Mali: Malian journalist Seydou Oumar Traoré was arrested on May 26 for criticizing Guinea’s transitional president, Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, highlighting a disturbing pattern of imprisoning Malian critics of regional military governments. Traoré, who had recently returned from an official trip to Kidal with the Malian Minister of Defense’s delegation, stated in a widely shared social [...]
On the night of June 21, 2025, a woman set off a bomb in a crowded fish market in Konduga, near Maiduguri in Nigeria, killing at least 12 people. This is the first suicide bombing in the region in 2025, after a drop in such attacks in recent years. Boko Haram, an Islamist group, has [...]
In March 2025, Niger changed its official language from French to Hausa. This move was part of a larger effort to break from its colonial past and build national pride. Only 13% of Nigeriens speak French, while nearly half speak Hausa, making the change popular among many citizens. However, this sudden shift brings major challenges [...]
NIGERIA Population: 181 million Dominant Religion: Christianity Christians: 50.4 percent Persecution Ranking: 6 Deadly attacks by Fulani herdsmen have intensified in Nigeria this year. On April 2 and 3rd, more than 60 Christians in seven settlements were murdered in Plateau State. More than 1,000 are now displaced. Other recent attacks have left more than 3,000 [...]
Senegal: Although life has been harsh for Marie, it has not diminished her courage and determination. Marie had to leave everything behind and escape from Cameroon with her husband to the neighboring Central African Republic (CAR) due to the violent armed conflict that erupted in northern Cameroon. Despite the upheaval she experienced, she continued to [...]
Mali: Mali and Russia have entered into several agreements to enhance trade and bolster economic relations. One of these agreements focuses on increased collaboration in nuclear energy, with prior discussions about building a Russian-designed nuclear power plant in Mali as a key energy initiative. This official visit is expected to further strengthen the relationship between [...]
On June 19, more than 200 armed men on motorbikes attacked a Niger army base in Banibangou, near the Mali border, killing at least 34 soldiers and injuring 14 others. Niger’s defense ministry called the attackers “mercenaries” and said troops killed dozens of them in return. The army is still searching for the attackers. This [...]
Senegal: A camera trap has recorded footage of an elephant in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park for the first time in six years, rekindling hopes for the survival of the species in the park after they nearly vanished due to poaching and habitat loss. The decline of elephants in the region and across the continent began [...]
Mali: Assimi Goita has been the president of the transitional government since May 28, 2021. It now appears that he may remain in this position until at least 2030, despite never being elected by the Malian people. After taking power through two military coups in 2020 and 2021, Goita received political support from important allies [...]
Around 200 people were killed in the Yelewata farming community in Benue State, Nigeria, after gunmen attacked recently. Most victims, including families and children, died when their homes were set on fire while they slept. Human Rights groups condemned the violence and urged the government to stop the killings and bring the attackers to justice. [...]
