Sahel

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Nigeria’s Conflict Goes Global With Washington Entering the Fight$

The United States’ Christmas Day airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria mark a rare but consequential shift in the internationalization of Nigeria’s long-running security crisis. While the Nigerian military has conducts on the regular basis aerial bombardments against...

Sahel: Violence in Northern Mali Drives New Wave of Displacement Into Mauritania$

More than 3,300 people have fled northern Mali over the past month, crossing into Mauritania to escape escalating violence and severe disruptions to daily life. The displacement highlights the continued deterioration of security conditions in Mali’s northern regions...

Mauritania Arrests Anti‑Corruption Figure Mohamed Ould Gadda$

Mauritanian authorities have arrested former senator Mohamed Ould Gadda, now heading the anti‑corruption NGO “Transparence Totale,” in a move that has drawn criticism from parliamentarians and opposition figures over due‑process guarantees and the treatment of...

Sahel: French Special Forces Accused of Direct Role in Benin Coup Response$

A recent account by the head of Benin’s Republican Guard alleged that France played a role in an attempted coup in Benin, triggering a legal and political debate in Paris. In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), Colonel Dieudonné Djimon Tévoédjrè...

Niger Moves Uranium From SOMAÏR Mine Despite Arbitration Ruling$

Niger’s decision to move uranium from a disputed mine in the country’s north is deepening its confrontation with French nuclear group Orano and raising fresh questions about security and safety in the Sahel’s conflict‑affected transport corridors. Disputed shipment...

Benin Soldiers Mount Brief Coup Attempt$

Benin’s government says it has put down a brief but serious military uprising after soldiers appeared on state television on December 7 claiming to remove President Patrice Talon from power and suspend the constitution. The confrontation lasted only a few hours before...

West Africa: Despite Record Oil Production, Senegal Faces Fuel Price PressureF

In Senegal, drivers are feeling the pinch as fuel prices soar to the highest levels in the entire WAEMU region—even though the country pumped out 16 million barrels of oil in 2024. Government officials say relief is coming, thanks to plans to process oil locally and tap into natural gas reserves. But with living costs climbing and no visible change in sight, talk of strikes is starting to surface.

The EU’s Silent Partner: Mauritania’s Migration Deal Under ScrutinyF

Mauritania is getting €210 million in EU funding to act as a migration gatekeeper to fortress Europe. but there are growing reports of human rights abuses, deportations, and corruption raising concerns about the costs of this strategy.

Mauritania and Senegal Launch LNG Exports with First Cargo from Grand Tortue Ahmeyim ProjectF

The first shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, located offshore between Mauritania and Senegal, has been successfully loaded for export, marking a key milestone for both countries as they join the ranks of LNG-exporting nations.

West Africa: ECOWAS in turmoilF

West Africa’s economic grouping, ECOWAS, faces a new crisis as former chairman and Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo refuses to step down despite his mandate ending on February 27, 2025. Embalo, who once criticized Sahelian coup leaders on behalf of ECOWAS, now defies the organization, even expelling its mediation delegation.