West Africa

Six years after Cyclone Idai tore through central Mozambique, the port city of Beira still carries the imprint of that storm in both brick and belief. Cyclone Idai in 2019 killed more than 500 people in Mozambique and left thousands more homeless; in the past decade alone, 10 cyclones have claimed more than a thousand lives across the country. For many residents, the memory of Idai is not only a ledger of loss but a constant lens through which the next weather warning is viewed. Reporting by Sean Christie for the Bhekisisa…

Human Rights Watch Calls for Protection of Civilians Amid Rising Violence in Burkina Faso Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a strong plea to all parties entangled in the conflict in Burkina Faso, urging them to adhere to international law, specifically the Geneva Conventions. These conventions prohibit summary executions, attacks on civilians, and sexual violence. This appeal comes on the heels of harrowing reports indicating that militants have killed at least 38 civilians, abducted nine women, and destroyed property in…

West African shipping companies are revising routes and business plans as the escalating crisis in the Middle East disrupts global maritime corridors, industry officials and analysts say. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz and heightened insecurity in the Red Sea and Suez Canal have pushed up operational costs — most notably insurance premiums — and prompted firms to consider rerouting, suspending services or passing fees on to importers and exporters. Boma Alabi, chairperson of the Shipping Association of Nigeria, said…

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s opposition-aligned Somali Future Council on Wednesday condemned what it described as the use of force against Bajaj drivers protesting soaring fuel prices in the capital, as well as the arrest of some drivers and journalists covering the demonstration. In a statement, the council said the drivers had been peacefully expressing grievances over sharp increases in fuel costs and should not have faced intimidation or detention. “It is unacceptable that young people who are creating jobs and contributing to…

Farmaajo condemns arrests of Bajaj drivers as Mogadishu fuel price spike sparks protests Thursday March 12, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — Former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Wednesday condemned the arrest and alleged mistreatment of Bajaj drivers who staged protests in Mogadishu over soaring fuel prices and rising living costs. In a statement, Farmaajo criticized authorities for detaining drivers he said were demonstrating peacefully to express concerns about inflation and worsening economic conditions. He urged…

Senegal Doubles Prison Sentence for Same-Sex Relations Amid Growing Anti-LGBTQI+ Sentiment The Senegalese parliament has approved a controversial bill that significantly increases the maximum prison sentence for same-sex relations, doubling it to a decade. This government-backed legislation passed with overwhelming support, tallying 135 votes in favor and three abstentions, marking a shift in the country's legal stance on LGBTQI+ rights. The new law, a pivotal campaign promise from President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and…

Thursday March 12, 2026 HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia (AX) — Israel is weighing the establishment of a strategic base in North Western State of Somalia to help counter Yemen’s Houthi movement, according to a Bloomberg report published Wednesday that cites unnamed North Western State of Somalia officials and people familiar with the talks. The exploratory assessments have focused on sites along North Western State of Somalia’s northern coastline, including elevated terrain west of the port city of Berbera — about…

SHALANBOOD, Somalia — The sand moves like a tide here, swallowing lanes, schools and low-slung homes on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Among the dunes, hundreds of farming families who fled Lower Shabelle’s contested villages are piecing together life in makeshift shelters, rationing water by the cup as fighting and failed rains erase the certainty of the past. Families from Mushani, Garilow and Barire streamed into the outskirts of Shalanbood in November after government forces and African Union troops clashed with Al-Shabab…

Egypt, Turkey step up African security coordination in Cairo talks on Libya, Horn of Africa and Sahel CAIRO — Egypt and Turkey held new diplomatic consultations in Cairo on Wednesday focused on instability in Libya, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, deepening their coordination on regional security and political mediation amid mounting pressures across several African theaters. The meetings, organized by Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, marked the third round of…

DJIBOUTI — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Djibouti on Wednesday for talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, a visit framed by rising tensions across the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East and coming as the United States warns of heightened security risks in the region. Villa Somalia said the trip reflects the longstanding ties between the two neighbors and a shared vision for regional cooperation, solidarity and stability. The two leaders are expected to hold discussions aimed at reinforcing…