International

The United States Department of State has finalized a five-year bilateral memorandum of understanding with Burkina Faso, securing a total investment of $147 million. This landmark agreement aims to bolster the West African nation’s efforts in combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases, while simultaneously strengthening national epidemiological surveillance and emergency response capabilities. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to mitigating the spread of communicable diseases through enhanced preventive and containment strategies. Under the accord, Burkina Faso will allocate $107 million of its own resources to health sector development, signaling a proactive approach to healthcare system strengthening and local ownership. Key initiatives within this collabo...

The recent diplomatic mission to Mali by Nick Checker, representing the United States State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, signals a strategic re-entry into the Sahel. Washington is currently implementing a significant policy shift based on three primary pillars: a transition toward trade-centric diplomacy—with a particular focus on the mineral sector—a restructured security approach that reduces permanent military presence, and a move away from humanitarian aid in favor of targeted economic and defense partnerships. Analysis with Dr. Gnaka Lagoke Question: Dr. Lagoke, Nick Checker recently held talks with the Malian Foreign Minister and Assimi Goïta in Bamako. How is the current American administration reshaping its foreign policy in the Sahel, and what are its primary object...

By the numbersBetween 1 January and 28 November 2025:Fatalities linked to political unrest exceeded 10,000 in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.Extremists abducted 30 international citizens across Mali (22) and Niger (8).Data shows a surge in fatalities in Bénin, which rose by nearly 70% compared to the first eleven months of 2024.During 2025, extremist factions intensified their activities in the central Sahel, posing a significant threat to the military-led governments in the area. Both Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) strengthened their positions in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, while simultaneously pushing their reach into the border zones of Bénin and Nigeria.A primary tactic in this escalation was economic sabotage, designed to crip...

UNHCR's urgent call for international support as Sahel displacement crisis escalates The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued an urgent plea for global assistance to bolster its operations across the Sahel region. Currently, nearly 4 million individuals are displaced within Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and surrounding nations – a staggering increase of approximately two-thirds compared to five years ago. This escalating humanitarian crisis is driven by persistent insecurity, restricted access to vital services, and the severe impacts of cl...

urgent global hunger alert: gaza, haiti, Sudan, south Sudan, and Mali face extreme food crisis 16 juin 2025 Aide humanitaire The United Nations recently issued a stark warning, placing Gaza, Haiti, Sudan, South Sudan, and Mali on maximum alert due to severe food insecurity risks for their populations. These regions require the international community's 'urgent' and immediate attention to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. A joint report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) indicates that without an urgent and substantial humanitarian response, inhabitants in these five critical hotspots face extreme hunger, with an escalating risk of famine and mortality in the...

Following the military coup in Niger on July 26, 2023, international responses were swift. Major organizations such as CEDEAO, the AU, and nations like the USA, France, and Russia quickly articulated their positions. Within Bénin, President Patrice Talon's involvement and the discussions surrounding a potential armed intervention have met with considerable dissent. Western media reports suggest Bénin might commit troops alongside CEDEAO forces to confront the military junta. Numerous stakeholders, including the Catholic Church and political figures, have openly declared that a military approach is not the optimal solution, instead advocating for diplomatic engagement to resolve the crisis. Elected representatives from the opposition party, « Les Démocrates », have directly questioned the ...