Skepticism

Bulgaria will adopt the euro on Jan. 1, retiring the lev and joining the eurozone as its 21st member in a move that promises deeper integration with the European Union and a seat at the European Central Bank’s rate-setting table. The long-awaited shift, two years after Croatia’s entry, will extend the common currency to more than 350 million people. Authorities say Bulgaria met the formal entry criteria this year, including targets on inflation, budget deficit, long-term borrowing costs and exchange-rate stability. The…

In Senegal, health authorities have to face skepticism from some sections of the population. Since the start of the campaign in late February, they have first administered the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, followed by the doses of AstraZenecan as part of the global Covax initiative. But despite easy access, there are not many in the vaccination center.…

Regional elections in Cameroon will take place at the end of the week, on Sunday 6 December. A historic vote with indirect voting rights: even if they are provided for in the 1996 Constitution, this will certainly be the first time that regional councils are set up with regional presidents. This is the last step in the decentralization introduced by the government. But in Yaoundé, the capital, few…

In his speech, the Congolese head of state pointed out the differences within the ruling coalition with his partner, Joseph Kabila's FCC, and announced consultations next week with a view to forming a "holy union". We are still waiting for the official response from the FCC. No reaction from Lamuka's side either. Only civil society has begun to speak out. Many organizations are still debating internally to define a common position. But for Carbone Beni, the coordinator of Filimbi, there is already a positive point, that…