Champion of Severe Anti-LGBTQ Bill Doubles Down in Ghana
Sam George, who is poised to become the West African nation's communications minister, said he would consult with the new president, John Mahama, and continue to push for the bill to become law as quickly as possible.
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Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business Insider
Senegal shoots for the moon with historic NASA agreement
Senegal has formally signed the US-led Artemis Accords, becoming the 56th member to the global framework outlining rules for peaceful space exploration. Senegal signed the US-led Artemis Accords on July 24, 2025, becoming the 56th member of this space exploration framework. The ceremony held at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., marked Senegal's commitment to science, technology, and space diplomacy. Key figures, including Senegal's ambassador and the Director-General of the Senegalese Space Agency, participated in the event. The signing ceremony took place on July 24, 2025, at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., marking a watershed moment for the West African country as it strengthens its commitment to science, technology, and space diplomacy. The signing event at the U.S's capital brought together important figures from Senegal and NASA, including Abdoul Wahab Haidara, Senegal's ambassador to the United States; Jonathan Pratt, Senior Bureau Official in the Department of State Bureau of African Affairs; Maram Kairé, Director-General of the Senegalese Space Agency (ASES); and Brian Hughes, NASA Chief of Staff. Following a meeting between President Faye and President Trump, Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy stated the signing of the Artemis Accords demonstrated the close ties between the two countries. President Trump met with Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and other African leaders in Washington two weeks prior to the signing ceremony of the Artemis Accords, which focused on the U.S.-Africa cooperation, as seen on SpaceAfrica. 'Senegal's adherence to the Artemis Accords reflects our commitment to a multilateral, responsible, and transparent approach to space,' Maram Kairé, Director-General of the Senegalese Space Agency (ASES). What the Artemis Accords means for Senegal This signature marks a meaningful step in our space diplomacy and in our ambition to contribute to the peaceful exploration of outer space,' she added. Senegal's signing represents a growing trend of African countries participating in space governance and asserting their presence in the next frontier of human development, outer space. Along with aligning with international standards for space activities, such as the utilization of space resources, deconfliction of operations, and the preservation of lunar heritage sites, this move also signifies Senegal's intention to build its own space capabilities. Remarkably, China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program has connections with Senegal as well. Senegal's decision to join both the ILRS and Artemis Accords shows diplomatic balance and a willingness to engage in many international frameworks, which is uncommon but becoming more common among new space operators. Senegal becomes the fourth African country to sign the Accords, after Nigeria, Rwanda, and Angola. This trend reflects Africa's rising engagement in determining global space policy, as well as the continent's growing desire to use space technology for development purposes ranging from climate monitoring and agriculture to connectivity and national security. The NASA Artemis Accords Given that several countries and private businesses are carrying out missions and activities near the Moon, the Artemis Accords offer a shared set of guidelines to improve the administration of space exploration and utilization for civil purposes. Basically, the accords are intended to foster cooperation and transparency among countries involved in lunar and deep space missions, particularly those aligned with the Artemis program's overarching goals of returning humans to the Moon and eventually reaching Mars. Signatory countries' adherence to the Outer Space Treaty, the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, and best practices and standards of responsible conduct for the exploration and use of civil space is strengthened by the Artemis Accords.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business Insider
Egypt's top capitalists offer a hand of friendship to Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with the president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, earlier this week and delivered a written message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in a major move, geared towards strengthening pan-African unity. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty delivered a letter from President El-Sisi to Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traoré. The message emphasized Egypt's commitment to fostering peace, security, and bilateral relations within Africa. Abdelatty's visit aimed to enhance economic ties, focusing on private sector collaboration between Egypt and Burkina Faso. Contents of the letter emphasized Egypt's resolve to advance peace and security throughout the African continent by deepening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration with Burkina Faso in strategic areas. The North African country is eager to strengthen trade, investment, and economic ties, Abdelatty said in remarks made during his visit. He mentioned that fostering collaborations between the private sectors of the two countries was one of the main goals of his visit. Abdelatty was accompanied by a high-level delegation of 30 businesspeople and senior executives from some of Egypt's most prominent public and private companies, as seen on the Middle East Monitor. These stakeholders work in essential industries such as construction, energy, agriculture, medicines, and textiles. The foreign minister reiterated their willingness to support Burkina Faso's development goals under President Traoré's leadership. The delegation's engagement not only represents Egypt's increasing diplomatic involvement with West Africa, but it also positions Egyptian businesses to participate in the development of important infrastructural and industrial sectors in Burkina Faso. Abdelatty's trip to Ouagadougou is part of a larger five-nation West African tour that covers Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Senegal, MedaAfrica notes. Egypt's regional outreach demonstrates its determination to reinvigorate strategic relationships and provide creative solutions to Africa's critical development and security concerns. In addition to economic discussions, Abdelatty thanked the Burkinabé government for supporting Dr. Khaled El-Anany, Egypt and Africa's candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO.
The Hill
7 days ago
- The Hill
The US needs a foothold in the Sahel, and Togo is here to help
As Congress prepares to mark up the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. has a critical opportunity to strengthen its strategic partnerships in Africa — partnerships that will shape regional stability for years to come. Nowhere is this more urgent than in West Africa. Earlier this year, General Michael Langley, Commander of AFRICOM, warned that terrorist groups are actively seeking access to the West African coastline — an objective that 'puts not just African nations at risk, but also increases the chance of threats reaching the U.S. shores.' Terrorist attacks in northern Togo, once unthinkable, are now tragically real. To counter extremism and support governance in vulnerable states, the U.S. must act with urgency and with trusted partners. It must act with Togo. Togo is the United States' most engaged and capable defense partner in coastal West Africa. Over the past decade, Togo and the United States have built a strong foundation of security cooperation — from joint military training and intelligence sharing to maritime patrols and regional counterterrorism efforts. Our armed forces regularly participate in U.S.-led exercises like Flintlock, which strengthens special operations and counterterror capabilities across the Sahel, and Obangame Express, which enhances maritime security coordination in the Gulf of Guinea. These efforts do more than build capacity and interoperability — they forge real operational trust. At home, Togo has prioritized national security by increasing its defense budget from 8.7 percent of total government spending in 2017 to 17.5 percent in 2022 — an investment aimed at modernizing our military and enhancing readiness. These efforts have made our relationship a model of partnership and a cornerstone of regional stability. As U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, Director of the AFRICOM Coordination Element, emphasized in November 2024, 'The partnership between AFRICOM and the Togolese military is essential in promoting peace and security across the West African region. By strengthening this relationship, we not only enhance Togo's defense capabilities but also ensure a united and effective approach to addressing the complex security challenges we face together.' This partnership aligns with the Trump administration's strategic shift toward a leaner U.S. defense footprint in Africa, built around empowering reliable regional partners to take the lead in addressing transnational threats. Togo has embraced this approach — stepping up its operational capabilities and committing to greater regional responsibility. As General Langley noted in front of the House Armed Services Committee, 'Strengthening the capacity of African partners to address security challenges and enhance regional stability reduces the long-term need for U.S. security assistance.' Togo is demonstrating exactly that model of sustainable, partner-led security cooperation. While U.S. law restricts certain forms of direct assistance to Sahelian countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, information sharing remains both legal and vital. Section 7008 of annual appropriations legislation bars most security assistance, but these restrictions do not apply to partners like Togo. Nor do they prevent the U.S. from sharing actionable intelligence with Togo, which can in turn serve as a critical conduit for relaying threat information to frontline states across the Sahel. With the right mechanisms in place, Togo can act as a trusted channel for coordination, helping to ensure that U.S. intelligence reaches those best positioned to act on it — even in countries where direct U.S. engagement is limited by law. The threat posed by terrorist networks in the Sahel cannot be overstated. According to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index, the region now accounts for over half of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide. Lethal and organized groups such as al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara continue to exploit porous borders, local grievances, and weak governance to expand their reach. These extremist networks are no longer confined to the Sahel's core — they are steadily advancing southward into Togo, Ghana, Benin, and Côte d'Ivoire, where they are actively seeking access to ports and transit corridors to support smuggling, arms trafficking, and illicit finance. The implications for regional security — and for international partners with strategic interests in West Africa — are profound. Regional security is a prerequisite for economic growth and trade across Africa. The Gulf of Guinea, including Togo's Port of Lomé — the deepest-water port on the West African coast — is a lifeline for inland economies and a vital logistics hub for landlocked countries in the Sahel, a corridor that would be threatened with heightened terrorist activity. The U.S. cannot afford to retreat from the Sahel. Nor should it allow extremist groups to expand their influence unchecked. By strengthening cooperation with capable, willing partners like Togo, and by leveraging Togo as a hub for regional intelligence coordination, the U.S. can regain strategic momentum and help stem the tide of extremist and criminal networks. The road ahead will be difficult. But with the right tools, partners, and political will, we can contain this crisis before it escalates further. The rise of terrorism in the Sahel is not just a regional issue — it is a direct threat to global stability and U.S. national security. Unchecked, these networks will expand, radicalize, and export violence far beyond Africa's borders. Togo stands ready to confront this threat alongside the U.S. — not only to defend peace, but to secure prosperity across the continent.
