West Africa

The Nigerian interior minister, Rauf Aregbesola has ordered prison guards across the country to shoot and kill anyone who attempts to run away from prisons. During a visit to the southern city of Ibadan, minister Rauf Aregbesola told prison staff that they should not shoot to injure but should instead …

Former Guinean President Alpha Condé left the country on Monday to travel abroad for a medical check-up, a source close to him said and confirmed by a government official. The military leaders in December said the ex-president would be allowed to travel on medical grounds but could not remain abroad …

The United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in Mali ( MINUSMA) has suspended its flights amid discussions over sanctions that have shut air and land borders to the West African country. “MINUSMA has to temporarily suspend all flights. We are in discussion with our Malian partners on the new mechanism for approving …

Dozens of people including two soldiers and a police officer have been killed and others abducted by gunmen in the north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi, local media report. The attack happened on Friday in the village of Dankade in Danko-Wassagu area but details are just emerging because there is no …

Former Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita alias IBK died on Sunday following a short illness at the age of 76, his family announced. “President IBK died this morning at 9:00 a.m. (GMT and local) at his home” in the capital, where he lived in retirement, away from public life, a …

A fake army general has been arrested after allegedly forging the signature of the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to commit fraud. Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Bolarinwa Oluwasegun, who was posing as an army general, defrauded Kodef Clearing Resources of over $650,000 (£475,000). EFCC said the suspect …

Four people, including two men and two teenagers, accused of cannibalism and selling human organs have been arrested in northwestern Zamfara state in Nigeria, local media report. According to the State’s police chief, Ayuba Elkanah, other members of the gang were being tracked down. “They were arrested after detectives found …

UN Secretary General António Guterres called on interim Malian President Assimi Goïta to hold elections for the restoration of civilian rule within an acceptable timeline. According to Mr Guterres, it’s “absolutely essential for Mali’s military leaders to announce an acceptable timeline for civilian elections.” He said he was working with …

The Senegalese Minister of Health announced that the government has authorized the third dose of COVID-19 vaccines for adults and that children are now eligible for vaccination. The third dose will initially be aimed at people identified as vulnerable to severe illness, the health ministry said in a Twitter. Les …

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell said, on Thursday that the institution would impose the same sanctions as those taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against the Malian interim government. ECOWAS on Sunday, imposes serious sanctions against Mali, including the suspension of financial transactions …