Your go-to English source for news from Ouagadougou and Burkina Faso, updated daily.
Dr Jean Baptiste Nikiema officially appointed WHO Resident Representative in Niger The Republic of Niger welcomed a new leader in global health diplomacy on November 12, 2025, as Dr Jean Baptiste Nikiema assumed his official duties as Resident Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Niamey. The appointment ceremony took place at the Ministry […]
President GOÏTA Inaugurates Construction for 15 New Hospitals! Bamako, November 10, 2025. General Assimi GOÏTA, the President of the Transition, officially broke ground on the Presidential Emergency Hospital Project. This pivotal ceremony, held at the Korofina Reference Health Center (Commune I of the Bamako District), marks the launch of an extensive initiative aimed at profoundly […]
Amnesty International has condemned the two-year prison sentence handed to former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara, including one year of actual imprisonment and a symbolic fine of 500,000 CFA francs (€762, with just 1 franc going to the Malian state), for charges that include undermining state credibility. The human rights organization is calling for his […]
Despite notable improvements in recent years—such as reductions in infant and under-five mortality rates, maternal health outcomes, and increased life expectancy—the Mali still faces significant challenges in delivering equitable healthcare. The World Health Organization and UNICEF report steady progress, yet access to quality medical services remains uneven, particularly outside urban centers like Bamako. Efforts to […]
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has issued a critical call for international assistance to address the escalating crisis in the Sahel. Currently, nearly 4 million people have been forced from their homes across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, as well as neighboring territories. This figure represents a staggering two-thirds increase compared to just five years […]
unhcr urges global support for Sahel’s 4 million displaced The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a critical appeal for immediate global assistance to support its vital operations across the Sahel region. Approximately four million individuals are currently displaced in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring nations – a staggering two-thirds increase […]
This report has been developed for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Niger, scheduled for April-May 2026. Amnesty International assesses the implementation of recommendations previously issued to Niger, focusing on critical areas such as arbitrary detentions, illegal arrests, the plight of human rights defenders, and press freedom. Additionally, the document analyzes Niger’s national human rights […]
From the series Between junta and jihadists: a report from Niger, at the heart of a besieged nation Caught between the terror of armed factions and the diplomatic isolation imposed by the junta led by Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger is currently enduring one of the most severe economic and security crises in its recent history. Explore […]
Click to expand Image Recently, in a courtroom in Bamako, the capital of Mali, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara stood quietly as judicial authorities denied his defense team’s request for temporary release. Rather than granting bail, prosecutors have called for a two-year prison term, a decision that underscores the military junta’s intensifying campaign against political […]
Why the Sahel’s exit from the International Criminal Court threatens justice Human rights organizations worldwide have strongly criticized the withdrawal announcement by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This coalition, including the Fédération internationale pour les droits humains (FIDH), Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CCPI), and others, warns this […]
WHO bolsters NGO health initiatives in Mali amid humanitarian crisis The World Health Organization (WHO) has led the coordination of health cluster partners in Mali since 2012. In 2025, the country faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with 6.4 million people—28% of the population—requiring urgent assistance. The humanitarian response plan remains critically underfunded at just 8.5%, […]
Bamako – Kadidia, a 19-year-old student, once hesitated to discuss contraception openly. « In our community, it’s still a taboo subject,» she admits. Like many young women in Mali, Kadidia faced deep-rooted social and cultural barriers when seeking sexual and reproductive health services. These challenges, though daunting, are being addressed through targeted interventions that prioritize […]