West Africa

The international financial rating agency Moody’s has officially re-evaluated the long-term sovereign rating of the Republic of Benin, raising it from “B1” to “Ba3” with a “stable” outlook. Announced on Friday, August 7, 2026, this decision reinforces the credibility and resilience of the economic and financial policy carried out by the government. A recognition of […]

The Dèkoungbé neighborhood, in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi, is in shock after a macabre discovery. A young man has been arrested by the Republican Police, suspected of having murdered and decapitated his biological father. The events reported by Fraternité fm began in the night from Thursday to Friday, around 4 a.m., when law enforcement apprehended […]

Benin has paid 561.8 million FCFA in compensation to 94,905 rice and cotton producers who suffered yield losses during the 2025-2026 agricultural campaign. The scheme, launched as part of a pilot phase of multi-risk index agricultural insurance, is set to be expanded to 122,000 producers during the next campaign. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and […]

Held from August 5 to 7, 2026, in Cotonou, the third session of the Advisory Assembly of the National Education Council (CNE) called for intensified efforts in favor of scientific and technological fields. Participants identified several barriers to student orientation and made recommendations, particularly regarding infrastructure, teacher training, and links with the private sector. The […]

Benin achieved a completion rate of 73% during the 2026 annual political review of the reforms, policies, programs, and community projects of UEMOA. The evaluation focused on 145 texts in the areas of economic convergence, the common market, and sectoral policies. The Beninese Ministry of Economy and Finance welcomed, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, the […]

A circular dated July 24, 2026, outlines the modernization of document management within Beninese public administrations. The reform aims to reduce the reliance on paper, streamline archiving costs, and facilitate access to the state’s documentary resources. The text, referenced N°0142/MBFP/MTDI/SP-C, was issued by Rodrigue S. Chaou, the delegated minister in charge of Budget and Public […]

Guinea has signed the mining convention with Nimba Mining Company, created after the withdrawal of the bauxite concession from GAC, a subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium, in the Boké region. The text still needs to be ratified by Parliament before its official publication. The agreement, announced on Monday, August 3, 2026, by the Guinean presidency, […]

Held on July 25 and 26, 2026, alongside the Festival of Masks, the international scientific conference “Vodun Masks: Heritage and Modernity” brought together researchers, academics, museum curators, traditional dignitaries, and cultural actors in Porto-Novo. The discussions focused on the preservation, transmission, and enhancement of this tangible and intangible heritage. Hosted by the African Heritage School […]

The Democratic Party contests the creation of the Beninese Senate and the election of former president Patrice Talon as the head of the new upper chamber. Now enshrined in law, the institution is called by the opposition to ensure greater political pluralism. The Beninese Senate was officially installed in Porto-Novo, with Patrice Talon, former head […]

The Beninese Minister of Maternal and Primary Education, Armand Kuyema Natta, began a contact tour on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in the departments of Ouémé and Plateau. This first official outing since his appointment aims to engage with sector leaders and define the priorities of his actions, balancing consolidation of achievements with innovation. Accompanied by […]

The Beninese Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Employment Promotion, Awaou Baco, conducted a tour in the Alibori and Borgou departments on July 28 and 29, 2026. This visit took her to SMEs, craftsmen, rabbit breeders, training centers, and young beneficiaries of the AZOLI program. The tour aimed to make contact with several structures […]

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in charge of Technical Training, is launching an entrance exam for first-year admission to several schools and institutes of public universities in Benin for the academic year 2026-2027. Candidates must hold a baccalaureate or an equivalent diploma obtained in 2026, with at least the mention “Fairly Good”. […]

Almost eighteen months after joining the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Benin organized a national workshop from July 27 to 31, 2026, in Cotonou, dedicated to the appropriation of open governance principles. The discussions aim to contribute to the preparation of the country’s first National Action Plan. Representatives from the public administration, Republic institutions, civil society, […]

Senegal and the World Bank have formalized a set of financing totaling 220.7 billion FCFA, or about 388.5 million dollars. The resources are aimed at strengthening responses to emergency situations, opening up agricultural production areas, and supporting the economic development of Casamance and the eastern part of the country. Senegal is strengthening its financial partnership […]

The Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (CMMC) of Zone E brought together military officials, experts, and institutional representatives in Cotonou on July 22 and 23, 2026, to discuss maritime governance and security coordination. The seminar gathered the countries of Zone E — Benin, Togo, Nigeria, and Niger — as well as representatives from ECOWAS. Discussions focused […]

Burkina Faso summoned the Nigerian chargé d’affaires after statements made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu linking insecurity in northern Nigeria to the presence of terrorist groups from neighboring Sahelian countries. In a statement released on August 7, the countries of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) deemed these remarks inaccurate and regretted that they undermined their […]

The 22nd class of the preparatory course for obtaining the State-Major Diploma from the National Superior School of Armies (ENSA) recorded a success rate of 96.15%. The class comprises 26 trainees from seven countries, trained for ten months in staff functions and unit management. The results presentation ceremony took place on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, […]

The Moody’s agency upgraded Benin’s long-term sovereign rating from “B1” to “Ba3,” according to a statement from the Beninese presidency published on Friday, August 7, 2026. This one-notch improvement follows several years of sustained growth and budgetary consolidation. The outlook associated with the new rating is “stable.” Benin is improving its financial rating with Moody’s. […]

Benin launched a project on July 24, 2026, in Cotonou, aimed at restoring degraded lands and making the rice and maize value chains more sustainable. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and a national contribution, the program is expected to directly benefit 36,000 producers by 2030. Dubbed “Sustainable Food Systems for Greater Resilience and […]

The investigation ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the fake Presidential Council for the Promotion of Foreign Investments (PFIPC) highlights forged documents, two other fictitious entities, and possible collusion within the administration. However, it appears that no public funding has been allocated to the fraudulent agency. After several weeks of investigations, the Nigerian agency […]

Ivory Coast celebrated its 66th Independence Day on Friday, August 7, 2026. In Abidjan, the speaking drum Djidji Ayôkwé, returned by France in March after several years of negotiations, was presented for the first time to the Ivorian public. The ceremony was attended by political leaders, traditional chiefs, and thousands of spectators. A sacred object […]