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Parliament confirms receipt of the 2026 revised finance bill amid political pressure The National Assembly of Senegal has officially confirmed receiving the Revised Finance Bill (LFR) for 2026. In a statement released on Friday, September 18, 2026, the parliament disclosed that the bill was transmitted to its General Secretariat in the afternoon, accompanied by a presidential letter and the decree authorizing its presentation to lawmakers. The announcement follows days of uncertainty surrounding the budgetary timeline set by the Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lô had instructed Finance Minister Cheikh Diba on September 10 during a Council of Ministers meeting to ensure the bill’s submission by September 15. However, this deadline was missed, sparking controversy...

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Senegal's president, has yet to clarify when the country's long-awaited local elections will take place, despite the January 2027 deadline looming. The delay is fueling speculation about his political strategy and its potential consequences for Senegal's democratic stability. The unanswered question: when will Senegal vote? Months after the initial announcement, the Senegalese government has not provided a definitive date for the local elections. President Faye's silence has sparked debates about whether this hesitation is a deliberate tactic or a sign of deeper political uncertainty. Local elections: a postponed mandate Originally slated for early 2027, the local elections are now caught in a cycle of postponements. This delay has raised concerns among civil socie...

Cotonou hosted the second edition of the regional shareholding forum on 17 and 18 September 2026, and the message delivered over those two days was blunt: West African economies will keep leaning on outside capital unless the region's own savings are finally put to work. The gathering, co-organised by UCA SGI and Dimensions GROUP, drew institutional players, company executives and market specialists from across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA). Its theme framed the whole discussion: shareholding and financial sovereignty, mobilising savings to accelerate economic transformation. Why Cotonou placed domestic savings at the heart of the agenda Development financing remains the region's biggest bottleneck. Faced with heavy gaps in funding and a persistent reliance on capit...

Politics Gabon names new Libreville prosecutor general amid justice reform calls 108 Libreville, September 18, 2026 — Gabon's judicial landscape shifts as Alain-Georges Moukoko takes office as the new prosecutor general of Libreville's Court of Appeal. The appointment, confirmed on September 16 in Port-Gentil, marks a strategic move in the Supreme Council of the Judiciary's broader magistrate reshuffle. Moukoko steps into the role just as President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has demanded faster court proceedings, tighter judicial oversight, and strict adherence to legal timelines. With this mandate, the new prosecutor inherits a position de...

Benin and Cuba have agreed to revive their economic and commercial ties, with a roadmap now in place to turn a decades-old friendship into measurable trade. The decision came out of a diplomatic audience held in Cotonou between Cuba's ambassador, Denisse Amaro Salabarría, and the leadership of Benin's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Benin), where both sides confirmed their intention to actively re-energise bilateral business. An old friendship, a renewed economic agenda Relations between the two countries rest on a long-standing friendship built on deep cultural affinity and steady South-South solidarity. On the institutional side, the current push builds on a framework agreement signed in 2002 between the two chambers of commerce. With global market conditions shifting, Cotonou and...

Exactly twelve months separate 17 September 2025 from today: the day Marguerite Essossimna Gnakadé, a former minister of the armed forces, was taken into custody. The anniversary is a plain fact, and it says something larger about Lomé. Under President Faure Gnassingbé, stepping over the line of contestation is met, almost without exception, by an institutional or judicial response. Why the Gnakadé case still carries weight For ordinary citizens and for regional analysts alike, the prolonged Marguerite Gnakadé detention has turned into a textbook example of a well-drilled doctrine of power. When a political or military figure drifts away from the official line, the executive seldom answers with direct verbal confrontation. It works instead through a structured state apparatus, one in whic...

Baudelaire Ndong Ella has officially begun his role as Gabon’s ambassador to the United States, presenting his credentials to President Donald Trump at the White House. The Gabonese diplomat is set to prioritize economic diplomacy as he works to deepen ties between Libreville and Washington. Economic partnership in the spotlight Ndong Ella’s mission will focus on strengthening Gabon’s economic engagement with the US. Key sectors include hydrocarbons, mining, infrastructure, transport, tourism, energy, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence. His role will involve facilitating trade and investment by connecting American businesses with opportunities in Gabon while supporting those looking to expand operations in the country. Security cooperation at the forefront The new ambassad...

Benin's higher education map has just crossed a new threshold. On 15 September 2026, the Sèmè City Institute of Technology (SCITI) and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) formalised a strategic partnership by signing an agreement to open a Master's degree in "Engineering Design – Sustainable Engineering track". Key facts at a glance Who: the Sèmè City Institute of Technology (SCITI) and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA). What: a Master's in Engineering Design, Sustainable Engineering track. Signed on: 15 September 2026. Award: an international diploma, and the first Master's-level programme ever delivered by SCITI. A first for the Sèmè City engineering school This new track is the very first Master's-level programme awarded by SCITI, the engineering school b...

Benin launches online tax services in Parakou, Comè, and Lokossa starting September 21 The General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) will roll out its e-services platform to taxpayers affiliated with the Small Business Tax Centers (CIPE) in Parakou, Comè, and Lokossa, beginning on September 21, 2026. This initiative enables online access to tax documents, including payment receipts and tax clearance certificates, while streamlining the filing and payment processes for eligible taxpayers. Benin’s online tax services will simplify access to clearance certificates and payment receipts. Phase-by-phase rollout scheduled for September and October The DGI’s phased implementation targets three key cities with distinct launch dates. Parakou will go live first on September 21, followed by Comè o...

The FC Barcelona machine keeps rolling. Six straight wins, 28 goals scored and just six conceded, including a 7-2 demolition of Racing Santander on Wednesday that featured a Raphinha hat-trick. Under Hansi Flick, the Brazilian now plays as a false nine, teaming up with Lamine Yamal to power an attack averaging nearly five goals per game. Key details for Sevilla vs Barcelona Date: Saturday, 19 September 2026 Kickoff: 21:00 CET Venue: Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Seville Referee: Not yet announced VAR: Confirmed TV channels: DAZN, Disney+ Live streaming: Available via DAZN app/website and Disney+ Betting odds (Betclic): Sevilla win 10.75 | Draw 7.25 | Barcelona win 1.17 Sevilla’s resurgence under Luis García Plaza The Andalusian side has shed its relegation-threat shell from last season. After s...