The Latest Breaking News from Sahel

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have a new defence alliance: an expert view of its chances of success

On 16 September 2023 in Bamako, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger established the Alliance of Sahel States, a mutual defence pact. The agreement was signed against the backdrop of an ongoing political crisis in Niger following a coup on 26 July 2023. The regional bloc, the Economic Community of West…

The Conversation · Oct 19, 2023

US cuts Niger aid by more than $500 million as France starts troop pullout

France has begun withdrawing troops from Niger after being ordered out by coup leaders as the United States on Tuesday cut off more than $500 million in assistance to the insurgency-hit Sahel nation.

France 24 · Oct 10, 2023

French troops start leaving Niger after coup leaders order them out

The French soldiers stationed in the Sahel country started to leave Tuesday, as requested by the junta in power in Niamey.

Radio France Internationale · Oct 10, 2023

Allies of Niger’s deposed president see hope in French retreat

Advisers of detained Mohamed Bazoum say French withdrawal removes coup leaders’ pretext for power grab

The Guardian - UK · Sep 26, 2023

France to withdraw ambassador, troops from Niger after coup: Macron

The military rulers had been demanding the exit of envoy and troops after Macron refused to recognise the July coup.

Al Jazeera · Sep 24, 2023

'We'll take a strong stance on any forced displacement': EU's Borrell on Nagorno-Karabakh

Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign and security policy, speaks to Talking Europe from New York, where he is attending the annual United Nations General Assembly. We discuss the big issues facing the EU in the world: Ukrainian grain exports and food security; the conflict between Azerbaijan and…

France 24 · Sep 22, 2023

Africa’s coup epidemic: Has democracy failed the continent?

The support for military takeovers is growing across Africa, and civilian governments are to blame, say analysts.

Al Jazeera · Sep 22, 2023

Niger, sixth in West Africa’s long list of coups

July’s coup in Niger took observers by surprise, though it was West Africa’s sixth coup in the past three years. Do these military takeovers share common causes and Anne-Cécile Robert with Le Monde Diplomatique asks.

Radio France Internationale · Sep 18, 2023

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso establish Sahel security alliance

The Sahel nations sign pact that will allow them to cooperate against threats of armed rebellion or external aggression.

Al Jazeera · Sep 16, 2023

Europe failed to bolster democracy in Sahel, EU's top diplomat says

The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Tuesday that 600 million euros spent training security personnel in the Sahel had "failed to bolster democracy". His comments follow recent coups in both Niger and Gabon.

Radio France Internationale · Sep 13, 2023