Two months ago today, a coup took place in Niger that delivered yet another blow to France's declining influence in the Sahel. Without US support, Paris has decided to pack up and leave.

French interests in Africa seem to be collapsing like dominoes under the guillotine of coups, causing significant losses to the French economy, which depends on Africa's natural resources.

ECOWAS member states are well aware that an armed conflict would worsen the region's existing instability. The mere mention of a military intervention has been enough to divide West African nations.

A potential food crisis is looming and some Arab countries will struggle to protect their populations from scarcity and hunger after the demise of the UN-brokered deal on Ukrainian grain exports

In a new multi-polar world, the continent will be key to the global economy, security and resources making Russia's no-strings-attached politics there an alternative to the West

Niger is the latest naton in the region caught up in a geostrategic shift that may have profound consequences, not least on the fight against terrorism, as the dynamics of global power shift

Factions, corruption and an inadequate international response mean it's more of the same for the long-suffering citizens of the oil-rich North African nation so ill-served by its leaders

The 88-year-old writer explores an imaginary Nigeria rife with corruption and conspiracy in his latest novel, but glimmers of hope still shine.

Oil reserves in Sudan and South Sudan remain underutilised, largely due to war. Meanwhile, lack of stability has curbed potential foreign investment in East Africa's oil fields.