Your go-to English source for news from Ouagadougou and Burkina Faso, updated daily.
Strategic humiliation unfolds in real time. Across social media platforms, videos emerge showing triumphant Tuareg fighters from the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) or the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) parading on abandoned Russian-made armored vehicles. These mercenaries, once part of Africa Corps (formerly Wagner Group), hastily evacuated Kidal in the northern region […]
In a major reversal that is as strategically significant as it is symbolic, the Russian mercenaries of the Africa Corps—the 2025 successors to the Wagner Group—retreated from Kidal in northeastern Mali on Sunday, April 26. Images circulating on social media depict a humiliating scene for the allies of the Bamako junta. Forced out by the […]
Escalating violence in Niger’s Tillabéri region, particularly along the borders with Mali and Burkina Faso, is increasingly targeting children—killing them, forcibly recruiting them, and leaving survivors traumatized, according to a new report. This crisis has worsened since early 2021, with armed groups committing war crimes and severe human rights violations. In a 64-page document titled […]
Bamako — A growing military presence linked to Russia has reportedly neutralized a large-scale coup attempt in Mali, where coordinated attacks targeted key government and military sites over the weekend. The incident, described as one of the most serious security breaches in recent Sahel history, unfolded across multiple cities including Bamako, Kati, Gao, Kidal, and […]
The Sahel’s Security Dilemma: Russian Partnership Under Fire The Sahel region is at a critical juncture. As Mali grapples with unprecedented violence, the narratives of certain panafricanist ideologues are crumbling under the weight of reality. Military setbacks and geopolitical miscalculations have exposed the limitations of relying on external alliances, particularly Moscow’s security promises. A coordinated […]
The journey towards the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2027 is now becoming clearer, even as the full scope of the main tournament is still taking shape. Before the definitive group compositions are even announced, African national teams have been provided with a precise framework to plan their qualification campaigns. The Confederation of African Football […]
The Central Sahel region continues to grapple with a severe humanitarian emergency. Across Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, an estimated 7.5 million children are in urgent need of aid. This critical situation persists despite some advancements observed in health, education, and civil registration services. UNICEF urges global action for Sahel’s children Following a 14-day mission […]
Following years of deep-seated instability and conflict, intensified by a jihadist insurgency and successive coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali has once again descended into a violent armed struggle with potentially far-reaching consequences. On Saturday, April 25, a major offensive was launched by Touareg rebels from the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA) in coordination […]
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has until May 7 to submit its defense to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS) regarding the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final dispute. This deadline marks the initial legal window granted to the federation after the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) filed an appeal with the […]
The fall of Kidal, a historic Tuareg stronghold recaptured in 2023, delivers a crushing blow to Russia’s military ambitions in Mali. Once hailed as a showcase of Vladimir Poutine’s African strategy, the Africa Corps now faces a humiliating withdrawal, further tarnishing Moscow’s image of regional power. a strategic retreat under rebel pressure On April 26, […]
The military leadership in Bamako is currently facing a dire security challenge as Tuareg insurgents, working alongside jihadist groups, launch coordinated strikes across the nation. In a startling turn of events, Russian military units—who stepped in to replace French forces—reportedly abandoned the strategic northern city of Kidal without engaging in combat. Recent footage reveals Russian […]
Following the synchronized terrorist strikes targeting Mali, a significant declaration was issued by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the current leader of the Confederation of Sahel States. This message represents far more than a standard diplomatic protest; it signals a profound shift toward strategic unity, asserting that any hostility directed at one member nation is perceived as […]