Minister Says Dozens of Civilians Killed in Togo since January by Al Qaeda Affiliate
As insecurity spirals in Togo, the country’s foreign minister says a group affiliated with Al Qaeda has killed at least 54 civilians and 8 soldiers so far this year. The comments to news agency, Reuters, was a rare official acknowledgement of the death toll in attacks. Robert Dussey said there have been 15 incidents in northern […]
Ivory Coast President Ouattara to Stand for a Fourth Term in Office
Three months before Ivory Coast’s presidential election, long-standing leader Alassane Ouattara has announced he will be standing for a fourth term in office, ending months of speculation. “I am a candidate because I want our beloved Côte d’Ivoire to continue to remain a prosperous country, in peace and security,” he said in a televised address […]
Togo Votes in Local Elections Amid Outburst of Public Anger: What to Know
ensions are palpable in the West African nation of Togo as highly anticipated local government elections are being held following weeks of angry protests calling for leader Faure Gnassingbe to resign. Although small, Togo commands weight as a developing maritime and transit hub in the region because of an important port in the seaside capital, […]
At Least 9 Killed, many Abducted in ‘Bandit’ Gang Attack in Nigeria
At least nine people have been reported killed and many abducted following an attack in Nigeria’s northwest, residents and local officials said, amid increasing violence against farmers by what have been described as “bandit” gangs. The deadly attack on Friday took place in Zamfara state, the epicentre of attacks by heavily armed men known locally as bandits […]
Do Africa’s Leaders have a ‘Game Plan’ to Deal with Trump?
Former African Union diplomat Arikana Chihombori argues that Trump’s Africa policy is ‘a step in the right direction’. Africa’s leaders have no one to blame but themselves if they cannot reach equitable trade deals with the United States, argues the former representative of the African Union to the US, Arikana Chihombori-Quao. Chihombori-Quao tells host Steve […]
Why ‘Pan-Africanist’ Influencers Pushed Rumours of a Coup
In May, Mafalda Marchioro woke up to messages from friends living overseas asking if she was safe in Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast. Social media was full of posts claiming a coup was under way. Dramatic footage of soldiers on the street flooded platforms, while AI-generated and presenter-led reports were racking up millions […]
Burkina Faso Military Rulers Scrap Electoral Commission, Taking Control of Future Polls
Burkina Faso’s military rulers have disbanded the country’s electoral commission calling it a waste of money. The interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV reported. Since seizing power in September 2022, the coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections which would lead to a return to civilian […]
Regional Alert: WADEMOS Calls On Pro-democracy Actors to Take Urgent Actions to Counter Growing Threats to Democracy
The West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network calls on democracy actors in West Africa to prioritize the growing threats to democracy, peace, and security in the subregion. The Network, which is made up of CSOs from all 15 countries in the ECOWAS sub-region, expresses serious concerns about recent alarming incidents that have the potential to compound […]
ECOWAS Leaders Meet in Abuja Amid Regional Tensions and Leadership Transition
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) convened on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. Regional heads of state gathered to evaluate the bloc’s current state, which continues to grapple with internal instability following a wave of military coups in several member countries. ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray is scheduled to […]
Terrorism: Tinubu Calls for Activation of ECOWAS Standby Force
President Bola Tinubu has urged his West African colleagues on the need to urgently activate the ECOWAS Standby Force to deal with terrorism in the sub-region. The Nigerian leader expressed concern over the slow pace of its operation, stressing the need to move from concept to reality in the collective fight against terrorism. Tinubu raised […]