Equatorial Guinea’s escalating disputes with France over property, sovereignty, and historical grievances highlight Paris’s waning influence in Africa, as the country pivots toward Russia for military and strategic support amid rising popular and elite resentment.

Tensions have escalated between Moscow and Tehran after Russia’s Sergey Lavrov and former Iranian diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif traded accusations over the snapback mechanism, described as the “legal trap” in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

At a time when Western democracies are facing security and political challenges, an international human rights report finds that the right to protest is under continuous and systematic attack.

On October 6, 2025, Ankara and Dakar signed a new military cooperation agreement, their second in just two months, following an earlier deal reached on August 6.

The next few days will be crucial in determining the fate of the French political landscape, given the lack of a clear consensus, mounting economic pressures, and an opposition poised for elections at any moment.