West Africa

Benin

Benin interior minister says coup attempt foiled by loyalist troops

Benin’s interior minister said a coup plot, announced by a group of soldiers on state-run television earlier on Sunday, has been foiled. Benin is the latest in a string of coups plotted across west Africa over the past few weeks.

7 December 2025

World News

French navy seizes almost 10 tonnes of cocaine off West Africa coast

The drugs were discovered on an unflagged fishing vessel in the Gulf of Guinea on Monday, a key transit route for drugs heading to Europe.

25 September 2025

World News

ICC urged to probe Russia's Wagner over West Africa atrocities push

Legal experts from UC Berkeley have argued to the International Criminal Court that the Wagner Group's alleged complicity in atrocities and its apparent weaponisation of social media could constitute war crimes.

23 June 2025

EuroVerify

Did Macron say that Africa still needs France in order to 'thrive'?

A false statement attributed to the French President has been circulating on social media.

6 June 2025

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso forces killed more than 130 civilians, HRW says

The massacre by government forces and pro-government militias led to reprisal killings by Islamist fighters, according to the NGO.

12 May 2025

Europe News

France's military forced out of Sahel region as it closes base in Chad

The handover of the last French military base in Chad and the Sahel marks a loss of influence for Paris and European interests in the region.

31 January 2025

Ivory Coast

Côte d'Ivoire announces withdrawal of French forces

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara's announcement is a further sign of former colonial power France's fading military influence in West Africa.

2 January 2025

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso junta expels 3 French diplomats over alleged 'subversion'

Several former colonies in West Africa have seen newly installed military regimes challenging and dismantling their remaining connections with France.

18 April 2024

Gabon

Mutinous soldiers in Gabon announce new military leader

Mutinous soldiers in Gabon announced on Wednesday that the head of the country’s elite republican guard would lead the Central African country, hours after saying they had placed the country’s newly re-elected president under house arrest.

30 August 2023

Destinations

See the hidden fortress cities in Niger’s Sahara desert

There have been no foreign tourists in this area since 2002.

6 June 2023

No Comment

Institut Français in Ouagadougou vandalised in Mali coup protests

Broken windows and doors, security guards' room set on fire, computer equipment burnt or looted, this is what the French Institute looked like after the protesters' attack during the demonstrations that followed the resignation and replacement of the junta's Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.

13 October 2022

Health news

UK patient dies as more cases of Lassa fever reported. But what is it?

Cases of the rat-borne virus detected in the UK have been linked to travel to west Africa and are being closely monitored.

11 February 2022

World News

European companies criticised over West African food security

“The fishmeal and fish oil industry, and all governments and companies supporting them, are basically robbing local populations of livelihoods and food," said Dr Ibrahimé Cissé, senior campaigner at Greenpeace Africa.

1 June 2021

Destinations

Sierra Leone is the hidden gem of African destinations

This forgotten paradise is home to West Africa’s best beaches.

28 April 2021

Guinea

Guinea facing 'epidemic situation' after seven confirmed Ebola cases

Health experts say these latest cases could be a major setback for the impoverished West African nation.

14 February 2021

Earth News

How to solve climate change, according to the Bijagós of Guinea-Bissau

For one community in West Africa, healing the planet is about a deep and ancient respect for nature.

11 January 2021