Tuesday, November 3
Washington shifts focus to commerce and security in the Sahel region
4Feb By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
International

Washington shifts focus to commerce and security in the Sahel region

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...
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Military coups in west africa deepen repression and undermine democracy
4Feb By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

Military coups in west africa deepen repression and undermine democracy

escalating repression by military juntas in west africa and the Sahel In 2025, West African nations grappled with a surge in repression as military juntas tightened their grip on power, undermining democratic processes and silencing dissent. This trend, highlighted in recent reports, reveals a disturbing pattern of authoritarian consolidation across the region. Click to expand Image Reports from human rights organizations underscore the growing threats to civil liberties in countries like Nigeria and the Sahel, where both extremist groups and government forces continue to target civilians and critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, military juntas in the Sahel have systematically dismantled r...
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Burkina Faso’s mobile clinics transform cervical cancer screening access
4Feb By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

Burkina Faso’s mobile clinics transform cervical cancer screening access

Burkina Faso's mobile clinics revolutionize cervical cancer screening in rural areas Ouagadougou – When Awa, a 48-year-old mother of six from Ipendo in Burkina Faso's Centre-Ouest region, heard the town crier announce free cervical cancer screening nearby, she hesitated. "What if they told me I had the disease? How would I afford treatment?" she recalled. But thinking of her children, she decided to go—and her story reflects the journey of thousands of women across the country. Cervical cancer has long been one of the deadliest cancers affecting women in Burkina Faso. Before the World Health Organization's (WHO) global elimination strategy, screening coverage was dismally low—under 8%—with rural women facing the greatest barriers. Many had to travel long distances to reach equipped healt...
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Human rights in Niger: a comprehensive look at the 2026 situation
4Feb By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Authoritarian Regimes & Africa

Human rights in Niger: a comprehensive look at the 2026 situation

The landscape of human rights in Niger has faced a continuous decline since the military takeover in July 2023. Throughout 2025, the ruling military council intensified its crackdown on political rivals, activists, labor leaders, and members of the press. The authorities have persisted in the unlawful confinement of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and his spouse, alongside various former government officials, media professionals, and human rights defenders.Niger remains embroiled in a violent struggle against several extremist factions, including the Islamic State in the Sahel (ISS), the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), Boko Haram, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The conflict has surged in the western Tillabéri region and along the...
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Tchad’s 2026 human rights landscape: political repression and social unrest intensify
4Feb By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Politics

Tchad’s 2026 human rights landscape: political repression and social unrest intensify

Key developments in Chad’s political arena The year 2025 marked a turning point for Chad under President Mahamat Idriss Déby, who secured his grip on power after the controversial 2024 presidential election. Opposition voices were systematically silenced, with constitutional amendments extending presidential terms from five to seven years and eliminating term limits entirely. This move effectively allows Déby to remain in office indefinitely, pending periodic elections every seven years. Opposition leader Succès Masra, who contested the 2024 election results, faced a harsh crackdown. He was arrested, convicted on questionable charges, and sentenced to 20 years in prison. His party members, activists, and journalists were also targeted with intimidation and arbitrary detentions. A controve...
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Niger faces rising islamist threat after attack on Niamey airport
3Feb By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

Niger faces rising islamist threat after attack on Niamey airport

In the early hours of January 29, gunfire and explosions shattered the calm around Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport. The rare direct assault on Niger’s capital was later claimed by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (ISGS) through its AMAQ propaganda outlet.The attack, which lasted about an hour, was repelled following an aeroterrestrial counteroffensive by Nigerien forces. Official reports—though unverifiable by independent sources—indicate twenty attackers killed, eleven captured, and four soldiers injured. Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on February 2 that troops from the Africa Corps, a unit under the Russian Defense Ministry, had assisted in securing the area alongside Nigerien forces.Russian involvement and strategic stakes at Niamey airportGeneral Abdourahamane Ti...
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A new chapter for US relations with the Sahel juntas
2Feb By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

A new chapter for US relations with the Sahel juntas

The United States has signaled a major pivot in its strategy toward three West African nations currently fighting Islamist extremists. As the military administrations in these countries distance themselves from France to forge closer ties with Russia, Washington is seeking to redefine its role in the region. The State Department recently announced that Nick Checker, head of the Bureau of African Affairs, would travel to Bamako, the capital of Mali. His objective is to convey American respect for the sovereignty of Mali and to establish a “new direction” for bilateral relations, moving beyond previous diplomatic friction. Furthermore, the U.S. expressed a desire to collaborate with Mali‘s neighbors, Burkina Faso and Niger, on mutual security and economic interests. Notab...
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Nigeria faces worsening violence and neglected humanitarian crisis
29Jan By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Politics

Nigeria faces worsening violence and neglected humanitarian crisis

Nigeria faces worsening violence and neglected humanitarian crisis The abduction of schoolchildren, coordinated attacks on entire villages, and the violent targeting of worshippers in churches and mosques have thrust Nigeria back into the global spotlight. Recent escalations reached a geopolitical turning point when the United States launched airstrikes on jihadist positions in northern Nigeria on Christmas Day, framed by Washington as a protective measure for Christian communities under threat. From localized conflict to a national security emergency What began in 2009 in the country’s northeast with Boko Haram has evolved into a sprawling crisis. The group’s insurgency, later joined by splinter factions including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has left deep scars across t...
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Security alert in Niger’s capital amid gunfire near airport
29Jan By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

Security alert in Niger’s capital amid gunfire near airport

Earlier today, Niamey, the capital of Niger, experienced a sudden outbreak of gunfire and explosions near its international airport, according to a Reuters correspondent on-site. The intense gunfire, which began nearly an hour prior, was still ongoing as of 00:12 GMT, the journalist confirmed. A video shared on X (formerly Twitter) depicted the city’s sky lit up by gunshots, though Reuters has yet to verify the footage independently. A spokesperson for Niger’s military government, which seized power in a 2023 coup, could not be reached for immediate comment regarding the incident. Niger faces persistent security threats from armed jihadist groups affiliated with both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, mirroring challenges faced by neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso. By Fati Seyni — Analyst...
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Challenges for the AES regarding the free movement of goods and individuals
28Jan By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

Challenges for the AES regarding the free movement of goods and individuals

The decision by the countries within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to withdraw from ECOWAS was intended as a bold assertion of sovereignty. However, this move has simultaneously created significant barriers to the free movement of people and merchandise originating from these three nations. Essential administrative documents, including passports, national identity cards, and driving licenses, have emerged as a primary obstacle for citizens of the AES who wish to travel throughout the ECOWAS zone. Almou Yacouba, the general secretary of the Democratic Road Union of Niger, has highlighted the specific difficulties encountered when attempting to enter ECOWAS territory. “We are facing serious concerns regarding international registration cards and international driving permits. S...
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Burkina Faso allocates 11% of public spending to health in 2026, leading UEMOA
27Jan By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Politics

Burkina Faso allocates 11% of public spending to health in 2026, leading UEMOA

Burkina Faso allocates 11% of public spending to health in 2026, leading UEMOA In the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), one nation is setting a groundbreaking precedent. For the 2026 fiscal year, Burkina Faso is allocating 11% of its national budget—equivalent to 388 billion West African CFA francs—toward healthcare. This represents 3,432 billion FCFA in total public expenditures, a figure that not only surpasses regional neighbors but also edges closer to international health financing benchmarks. Premium contentSubscribe from40,000 FCFAAccess all premium contentBuy this articlefor 3,000 FCFATweetBRVM COMPOSITE404,59 XOF0,28%Premium analysis 08/05/2026 Global cocoa market shifts from massive 492,000-ton deficit to 75,000-ton surplus in one year 08/05/2026 LNB: 2025 pe...
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Washington sustains security cooperation with the AES
26Jan By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

Washington sustains security cooperation with the AES

The United States is maintaining its security partnership with the military administrations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, currently united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This ongoing engagement follows years of heightened diplomatic friction, according to General John Brennan, the Deputy Commander of Africom. “Our collaboration remains active. We have continued to exchange intelligence with some of these partners to help neutralize significant terrorist threats, though the landscape has evolved drastically from what we saw a few years ago,” John Brennan explained. “We are striving to coordinate with them and provide transparency regarding our mission to assist, despite the presence of competing interests attempting to influence them with false narratives ...
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