The African Tribune

Yaoundé: inside the final preparations ahead of the senate's June sessionAll systems go for Cameroon's upper house as the June 2026 ordinary session prepares to open on 9 June. Demonstrating rigorous administrative procedure, the Secretary-General of the Senate, Mr. Gustave Léopold Ngane, accompanied by the Deputy Secretary-General and senior officials, carried out a comprehensive inspection of all Senate facilities at the Economic and Social Council this morning, 8 June 2026. This final assessment aimed to confirm the readiness of every infrastructure essential for the smooth conduct of parliamentary business. The delegation carefully examined conference rooms, the VIP reception lounge, banquet halls, and the main hemicycle where senators will convene throughout the session. After the ins...

Two recent statements on the presence of Rwandan troops in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have drawn a sharp reaction from former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, now national deputy Léonard She Okitundu, along with his political party, the Green Social Democratic Party (PSDV). The statements in question came from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, each addressing the withdrawal of Rwandan forces from occupied areas in eastern DRC.In a declaration dated 7 June 2026, She Okitundu and the PSDV argued that the positions taken by these international partners represent a significant step forward in the search for a lasting solution to the security crisis afflicting the eastern part of the country. For them, the growing interest of the ...

Villefranche-de-Rouergue association continues sending aid to Mali despite hardshipsThe 16th general assembly of the Association supporting the village of Forgho in northern Mali took place recently.At the start of the meeting, president Marie-Jo Mennelet shared concerning news from Mali with evident emotion: "I do not have very good news from the country, which is going through even more difficult days than before." Jihadist attacks, shortages, water and electricity cuts, rising prices, and intense heat are making daily life extremely trying for local populations.Despite this challenging context, the association maintains a strong bond with its friends in Forgho and Bamako and continues, as much as possible, to respond to their needs with loyalty and solidarity. In her moral report, Marie...

The International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) is set to elect its next Secretary-General on November 15-16, 2026, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The elected official will lead the organisation for a four-year term.We have discovered that France under President Macron is allegedly preparing to support former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Julien Ciolos as a candidate to replace Rwandan Louise Mushikiwabo at the helm of the OIF.While France shows diplomatic smiles toward the Democratic Republic of Congo's candidate, former Culture and Arts Minister Juliana Amato Lumumba, it is working behind the scenes to promote Ciolos's candidacy among its traditional allies in Francophone Africa and beyond.The move appears to be a way for France to avoid choosing between the Rwandan and Congolese cand...

Libreville, Monday 8 June 2026 – The relaunch of political talks between Gabon and the European Union in Libreville on 8 June 2026 is more than a routine diplomatic event. Underneath the formal addresses and institutional exchanges, a far-reaching ambition is taking shape. It reflects a Gabon striving to turn its renewed political stability into a driver of economic change, while the European Union aims to reshape its role in Africa with partnerships built on investment, value addition, and mutual sovereignty.Amid geopolitical tensions, rivalry for strategic resources, and shifting global alliances, this dialogue is a powerful statement. Gabon's Fifth Republic is stepping beyond its traditional diplomatic role. It now wants to be seen as an economic force able to draw investment, upgrade i...

Nairobi, Kenya – June 8, 2026 – A major diplomatic and sports incident has unfolded on the sidelines of the World Cup preparations. Somali international referee Omar Artan, officially appointed by FIFA to officiate during the tournament, was denied entry to the United States, one of the host nations. US customs authorities immediately rejected the official’s entry request, despite his valid accreditation from world football’s governing body. Diplomatic passport insufficient The decision came after a lengthy and complex administrative process for the Somali officiating team. Facing initial difficulties obtaining a standard visa, the Somali embassy in Nairobi had supported his application by issuing a diplomatic passport. However, this guarantee from the Somali state did not sway the US immi...

With the groundbreaking of the future deep-water port at Kobé-Kobé, Gabon has launched one of the most ambitious structural projects in its recent history. Backed by the Belinga iron ore deposit, a new railway line, and the planned Booué hydroelectric dam, this industrial and logistics complex embodies the government's determination to build an economy less reliant on oil and more focused on local processing of natural resources. Long dependent on oil revenues, Gabon is now looking to diversify its growth engines. In this strategy, the Kobé-Kobé project stands as a cornerstone of the new economic model envisioned by authorities. More than just a port, it is a vast industrial ecosystem designed to connect the country's mineral resources to international markets while maximizing local benef...

This 27th edition aims to unite national initiatives to strengthen community awareness on preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable environmental practices. The UNESCO office in Mali took part in the official launch ceremony of the 27th edition of the Environment Fortnight, held in Bamako on Saturday, 6 June 2026. The organisation's delegation was led by its Representative, Mr. Ali Mohamed Sinane.The opening ceremony was chaired by the Minister of State, Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Alousséni Sanou, representing the Prime Minister and Head of Government. It brought together several government members, environment ministers from the AES Confederation states (Burkina Faso and Niger), as well as representatives from national institutions, technical and financial part...

Over 400 freed Boko Haram captives handed to Nigerian authorities © Audu MARTE - A woman, freed after being abducted in Nigeria by the jihadist group Boko Haram, has just been handed over to local authorities in Pulka, June 8, 2026 The Nigerian army handed over more than 400 women and children to authorities on Monday, after they were freed from captivity by the jihadist group Boko Haram earlier this year in Borno state (northeast). Since 2009, a jihadist insurgency led by Boko Haram and later by its rival, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions in the northeast of Africa's most populous country. Mass kidnappings, often followed by ransom demands, are a common tactic used by the Islamist f...

Gabon's Minister of Youth, Sports, Cultural Influence and the Arts, Paul Kessany, presented a confident assessment of his first 100 days in office, highlighting a 62.3% completion rate across 53 initiated projects. Appointed on 2 January 2026, Kessany appeared on state television to fulfill a democratic accountability pledge, with an additional 24.5% of initiatives already over halfway to completion.Gabon's Fifth Republic has sought to project a fresh dynamic, and few figures have contributed as visibly as Paul Ulrich Kessany Zategwa. In the youth sector, he established a standardisation committee within the National Youth Council of Gabon (CNJG), a regulatory step laying the groundwork for broader reforms.Paul Kessany on the path to expected renewalThe minister's record in sports is equal...