Panafrica News

Politics US ambassador to Gabon: Keith Heffern awaits Senate confirmation August 13, 2026 116 No comment Libreville, August 13, 2026 — The United States has taken a significant step in reshaping its diplomatic presence in Central Africa by nominating career diplomat Keith Heffern as the next ambassador to Gabon. President Donald Trump formally submitted Heffern’s candidacy to the U.S. Senate on August 7, 2026, marking a potential end to nearly eight months of interim representation in Libreville. If confirmed by the Senate, Heffern will replace Susan N’Garnim, who has served…

Morocco insists on Ceuta claims despite Spain’s migration crisis Former Spanish envoy highlights Rabat’s persistent territorial stance Politics Inés Fernández-Pontes A retired Spanish ambassador to Morocco has warned that Spain’s recent migration emergency in Ceuta stems partly from unresolved territorial disputes, with Rabat refusing to abandon its historical claims to the North African enclaves. The sudden arrival of over 72,000 migrants in late July sent shockwaves through Spain and the European Union, resurfacing a long-standing conflict that has simmered for decades. Jorge Dezcallar, former Spanish ambassador to Morocco and ex-head…

Open in app Share Mathieu Olivier Investigative editor Paul Biya Cameroon’s military reshuffle: the rise of general hippolyte ebaka Cameroon’s armed forces have entered a new phase with the appointment of Major-General Hippolyte Ebaka, a figure now shaping the country’s defense strategy. His elevation to this high-ranking position marks a significant moment in Cameroon’s military hierarchy, raising questions about his background, career milestones, and the implications for national security. Who is Hippolyte Ebaka? Born into a family with deep ties to Cameroon’s military tradition, General Ebaka has spent decades climbing…

Since the political transition began in August 2023, the Gabonese public sector has increasingly relied on the Burkina Faso-based construction giant EBOMAF. Founded by businessman Mahamadou Bonkoungou, the company has secured over 700 billion Central African CFA francs in public contracts across Gabon in less than three years—a volume unprecedented for a single foreign operator in the country. Their portfolio now includes critical infrastructure projects such as major road networks, the Andem Airport expansion, and Libreville 2, the new administrative capital spearheaded by transitional president Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema. EBOMAF’s…

Political figures in Gabon condemn offensive remarks targeting the President and his family Leaders from several Gabonese political parties gathered in Libreville on August 12 to denounce recent inflammatory statements made by a segment of the Gabonese diaspora activists based in Europe. These remarks, directed at President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, his mother, and First Lady Zita Oligui Nguema, have sparked widespread outrage among the local political class. David Mbadinga, president of the Union des patriotes gabonais loyalistes (UPGL) and spokesperson for the coalition, emphasized the need for dignified political…