OM’s ivoirian tour: Abidjan showdown and social impact in Yamoussoukro

Ousmane Tandja

The Olympique de Marseille wrapped up a three-day preparatory stint in Abidjan on Saturday, July 18, following their arrival in Côte d’Ivoire on July 15. Led by coach Bruno Genesio, the French football giants brought a delegation of 80 people, including 24 players, to engage with local fans and communities. The highlight of the visit came on Friday, July 17, when OM faced Yamoussoukro FC at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium. The clash against the newly promoted Ligue 1 Ivoirienne side marked a rare opportunity for the inland club to test…

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Côte d’Ivoire leads at ECOWAS ministerial meeting in Freetown

Ousmane Tandja

Freetown is hosting the 96th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers on July 17, 2026. Representing Côte d’Ivoire at this high-level diplomatic gathering are Nialé Kaba, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, along with Adama Dosso, Deputy Minister for African Integration and Ivoirians Abroad. This ministerial gathering precedes the Heads of State summit by just two days. Diplomatic activities intensify in Sierra Leone’s capital ECOWAS statutory meetings have been underway in Freetown since July 12, culminating in today’s ministerial…

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Lecornu’s landmark visit to Morocco strengthens French ties

Ousmane Tandja

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s inaugural official visit to Morocco on July 15-16, 2026, sent a clear diplomatic signal, marking a turning point in a relationship once strained by years of friction. This landmark trip, his first abroad since taking office, underscored the growing momentum toward rebuilding trust between Paris and Rabat. In the Moroccan capital, Lecornu co-chaired the 15th Haut Niveau summit with Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch—the first such high-level meeting between the two countries since 2019, following a prolonged pause in institutional dialogue. A high-powered delegation The…

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Psg transfer news: south korean star set to join atletico madrid

Aïcha Abdou

Paris Saint-Germain is on the brink of finalizing a major transfer move, with South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-In poised to join Atlético Madrid in a deal worth around €40 million, including potential bonuses. The French club, currently undergoing a significant squad overhaul, has identified Lee as a key replacement target following the departure of Gonçalo Ramos, who recently completed a €74 million transfer to AC Milan. Atlético Madrid confirms interest in Lee Kang-In Atlético Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has acknowledged the club’s pursuit of top-tier talent, hinting at Lee Kang-In’s…

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France tightens student visa rules for Cameroon amid fraud concerns

Ousmane Tandja

France tightens student visa requirements for Cameroonian applicants The French embassy in Cameroon has defended stricter financial requirements for Cameroonian students applying to private institutions in France. The diplomatic mission cites a surge in fraudulent applications as the primary reason for the policy change. Editorial Team |July 17, 2026|2 min read AAA Follow Cameroon updates on Google Summarize Listen Comment Advertisement Rising fraud drives France’s stricter student visa scrutiny in Cameroon The French embassy in Yaoundé has justified its tightened student visa requirements for Cameroonian applicants, announced during a July…

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Gabon’s 2026 tax reform boosts local manufacturing sector

Ousmane Tandja

The 2026 Finance Law Revision (LFR) adopted by the Senate goes beyond mere revenue enhancement for the state. It transforms taxation into a strategic economic policy lever to promote Gabon’s local manufacturing industry. Through targeted VAT exemptions, reduced tax rates, and carefully designed incentives, the government aims to enhance the competitiveness of domestic enterprises, stimulate industrial processing, and decrease the country’s reliance on foreign goods. This reform places national production at the core of fiscal policy. By Ousmane Tandja — Senior correspondent

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Burkina Faso under Ibrahim Traoré: from promises to a starker reality

Aïcha Abdou

The narrative propagated by state-controlled media, portraying Burkina Faso as a flourishing “eldorado” under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, appears more as a political construct than a grounded assessment. While official discourse extols a supposed “popular progressive revolution,” the daily lives of many Burkinabè are still plagued by insecurity, economic hardship, and unmet expectations for tangible progress. Promises of transformation and the delay in tangible outcomes Since assuming leadership, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has repeatedly pledged a national revival, accelerated industrialization, and the complete reclamation of national territory. However, these commitments have yet…

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Niger Engage le Déploiement du Passeport Biométrique Régional

Aïcha Abdou

Le Niger a franchi une nouvelle étape dans le déploiement du passeport biométrique de la Confédération des États du Sahel (AES). Mercredi 16 Juillet 2026, au Palais de la Présidence à Niamey, le président Abdourahamane Tiani s’est fait enrôler pour l’obtention de ce nouveau document de voyage, selon les autorités nigériennes. Cette opération intervient quelques mois après son enrôlement pour la carte biométrique, réalisé le 27 mars dernier. D’après les autorités, ce passeport répond à des normes techniques communes adoptées par les États membres de l’AES afin de proposer un…

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African union urges Burkina Faso to fast-track political transition

Ousmane Tandja

The African Union (AU) has called on Burkina Faso’s leadership to expedite the restoration of constitutional order by holding elections and reopening the political space, while reaffirming its commitment to maintaining dialogue with Ouagadougou and supporting the country in its fight against terrorism. During an official visit to the Burkinabè capital, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, held discussions with Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo and Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré. Notably, no meeting took place with the transitional president, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Following these discussions, Mahmoud…

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Sahel leaders bolster police ties to fight growing threats

Aïcha Abdou

Top police officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger convened in Ouagadougou on Thursday to deepen security collaboration within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), focusing on a unified strategy to tackle pressing regional threats. This gathering, which included security experts from all three nations, centered on aligning policing methods, enhancing information-sharing systems, and boosting operational capacities. Participants also explored ways to strengthen cross-border judicial investigations, public order enforcement, and the adoption of advanced technological and forensic tools. At the start of the session, Burkina Faso’s National Police Director, Inspector…

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Cameroon’s debt rating downgrade raises borrowing costs

Ousmane Tandja

Economic outlook Cameroon’s credit rating downgrade signals higher borrowing costs ahead The country’s latest sovereign credit assessment reflects mounting fiscal and structural challenges that are reshaping investor perceptions. July 17, 20262 min read AAA Summarize Listen Comment Cameroon’s credit rating downgrade: what it means Cameroon has just received a fresh warning from global financial markets. On July 9, 2026, the credit rating agency Fitch Ratings assigned a ‘B’ rating with a negative outlook to a recent short-term sovereign bond issued by the Cameroonian government. The ‘B’ rating with negative outlook…

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Russia’s Wagner group thrives in central africa through tramadol trafficking

Ousmane Tandja

In the heart of Central Africa, a shadowy empire has taken root. The Russian paramilitary group Wagner, once weakened by the death of its founder Evgeny Prigojine, has found a lucrative lifeline in the Central African Republic—one that stretches far beyond traditional military operations. At the core of this resurgence is tramadol, an opioid painkiller repurposed into a dangerous stimulant, earning it the grim nickname “the poor man’s cocaine.” Originally prescribed for mild to moderate pain, tramadol in the Central African Republic is being rebranded and concentrated to alarming levels.…

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