West Africa

The UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has mourned as a “true pioneer” Ghana’s first female brigadier general, Constance Emefa Edjeani-Afenu, who died on Monday. Mr Guterres paid tribute to Brig Gen Edjeani-Afenu for making history in peacekeeping as the first female deputy force commander of a UN mission in Western …

Denmark says it will start pulling its troops out of Mali after the West African country’s transitional junta government this week insisted on an immediate withdrawal. French and European allies had previously urged Mali to let Danish troops stay, and Mali’s insistence that they go is seen as a swipe …

Authorities in Ghana have denied introducing a mandatory insurance scheme for all travellers arriving in the country through the country’s main airport, the BBC reports. The National Insurance Commission (NIC) said the scheme popularly known as “Akwaaba” had not been approved and any reports that it had should be disregarded. …

Authorities in Ghana have introduced a mandatory insurance scheme for all travellers arriving in the country through the country’s main airport. Popularly known as “Akwaaba”, it is to be supervised by a government-run firm and two other insurers. All visitors regardless of the duration of stay and nationality will have …

The Senegalese army says two of its soldiers have been killed and nine are missing after clashes in The Gambia, a country almost totally surrounded by Senegal. The troops were part of the West African peacekeeping mission that has been deployed in The Gambia for the past five years. Senegal’s …

Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is the leader of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR) which overthrew the President of Burkina Faso Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. Here are some things we should know about him: Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba has been at the forefront of the country’s fight against Islamist militants,The …

International pressure is mounting on Burkina Faso’s coup leaders to release deposed President Roch Kaboré, following claims by his party that he had survived an assassination attempt. UN chief António Guterres’s spokesman said he was following developments in Burkina Faso with “deep concern”, and was “particularly worried” about the whereabouts …

The Malian government has asked Denmark to immediately withdraw a contingent of troops deployed in the country as part of an international counter-terrorism force. According to the interim government, the deployment of about 90 Danish soldiers had taken place without its consent. The Danish government says it’s in touch with …

The army in Burkina Faso confirmed on the evening of January 24, its seizure of power as well as the dissolution of the government of President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. The Patriotic Movement for Safeguarding and Restoration (MPSR), bringing together the putschists, in a press release broadcast on national television, …

Ghanaian authorities in Ghana have shut down Maxam Mining Company Limited – the company responsible for manufacturing, storing, and transporting explosive materials for mining operations in the country, after a deadly explosion last week. Ghana’s Chief Inspector of Mines has also been suspended. Investigations are under way, the authorities say, …