This paper investigates how financial inclusion and gender gaps affect agricultural productivity in Mali, a country affected by fragility and long‐standing conflicts. Using data from the 2017 LSMS-ISA household survey, the author quantifies the impact of financial inclusion on agricultural output. The findings show that financial inclusion has a positive and significant effect on productivity. However, a gender gap remains: female farmers have substantially lower productivity compared to male farmers. Across full model specifications, this gender gap ranges between 44.5 % and 49.8 %. The article offers policy recommendations aimed at enhancing access to financial services, addressing gender inequalities, and thus boosting agricultural productivity in Mali. Suggested interventions include improved financial instruments, training, and infrastructure designed for women. These findings are relevant to policymakers and financial institutions seeking to promote equitable agricultural growth.

Agriculture, Gender, Environment, Women, Politique publique, Inclusion

The article “Governance and Economic Development in West Africa: Linking Governance with Economic Misery” investigates the nexus between governance and economic development across West African countries. Using indicators such as political stability, government effectiveness, and corruption control, the authors evaluate governance performance in the region. Findings reveal that while Cape Verde, Ghana, and The Gambia achieve relatively positive scores, most countries suffer from institutional weaknesses. Mali is highlighted as a case of severe decline, driven by recurrent political and security crises. The study argues that poor governance significantly contributes to “economic misery” by exacerbating poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment. The authors emphasize that strengthening domestic institutions—through transparency, accountability, and democratic participation—is essential for sustainable economic progress and social stability in West Africa.

State, Governance, Economic Development, Justice, Education, Development, Threat, Researh, Knowlege production, Institution

On August 26, 2025, Senegal’s National Assembly adopted two significant laws: Law No. 13/2025 establishing the status and protection of whistleblowers, and Law No. 14/2025 concerning access to information. These laws aim to strengthen governance, promote transparency, and combat corruption. The whistleblower protection law covers persons who, in good faith, report financial malfeasance or corruption, including their close associates, helpers, or legally affiliated entities, especially when public or private sector corruption or threats to the general interest are involved. Certain types of information remain exempt (medical secrecy, ongoing judicial investigations, etc.). The access to information law guarantees the right for any physical person or legal entity legally resident or established in Senegal to obtain information held by public institutions or other designated bodies, within eight days (extendable to fifteen), with processes that are free or adapted. An independent national commission will oversee implementation, with penalties (500,000 to 10 million FCFA) for unjustified refusals. The article emphasizes that adoption is a milestone, but real governance improvements depend on concrete implementation.

Governance, Information, Transparency, whistleblower

The article Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Globalization and Education in West Africa (a virtual dialogue organized by the citizen think tank WATHI) discusses how technological transformations — especially artificial intelligence (AI) — and globalization influence educational systems in West Africa. Although access to education has improved, considerable challenges remain: about 97.5 million children still out of school across Africa, low enrollment rates, vulnerabilities of the education systems in crisis situations (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic), lack of access to digital pedagogic tools, and insufficient teacher preparation for integrating these technologies. The article highlights that AI can offer opportunities like personalized learning, support for students in remote or disadvantaged areas, but implementation is hampered by infrastructural inequalities, limited resources, gaps in educator training, and political commitment that is still inadequate.

Governance, Inequality, Education, Intelligence artificielle

The article “Education on the Rise, Unemployment in Ambush: The Deadlock of Togolese Youth, Afrobarometer, June 2025” highlights the paradox between increasing educational attainment among young people in Togo and their ongoing struggles to find meaningful employment. While 71% of young Togolese have completed at least secondary education (19% post-secondary), nearly half report being unemployed and actively seeking work. The major barriers cited include inadequate training, insufficient professional experience, mismatch between skills received and market demands, as well as lack of entrepreneurial skills or motivation. Despite government reforms — national volunteer programs, vocational training with alternating models, youth economic initiative funds — the rates of unemployment and underemployment remain high. Moreover, young people express pessimism about the country’s economic trajectory and their living conditions. Civic and political engagement among youth remains modest compared to older generations.

Governance, Education, Youth, Unemployment, Entrepreneurship, Training

The article “A Growing Divergence of Narratives around Security in Burkina Faso” examines the communication strategy of the military junta led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré since the September 2022 coup. While the regime portrays itself as regaining territory, fostering economic innovation, and protecting civilians, evidence points to a worsening reality: nearly 18,000 deaths linked to jihadist violence in three years, an 87% rise in civilian casualties, and loss of control over 70% of national territory. The economy has suffered from collapsing gold and cotton production and a sharp decline in foreign investment. The humanitarian crisis is escalating, with millions displaced, thousands of schools and health centers shut down, and multiple simultaneous epidemics. The article highlights the growing gap between official narratives and empirical realities, amplified by disinformation campaigns orchestrated with Russian support. This divergence poses serious challenges for governance, regional stability, and democratic principles.

Natural ressources, Security, Political Violence, Education, Gold, Human security, Influence, Violence, Threat, Information

The article “Japan Innovates to Deepen Its Relations with Africa” by Paul Nantulya examines the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held in August 2025 in Yokohama. Japan reaffirmed its distinctive approach, based on co-creation, joint ownership, and blended public-private financing, standing apart from traditional aid models. The conference brought together leaders from 42 African countries along with over 500 stakeholders from business, academia, and civil society. Japan’s engagement revolves around three pillars: economy (value chains, added-value exports, regional integration), society (health, education, youth and women inclusion), and peace and stability (support for APSA, peace operations, counter-terrorism, and transnational crime). Concrete initiatives include training 300,000 young Africans, developing trade corridors (Nacala, Mombasa, Kinshasa), and industrial investment in critical minerals. The article stresses Japan’s enduring credibility in Africa, derived from its collaborative, cautious, and innovation-driven approach to partnership.

Politics, Political party, Economic Development, Natural ressources, Security, Peace, Education, Development, Gold, Human security

The article “The Return of Afro-descendants to Africa: A Bridge Between History and Development Today” explores recent legal and symbolic movements that encourage the return of people of African descent, framing it as a way to harness memory, identity, and development. The case of Benin is highlighted: a law enacted in September 2024 allows adults proving their Sub-Saharan African ancestry (by genealogical documents or DNA test) to apply for Beninese nationality for a fee of USD 100. Ghana is also discussed, with its “Year of Return” initiative (2019) and policies around citizenship and residence rights for diaspora members. The article also addresses tensions arising from these returns: rising prices, economic disparities, land conflicts with local populations, and the risk of memorialization being instrumentalized. It suggests that more thoughtful policies — combining historical recognition, cultural diplomacy, and economic opportunity — could transform these returns into a genuine bridge between heritage and progress.

Governance, Migration, Diaspora, Pan-Africanism, Nationality

The article by Flore Berger, published by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime in July 2025, examines cattle rustling insecurity in the tri-border region between Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana. It shows how cattle theft has evolved into a structured criminal market used by violent armed groups such as JNIM and IS Sahel, state-aligned militias (VDP), bandits, and transnational criminal networks. Between 2022 and 2024, over 3,000 cattle were stolen in that area. Stolen cattle are laundered through regional markets—both formal and informal—and transported to major southern urban centers like Accra, Kumasi, and Abidjan. Local communities suffer: livelihoods are lost, population displacement rises, and trust in the state erodes. The article emphasises the need for cross-border cooperation, enhanced surveillance, harmonised legal frameworks, technology for cattle identification and tracing, and strengthened community resilience to address the problem effectively.

Governance, Pastoralism, Boundary, Security, Conflict, Instabilité, Groupes armés