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Behind the highly publicised deployment of Africa Corps paramilitaries in the Sahel, a far more obscure logistical machinery operates in the shadows. While global attention focuses on soldiers in combat gear, Moscow is building a strategic air infrastructure that goes beyond mere security assistance. At the core of this system lies a discreet fleet of Russian cargo aircraft, quickly dubbed 'Air Wagner' by intelligence analysts.Under the guise of defence agreements with nations of the Alliance of Sahel States (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger), this logistical network is poised to become one of Moscow's most sophisticated espionage and interference tools on the continent.167 flights under the radar: the hidden dimension of Russian logisticsTo circumvent the suffocating effect of international sanc...

With the inauguration of Romuald Wadagni into the highest office, Bénin has initiated a pivotal shift in its national development strategy. Central to this new epoch is the revitalization of the Sino-Beninese collaboration, manifesting through the renewed impetus given to significant infrastructure undertakings across Cotonou and the northern regions of the nation.A strong signal was unequivocally broadcast within the initial months of his tenure. The newly elected President, Romuald Wadagni, a former national financial steward renowned for his rigorous macroeconomic principles, is determined to leave an indelible mark on the country's landscape. To achieve this, Cotonou is relying more profoundly than ever on its long-standing ally, Beijing. This re-energized strategic partnership is visi...

The Ténéré desert, a vast expanse of sand both majestic and deadly, continues to witness human tragedies far from the view of the Western world. While media attention frequently focuses on shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea, the Sahara crossing increasingly proves to be a similarly fatal leg of the journey for thousands of exiles each year.The year 2025 was no exception to this grim pattern. Data compiled by the NGO Alarm Phone Sahara, a network providing alerts and support to migrants, indicates that at least 35 individuals lost their lives in the Nigerien desert over the past twelve months. Humanitarian workers on the ground unanimously describe this toll as partial and significantly underestimated, given the vastness of the terrain, which makes counting victims exceedingly difficult.A ...