West Africa

Access to safe water is transformative for communities, enhancing health, boosting agricultural productivity, and providing women and girls with the precious time needed to focus on education, careers, and leadership roles. This year, World Water Day emphasizes this critical connection with the theme, "Where water flows, equality grows," drawing attention to the essential relationship between water security and gender equality. More on the AfDB AllAfrica page.

As Nigeria gears up for the crucial 2027 presidential election, the political landscape is becoming increasingly dynamic, with key figures emerging to challenge the incumbent, President Bola Tinubu. Among these potential contenders is Dr. Gbenga Hashim, a businessman and activist whose profile is rising sharply. In a recent article for AllAfrica, Chief Paschal Mbawuike lauds Hashim as "the best new hope" for Nigeria’s leadership. Mbawuike acknowledges that while Hashim may not yet wield the same political power as the…

Emmet RyanTuesday March 24, 2026 Nadia Adan helms a business with two garages, more than 500,000 followers on social media and €9m in revenue Nadia Adan says selling a car on the basis of a TikTok video convinced her to set up a dealership. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw When Nadia Adan sits in a spotless Co Wicklow showroom next to a Ferrari 488 GTB, it’s a scene that underlines just how far she has come since arriving in Ireland almost three decades ago. Adan, founder and owner of Ashford Motors, came to Ireland…

Tuesday March 24, 2026 Somalia’s federal authorities have thrown South West State’s leadership into fresh uncertainty, declaring late Sunday that the president and his administration have reached the end of their mandate as a bitter standoff with Baidoa deepens. In a statement, the Interior Ministry said the central government will no longer recognise any appointments or dismissals issued by the current South West State administration. It said local administrations in South West State will continue their duties until new…

In a significant diplomatic move, President Joseph Boakai has reached out to French President Emmanuel Macron for assistance in addressing Liberia's escalating border conflict with Guinea. This appeal follows allegations that Guinean customs officials have been operating within Liberian territory. As reported by the local newspaper FrontPage Africa, Boakai aims to draw upon France's longstanding connections with Guinea to help ease tensions. Earlier initiatives to resolve the dispute included a summit in Conakry, where…

In response to ongoing global fuel shortages, the South African government is engaging in discussions with Nigeria to establish a 12-month fuel agreement. This move reflects the urgency among African nations to secure necessary supplies. Meanwhile, the National Taxi Council has issued a warning that taxi fares could increase if the escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to drive fuel prices higher within South Africa.

The Nigerian police have apprehended 15 individuals in connection with allegations of rape and sexual assault that emerged during the Alue-Do festival in Ozoro, Delta State. This investigative action comes in the wake of shocking footage that surfaced online, depicting women being chased, stripped, and assaulted in public spaces, igniting a wave of outrage on social media. The hashtag #StopRapingWomen swiftly gained traction, amplifying demands for accountability concerning gender-based violence. Authorities have refuted…

Tuesday March 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A coalition of 136 lawmakers from both chambers of Somalia’s Federal Parliament has thrown its weight behind Southwest State’s move to press ahead with elections and establish an electoral commission, setting up a fresh flashpoint in the widening dispute between regional leaders and Mogadishu. In a joint statement issued Monday, the MPs said Southwest’s election process should move forward transparently and inclusively, and must be conducted in line with the state constitution as well…

Tuesday March 24, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) — A dispute over who can move where has erupted into a fresh flashpoint in Somalia’s broader political standoff, as former National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe urged federal authorities on Monday to stop blocking lawmakers and politicians from traveling to Baidoa. Sanbaloolshe called on the government to lift restrictions affecting federal lawmakers, naming MP Murjaan and his delegation among those reportedly prevented from flying…

Monday March 23, 2026 Baidoa (AX) — A sharp new dispute between Somalia’s federal government and Southwest State is spilling into the security arena, with regional authorities warning that fresh troop deployments could ignite wider conflict and compound an already precarious humanitarian situation. In a statement released Monday from Baidoa, Southwest State officials said the arrival of Somali National Army forces in the region amounts to a military escalation rooted in political disagreements—issues they argued should be…