The African Tribune

Niger: interior minister’s spouse implicated in a major visa trafficking scheme

27May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International, News, Top Stories

Niger: interior minister’s spouse implicated in a major visa trafficking scheme

A highly sensitive dossier has emerged, drawing in Niger's Interior Minister, the influential General Mohamed Toumba. As a pivotal figure within the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) since the coup d'état on July 26, 2023, the senior officer now finds his reputation indirectly affected by an illicit scheme involving the sale of residency permits between West Africa and Europe, in which his spouse is directly implicated.A clandestine network targeting the Schengen AreaPreviously undisclosed within Niamey's diplomatic and security circles, the investigation centers on the Spanish Embassy in Niger. The wife of General Toumba, a former associate of this chancellery, is suspected of leveraging her past position to orchestrate an extensive network for illicitly obtaining ...

French activism rises as Senegal’s anti-lgbtq laws spark crisis

19May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International

French activism rises as Senegal’s anti-lgbtq laws spark crisis

In response to Senegal’s recent legislation imposing severe penalties for same-sex relationships, French civil society and political leaders are rallying to support persecuted LGBTQ+ individuals. The new law, adopted in March, criminalizes homosexuality with sentences ranging from five to ten years in prison, prompting urgent humanitarian action across Europe. STOP homophobie, a leading French advocacy group, is currently assisting 68 detained individuals in Senegal while providing shelter to several asylum seekers in the Paris region. The organization has also facilitated humanitarian visas for over fifty people fleeing persecution. Terrence Khatchadourian, the association’s secretary-general, reveals the staggering volume of urgent calls they’ve received: "Two weeks ago, we had already...

Abidjan leads the way in African data protection dialogue

19May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International

Abidjan leads the way in African data protection dialogue

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire's economic heart, transformed into the focal point for continental discussions on personal data governance, commencing on May 18, 2026. This significant four-day event, the ninth international conference of the African Network of Personal Data Protection Authorities (RAPDP), convened over thirty delegations. Among these were twenty-four from various African nations, alongside European partners, independent experts, and private sector representatives. The opening ceremony, presided over by Djibril Ouattara, Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, underscored a strong political commitment to embed data protection firmly within the regional economic agenda, a crucial aspect of governance Africa. The selection of Abidjan as the host c...

French national detained in Senegal over homosexuality charges

16May

By Fati SeyniNo Comments

International

French national detained in Senegal over homosexuality charges

Monde • Sénégal french national detained in Senegal over homosexuality charges A French engineer, apprehended on February 14, faces accusations including “unnatural acts” and “attempted HIV transmission.” Senegal has recently intensified penalties for homosexual relations. A French citizen has been held in custody in Senegal since February 14, facing charges that notably include “unnatural acts.” This detention comes amidst a period where the penalties for homosexual relations in the country have been considerably strengthened, as diplomatic sources have recently confirmed. The individual, an engineer in his thirties residing in Dakar, was apprehended on February 14, 2026. The accusations leveled against him also encompass “criminal association,” “mone...

Senegal’s strategic pivot to UEMOA market secures substantial funding

16May

By Fati SeyniNo Comments

International

Senegal’s strategic pivot to UEMOA market secures substantial funding

Having lost access to international Eurobond markets following the disclosure of its 2024 budget revisions, Senegal has strategically pivoted to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) public securities market, making it its primary funding source. Over the first four months of the fiscal year, the Senegalese Public Treasury successfully mobilized 1311.3 billion FCFA. This significant volume underscores the nation's substantial budgetary needs and Dakar's necessary reliance on regional investors. This substitution strategy unfolds as credit rating agencies continue to exert unfavorable pressure on the country's sovereign signature.A strategic shift to the UEMOA regional marketSenegal's exclusion from global financial markets is not a choice but a compelling necessity. Mounting...

French national detained in Senegal over homosexuality amid rising tensions

15May

By Fati SeyniNo Comments

International

French national detained in Senegal over homosexuality amid rising tensions

french national detained in Senegal over homosexuality amid rising tensionsShareShareWhatsappLinkedInMailmessengertoday at 4:52 pmFrench authorities remain in close contact with the family of a French citizen recently detained in Senegal for alleged unnatural acts, as diplomatic sources confirm the arrest took place on February 14, 2026. Concurrently, Senegal’s government has intensified its stance against homosexuality with stricter legislation.A French national was taken into custody in Dakar on February 14, 2026, on charges including unnatural acts, criminal conspiracy, money laundering, and an attempt to transmit HIV during a broader crackdown, diplomatic sources confirmed on May 15. The arrest follows a wave of detentions reported in local media.The French Embassy in Dakar is closely ...

Algeria and Chad prioritize trans-saharan road segments in N’Djamena talks

14May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International

Algeria and Chad prioritize trans-saharan road segments in N’Djamena talks

Algeria's Minister of Public Works and Basic Infrastructure, Abdelkader Djellaoui, embarked on a crucial two-day working visit to the Republic of Chad this Wednesday, leading a high-level delegation. The primary objective was to explore effective strategies for implementing joint infrastructure initiatives, with a particular focus on the ambitious Trans-Saharan Road project. This visit directly follows directives from Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and builds upon discussions held during the recent visit of the Chadian President to Algeria. It underscores a shared commitment to fostering tangible and practical bilateral cooperation, ultimately driving development in both nations. Minister Djellaoui, accompanied by Abed Hallouz, the Director General of the Algerian Agency for Inter...

Senegal and Botswana leaders commit to strengthening economic cooperation

13May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International

Senegal and Botswana leaders commit to strengthening economic cooperation

The relationship between Senegal and Botswana is poised to enter a dynamic new phase. During high-level diplomatic discussions, Presidents Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Duma Boko affirmed their shared commitment to cultivating deeper economic collaboration between Dakar and Gaborone. These two heads of state, who both assumed power within months of each other following significant political transitions, share a common perspective on the continent's challenges and a strong dedication to principles of national sovereignty. Emerging South-South partnership takes shape To date, commercial exchanges between Senegal and Botswana have remained notably limited. Geographic distance presents a significant obstacle, as the two nations are separated by thousands of kilometers and belong to distinct region...

Senegal’s economic push in Nairobi: attracting investors for national transformation

13May

By Fati SeyniNo Comments

International

Senegal’s economic push in Nairobi: attracting investors for national transformation

Senegal approaches the Nairobi 2026 summit with a clear objective: to leverage an official visit into a powerful engine for economic attraction. Under the leadership of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Dakar has assembled a delegation already dubbed a “Dream Team” by local observers, comprising key figures from the executive branch and economic administration. This crucial engagement in Kenya is designed to allow the Senegalese government to unveil its reform priorities, secure fresh financial commitments, and firmly establish the nation as a credible gateway to West Africa. A focused delegation poised to reassure financiers The strategic composition of the Senegalese team underscores a commitment to coherence. Alongside the President of the Republic, principal officials overseeing economi...

Ouganda: Faure Gnassingbé backs yoweri museveni at inauguration ceremony

12May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International

Ouganda: Faure Gnassingbé backs yoweri museveni at inauguration ceremony

On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé paid an official visit to Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The Togolese leader attended the swearing-in ceremony of Yoweri Museveni, re-elected after the general elections held on January 15, 2026. The event, themed « Safeguarding progress and advancing toward upper-middle-income status », brought together African heads of state alongside delegations from Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Related: Togo strengthens public security with 14 new police units During the visit, Faure Gnassingbé extended his congratulations to Yoweri Museveni and wished him success in his new term. In response, the Ugandan president praised the Togolese leader’s presence, highlighting it as a testament to the strong bilateral cooperation between Lomé...

The worsening humanitarian crisis in Mali: vital access compromised

9May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International

The worsening humanitarian crisis in Mali: vital access compromised

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is raising a stark alarm regarding the escalating humanitarian crisis in Mali. Relentless insecurity severely obstructs critical communication routes, pushing millions of already vulnerable people deeper into profound distress.Since late April, the IRC has reported a distressing surge in armed violence across Mali. The humanitarian organization notes that synchronized attacks and increasing instability on key roadways are significantly impeding the movement of people and essential goods, including fuel and crucial food supplies bound for the capital, Bamako.This worsening security situation intensifies the precariousness for populations already grappling with an endemic humanitarian crisis. Access to fundamental services is becoming increasingly cha...

Navigating Morocco-Senegal ties: a post-CAN perspective in Dakar

2May

By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments

International

Navigating Morocco-Senegal ties: a post-CAN perspective in Dakar

A slight sense of apprehension accompanied my arrival in Dakar. The reason? The Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final. As many know, this particular match has reportedly soured the relationship between Morocco and Senegal, a sentiment that feels undeniably present.Amadou, a courteous and smiling taxi driver in his fifties, quickly discerned my Moroccan origin. Our conversation meandered through various topics until he concluded with: «Despite everything, Senegal and Morocco are brothers…».That phrase, «despite everything», carries significant weight. Intended to convey fraternal bonds, it paradoxically hints at underlying tensions. Can a single football match truly fracture deep-rooted connections, or did it merely serve as a catalyst, the final straw revealing pre-existing fragilities in Moro...