The Latest Breaking News from West Africa

‘Ghana is hard,’ they say. But the people of Accra are harder

Still critical today to life, freedom, justice and equality are the stories of everyday people like the people of Accra, whose stories of daily life in West Africa deserve to be told.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jul 8, 2022

Why Ghana has returned to the IMF

Hundreds took to the streets of Ghana's capital Accra last week to protest over its deteriorating economy. Days later, the government of one of West Africa's most prosperous nations announced it would begin formal talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for support.

Reuters · Jul 7, 2022

West African bloc eases sanctions on Mali over democracy plan

Presidents of West Africa’s regional bloc agreed Sunday to lift economic and financial sanctions on Mali after the nation’s military leaders agreed to a return to democracy by 2024.

Tribune News Service · Jul 4, 2022

How climate change, overfishing and COVID drove irregular migration from West Africa

Throughout 2020, 23,023 irregular immigrants arrived on the coast of the Canary Islands, 757% more than the previous year. In 2021 the figure fell slightly to 22,316 people but it is still much higher than previous years.

The Conversation · Jun 16, 2022

Eighteenth-century cockroach found in slave-trading ship ledger

Insect’s journey probably began in West Africa on vessel that sailed from La Rochelle in 1743 to Guinea

The Guardian - UK · Jun 15, 2022

France announces capture of senior Islamic State figure in Mali

France announced on Wednesday that soldiers from its operation battling Islamist militants in the Sahel region of West Africa had captured Oumeya Ould Albakaye, a senior Islamic State figure in Mali.

Reuters · Jun 15, 2022

We attached tracking devices to West Africa's green turtles. This is what we learnt

Sea turtles have been swimming the world’s oceans and nesting on its beaches for over 120 million years. They even survived mass extinction events, including the one that saw the end of the large dinosaurs.

The Conversation · Jun 13, 2022

Seeing more West African foods in grocery stores? Thank co-founders of AYO Foods for the shift

CHICAGO -- The frozen meals that AYO Foods creates and markets sit next to P.F. Chang’s food in Target’s freezer section.

Chicago Tribune · Jun 13, 2022

In Burkina Faso, Local Militias Take Lead In Anti-Terror Fight

The ongoing insurgency that has raged across much of Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, has brought misery and suffering to the nation of 21 million.

Zenger · Jun 9, 2022

Ecowas maintains sanctions on Mali, calls for transition in Burkina Faso, Guinea

West African leaders meeting in Accra have decided to uphold sanctions against Mali, along with the suspension of Burkina Faso and Guinea from the bloc. The measures could be lifted if the military rulers in all three countries speed up plans for a return to civilian rule.

Radio France Internationale · Jun 6, 2022