Ideas

The Malian capital was the stage, on July 19, 2025, for an event of significant historical importance for Africa. As part of the third edition of the forum “Headlines”, placed under the theme “Colonial Crimes: The Time for Compensation has Come”, African voices from all walks of life strongly advocated for justice, memory and sovereignty. […]

In the vision of a economically prosperous and socially stable Benin, integrated within a thriving Africa, that guides our political commitment, exemplary justice is ensured for all and would be the government’s duty to guarantee, through all legal means and with great transparency, that any citizen suspected of violating the laws of the Republic is […]

This urgent and critical press release is made publicly available as a precaution, pending an official announcement detailing the actions taken by the Lawyers’ College to shed light on Mr. Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè’s true situation. The undersigned Lawyers’ College expresses deep concern regarding the particularly worrying situation of Mr. Comlan Hugues Sossoukpè, a Beninese journalist, […]

Four months away from the presidential election in Ivory Coast, the suspense remains intense around Alassane Ouattara’s candidacy. Despite his supporters’ expectations, the Ivorian head of state maintains a strategy of silence, carefully orchestrated, which feeds all speculations. Behind this ambiguity, three main reasons emerge, illuminating the tactical approach of the incumbent president. First explanation […]

Eight (08) months after its introduction to the Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM), the National Lottery of Benin (LNB) held its very first Combined General Meeting. It took place on Monday, June 30, 2025, in the blue room of the Cotonou Congress Palace. Significant resolutions were made during this meeting to the delight of over eight […]

Despite the billions invested and the promises of a brightly lit Grand Nokoué, public lighting remains the Achilles heel of Patrice Talon’s urban report card. Repeated breakdowns, acts of vandalism, deployment delays and areas still plunged into darkness; the lighting policy, which was raised to a national priority, has proven its limitations. Let’s take a […]

Les résultats du Baccalauréat 2025 au Bénin, dévoilés le 9 juillet, affichent un taux de réussite national historique de 73,02 % – du jamais vu depuis l’indépendance. Ce chiffre record suscite une fierté nationale mais aussi des interrogations quant à ses causes. S’agit-il du fruit d’importantes réformes éducatives et d’une meilleure stabilité scolaire, ou d’un « taux politique » gonflé […]

Since its inception in 2002, the International Criminal Court (ICC), established by the Rome Statute, presented itself as an independent and impartial body responsible for prosecuting the authors of the gravest crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes. But more than twenty years later, the record of this institution is heavily scrutinized, particularly by Southern […]

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expresses deep disappointment over the recommendation of the Solidarity Levy Task Force (GSLTF) to target air transport in its effort to “improve the mobilization of national revenues from developing countries and support international solidarity (particularly in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation, pandemics, and other development issues)”. An […]

CANAL+ and Netflix are strengthening their historic partnership initiated in 2019 for France and Poland by extending the strategic distribution agreement for sub-Saharan Africa.Thanks to this agreement, CANAL+ will become the first operator to distribute Netflix as part of its offerings in 24 sub-Saharan African countries, marking a new phase in access to premium content […]

In a context of growing distrust towards the International Criminal Court (ICC), the countries of the Sahel States Alliance (SSA) – Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger – have announced the creation of a Sahelian Criminal and Human Rights Court (SCHRC). This unprecedented initiative is garnering keen interest in African legal and geopolitical circles. Franco-Cameroonian political […]

Il faut que nous tirions tous notre chapeau au maître incontesté du Togo, Faure Gnassingbé. Il n’y a pas à dire, il est très fort. En effet, non seulement il vient de supprimer l’élection présidentielle dans son pays pour rester au pouvoir jusqu’à sa mort, mais en plus, il fait réprimer les manifestations et enfermer […]

Kinshasa and Washington are finalizing discussions around a strategic mining agreement aimed at attracting American investments in the critical minerals of the DRC, notably cobalt, lithium, and tantalum. The goal is to establish a regional value chain with extraction in the DRC, processing in Rwanda, and a transparent governance system to reduce dependency on China-dominated […]

“Anthem of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES): “SAHEL BENKAN” Verse 1 A tribute to the people of the SahelHeir to great empiresBearer of a new eraThat heralds freedom and progressUnder the banner of epic battles. Verse 2 People of the AESFearless and sovereignWith words and with armsBreak the chains that hold youSo that your […]

Senegal, a stable country in the heart of a troubled region, cannot turn a blind eye to the growing threat at its borders. While Ousmane Sonko recently expressed his support for Mali in its fight against terrorism, successive revelations about the involvement of foreign actors in Sahel instability call for increased vigilance. The activity of […]

In connection with our conversation on Saturday, May 31, 2025, Gratien-Laurent AHOUANMENOU, the recipient of your referenced letter which was notified to him on May 26, 2025, kindly forwarded it to me; he was entitled to do so as he drafted and disseminated the contested statement in his capacity as Deputy Secretary-General (SGA) of the […]

A few months before the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire, scheduled for October 2025, Tidjane Thiam’s participation remains surrounded by uncertainties. While his popularity within public opinion and his roots in the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) are undeniable, legal and political obstacles are currently slowing his path towards candidacy. Since his return to […]

On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Daniel Edah, former commissioner at ECOWAS and unsuccessful candidate in the 2016 presidential election, officially announced his candidacy for the presidential election of April 2026. In a speech full of humility and determination, he presents himself as the man of a collective project, that of a peaceful, industrialized, sovereign, and […]

The International Criminal Court (ICC), established in 2002 under the promise of impartial justice, was meant to embody the hope of a world where war criminals—no matter who they were—would finally be brought to justice. But more than two decades later, its track record remains mixed. Kevin Ferdinand Ngjimba, President of the International Union Commission […]

Over 80 years old, Adrien Houngbédji seems to refuse to bow out and reignites the national debate with surprising positions, while blurring the lines between power and opposition in a Benin seeking democratic respite. The former President of Parliament challenges the choices of the power he long supported. Strategy or rupture? Founded in 1990 following […]

On May 3, 2025, Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové was sworn in as president of the Republic of Togo, marking a historic moment in the country’s political landscape. Following a constitutional reform adopted in May 2024, Togo transitioned to a parliamentary system that split executive power between two figures: a prime minister, who holds actual authority, […]

A new momentum is emerging in West Africa, driven by a desire for regional cooperation free from external pressures. At the heart of this movement is the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—three countries united by a common ambition to restore sovereignty and collective stability. After decades of […]

On April 17, Benin suffered the deadliest jihadist attack in its history—a grim milestone in the escalating violence gripping the country’s northern region. The incident once again exposes the weakness of the regional security architecture and the worrying inertia of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African . According to Guinean media outlet Le Djely, it […]

As May 9 approaches—a date marking the 80th anniversary of Russia’s victory over Nazism—tensions remain high between Moscow and Kyiv. While Russia plans to hold major celebrations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has flatly rejected the Kremlin’s proposal for a three-day ceasefire. He went further, stating he could not guarantee the safety of those traveling to […]

Since the announcement of his removal from the electoral roll, PDCI-RDA president Tidjane Thiam has been at the center of heated debate in Côte d’Ivoire. Yet despite the controversy, displays of public support have remained relatively modest. What explains this lack of mobilization? Rinaldo Depagne, Deputy Director for Africa at the International Crisis Group, shared […]

As Benin officially enters the electoral year leading up to the April 2026 presidential election, the political landscape remains surprisingly quiet. The National Autonomous Electoral Commission (Céna) released the electoral calendar weeks ago, yet candidacies have been slow to emerge. This unusual calm raises questions about the state of Benin’s democratic health and the consequences […]

The recent decision to remove Tidjane Thiam from Côte d’Ivoire’s electoral roll has sparked widespread outrage. At the heart of the controversy lies Article 48 of the Ivorian Nationality Code, which stipulates that any Ivorian who acquires another nationality after the age of 18 automatically loses Ivorian citizenship. This little-known provision is now at the […]

At a time when warfare is no longer confined to the battlefield but extends into the realm of information, the Beninese armed forces are facing a dual challenge: ensuring national security while mastering their narrative. It’s a slow but inevitable shift, shaped by new forms of conflict where firearms coexist with narrative weapons. Long perceived […]