insert_link Africa African diplomats in Senegal for crisis talks The West African regional bloc, Ecowas, has sent a diplomatic mission to Senegal to discuss the postponement of its presidential elections. According to the BBC, the delegation will meet local officials and politicians. Senegal's President Macky Sall decided to push back the polls earlier this month. The opposition described the move as a constitutional coup. todayFebruary 13, 2024 7
insert_link Business / Economics Price of chocolate expected to increase due to El Nino U.S. chocolate makers are warning that record-high cocoa prices will push up the price of their products. It comes as the El Nino weather patterns are impacting cocoa yields in West Africa. Caroline Malone reports. todayFebruary 12, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Nigeria criticises ECOWAS exit Nigeria has accused military authorities in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso for letting their people down with their joint decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States. Ajeck Mangut reports. todayFebruary 1, 2024 21
insert_link Health / Medical Kush: what is this dangerous new west African drug that supposedly contains human bones? DeanP/Shutterstock Michael Cole, Anglia Ruskin University A new drug called kush is wreaking havoc in west Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone where it is estimated to kill around a dozen people each week and hospitalise thousands. The drug, taken mostly by men aged 18 to 25, causes people to fall asleep while walking, to fall over, to bang their heads against hard surfaces and to walk into moving traffic. Kush […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 18
insert_link Uncategorized Africa’s 10 ‘most open’ countries for travel By Conrad Onyango, via bird story agency In the past eight years, 35 countries have improved their visa policies and, since 2016, five countries have abolished all visa requirements for African travellers. As a result, citizens of at least five countries can now enjoy visa-free travel in 42 different countries, compared to just three in 2020. According to the Africa Development Bank's Africa Visa Openness Report 2023, most countries […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 3
insert_link Africa Guinea’s ruling junta orders investigation into former President Guinea's ruling junta has ordered an investigation into the country's former president, Alpha Conde for alleged acts of treason. It comes two years after the former president was ousted from power in a military coup. Nabil Ahmed Rufai reports. todayNovember 22, 2023 14
insert_link World Development aid cuts will hit fragile countries hard, could fuel violent conflict Patricia Justino, United Nations University and Laura Saavedra-Lux, United Nations University Fragile and least developed countries have had their development assistance cut drastically, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. For instance, net official development assistance to sub-Saharan African countries has shrunk by 7.8% compared to 2021. And development aid for peace and conflict prevention has declined to its lowest in 15 years. These cuts will hit fragile […] todayNovember 17, 2023 9
insert_link Africa West Africa’s plastic waste could be fueling the economy instead of polluting the ocean: experts A beach littered with plastic and other waste in the fishing village of Kayar, north of Dakar, Senegal. Bara Deme, Author provided Elhadj Bara Dème, University of Portsmouth and Pierre Failler, University of Portsmouth Plastic pollution is an urgent environmental issue, globally. Every year, about eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans. Most of the 17 west African countries have a problem managing plastic waste. Eight of […] todayNovember 15, 2023 6
