West Africa’s ‘coup belt’: Did Mali’s 2020 army takeover change the region? | Politics News

West Africa’s ‘coup belt’: Did Mali’s 2020 army takeover change the region? | Politics News

Four years ago this month, a group of Malian soldiers descended on a military base in Kati, close to the capital Bamako, arrested their most senior leaders, and seized weapons from the armoury. Shortly after, they stormed Bamako in trucks, where they detained then-President Aboubakar Keita, as Malians jubilated in…

Nearly 200 people dead: What’s behind armed attacks in Burkina Faso? | Armed Groups News

Nearly 200 people dead: What’s behind armed attacks in Burkina Faso? | Armed Groups News

Around 200 people have been killed and 140 injured in the Burkinabe town of Barsalogho, the latest in a long line of deadly attacks by an al-Qaeda-linked armed group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). Women and children were among those killed on Saturday. Barsalogho lies near the town of Kaya,…

Up to 200 people killed in attack in central Burkina Faso | Conflict News

Up to 200 people killed in attack in central Burkina Faso | Conflict News

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, an armed group linked to al-Qaeda, claims responsibility for the attack. An armed group linked to al-Qaeda, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for what it says was an attack that killed up to 200 people and injured at least 140 in central Burkina…

Mali orders Swedish ambassador to leave within 72 hours | Politics News

Mali orders Swedish ambassador to leave within 72 hours | Politics News

The order comes days after a Swedish government minister announced that aid to Mali would be ‘phased out’. Sweden’s ambassador to Bamako has been summoned and ordered to leave the country within 72 hours because of a “hostile” statement by a Swedish minister, Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says. Mali’s…

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso military leaders sign new pact, rebuff ECOWAS | Conflict News

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso military leaders sign new pact, rebuff ECOWAS | Conflict News

The military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have hailed a newly signed treaty as a step “towards greater integration” between the three countries, in the latest showing of their shift away from traditional regional and Western allies. During a summit in the Nigerien capital of Niamey on Saturday,…

Al-Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility for June attack in Burkina Faso | Conflict News

Al-Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility for June attack in Burkina Faso | Conflict News

The attack on June 11 was one of the deadliest suffered by the West African nation’s army. An armed group linked to al-Qaeda, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for what it said was an attack on June 11 that killed more than 100 Burkina Faso soldiers in…

Nearly 200 people dead: What’s behind armed attacks in Burkina Faso? | Armed Groups News

Burkina Faso says HRW massacre accusations ‘baseless’ | Human Rights News

A Human Rights Watch report on Thursday accused the military of executing residents in Nodin and Soro, including at least 56 children. Burkina Faso has said a Human Rights Watch report alleging that soldiers killed at least 223 villagers in two attacks on February 25 made “baseless accusations”. The HRW…

West Africa’s Sahel becoming a drug trafficking corridor, UN warns | Drugs News

West Africa’s Sahel becoming a drug trafficking corridor, UN warns | Drugs News

Drug seizures, mainly of cocaine and cannabis resin, have soared in the region, according to a UN report. Drug seizures have soared in the West African Sahel region, according to a new United Nations report, indicating the conflict-ridden region is becoming an influential route for drug trafficking. In 2022, 1,466kg…