Month: July 2026

Three days after welcoming Macky Sall at the presidential palace in Dakar, Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially announced on July 20 the full support of Senegal for his predecessor’s candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General. This decision mobilized the entire diplomatic apparatus and framed the bid as a national priority. Yet, the reversal comes after reservations expressed in March and Senegal’s earlier opposition within the African Union, which had weakened Macky Sall’s diplomatic position. With this strategic move, Bassirou Diomaye Faye strengthens Macky Sall’s dossier, allowing him to claim the backing of the state he once led for twelve years. But what motivated Senegal’s president to make this about-face? Could this decision further strain relations ...

The Côte d'Ivoire maintains one of the most robust growth rates in sub-Saharan Africa, and the government is eager to showcase these results. Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Trade, Industry and SME Promotion, delivered a detailed account of the economic actions undertaken over recent years in Abidjan. This presentation served a dual purpose: educating the public while reinforcing the narrative of an Ivorian economy resilient to shocks, driven by industrialization, public investment, and diversified production. Economic progress centered on industrial transformation The minister emphasized the government’s long-standing ambition to reduce the country’s historical reliance on raw material exports. As the world’s leading cocoa producer, Côte d'Ivoire has prioritized local processing of ...

The Gabonese extractive sector is on the cusp of a major transformation. In a landmark agreement finalized in Paris, Eramet and its subsidiary Eramet Comilog have pledged to significantly boost local processing of Gabon’s manganese output. The ambitious target: reaching a 700,000-tonne processing capacity on Gabonese soil by 2031. The signing ceremony, held at the Élysée Palace on July 20, brought together Gabon’s transitional president Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema and top executives from the French mining group, underscoring the high-stakes negotiations conducted at the highest levels of government. From rhetoric to reality: industrial transformation takes center stage Since the military-led transition took power in August 2023, Gabonese authorities have consistently pushed for deeper lo...

Côte d'Ivoire six opposition leaders freed after nine months in custody Following a tense presidential election in 2025, dozens of opposition figures in Côte d’Ivoire faced arrests amid escalating political tensions. Six key local leaders from Côte d’Ivoire’s main opposition party, the Parti démocratique de Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), walked free on Monday after spending nine months in detention, their lawyer confirmed. In a Facebook statement, defense attorney Me Ange Rodrigue Dadje declared: "Following Monday’s hearing before the anti-terrorism chamber, my clients—PDCI activists Allo Pacôme Didier, Kouleon Manhenin, N’Cho Gnangoran, Mabo Koffi Jean Marc, Ouattara Kinjinlman, and Niangoran N’Guessan Edouard—are finally reunited with their families after nine months behind bars." Po...

At 28 years old, Ismaila Sarr has just completed his most remarkable season yet, following his 2024 arrival at Crystal Palace from Olympique de Marseille. The Senegalese forward delivered a standout 2025-26 campaign, netting 21 goals and providing one assist across 45 competitive matches. His stellar performances culminated in a historic triumph, as Palace secured the UEFA Europa Conference League title. Now, whispers from Old Trafford suggest Manchester United is actively exploring a potential move for the dynamic winger. Under the ownership of INEOS, Manchester United has consistently favored players with Premier League experience, a strategy that paid dividends with the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Yet, Sarr’s unique blend of skill and consistency has caught the eye of th...

Morocco's king reviews 2025 economic outlook with central bank governorKing Mohammed VI of Morocco met with Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri to review the central bank's annual economic report, highlighting resilience amid global challenges in 2025.King Mohammed VI of Morocco received Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri at the Royal Palace in Tétouan on Monday to review the central bank's 2025 annual economic, monetary, and financial report.During the meeting, Governor Jouahri presented the report outlining Morocco's economic performance in 2025, which demonstrated remarkable resilience despite global headwinds.Economic growth accelerates to 4.9% with controlled inflationJouahri highlighted that Morocco's GDP growth reached 4.9% in 2025, driven primarily by substantial i...