In-depth English analysis and breaking news from the heart of West Africa's Sahel region.
The two-year prison sentence—including one year without parole and a 500,000 CFA franc fine (€762), of which just one franc goes to the Malian state—handed to former Prime Minister Moussa Mara for alleged offenses such as damaging the state’s reputation is a travesty of justice, Amnesty International has declared. The organization is calling on authorities […]
Mali’s healthcare system: progress, gaps, and citizen expectations The Mali health sector has achieved notable advancements in recent years, with improvements in child mortality rates, under-five mortality, maternal health, and life expectancy (World Health Organization, 2025; UNICEF, 2025). In 2018, the country launched a bold universal health coverage (UHC) initiative, aiming to ensure all citizens […]
Sahel crisis deepens: over 4 million displaced amid urgent humanitarian needs The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a stark warning about the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region. Nearly 4 million people have been forcibly displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring countries—a figure that has surged by two-thirds […]
unhcr urges global support for four million displaced in the Sahel The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued an urgent appeal for robust international assistance to bolster its operations across the Sahel. Currently, close to four million individuals are displaced within Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring states. This represents a staggering […]
This report has been drafted in anticipation of Niger’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session, scheduled for April-May 2026. Amnesty International assesses the nation’s progress in implementing recommendations from its last UPR cycle, with a sharp focus on unlawful detentions, arbitrary arrests, the plight of human rights defenders, and press freedom. The analysis also scrutinizes Niger’s […]
Niger’s ongoing struggle: facing conflict and isolation Caught between the threat of armed groups and diplomatic isolation under the junta led by Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger is experiencing one of the most severe economic and security crises in its recent history. In regions affected by militants, daily survival has become a profound act of resilience. As […]
In Bamako, Mali’s capital, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara stood calmly before a courtroom this week as judges dismissed his legal team’s plea for temporary release. Prosecutors, however, pushed for a two-year prison sentence—a move critics argue underscores the military junta’s ongoing suppression of political opposition and dissenting voices. Moussa Mara, who served as Prime […]