In-depth English analysis and breaking news from the heart of West Africa's Sahel region.
On September 1st, the transitional legislative assembly of Burkina Faso passed a controversial bill that criminalizes consensual same-sex relationships, marking a significant setback for LGBT rights in the country. Under the new legislation, individuals found guilty of homosexuality face up to five years in prison, along with substantial fines. This move has drawn sharp criticism […]
Niger: crackdown on justice sector unions and judicial independence under threat 21/08/2025 Déclaration Niger Défenseurs des droits humains Tingey Injury Law Firm / Unsplash The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a collaborative initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), strongly condemns the dissolution […]
Burkina Faso takes action against UN representative over critical report The military-led government in Burkina Faso has declared the UN’s top representative in the country, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, persona non grata following the release of a damning UN report on child rights violations. This marks the second time in three years that the junta has expelled […]
The Burkina Faso government recently took a step forward in July 2025 by releasing five journalists and a human rights activist who had been forcibly conscripted into the military after criticizing the military junta. While this release marks a positive shift, it also highlights the ongoing plight of others who remain unaccounted for, some since […]
tackling sickle cell disease in Niger: breaking the silence for better health outcomes What if a simple blood analysis before marriage could fundamentally alter a life’s trajectory? “Upon my arrival at the helm of the National Reference Center for Sickle Cell Disease (CNRD), one particular story left an indelible mark: that of a parent, driven […]
APPEL URGENT – L’OBSERVATOIRE BFA 002 / 0525 / OBS 022Enlèvement / Disparition forcéeBurkina Faso2 mai 2025 L’Observatoire pour la protection des défenseurs des droits humains, fruit d’une collaboration entre la Fédération internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH) et l’Organisation mondiale contre la torture (OMCT), appelle à une intervention immédiate concernant la situation préoccupante au […]
Click to expand Image (Nairobi) – Human Rights Watch today urged Nigerien authorities to immediately release former President Mohamed Bazoum, who has now been held arbitrarily for two years since a military coup. His continued detention marks a significant disregard for the rule of law in Niger. On July 26, 2023, military officers from the […]
The Malian Armed Forces and their allied Russian-backed Wagner Group have been accused of committing dozens of summary executions and forced disappearances of Fulani men since January 2025. These allegations, supported by credible reports, highlight a disturbing pattern of abuse in Mali’s ongoing conflict against Islamist armed groups. Click to expand Image Key Allegations and […]
Drépanocytose au Burkina Faso : la mission inspirante de Dre Gloria Damoaliga Berges Ouagadougou — Au Burkina Faso, la drépanocytose touche environ 4,63 % de la population, avec près de 2 % des nouveau-nés diagnostiqués avec la forme SS, la plus grave. Cette maladie génétique, qui provoque des douleurs chroniques et des complications multiples, nécessite […]
As instability and forced displacement persist across Mali’s central and northern regions, women face escalating risks of gender-based violence, a United Nations agency has warned. Following an investigation conducted last May, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the agency dedicated to sexual and reproductive health matters, reported “a surge in instances of sexual violence within […]
The Sahel no longer dominates global headlines, yet its crises continue to deepen. While international attention has shifted to conflicts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and other global hotspots, the Sahel’s decade-long struggles with violent extremism and political instability have only worsened. The region now faces a dual crisis: escalating jihadist attacks and a […]
Hôpital Au Mali, l’accès aux soins reste un défi Au nord du Mali, l’accès aux soins de base – particulièrement pour les femmes et les enfants – reste une préoccupation majeure. Par Barou Dembélé Mis à jour le 25/06/2025 Partager L’accès aux soins de santé reste critique pour les Maliennes. La crise sécuritaire survenue à partir […]