West Africa

More than 100 members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (Iswap) jihadist group and their families have surrendered, Nigerian army said. The Nigerian army said on Twitter that jihadists including 22 men, 27 women and 55 children have surrendered over the weekend in the north-east. Local media reports that …

The sound of heavy gunfire heard in Guinea Bissau’s capital created panic among some civil servants nearly a week after an attempted coup. But the attack by unknown gunmen was not on government buildings but rather the offices of a private radio station. Capital Radio’s equipment – including its transmitter, …

Senegalese President Macky Sall has declared Monday a public holiday to celebrate the national football team’s win at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021). The president, who was outside the country, cancelled the last leg of his trip to welcome back the football stars to Senegal on Monday. President …

The European Union (EU) on Friday imposed severe sanctions on Mali’s prime minister and four other members of interim President Assimi Goita’s inner circle. The travel bans and asset freezes affected five people. Among them are the senior military commanders who overthrew former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August …

Four men in Nigeria have been charged with the murder a 20-year-old woman in a suspected ritual killing case that has shocked the country. But the men, aged between 18 and 20, were not asked to enter a plea during their first court appearance on Thursday in south-western Ogun state, …

Nigerian government has uncovered more than 120 companies and 96 individuals linked to the financing of terrorism, the information minister has said. Minister Lai Mohammed, said 45 people suspected of funding terrorism had been arrested and would soon be prosecuted. He said Nigeria’s financial crimes agency recovered at least $750m …

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it will deploy security forces to Guinea-Bissau to help stabilise the country after this week’s attempted coup. The regional bloc made the announcement after a summit held in Accra, Ghana. “The force will help prevent any attempted coups in future,” it …

Ghanaian president Nana Akufo Addo has warned that West Africa is in great danger as a result of recent coups in the region. At a key meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nana Akufo-Addo who chairs of the regional bloc described last year’s military takeover in …

The French defence minister, Florence Parly, is on a two-day visit to Niger as part of plans to devise a new security strategy for the Sahel. This follows mounting tensions with neighbouring Mali’s military leaders, including the expulsion of the French ambassador earlier this week. Germany has called into question …

Nigerian security forces said they managed to eliminate three suspected kidnappers in Edo state in the south of the country, while many others fled. Army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu said the men were part of a notorious gang that was intercepted as it set up an ambush on a major highway. …