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

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

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

This Afrobarometer report examines Guinean citizens’ perceptions of gender equality in education, employment, land ownership, and political participation. The findings reveal persistent gender disparities, particularly in access to secondary and post-secondary education and in control over economic assets such as mobile phones, vehicles, and bank accounts. Despite these inequalities, a majority of Guineans oppose the idea that men should be prioritized in hiring when jobs are scarce and support equal rights to land ownership and inheritance. Regarding political participation, 70% of respondents believe women should be eligible for political office on the same basis as men, although many acknowledge social risks, including harassment and family tensions, faced by female candidates. Overall, public dissatisfaction with government performance is high: more than half of respondents rate state efforts to promote gender equality as poor, and 72% believe the government should do more—many calling for significantly stronger action.

Politics, Governance, Gender, Political participation, Equality, Women's rights

In this opinion piece, Seny Diawara examines the political and psychological dynamics between Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. The article argues that current tensions within the executive stem less from institutional conflict than from contrasting personal trajectories and sources of legitimacy. The President embodies a delegated form of authority still under consolidation, leading him to broaden his political alliances to secure credibility. By contrast, the Prime Minister derives a charismatic legitimacy shaped through struggle, repression, and sustained popular support, relying on a loyal and compact inner circle. These two leadership styles generate divergent interpretations of political decisions, fueling mistrust and symbolic rivalry. In a fragile regional context marked by political transitions and security tensions, the author advocates a “psychopolitical” solution: a tacit but firm pact defining roles, consultation mechanisms, and communication channels, enabling complementarity rather than competition and safeguarding Senegal’s political stability.

Politics, Power, Governance, Transition

The article examines the rise of pro-government NGOs in Nigeria, used by political elites to suppress independent civic voices. Historically resilient, Nigeria’s civil society has come under pressure as the government has become more illiberal, especially since Muhammadu Buhari took office in 2015. Over 360 pro-government NGOs—often unregistered, short-lived, and connected through overlapping patronage networks—have emerged to praise the regime, attack critics, manipulate public narratives, and legitimize authoritarian practices. These groups rely on sycophancy, ad hominem attacks, opaque funding, orchestrated media appearances, and ties with fringe news platforms. Their activities erode democracy by discrediting genuine civil society, undermining accountability, spreading anti-democratic discourse, and reducing the effectiveness of international support. The article also profiles key actors such as Philip Agbese and Bosede Ajibola and outlines policy recommendations to counter the growing influence of this “fake civil society.”

Governance, Medias, Civil Society, Disinformation