News

The escalating fuel shortage in Mali is choking humanitarian operations across the nation, deepening an already severe crisis marked by hunger and insecurity. A blockade enforced by jihadist groups on key transport routes has disrupted fuel imports, particularly from Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, plunging cities and regions into an energy and food emergency. Impact on critical regions The crisis has hit Bamako, the capital, and numerous other regions, including Ségou, San, Koutiala, Mopti, and Bandiagara—strategic hubs linking the capital to northern areas plagued by instability. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), aid agencies have slashed field operations, restricting mobile clinics to a 10-kilometer radius around their bases. Movemen...

Burkina Faso : une dizaine de hauts magistrats poursuivis pour corruption, selon le régime Actus. Le régime du capitaine Ibrahim Traoré affirme avoir découvert un “vaste réseau d’agents indélicats” au sein de la cour d’appel de Ouagadougou. Ces magistrats, interpellés en octobre, sont accusés d’avoir favorisé des décisions biaisées contre rémunération. Publié le 13/11/2025 à 13h32 - Par La Rédaction Africa Radio avec AFP Envie d'afficher votre publicité ?Contactez-nous Un “grave dysfonctionnement” dans la justice burkinabè  Une dizaine de hauts magistrats du Burkina Faso, parmi lesquels des prés...

Dr Jean Baptiste Nikiema officially begins role as WHO Resident Representative in Niger Niamey, November 12, 2025 – Dr. Jean Baptiste Nikiema has officially taken up his duties as the Resident Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Niger. The handover ceremony marked the beginning of a new chapter in health collaboration between WHO and Niger, following the presentation of his credentials to His Excellency Mr. Bakary Yaou Sangaré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Nigeriens Abroad. The meeting, attended by WHO staff in Niger and key members of the Minister’s cabinet, underscored the strong partnership between the two entities. After formally receiving Dr. Nikiema’s credentials ...

Mali’s Bold Step: 15 New Hospitals to Revolutionize Healthcare Nationwide Bamako, November 2025 — President Assimi GOÏTA has inaugurated a landmark initiative to revamp Mali’s healthcare infrastructure. During a ceremonial event at the Korofina Reference Health Center in Bamako’s Commune I, the President laid the foundation stone for what will become the largest hospital modernization drive in the country’s history. The Presidential Urgent Healthcare Project, as outlined by Colonel-Major Assa Badiallo TOURÉ, Minister of Health and Social Development, builds on the December 2024 National Health Summit recommendations. These discussions highlighted pressing needs: equitable access to medical services and elevated care standards across all regions of Mali. Comprehensive Hospital Upgrade:...

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a stark warning about the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Sahel, where nearly 4 million people are now displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring nations. This staggering figure represents a two-thirds increase over the past five years, driven by relentless insecurity, restricted access to essential services, and the worsening impacts of climate change. Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, UNHCR Regional Director for West and Central Africa, highlighted the growing cross-border movements during a recent press briefing. « While most displaced individuals remain within their countries, rising transnational displacements are placing immense pressure on host communities and national systems alike, » he noted. These ...

What if a straightforward blood test conducted before marriage had the power to profoundly change a life's trajectory?“From the moment I took the helm of the National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Disease (CNRD), one particular narrative left an indelible mark on me: that of a parent, driven by dire financial constraints, compelled to leave their child suffering from sickle cell disease at the center, simply because they lacked the means to acquire essential medications,” shared Colonel Mariam Boureima Djibo, Director of the CNRD.This deeply poignant testimony vividly illustrates the silent anguish experienced by numerous families and underscores the urgent need to bolster medical and social support to avert such devastating circumstances.In Niger, thousands of infants are born annually...

Championing sickle cell disease patients in Burkina Faso: Dre Gloria Damoaliga Berges’ relentless advocacy Ouagadougou — With a prevalence rate of 4.63% and nearly 2% of newborns affected by the severe SS form, Burkina Faso faces a pressing public health challenge. The fight against sickle cell disease demands a coordinated, multisectoral response involving all segments of society. As vice president of the CID/B (Centre d’Initiative contre la Drépanocytose au Burkina Faso), Dr. Gloria Damoaliga Berges has emerged as a leading voice in this battle over the past decade. Her journey reflects unwavering commitment, tangible progress, and persistent challenges in improving care for sickle cell patients nationwide. Why this lifelong dedication to sickle cell advoc...

Niger struggles with concurrent polio and COVID-19 outbreaks While battling the COVID-19 pandemic, Niger faces a resurgence of polio, with two confirmed cases in Niamey and Tillaberi regions. share Multiple regions in Niger are currently impacted by both COVID-19 and a vaccine-derived polio outbreak. While the viruses spread differently—COVID-19 through respiratory droplets and polio through contaminated water or food—both infections share overlapping symptoms like fever, headaches, and coughing. "Niger successfully halted previous polio outbreaks in 2019 through high-quality mass vaccination campaigns," explains Dr. Pascal Mkanda, Polio Eradication Programme Coordinator for the African Region. "However, these efforts have been paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, includin...

Choléra Burkina Faso declares cholera outbreak after confirmed case Burkina Faso has officially declared a cholera epidemic following the identification of a patient exhibiting multiple characteristic symptoms. By Sabrina El Faïz Partager A concerning development has emerged in Burkina Faso, with a cholera epidemic officially declared. This declaration follows the definitive confirmation of a contamination case at the Medical Center (CM) in Kantchari, located within the Tapoa province in the Eastern region of Burkina Faso, as detailed in a communiqué from the responsible ministry.Health Minister Robert Lucien Jean-Claude Kargougou reported that a 25-year-old man, identified at the Boudiéri market in Kantchari, presented with several severe symptoms. These included abundant watery stoo...

Dengue outbreak in Mali: rising cases and health alerts Mali faces a dual challenge as it battles a dengue fever outbreak alongside ongoing conflicts in the north. Health authorities are on high alert after confirming 12 cases in districts of Bamako, Kalaban Coro, and Koulikoro. The dengue virus, a mosquito-borne illness often mistaken for malaria due to overlapping symptoms, has been detected in Mali. Health officials report that most confirmed cases involve adults and men, according to Kalif Keita, Deputy Director General of Public Health and Hygiene. This is not Mali’s first encounter with dengue, as outbreaks were recorded in 2008, 2017, and 2019. Why dengue is often overlooked in Mali Despite its presence, dengue remains underreported in Africa due to limited d...

Burkina Faso battles unprecedented dengue fever outbreak Since January, a severe dengue fever epidemic has claimed 214 lives in Burkina Faso, with the capital Ouagadougou and the country's second-largest city, Bobo-Dioulasso, being the hardest hit, government officials confirmed. Share The Aedes albopictus mosquito, commonly known as the "tiger mosquito," is wreaking havoc across Burkina Faso. Its rapid proliferation has triggered a significant outbreak of both dengue and chikungunya diseases. According to an official government statement, "from January 1 to October 15, 2023, a total of 50,478 suspected dengue cases were reported, including 25,502 probable cases and 214 deaths." The situation remains dire, with "10,117 suspected cases, including 4,377 probable cases and 48 deaths recor...

Cholera outbreak in Niger raises alarm among health officials Over 600 cholera patients have been hospitalized in recent weeks across the Maradi and Zinder regions of Niger. Heavy rainfall along the border between Niger and Nigeria has triggered a fresh cholera outbreak. This acute intestinal infection stems from bacteria thriving in contaminated, stagnant water. According to official reports, more than 600 cases have been confirmed in the affected regions. To date, 400 patients have recovered, while 156 remain under medical supervision. Cholera spreads rapidly through contaminated water and food, particularly when hygiene practices are inadequate, sanitation systems fail, and access to clean drinking water is limited. Strengthening hygiene measures and raising public awareness are c...