Ideas

Sunday, April 7, 2025, Benin woke up shocked by an attempted coup that was quickly foiled. A group of soldiers briefly occupied the national television to announce the fall of President Talon, before being neutralized by loyalist forces. Although calm has returned, this episode—unprecedented in more than 50 years—raises many questions about the political climate, […]

During a nationwide tour carried out with ministers and parliamentarians, Alassane Seidou denounced the lack of morality of certain political actors. He called for more virtue, reminding people that politics is not a playground for adventurers, but a space reserved for responsible citizens. In practice, that speech sounds like a very targeted warning, perceived by […]

In Luanda for the 7th Summit of European and African leaders, the question of reparations for the worst crimes committed against Africa over more than four centuries of slavery and colonization was not raised at all; whereas the African Union (AU) made it the main topic of discussion within the organization this year. While Europe […]

The African Union – European Union summit, held on 24 and 25 November 2025 in Luanda, was supposed to revive the partnership between the two blocs. Presented as a key moment to put African priorities back at the center, the event was ultimately marked by a strong shift from the initial agenda in favor of […]

In Benin, cyberviolence is exploding on social networks and turning smartphones into emotional battlefields. Behind every hateful message are victims, often women, sinking into fear, shame, or silence. While the Centre national d’investigations numériques (CNIN) tries to contain the scourge, even journalists investigating the issue face insults, threats and smear campaigns. This invisible harm crosses […]

The withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from the International Criminal Court (ICC) continues to prompt reactions across the continent. For Ivorian history professor Tape Groubera, this decision reflects exasperation with an institution that, he says, “has become an instrument of repression targeting Africa.” “On March 20, 2003, the United States and the United […]

Three years after Captain Ibrahim Traoré came to power, Burkina Faso continues its quest for military autonomy and stability. In a recent interview, the Burkinabè president spoke about the initial difficulties he faced upon taking office: an army insufficiently prepared, both logistically and in terms of personnel. He also denounced external influences that he considers […]

“Atassa”, this word that denotes a certain stupefaction and astonishment in Beninese slang, would not be enough to describe this new frustration and disillusion experienced by an entire people. The cause of this malaise: a Nigeria that is too strong football-wise, which keeps, match after match, humiliating the Benin national football team. And on October […]

In West Africa, the idea of establishing an autonomous monetary system capable of freeing the region from the historical weight of the franc CFA is attracting increasing interest. On October 7, 2025, at the International Investment Forum held in Dakar, Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko revived the discussion on monetary reform in West Africa. Addressing […]

On October 4, 2025, the French section of the National Front for the Salvation of Cameroon (FNSC) organized in France a conference in support of Issa Tchiroma Bakary’s candidacy, ahead of the Cameroonian presidential election scheduled for October 12. Presented as a diaspora initiative, this meeting nevertheless raised many questions about the real involvement of […]

On September 26, at the podium of the United Nations General Assembly, the Malian Prime Minister denounced what he considers to be Ukraine’s involvement in insecurity in the Sahel. In a forceful speech, Abdoulaye Maïga drew a direct link between the war in Eastern Europe and the expansion of terrorism in West Africa. He recalled […]

Africa is undergoing a digital transformation marked by the growing adoption of mobile phones, including in remote areas, rapid innovation in fintech, and the ongoing development of public digital infrastructure such as interoperable payment systems and digital identification frameworks. These trends lay the essential foundations for inclusive economic growth. Yet nearly 400 million Africans remain […]

was shaken on Thursday, September 18, by an unprecedented mobilization against the austerity measures announced this summer. September 18 will be remembered as a “black day” for the French government. Across the country, hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets to denounce the budgetary measures deemed too harsh, announced over the summer. […]

The Associated Press revealed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had received a confidential file urging it to investigate alleged war crimes in West Africa involving Russia and private military companies. But the materials presented were mainly based on anonymous sources and videos whose authenticity has not been established, raising serious questions about the reliability […]

Daniel Edah, a Beninese opposition political figure, has officially declared his candidacy for the April 2026 presidential election. The upcoming presidential vote in Benin will indeed see Patrice Talon give up his seat, and the ruling movement has already named his heir in Romuald Wadagni, the current Minister of State in charge of the Economy […]

Religious Sisters are not ornaments in Habits. We are not commodities for priests to use at will, nor are we mistresses in veils. We are women called by God, consecrated to service, prayer, and the mission of the Church. Yet too often, behind stained glass windows and polished marble altars, we are treated as less. […]

On August 16, 2025, Bamako hosted the premiere of the documentary “Reparations The Colonial Debt”, directed by Senegalese filmmaker Ibrahima Sow. This powerful work, enriched with testimonies from experts and historical archives, shines a light on the crimes of colonialism and proposes legal mechanisms for African nations to demand reparations from former colonial powers. The […]

Togo is going through a politically troubled period, marked by ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition, determined to reject the new Constitution. These constitutional reforms are seen as a means for President Faure Gnassingbé to strengthen his grip and have sparked a wave of discontent. Behind the scenes, geopolitical alliances are forming. According […]