MALI: In a move widely perceived as an effort to maintain its grip on power against the clear wishes of the populace, the ruling military junta in Mali, headed by General Assimi Goita, has been granted an additional five-year presidential mandate. This approval came from the country's transitional parliament following the passage of a bill. [...]
Forty-four people in Nigeria have been sentenced to 10 to 30 years in prison with hard labour for funding Boko Haram. The trials took place at a military base in Kanji, Niger State, using special courts set up for terrorism cases. Ten other suspects will face trial later, according to the country’s counter-terrorism agency. Since [...]
Senegal: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized Senegal for successfully eliminating trachoma as a public health issue. This makes Senegal the ninth country in the WHO's African Region to reach this achievement. This milestone highlights the significant advancements being made worldwide in the fight against neglected tropical diseases and provides encouragement to other nations [...]
Mali: The Kayes region, which borders Senegal and is crucial to Mali’s economy, had largely been spared from the violence perpetrated by armed groups that has plagued the country for decades. However, this changed last week when armed men launched a series of coordinated attacks on military sites in various Malian towns, prompting the armed [...]
On July 10, 2025, a bloody confrontation erupted in the M.I. Wushishi Estate neighborhood of Minna, Niger State, among illegal miners. Some individuals were said to have been hurt before the police could respond. Maitumbi Division officers came swiftly and took away 22 suspects, some of whom were female, while others escaped. The neighborhood is [...]
Less than two years after taking power, Niger’s junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, is struggling to stop rising jihadist violence. He had promised to bring security after the 2023 coup, but attacks by al-Qaeda-linked JNIM and Islamic State fighters have increased. In May, about 100 soldiers were killed in two attacks near Mali and Benin. [...]
Senegal: The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Senegalese government to promptly free news commentator Bachir Fofana, who has been ordered by a judge to remain in detention until July 9 as his trial continues. Fofana faces charges for allegedly publishing false information regarding a vehicle purchase contract for the National Assembly. The government has [...]
In Nigeria’s Benue State, about 200 Christians were killed in a violent attack by Islamist Fulani militants. The attackers shouted “Allahu Akbar,” burned homes, and used guns and machetes to harm people. Many victims were sheltering in a Catholic mission. The pope and the U.S. State Department condemned the attack, calling it part of ongoing [...]
In Abala and Tillabery, Niger, most people rely on farming, herding, and trade. But violence and insecurity have made these jobs dangerous. The government’s rules, like closing markets and banning motorcycles, have made things even harder. Women, already facing limits on their freedom and land rights, have lost many small ways they used to earn [...]
Senegal: France has transferred a military base to Senegal as part of a larger withdrawal of its troops from the West African nation. Senegal's President Bassirou Dioumaye Faye announced late last year that France, the former colonial power, must close its military bases in Senegal by 2025. This process began in March with the initial [...]
