West Africa

The Gambian Election Commission has declared incumbent President Adama Barrow winner of Saturday’s election with 53% of the vote while his rival Ousainou Darboe holds 28%. The results of the vote, seen as test for democracy, have been rejected by Mr Darboe and other candidates earlier who say the elections …

Five officials working for Nigerian Borno state ministry of works have been kidnapped by armed men on Wednesday as they were en route to inspect a road project near Chibok town. Militants linked to the Islamic State West African Province (Iswap) are suspected to be behind the abduction. Borno state’s …

The Nigerian government has announced that all civilian workers should receive their doses of covid vaccine as several cases of the Omicron variant have been detected. In absence of proof of vaccination, officials are invited to submit the results of PCR tests dating from 72 hours before being allowed access …

Some travellers from South Africa who arrived in Nigeria last week have been tested positive to the Omicron variant, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced. In a press release, the body warns that it is a matter of “when, not if” more cases are identified. The NCDC …

Authorities in Nigeria have confirmed that nine more bodies have been recovered on Wednesday morning following the tragedy of boat capsizing on Tuesday evening. This brings the death toll to 29 so far and the search and rescue operation is ongoing. The boat was carrying dozens of people from the …

A boat carrying more than 50 people capsized in Kano state, northern Nigeria, on Tuesday evening, killing at least 20 people, most of them students, BBC News reports. The boat was carrying dozens of people from the village of Badau to the town of Bagwai, where they were due to …

Coup leaders in Guinea have said that the deposed president Alpha Condé has been transferred to his wife’s home in the capital Conakry. In a statement broadcast on state television, the National Rally and Development Committee (CNRD) said Mr Condé was now with his wife, Hadja Djene Kaba Condé. The …

Twenty-four people, including students and travelers, who had been kidnapped from different parts of Zamfara state were rescued, police said. Commissioner Ayuba Elkanah said that some of the victims spent more than 60 days in captivity before they were freed. He added that they were rescued unconditionally. Zamfara is regarded …

Authorities in Burkina Faso said at least 19 people, including 10 civilians and nine members of the security forces, were killed in an attack in the northern town of Foubé. Anger is growing in Burkina Faso over the extremist violence that’s killed thousands and displaced more than a million people …

France has called on asked Burkina Faso president to intervene after a French military convoy was blocked for nearly three days by protesters in the city of Kaya. French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, said those he called “manipulators” had been stoking anti-French sentiment. There are unconfirmed reports that French …