Cultures, territories and migration journeys across the African continent.
The 2026 World Cup, which is to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will feature a new format. Rather than the 32 teams that have competed in recent editions, 48 teams will compete this time. This expansion means more nations, particularly from Africa, will have the chance to qualify for the tournament. …
Forced refugees, voluntary refugees and internally displaced persons are terms often used everyday. While experts are familiar with their definitions, characteristics and specific features, they remain unclear to many people. This fact sheet aims to clarify these concepts to improve understanding. Refugees Who is a refugee? This question urges to explore the definition from various …
Art and music play a central role in Togolese identity, with artists playing an active part in shaping and transmitting national culture. This encompasses both traditional genres, such as agbaza, tchakpalé, and kamou and contemporary forms, including rap, Afrobeat, slam poetry, urban dance, photography, and visual arts. However, in recent years, many Togolese artists have …
Venturing into Niger requires more than a desire for discovery. Before exploring its unique landscapes and age-old traditions, you must engage in a rigorous process in which every formality plays a decisive role. Passports, visas and international vaccination certificates are all part of a framework designed to ensure security, order and compliance. From the moment …
The southern regions of Tahoua and Zinder in Niger reveal two contrasting aspects of migration. According to a report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), this phenomenon, driven primarily by young men seeking opportunities, has a profound impact on local economic and social life. While migrating to Libya, Nigeria or Algeria is a common …
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Nouakchott has attracted far more than just football fans. Over the course of several weeks, public match screenings have provided a platform for a social cohesion initiative led by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Mauritanian non-governmental organisation Innovation for Development, and supported by the European …
The issue of climate migration, i.e. human movement linked to the effects of climate change, is a topic of increasing debate in political, scientific and humanitarian circles. While some regard it as a theoretical hypothesis or an alarmist discourse, others see it as a tangible reality, with millions of Africans being forced to move within …
The man is involved in countless endeavours. His life has never been smooth sailing. From Chad to France, via Tunisia, Senegal and Guinea-Conakry, human rights defender Makaila N’guebla has suffered a real ordeal. Hunted by the N’Djamena regime for over a decade, expelled from Tunisia and Senegal, and finally welcomed in Guinea before finding refuge …
Through his pastries, he shares his personal journey and that of his nation, forging connections between cultures. Born in Faya-Largeau in northern Chad, at the edge of the Sahara desert, Hissein Mahamoud Barkai is an international renowned pastry chef. Having grown up in Chad, Libya and Algeria, he now lives in France, where he has …
The seasonal mobility of certain communities in the West African subregion is dynamic. This reality benefits both countries of origin and host countries, despite existing fears and apprehensions. For the past few weeks, customers of this maquis bar on the outskirts of Cotonou have not seen the ‘tchatchanga’ vendor, who sells a speciality of grilled …
Niger is an economy on life support. In Tahoua and Zinder, thousands of households depend almost entirely on the financial support of relatives working abroad. A study by the IOM in October 2024, which surveyed 2,345 migrants, indicates thatthe money sent home is used for food, healthcare and school fees. There is almost nothing left …
Sectors such as building and public works (BTP) lie at the heart of national development. In Benin, one of the country’s flagship projects, which is helping to restore the image of the economic capital and several other cities, is being carried out by many hands.One December morning in 2025, in Adjagbo on the outskirts of …