First Independent Mena Newspaper
Germany’s top diplomat has talked up the prospect of closer political ties with Senegal and the Ivory Coast, two of the last democracies in a region otherwise plagued by sectarian conflict, in the latest attempt by a senior EU politician to rebuild the bloc’s political influence in West Africa. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is […]
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced the creation of a confederation that will bring the three nations under one institutional umbrella, in a decision that signals a no-return to the West African regional bloc, the ECOWAS. The leaders of the three countries announced the confederation decision at a summit in Niamey, accusing ECOWAS of taking […]
The junta-leaders in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are set to hold their first ever joint summit of the so-called ‘Alliance of Sahel States’ (AES) since seizing power in a series of coups in Niger’s capital Niamey this weekend. “Our country will be hosting on Saturday (6 July) the first summit of the AES heads […]
Burkina Faso reaffirmed its full support for the initiative launched by King Mohammed VI aiming to help landlocked Sahel states access the Atlantic Ocean and global trade. Burkina Faso’s foreign minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré said following talks in Rabat with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Boourita. Traore described the initiative as embodying south-south cooperation in line […]
Three African countries — Burkina Faso, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — top a list of the world’s most neglected crises for the second year in a row, according to a new report released by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). The NRC’s annual report on the world’s most neglected displacement crises says […]
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has kicked off his three-country African tour in junta-led Guinea, part of a fresh push to bolster support for Moscow from countries on the continent, amidst Russian isolation on the world stage. Russia’s top diplomat arrived Monday (3 June) in the capital Conakry on his latest visit to West Africa, […]
Newly elected Senegalese president Bassirou Faye started a regional visit with Mali and Burkina Faso in a bid to strengthen ties with neighbors that quit the regional bloc ECOWAS in protest over sanctions following their consecutive coups. In Bamako, Faye held talks on the ECOWAS with Mali’s leader Col. Assimi Goita. Following the talks, he […]
“If we don’t act now,” the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in the Sahel will “become a problem for the world,” a senior UNHCR official has warned, echoing a senior UNICEF official that has condemned a “distressing” 70% rise in grave violence against children in several strife-torn countries in the region plagued by jihadists and […]
The military rulers of Burkina Faso extended their stay in power for five more years, state-owned broadcaster said. Current leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré will be able to run for the next presidential elections, the broadcaster said, citing the conclusions of a national dialogue. Traore took power following a coup two years ago, setting the country […]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Burkina Faso’s military forces of “summarily executing” 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in two northern villages in February as part of its campaigns against civilians suspected of collaborating with armed groups. Soldiers killed at least 44 people, including 20 children, in Nondin, and 179 people, including 36 […]