In June 2025, Action Against Hunger (ACF) released a monitoring bulletin on micro-enterprises in Bassikounou, Mauritania, as part of its economic resilience program. The study assessed 50 ACF-supported micro-enterprises, mainly operating in retail trade, catering, and services. Findings indicate an average 18% increase in turnover since the previous assessment, despite ongoing challenges such as supply chain issues, rising prices, and limited product diversification. Most beneficiaries are women (72%), who report improved income and autonomy. However, reliance on local markets and low savings capacity continue to hinder the sustainability of these businesses. The report recommends strengthening management training, diversifying business sectors, and improving access to credit.

Economic Development, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Development, Gold, Aid, Private sector, Civil Society, Funding

The April 2025 policy brief by Africa Education Watch, authored by Kofi Asare, reviews Ghana’s basic education infrastructure. Despite significant enrolment growth since 2001, about 1 million children remain out of school, including 400,000 dropouts. Key deficits include school buildings, furniture (40% of pupils lacked desks in 2021, rising to 80% in some regions), electricity, and digital infrastructure (only 2% of basic schools in deprived districts have functional ICT facilities). To meet SDG 4 targets by 2030, Ghana needs around 2,000 fully furnished basic schools, 3,600 junior high schools, 508 kindergartens, to replace 5,300 makeshift schools, and supply 800,000 desks. Estimated cost: USD 2 billion. Budgetary constraints and declining donor support necessitate innovative financing, climate-resilient building technologies, community-led furniture initiatives, and targeted interventions for underserved communities.

Governance, Inequality, Education, Infrastructures scolaires, Funding

The Bi-monthly Pastoral Surveillance Bulletin for the Sahel (No. 32, April–May 2025) reports a lean season marked by a sharp decline in forage resources and the drying up of temporary surface water. Livestock movements are generally limited but include mass departures or arrivals, often driven by insecurity. Localized resource availability leads to high livestock concentrations, deterioration in animal body condition, and suspected disease outbreaks (botulism, peste des petits ruminants, vitamin deficiencies). Cereal and livestock prices are rising, with terms of trade unfavorable to herders. Cattle theft remains an issue, especially in high-density zones and in the Gao region. Conditions vary by country, with pastoral resources sometimes sufficient (Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire) but often deficient (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal), creating both economic and animal health challenges.

State, Pastoralism, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Education, Gold, Human security, Information, Insécurité

The article examines pastoralism in Nigeria, exploring its historical roots, sustainable practices, and current challenges. Rooted in Fulani cultural heritage, pastoralism involves extensive livestock rearing of cattle, sheep, and goats, using techniques like rotational grazing and selective breeding. Grazing lands and reserves face threats from urbanization, climate change, and farmer-herder conflicts. Despite initiatives such as the National Livestock Transformation Plan and cattle colonies, implementation has been limited. Pastoralism plays a vital economic and social role, providing food, income, employment, and cultural identity. The authors stress the need for stronger infrastructure, secure land tenure, integration of traditional knowledge with modern innovations, and climate-resilient practices. Collaboration among herders, government, NGOs, and civil society is deemed crucial to ensuring sustainability and productivity of the pastoral system in Nigeria.

State, Livestock, Climate change, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Development, Food security, Human security, Customs

Two years after Niger’s July 26, 2023 coup d’état, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, the country remains mired in political and socio-economic deadlock. Former head of the presidential guard, Tiani justified overthrowing President Bazoum by citing security failures and excessive foreign—particularly French—influence. Reactions from ECOWAS, including sanctions and the threat of military intervention, along with France’s stance, bolstered the CNSP’s nationalist image. Yet, continued closure of the border with Benin, soaring prices, and worsening poverty have deepened public disillusionment. Bazoum and his wife remain under house arrest, symbolizing an unfinished transition. Despite sovereignist rhetoric, the current government has failed to improve the economy or security. The future remains uncertain, with the risk that the pursuit of dignity could lead to prolonged insecurity, authoritarianism, and widespread poverty.

Sovereignty, Governance, Coup d'État

The podcast examines the candidacy of Paul Biya, 92, for an eighth presidential term in Cameroon, calling it absurd and dangerous. In power since 1982, Biya is among the world’s longest-serving heads of state. The October 2025 election is expected to take place under questionable conditions, with growing dissent—including within his own party—and a high risk of violence. In the medium term, the most likely outcome is an unconstitutional succession, potentially led by the military, with severe regional repercussions given Cameroon’s borders with six unstable countries. The author stresses the role of political, economic, and social elites in enabling such power grabs. He concludes by highlighting that, despite the political crisis, many Cameroonian civic initiatives and organizations are working tirelessly for education, innovation, and the common good.

Politics, Governance, Election, Instabilité

The article, written by Gado Alzouma, examines the global “war for talent” and Africa’s growing role in it. Faced with aging populations and declining birth rates, industrialized countries are stepping up efforts to attract highly skilled foreign workers. Africa, with a median age of 19.7 and rapid demographic growth, has become a strategic labor pool. The author highlights reforms in Germany, France, the UK, Canada, Japan, and others to ease the entry of African talent. While this trend creates opportunities, it also accelerates brain drain, weakening Africa’s competitiveness, research, and innovation capacity. The piece concludes that African nations must build strong economies and create attractive jobs to retain their best-trained citizens, or risk continuing to fuel the development of other regions instead of their own.

Migration, Youth, EMPLOYMENT

The pastoral surveillance bulletin (April–May 2025) for northern Côte d’Ivoire, prepared by ACF, RBM, and OPEN-CI, highlights fragile pastoral conditions despite improvements from the onset of the rainy season. Pasture and water resources remain insufficient in some areas due to pressures from transhumance, refugee inflows, and land conflicts. Livestock body condition is generally fair, but animal diseases persist. Cattle thefts and inter-community conflicts, exacerbated by cross-border insecurity, disrupt transhumance routes. Markets remain open but show significant price fluctuations, worsening terms of trade for herders, especially in Tchologo. Recommendations include strengthening security, promoting joint resource management, conflict prevention, and supporting pastoral community resilience.

Power, State, Pastoralism, Livestock, Natural ressources, Security, Conflict, Education, Gold, Human security, Marché, Transhumance