Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
French foreign ministry quietly cuts support of Sahel media

The New Guard
Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Burundi

Every Wednesday, Africa Intelligence spotlights a new generation of movers and shakers in business and politics.

Burkina FasoKassoum Traoré, running the online strategy of his older brother… the president

MadagascarReboza Mahefa, an architect with an international agenda

Burundi Willy Eloge Kaneza, journalist and long-term advocate for press rights

Niger
Ex-ministers unite to free Mohamed Bazoum

Twenty-six African VIPs have come together to call for the liberation of Niger's ex-President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been detained in the presidential palace since he was overthrown in July 2023.

Guinea, Mali
EU seeks to redirect Mali border security funds to Guinea

The EU is considering redirecting to Guinea part of its budget initially earmarked for neighbouring Mali under the PARSEC Support Programme to Strengthen Security.

Niger
French lycée in Niamey to close for good

After the coup d'état on 26 July 2023 and the spectacular deterioration in relations between Paris and Niamey, France's Lycée La Fontaine in the Nigerien capital will not be re-opening its doors at the start of the new school year in September.

Madagascar
French rapper Orelsan postpones launch of cultural project

Rapper Aurélien Cotentin, AKA Orelsan, and Ahélya Randriambolaina's cultural project is taking its time. There were rumours in Antananarivo of an early 2024 inauguration, but it has since been put back to the third quarter.

West Africa
Macron dismisses his foreign ministry's Africa director

Christophe Bigot's hold on his position as the French foreign ministry's Africa head had been shaky for months before his sacking on 12 December. In the end, it came down to his handling of the Niger coup.

Niger
Niamey and Paris relations continue to deteriorate

The already poor relationship between the two countries has taken another turn for the worse. The junta has been blocking cooperation efforts and has now renounced a 1977 bilateral accord concerning a Franco-Nigerian cultural centre.

Niger
Junta turns away three French gendarmes at Niamey airport

On 21 October, Nigerien authorities denied entry to three French gendarmes who were due to report for duty at the French embassy in Niamey.

Niger
Junta spokesman pays hush-hush visit to Doha

The junta’s spokesman took part in the Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World organised in Doha on 25 on 26 September by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO).

Niger
How Paris is negotiating the partial withdrawal of its troops

Since August, the head of the French Forces in the Sahel and the chief of staff of Niger's army, Moussa Salaou Barmou, have been holding confidential talks about how the first French troops might be withdrawn.