In-depth English analysis and breaking news from the heart of West Africa's Sahel region.
Click to expand Image (Nairobi) – La junte militaire du Burkina Faso a arrêté trois journalistes le 24 mars 2025 pour avoir couvert la répression gouvernementale contre les médias, a déclaré Human Rights Watch aujourd’hui. Les autorités ont arrêté Guezouma Sanogo et Boukari Ouoba, respectivement président et vice-président de l’Association des journalistes du Burkina (AJB), […]
Eighteen months after the Niger coup of July 26, 2023, which ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the military-led National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) has tightened its grip on power. Forced arrests, arbitrary detentions, media crackdowns, political party bans, and ignored court rulings—these are the documented abuses highlighted in a recent […]
Human Rights Defenders in the Sahel Face Unprecedented Crackdowns The Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Chad are witnessing a dramatic surge in repression targeting human rights defenders, as civic space rapidly shrinks across the region. Recent political transitions following military takeovers have accelerated this concerning trend, pushing fundamental freedoms to the brink of collapse. © […]
The Sahel region is witnessing a troubling surge in injustice, with three neighboring nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—facing a shared crisis rooted in military governance and weakened regional accountability. At the heart of this issue lies a critical factor: all three countries have formally withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a […]
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially acknowledged Niger as the first country in the African Region to halt the transmission of Onchocerca volvulus, the parasite responsible for river blindness. This milestone places Niger among only five nations globally to achieve this distinction. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, highlighted the significance of this accomplishment: […]
WASHINGTON, January 24, 2025 – The World Bank has officially approved a substantial financial package for Burkina Faso. This includes a credit of 142 million euros (approximately 150 million US dollars) from the International Development Association (IDA)* and an additional grant of 17 million US dollars from the Global Financing Facility (GFF). These funds are […]
Mali launches HPV vaccine: a breakthrough in women’s health In a landmark initiative, the Malian government has incorporated the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization program as of early November. During a high-profile ceremony in Bamako, attended by dignitaries and international partners including Gavi and the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the […]
Why the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights must act on Burkina Faso The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (CADHP) faces a critical moment as it prepares to review Burkina Faso’s human rights record on October 23, 2024. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, urge the commission to prioritize urgent concerns […]
Burkina Faso grapples with rising rights abuses two years after military takeover Two years after Burkina Faso’s military seized power in a September 2022 coup, the transitional government has not only failed to restore constitutional order but has systematically crushed civic space. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has condemned the escalating crackdown on […]
The recent detention of three high-profile figures in Bénin on suspicion of orchestrating a “coup d’état” has thrust the issue of President Patrice Talon‘s succession into the spotlight as his final term approaches in 2026. Earlier this week, the prosecutor for the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (CRIET) in Bénin announced […]
Click to expand Image A year after the military coup in Niger, a coalition of human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), reports a severe crackdown on opposition, independent media, and peaceful dissent by the ruling military authorities. The junta has arbitrarily detained numerous individuals, […]
Who is Kémi Séba, the controversial pan-African influencer linked to Russian narratives? In the digital sphere of Francophone Africa, few personalities spark as much debate as Kémi Séba. This Beninese activist, with a massive online following, has become a polarizing figure due to his anti-Western rhetoric and controversial ties to Moscow. His recent loss of […]