First Independent Mena Newspaper
As the three junta-led Sahel countries are to officially quit the regional grouping ECOWAS on Wednesday (29 January), the years of growing political tensions and deteriorating relations with their neighbors have shaken up trade routes across the West African region. The looming withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West […]
Foreign mining companies in the Sahel region are currently experiencing a nightmare scenario, as military-led governments in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are seeking to reclaim control over the mining of gold and other valuable resources. With gold mining accounting for over 90% of Mali’s exports, highlighting its critical economic role, the junta-led government aims […]
Russia has reportedly delivered military equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery systems to Mali, which observers suspect may have been moved there from Syria following the departure of Russian troops after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. According to reports from Defense Web, Africa’s leading defense news portal, Mali could be another recipient of […]
Four Moroccan drivers and three trucks went missing on the border between Dori in Burkina Faso and Tera in Niger, well-informed sources said. The drivers on board the three trucks left Dori towards Tera unprotected and unescorted despite the risk of terrorist activity in the area, the sources said. On January 11, 18 Burkinabe soldiers […]
The humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso has reached a critical point as over 2.5 million internally displaced people struggle to find safety and support, particularly in the capital city of Ouagadougou. The military government’s stance on displacement has created a complex web of challenges for those seeking refuge from widespread violence. In the capital, which […]
France on Thursday (26 December) officially handed over its first military base to Chad as part of an ongoing withdrawal of French forces from the central African country, which comes after N’Djamena abruptly ended military cooperation with its former colonial power last month. Chad’s military chief of staff said the military base at Faya-Largeau in […]
“Barbaric” attacks in two locations along Niger’s border with Burkina Faso have killed 39 people, including children, Niamey’s defense ministry has said, blaming “criminals” for massacring defenseless civilian populations. The two latest attacks occurred in the borderlands between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali that have long been home to armed insurgents linked to the Al-Qaeda […]
By arming civilians who are poorly trained and have little to no respect for human rights, Burkina Faso’s junta-led government has brought the West African nation that once prided itself on tolerance and peaceful interethnic relations to the brink of civil war, says a latest report by The New York Times (NYT). A West Africa […]
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to withdraw from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This decision was acknowledged by ECOWAS Heads of State during a Summit held in Abuja on Sunday, December 15. A six-month Transition period will commence on January 29, 2025, after which the exit of the three Sahelian […]
Chadian president Mahamat Idriss Deby has defended his decision to break military ties with France and ask for the withdrawal of French troops, saying that the security agreement with its former colonial master failed to provide substantial military value to the country amid various challenges, including terrorist attacks. Deby has said their defense pact no […]