West Africa

Major Iron Ore Project Simandou Moves Forward with Infrastructure Plans Nestled in the south-eastern quadrant of Guinea lies the colossal Simandou iron ore deposit. This venture’s champions recently made a pact to forge the infrastructure needed to ferry the ore to market. The grand aim? To commence production by 2025. Here's the scoop on this ambitious endeavor. The Simandou project is touted as one of the largest untapped iron ore deposits on the planet. With this resource, Guinea stands on the threshold of substantial…

The Indomitable Advocate: Sékou Jamal Pendessa's Battle for Press Freedom in Guinea In Guinea, journalists face unprecedented persecution since the CNRD junta seized power. Media outlets shuttered, radios twisted, information sites and social media becoming impenetrable are only a few of the hurdles confronting Sékou Jamal Pendessa, General Secretary of the Union of Press Professionals of Guinea (SPPG). This union stalwart has led countless offensives against assaults on press freedom, a fight that has repeatedly landed…

Sickening Tape Evidence of Soldiers Engaging in Cannibalism in Mali and Burkina Faso Newly surfaced videos depicting soldiers partaking in cannibalism in Mali and Burkina Faso have been making rounds on social networks for the past several days. The first clip, which aired on July 16, created a significant uproar in Mali. This was promptly followed by another video at the end of the week, introducing additional distressing footage. Over the past weekend, several similar videos have emerged, this time showcasing Burkinabe…

<h1>Guinea Faces Political Tensions Amidst Activist Kidnappings</h1> <img src="https://s.rfi.fr/media/display/f619236c-5e85-11ee-8983-005056bf30b7/w:1024/p:16x9/Ousmane%20Gaoual%20Diallo-2.jpg" alt="Ousmane Gaoual Diallo"/> <p>Political unrest persists in Guinea following the recent abductions of prominent FNDC leaders. Foniké Menguè and Billo Bah, known figures in the anti-government FNDC movement, were taken under mysterious circumstances, causing widespread concern among supporters and political…

Aliko Dangote's Refinery Dream Threatened by Oil Sector Tensions in Nigeria In Nigeria, the conflict brewing between billionaire Aliko Dangote and the oil sector powers could further destabilize the nation's economy and global standing, pundits suggest. Dangote, who pumped $20 billion into constructing a colossal refinery aiming for fuel autonomy across West Africa, faces hurdles in securing local crude oil. Recently, the magnate has heightened his allegations, pointing fingers at oil industry players who he believes,…

Militant Assault Shakes Northern Togo Border Region An assault rattled the calm of northern Togo this past weekend. The incident unfolded near the frontier with Burkina Faso, with the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) stepping forward to take responsibility. The targeted site was a position held by the Togolese defense and security forces. Togolese authorities have remained silent, choosing not to release any statement up until now. Meanwhile, Niger has reached out through a press release, sharing its heartfelt…

Mali’s Military Seizes Inafarak on Border Proximate to Algeria In Mali, a significant announcement has emerged from the military front. On Monday, July 22, they asserted dominion over the town of Inafarak, which lies a mere ten kilometers away from the Algerian border, hugging the edge of the Kidal region. This strategic move delivers a substantial setback to the rebels in the CSP-DPA (Strategic Framework for the Defense of the People of Azawad). This area has long been a hotbed of tension, with factions clashing for…

French Complaint Filed Against Guinean Junta Head for Enforced Disappearance Families of Foniké Menguè and Mamadou Billo Bah have lodged accusations in France against Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, the head honcho of Guinea's junta, over forced disappearance. "Enforced disappearance claims against Doumbouya were put forth on July 22, 2024," states their lawyer. Menguè and Bah, prominent figures in the citizen movement National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), were nabbed on July 9 and vanished into thin air…

The Olympic Storm in Niger: Controversial Athlete Selections With the Olympic Games on the horizon, countries worldwide are disclosing their chosen athletes. As usual, this process often stirs debate when selection criteria appear to be overlooked. In Niger, the scenario isn’t much different. For the 50m freestyle swimming event, Niger nominated Salima Youssoufou to compete in the women’s category and Marouane Mamane to represent the men. This latter choice sparked significant discontent in one prominent figure, Mokhtar…

Rise in Abductions Under Sahel Military Regimes In the Sahel region, where military juntas hold power, a disturbing trend is emerging: the mysterious disappearances of dissidents. Human rights activists, trade unionists, religious figures, journalists, and soldiers vanish without a trace, caught outside any semblance of legal processes. Take Lieutenant Colonel Yves Didier Bamouni from Burkina Faso, for instance. "He's been missing since July 13," notes Jeune Afrique. Armed, masked men reportedly apprehended him…