Author: Ousmane Tandja

The political landscape of Bénin is poised for a historic shift as former President Thomas Boni Yayi announces his unexpected decision to take a seat in the upcoming Senate, set to be inaugurated in Porto-Novo on July 30, 2026. Against all odds, Yayi’s move marks a significant departure from his earlier stance, where he vehemently opposed the creation of this bicameral institution during the 2025 constitutional reforms. In a statement released on his official Meta page, Yayi framed his decision as a constitutional obligation rather than a personal ambition. «…

Cameroon’s floating debt has surged to nearly $1.8 billion by the end of the first quarter of 2026, highlighting a persistent structural imbalance between the government’s financial commitments and actual disbursements from the Treasury. This growing stock of arrears encompasses invoices that have been processed or are awaiting payment beyond legally mandated deadlines, affecting domestic suppliers, contractors, and other local creditors. In Yaoundé, this revelation has reignited discussions about the efficiency of budget execution and the government’s fiscal maneuverability amid tightening external financing conditions. Floating debt as a budgetary balancing…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially endorsed the joint bid by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to host the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). This milestone, announced on July 20, marks the first formal recognition of their collaborative efforts, though the journey toward securing hosting rights has only just begun. Administrative approval paves the way for Sahel bid On July 18, representatives from the three nations—Colonel Oumarou Sawadogo, Mahamadou Cissé, and Issaka Adamou—met with CAF President Patrice Motsepe in New York to formalize their declaration of interest.…

Côte d’Ivoire’s governance progress hailed by African peer review mechanism The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), Africa’s premier governance assessment tool established by the African Union, has commended Côte d’Ivoire for its strides in political stability, economic transformation, and institutional reforms. Marie-Antoinette Rose-Quatre, Director-General of the APRM Continental Secretariat, highlighted the country’s remarkable achievements during an official working visit to Abidjan on July 21, 2026. Her assessment followed meetings at the APRM National Commission’s headquarters in the Cocody district. “Côte d’Ivoire has demonstrated outstanding commitment to deepening political stability, driving…

The future of Ferran Torres at FC Barcelone is hanging by a thread as the club faces a desperate bid from Paris Saint-Germain. Though Blaugrana executives acknowledge the difficulty of retaining the Spanish forward, they remain steadfast in their valuation, reportedly demanding €50 million to finalize any transfer deal. Ferran Torres, whose contract expires in June 2027, has emerged as a prime target for PSG as they seek to replace Gonçalo Ramos and intensify competition for Ousmane Dembélé’s future. The young forward’s stock soared after scoring the decisive goal in…

Cameroun: ruling party dismisses claims over president’s prolonged absence Cameroon Tribune Addressing the controversy surrounding the head of state’s extended absence, Jacques Fame Ndongo, Cameroon’s Minister of State, dismissed such claims as legal and political absurdities. He emphasized that no national law or regulation stipulates a maximum duration for a president’s absence from the country. According to the minister, any attempt to apply a non-existent constitutional provision to President Paul Biya would amount to legal manipulation and a gross distortion of facts. He described such arguments as fantastical inventions by…