Your go-to English source for news from Ouagadougou and Burkina Faso, updated daily.
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Mali’s Ministry of Health and Social Development officially took possession of 39 robust 4×4 all-terrain vehicles. This crucial acquisition aims to bolster the nation’s health infrastructure and expand access to vital health services, particularly vaccination efforts, across the country’s most vulnerable and hard-to-reach regions. The handover ceremony occurred at the […]
An unprecedented assault recently struck the heart of Niamey, raising serious questions about the national defense landscape. During the night of January 28 to 29, dozens of militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) launched a bold raid on the capital’s international airport and the adjacent Base 101. The attackers were seen […]
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has strongly urged the government of Burkina Faso to reverse its recent decision to dissolve political parties and ease restrictions on civil society space. In a press statement, Türk emphasized that suppressing political parties and detaining individuals for expressing dissent contradicts human rights principles. He […]
US shifts Sahel strategy to focus on trade and security This week’s visit to Mali by Nick Checker, head of the US State Department’s African Affairs Bureau, signals Washington’s renewed engagement in the Sahel. However, the visit underscores a strategic realignment rather than a traditional return. The new approach centers on three key pillars: a […]
During the night of January 28-29, the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey became a battlefield. This rare direct assault on the Nigerien capital was later claimed by the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) through its AMAQ propaganda outlet. The event underscores a significant shift in the region’s security landscape, often discussed in Faso […]
why the us is prioritizing security ties with Sahel juntas over democracy AFP via Getty Images The United States is recalibrating its approach toward three West African nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—that have recently pivoted away from traditional allies toward Russia. This strategic shift underscores Washington’s growing focus on counterterrorism and resource security in the […]
Tensions between the international community and the military administration in Niger, which established control in 2023, show no signs of easing. The head of the junta has expressed gratitude toward Russia for its tactical assistance during a recent strike on the airport in Niamey. Simultaneously, he explicitly accused the heads of state of France, Bénin, […]
Nigeria’s widening security crisis and forgotten humanitarian emergency Recent months have seen Nigeria thrust back into international headlines as escalating violence—spanning school kidnappings, entire village attacks, and worshippers snatched from churches and mosques alike—has intensified. The crisis reached a new geopolitical dimension when the United States launched Christmas Day airstrikes against jihadist positions in northern […]
Intense gunfire and explosions rock Niamey Residents of Niamey, the capital of Niger, were jolted awake by loud explosions and sustained gunfire in the early hours of Thursday. According to a Reuters journalist on the ground, the disturbances began nearly an hour prior and persisted until at least 00:12 GMT. A video circulating on X […]
Burkina Faso’s health budget commitment for 2026 sets a UEMOA benchmark Within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), one nation is distinguishing itself through a significant pledge to public health. For the upcoming 2026 fiscal year, Burkina Faso is poised to allocate an impressive 11% of its entire national budget to healthcare initiatives. […]
The United States continues to engage in security cooperation with the military-led governments of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), despite years of strained relations. This stance was confirmed by General John Brennan, Deputy Commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), who highlighted ongoing collaborative efforts against terrorism in the region. a pragmatic approach amid shifting […]
An appalling assault struck the village of Bosiye in western Niger on Sunday, leaving 31 civilians dead and four others fighting for their lives in critical condition. The attack, suspected to be carried out by armed militants, underscores the escalating violence plaguing the region. violence surges in Niger’s ‘three borders’ area The village of Bosiye, […]