Thursday, November 5
Togo’s public contracts and banking sector: fostering shared risk for economic stability
1Sep By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
News

Togo’s public contracts and banking sector: fostering shared risk for economic stability

Local entrepreneurs engaged in public works in Togo frequently voice a critical concern: "Banks are no longer supporting us." This sentiment highlights a significant hurdle for the nation's private sector. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other companies fulfilling government contracts report increasingly stringent criteria for obtaining bank credits and pre-financing. This tightening of financial access is notably impeding the progress of numerous infrastructure projects and public tenders across the country.The spiral of unpaid debtsThe core reason behind this reluctance from financial institutions stems from a systemic issue: the mounting backlog of unpaid invoices following the completion of public contracts. To undertake projects commissioned by state administrations, bus...
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Niger : Niamey retrouve le calme, mais la colère reste dans les casernes
1Sep By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Culture

Niger : Niamey retrouve le calme, mais la colère reste dans les casernes

Le calme est revenu ce lundi 31 août à Niamey. Mais derrière les rues redevenues silencieuses, l’atmosphère reste lourde dans la capitale nigérienne après un week-end d’une rare intensité, marqué par des détonations et des tirs à l’arme automatique. Les affrontements, qui ont éclaté dans la nuit de vendredi à samedi avant de se prolonger durant la journée de samedi, ont opposé des soldats mutins aux éléments de la garde présidentielle, épaulés par les forces russes d’Africa Corps. Pour l’heure, le général Abdourahamane Tiani, président du Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (CNSP), observe un silence absolu. La communication de la junte tend à minimiser la portée des événements, évoquant un simple « mouvement d’humeur », alors qu’aucun bilan officiel détaillé n’a encore été c...
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Niger’s Tiani regime confronts internal military challenge three years post-coup
1Sep By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Authoritarian Regimes & Africa

Niger’s Tiani regime confronts internal military challenge three years post-coup

Following a recent coup attempt on August 29, the Nigerien regime appears more vulnerable than ever. The visible intervention of Russian forces and the announced military backing from Algeria sharply contrast with the notable absence of direct support from Mali and Burkina Faso, despite their membership in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Niamey's internal strife: a military exposed NIAMEY — The intense clashes that gripped Niamey on August 29 and 30, 2026, did more than merely thwart an attempt to unseat General Abdourahamane Tiani. These events starkly exposed the profound fractures within Niger's military apparatus and highlighted the operational limitations of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), an entity consistently presented as a mechanism for collective defense since its incepti...
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Senegal’s political crossroads: the high-stakes duel between Diomaye Faye and Sonko
1Sep By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Politics

Senegal’s political crossroads: the high-stakes duel between Diomaye Faye and Sonko

Political alliances, once forged in struggle, can fracture under the weight of power. The relationship between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has evolved from partnership to confrontation, with every statement and decision now scrutinized through the lens of institutional power. This Tuesday marks a pivotal moment in this unfolding drama. The convening of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly—dominated by the president’s party, Pastef—raises a fundamental question: how far can parliamentary power extend when it seeks to influence the choices of the elected president? Legality versus legitimacy: where the line blurs A majority may wield its legal prerogatives, but the exercise of power must not erode institutional bala...
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Cameroon launches bid for 60 000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas
1Sep By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
News

Cameroon launches bid for 60 000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas

The Cameroonian market for domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is entering a new phase with the launch, on September 1, 2026, of a tender for 60,000 metric tonnes. The call for bids, signed by Okie Johnson Ndoh, Chair of the ad hoc Commission for Petroleum Product Imports (CIPP), divides the volume into two separate lots of 35,000 and 25,000 tonnes. Official sources state that the procurement aims to meet the consumption needs of the 2026 fiscal year. Candidate dossiers are available for collection at the headquarters of the Hydrocarbon Price Stabilization Fund (CSPH), located at the Warda crossroads in Yaoundé. The evaluation and awarding of bids will take place on September 8 at noon in the same venue. At present, neither the projected market value, the origin of the products, nor th...
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why only democracy can save Niger from the cycle of military coups
31Aug By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Chronicle

why only democracy can save Niger from the cycle of military coups

For over half a century, Niger's political landscape has been trapped in a relentless cycle of turmoil. From the 1974 ousting of Hamani Diori to the gunfire that echoed through Niamey on August 29, 2026—pausing only for the brief regimes of Baré Maïnassara and Salou Djibo—the nation has repeatedly turned to military force in search of solutions to its deepening crises. Yet, the outcome of fifty years of military instability is indisputable: no coup has ever delivered enduring progress, national unity, or security for the people of Niger. Each junta rises to power on promises of temporary salvation, vowing to restore national dignity. Yet each military transition not only drags on interminably but also isolates the regime and hampers its ability to govern. Recent events do not mark an anom...
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Togo strengthens ties in eurasia at shanghai cooperation summit
31Aug By Fati SeyniNo Comments
International

Togo strengthens ties in eurasia at shanghai cooperation summit

Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbé expressed his appreciation on Monday for the warm reception extended by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov during his official visit to Bishkek. The Togolese leader is attending the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, a pivotal gathering of Eurasian heads of state and government. Bilateral exchanges praised by Lomé In a social media statement, Gnassingbé conveyed his gratitude to Japarov for the invitation to the international forum and the hospitality shown in the Kyrgyz capital. While refraining from detailing the specific topics discussed, the Togolese President highlighted the high quality and relevance of the bilateral talks held on the sidelines of the summit. The summit, which brings together leaders from across Eurasia, prese...
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Cameroun elections 2027: why voter registration must be boosted before deadline
31Aug By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Politics

Cameroun elections 2027: why voter registration must be boosted before deadline

PoliticsCameroun elections 2027: why voter registration must be boosted before deadlineThe final stretch of the 2026 voter registration drive, which began on January 2, is underway across Cameroun. With the annual revision period set to conclude on August 31, electoral officials and political stakeholders are sounding the alarm over sluggish participation.AAAVoter registration lags as deadline nearsDespite extensive awareness campaigns ahead of the 2026 voter registration drive, participation remains low. Observers note fewer sign-ups compared to previous years, even with legislative and municipal elections on the horizon. The August 31 cutoff marks the final opportunity for unregistered citizens to enroll before the 2027 polls.Several factors explain the decline. Post-presidential electio...
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Niamey’s betrayal: Tiani’s sovereignty claims unravel into high treason
31Aug By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

Niamey’s betrayal: Tiani’s sovereignty claims unravel into high treason

The Niamey regime has undeniably crossed a critical threshold in political cynicism. What the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) had presented as a narrative of “recovered sovereignty” was starkly exposed as a façade during the violent clashes in Niamey on the night of August 28-29. General Abdourahamane Tiani's true intentions became clear: to cling to power amidst a mutiny by soldiers from Base 101, the regime controversially deployed foreign paramilitary forces to suppress and eliminate its own Nigerien military personnel. This decision to engage external mercenaries to shed the blood of its own national army transcends mere strategic misjudgment. In any nation governed by the rule of law, employing foreign power to turn arms against one's own troops is, unequi...
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Niamey’s instability: a warning for Ibrahim Traoré and Faure Gnassingbé
31Aug By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

Niamey’s instability: a warning for Ibrahim Traoré and Faure Gnassingbé

The recent turmoil that rocked Niamey sends a clear warning across Niger's borders. Heavy gunfire and the escalating tensions that destabilized General Abdourahamane Tiani's authority have exposed a vulnerability official narratives tried to suppress. This seismic event, however, isn't confined to Niger; it casts a looming shadow over its two key regional allies: Captain Ibrahim Traoré in Burkina Faso and Faure Gnassingbé in Togo. Indeed, the shockwaves emanating from Niger suggest their respective administrations have every reason to anticipate a mutiny, or even a full-blown coup attempt, reflecting broader African politics and governance Africa concerns.Burkina Faso under constant military threatFor Ibrahim Traoré, the danger is not merely theoretical; it is a daily reality. The Burkinab...
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General Tiani faces internal challenge after alleged Bénin destabilization efforts
31Aug By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

General Tiani faces internal challenge after alleged Bénin destabilization efforts

In the complex tapestry of West African geopolitics, a familiar pattern often emerges: those who sow the seeds of instability frequently find themselves reaping the consequences. While regional chanceries remained focused on the financial and logistical threads of a thwarted plot in Cotonou, where the fingerprints of the Niamey regime and its staunch allies were strongly implicated, the tables have swiftly turned. On the night of August 28-29, the very heart of General Abdourahamane Tiani’s power in Niamey vibrated with the crackle of automatic weapons fire and artillery detonations. A tragic irony, yet one rooted in undeniable political logic. The Niamey-Lomé-Ouagadougou axis: exporting instability For months, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) in Niamey had sou...
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Côte d’Ivoire sets farmgate prices for 2026-2027 coffee-cocoa season at JNCC
31Aug By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

Côte d’Ivoire sets farmgate prices for 2026-2027 coffee-cocoa season at JNCC

Côte d’Ivoire launches 2026-2027 coffee-cocoa season with new farmgate prices Abidjan — The official launch of the 2026-2027 coffee and cocoa season takes place on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, during the 10th edition of the National Cocoa and Chocolate Days (JNCC). The event will be held at the Abidjan Exhibition Park, where the new farmgate prices for the season will be unveiled. Representing President Alassane Ouattara, Vice-President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné will announce the prices. This follows a record-high farmgate price of 2,800 FCFA per kilogram set for the main 2025-2026 season (October 2025 to February 2026). However, prices were adjusted downward to 1,200 FCFA per kilogram for the intermediate season (March to August 2026) due to global cocoa market fluctuations. Côte d’Ivoire re...
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