West Africa

Authorities in Nigeria say they have suspended the passports of more than 2,000 Nigerians accused of violating Covid-prevention protocols after returning from abroad. According to Dr Mukhtar Mohammed, member of the Covid committee, the passports would remain suspended for a year. Nigeria has strengthened its surveillance system at the airports, …

Army officials in Nigeria say 17 members of the security forces and two civilians have been killed in series of attacks by criminal gangs in the north-west of the country. According to the authorities, the gunmen raided five towns and set fire to a number of military camps in the …

Billboards with large portraits of Liberian President George Weah are being lined up on the streets of the capital Monrovia, ahead of his 55th birthday on 1 October. The billboards being erected by the Monrovia City Council are currently all over central Monrovia and other parts of the city. It’s …

Abductors have released about ten of 21 remaining students who had been kidnapped in northern Nigeria after payment of ransom. This is the fourth batch of students to be released by the kidnappers. A total of 110 students have either been released or have escaped so far. Some 121 students …

They are more than 70 people to be arrested in Burkina Faso in connection with money laundering and the funding of armed groups. The detainees are accused of being involved with fuel trafficking in areas where jihadist groups are active. Read also: “Britain’s non-recognition of Africa-administered vaccines is regrettable”, AU …

Nigerian police say they have arrested three people suspected of being behind the kidnapping of more than 100 students in Kaduna state. According to police spokesperson Frank Mba, those arrested are among 50 suspects believed to be members of different gangs operating in north-west and central Nigeria. Armed men on …

US President Joe Biden has announced his commitment to strengthen his support for European-led counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region. The American military presence in the Sahel is significant, but above all it is old, since Washington has been at France’s side since the start of Operation Serval in 2013. …

Thousands of Malians were in the streets of the capital, Bamako, to protest against French interference and call for closer relations with Russia. The protest follows diplomatic tension between Paris and Bamako after Mali’s interim leaders acknowledged that they were in talks with the Russian mercenary group Wagner. The march …

Classes are temporarily closed at the University of Liberia following a strike by teaching staff over wages and other working conditions. The crisis worsened on Monday when police tear-gassed students protesting against the absence of their teachers and poor sanitation. Read also: Sudan: prime minister speaks after failed coup attempt …

Diplomatic relations between Bamako and Niger are becoming more and more cold. This follows a verbal offense of the Nigerien president toward the military leaders in Mali. Visiting Paris last July, Mohamed Bazoum, the Nigerien head of state vehemently criticized the military junta in power in Mali: “We must not …