… Madagascar, Malawi, Togo, Benin, South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic and Niger reported less than 0.5 doctors, nurses and midwives per 1 000 people in 2018. …
KANO – Armed men killed 50 people in a village in Niger state in northwestern Nigeria earlier this week, humanitarian sources said yesterday, in a much higher toll than previously reported. …
… Another group of jihadists targeted a security post at the entrance of a camp hosting internally displaced persons in Damasak, near the border with Niger. …
… 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. …
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. …
… 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. …
ABIDJAN – 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. …
From 1 August, Namibians seeking US visas must travel to Johannesburg or Cape Town for interviews and processing, rather than applying at the US Embassy in Windhoek. The move is part of a US State Department restructuring reducing the number of African embassies and consulates authorised to process visas from almost 50 to 20 'hubs', framed as part of an immigration crackdown.
From 1 August, Namibians seeking US visas must travel to Johannesburg or Cape Town for interviews and processing, rather than applying at the US Embassy in Windhoek. The move is part of a US State Department restructuring reducing the number of African embassies and consulates authorised to process visas from almost 50 to 20 'hubs', framed as part of an immigration crackdown.
A new mural created by Sister Namibia and ENK Public Art was unveiled on Nelson Mandela Avenue during Pride Month, referencing the Namibian national anthem with the message "hold high the banner of liberty" and featuring rainbow flags and colourful figures. The project aims to send a message of visibility and inclusion to the queer community in Namibia.
At least 49 people died of thirst in a remote part of the Sahara Desert in northern Niger after the truck carrying them broke down, according to authorities.
Madagascar's top court rejected an opposition lawmaker's attempt to remove military ruler Michael Randrianirina, ruling that the challenge did not meet constitutional requirements for removing a head of state. Randrianirina took power in October after his predecessor fled amid youth-led protests over lack of water and energy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.