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Cheikh Diba, Senegal's Finance Minister, recently addressed the National Assembly, revealing that the Economic and Social Recovery Plan (PRES) has generated 63.4 billion CFA francs so far this year. These figures were disclosed during intense negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (FMI), prompting Waly Diouf Bodian, a key advisor to Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, to vigorously defend the government's financial strategy. PRES targets 762.6 billion CFA francs in 2026 The PRES, unveiled on August 1, 2024, outlines a broader agenda to mobilize 5,667 billion CFA francs between 2025 and 2028. For 2026 alone, the government aims to secure an additional 762.6 billion CFA francs in revenue through the initial budget law. Currently, 63.4 billion has been collected, including 7.9 billion ...

Andoni Iraola: Arsenal's Premier League title wasn't decided by Bournemouth-Man City stalemate Following the goalless draw between Bournemouth and Manchester City on Tuesday, which mathematically secured Arsenal's Premier League championship, Spanish manager Andoni Iraola of the Cherries acknowledged the Gunners' achievement and praised Mikel Arteta's leadership. The stalemate at the Vitality Stadium prevented Manchester City from surpassing Arsenal's points total, effectively crowning the North London side as England's top-flight champions. While the match ended without goals, its outcome carried monumental significance for the title race. Iraola reflected on the broader implications of the result, stating that Arsenal's title fate had already been sealed regardless of the match's outc...

Chad Chad’s cotton sector gets $22.5 million boost from France France allocates $22.5 million to boost Chad’s struggling cotton industry, aiming to stabilize production and support rural development through integrated agricultural initiatives. Chad ranks as the second-largest cotton producer in Central Africa, trailing only Cameroon. However, the sector has faced persistent instability, with fluctuating output and structural challenges threatening its viability. To counter this decline, the government in N’Djamena has initiated a five-year revival plan for the cotton value chain. New French-backed initiative targets rural transformation On May 13, Chad’s M...

Is Bamako still protected? This question, once unthinkable, now looms over the Malian capital with grim urgency. On May 19, 2026, the rural commune of Siby—just 30 kilometers from the city—became the stage for an unprecedented assault. Militants from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) torched dozens of cargo trucks, transport vehicles, and Hilux pickups in a calculated, relentless strike. The attack lays bare a truth the authorities have long tried to obscure: Bamako is under siege, and the junta’s military strategy—bolstered by its Russian partners—has failed. Flames at the gates of the capital The national highway toward Guinea turned into an inferno on Tuesday afternoon. Survivors and local transporters recounted how armed motorcyclists descended on convoys near Siby...

The political phase of the 11th annual review of UEMOA community reforms took place this Tuesday in Dakar, following a brief delay. The session, attended by Abdoulaye Diop, President of the UEMOA Commission, highlighted the need for Sénégal to address specific delays despite maintaining a generally respectable performance level across 145 evaluated reforms. During these high-level discussions, the Senegalese Minister of Finance and Budget joined the Commission President to validate findings from the technical phase conducted in late 2025. Current data shows that Sénégal has achieved a provisional implementation rate of 76.45% for the 145 reforms under review. This represents a decrease of 2.14 percentage points compared to the 78.59% recorded across 132 reforms in 2024. Areas requiring...

The Dakar public prosecutor's office has initiated a formal investigation into Thierno Lô, a prominent figure in the Alliance pour la République (APR) and a former cabinet member. This legal move follows controversies surrounding the rumored nomination of former President Macky Sall to a position within the United Nations. The capital's Urban Security unit has been tasked with leading the inquiries into the matter. Dakar prosecutor mandates Urban Security probe The Republic's prosecutor at the Dakar High Court issued the directive for this investigation. Specialized investigators from the Urban Security branch of the judicial police are now working to clarify the details regarding the alleged promotion of the former Senegalese leader to a UN role. Thierno Lô, a long-standing political all...

The Dakar-Bamako highway, the lifeline of trade between Senegal and Mali, is facing one of its most severe security crises in recent memory. The Union of Senegalese Truck Drivers (URS) has issued an urgent directive to its members, urging them to suspend all road transport operations to Malian territory. The move comes in response to a surge in attacks by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, which has increasingly targeted cargo convoys since late April. Why the Dakar-Bamako corridor is critical to regional trade The Dakar-Bamako route is the backbone of land trade between the two nations, facilitating the movement of fuel, food supplies, cement, construction materials, and essential equipment. With Mali being landlocked, its reliance on the Port o...

Chad has announced significant leadership changes within the Ministry of Public Security, with new appointments reshaping critical departments.strategic appointments in public securityIn a reshuffle announced by official sources, Mahamat Koty Abdraman has been named Director of the General Directorate of User Reception Centers. His predecessor, Police General Controller Ismail Moussa Fadoul Sawa, has been reassigned to other responsibilities within the security apparatus.Meanwhile, Khassim Taha Bouri takes over as Director of the Department of Administrative Affairs, Equipment, and Personnel. He replaces Mahamoud Dakou Abdramane, who has also been reassigned to a new role.These strategic moves reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen Chad’s public security framework and streamline administrat...

The Burkina Faso military is reeling from a scandal that cuts to the heart of its highest ranks. Amid a worsening security and humanitarian crisis, Defense Minister General Célestin Simporé has become the center of a shocking embezzlement case. A staggering 170 million F CFA—a fortune in local currency—was allegedly stolen from his private residence by a trusted member of his own security detail. The suspect, who exploited his privileged position, has since fled the country and remains at large in a neighboring state. Betrayal from within the ranks This is not just a financial crime; it is a betrayal that has left the military establishment stunned. The suspect, a member of the minister’s close protection unit, meticulously executed the theft despite stringent security protocols. The sto...

The presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire unfolded under a cloud of heightened tension, yet concluded without any major disturbances, according to early reports from Abidjan. Polling stations across the nation welcomed voters in an environment reinforced by tightened security measures and vigilant oversight from authorities. No significant incidents were reported by day's end, despite widespread concerns in the weeks prior about potential community clashes or post-election unrest. An election with high stakes for Ivorian stability This electoral process in Côte d'Ivoire unfolded against a backdrop of intense scrutiny. As the leading economy in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the country still bears the scars of the 2010–2011 post-election crises and the unrest that ...