West Africa

Mauritania’s foreign ministry has accused Mali’s army of crimes against its nationals after dozens of protesters said their fellow countrymen had been killed “in cold blood”. Mali’s ambassador Mohamed Dibassy was called in to hear a “strong protest against the recent, recurring criminal acts”, committed by the army following the …

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the killing of more than 60 vigilantes in Kebbi State and urged security forces in the country to be ‘’more pro-active’’. Mr Buhari, who condemned the killings, described them as brutal murders by outlaws. The latest violence happened in Kebbi state on Sunday night …

Nigerian lower house of parliament has agreed to reconsider three of five rejected gender-equality bills after demonstrations across the country by hundreds of women. Last week parliament rejected a bill that would have seen special additional seats created for women in national and state parliaments. Singing songs and carrying placards …

Nigerian activist Sunday Adeyemo, imprisoned in Benin since last year for allegedly plotting an insurrection in Nigeria, recovers liberty under judicial supervision, one of his lawyers said on Tuesday. Adeyemo, commonly known by his nickname Sunday Igboho, belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group and rose to prominence with calls for …

Gunmen ambushed and killed at least 62 members of a volunteer vigilante group in Nigeria’s northwestern Kebbi state, the head of the group and a police spokesman said. Usman Sani, the head of the “Yan Sa Kai” vigilante group in Kebbi said his group had planned to attack bandits in …

At least two soldiers and two United Nations peacekeepers died Monday in separate attacks against Islamist militants in Mali, the army and the UN mission said. Militants attacked Malian troops posted in the northern region of Gao early in the morning, the army said, three days after another clash left …

Nigerian government has said it will not allow its nationals to be enlisted to fight in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russian troops. This follows reports of alleged recruitment of volunteers in the country to fight on the side of Ukraine. Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the Ukrainian embassy had …

Five people have died in Nigeria’s northern Kano state after being buried alive in a trench while helping their friend build a house ahead of his wedding, local media report. They were digging sand in Yanlami village when part of the trench collapsed. The deceased are between the ages of …

The coup leader in Burkina Faso, Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has appointed Albert Ouedraogo as the country’s new Prime Minister. The interim leader in Burkina Faso Colonel Damiba appointed Albert Ouedraogo, a 52-year-old economist, as head of government. He will form a government whose main task will be to secure …

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Senegal said a Facebook post by Ukraine’s embassy that called on Senegalese volunteers to enlist in the fight against Russia was illegal. In a statement, the ministry said recruitment of volunteers, mercenaries and other foreign fighters was illegal in the country and punishable by …