Author: Ousmane Tandja

Born in the Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, Arthur Zagré has forged a football career that spans top European clubs, but now he’s making a bold move—one that connects him to his ancestral roots. At just 24 years old, this left-footed defender has chosen to represent Burkina Faso, the land of his heritage, after decades of playing under the French flag. Zagré’s football journey began at the Paris Saint-Germain Academy, where his talent caught the eye of coaches and earned him youth international call-ups. Over 23 appearances with the Under-18 and…

The coordinated attacks that struck Mali on April 25 have intensified concerns about the escalating security crisis across the Sahel. These assaults, marked by unprecedented scale and sophistication, have exposed critical vulnerabilities in the Malian state while highlighting the adaptive strategies of armed groups and the fragility of external alliances. unprecedented assaults reveal state fragility The April 25 offensive was not a conventional insurgent operation but a meticulously coordinated campaign targeting military and government installations in Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, and Séveré. By striking simultaneously across these locations, the attackers…

A significant strain currently exists between Togo’s political establishment and its judicial system. At the heart of this contention lies the alleged failure to execute a ruling by the Lomé Court of Appeal, which mandated the release of thirteen detainees. Amidst accusations of arbitrary actions and assertions of national security imperatives, the nation finds itself grappling with a deepening crisis of institutional trust. The core of the dispute: a disregarded court order? This situation escalated into a national concern when various opposition coalitions, including the Dynamique Monseigneur Kpodzro (DMK), the…

Despite official narratives celebrating the National Development Plan and stable macroeconomic growth, ground realities have delivered a stark rebuke to Faure Gnassingbé’s administration. The latest Afrobarometer survey paints a picture of a Togo struggling, with 62% of its citizens believing the nation is heading in a detrimental direction. Amidst a surge in severe poverty, critical water shortages, and inadequate healthcare, the chasm between the ruling elite and the populace has never been more profound. This widespread disillusionment has landed squarely on the desks of policymakers in Lomé. More than six…

The end of a political symbiosis Senegal’s political landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signals a decisive break from the once-untouchable alliance with Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. This weekend—May 2 and 3, 2026—marked a turning point, revealing fractures in what was once touted as an unshakable partnership within the ruling coalition. The president’s bold assertion that he is prepared to sever ties if national interests demand it has shattered the illusion of a unified leadership, leaving analysts and citizens alike grappling with the implications of…

During the 13th edition of the AFRAVIH conference on HIV prevention, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, the focus shifted to the mental health challenges faced by adolescents living with the virus. Our discussion highlights how Burkina Faso is addressing these concerns through targeted support programs. Contributors: Christine Kafando, a Burkinabé activist and HIV advocate, made history as Burkina Faso’s first woman to publicly disclose her HIV-positive status. At the conference, she shared insights on mental health support for adolescents living with HIV through her organization in Burkina Faso. Key challenges in…