Your go-to English source for news from Ouagadougou and Burkina Faso, updated daily.
May 2026 marks a fresh disruption to the delicate equilibrium of purchasing power across West Africa. As households strive to safeguard their savings against ongoing inflationary pressures, a stark truth has emerged at fuel pumps: a significant divergence in pricing has taken root between Côte d’Ivoire and Bénin. Côte d’Ivoire: a producer’s disillusionment Following a […]
The April 25 coordinated assault across Mali was more than just another chapter in the country’s ongoing turmoil—it marked a critical turning point. Islamist armed factions and Tuareg separatists launched synchronized strikes on military outposts and vital civilian hubs, forcing Russian-backed Malian troops out of Kidal, a northern stronghold with deep historical significance for Tuareg […]
The Republic of Niger has recently taken delivery of a substantial consignment of 20,000 metric tons of fertilizer from the Russian Federation. This shipment, which arrived at the Port of Lomé before being transported inland by convoy, reflects the transitional authorities’ commitment to enhancing domestic agricultural output and ultimately achieving food self-sufficiency. A vital lifeline […]
The growing influence of Imam Mahmoud Dicko and Algeria in the Sahel Mali is grappling with a deepening security crisis, marked by a surge in deadly attacks that have claimed the lives of civilians and military personnel alike. According to reliable security sources, the situation remains perilous, with no signs of immediate resolution. Northern Mali […]
The francophone-Béninese activist Kemi Seba remains incarcerated in South Africa following a decisive court ruling on April 29. The South African judiciary denied his defense’s arguments, upholding his continued detention. The decision was influenced by the invalidity of a diplomatic passport and the presence of two international arrest warrants issued by Bénin. The case has […]
Russia’s evolving security role in Mali and the Sahel region The recent coordinated attacks by armed groups in Mali have cast a spotlight on the shifting dynamics of external security partnerships in the Sahel. As the Malian government faces intensified pressure from insurgent forces, the role of Russian security contingents—particularly those associated with the Africa […]
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 […]
Following a breathtaking 5-4 victory in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, Ousmane Dembélé expressed his satisfaction with the result while acknowledging areas for improvement. The match, which saw Paris-SG edge out Bayern Munich in a nine-goal thriller, has set the stage for an intense second leg in Germany. Speaking to the press […]
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 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 […]
Since Malian transitional authorities doubled down on a military partnership with Moscow to restore stability, the security landscape has only grown more volatile. On April 25th, a fragile balance of power shifted dramatically: while Russian-backed forces in Kidal engaged in urgent talks to secure their exit with rebel factions, fierce clashes reignited in Kati—a critical […]