In 1992, the Ivorian national football team won their first Africa Cup of Nations with the help of fetishes from Akradio village, as revealed by members of the Ivorian Football Federation and then sports minister René Diby. The fetishes, who later fell out with Diby over unmet financial requests, were believed to have caused subsequent failures at the Africa Cup of Nations. In 2014, coach Hervé Renard met with the fetishes to appease them, and the team won their second Africa Cup of Nations. The belief in the power of marabouts to influence football careers is widespread in West and Central Africa, as seen in the recent allegations by Mathias Pogba against his brother Paul Pogba of using a marabout to cast a spell on Kylian Mbappé. Sékou Traoré, a historian, notes that consulting marabouts is a cultural trait that persists in West Africa despite modernization.

Aminata Traoré Camara is working to ensure that her mother, Massaran Keïta Camara, is remembered as a national heroine in Ivory Coast for her role in the 1949 women's march on Grand-Bassam against colonial rule. The Massaran Keïta Camara Foundation, established in 2016, aims to honor Ivorian women who have made history. It has recently published a book detailing the chronology of the events surrounding the march, which was a significant moment in the struggle for independence, led by the PDCI-RDA, a movement that challenged French colonialism in West Africa.

In M'Brimbo, Ivory Coast, Jean-Evariste Salo, president of the first 'organic' and 'fair trade' certified cooperative, Société coopérative équitable du Bandama (SCEB), has led a successful transition to sustainable cocoa farming. The cooperative, which started with 30 farmers producing 13 tonnes of cocoa beans, now encompasses over 250 farmers with an annual production of nearly 300 tonnes. Despite unchanged yields per hectare, the focus on bean quality and farmer well-being has been paramount. French company Ethiquable supports this initiative by purchasing the beans at nearly double the minimum price set by Ivorian authorities, enabling the cooperative members to prioritize their health, income, and children's education over productivity.

Mosques in Kong, Ivory Coast, including the Missiriba and Missiredeni, have been recognized by UNESCO for their 'exceptional universal value.' Bafétiguémory Konaté, a guardian of these mosques, feels the weight of their history. The Ivorian authorities plan to celebrate this recognition, hoping to improve the image of a region affected by jihadist attacks. The mosques are built in the Sudanese architectural style, originating from Mali, with only about twenty remaining from the original 300 in northern Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast is focusing on developing a green economy through education, particularly at the Institut national polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Alphonse Kouakou Yao, director of the School of Mines and Geology, is integrating environmental concerns into engineering curricula, aiming to make the mining cycle more ecologically virtuous while providing employment. The country, which has lost a significant portion of its forest cover, is also working on reforestation initiatives. The Ministry of Higher Education hopes these sustainable methods will permeate society and the economy, potentially creating nearly a million green jobs by 2025. Ivory Coast's ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2030 reflects a growing environmental consciousness in traditionally high-emission sectors.

Africa, increasingly interconnected but lagging in cybersecurity, faces the threat of 'digital chaos,' a concern unanimously agreed upon at the Cyber Africa Forum in Abidjan. The continent has seen rapid digital progress, especially in financial services with the shift from cash to mobile payments. However, cybersecurity remains underdeveloped, with vulnerabilities due to weak infrastructure, lack of skills, and low awareness among businesses and users. Cyberattacks have become more sophisticated, targeting financial and critical sectors like water, energy, and telecommunications. The cost of cybercrime in Africa was estimated at $3.5 billion in 2017. Despite national legal frameworks to combat cybercrime, continental initiatives like the African Union's Malabo Convention lack widespread adoption. The development of cybersecurity culture and training of new skills are essential, with suggestions to recruit former cybercriminals. The African cybersecurity market is growing, offering both challenges and opportunities.

L'article traite des difficultés rencontrées par les agriculteurs et agricultrices en France, face à divers défis tels que les changements climatiques, les pressions économiques et les politiques agricoles. Il met en lumière les conséquences de ces défis sur la vie quotidienne des paysans, y compris l'insécurité financière et les obstacles à la pérennité de leurs exploitations. L'auteur examine également l'impact de ces problèmes sur la production alimentaire et la culture rurale, soulignant l'importance de soutenir le secteur agricole pour préserver le patrimoine et la sécurité alimentaire du pays.

In Ivory Coast, the absence of men during childbirth is explored, with cultural, practical, historical, and sexist reasons cited for their non-participation. The slow-changing custom is part of a broader examination of parenting beyond borders. Additionally, the article touches on various societal issues such as the exploitation of young football talents, the rise of assisted reproductive technology, the 'racket' of precarious teachers, and new forms of prostitution. It also discusses the fintech sector's growth, the containment of jihadist threats, the influence of marabouts on sports, and the challenges in education and healthcare. The article includes profiles of individuals making an impact in their fields and examines the political and social dynamics affecting the region.

In Ivory Coast, the zouglou music genre, known for its social and political commentary, remains vibrant as artists like Yodé and Siro continue to address societal issues through their music. Despite facing legal challenges, such as a suspended prison sentence for allegedly insulting a magistrate, the genre persists as a voice for the people. Zouglou's history is intertwined with the country's political developments, from the end of Félix Houphouët-Boigny's reign to the present day, reflecting the nation's social conscience and the artists' role as messengers.

In Abidjan, the Boribana slum is being demolished to make way for the city's fourth bridge, part of President Alassane Ouattara's major economic policy. While the bridge promises to alleviate traffic congestion, the construction has led to forced evictions and inadequate compensations for residents. The China State Construction Engineering Corporation is handling the construction, and the Projet de transport urbain d’Abidjan has faced accusations of false compensation claims. Activists and affected residents express their discontent, highlighting the social costs of rapid urbanization.

On June 11, a jihadist attack near the Ivory Coast's border with Burkina Faso resulted in the death of about ten Ivorian soldiers, which may have been a response to a joint anti-terrorist operation conducted by Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in May. Despite the Ivorian military's claim that no terrorist bases exist on its territory, the northern region remains on high alert. Eddie Guipié, a researcher at the University Gon Peleforo Coulibaly of Korhogo, discusses the region's ethnic mosaic and the growing presence of clandestine mosques and madrasas promoting a break from traditional practices and tolerance of other religions. The article also touches on socio-economic investments in the north and the ongoing threat of jihadist mobilization due to unemployment, as Ivory Coast shares over a thousand kilometers of borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, areas affected by terrorist contagion.

A terrorist attack occurred in the Ivorian city of Kafolo, near the border with Burkina Faso, resulting in the death of several soldiers and gendarmes. The Defense Minister Hamed Bakayoko, also acting as Prime Minister, confirmed the incident as a terrorist attack, the most significant since the Grand-Bassam attack in 2016 claimed by AQMI. The attack follows Operation Comoé, a joint Ivorian-Burkinabe military operation that destroyed a terrorist base in Burkina Faso. Despite previous assurances of control over the area, the recent attack has highlighted security lapses and prompted calls for a reorganization of security measures.

Africa is currently the continent best resisting the COVID-19 pandemic, with strategies developed by experienced public health figures. The article profiles eleven African leaders who are contributing to the containment efforts, including Matshidiso Moeti of the WHO, John Nkengasong of the African Union's CDC, and various economic leaders mobilizing support to counteract the pandemic's economic effects. It also highlights the roles of Mireille Dosso in Côte d'Ivoire, Zweli Mkhize in South Africa, Edmund Yakani in South Sudan, Aliko Dangote's philanthropic efforts in Nigeria, and Salim Abdool Karim's scientific leadership in South Africa.