West Africa

A Fresh Leader Amid Nepotism Concerns in Senegal In Senegal, a notable shift has occurred. Sophie Nzinga Sy has been named as the new trailblazer for the agency dedicated to the promotion and development of handicrafts. Her appointment comes straight from the top, handpicked by the head of state. Curiously, Sophie happens to be the offspring of Yassine Fall, the current foreign affairs minister. This move hasn't gone unnoticed. Civil society is abuzz with whispers and murmurs. Critics are waving red flags, chanting about…

Monrovia: A City Battling Floods and Seeking New Horizons Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, is infamous for its rainfall, making it one of the globe's wettest locales, as highlighted in a Deltares report for the World Bank. Frequent downpours lead to severe flooding, inundating vast areas and affecting countless residents. In the recent calamity spanning late June through early July, nearly 50,000 citizens faced an emergency crisis. This recurring dilemma has prompted action. A Senate committee took on the challenging…

New Measures Implemented to Combat Urban Chaos in Côte d'Ivoire's Abidjan Since late March of the previous year, Côte d'Ivoire's bustling capital, Abidjan, has enacted a prohibition against street vending, begging, and the use of carts within the autonomous district. Authorities seek to curb urban mayhem and refresh the living conditions for the city's inhabitants. In a bid to enforce these regulations, a specialized brigade has been inaugurated. The brigade's launch event, held on Monday, July 22, was a grand affair…

Tragic Incident Claims Twenty Lives in Mali On Sunday, July 21, an attack resulted in the deaths of around 20 villagers in Dembo, located within the Dimbal municipality near Bankass in central Mali. Although no group has officially taken responsibility for the assault, local informants who spoke to RFI indicate that the perpetrators are likely associated with the Islam and Muslim Support Group, an organization linked to al-Qaeda. This group exerts control over numerous villages in the region and frequently orchestrates…

The Ongoing Journey Towards Fuel Self-Sufficiency in Nigeria The quest for fuel independence in Nigeria is a marathon rather than a sprint. Nestled in Lekki’s bustling outskirts, Lagos, lies a monumental refinery constructed by Aliko Dangote, a billionaire renowned for his business acumen. Despite grand inauguration ceremonies and high hopes, the behemoth refinery isn't operating at its intended petrol production capacity even a year later. "There's a roadblock to realizing full potential," industry pundits remark. While…

Activist Kidnappings in Guinea Activist Kidnappings in Guinea Mohamed Cissé, an impassioned young advocate from the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), claims in a video that he was abducted with two other key figures in the movement—Foniké Menguè and Mamadou Bilo Bah. The FNDC, a collective born in 2019 with a mission to uphold constitutional values, has been a thorn in the side of the transitory administration. On July 19, the United Nations High Commissioner for…

Bold Move: Niger’s New Leadership Slashes Fuel Prices In Niger, since the government's overhaul following the military coup on July 26, 2023, a notable shift has occurred: the authorities have announced a fuel price cut. This reduction is scheduled to come into effect on July 23, 2024. Renowned Nigerian economist Ibrahim Adamou Luché hailed the move, stating, "It was crucial to make this symbolic gesture on the eve of the coup's anniversary. It demonstrates the leaders' commitment to acting in the interests of the…

Eviction Sparks Clash in Côte d'Ivoire In the bustling district of Ebrié, within Abidjan's Adjamé commune, tensions erupted on a simmering Sunday, July 21, 2024. The spark? An eviction that caught the locals off guard, clashing local youths with authorities. Residents voiced their discontent, feeling blindsided by the abrupt eviction notice. "You can't just decide to purge an area without talking to its people first," a community leader stressed, advocating for calm and dialogue. Envisioning smoother processes,…

Political Changes and Election Agendas: The Global Landscape "Weakened by age and health struggles, the 46th President of the United States finally steps down," observes WakatSera in Burkina Faso. The president, who seemingly started to confuse days and nights, has to bow out. His team, filled with capable stand-ins, has scant time to warm up as the adversary, Donald Trump, is already prepared and fiery. Despite his resilience, at 81 years old, Joe Biden is relinquishing power. "Unlike a handful of African leaders,"…

Prisoners' Hunger Strike in Dakar Prisoners' Hunger Strike Over Abuse Claims in Dakar In the vibrant heart of Senegal's capital, a desperate call for justice echoed from the confines of the Freedom 6 Penal Camp. On Friday, July 19, inmates embarked on a hunger strike. These prisoners are demanding a meeting with the Minister of Justice and an end to the brutality they allege is daily inflicted upon them by the guards. "We endure relentless beatings and aggression," declared one of the…