DIPLOMACY

In a televised interview aired on Saturday, May 31, 2025, Niger’s transitional president, General Abdourahamane Tiani, offered a detailed explanation for his country’s continued closure of the border with Benin. According to him, the decision is neither arbitrary nor politically…

Moscow has proposed a new round of direct negotiations with Kyiv to be held in Istanbul on Monday, June 2, 2025. The announcement was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following a diplomatic visit by his Turkish counterpart to…

On an official visit to Benin, Hayashi Nobumitsu, Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), held discussions with Romuald Wadagni, the Senior Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of cooperation. The meeting, which took place on Tuesday,…

Benin and Namibia are reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. On Monday, May 26, Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, welcomed his Namibian counterpart, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, for an official visit to Cotonou. The meeting, marked by…

On the sidelines of the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine was received by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan—marking what appears to be a first step toward easing long-standing…

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye departed Dakar on Monday, May 26, 2025, for a two-day state visit to Guinea-Bissau at the invitation of his counterpart, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló. This trip reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the ties of…

Uganda has decided to suspend all defense-related cooperation with Germany, according to a statement from army spokesperson Chris Magezi posted on the social media platform X. “The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have, with immediate effect, suspended all ongoing military…

On May 25, 2025, Niger’s Minister of Petroleum issued a formal warning to China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Niger Petroleum, demanding that its expatriate employees leave the country by the end of the month. The decision, based on violations of…

On May 13, 2025, Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, addressed the United Nations Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping held in Berlin. In a stark and unflinching speech, he laid out a critical assessment of the UN’s…

Burkina Faso’s president, Ibrahim Traoré, has strongly dismissed recent accusations made by U.S. General Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command (Africom), who claimed before the U.S. Senate that Burkina Faso’s gold was being used to finance military operations. In…

Tensions between French mining giant Orano and Niger’s military-led transitional government have intensified following the alleged abduction of a senior company executive. In a statement released on Tuesday, May 13, Orano denounced what it described as the “kidnapping” of its…

On April 30, 2025, Ukraine and the United States finalized an agreement on the exploitation of Ukraine’s natural resources—minerals, gas, and oil. According to Washington, the deal is intended to offset the significant financial and military aid the U.S. has…

In a bid to cut public spending, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah announced on Wednesday, April 30, the closure of 25 diplomatic missions abroad. The decision is part of a broader austerity plan aimed at reducing the financial burden of…

Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yuliia Svyrydenko, confirmed that Kyiv and Washington have officially signed the minerals agreement, which includes the creation of a joint investment fund. The announcement was made via a post on her…

India has closed its airspace to all flights originating from Pakistan, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Indian aviation authorities. The ban, effective from April 30 to May 23, applies to both civilian and military aircraft. The…

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his willingness to make a future visit to Africa. He confirmed his intention during a brief exchange with journalists at the White House. “Of course. I would. Absolutely,” said the American leader when asked…

Morocco has proposed a strategic project to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) aimed at providing Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger with access to the Atlantic Ocean. The three member countries have officially expressed their support for the initiative. Seeking…

After visiting Uganda and Burundi, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, concluded his diplomatic tour of the Great Lakes region with a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Monday, April 28, in Kinshasa,…

Burkina Faso’s Prime Minister, Jean-Emmanuel Ouédraogo, on Monday, April 28, 2025, accused Ivory Coast of being involved in plots aimed at destabilizing his country. During a televised interview lasting just over an hour and twenty minutes, he claimed that the…

The bridge spanning the Logone River, linking the Cameroonian town of Yagoua (in the Far North region) to the Chadian city of Bongor, was officially inaugurated on Monday by Cameroon’s Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute and his Chadian counterpart Allamaye…

A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, agreed upon during a phone conversation this week, is scheduled to take place within the next three months. According to the South African weekly Sunday Times, no…

As Russian shelling once again claimed lives in Kyiv—killing at least a dozen people—comments made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to U.S. network CBS have caught many by surprise. “We are ready to conclude an agreement,” Lavrov stated, although…

The government of Niger and the Emirati company Suvarna Royal Gold Trading signed an agreement on Wednesday in Niamey to establish a gold refinery and gemstone processing units in Niger. The agreement was signed by Niger’s Minister of Mines, Commissioner-Colonel…

An official ceremony marking the formal handover of a rice donation from China to Togo took place on Tuesday at the Maritime Regional Directorate of the National Agency for Food Security of Togo (ANSAT) in Lomé. The donation, consisting of…

U.S. President Donald Trump could sign an executive order next week aimed at reducing the activities of the State Department and U.S. embassies across Africa. According to The New York Times, the order outlines a sweeping restructuring of the State…

The German government is blocking the delivery of around thirty Eurofighter jets to Turkey, according to a report by Handelsblatt. The main reason behind Germany’s refusal to approve the deal is the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which German…

The reform agenda pushed by the Trump administration has significantly impacted U.S. diplomacy, with a marked reduction in personnel and resources. Just four months after returning to the White House, Donald Trump initiated a sweeping cut to the federal budget.…

On April 17, 2025, Donald Trump welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Washington. The meeting was marked by overt displays of personal friendship, as well as a shared alignment on several key issues, from security to immigration policy. During…

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé has taken up the mantle of mediator just days after being designated to help resolve the crisis shaking eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and its neighbor, Rwanda. On Wednesday, April 16, he made his first official…

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, will meet on Thursday, April 17, 2025, to discuss a range of current issues, including regional and humanitarian challenges, bilateral relations, and the war in Ukraine,…