Morocco aims for 26 million tourists by 2030 with strong 2025-2026 growth

Aïcha Abdou

Morocco recorded nearly 20 million tourist arrivals in 2025, with tourism revenues reaching 138 billion dirhams. The first five months of 2026 indicate that this upward trend is accelerating, as revealed during the June 24 board meeting of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) in Rabat. The meeting was chaired by Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor, alongside ONMT Director General Achraf Fayda. They reviewed sector performance and progress toward Morocco’s goal of attracting 26 million tourists by 2030. International tourist arrivals rose by 7 percent…

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Banda Kani slams Elimbi Lobe as a small-time politician unworthy of national stature

Aïcha Abdou

In an interview on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the national president of the New Popular Movement (NMP) described the Sunday guest on Info TV as a man of legendary inconsistency. Cameroonian political figure Banda Kani is furious with tribal agitator Elimbi Lobe. During an interview broadcast on his page this Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the national president of the New Popular Movement (NMP) expressed his exasperation with Lobe, particularly after Lobe called nationalist Ernest Ouandié a ‘bandit’ on Info TV, a green-screen channel broadcasting from Yaoundé, Cameroon. ‘By calling Ouandié…

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Gabon’s Mayumba moment: a new era of presidential communication

Aïcha Abdou

For a long time, a recurring criticism echoed in Gabon’s public debate. Since taking power on August 30, 2023, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema was seen everywhere in the field, but rarely in direct exchanges with national journalists. Speeches, inaugurations, and trips multiplied. Spontaneous answers to citizens’ questions, however, remained scarce. This perception appears to have shifted in recent weeks. Not through a solemn press conference or a carefully staged institutional exercise, but via a series of interviews conducted by journalist Chamberland Moukouama during the president’s stay in Mayumba and Tchibanga,…

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Burkina Faso opposition figure Guy Hervé Kam hospitalised, remains in detention without trial for over 18 months

Aïcha Abdou

The case of Guy Hervé Kam continues to raise numerous questions in Burkina Faso. The lawyer, co-founder of the Balai Citoyen movement and president of the political party Sens, was hospitalised in early June 2025 after experiencing health problems, while having been detained since January 2024 without yet facing trial. A prominent figure behind bars A well-known figure in Burkinabe civil society, Guy Hervé Kam was arrested amid a tightening political and security environment. More than a year and a half after his apprehension, no trial date has been made…

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Ebola epidemic in DRC spreads beyond borders as global response lags

Aïcha Abdou

Santé/Bunia/Ph.OMS Five weeks after the declaration of the Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the virus continues to defy containment efforts. Despite a significant ramp-up in the response, the epidemic remains ahead of health workers, steadily advancing, crossing borders, and claiming lives. Intensified response still falling short Considerable progress has been made. Bed capacity in treatment centres has surged from fewer than 10 to over 500 across 19 facilities in affected areas. Testing capacity has similarly expanded—from 30 daily tests at the start to more than 2,000…

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From Mali to Lake Chad: the Sahel’s security vacuum fuels global jihadism

Ousmane Tandja

The Sahel-Sahara region has officially become the global jihadist epicentre. From western Mali to the edges of the Lake Chad basin, millions of Sahelian civilians now live under the yoke of groups linked to Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. Bans on farming, ultra-violent social rules, and constant fear of the next raid make daily life an ordeal. But the most dramatic aspect of this downward spiral is not just the strength of the attackers—it is the glaring absence of any real security policy to contain the fire in the Sahel.…

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Bellaire Travels launches pan-African travel revolution in Douala

Ousmane Tandja

Economy Bellaire Travels revolutionizes travel with pan-African launch in Douala The landmark dual launch ceremony of this innovative travel agency took place on June 20, 2026, in Douala, Cameroon’s economic powerhouse. The event marked a turning point in how Africans approach travel, blending professional and personal journeys into a seamless experience. Armand Djaleu |June 24, 2026|3 min read AAA Follow us on Google Summarize Listen Comment Historic launch marks new era for African travel The dual launch ceremony on June 20, 2026, in Douala brought together industry leaders, government officials,…

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Benin steps up counter-terror fight with advanced bomb-defusing tech from France

Ousmane Tandja

Northern Benin is facing a growing menace from improvised explosive devices (IEDs), forcing a strategic shift in how security forces operate in the region. In a landmark move, Benin’s armed forces have bolstered their capabilities with cutting-edge technology delivered by France, marking a significant upgrade in the fight against asymmetric threats. New tools to dismantle an invisible enemy The tactics of armed groups in northern Benin have evolved. No longer relying solely on direct confrontations, they increasingly deploy IEDs—hidden on roads, tracks, and pathways—to inflict maximum damage while minimizing their…

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Russian cultural centers in africa: soft power or strategic influence

Aïcha Abdou

From Bamako to Bangui, with Niamey included, the so-called Russian Houses have evolved into one of Moscow’s most potent tools for exerting influence across Africa. Officially established to foster cultural and educational collaboration, these centers now operate in over twenty nations, serving as a cornerstone of Russia’s soft power strategy on the continent. education and culture as instruments of influence The Russian Houses achieve their objectives through a multifaceted approach: offering Russian language courses, hosting cultural events, and awarding thousands of university scholarships annually. By engaging directly with African youth,…

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Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso : quatre ans après avoir chassé Paris, quel bilan ?

Ousmane Tandja

Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso : quatre ans après avoir chassé Paris, quel bilan ? Présentée comme la condition du redressement du Mali, du Niger ou du Burkina Faso, l’éviction de la France devait ouvrir une nouvelle ère de souveraineté et de stabilité. Quatre ans plus tard, le constat dressé par le général Gomart est sévère : le terrorisme progresse, les libertés reculent et l’Afrique de l’Ouest demeure plus fragile que jamais. By Ousmane Tandja — Senior correspondent

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France boosts Benin’s military capability against IED threats

Ousmane Tandja

The military partnership between Benin and France has reached a new milestone. On June 23, 2026, the 1st Engineering Battalion and the Centre for Post-Conflict Demining and Clearance Operations (CPADD) received a significant shipment of equipment to strengthen their fight against improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The official handover ceremony took place at the CPADD under the leadership of Colonel Jean Kouagou N’pina, with Colonel Gilbert Lossitode representing the Chief of Staff of the Beninese Armed Forces. The equipment, provided by the French Republic, includes advanced IED detectors, disruptor cannons, portable…

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