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Dakar, July 15, 2026 — A new face is set to lead Senegal's autonomous port in Dakar. President of the Republic has appointed Doune Pathé Mbengue, a civil administrator, as the new director general of the Société nationale du Port autonome de Dakar (PAD), succeeding Waly Diouf Bodiang, an inspector.Staff Shake-Up at Senegal's Autonomous PortThe appointment marks a significant change in leadership for the PAD, which handles a significant portion of Senegal's maritime trade. The new director general is expected to bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the role, aiming to enhance the port's operations and services. By Fati Seyni — Analyst

The African Water Forum, themed "From Vision to Action", concluded in N’Djamena on July 16, 2026, following two days of intensive discussions on Africa’s pressing water access and sustainable resource management challenges. The event, jointly hosted by the Chadian government and the World Bank Group, brought together African leaders, technical and financial partners, and sector experts to address critical hydrological issues. Turning promises into tangible progress Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Group, Farouk Mollah Banna emphasized the urgency of converting forum commitments into measurable outcomes for communities across the continent. « Achieving broader, more reliable, and equitable access to water, food security, and environmental sustainability hinges on how rigorously and tho...

Cameroon pivots from private to public partnership for Sonara’s future The state-owned Sonara refinery in Limbé is undergoing a strategic transformation, with Cameroon abandoning the Parras 24 initiative to prioritize a public-private collaboration. This decisive shift aims to revitalize the country’s energy sector and secure long-term stability for its fuel supply. Why Cameroon is moving away from Parras 24 The decision to step back from the Parras 24 project reflects broader concerns about sustainability and economic viability. Unlike previous models, this new approach emphasizes government-led oversight while fostering private sector participation. Key factors driving this transition include: Enhanced control: A public partnership allows the government to directly influence ope...

Senegal's political storm over Macky Sall's returnPolitical tensions surge as former President Macky Sall lands in Dakar ahead of his scheduled meeting with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Friday, July 17.The anticipated visit has reignited fierce debates across the nation, with citizens and activists demanding accountability for the casualties and arrests during the 2021-2024 protest crackdowns. Boubacar Sèye, a prominent activist, condemned the timing of the visit, calling it "an affront to justice.""This marks the return of a leader whose tenure is still synonymous with one of the darkest chapters in recent history," he emphasized, highlighting the dozens of deaths and political detainees from that era.Divided reactions across the political spectrumEven within the government coalitio...

The Republic of Chad is set to make a groundbreaking move in African regional integration. Starting January 1, 2027, the country will eliminate visa requirements for all African citizens, a bold decision announced by President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. This historic reform positions Chad among Africa’s most open nations for continental mobility. Unveiled during the opening of the African Water Forum in N’Djamena on July 15, 2026, the policy shift reflects a strategic vision for the country’s future. Supported by the World Bank, the forum provided the perfect platform to unveil this transformative initiative. Under the new rules, any African Union member state passport holder will be granted entry to Chad without prior visa formalities. This represents a significant departure from past pr...

Eleven years after the initial assessment, Gabon has officially met the requirements of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) mechanism for reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. This milestone was confirmed during a direct dialogue session in Libreville from June 29 to July 1, 2026, led by Séraphin Ondoumba, the UNODC focal point for Gabon. The achievement follows the resolution 3/1 adopted in 2011 in New York, which outlines the evaluation cycles for signatory states. Gabon’s success is the result of coordinated efforts spearheaded by the National Commission for the Fight against Corruption and Illicit Enrichment (CNLCEI), under the leadership of President Nestor Mbou. The country is now fully compliant with the international sta...

Senegal: controversy erupts over meeting between Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Macky SallSaleh MwanamilongoA planned meeting between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his predecessor Macky Sall—expected to take place in Dakar to seek Senegal’s backing for Sall’s bid for UN Secretary-General—has sparked intense debate across the country.A painful reminderFor families of victims of the 2021–2024 protests, Sall’s visit reopens deep wounds. Seydi Gassama, who represents 67 presumed victims in their legal battles, argues that the meeting sends a damaging message."It’s not Macky Sall’s return to Senegal that shocks us—he’s a citizen with every right to be here. What stings is that President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, since taking office, has taken no meaningful steps to deliver justice to v...

urgent call to prevent malaria funding gap in north kivu dr Congo July 16, 2026 As the Global Fund grant application deadline approaches, a critical alert has been raised: the North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo risks being excluded from upcoming malaria funding. With the disease remaining the leading cause of illness in this conflict-ridden region, such a withdrawal could devastate the health and survival of local populations. the gc8 fu...

PoliticsCameroon’s gold trafficking scandal: attorney Sikati accuses officials of deceptionCameroon’s political landscape is shaken by fresh allegations of gold trafficking involving high-ranking government figures. A senior member of the Movement for the Renaissance of Cameroon (MRC), led by Maurice Kamto, has exposed what he describes as deliberate manipulation of official statements. Government attempts to downplay gold theft allegations During a press briefing in Yaoundé on July 15, 2026, the acting Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Fuh Calistus Gentry, alongside Communication Minister René Emmanuel Sadi, formally denied the theft or disappearance of gold belonging to Cameroon’s state reserves. The officials framed the controversy as a misunderstanding rathe...

Ministères, collectivités : voici les efforts demandés par le gouvernement pour le budget 2027Le gouvernement a envoyé au Parlement, mercredi 15 juillet, le rapport sur les plafonds de dépenses du projet de loi de finances pour 2027. La montée en puissance du budget des Armées se poursuit. Les ministères régaliens et l’écologie voient leurs enveloppes augmenter, alors que la mission « Travail » subit une vraie baisse.Économie By Fati Seyni — Analyst

Rabat hosts pivotal Morocco-France summit to elevate bilateral relationsMoroccoThursday, July 16, 2026Morocco and France convened in Rabat today for a landmark high-level meeting, signaling a decisive shift in their diplomatic relations. Both nations’ prime ministers emphasized the significance of this gathering during their opening remarks, framing it as a turning point in bilateral cooperation.Established in 1996 under the reign of King Hassan II, these annual meetings were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent diplomatic rift between Rabat and Paris. That period of strained relations now feels like a distant memory.A ‘new chapter in Morocco-France relations’Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch described the strengthened partnership formalized during the French pre...

In a landmark visit to Rabat, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has underscored a significant thaw in diplomatic relations between France and Morocco. The two-day official visit, marked by military honors and high-level discussions, signals a new chapter in bilateral cooperation that could culminate in a state visit by King Mohammed VI to Paris and the signing of an unprecedented friendship treaty. This diplomatic breakthrough follows years of strained relations, including disputes over espionage allegations and visa restrictions. The turning point came in summer 2024 when the French presidency officially recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, a move that drew sharp criticism from Algiers but paved the way for rapprochement. from tension to cooperation: milestones in...