President of the Republic of Benin, Patrice Talon recently reacted to the departure of the AES countries, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, from ECOWAS, insisting that a path to peace and Reconciliation is needed urgently. Speaking during a press conference, Talon declared: “The sanctions are not made to last over time. We are the first…
Côte d’Ivoire is bracing for a contentious presidential election scheduled for October 25, as the exclusion of key opposition figures and Alassane Ouattara’s potential bid for a fourth term stoke fears of political instability. The barring of prominent opposition leader Tidjane Thiam from the electoral roll in April 2025, alongside other figures like former President…
A new report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that four out of every five public sector employees earn less than GH₵3000 a month. Out of the 688,000 persons employed by the government, 533,179 of them earn less than GH₵3000. This represents 80 per cent of the total workforce. The new survey titled the…
Elected on a promise of radical reforms in 2024, Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has revived a contentious debate over monetary sovereignty in West Africa by advocating for the disposal of the CFA Franc, a currency tied to France since the colonial era, in favour of the proposed Eco, a common currency for the Economic…
The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has instructed the country’s consular office in France to suspend the issuance of visas to French nationals until further notice. This move reciprocating what it claims is the decision of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs to classify Mali as a red zone on…
President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló’ BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau Fresh World Bank data paints a picture of modest economic resilience as Guinea-Bissau’s GDP grew by an estimated 4.6% in 2024, edging up from 4.4% the previous year. Driven primarily by booming cashew exports, which accounts for over 90% of the country’s trade. The expansion offered a…
Maada Bio of Sierra Leone (L) and Bassirou D.Faye of Senegal (R) exemplars of the new generation ECOWAS leadership. By Lindsay Barrett As the members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gather on Sunday 22nd June 2025 for a major summit meeting in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, it will not be surprising if a…
Togo’s first elected president, Sylvanus Olympio (L) was ousted in the first military coup I sub-saharan Africa by Military officer, Gnassingbe Eyedema (R) By Ejiroghene Barrett On January 13, 1963, Togo earned global notoriety for the murderous end of its visionary leader. The assassination of the president, Sylvanus Olympio the first post-colonial African president to be ousted…
Lagos, Nigeria U.S. President Donald Trump recently escalated tensions with Nigeria as he threatened military action against the country in a dramatic shift of U.S. policy. On November 1, Trump posted on social media, vowing to deploy U.S. forces “guns-a-blazing” to Nigeria if the government fails to halt what he describes as the “killing of…
Following the seven-day ultimatum issued by ECOWAS to the military junta in Niger to release and return detained President Bazoum to power, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of member-states of the organisation have commenced a crucial meeting at the Defence headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, with Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa chairing…
