First Independent Mena Newspaper
Recent expulsions of French military forces from several African nations, including Ivory Coast, Chad, and Niger, underscore a growing shift in the region’s geopolitical dynamics, fueled by Russian disinformation campaigns, according to analysts. Analysts believe that the Kremlin has been a key driver of the anti-French sentiment, using digital platforms to manipulate public opinion across […]
A commission in military-ruled Niger suggested the country needs 5 years before it returns to civilian rule, triggering criticism from the regional bloc ECOWAS. The military seized power in 2023, ousting President Mohamed Bazoum. Following the coup ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the coup leaders and suspended Niger from all ECOWAS decision-making bodies. Niger joined other […]
A senior US counterterrorism official has raised alarms about the increasing threat posed by global jihadist groups, warning that they are, for example, expanding their activities from Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso into Benin and Togo, which had once had little exposure to jihadi threats. Speaking at a recent Washington conference, Sebastian Gorka noted that […]
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), […]
The European Union is confronting significant challenges in maintaining its long-standing ties with Africa, as it faces rising competition from China and Russia in the region, according to experts. While the EU has been Africa’s biggest export market for years, it has lost ground to these emerging powers, particularly in trade and security. In recent […]
The Government of Niger has unveiled on February 5 plans to launch a new national airline alongside a regional carrier as part of a broader strategy to enhance air connectivity both within the country and across the Sahel region. According to the Nigerien News Agency, Colonel Salisu Mahaman Salisu, the Minister of Transport and Equipment, […]
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 […]
At least 20 Nigerian soldiers, including a commanding officer, have been reportedly killed as suspected Islamist militants targeted an army base in the remote Malam-Fatori town in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state. The attack that is believed to have been carried out by fighters from the ISIL-affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP) occurred on Friday (24 […]
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 […]