US Defense Secretary Mark Esper

Macron ends Operation Berkhane, lays out strategic defense priorities in Africa

France is ending its Barkhane anti-jihadist mission in Africa after over a decade, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday (9 November), and added that a new strategy would be worked out with African partners. Macron’s declaration came in a wide-ranging speech reviewing France’s strategy where the president also underlined the importance of its nuclear […]

Floods kill 170, displace 200,000 in northern Nigeria

At least 170 people have been killed and over 200,000 people displaced following weeks of floods that ravaged large swathes of northern Nigeria. The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) warned that the torrential rains and flash floods could hit other parts of the country amid a notable rise in water levels in the two largest […]

Japan grants Burkina Faso $1.3m for road maintenance

Japan’s international Cooperation Agency, JICA, has provided Burkina Faso with $1.3 million destined to finance acquisition of equipment to be used in the maintenance of roads in the West African country. Burkina Faso’s top diplomat Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore signed the grant deal with JICA local resident Keiichi Okitsu. Traore said that the agreement will give […]