u/Bakyumu

> Two French nationals have been held in Togo since being arrested over a fortnight ago, the foreign ministry in Paris told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday, August 19.

> The pair, journalist-directors working for a French production company according to local media outlets, were detained on July 27 and are subject to a judicial investigation, the foreign ministry said.

> Togo has been led since 2005 by Faure Gnassingbé, who succeeded his father after he ruled the West African state for 38 years. Since late 2021, the country's far north has been plagued by incursions from jihadists based over the border in Burkina Faso.

> McGovern, a Democrat from Massachusetts who serves as Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to place human rights and civilian protection at the centre of all US engagement with the Central Sahel a region encompassing Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

> Cameroon won the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time after a commanding 3-0 victory over Malawi in Sunday’s final at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

> Marie Ngah scored twice, either side of Naomi Ndjoah Eto’s goal, as the Indomitable Lionesses produced a devastating first-half display to finally end their long wait for continental glory.

Niger has signed a $1.9 billion agreement to build a 100,000-barrel-per-day refinery and petrochemical complex in Dosso.

The deal involves a build-operate-transfer structure with Zimar Group and High Tech.

The new facility will be one of West Africa's largest refineries, increasing Niger's refining capacity fivefold compared to the existing Zinder refinery.

The project includes additional infrastructure such as pipelines and storage, with the goal of supplying both domestic and regional markets.

À l’arrivée des forces de l’ordre vers 5h20, l’activité était intense : vendeurs, travailleuses du sexe et clients étaient présents en nombre. Face à l’arrivée des policiers, plusieurs occupantes ont tenté de fuir, avant d’être rapidement interceptées. De chambre en chambre, les agents ont procédé à l’évacuation du domaine.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa is asking several other African governments to reimburse it for the cost of sending tens of thousands of their citizens back home.

The request comes after South Africa deported or helped repatriate more than 80,000 immigrants, following protests and violence against illegal immigration.

According to the country’s Home Affairs department, which briefed lawmakers on Tuesday, the country has spent nearly $18 million accommodating and transporting immigrants who demanded to return to their home countries.

Road networks are crucial not only for linking cities but also for supporting commerce, national security, and public services.

In many African regions, inadequate railways make roads the primary channel for passenger and freight movement.

Well-developed road infrastructure boosts access to health, education, and investment, reducing regional disparities.

According to Global Firepower, total highway coverage indicates infrastructure maturity and is vital for economic growth and quick movement of goods and people.

> France has opened disciplinary proceedings against its ambassador to Central African Republic over allegations of misconduct, after claims he brought dozens of women into his official residence, raising potential security concerns.

> The investigation comes as Paris seeks to rebuild relations with CAR after their sharp deterioration in recent years amid Russia’s expanding influence in the former French colony.

> The French weekly newspaper Le Canard enchaîné reported that the ambassador, Bruno Foucher, 65, brought about 30 women between the ages of 20 and 30 into his residence during the period of January 2024 to March 2026, with some of them staying overnight. The visits prompted officials to report a security breach.

> The ambassador acknowledged having had sexual relations with two young women, the weekly said.

> NIAMEY, 6 août (Xinhua) -- La Commission de lutte contre la délinquance économique, financière et fiscale (COLDEFF) du Niger a recouvré, en date du 5 août, plus de 74 milliards de francs CFA (plus de 130 millions de dollars) depuis sa création en septembre 2023, a déclaré mercredi à la presse son président, le colonel Zennou Moussa Aghali, à l'issue d'une audience avec le chef de l'Etat nigérien.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

> A Frenchman who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in Mali for plotting an alleged coup in the West African country has now been granted a presidential pardon, it was announced on Thursday.

> Yann Vezilier was accused a year ago of trying to destabilise President Assimi Goïta's government "on behalf of the French intelligence service" alongside a number of army generals and dozens of soldiers.

> It is not yet clear what has prompted Mali's U-turn.

Upstart Malawi will face footballing giants Cameroon in the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Sunday.

Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 in the first semifinal match on Wednesday, led by Tabitha Chawinga with a pair of goals. Cameroon won a penalty shootout 3-1 against Morocco after a scoreless draw in the other semi.

All four semifinalists qualified for next summer’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Malawi and Algeria will be making their World Cup debuts.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger criticized Nigerian President Tinubu for blaming Nigeria's security issues on instability in their countries.

The three AES states summoned Nigeria’s chargé d’affaires to protest Tinubu’s remarks, calling them inaccurate and dismissive of their anti-terror efforts.

AES leaders argue all four nations face the same security threats and objected to Tinubu's suggestion that neighbors are to blame for Nigeria's difficulties.

While Nigeria remains aligned with ECOWAS, the AES members have left the bloc, formed closer ties with Russia, and advocate cooperation, despite political divides with Nigeria.

Ivory Coast celebrated its 66th Independence Day on Friday, August 7, 2026. In Abidjan, the speaking drum Djidji Ayôkwé, returned by France in March after several years of negotiations, was presented for the first time to the Ivorian public.

The ceremony was attended by political leaders, traditional chiefs, and thousands of spectators. A sacred object for the Bidjan people, the drum was taken [stolen] in 1916 by the French colonial authorities [thugs].