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Behind the scenes: how Brazzaville's leadership is influencing Congo's political future In the heart of Central Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces mounting pressures on both political and security fronts. To the east, President Félix Tshisekedi grapples with the persistent challenge of the AFC/M23 rebellion, a conflict interwoven with regional dynamics involving Rwanda. Meanwhile, in Kinshasa, opposition voices and civil society organizations voice concerns over shrinking political freedoms, detentions of critics, and proposed constitutional changes that could reshape the country's governance framework. These intertwined challenges threaten to undermine the government's ability to address the eastern conflict, implement peace agreements, attract investment, and maintain p...

After days of intensive negotiations in Bujumbura, the first joint commission on Burkina Faso-Burundi cooperation concluded with the signing of 14 binding agreements designed to deepen ties between the two African nations. The breakthrough session, chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries, produced a suite of legal instruments spanning critical sectors for national development. These landmark accords were officially endorsed during a high-level closing ceremony. Key sectors covered by the new cooperation framework The freshly inked accords address a wide spectrum of priority areas: Agriculture and livestock development initiatives Enhanced security and civil protection mechanisms Streamlined air services between the two capitals Bilateral health sector collaborations Employ...

Mercatothe world cup final hero’s next move: ferran torres nears Paris switchAugust 13, 2026ShareShareWhatsAppLinkedInMailMessengerAfter days of speculation, Ferran Torres’ move to Paris Saint-Germain is nearly finalized. A preliminary agreement has been reached between the French giants and FC Barcelona, with the Spanish forward—fresh off his World Cup-winning goal in the final—set to arrive in France shortly.The absence of Ferran Torres from Barcelona’s recent training sessions spoke volumes. His decision to skip practice this week signaled that talks with Paris were progressing smoothly. The two clubs have agreed on a €50 million transfer fee, with the 26-year-old inking a five-year contract with the Ligue 1 champions.Torres’ status at Barcelona had become increasingly uncertain since t...

Public policyDemocratic Republic of the Congo Ebola and conflict: a dual crisis gripping eastern DRC Families in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo face a relentless cycle of disease and displacement, pushing communities to the brink of survival. In eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, communities are trapped in an unrelenting cycle of hardship. The resurgence of Ebola has compounded the devastation wrought by years of armed violence, displacing millions and eroding livelihoods. With markets disrupted and farmlands inaccessible, survival itself has become a daily struggle. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has resumed critical food and seed distributions, reaching over 80,000 people despite daunting logistical challenges. But how ...

Russia has intensified its logistical operations in the Sahel, leveraging civilian air transport to move military personnel and equipment under the guise of commercial flights. This strategy, executed through entities linked to Moscow, has raised concerns among regional observers about the Kremlin’s expanding footprint in West Africa. Inside Russia’s air bridge to the Sahel The Africa Corps, a Russian-funded military group, relies on a network of air carriers to maintain supply lines across the continent. Among these, Zitotrans stands out as a key player, operating IL-76 transport aircraft capable of hauling heavy cargo over long distances. These flights, often disguised as routine commercial services, have become a critical component of Russia’s strategy to extend its influence in the r...

Ebola outbreak spreads to sixth province in Democratic Republic of CongoAFPThu, 13 Aug 2026 at 4:18 PM UTCAdd Yahoo as preferred source to view our articles on Google.The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), already the deadliest in the country's history, has now spread to a sixth province in the north and threatens to cross into neighboring South Sudan. Authorities confirmed the grim milestone just three months after declaring the 17th outbreak of the virus.The DRC declared its 17th Ebola epidemic on May 15, weeks behind schedule, following a pattern of delayed responses that has plagued the country's past outbreaks. The current outbreak has already claimed over 2,128 lives out of 4,566 confirmed cases—a toll that surpasses the devastating 2018-2020 epidemic, which sa...

The Benin passport has surged to the top ranks in Africa for intra-continental travel freedom, symbolizing the nation's commitment to open diplomacy and technological advancement. Over recent years, the Beninese passport has climbed steadily in continental mobility rankings. Consistently ranked among the most powerful travel documents in Africa, it reflects a bold political choice: transforming Benin into a crossroads for exchanges and a pioneer of free movement and trade in West Africa. Decoding the passport ranking To grasp the significance of the Benin passport's ranking, it's essential to differentiate between two distinct evaluation methodologies: Intra-African mobility (2nd place): Within the framework of the Index of Openness and Intra-African Mobility—a system aligned with in...

Partnership takes a concrete step forward with Kafra South-East 1 drilling As part of efforts to strengthen strategic ties between Algiers and Niamey, drilling operations for the exploratory well Kafra South-East 1 have officially commenced. The milestone event, held on 13 August 2026, marks a pivotal moment for energy cooperation across North and West Africa. Strategic energy project kicks off in northern Niger Initiated at the Kafra oil field in the northern region of Niger, the launch ceremony brought together high-level delegations from both nations. Representing Algeria, Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb joined his counterpart from Niger, Ali Lamine Zeine Mahaman, to co-chair the event. Prime Minister Ghrieb was received by a Nigerian delegation comprising government officials and senior l...

13 august 2026 12:42+02:00laLiga match postponed due to pitch issues ahead of season openerCelta Vigo vs OsasunaCelta VigoOsasunaLaLigaEspagnePitch conditions force postponement of key opening fixtureThe Spanish football league has officially postponed the highly anticipated clash between Celta Vigo and Osasuna, originally scheduled for Sunday evening at 9:30 PM during the league's opening weekend.Pitch inspections conducted throughout Wednesday revealed severe fungal damage to the Balaídos stadium turf, prompting the league to act swiftly. The rescheduled fixture is now set for Thursday, August 27, at 8:30 PM.League officials confirmed the decision follows a thorough assessment of the playing surface, undertaken in close collaboration with both clubs and the Spanish Football Federation. S...

Mali and Algeria: a thaw in tense relations?Fleur Prisca KonkoboFollowing a year marked by sharp diplomatic tension, Bamako and Algiers are taking steps to restore normalcy in their bilateral relations. The rupture began in April 2025 when Algerian forces shot down a Malian drone near their shared border, alleging airspace violation. Mali denied the accusation and retaliated by closing its airspace to Algeria, a move that affected over 1,300 kilometers of shared frontier.By early July, both nations announced a series of confidence-building measures. Ambassadors were reinstated, and the respective airspaces were reopened, signaling a clear intent to move past the confrontation.During a recent phone call, Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb extended an official invitation to his Malian count...

Morocco stands firm on Ceuta claims, former Spanish envoy warns Morocco has never abandoned its territorial claims over the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa, and these unresolved disputes have played a critical role in the recent surge of migration to Ceuta, according to a former top Spanish diplomat. In late July, at least 72,000 migrants arrived in the small Spanish city, triggering a political earthquake in Spain and across Europe while reigniting a decades-old territorial conflict. Jorge Dezcallar, a former Spanish ambassador to Morocco who also led the country's intelligence services, emphasized that Rabat continues to assert its sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla. Speaking exclusively, Dezcallar revealed that Morocco may be testing Spain’s resolve during a per...