In-depth English analysis and breaking news from the heart of West Africa's Sahel region.
A major and unprecedented assault recently struck the very center of Niamey. Over the night of Wednesday, January 28, into Thursday, January 29, dozens of militants identified with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) infiltrated the international airport of Niger‘s capital. They also targeted the neighboring Base 101, where they opened fire on […]
The Malian Ministry of Health and Social Development officially received 39 robust 4×4 all-terrain vehicles on Thursday, February 5, 2026. These crucial additions are set to significantly bolster the nation’s health infrastructure, enhancing access to vital medical services, particularly immunization programs, across Mali’s most underserved regions. The handover ceremony took place at the Ministry of […]
Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has formally appealed to the government of Burkina Faso to cease all restrictions on civic space and abandon its plans to outlaw political parties. In a recent statement, the UN rights chief characterized these developments as a significant setback for the human rights of the […]
Burkina Faso’s innovative approach to cervical cancer elimination Ouagadougou – In Ouagadougou, Awa, a 48-year-old mother of six from Ipendo, Central-West Burkina Faso, recounts her initial apprehension. “When the town crier announced free screening services, a fear gripped me: what if I was diagnosed? How would I afford treatment? But thinking of my children, I […]
Escalating crackdowns on freedoms and democratic transitions In 2025, military-led governments across West Africa and the Sahel intensified their suppression of civil liberties while consolidating power, according to a recent human rights assessment. The report highlights a troubling pattern of authoritarian measures adopted by ruling juntas in the region, raising serious concerns about the future […]
US shifts Sahel strategy to trade and security partnerships The recent visit of Nick Checker, the US State Department’s African Affairs chief, to Mali signals Washington’s re-engagement with the Sahel region. However, this isn’t a return to previous policies. Instead, the United States is implementing a strategic repositioning across three key pillars: a stronger focus […]
Key developments In 2025, President Mahamat Idriss Déby solidified his grip on power following his victory in the 2024 presidential election, an outcome heavily criticized by the opposition due to alleged irregularities. Subsequent constitutional amendments approved in 2025 removed presidential term limits and extended each mandate from five to seven years. This effectively allows Mahamat […]
The landscape of human rights in Niger has seen a persistent decline following the military takeover in July 2023. Throughout 2025, the ruling military council intensified its crackdown on political rivals, dissenters, labor leaders, and members of the press. The authorities have continued the unlawful imprisonment of former President Mohamed Bazoum and his spouse, alongside […]
In a rare strike on Niger’s capital, the area around Diori Hamani international airport in Niamey was rocked by heavy gunfire and explosions shortly after midnight between January 28 and 29. The Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) claimed responsibility for the assault two days later through its propaganda arm, AMAQ. According to Nigerien authorities, […]
Washington’s new approach to the Sahel’s military regimes The United States has significantly altered its policy toward three West African nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—following their shift from French military partnerships to alliances with Russia. These countries, now governed by military juntas, have faced persistent Islamist insurgencies while rejecting Western democratic models in favor of […]
Tensions between Niger and its former colonial power have sharply escalated, with the head of the military junta that seized control in 2023 openly blaming France for a recent attack on the airport in Niamey. The junta leader lauded Russia for its military assistance in repelling the assault and directly accused the presidents of France, […]
Intense gunfire and multiple explosions were reported early Thursday near Niamey’s international airport, according to a Reuters journalist on the ground. The sustained gunfire, which began nearly an hour prior, remained ongoing at 00:12 GMT, the journalist confirmed. A video shared on platform X captured the capital’s skyline illuminated by flashes of gunfire. However, Reuters […]