Category: Top Stories

Conflict & Crises Mali’s escalating conflict strains Bamako as civilians bear the brunt A new phase of warfare in Mali sees offensives shift from the north to the capital, leaving civilians increasingly vulnerable while the junta struggles to regain control. Political Insight June 9, 2026 · 5 min read The shifting battleground of Mali’s long-running conflict Mali now faces a critical juncture as armed groups push beyond traditional strongholds, forcing a confrontation closer to Bamako. The conflict, rooted in the 2012 collapse of the state following a military coup, has…

Significant progress has been noted in structuring the African-led mediation for peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was a key outcome of the technical session of the semestral peace process evaluation meeting held June 7-8, 2026 in Lomé, convened by Togo’s Council President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the African Union mediator for the crisis in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region. Following the ministerial phase led by Minister of Cooperation and Togolese Abroad Yackoley Johnson, Council President Faure Gnassingbé chaired the evaluation meeting on Monday, June…

A prominent Malian journalist has been remanded in custody following a court summons, just days after publicly criticizing the ruling junta during a major media forum in Bamako. The detention of Chahana Takiou, editor-in-chief of the biweekly newspaper *22 septembre*, has sparked concerns over press freedom and judicial practices in the West African nation. Legal action under cybercrime law On Monday afternoon, Mr. Takiou was summoned by the prosecutor of Bamako’s cybercrime unit in connection with remarks made during the Panafrican Media Forum, held in the capital from June 3…

In Cameroon, and especially in Yaoundé, surveillance cameras have become essential tools for deterring crime, safeguarding property and people, and improving traffic flow. Since they were installed in key areas of the political capital, residents report a major drop in insecurity. One inhabitant of the Madagascar neighbourhood said: “In our area, we used to live with armed robberies. Criminals would strike at any hour, looting shops, banks and bakeries, then escape without consequence. But since the cameras were set up, these bandits have become much rarer. I thank the authorities…

Algeria continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting African nations in need through tangible solidarity initiatives. Following the inauguration of a 40-megawatt power plant in Niamey for Niger, Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, alongside Chad’s Prime Minister and Head of Government Allamaye Halina, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for a similar facility in N’Djamena. The new plant, another Algerian donation, will deliver reliable electricity to Chad while reinforcing regional energy integration. Just days prior, Algerian officials celebrated the completion of the Gorou Banda facility in Niger, marking another milestone in…

Morocco renews its pledge to un peacekeeping operations Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, welcomed UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix in Rabat on Monday for his second official visit to the kingdom. The discussions between the two parties focused on the important role and the substantial, exemplary contribution of the Kingdom of Morocco to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Morocco’s contribution stems from a strategic royal vision rooted in the continuity of its long-standing commitment to UN peacekeeping operations, which dates back to…

Côte d’Ivoire now boasts over 400,000 mobile money service points, according to the Financial Inclusion Promotion Agency – that is 300 times the total number of ATMs in the country. Ivorians rely on these kiosks daily to deposit wages and withdraw cash, yet agents often face cash shortages that hurt their business. Late afternoon in the Angré Château neighbourhood. Time for shopping or commuting, but at this busy junction the mobile money kiosk has run out of cash. Rosette shrugs – she came to withdraw 10,000 CFA francs (about 15…

The African Union’s Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry, and Mines, Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, has publicly commended the Kingdom of Morocco for its remarkable economic advancements under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Speaking to journalists following her meeting with Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Commissioner Belobe highlighted the Kingdom’s significant progress in the industrial sector over recent years. She noted that Morocco has emerged as a continental leader in key industries, particularly automotive and aerospace manufacturing. The Commissioner…

Mbombela, South Africa – 8 June 2026 – Police in Mpumalanga province have arrested a man suspected of violently assaulting his grandmother in the Nkomazi municipality. The arrest took place on Sunday, 7 June 2026, after a video of the attack was widely shared on social media. The incident occurred at a tavern in eMagogeni. The footage shows the suspect punching and kicking the victim repeatedly, and later hitting her with a beer crate. On the recording, a bystander can be heard laughing while the elderly woman lies on the…

The Cameroon Senate is fully prepared for the opening of its ordinary session in June 2026, scheduled for tomorrow, 9 June 2026. Demonstrating administrative thoroughness, the Senate Secretary General, Mr. Gustave Léopold Ngane, along with the Deputy Secretary General and senior officials, carried out a full inspection of the Senate facilities at the Economic and Social Council on the morning of 8 June 2026. This final review aimed to confirm the readiness of all key infrastructure for the parliamentary proceedings. The delegation carefully inspected the conference rooms, the VIP reception…

The recent statements by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot regarding the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have drawn a clear response from former Deputy Prime Minister and current National Deputy Leonard She Okitundu, alongside his political party, the Social Democratic Green Party (PSDV). In a declaration issued on June 7, 2026, She Okitundu and the PSDV view these international positions as a significant step toward a lasting solution to the security crisis in eastern DRC. They believe…

The 16th general assembly of the Association de soutien au village de Forgho in northern Mali was held recently. At the opening, president Marie-Jo Mennelet emotionally shared the worrying situation in Mali: “I do not have very good news from the country, which is going through even harder days than before.” Indeed, jihadist attacks, shortages, water and electricity cuts, rising prices, and extreme heat make daily life very difficult for the population. Despite this difficult context, the association maintains a strong bond with its friends in Forgho and Bamako and…