First Independent Mena Newspaper
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 […]
Guinea’s ruling military junta has announced plans to hold a constitutional referendum followed by presidential and legislative elections before the end of 2025, signaling a potential return to civilian rule after four years of military governance. Prime minister Amadou Oury Bah confirmed the timeline, emphasizing that constitutional order would be restored, though no specific dates […]
The presidents of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, and of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, jointly appealed Wednesday for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to return to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), following their collective withdrawal in January. The three Sahelian nations formally severed ties with the regional bloc after mounting tensions. “I propose […]
The recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has placed significant pressure on Nigeria’s military, especially its Air Force. Air marshal Hassan Abubakar, Nigeria’s chief of air staff, highlighted at a recent meeting in Abuja that the departure of these countries from the regional security […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reaffirmed its commitment to launching the Eco currency by 2027, a key step in advancing regional economic integration and financial stability. The ambitious currency project, which aims to unify the economies of 15 West African countries, was discussed at the recent 11th ECOWAS Convergence Council meeting […]
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) have ended their mission to Guinea-Bissau after the country’s president threatened to expel the delegation. The mission, which arrived in the country on 21 February, aimed to help political stakeholders reach an agreement on a […]
The European Union has provided a 50 million-euro military aid package to Ghana to bolster its security forces amid a surge in violent extremist activities by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The donation, made during a handover ceremony in Accra on Wednesday (26 February), includes advanced communication systems, riverine assets, and […]
The recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the regional ECOWAS bloc has drawn attention to the escalating security crisis in the Sahel region where JNIM, an umbrella coalition of aligned groups, is fast emerging as a dominant jihadist force. These countries, now members of the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES), […]
West Africa’s political landscape shifted dramatically Wednesday as Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso officially walked away from ECOWAS, marking the first exodus in the bloc’s nearly 50-year history. The move sent shockwaves through a region already grappling with political instability and security challenges. ECOWAS, long considered West Africa’s premier political and economic powerhouse, now faces […]
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 […]