Tuesday, November 3
10Oct By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Politics

Niger human rights crisis after 2023 coup: key concerns ahead of 2026 review

This report has been compiled for the Niger Universal Periodic Review (UPR), scheduled for April-May 2026. It assesses the country’s progress in implementing recommendations from its last UPR, with a sharp focus on arbitrary detentions, unlawful arrests, the plight of human rights defenders, and press freedom challenges. The analysis also scrutinizes Niger’s national human rights framework, particularly in relation to the fundamental right to freedom of expression and the protection of journalists. The findings highlight critical gaps between legal commitments and on-the-ground realities, raising urgent concerns about the erosion of civic freedoms since the 2023 political transition. By Harouna Ousmane — Reporter
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UNHCR’s urgent call for international support as Sahel displacement crisis escalates
10Oct By Fati SeyniNo Comments
International

UNHCR’s urgent call for international support as Sahel displacement crisis escalates

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...
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Sahel crisis deepens as 4 million displaced seek urgent aid
10Oct By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
News

Sahel crisis deepens as 4 million displaced seek urgent aid

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 ...
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A generation’s struggle: Niger faces its worst economic crisis
4Oct By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

A generation’s struggle: Niger faces its worst economic crisis

Fichier généré le Issu de la série Entre junte et jihadistes : reportage au Niger, au cœur d’un pays assiégé Coincé entre la terreur des groupes armés et l’isolement diplomatique provoqué par la junte dirigée par Abdourahamane Tiani, le Niger traverse l’une des pire crise économique et sécuritaire de son histoire récente. Retrouvez notre série de reportages dans les zones tenues par les jihadistes, où la survie devient un acte...
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Mali faces backlash over trial targeting free speech rights
1Oct By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Politics

Mali faces backlash over trial targeting free speech rights

In Bamako, the capital of Mali, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara stood firm in a courtroom as judges dismissed his legal team’s plea for provisional release. Prosecutors, meanwhile, pushed for a two-year prison sentence, underscoring the military junta’s tightening grip on political opposition and dissenting voices. Click to expand Image Moussa Mara, who served as Prime Minister for eight months between 2014 and 2015, was arrested on August 1 following a social media post. In the message, he expressed solidarity with imprisoned political activists in Mali and vowed to seek justice for them. Authorities swiftly accused him of undermining state credibili...
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Sahel nations exit the International Criminal Court: a major setback for human rights
26Sep By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Authoritarian Regimes & Africa

Sahel nations exit the International Criminal Court: a major setback for human rights

The Global Initiative Against Impunity (GIAI), a coalition including the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CCPI), Redress, Trial International, and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ), has expressed strong disapproval of the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move represents a significant retreat from the historic leadership African nations have shown in the global fight against impunity. It threatens to weaken the foundations of international justice at a time when global solidarity is essential. Legal timelines and ongoing obligations While the three members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) announced an "immediate" de...
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WHO’s vital support for health NGOs in Mali amid crisis
23Sep By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

WHO’s vital support for health NGOs in Mali amid crisis

how the WHO strengthens health sector NGOs in Mali during humanitarian challengesThe World Health Organization (WHO) has led the coordination of health partner interventions in Mali since 2012. In 2025, the country faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with 6.4 million people—28% of Mali’s population—requiring critical assistance. Unfortunately, the humanitarian response plan is funded at only 8.5%, with a mere 6% allocated to the health sector. This severe underfunding severely restricts humanitarian actors’ ability to meet urgent medical needs.To address these challenges, the second reserve allocation from the Fonds Humanitaire Régional pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et le Sahel (FHRAOC) focuses on supporting displaced populations affected by armed violence and insecurity in regions like Gao, M...
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Trained midwives empower women’s health in Mali
19Sep By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Society

Trained midwives empower women’s health in Mali

trained midwives empower women's health in Mali Bamako — Kadidia, a 19-year-old student in Bamako, once hesitated to discuss contraception due to deep-rooted taboos in her community. « I was afraid of being judged or talked about behind my back, » she recalls. Her experience reflects the challenges faced by thousands of young women in Mali when accessing sexual and reproductive health services. statistics reveal persistent challenges Despite progress, Mali continues to grapple with high maternal mortality rates. In 2024, the country recorded 583 maternal deaths, including 89 among adolescents aged 15 to 19. The risks associated with early and unplanned pregnancies remain significant. While the number of women using modern contraceptive methods rose from 480,682 in 2023 to 559,493 in 202...
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The profound failure of russian mercenaries in Mali fuels resentment
16Sep By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

The profound failure of russian mercenaries in Mali fuels resentment

When the infamous Wagner Group of Russian mercenaries announced its departure from Mali earlier this year, it proclaimed on social media that its “mission was accomplished.” In reality, the group’s three-and-a-half years of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations had a catastrophic impact. The Sahel nation continues to be recognized as a global epicenter of terrorism. “Despite its combat-ready reputation and occasional claims of public triumphs in Mali, the Wagner Group’s strategy has been plagued by a succession of failures,” stated the investigative organization The Sentry in an August 27 report. The Kremlin has replaced Wagner with its own paramilitary force, the Africa Corps, which is under the control of the Ministry of Defense. Up to 80% of Africa Corps personnel are form...
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Humanitarian aid in Burkina Faso: action against hunger’s response
10Sep By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

Humanitarian aid in Burkina Faso: action against hunger’s response

our operationsBurkina Fasosince 2008our operationsBurkina Fasokey figurespopulation:23,548,781gdp per capita:987.3human development index:186 / 193operational volume:23,165,251people supported:1,238,398life expectancy:61 yearsteam:367Burkina Fasointervention areas1. Bobo-Dioulasso2. Dori3. Fada N'gourma4. Ouagadougou5. Ouahigouya6. Tenkodogosince 2019, Burkina Faso has been grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis driven by political instability, security threats, and climate shocks. In 2024, over 2,938 security incidents were recorded, leaving 6.3 million people in need of assistance—including 2.4 million internally displaced persons. Among them, 2.7 million face food insecurity, while 611,500 individuals (480,000 children and 131,500 women) suffer from severe malnutrition. Additionall...
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Mali faces mounting authoritarianism and human rights abuses under military rule
4Sep By Fati SeyniNo Comments
Top Stories

Mali faces mounting authoritarianism and human rights abuses under military rule

The United Nations' top human rights official has strongly criticized the worsening political climate in Mali, warning that democratic institutions are being systematically dismantled in favor of an increasingly authoritarian regime. Democracy in peril as elections remain indefinitely suspended Nearly five years after the military overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta—widely condemned by the UN Security Council—the transition to civilian rule has stalled entirely. Since Keïta's election in 2018, Mali has not held a single presidential vote. The current leader, General Assimi Goïta, has further consolidated power through a series of legal reforms that effectively shut the door on future democratic elections. In a recent statement, Volker T...
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Mali crisis: un warns of election delays and civil society crackdown
4Sep By Harouna OusmaneNo Comments
Top Stories

Mali crisis: un warns of election delays and civil society crackdown

Mali crisis: UN raises alarm over election suspension and crackdown on dissentThe United Nations has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating situation in Mali, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemning the indefinite postponement of elections and the escalating repression of civil society.The UN’s concerns center on two critical issues: the suspension of elections without a clear timeline and the increasing crackdown on civil society voices. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warns that recent legislative changes could have long-lasting consequences for human rights in the country. He urges the transitional authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to repeal these problematic laws, stating that they undermine citizens' rights to participate in p...
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