insert_link Africa Human rights in Niger ‘in free fall’ since coup: NGOs Human rights in Niger are "in free fall" on the eve of the one-year anniversary of a coup that saw the military seize power, three international NGOs said Thursday. General Abdourahamane Tiani, heading the military regime, seized power on July 26 last year, after deposing elected president Mohamed Bazoum over allegations of failing to protect the West African nation from jihadist attacks. "The military authorities in […] today25 July, 2024
insert_link Africa France demands ‘unconditional release’ of Niger president France on Tuesday called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Niger's ousted president Mohamed Bazoum, almost a year after he was overthrown in a coup. Bazoum has "been held prisoner for a year in scandalous conditions", foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said. "We have always condemned this detention, we still strongly condemn it and continue to call for his immediate and unconditional release," he told reporters […] today23 July, 2024
insert_link Africa West Africa is changing: five essential reads on breakaways from Ecowas By Adejuwon Soyinka, The Conversation The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been in the news lately – mostly for the wrong reasons. The bloc is facing its biggest crisis since it was formed in 1975. Three of its 15 countries – Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali – have broken away and formed an alternative grouping, the Alliance of Sahel States. While […] today10 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Senegal’s president urges dialogue with Sahel military juntas Senegalese President and West Africa's ECOWAS "facilitator" Bassirou Diomaye Faye called Monday for dialogue and peaceful reconciliation with three countries that recently split from the bloc. The military leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso broke away from the Economic Community of West African States earlier this year and formed a confederation of their own on Saturday. ECOWAS heads of state met in Abuja on Sunday […] today8 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Niger’s Junta Agrees to Talks with Benin to Restore Relations Post-Coup Niger's junta has agreed to discussions with Benin's government, facilitated by former Benin presidents Thomas Boni Yayi and Nicephore Soglo, to restore relations following last year's coup. The coup had led to the closure of the border and the shutdown of a China-backed oil pipeline. This decision came after a meeting between Niger's military leader General Abdourahamane Tiani and the former presidents on June 24, as announced by Niger's government […] today4 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Armed Group Disables Section of Niger’s PetroChina-Funded Oil Pipeline An armed group opposed to Niger's ruling junta disabled a section of the PetroChina-funded crude oil pipeline in an attack on Sunday night, according to Reuters reports. The pipeline, with a capacity of 90,000 barrels per day and extending nearly 2,000 km from Niger's Agadem oilfield to Benin's coast, is intended for exports under a $400 million deal with China National Petroleum Corp, Reuters reports. today19 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Niger scraps immunity of deposed president Bazoum Niger's top court on Friday lifted the immunity of president Mohamed Bazoum, paving the way for a possible trial after his ouster in a July 2023 military coup. "The court orders the lifting of Mohamed Bazoum's immunity," said Abdou Dan Galadima, president of the court, created in November by the new military regime. The Niger authorities accuse Bazoum of treason, financing terrorism and plotting to […] today14 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Displaced by violent conflict: the world’s most neglected crises are in Africa – six essential reads By Kagure Gacheche, The Conversation The Norwegian Refugee Council recently released a report highlighting the 10 most neglected displacement crises in the world in 2023. Nine of the 10 countries are in Africa – the only non-African country on the list is Honduras in central America. Neglect, according to the council, is characterised by a lack of media coverage, inadequate humanitarian funding and insufficient […] today10 June, 2024
insert_link Africa Benin arrests five Nigeriens in escalating diplomatic standoff Benin authorities have arrested five Nigeriens at a port where Niger loads oil for export, sharply escalating a growing diplomatic dispute between the two West African nations. Five Nigerien nationals were arrested at the port of Seme-Kpodji on Wednesday evening after "entering the site without disclosing their identity", according to a statement from Elonm Mario Metonou, the special prosecutor at CRIET, Benin's court for financial crimes […] today7 June, 2024
