Jihadist violence escalates in Niger’s Tillabéri region
The Tillabéri region in Niger has once again become the epicenter of brutal jihadist violence. On January 18, fighters from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) launched a deadly attack on the village of Bossiye, leaving 31 men and children dead in their wake. According to reports gatheredContinue Reading
Us strategy in Sahel reshapes with Morocco as regional pivot
The Sahel is witnessing a subtle yet decisive geopolitical shift. As European forces gradually withdraw from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and Russia consolidates its presence through proxy structures, the United States appears to be reviving its strategic role in the region. According to Emmanuel Dupuy, president of the InstituteContinue Reading
How solar energy is transforming healthcare in Niafounké, northern Mali
i Vue des panneaux solaires installés par MSF à l’hôpital de Niafunké, dans le nord du Mali. © Lamine Keita In the Timbuktu region of northern Mali, MSF has equipped the Niafounké hospital with a modern solar panel system. This shift toward renewable energy boosts the facility’s independence and ensuresContinue Reading
Deadly islamist attacks plague villages in western Niger
Islamist militants strike villages in Tillabéri, leaving 35 dead Nairobi — Armed extremists linked to the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) have carried out two brutal attacks in western Niger, killing 30 civilians—including four children—and five captured fighters since January 18, 2026. The extremist group has been accused ofContinue Reading
Mali slips in global corruption ranking amid governance challenges
Mali’s ranking drops in 2025 global corruption index Mali has slid one position in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International, now sitting at 136th place globally. This decline places the country behind neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The annual indexContinue Reading
Corruption : le nouveau classement révèle des reculs
corruptionAfrique Corruption : le nouveau classement révèle des reculs Sandrine Blanchard | Alexa Meyer 10/02/202610 février 2026 Transparency International publie son nouvel Indice de perception de la corruption, qui évalue le niveau perçu de corruption dans le secteur public de 180 pays. https://p.dw.com/p/58Syh Selon l’indice de perception de la corruptionContinue Reading
Niger military drone strike kills seventeen civilians at Kokoloko market
Click to expand Image At least 17 civilians, including four children, lost their lives in a suspected Niger military drone strike on a busy marketplace in western Niger. The attack, which occurred on January 6, 2026, also left 13 people injured. Human Rights Watch has indicated that the operation, whileContinue Reading
Mali’s health system gets a boost with new gavi-funded 4×4 vehicles
The Ministry of Health and Social Development in Mali officially took possession of 39 robust 4×4 all-terrain vehicles on Thursday, February 5, 2026. This significant acquisition is set to fortify the national health infrastructure and broaden access to crucial medical services, particularly immunization campaigns, across the nation’s most underserved regions.Continue Reading
Security situation in Niger under president Tiani
The capital of Niger, Niamey, witnessed an unprecedented security breach in recent weeks. On the night of January 28 to 29, dozens of Islamic State fighters in the Greater Sahara stormed the city’s international airport and the adjacent military base 101. The attackers targeted civilian aircraft and set military equipmentContinue Reading
Un calls on Burkina Faso to reverse restrictions on civil liberties
Human rights The UN’s top human rights official, Volker Türk, has urged the government of Burkina Faso to lift all restrictions on civic space and reconsider its plan to outlaw political parties entirely. « This is not a step in the right direction for the human rights of the peopleContinue Reading
Us strategy shifts to trade and security in Sahel
US shifts focus to trade and security partnerships in the Sahel The recent visit of Nick Checker, head of the US State Department’s African Affairs Bureau, to Mali signals Washington’s renewed engagement in the Sahel region. However, this doesn’t mark a return to previous policies. Instead, the United States isContinue Reading
Military juntas in west africa Sahel crack down on freedoms
In 2025, leaders across West Africa and the Sahel escalated their crackdowns on civil liberties while consolidating political control, according to a comprehensive analysis by leading human rights organizations. The Sahel region, already grappling with escalating armed conflicts, witnessed intensified violence as Islamist militant groups and government forces—often backed byContinue Reading