First Independent Mena Newspaper
Niger’s military junta, which took power in a coup in July 2023, has released around 50 individuals, including former government ministers and soldiers linked to past coup attempts, following recommendations from a national conference in February. Those freed include high-profile figures such as former oil minister Mahamane Sani Issoufou, ex-defense minister Kalla Moutari, and former […]
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have introduced a 0.5% tariff on goods imported from third countries, a move aimed at financing their activities within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). This new tax, named the “AES confederal levy,” will apply to products entering the three countries but will exclude goods from other AES members, as […]
Abdourahamane Tchiani, the leader of Niger’s military junta, has been officially sworn in as the Sahel country’s transitional president, marking the beginning of a five-year rule under a new charter that replaces the constitution. The ceremony took place in Niamey on Wednesday (26 March), and Tchiani, who led the July 2023 coup that ousted democratically […]
Burkina Faso, Gabon, Niger and Mali- which have experienced coups in recent years and have been sanctioned by the African Union- welcomed the informal talks led by Morocco’s presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council to facilitate dialogue on their political transition issues. In separate letters to Morocco’s foreign minister, the four countries […]
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister, Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, has commended Morocco’s leadership at the helm of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (CPS-UA). Traoré commended Rabat’s diplomatic approach in convening informal consultations on March 18 with six African nations—Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Sudan—all currently undergoing political transitions. The meeting, held under Morocco’s […]
In a significant contribution to educational infrastructure, Atlantic Bank, a subsidiary of the Moroccan Central Popular Bank (BCP) Group, has provided two new classrooms to the Poun Nord public school in Burkina Faso’s Didyr district. The donation comes as part of Atlantic Bank’s ongoing commitment to education and social development in Burkina Faso. The bank […]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling for an investigation into a brutal massacre in Burkina Faso, where dozens of civilians were reportedly killed by government-aligned militias. The attack occurred in the western city of Solenzo, with video footage circulating on social media showing bodies of ethnic Fulani civilians, including women, children and elderly, bound and […]
Africa’s Sahel region has become the global epicenter of terrorism, with extremist groups now responsible for over half of all terror-related deaths worldwide in 2024, according to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI). This marks a significant shift from previous years, as the region’s death toll rose to 3,885, accounting for 51% of the global […]
A new report by Drone Wars UK has highlighted the alarming rise of military drone strikes across Africa, resulting in nearly 1,000 civilian deaths over the past three years. The report, titled ‘Death on Delivery’, warns that the uncontrolled spread of armed drones, primarily imported from countries like Turkey, China, and Iran, is exacerbating civilian […]
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has met with Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in high-level talks aimed at enhancing regional stability and fostering deeper economic partnerships. The discussions, held in Ouagadougou on Monday (10 March), covered a range of issues, with a particular emphasis on improving relations with the Economic Community of West […]