Talon returns to frontline politics as Benin’s first Senate president
Former Benin president Patrice Talon has been elected the country’s first Senate president, months after leaving office. The new upper chamber, created under a constitutional reform, places Talon at the helm of a key institution despite stepping…
Multi-Front Escalation: Jihadists and Separatists Launch Fresh Offensive Across Mali
A massive security crisis has gripped the Sahel as suspected jihadists alongside Tuareg separatist fighters launched a devastating, highly coordinated offensive across Mali. The renewed campaign, which flared into open warfare on July 4, 2026, has…
Floods kill 59 in Ivory Coast since mid-May: Government
Widespread flooding has killed at least 59 people in Ivory Coast since the “particularly heavy” rainy season began in mid-May, a government spokesperson said Wednesday. Each year, the rainy season from late May to late July brings landslides…
Guinea court cuts ex-PM Fofana’s jail term in landmark corruption case
A Guinean appeals court has reduced former Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana’s prison sentence for corruption-related offences, paving the way for his release after more than four years in detention as the country’s military-led…
New wave of anti-LGBTQ laws sweeps Africa
A string of west African countries have outlawed same-sex relations in recent months, further eroding LGBTQ rights on a continent where they were already under attack. Of Africa’s 54 countries, only about 20 do not currently criminalise same-sex…
Equatorial Guinea Government resigns over unmet performance targets
The government of Equatorial Guinea has resigned after reportedly failing to meet its performance targets, Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue has announced. Mangue, who is also the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, disclosed this…
After a decade in power, Patrice Talon leaves a divided legacy in Benin
President Patrice Talon is preparing to hand over power this Sunday, 24 May 2026. As farewells and stock-taking begin in the capital, the outgoing leader chaired his final cabinet meeting on Wednesday, while government spokesman Wilfried Houngbédji faced…