The Latest Breaking News from ECOWAS

Niger soldiers oust president Bazoum’s government in late night coup

Country’s borders closed ’until the situation has stabilised’ and all institutions of republic suspended

The Independent UK · Jul 27, 2023

Explainer: Niger a linchpin for stability in Africa’s ‘coup belt’

President Mohamed Bazoum, arrested by soldiers who announced coup, is described as ‘west’s only hope’ in stabilising jihadist-plagued Sahel region

The Guardian - UK · Jul 27, 2023

Soldiers in Niger claim to have overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum

Group of soldiers appear on television to announce toppling of Bazoum’s government as US calls for president’s release.

Al Jazeera · Jul 26, 2023

More than 1,800 terror attacks recorded in West Africa thus far in 2023, ECOWAS says

West Africa recorded over 1,800 terrorist attacks in the first six months of the year resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths with dire humanitarian consequences, and a top regional official said Tuesday that’s just "a snippet of the horrendous impact of insecurity."

France 24 · Jul 26, 2023

Zimbabwean migrants: South Africa's anti-immigrant sentiments are hindering policy reform

The South African Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, recently lost a court case that anyone could have anticipated was unwinnable. He probably expected to lose it too. He lost it on humanitarian and technical grounds. It prevents him from terminating the South African government’s concession to refugees from neighbouring…

The Conversation · Jul 21, 2023

Bola Tinubu is the new chair of ECOWAS - the burning issues that face the Nigerian president

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 9 July 2023. He took over from President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau.

The Conversation · Jul 19, 2023

Nigeria's president Tinubu named as new chair of Ecowas

West African heads of states have chosen Nigeria's newly elected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lead the Ecowas regional bloc for the next year, replacing Guinea-Bissau's leader Umaro Sissoco Embalo.

Radio France Internationale · Jul 11, 2023

African countries agree major soil fertiliser deal to combat food crisis

Seventeen countries in West Africa and the Sahel have agreed a deal to make soil fertilisers more accessible and affordable. The region, heavily dependent on imports, is facing a major food crisis that has been exacerbated by climate change.

Radio France Internationale · Jun 1, 2023

West African countries show how decades of working together build peace, and stop wars breaking out

Africa is often portrayed as a continent ravaged by war, terrorism, poverty and political instability. But over the past five decades few violent conflicts have occurred between states. In Europe, for comparison, there have been more than 25 inter-state conflicts since 1945.

The Conversation · May 31, 2023

West Africa has a small weapons crisis – why some countries are better at dealing with it than others

Research has found that globally, small arms and light weapons increase the likelihood, intensity and longevity of conflict.

The Conversation · May 11, 2023