First Independent Mena Newspaper
Militant Islamist violence continues to escalate in the Sahel, shifting southward and westward to increasingly threaten security of coastal West African nations, according to a new report by Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS). Countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger remain at the epicenter of this violent surge, with fatalities and militant activity hitting […]
Algeria has closed its airspace to Mali as relations worsen between the two neighbors with Mali accusing Algeria of backing terrorist groups. Mali together with its Sahel allies, Niger and Burkina Faso, all recalled their ambassadors after Bamako accused Algiers of protecting separatists by downing a Malian drone. Algeria has doubled down on its provocations […]
Mali, Niger & Burkina Faso have accused Algeria of sponsoring terrorism and decided to recall their Ambassadors from the North African country after the Algerian military regime downed a Malian drone in the West African country territory. In a press release issued Sunday, Malian authorities denounced a deliberate act of aggression by the Algerian regime, […]
The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are set to visit Moscow this week to deepen their strategic partnership with Russia, marking a significant shift in the region’s diplomatic and security landscape. The visit, scheduled for 3-4 April, represents the first-ever AES-Russia consultations following the establishment of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) […]
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 […]
In the remote village of Karan, Mali, solar power has sparked remarkable change. The installation of a mini-grid operated by WeLight has provided 3,000 residents with reliable electricity, transforming local commerce and daily life. Bakery owner Samba Diakité exemplifies this impact. Previously dependent on diesel generators costing $100 daily, he now saves more than half […]
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 […]
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 […]