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The growing alignment between Lomé and Moscow has acquired a new dimension. Behind the proposal to utilise the port of Lomé as a platform for channelling Russian goods to Togo and several Sahelian states lies a broader reconfiguration of the region's commercial, logistical and strategic routes. The proposed Russian transport corridor Moscow intends to establish a transport corridor that would facilitate the movement of its goods to Togo and multiple West African and Sahelian markets. The Russian Deputy Minister of Transport, Alexei Shilo, presented this project in Lomé during the inaugural session of the Russian-Togolese Intergovernmental Commission, held from 29 September to 1 October 2026. A Russian delegation of 29 representatives met with Togolese officials and operators. Discussions ...

The military campaign waged by the Alliance Fleuve Congo and the March 23 Movement (AFC/M23) against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) appears to be systematically hitting civilian populations in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. That is the core finding of a new United Nations report, which documents a pattern of abuses in contested areas of North and South Kivu. The findings undercut the rebel coalition's narrative, which frames its military presence as a necessary fight against Rwandan Hutu fighters who have been on Congolese soil since the 1994 genocide.Evidence of deliberate targeting in the KivusUN investigators describe a recurring method of operation. Rather than restricting themselves to direct clashes with the FDLR, AFC/M23 offensives have reported...

Why a 19th-place ranking matters more than it seems Benin sits 19th on the African continent when it comes to tourism destination development, according to the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index. That ranking is not just a number — it measures how mature a country's infrastructure is, how welcoming its business environment feels, how well connected it is, and whether its tourism sector can be sustained over time. For a nation with such rich heritage and memory sites, this mid-table position exposes a deeper truth: the raw potential is undeniable, but the supporting ecosystem still needs a structural overhaul before it can compete with Africa's leading tourism hubs. The 2027 pivot: a 600 billion FCFA push to change scale In response to this gap, Benin's government is...

Bissau – The political deadlock in Guinea-Bissau has entered a new, more perilous phase. When former president Umaro Sissoco Embaló broke his long silence from exile and declared his intention to return to Bissau to run again for the presidency, the military high command responded without delay. In an unequivocal statement, the transitional military authorities categorically barred his return, condemning what they called an attempt at "destabilization" and dismissing the deposed leader's electoral ambitions out of hand.Between political provocations from abroad and the categorical refusal of an entrenched military regime, the capital is once again holding its breath.The risky gamble of a president in exileIt was a statement that sent shockwaves through West Africa's political landscape. Ex...

When a routine afternoon at Lomé's Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport turned into a scene of unimaginable horror, the world watched in disbelief. As hundreds of passengers checked in or waited in transit areas, a series of muffled explosions rocked the lower structures of the main terminal. Within seconds, Togo's aviation hub became a cesspool of filth, the stage for a health and humanitarian disaster of unprecedented proportions. The chain reaction: a rupture foretold According to initial accounts from emergency crews on the ground, the main sewage evacuation pipe—an aging conduit under intense pressure that ran through the false ceiling of the central hall—gave way after years of neglect and inadequate maintenance. The rupture was not a mere leak: under the buildup of decompositio...

In the heart of Africa, a shadowy empire thrives. The Russian paramilitary group Wagner has carved out a lucrative niche in the Central African Republic, where tramadol trafficking has breathed new life into its operations. This assessment comes from The Wall Street Journal, which describes the situation as nothing short of an "empire of drugs" flourishing in the country. Originally prescribed for mild pain, tramadol has been repurposed in the Central African Republic. It is reconditioned to a far higher concentration, transforming it into a potent stimulant. Some even dub it the "poor man’s cocaine", a dangerous yet accessible alternative in a region where healthcare infrastructure is weak and regulation is lax. Why Wagner’s operations are thriving in the Central African Republi...