire boosts local sheep farming ahead of Eid al-Adha

Ousmane Tandja

With Eid al-Adha just weeks away, Côte d’Ivoire’s National Council for Combating High Prices (CNLVC) is rolling out a strategic plan focused on local sheep production to stabilize market prices. Under the Ministry of Trade, the council believes that ramping up domestic breeding offers the fastest solution to meet the surging demand for livestock during this major Islamic festival, when tens of thousands of sheep are sold within days. Nation’s sheep farming sector seeks to expand Côte d’Ivoire traditionally relies on Sahelian livestock hubs, particularly Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger,…

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Algeria and Chad push forward trans-saharan road sections in n’djamena

Ousmane Tandja

Abdelkader Djellaoui, Algeria’s Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, commenced a significant two-day working visit to the Republic of Chad this Wednesday. Leading a high-level delegation, Minister Djellaoui’s agenda centers on exploring tangible strategies for advancing shared infrastructure initiatives, with a primary focus on the transformative Trans-Saharan Road project. This pivotal visit underscores the direct directives issued by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. It also builds upon the productive discussions held during the Chadian President’s recent diplomatic trip to Algeria, embodying a mutual commitment to forge a “concrete and pragmatic”…

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Senegal’s escalating cyberattacks raise digital resilience concerns

Ousmane Tandja

The persistent wave of cyberattacks targeting the Senegalese state continues to escalate. Following incidents affecting the tax authority in October and the national identity card department in January, the Public Treasury has now become the latest victim of malicious hackers. While each of these events might have been dismissed as a mere technical glitch in isolation, their recurring nature and the critical government institutions targeted paint a far more alarming picture. This pattern underscores a profound vulnerability within Senegal’s digital and public infrastructures, prompting serious concerns about the nation’s overall…

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Romuald wadagni’s presidential mandate in Benin faces high expectations

Ousmane Tandja

Romuald Wadagni steps into Benin’s presidency with bold expectations Romuald Wadagni secured a decisive victory in Benin’s presidential election on April 12, winning 94.27% of the vote against his sole opponent, Paul Hounkpè, who conceded defeat and urged national unity and respect for democratic values. The Constitutional Court later confirmed a turnout rate of 63.57%, a significant increase from the 50.17% recorded in the 2021 election. a landmark democratic transition This election marks the fifth peaceful democratic transition in Benin since the historic 1990 National Conference. In a region where…

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Macron’s frank assessment of France-Sahel military relations

Ousmane Tandja

French President Emmanuel Macron has openly voiced his strong dissatisfaction regarding the state of relations between France and the military regimes across the Sahel region. Characterizing Paris’s efforts as having been «repaid with ingratitude,» the French head of state, in an unusually blunt manner, signaled the conclusion of a diplomatic era spanning over a decade. This direct statement unmistakably targets the ruling juntas in Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey – three capitals that have each, in turn, ended bilateral military cooperation with France. Presidential remarks signal a definitive Sahelian shift The…

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The future of Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral commission: a critical debate

Ousmane Tandja

The debate surrounding the potential dissolution of Côte d’Ivoire’s Independent Electoral Commission (CEI) has once again taken center stage in the nation’s political discourse. This pivotal body, responsible for orchestrating elections across Côte d’Ivoire, faces persistent criticism from various opposition factions. They argue that its current composition is imbalanced and its independence from the executive branch is compromised. This critical discussion resurfaces as the country gears up for significant upcoming electoral contests, where public trust in the voting process remains paramount for national stability. Political pressure on the electoral commission…

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Mali’s transition leaders defend army amid rising jihadist threats

Ousmane Tandja

«The Malians love their army and their government,» says Moussa Ag Acharatoumane of the National Transitional Council The situation in Mali remains tense following the coordinated attacks of April 25, when armed groups linked to al-Qaïda and separatist rebels launched a massive assault, resulting in the death of Defense Minister General Sadio Camara and the seizure of Kidal. The JNIM, an al-Qaïda affiliate, subsequently imposed a blockade on Bamako and intensified its operations. Despite these challenges, the Malian army, supported by Russian partners in the Africa Corps, continues to demonstrate…

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Tchad: opposition calls for mass protest against rising authoritarianism

Ousmane Tandja

Civil society in Chad urges nationwide mobilization against political repression The political wing of the Wakit Tama movement held a press conference to denounce what it describes as escalating authoritarian tendencies under President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno’s administration ahead of a planned peaceful demonstration scheduled for May 16, 2026. Journalists praised as defenders of truth amid crackdown During the briefing, movement representatives highlighted the crucial role played by Chadian journalists in safeguarding transparency, despite facing systematic intimidation and repression. The statement emphasized that this critical voice remains essential in countering…

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