West Africa

Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian heard from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly on Wednesday and reacted to Alassane Ouattara's candidacy before also giving his opinion on the situation in Cameroon. Communist Deputy Jean-Paul Lecoq first asked the Foreign Minister what France's position was on Alassane Ouattara's candidacy. Response from Jean-Yves Le Drian: “Me, I am not responsible for assessing the new constitution for Côte d'Ivoire. That would really be interference. And you know very well, Mr Lecoq,…

This decision was taken in late September by the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons, which regulates asylum applications in France, and was published on Tuesday. According to the President of Ofpra, it is motivated by "the situation of public and political freedoms in this country". The organization believes that Benin no longer meets the definition of these "safe…

Bissau-Guinea President Umaro Sissoco Embalo on Wednesday reacted to the unilateral decision of the Conakry authorities to close the borders with Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. Ten days before the presidential election on 18 October 2020, Guinea is therefore closing its borders without the reason why this closure is officially known.…

Words that could lead to human rights violations, according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Guinean campaign has been marked by tensions, with outgoing President Alpha Condé amending the constitution to allow him to run for a third term. In a statement, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, called on politicians, especially candidates for election, to refrain from nurturing ethnic divisions. She notes that calls for affiliation with society are increasingly widespread and…

The Economic Community of West African States has taken note of the appointment of some of the transitional bodies in Mali. The sub-regional organization decided to lift the economic and trade sanctions that weighed on the country. A decision hailed in the capital's markets. as reported from Bamako, The stalls and stalls in the Badalabougou market are not very full. Not because customers flocked to the products, but because merchants still suffer from a lack of supply due to sanctions issued by the Economic Community…

A dozen political and military figures arrested during the Mali coup have been released, including former Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, the transitional authorities said. The new army chief Assimi Goita issued an official statement late Wednesday, saying "the political and military personalities arrested on August 18 have been released". However, they will "remain at the disposal of the court if necessary". Former National Assembly speaker Moussa Timbine was among those released, as were eight generals. The rebels…

A whale stranded on Lomé beach for the second time in a week, causing crowds on the beach early Wednesday morning. as reported from Lomé, It was on the beach in front of the German embassy that whales were found early Wednesday morning. The whale, which had apparently died several days earlier, had completely rotted and stank, according to the maritime prefect, Lieutenant Commander Nayo Takougnadi. Several curious people have gathered on the beach and are wondering why whales are stranded these days on Togolese…

Deputies passed the bill on the return of works of art in Benin and Senegal. But will there be other projects of this type in the coming months? Six countries on the continent have so far made requests. The government can rub hands. The text was not only voted on by deputies, it was adopted almost unanimously after 2 hours of peaceful debate. Almost everyone praised the initiative. Senators, in turn, were to follow suit in early November. The Director wants this text to be finally adopted before the end of the year.…

The soldiers, who took power in Mali on August 18 before embarking on a transition to bring civilians back to power, announced on Wednesday the release of eleven civilian and military figures arrested during their coup. The first to return home was Boubou Cissé, the former Malian prime minister. According to a witness, he was quite good. Another civilian, Moussa Timbiné, former president of the National Assembly, who was also arrested since the August 18 coup, has been released. It was quite relieved that he returned…

Cameroonian opponent Maurice Kamto is still stranded at his residence in Yaoundé. As for the hundreds of protesters arrested on September 22, most were released. Nevertheless, hundreds are being prosecuted and the charges are heavy. Maurice Kamto's lawyers filed a motion on Monday, October 5, asking the judicial authority to order lifting of the blockade around the opponent's villa. The request was immediately denied. Lawyers are now planning to call authorities for "assault". Heavy loads for a hundred opponents…