Niger is taking a step forward in accomplishing the dream of a trans-Saharan highway that will link six countries of the Sahel and Maghreb (Algeria, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Tunisia). On 13 January, Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, together with Denisa-Elena Lonette, ambassador of the EU Delegation, kicked off the rehabilitation of the 138-km Zinder-Tanout road. Read on

The official celebration ceremony took place on 10 January in the capital city of Burkina Faso at the International Conference Centre of Ouaga 2000. The group welcomed the presence of President Alassane Dramane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire, the current chair of the UEMOA’s Heads of State and Governments Conference. In terms of challenges, he highlighted the low rate of intra-community trade; the large number of border controls, delays and illegal imposed levies; the distortion of competition; and difficulties of some companies in gaining access to markets within the union. At the end of the ceremony, the two presidents inaugurated the new UEMOA administrative complex, located in Ouaga 2000. Read on

In this interview by Défis humanitaires, Jean-Marc Châtaigner, ambassador and France’s special envoy for the Sahel, takes stock of the security situation in the Sahel and analyses the key challenges facing the region. This interview provides a detailed explanation of the French government’s 3D concept - diplomacy, defense and development - which Châtaigner makes 4D by adding “droit” or law and advocating for a rights-based approach. Read on

Luxembourg is one of the most generous providers of aid. It spends about 1% of its gross national income on official development assistance (ODA), far above the UN target of 0.7%. Capitalising on its achievements and its work with fragile states, it has approved a new general development co-operation strategy entitled, “The road to 2030.” Read on