… Burkina Faso, like its junta-led neighbours Mali and Niger, has moved away from working with Western countries, especially France, in its fight against Islamist militants, which have waged a decade-long insurgency in the region. …
Burkina Faso must ‘forget' about democracy, military leader Traoré saysNamibia Minute.
Monday, 11 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Place
Niger
Also known as: Niger State
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- April 2026
ABIDJAN – The presidential term of Niger’s overthrown leader Mohamed Bazoum officially ends tomorrow, but he faces little prospect of freedom from detention or even a trial, making what comes next uncertain. …
Niger president’s fate unclear nearly three years on- March 2026
… As jihadist insurgencies continue to wreak havoc in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, observers have warned that without sustained political and economic engagement to address long-neglected rural areas, military-focused campaigns won’t be able to stem the violence on their own. …
Ghana, EU sign first accord to counter West Africa insecurityABIDJAN – Deep in the desert of Niger, scientists have unearthed an unknown species of dinosaur, a giant of its kind not seen in more than a century. …
Dinosaur-like bird discovered in Niger Desert- February 2026
… Namibia recorded the joint-second largest decline in 2025, with its three-point drop matching that of Mauritius and Niger. …
Namibia posts worst performance in corruption perceptions for 2025 as confidence in fighting corruption at all-time low… At least 10,000 people have been killed in the insurgency in Burkina Faso, which also engulfs neighbouring Mali and Niger. …
Her sons were killed by Islamist militants. She's among thousands who had to fleeJOS – Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu deployed an army battalion to a troubled state after gunmen killed as many as 162 people in one of the country’s deadliest attacks in recent months. …
Nigeria’s president deploys army after new massacreDozens of people have been killed in a ferocious shooting attack on two villages in Nigeria’s western state of Kwara, according to authorities and rights groups. …
Gunmen kill dozens in Nigeria as US military deployment confirmed… It adds that the US also looks forward to co-operating with Mali’s allies, neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, “on shared security and economic interests”. …
Three West African juntas have turned to Russia. Now the US wants to engage them- January 2026
ABUJA – The US military is increasing materiel deliveries and intelligence sharing with Nigeria, Africom’s deputy commander told AFP, as part of a broader American push to work with African militaries to go after Islamic State-linked militants. …
US military working with Nigeria
World & Region
Mali junta leader assumes defence minister role after predecessor killed
The News
Mali's military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has taken over as defence minister after the previous defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in a suicide truck bombing during coordinated attacks by jihadists and separatist rebels. Goïta's appointment consolidates civilian and defence leadership during a security crisis that has led to a partial blockade of major cities and withdrawal of Malian and allied forces from the northern city of Kidal.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 5 May
Mali junta leader assumes defence minister role after predecessor killed
Mali's military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has taken over as defence minister after the previous defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in a suicide truck bombing during coordinated attacks by jihadists and separatist rebels. Goïta's appointment consolidates civilian and defence leadership during a security crisis that has led to a partial blockade of major cities and withdrawal of Malian and allied forces from the northern city of Kidal.
5 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 30 April
Mali's military leader faces questions after rebel offensive in Bamako
Attackers aligned with separatist and al-Qaeda-linked groups staged coordinated assaults across Mali, entering the capital Bamako, assassinating the defence minister, and seizing northern territory including the city of Kidal. The offensive has raised doubts about the stability of the military government led by Col Assimi Goïta, who came to power in a coup in 2020.
30 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 28 April
Russian forces withdraw from Mali's Kidal after weekend separatist attacks
Russian forces have confirmed withdrawal from the northern Mali city of Kidal following coordinated weekend attacks by separatist and Islamist groups. The Azawad Liberation Front claimed control of the city and said the Russian troops agreed to a permanent withdrawal.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Gunmen kidnap 23 from Nigerian orphanage; 8 remain missing
Gunmen raided an unregistered orphanage in Nigeria's Kogi State and kidnapped 23 children; 15 were rescued through security agency response, but 8 remain missing and the facility's owner was also taken. The orphanage was operating illegally in a remote location, and authorities have urged institutions to comply with government oversight.
28 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 27 April
Mali's defence minister killed in suicide truck bombing
Mali's defence minister Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near Bamako as part of a wave of coordinated attacks by jihadist militants and separatists across the country. The attack, launched by militants affiliated with al-Qaeda, also killed at least three of Camara's family members, and the head of the military junta was moved to a safe location after his home was targeted.
27 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Mali defence minister killed in suicide truck bombing
Mali's defence minister Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near Bamako, part of a wave of coordinated attacks by jihadist militants and separatists across the country. The attack, claimed by al-Qaeda-affiliated militants, also killed at least three of Camara's family members.
27 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 15 April
African health worker migration rooted in colonial power structures
A health education researcher argues that the migration of healthcare workers from poorer to wealthier countries is not simply driven by individual choice, but is shaped by colonial legacies and global inequality. Solutions require African governments to invest in local retention and working conditions, while high-income countries must reduce reliance on international recruitment and reform global knowledge hierarchies that devalue non-Western expertise.
15 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 10 April
Armed attack kills 50 in Nigeria village, toll revised upward
Armed men killed 50 people in a village in Niger state in northwestern Nigeria on Tuesday, according to humanitarian sources, in a much higher toll than previously reported. The attackers struck Erena village in the Shiroro local government area, a region experiencing a surge in insecurity linked to jihadist groups and criminal gangs.
10 April 2026 · New Era →
Tuesday 7 April
Jihadists kill four Nigerian police officers in station raid
Militants suspected to be Boko Haram/ISWAP attacked a police station in northeastern Nigeria on Saturday, killing four officers, and also targeted a camp for displaced persons. The attacks are part of a surge in jihadist violence in Borno state, with Boko Haram and ISWAP intensifying operations against military, police and civilian targets.
7 April 2026 · New Era →
Sunday 5 April
Senegal restricts minister travel as oil prices surge
Senegal's prime minister has banned government ministers from non-essential foreign travel due to rising oil prices stemming from the Iran conflict, with the cost of a barrel approaching double the budgeted amount. The move reflects a broader continental response to oil price rises, with other African countries reducing fuel levies, rationing electricity, and implementing other cost-cutting measures.
5 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 3 April
Burkina Faso military leader rejects democracy, extends autocratic rule
Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in a 2021 coup, declared that democracy "kills" and said Burkina Faso must abandon it in favour of an unspecified alternative approach. The junta leader, who broke a pledge to restore elections by July 2024, has dissolved political parties, suppressed dissent, and extended his rule for five additional years.
3 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 1 April
Niger's deposed president held in limbo after three years
Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's democratically elected president ousted by a military coup in July 2023, remains detained in the presidential palace with an uncertain legal status as his official term ends. His lawyers argue he should retain rights, while the junta claims authority under a new military charter, leaving little prospect of his release or trial despite international demands.
1 April 2026 · New Era →
Thursday 26 March
Ghana and EU sign inaugural defence partnership against jihadist violence
Ghana and the European Union signed their first formal defence partnership agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism, intelligence sharing and crisis response, as coastal West African nations seek to prevent spillover of violence from the Sahel region. The deal includes a 50 million euro support package with communication systems, boats, drones and other equipment to bolster Ghana's security capacity.
26 March 2026 · New Era →
Thursday 5 March
New dinosaur species discovered deep in Niger Desert
Scientists have unearthed fossils of Spinosaurus mirabilis, a previously unknown species of massive predatory dinosaur that roamed Africa around 95 million years ago. The discovery in the Sahara Desert, made after a Tuareg guide led researchers to a remote site, yielded a six-foot-long femur, skull fragments, and distinctive crests, with researchers describing it as a landmark discovery.
5 March 2026 · New Era →
Sunday 15 February
Namibia's corruption perceptions hit worst level since 2012 index
Namibia recorded its worst corruption perceptions index score on record in 2025 at 46/100, dropping three points and falling six places globally to 65th. An Afrobarometer survey conducted in 2024 found that over half of Namibians believe corruption has increased significantly, and confidence in government anti-corruption efforts is at its lowest level since 1999.
15 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 12 February
Thousands flee Sahel jihadist violence for Ivory Coast camps
Insurgencies in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have killed over 10,000 people and displaced more than 3 million across the Sahel region. Ivory Coast has sheltered over 80,000 refugees from Burkina Faso alone, though camps designed for 6,000 now hold around 13,000 people and resources are under severe strain.
12 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 6 February
Nigeria's president deploys troops after deadly village attack
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deployed an army battalion to Kwara State after gunmen killed as many as 162 people in an attack on Woro village, which the state government blamed on "terrorist cells" and the president attributed to Boko Haram jihadists.
6 February 2026 · New Era →
Thursday 5 February
Dozens killed in Nigeria village attacks; US troops confirmed
Gunmen attacked two villages in Nigeria's Kwara state, killing dozens according to authorities and rights groups, with death tolls ranging from 35 to over 170 as reported by different sources. The attacks coincide with Nigeria's defence minister confirming a small team of US troops is in the country for intelligence support and training.
5 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 2 February
US shifts policy toward West African juntas aligned with Russia
The Trump administration is signalling a new approach to Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—military-run states that have expelled France and turned to Russia for defence support. The US is prioritizing security cooperation and counter-terrorism over previous concerns about democracy and human rights, and aims to balance Russian influence in the region through intelligence and weapons support.
2 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 27 January
US military deepens cooperation with Nigeria against extremists
The US military is increasing materiel deliveries and intelligence sharing with Nigeria to counter Islamic State-linked militants, according to Africom's deputy commander, as part of broader American efforts to work with African militaries. The cooperation includes recent joint strikes and focus on intelligence support for Nigerian operations in the northwest and northeast, though analysts question whether air support alone can address armed groups rooted in poverty and state collapse.
27 January 2026 · New Era →
Nigerian military officers charged over alleged coup plot
Sixteen Nigerian military officers arrested last October on suspicion of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu will face trial before a military court, the armed forces have confirmed. The charges come amid West African instability and heightened regional vigilance over coup attempts, though Nigeria has maintained unbroken civilian rule since 1999.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Sunday 25 January
Berkane, Pyramids draw in CAF Champions League clash
Renaissance Berkane of Morocco and Pyramids of Egypt played to a 0-0 draw in a CAF Champions League Group A match on Saturday. The result left both sides level on seven points, with Berkane holding the edge on goals scored, and set up a return fixture in Cairo on February 1.
25 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Thursday 22 January
Nigeria police admit dozens abducted from churches
Nigerian police reversed course Tuesday, acknowledging that gunmen had abducted over 100 people from multiple churches in Kaduna state during Sunday mass, after initially denying any kidnapping occurred. The admission came after pressure from Christian leaders and a UN security report, with police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin citing earlier remarks as a "measured response" pending confirmation.
22 January 2026 · New Era →
120 riders gather for annual Ubuntu Breakfast Run
Over 120 motorcycle riders from clubs across Namibia will ride to Karibib on Sunday for the Ubuntu Breakfast Run, an annual event aimed at uniting African bikers in the spirit of Ubuntu—emphasizing compassion, humanity, and shared journey regardless of age, race, or motorcycle type. Riders from multiple African countries and Namibia converge at a central guesthouse where activities take place.
22 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Monday 19 January
YouTuber IShowSpeed tours 20 African nations with livestreamed content
Popular content creator Darren Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed and boasting 48 million YouTube subscribers, is undertaking a "Speed Does Africa" tour across 20 African countries over 28 days, livestreaming his interactions with fans, local culture, sports, and daily life. The high-energy tour has attracted large crowds of young fans, though some critics on social media have dismissed it as a superficial spectacle that primarily benefits the entertainer himself.
19 January 2026 · The Namibian →