Created in 1994, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) is a customs union with a common external tarrif and a common currency (CFA franc) which is composed of eight, mainly francophone countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo). They work together towards greater regional integration. The Union’s work is supported by a Commission (based in Ouagadougou), a Court of Justice and an Inter-parliamentary Committee. Read on

Despite their common heritage, the Maghreb and the Sahel remain insufficiently connected. The dissemination of cultural, religious and linguistic trends, the movement of people, and their trade relations serve as ancient bridges between the two regions. Read on