West Africa

"It is done, erupts the land in Bamako. The Prime Minister of the transition is known. He is neither from the M5-RFP nor from the former presidential majority. His name is Moctar Ouane, a respected diplomat. (…) Former Foreign Minister, former United Nations Ambassador Moctar Ouane, most recently WAEMU's General Delegate for Peace and Security. He is recognized by many Malians, Le Pays emphasizes, as a great technocrat, honest and respected. " "This appointment follows a tough debate, reveals for its part L'Indépendant,…

After visiting the Morounou region earlier this month, the Ivorian president spent four days in the Marahoué region. At the end of this new "state visit" in front of the remarkable and the inhabitants of Bouaflé, in the center of the country, Alassane Ouatarra spoke to his political opponents. "The law has been said and the democratic game is now open," the Ivorian president assured Bouaflé. Far from responding to the demands of the opposition, which in particular calls for the dissolution of the Independent Electoral…

The country's largest union is stepping up pressure on the government by calling for demonstrations on Monday 28 September to protest the rise in fuel and electricity prices in the country. In the context of economic crisis, the federal government has in fact decided to end its subsidies in these two sectors. The price of petrol at the pump is now indexed to market prices, while electricity prices will double in early September. The threat of a social movement launched by the Nigerian Labor Congress was at the center of…

After endless negotiations on the conditions for reopening places of worship, the Federation of Charismatic, Pentecostal and Revival Church of Gabon decided on September 12 to reopen churches without permission this Sunday despite the Covid-19 epidemic. The government considers the process unacceptable and it acted on Sunday 27th Sunday. During a press conference on Saturday, September 26, Interior Minister Lambert Noël Matha threatened religious leaders who were tempted to defy the ban. "A group of religious leaders has…

Moctar Ouane, the new Malian prime minister, now has 48 hours to form his government. This former foreign minister had been driven away from Malian political life in recent years. He was for some time a diplomatic adviser to UEMOA. Within the Malian political class, the appointment of a civilian as prime minister seems to be unanimous. New Malian Prime Minister Moctar Ouane does not come from the local political backwater. It is quite far from the parties, which is an advantage when we want to organize transparent…

In Mali, the president of the transition, Bah N'Daw, signed a decree appointing the prime minister. Former Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane has been appointed Prime Minister. With our correspondent in Bamako, Serge Daniel Two days after the inauguration ceremony for interim president Bah N'Daw, Mali knows his civilian prime minister. "Moctar Ouane, appointed Prime Minister", here is the decree signed by president of the Bah N'Daw transition this Sunday, September 27th. Since 2016, it should be noted that the brand new…

The Ivorian opposition "United Front" organized three joint meetings in Abidjan in the municipalities of Yopougon, Anono and Gonzagueville on Saturday 26 September. RFI visited the Anono field and noted that the crowd was not there this first day of mobilizing the opposition coalition. A fine fog is watering the land in Anonos' headquarters, where one of the opposition coalition meetings is being held. All opposition sensitivities, with the exception of the independent candidate Kouadio Konan Bertin, called for…

"I got to break and get into theater writers." Author and director Souleymane Bah, 46, will receive the RFI Theater 2020 award for La Cargaison on Sunday 27 September at the Festival des Francophonies, Les Zébrures d'Automne, in Limoges. The text from the Guinean author, exiled in France for four years, invites us to a "macabre stroll" populated by ruined destinies, stranded somewhere. Relaxed and determined at the same time, equipped with an easy opportunity to choose words and speech, during our meeting with the winner,…

Interview with Gilles Olakounlé Yabi, economist and political analyst. He is the founder of the West African Citizen Think Tank, Wathi (www.wathi.org). Commentary on the future of democracy in French-speaking Africa. RFI: What is your assessment of the state of democracy in Africa in 2020?? Gilles Yabi: Difficult to answer this question without first remembering the diversity of the continent. This diversity has profound implications for the assessment that can be made of the state of democracy in Africa. Political…

NGO Human Rights Watch investigated the violence that shook the city of Nzérékoré in southern Guinea during the double vote on March 22. It takes stock of at least 32 dead, 90 wounded and extensive property damage and also involves the security forces in this tragedy. Polling stations were attacked, places of worship burned down and dozens of dead have done so Nzérékoré mourned in a double vote of March 22nd. HRW believes the defense and security forces "did not do enough" to stop the inter-municipal clashes that erupted…