This podcast discusses a recent study by the African Development Bank (AfDB) identifying twelve minerals considered critical for Africa’s industrial development. Drawing on the work of Bright Simons, the analysis challenges the uncritical adoption of “critical minerals” frameworks defined by industrialized countries. A mineral is only critical in relation to a society’s productive priorities. For Africa, truly critical minerals are those that support industrialization, agriculture, construction, and low-carbon energy systems. Despite holding significant mineral reserves, Africa remains largely confined to raw extraction, with minimal processing and refining capacity. Decades of underinvestment in geological surveys, energy infrastructure, logistics, and technology have weakened states’ negotiating power and limited value creation. The report argues that Africa can only transform its mineral wealth into inclusive growth through an integrated industrial strategy focused on local processing, infrastructure development, and technological upgrading.

Governance, Environment, Natural ressources, Inclusion

Guinea’s economic growth has remained strong, averaging 5.1% between 2019 and 2023, driven mainly by the mining and agricultural sectors. However, this growth has not been sufficiently inclusive to significantly reduce poverty, which still affects 52% of the population. Structural weaknesses — including low domestic revenue mobilization, inefficient public spending, limited human capital, infrastructure gaps, and gender disparities — continue to constrain the broader economic impact. Monetary policy was eased in late 2024 and early 2025 to support growth, while fiscal discipline helped contain deficits over recent years, despite a recent increase due to higher public investment. Public debt has risen, particularly through increased reliance on domestic borrowing. Looking ahead, Guinea’s medium-term outlook is positive, largely due to the expected start of iron ore production at the Simandou project, which could drive double-digit growth. Nevertheless, the report stresses that comprehensive reforms are essential to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and resilient economic development.

Governance, Politique publique, Funding, Inclusion, Economic growth

The article examines Guinea’s recent macroeconomic performance and future outlook, drawing on the African Development Bank’s African Economic Outlook 2024. In 2023, Guinea’s economy demonstrated strong resilience, with GDP growth estimated at 5.7%, driven mainly by agriculture and mining activities, particularly investments related to the Simandou iron ore project. Inflation declined, while public debt and the fiscal deficit remained within ECOWAS convergence criteria. Nevertheless, external vulnerabilities persist, notably a high current account deficit and declining foreign exchange reserves. Economic growth is expected to slow to 4.2% in 2024 due to fuel shortages and reduced electricity supply, before rebounding in 2025 as energy conditions improve. The article emphasizes the importance of structural reforms and global financial architecture reform to mobilize sustainable financing, enhance domestic resource mobilization, attract foreign direct investment, and support Guinea’s transition toward diversified, inclusive, and climate-resilient growth.

Governance, Natural ressources, Inclusion, Economic growth

According to the 13 October 2025 report, this study examines the political, social and technological dimensions of civil registration systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Chad. It highlights civil registration as a core infrastructure of citizenship, enabling access to rights but also functioning as a mechanism of exclusion. The report details the “social life of documents,” showing how identity papers are used strategically, how administrative inequalities persist, and how bureaucratic violence at service counters reinforces marginalisation. It also warns against the politicisation of civil registry systems, especially when civil registration, nationality, and elections become entangled. The study analyses the rise of biometric technologies, which promise efficiency but create new vulnerabilities, including surveillance risks and technological dependency. Finally, it outlines reform pathways: depoliticising civil registration, expanding citizen access, increasing transparency, fostering universal inclusion, and strengthening digital sovereignty.

Politics, Political party, State, Governance, Natural ressources, Justice, Gold, Public Administration, Social, Inclusion, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS), water, Biometrics, Identity

This UNESCO report (January 2024) provides an in-depth overview of Guinea-Bissau’s education system. It highlights a severe learning crisis: nearly half of school-age children are out of school due to the scarcity of complete primary schools and high dropout rates. Data also reveal gender disparities, limited access to secondary education, and the absence of regular national learning assessments. The report examines six priority areas from the KIX initiative: learning assessment systems, early childhood education, teaching and learning, data management, gender equality, and inclusion. Persistent challenges include inadequate infrastructure, insufficiently trained teachers, limited implementation of inclusive education policies, and weak educational management information systems (EMIS). Although recent steps—such as creating a preschool inspectorate, adopting minimum standards, and launching teacher development initiatives—represent progress, they remain insufficient without long-term investment and stronger governance.

Governance, Gender, Education, Poverty, Inclusion, Equality

The paper examines whether greater accessibility to electronic money boosts financial inclusion in WAEMU countries over 2010–2022. Using annual data and Method-of-Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) to tackle heterogeneity and endogeneity—plus IV-2SLS robustness checks—the authors find that both geographic and demographic penetration of e-money service points significantly increase financial inclusion. Two mechanisms drive the results: (1) expanding formal financial services (payments, transfers, savings) to rural and peri-urban areas by cutting transaction and travel costs; and (2) a catalytic effect that is stronger where initial inclusion is higher, deepening usage among already banked populations. Additional positive correlates include schooling, trade openness, mobile subscriptions, and internet access. Despite progress, WAEMU’s inclusion rate lags developing-country averages, implying a need to scale digital infrastructure, security/trust measures, and human-capital investments.

Governance, Démographie, Inclusion

The article explores how in Africa the law is increasingly used as a “pimping” tool for gerontocratic regimes, undermining substantive democracy. It argues that although the post-independence era held promise for law as social regulation, it became captured by privatized state institutions and used to eliminate opposition rather than secure alternation. Cases in Benin, Senegal and Cape Verde are discussed as (relatively) positive exceptions, while in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Chad, candidacies are constrained and civil rights subverted. Law becomes flexible, adapting to the interests of those in power and thereby reinforcing hybrid and gerontocratic systems. The author calls for a reinvention of citizenship, a law in service of life rather than exclusion, and a stronger role for civil society to reposition politics beyond mere elections.

Governance, Democracy, Election, Inclusion, Gerontocracy

The article argues that digital transformation in West Africa holds enormous potential for social change but also risks worsening inequality if not grounded locally. It states that the digital shift must be built on local priorities: connecting rural areas, tailoring training programs, supporting youth digital entrepreneurship, and mobilising governments, businesses, universities and civil society. With a large share of future labour market entrants coming from sub-Saharan Africa by 2030, the region faces urgent challenges: reliable internet, digital skills and access remain highly unequal, particularly in rural zones. The piece cites examples such as Benin, Senegal and Nigeria to highlight existing initiatives. It stresses the need for inclusive digital governance, appropriate infrastructure and ethical frameworks, so that technology becomes a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.

Governance, Transition, Numérique, Inclusion

This report by ADEA, published by WATHI, reviews how twelve African countries ensured learning continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic. With schools closed, governments implemented emergency measures such as radio and TV lessons, and online platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom, and WhatsApp. Despite these efforts, challenges remained—limited infrastructure, unequal access, and insufficient inclusion of vulnerable learners. Some countries, including Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, and South Africa, developed specific initiatives to reduce educational disparities. The report highlights the importance of investing in distance education, fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, and building national expertise to ensure educational resilience during crises.

Governance, Inequality, Education, Politique publique, Santé publique, Inclusion