Vol 66 No 9 | BURKINA FASO Cracks appear in Traoré’s YouTube persona 2nd May 2025 Burkinabés see the reality of military defeats, a cratering economy and growing authoritarianism despite millions spent on propaganda Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s regime in Ouagadougou has uncovered yet another ‘plot’ showing that Burkina Faso’s security crisis is deepening in many different ways. READ FOR FREE
Vol 66 No 9 | CÔTE D'IVOIRE Contest heats up as court blocks Thiam 2nd May 2025 The opposition prepares mass protests after the PDCI’s presidential candidate is taken off the voters’ roll The main opposition Parti démocratique de Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI) is in crisis after an Ivorian court removed its presidential candidate Tidjane Thiam from the electoral register. The court...
Vol 66 No 9 | BURKINA FASOMALINIGER The juntas join the gold rush 2nd May 2025 On 23 April, Niger advanced its mineral development by partnering with Emirati firm Suvarna Royal Gold Trading LLC. The deal, formalised in Niamey, establishes Royal Gold Niger SA,...
Vol 66 No 9 | SÃO TOMÉ & PRÍNCIPERUSSIA Military alliance and port deal with Russia goes live 28th April 2025 The pact has been ratified, expanding Moscow’s reach in the Gulf of Guinea and upsetting the US although it is retreating from the region On 3 April Prime Minister Américo Ramos of the Acção Democrática Independente (ADI), approved a military cooperation agreement with Russia, first signed in St. Petersburg a year ago...
Vol 66 No 8 | GUINEA Mamady Doumbouya plots a popular mandate 14th April 2025 The sudden release of former dictator Camara fits with the junta leader’s plan to silence party politics and fashion a presidential election victory One is a self-promoted general – Mamady Doumbouya, head of the military junta, the Comité national du rassemblement pour le développement (CNRD), in power since September 2021. The...
Vol 66 No 8 | SIERRA LEONE Contenders to succeed Maada Bio start the race early 11th April 2025 Ruling party hopefuls are manoeuvring for the presidentials in 2028 – but there may be no vacancy Less than two years into his second – and final – five-year presidential term, Julius Maada Bio is mulling both his legacy and a succession plan for 2028....
Vol 66 No 7 | NIGERIA Tinubu bets the farm on Rivers State 4th April 2025 Determined to control the state’s politics and oil before the 2027 elections, the President has suspended an opposition governor In the latest twist in the power struggle to control Rivers State, the two leading protagonists – Governor Siminilayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike – both appear...
Vol 66 No 7 | GHANAUNITED STATES Populist Agyapong loses $18 million in defamation battle 4th April 2025 Investigative journalist Anas chalks up an historic win in New Jersey court against New Patriotic Party presidential contender A United States court has awarded Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas US$18 million in damages, including $8m in punitive damages, after ruling that populist former New Patriotic...
Vol 66 No 7 | GHANAINTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND Mahama’s plans clash with IMF strictures 28th March 2025 After winding up the tortuous debt deal in June, the government will be hemmed in by creditors and multilateral banks The end of Accra’s debt default tunnel is nigh. After signing a memorandum of understanding with the official creditor committee, Ghana is forecast to end the restructuring of...
Vol 66 No 7 | SIERRA LEONENETHERLANDS The Hague doubts that Bio’s government will arrest cocaine kingpin 26th March 2025 The Chief Immigration Officer was sacked for his links to Jos Leijdekkers but some diplomats believe the convicted drug smuggler is still being protected in Sierra Leone Alusine Kanneh, Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, has been dismissed as questions about his relationship with notorious cocaine smuggler Jos Leijdekkers have mounted and evidence of past dishonesty...