Tag

West Africa

All articles tagged with #west africa

africa16 days ago•5 min saved

West Africa jihadists weaponize cheap drones in widening campaign

Jihadist groups in West Africa are increasingly using commercially available drones for reconnaissance and attacks. Acled reports about 69 drone strikes by the al-Qaeda–aligned Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in Mali and Burkina Faso since 2023, with roughly 20 by Islamic State affiliates (ISWAP and ISSP) across Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The latest attack on Jan 29 targeted a Nigerian military base in Borno, and ISSP also attacked Niger's Niamey airport, signaling a broader trend: drones lower costs and risk for militants and enable high‑impact operations. Experts call for preemptive strikes against drone sites and stronger counter-drone defenses to curb this escalation.

via BBC|

#africa #drones #issp

africa27 days ago•5 min saved

Gunfire and blasts rock Niamey’s airport area amid Niger unrest

Gunfire and explosions were heard near Niamey’s international airport in Niger’s capital early Thursday; casualties and the cause are unclear. The airport houses an air force base and is close to the presidential palace, amid Niger’s ongoing jihadist violence and regional security efforts led by the junta with allies in the Sahel.

via France 24|

#africa #attack #jihad

world1 month ago•1 min saved

Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors Obtain Guinean Citizenship

Hollywood actors Meagan Good and Jonathan Majors received Guinean citizenship after tracing their ancestry to Guinea through DNA testing, and were celebrated in a private ceremony in Conakry, highlighting Guinea's recognition of descendants of enslaved Africans.

via abcnews.go.com|

#ancestry #guinean-citizenship #jonathan-majors

world1 month ago•1 min saved

Mali and Burkina Faso Ban US Citizens in Diplomatic Retaliation

Mali and Burkina Faso have imposed a travel ban on US citizens in retaliation for the US banning citizens from these countries, reflecting escalating tensions and reciprocal measures amid regional security issues involving armed groups.

via ABC News|

#burkina-faso #mali #reciprocity

world1 month ago•1 min saved

Guinea's Junta Leader Mamady Doumbouya Declared Winner Amid Election Controversy

Guinea's military leader Mamady Doumbouya has been declared the winner of the presidential election with 86.72% of the vote, marking a move towards civilian rule after a military coup in 2021. The election was boycotted by main opposition leaders, and the results are pending validation by the Supreme Court.

via Al Jazeera|

#guinea #mamady-doumbouya #military-coup

culture2 months ago•5 min saved

The Role of Food and Gathering in Diaspora Identity During Christmas

The article explores how Christmas food and drink traditions across the African diaspora reflect familial and communal identities, highlighting diverse dishes like jollof rice, plantains, and hibiscus drinks, and emphasizing the cultural significance of gathering and shared history during the holiday season.

via The Guardian|

#beverages #christmas #culture

world2 months ago•2 min saved

Sahel Leaders Pledge Large-Scale Offensive Against Extremists

Leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced the formation of a joint military battalion to escalate their fight against extremist groups in the Sahel, signaling a shift towards active military operations and a strategic move to deter external intervention amid regional tensions and their recent withdrawal from ECOWAS.

via Business Insider Africa|

#extremist-violence #joint-battalion #military-alliance

world2 months ago•0 min saved

Guinea-Bissau Crisis: Leadership, Narcotics, and Military Power

Guinea-Bissau's president, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, has been involved in a complex political situation amid the country's role as a major cocaine transshipment hub, raising questions about his possible involvement in a recent coup attempt.

via The Washington Post|

#coup #drug-trade #guinea-bissau

world5 months ago•1 min saved

French navy seizes nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine off West Africa

The French navy seized 9.6 tons of cocaine worth over $600 million from a fishing vessel off West Africa, as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region, with total seizures reaching 54.1 tons in 2025.

via CBS News|

#cocaine #drug-bust #france

world5 months ago•1 min saved

French Navy Seizes 10 Tonnes of Cocaine Off West Africa

The French navy has seized nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine worth $610 million from an unflagged fishing vessel off the West African coast, as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, a key transit region for narcotics from South America to Europe.

via BBC|

#cocaine-seizure #drug-trafficking #french-navy

world5 months ago•1 min saved

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Withdraw from ICC

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, criticizing it as a neo-colonialist tool and citing its failure to prosecute serious crimes, while seeking to establish their own justice mechanisms amid regional instability and increased ties with Russia.

via BBC|

#burkina-faso #icc #mali

world5 months ago•2 min saved

US Faces Lawsuits Over Alleged Mistreatment of West African Migrants

A lawsuit alleges that West African migrants deported from the US were held in inhumane conditions, including being shackled in straitjackets on a military flight, and are now detained in poor conditions in Ghana, raising legal and human rights concerns about US deportation practices to third countries.

via AP News|

#deportation #human-rights #lawsuit

world5 months ago•1 min saved

Ghana to Accept West African Deportees from the US

Ghana has agreed to accept deported migrants from the US as part of a bilateral agreement, with 14 already arriving, mainly Nigerians and a Gambian, amid US efforts to curb illegal immigration and deport foreign nationals to Africa.

via BBC|

#deportation #ghana #immigration

film5 months ago•4 min saved

Claire Denis's 'The Fence' Fails to Impress

Claire Denis's film The Fence, set in post-colonial West Africa, is a grim and somewhat dull adaptation of a play, lacking the emotional depth and resonance of her previous work, despite some effective atmospheric and thematic elements.

via The Guardian|

#claire-denis #film #film-review

politics7 months ago•12 min saved

Trump escalates global tariffs amid trade tensions

President Trump announced new tariffs on six countries with rates up to 30%, hosted West African leaders amid US aid cuts, and faced various political and legal developments including immigration raids and CDC leadership confirmation. The tariffs target Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova, and the Philippines, while the US shifts its approach to Africa and immigration enforcement faces legal challenges. Additionally, internal reviews raised concerns over Gaza aid funding, and efforts to replace migrant farm workers with automation and Medicaid recipients are underway.

via The Guardian|

#immigration #politics #tariffs