Politics

EconomyGabon's boulevard of transition faces financial scrutiny 36Libreville, August 26, 2026 — Libreville’s Boulevard de la Transition is advancing on two critical fronts. On-site, construction crews are racing against time to meet deadlines and deliver key sections. Meanwhile, behind closed doors, authorities are grappling with a far more delicate challenge: ensuring complete transparency in public spending.Recent technical and financial reviews of the project have raised significant concerns. The initial contract value reportedly ballooned from 8 billion to 16 billion CFA francs, while approximately 3 billion francs were disbursed to an overseas operator identified only as Goran. These findings, still under judicial review, have thrust the project into the spotlight as a test case for p...

Faith as a pillar of Senegalese society In Senegal, religion transcends private devotion, shaping social cohesion, crisis mediation, and even political dynamics. Yet the state’s engagement with religious communities remains entrenched in informal traditions. Could formalising these ties curb favouritism without undermining secular principles? The debate now centres not on whether to institutionalise state-religion relations, but on how to do so without converting faith itself into a state affair. Learning from regional models Several African nations have already established public bodies to manage religious affairs. Mali operates a Ministry of Religious Affairs, Guinea a General Secretariat for Religious Affairs, and Côte d’Ivoire a dedicated religious governance structure. Morocco has go...

Appels sur l'actualitéSénégal: impact of new asset declaration law on top officialsListen - 04:23 Sénégal: the National Assembly has passed a landmark bill requiring senior officials to submit a second asset declaration at the end of their term, in addition to the initial declaration already mandated. But does this law apply to the three top leaders currently in office? This provision was part of a broader constitutional reform proposal that was struck down by the Constitutional Council. Will Bassirou Diomaye Faye sign this bill into law? AdvertisementWith Moussa Diaw, emeritus professor of political science at Université Gaston Berger in Saint-Louis, Sénégal. What the new asset declaration law entails The bill, championed by the ruling Pastef parliamentary majority, introduces a cr...

In a bold statement that has sent shockwaves through Senegal's political landscape, opposition leader Thierno Alassane Sall has publicly accused the government of orchestrating a state-level deception in connection with the controversial ASER scandal. The revelations center on a confidential memo dated August 26, 2024, signed by former Energy Minister Birame Souleye Diop, which the politician claims serves as definitive proof of a cover-up at the highest levels of government. Document exposes alleged financial misconduct in rural electrification agency Thierno Alassane Sall, president of the République des Valeurs party, has taken to social media to present what he describes as 'irrefutable evidence' of state-level collusion in financial irregularities surrounding the Senegalese Rural ...

In a significant political move ahead of the Tivaouane Mawlid celebrations, Serigne Habib Sy, a prominent religious figure, publicly declared his membership in the Pastef party during a meeting with its president, Ousmane Sonko, in the town of Diaksao. Political alignment with Pastef strengthens ahead of religious festivities Serigne Habib Sy, son of the late Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh, confirmed his intention to openly join the Pastef party during a private audience with Ousmane Sonko in Diaksao. This declaration came as part of Sonko’s traditional outreach to religious leaders ahead of the Mawlid celebrations in Tivaouane. The religious leader’s announcement follows years of civic engagement, including his previous involvement with the ‘Y en a marre’ movement in February 2021. His fo...

Senegal politics: khadre brotherhood endorses ousmane sonko ahead of gamou The Khadres’ spokesperson, Serigne Khalifa Kounta, warmly praised Ousmane Sonko during a visit to Ndiassane ahead of the Gamou festivities. Khadres’ strong backing for Ousmane Sonko The president of the National Assembly received enthusiastic support from Serigne Khalifa Kounta, who emphasized the deep connection between Sonko and the Khadres’ values. Addressing Sonko directly, he declared, « Ndongo daara le, arabisan le, ku mokeul alxour ane le », a Wolof phrase celebrating Sonko as a proud graduate of the traditional Quranic education system, a source of pride for the religious and educational community. « This is a great honor for us, the daara community, » he stated, underscoring the Khadres’ firm endorsem...

Heated parliamentary session as Abdou Mbow sounds alarm over governance risks The National Assembly of Sénégal witnessed a heated exchange this week when Deputy Abdou Mbow took the floor to highlight what he described as a systemic threat to the nation’s financial stability. Speaking from the podium, Mbow painted a stark picture of the country’s economic challenges, warning that public funds are under serious risk due to questionable financial practices. During his address, the lawmaker specifically targeted the Customs and Direction des Affaires Fiscales (DAF), accusing them of mismanagement that could undermine national revenue. His most pointed remark centered on allegations that former Prime Ministers had diverted funds earmarked for Casamance for political purposes—though he did not...

The Senegalese National Assembly has taken a significant step toward enhancing parliamentary oversight. On August 21, 2026, lawmakers convened for the inaugural meeting of the Committee for the Evaluation of Public Policies (CEPP), marking its official establishment and the election of its leadership. This initiative underscores a long-awaited reform in Senegalese governance. Envisioned since the 2016 constitutional amendments, the CEPP’s primary mandate is to structure, oversee, and evaluate parliamentary assessments of public policies. By doing so, it aims to bolster transparency in government actions and improve the effectiveness of implemented strategies. CEPP’s structure and leadership The committee comprises key parliamentary figures, including the President of the National Assembl...

Sonko demands answers from Senegal's Justice Minister over land allocation irregularities During the plenary session to ratify six resolution proposals establishing investigative committees, National Assembly President Ousmane Sonko revealed that he had received two responses from the Minister of Justice regarding land allocation controversies. Senegal’s National Assembly leader, Ousmane Sonko, is pressing the Justice Minister for comprehensive details on ongoing legal proceedings tied to questionable land allocations flagged by a proposed parliamentary inquiry. Without clear evidence that the judicial process addresses all implicated cases—particularly those in coastal zones—the legislative body intends to proceed with its investigations. Following the plenary session ratify...

Paul Biya, Cameroon’s president since 1982 and the world’s longest-serving head of state, returned to Yaoundé on August 20 after more than two months abroad, sparking fresh debate over his ability to govern the Central African nation. The 93-year-old leader left Cameroon on June 7, described by the presidency as a short private stay in Europe. Reports suggested he had traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, with family and close aides. After 73 days away, Biya arrived at Yaoundé’s airport, waving to a small crowd through an open car window as he headed toward the Etoudi Palace, the country’s official presidential residence. His wife, Chantal Biya, accompanied him. Supporters of the ruling party, some donning attire bearing the president’s image, gathered at the airport to greet him in a festive...

Paul Biya's return to Cameroon after months away stirs public interestAFPThursday, August 20, 2026, 1:16 PM UTC2 min readAdd Yahoo as your preferred source to see our articles on Google.Midday on Thursday, August 20, Paul Biya, accompanied by his wife Chantal and their entourage, was airborne aboard a private Boeing jet registered P4-CLA. Their departure from Geneva set the stage for a highly anticipated return to Yaoundé, expected later that afternoon.Observers note that Cameroon’s ruling RDPC party has mobilized its supporters to orchestrate a warm welcome for the long-absent president. Authorities have also staged the event meticulously, with the national broadcaster CRTV deploying over 200 staff to cover every moment—from the presidential jet’s landing to the 22-kilometer motorcade to ...