Location · 96 published stories · 40 outlets · All places
The UN Security Council was briefed on the growing sophistication of terrorist groups in West Africa and the Sahel, with officials highlighting the use of drones, advanced communications, and cryptocurrencies. The briefing also noted the displacement of millions, restricted humanitarian access, and the intertwining of drug trafficking with terrorism.
Imane Ayissi, the first and only sub-Saharan African designer in Paris haute couture, presents a collection blending African textiles with Parisian tailoring, and speaks about craftsmanship, cultural meaning, and the need for local manufacturing in Africa.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Guinea-Bissau's Foreign Minister Fatumata Jau in Moscow, where he reaffirmed Russia's support for normalizing relations between ECOWAS and several West African nations, including Guinea-Bissau. Lavrov also highlighted the historical bonds between the two countries and expressed readiness to boost cooperation in a multipolar world.
Algeria and Mali have reinstated ambassadors and reopened airspace after a 15-month rift triggered by a drone downing. The two governments announced reciprocal measures on Friday, reversing reprisals that had strained regional security cooperation.
Tuareg separatists and their jihadist allies have attacked a convoy of Malian soldiers and Russian Africa Corps fighters heading to reinforce troops in the besieged northern town of Anefis. Multiple sources report heavy losses and ongoing fighting, with the FLA and JNIM claiming responsibility.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Niger for his first visit, meeting President Abdourahamane Tchiani and attending the second Russia-Alliance of Sahel States ministerial meeting. The talks focused on security, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation, with Moscow reaffirming its military support to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM has claimed responsibility for coordinated attacks on military installations across Mali, saying it seized at least three sites. Mali's army says the attacks were repelled, while rebels claim fighting continued in several towns.
A clinical trial of two experimental treatments for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has begun in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the first patient enrolled. The outbreak, which began in May, has caused more than 1,400 confirmed cases and 438 deaths in the DRC, with cases also reported in Uganda and France.
Insurgents attacked several towns across Mali on Saturday, targeting army bases and a prison near the capital, Bamako. The assaults, involving Tuareg separatists and JNIM, highlight the ongoing security challenges facing Mali's military leadership.
Coordinated attacks by suspected jihadists and Tuareg separatist fighters struck multiple towns in Mali, including a prison near Bamako, according to the army and security sources. The FLA and JNIM groups claimed involvement, marking a fresh escalation over two months after a previous offensive.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formally launched the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, with Niger's official notification now received by the court. The move, announced last year, reflects the Sahel nations' criticism of international institutions, while the ICC expresses regret and reaffirms its commitment to accountability.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formalized their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, a move that human rights organizations say threatens justice for victims of war crimes. The countries accuse the court of bias and politicization, but the ICC and NGOs warn of impunity and weaken global accountability.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have officially initiated their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, a process they first signaled in September. The ICC has voiced concern, warning that such departures risk undermining global justice efforts, while the Sahel states have denounced the court as a tool of neocolonial repression.
Niger has arrested dozens of people under a new penal code criminalising same-sex relations, prompting a climate of fear and forcing HIV service groups to halt operations. The crackdown is part of a broader wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation across West Africa.
A US deportation flight arrived in Venezuela hours before twin earthquakes struck, leaving more than 100 deportees trapped in a collapsed hotel. Survivors describe desperate escapes, while families search for missing loved ones amid a death toll exceeding 1,700.
A deadly attack on Niamey airport in June, the second this year, has prompted analysis that jihadist groups are adapting their methods to challenge Niger's security forces. The assault, claimed by JNIM, came after a January attack attributed to the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, with researchers pointing to a new emphasis on deception.
Benin and Niger have reaffirmed their commitment to reopening their shared border, closed since Niger's 2023 coup, following high-level talks and a joint communique. A nine-point plan includes a committee to examine border reopening conditions, amid ongoing regional security challenges.
A landmark conference in Ghana has ended with a framework for reparatory justice, calling for formal apologies, debt relief, and the return of looted artefacts. The meeting follows a UN resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity, with leaders urging former slave-trading nations to take concrete steps.
JNIM, Al Qaeda's Sahel branch, claimed responsibility for a dawn assault on Niger's main airport and nearby military base, killing at least 11 soldiers and two civilians. Security forces repelled the attack, killing 22 assailants, while the African Union condemned the violence and Benin expressed solidarity.
Annalena Baerbock highlights the diversity of the German national team as a symbol of a new generation, with eight of 26 players having African roots. The team's composition is seen as significant amid political shifts in Germany.