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Chad's president pardons opposition leader Succès Masra Chad’s head of state Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno has granted a presidential pardon to Succès Masra, the jailed leader of the opposition party Les Transformateurs and former interim prime minister. The decision, announced on August 14, 2026, could pave the way for Masra’s imminent release from prison, though his 20-year criminal sentence remains legally intact. Legal implications of the presidential pardon The pardon represents a significant development in the case of Succès Masra, whose legal troubles began after the violent clashes in Mandakao, Logone Occidental, in May 2025. The Supreme Court’s final ruling in May 2026 upheld his 20-year prison sentence on charges including hate speech, xenophobia, and complicity in murder—alleg...

Chad Chad presidential pardon: RNDT-Le Réveil welcomes political thaw The RNDT-Le Réveil party has praised the release of a presidential pardon decree on August 14, 2026, seeing it as a positive step toward political openness and national reconciliation in Chad. Editorial Team August 14, 2026 — 1 min read Share ...

Chad: opposition leader succès masra granted presidential pardonOne of Chad’s most prominent opposition figures, economist and former Prime Minister Succès Masra, has been granted a full presidential pardon by Head of State Mahamat Idriss Déby. The landmark decision follows more than a year behind bars, where he served a 20-year prison sentence handed down by the courts.Presidential decree ends lengthy imprisonmentA decree signed by President Mahamat Idriss Déby and released by the Chadian presidency confirms the immediate and unconditional release of Succès Masra. The document states that the pardon covers a complete remission of all custodial sentences imposed on the opposition leader, effectively ending his detention after 14 months.A key voice in Chadian politicsSuccès Masra, a trained...

Historic resolution brings closure to Air Sénégal’s legal battle The long-standing legal dispute between Air Sénégal and the American leasing company Carlyle has reached a definitive conclusion through an out-of-court settlement finalized in Dakar. After months of negotiations, the national carrier and its former partner agreed on a mutually acceptable resolution, putting an end to a contentious issue involving four leased aircraft. The breakthrough came following a conciliation protocol signed on May 4, 2026, which was later ratified by the Dakar Commercial Court on June 25, 2026. This agreement led to the withdrawal of all legal proceedings initiated by both parties—including a case Carlyle had filed in New York courts—effectively closing the international dispute once and for all. Fin...

Tchad Tchad transport revolution: modernising intercity travel after 66 years of independence Sixty-six years after gaining independence, Tchad faces a critical challenge: reshaping its intercity transport network to boost the economy and ensure safe, reliable mobility for all citizens. Six decades after independence, Tchad still grapples with a pressing dilemma: its vast territory and central African strategic location contrast sharply with an underdeveloped intercity transport system. Today, the government has placed transport modernisation at the forefront of national priorities. But what kind of system should emerge to connect N'Djamena to Moundou, Sarh, Abéché, Mongo, Faya-Largeau or Bol safely, reliably and comfortably? From fragmented rout...

Key updates across Senegal for Friday, August 14, 2026 On Friday, August 14, 2026, Waly Diouf Bodiang concluded his tenure as director general of the Autonomous Port of Dakar following his removal by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall is expected tonight in southern regions like Kolda and Kaffrine, with precipitation probabilities of 63% and 61% respectively. The Senegalese Football Federation is set to name its new national team coach on Tuesday, filling a vacancy that has persisted since July 11, 2026. Waly Diouf Bodiang departs from the Autonomous Port of Dakar Following his dismissal by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Waly Diouf Bodiang formally concluded his duties with a handover ceremony on Thursday. A longstanding...

Djed Spence completes medical ahead of Inter Milan move from Tottenham The English full-back Djed Spence has arrived in Italy to finalise his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Inter Milan. The 26-year-old defender landed in Milan late Thursday night, ahead of a medical examination scheduled for Friday morning. Financial details of the deal The move, valued at an initial €31.5 million (£27 million), includes performance-related bonuses that could push the total fee to €35 million (£30 million). Tottenham has also retained a 10% sell-on clause, ensuring future financial benefits if Spence’s value appreciates. The transfer marks the end of Spence’s four-year stint in north London, where he made 85 senior appearances and secured a Europa League winner’s medal. The deal was unanimously app...

Cameroon has officially launched a sweeping tariff reduction initiative, as confirmed by Finance Minister Louis Paul Motazé, aligning with the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) involving the European Union and the United Kingdom. This phased approach targets the third category of goods, deemed critical for national revenue due to their substantial contribution to customs income. The strategy involves a steady annual tariff decrease of 10%, culminating in full elimination by 2030. The initial phase of this reduction applies to key industrial inputs and materials, including utility vehicles, fuels, cements, paints, and industrial packaging imported from the EU and the UK. This follows an accelerated timetable for the first two groups of goods. Since August 4, 2023, items in the second gr...

The Ivorian Cashew Processors Group (GTCI), representing national processors handling 100,000 tonnes of raw cashew nuts annually, has welcomed a landmark financing agreement signed on June 11, 2026. The deal brings together the National Investment Bank (BNI), the Cotton and Cashew Council (CCA), and local processors to secure essential funding for the sector. Ivorian operators have made bold strides in local processing by investing their own capital to build and expand processing plants. This commitment is driving the industrialization of the cashew value chain, creating higher value-added products, and strengthening the country’s economy. In a formal letter dated July 17, 2026, addressed to the Office of the...

Unforeseen debut for Akliouche at PSG Maghnes Akliouche found himself at the center of attention during Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup clash, just days after completing his high-profile transfer from AS Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain. The French midfielder, who had only recently adjusted to his new surroundings, received an unexpected call-up from PSG manager Luis Enrique, who handed him a surprise start in the prestigious fixture against Aston Villa. Enrique’s bold move and Akliouche’s response Luis Enrique revealed that Akliouche was unaware of his inclusion in the starting XI until moments before kickoff. Speaking to the media after the match, the PSG boss described the young player’s reaction as one of shock. « He was surprised when he saw his name in the starting lin...

lyon braces for tense champions league playoff against FenerbahçeA vibrant atmosphere expected for the Fenerbahçe receptionThe second leg of the Champions League playoff between Lyon and Fenerbahçe on August 26 has been classified as a high-risk match. Authorities expect 2,220 Turkish supporters at Groupama Stadium, with no tickets sold on match day.The National Directorate for Combating Hooliganism has designated the August 26 Groupama Stadium clash between Lyon and Fenerbahçe as a high-risk match, assigning it a level 4 out of 5 rating following a meeting at Lyon’s prefecture this Thursday afternoon.Strict measures for Turkish fansTurkish supporters will arrive in Lyon under controlled conditions. Of the 2,220 expected fans, 1,000 will travel from Turkey, 1,000 from the European Union, p...

Ahmat Bedei Toullomi, the head of the Borkou Provincial Council, was detained in N'Djamena on Thursday late afternoon and transferred to the General Coordination of the Judicial Police, according to security sources. The arrest took place inside the premises of the La Résidence hotel, just before 5 p.m. It follows a legal complaint filed for defamation and public insults. Based on records reviewed, the complaint was lodged by Goudje Gueillet Hemchi and Kodou Omari, who accuse Ahmat Bedei Toullomi of spreading damaging claims on social media. They allege he publicly accused them of involvement in cocaine trafficking in Chad. The complainants strongly deny these allegations, calling them « completely false, baseless, and slanderous », and argue that the accusations have severely damaged t...