The article examines how the December 7, 2025 attempted coup in Benin became a narrative struggle between opposing interpretations of the event. The Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) aimed to promote a revolutionary narrative by occupying the national television and denouncing deteriorating security conditions. In response, the Beninese government quickly crafted a counter-narrative, led by the Minister of the Interior, that downplayed the incident as an isolated mutiny and employed crisis communication strategies to reassure the public and stabilize perceptions. The article highlights the role of framing in shaping public understanding and explains that the government’s rapid and controlled communication neutralized the putschists’ messaging. Despite the failure of the attempted coup, the underlying causes of the crisis remain unresolved, and the article argues that future communication should focus on reforms to address grievances and prevent similar challenges to constitutional order.

Governance, Conflict, Crisis, Coup d'État

In this interview, Prof. Fatoumata Hane examines Senegal’s deep social and institutional crisis, characterized by a growing disconnect between institutions and the population. She highlights weak governance marked by impunity, lack of accountability, and restrictions on fundamental rights, which have widened the gap between citizens and the state. Youth issues are central, as public policies often treat young people as a homogeneous group, failing to address diverse aspirations in employment, education, and civic engagement—contributing to migration and instrumentalized political participation. Regarding women, she stresses that numerical parity does not ensure meaningful political inclusion, as women remain largely confined to mobilization roles. In education, she advocates for the decolonization of knowledge, criticizing a Eurocentric model that fuels inequality and unemployment. Ultimately, she calls for a refoundation of the state, prioritizing inclusive governance, health, education, youth empowerment, and the rebuilding of shared national values.

Governance, Youth, Women, Institution

This article examines farmers’ perceptions of climate change in the Haut Niger National Park (PNHN) in Guinea, comparing local observations with climatological data from 1960 to 2013. Local populations report increasing rainfall variability, shorter rainy seasons, delayed onset of the monsoon, and more frequent intra-seasonal dry spells. Statistical analyses confirm strong interannual rainfall variability, with a slight but non-significant upward trend, alongside projected temperature increases for the 2025–2050 period. These climatic changes have significant impacts on natural resources and rural livelihoods, including declining agricultural yields, soil degradation, forest regression, and disruptions to farming calendars. The study highlights that, despite some discrepancies, farmers’ perceptions closely align with observed climate trends and provide valuable insight into climate-related risks. The findings underscore the vulnerability of ecosystems and communities in the PNHN and stress the importance of integrating local knowledge into climate adaptation strategies.

Climate change, Environment, Natural ressources, Rural Areas

This article examines the challenges facing environmental protection in Guinea’s mining sector, despite the existence of a relatively robust legal framework. Rich in mineral resources, Guinea has liberalized its mining sector since the early 1990s under the influence of international financial institutions. The 2011 Mining Code, inspired by ECOWAS regional standards, includes environmental obligations throughout the mining lifecycle, including environmental impact assessments, pollution prevention, waste management, and site rehabilitation and closure. However, the author highlights significant implementation gaps. Limited transparency, reinforced by the confidentiality of environmental information held by mining companies, restricts access to information and weakens accountability. Guinea’s progress under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) remains modest. The article argues for stronger enforcement of international standards, such as those of the IFC, OECD, and the United Nations Global Compact, to promote more responsible environmental governance in the mining sector.

Political party, Governance, Environment, Natural ressources, Transparency

The article argues that Mali’s crisis is also being fought through information and competing narratives. It begins with the media regulator’s decision to suspend LCI and TF1 (announced on 12 November 2025) and situates it within a broader tightening of media control since 2022, affecting both international and domestic outlets. The author highlights the rise of “patriotic” editorial framing and the growing influence of pro-government content creators (“videomans”) in shaping public opinion. Against the backdrop of attacks on fuel tankers, fuel shortages, and diplomatic warnings, he describes how official messaging clashes with sensational international coverage—especially speculation about Bamako’s possible fall—and with JNIM propaganda circulated on social media platforms. The piece also notes the emergence of counter-narratives (including from influencers on the ground) and concludes that this contested narrative ecosystem can shape perceptions of the crisis as much as events themselves.

Politics, Governance, Conflict, Medias, Information, Disinformation

The article summarizes the 2020 Annual Report of the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea, with a specific focus on the microfinance sector. By the end of 2020, Guinea had 17 microfinance institutions (MFIs), most of which collect savings, operating through 683 service points and serving over 816,000 clients. The report highlights a significant increase in demand deposits (+47%), reaching GNF 658.2 billion, along with rising borrowings and liquidity levels. Although the outstanding loan portfolio declined slightly (-1%), the sector recorded strong profitability, with a surplus of nearly GNF 5 billion, mainly driven by cooperative and non-deposit-taking MFIs. However, the report also notes a deterioration in certain indicators, particularly non-performing loans. Market concentration remains high, as three institutions dominate deposits and credit portfolios, raising concerns related to financial stability and sector governance.

Governance, Politique publique, Funding

The article examines China’s strategy in Africa’s critical minerals sector, which is central to advanced technologies, energy transition, and national security. Through long-term investments, China has secured a dominant position not only in mining but, more importantly, in processing and refining capacities, enabling it to control much of the global value chain. In Africa, this strategy relies on large-scale mine acquisitions, offtake agreements, resource-backed financing, and deep integration into infrastructure such as railways, ports, and power generation. Despite Africa’s vast mineral wealth, the continent remains largely confined to exporting raw materials, with limited gains in industrialization, employment, and technology transfer. The article highlights power asymmetries, environmental and labor risks, and rising financial dependence. It also explores emerging African policy responses aimed at capturing more local value, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and enhancing economic sovereignty in the face of intense global competition.

Power, Natural ressources, Education, Development, Gold, Cooperation, Dialogue, Diplomacy, Soicial sciences, Knowlege production

Despite recent economic improvements, poverty remains pervasive in Guinea, according to Afrobarometer survey data from June 2025. A large majority of Guineans report having experienced shortages of essential goods over the past year, particularly cash income, medical care, clean water, and food. The Lived Poverty Index shows that nearly 80% of citizens endured moderate or severe poverty, disproportionately affecting women, less educated individuals, and residents of regions such as Kankan and Conakry. In response to these hardships, households rely heavily on family and community support networks to meet basic needs. Public dissatisfaction with government economic performance is widespread, especially regarding price stability, job creation, inequality reduction, and poverty alleviation. Approval ratings for government action across these areas have declined significantly since 2015, highlighting persistent social and economic vulnerabilities despite reported macroeconomic gains.

Governance, Economic Development, Development, Poverty

The article examines the major challenges confronting Islamic education in Guinea within a context shaped by persistent economic, social, and political constraints. While Islamic education plays a crucial role in transmitting religious, moral, and cultural values, the study highlights severe limitations related to inadequate infrastructure, insufficient funding, and a lack of qualified teachers. Curricula remain heavily focused on traditional religious instruction, with limited integration of science, technology, and critical thinking, reducing students’ ability to compete in higher education and the labor market. The research also underscores the institutional marginalization of Islamic education, marked by limited government recognition, weak policy frameworks, gender disparities, and linguistic barriers due to the predominance of Arabic instruction. These factors contribute to the perception of Islamic education as inferior to secular schooling. The authors argue that systemic reforms are urgently needed, including increased public investment, curriculum harmonization, teacher training, and stronger alignment between Islamic education and national development objectives.

Governance, Inequality, Religious education, Education, Politique publique