August 07, 2023
West Africa: ECOWAS to Meet On Niger After Junta Defies Deadline
West African leaders say they will meet on Thursday to discuss the crisis in Niger after the country's military rulers defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president or face a… Read more »
West Africa: Nigerian Businesses Say ECOWAS Niger Sanctions Affecting Livelihoods
Nigerians in the border regions with Niger are calling on West African bloc ECOWAS to rethink sanctions on the country following last month's coup. Residents say the closure of… Read more »
Niger: Attacks, Threats Directed At Media Covering Niger Coup
In the days since the coup in Niger that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, journalists have faced threats or attacks, and access to broadcasts from two French outlets has been cut. Read more »
August 05, 2023
Zimbabwe: U.S. Official Calls for Free, Fair Elections, End to Political Violence in Zimbabwe
Editor's note: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee gave an interview to VOA Zimbabwe Service's Blessing Zulu on Thursday. Read more »
Somalia: Somalia Reopens National Blood Bank to Address Critical Shortage
Somalia reopened the National Blood Bank Saturday for the first time in more than 30 years, in a significant move to address the shortage of blood supplies and save lives. Read more »
August 04, 2023
Africa: China's Military Influence in Africa Grows As Russia's Diminishes
China's People's Liberation Army marked the 96th anniversary of its founding this week with President Xi Jinping overseeing celebrations in China, but the anniversary was also… Read more »
August 03, 2023
Cameroon: Cameroon Says Military Deployed After New Militant Attack Kills At Least a Dozen
Cameroon said Thursday that at least 12 people have been killed in new attacks by Boko Haram in Darak, a fishing island on Cameroon's northern border with Chad and Nigeria.… Read more »
Niger: Niger Coup Supporters Protest Sanctions As Neighbors Debate Intervention
As West African states consider intervening in Niger to restore democracy one week after a military coup, hundreds of supporters of Niger's junta gathered in the capital Niamey on… Read more »
Sudan: Amnesty Blames Sudan Rival Forces, Militias for War Crimes, Civilian Suffering
Amnesty International says Sudan's warring military factions are committing war crimes as the country is ravaged by more than three months of violence. The group has documented… Read more »
Ethiopia: Japan, Ethiopia to Work On Black Sea Grain Deal Resumption
Japan's foreign minister, following a one-on-one meeting Thursday with Ethiopia's deputy prime minister, expressed hope their two nations would work together on the resumption of… Read more »
August 02, 2023
Somalia: Somalia Suspends Athletics Head After Runner's Slow 100-Meter Sprint
The Somali government has suspended its head of athletics after a sprinter finished more than 10 seconds behind the winner in the 100-meter dash at the 2023 World University Games… Read more »
Niger: U.S. Joins France, Italy in Evacuating Citizens From Niger
Military chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived Wednesday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, for two days of meetings to discuss last week's coup… Read more »
Africa: France Faces Uncertain Way Forward in Africa's Sahel Region
Planeloads of French citizens are returning home. Anti-French demonstrations are peppered with Russian flags. French military and political interests are once again under attack in… Read more »
West Africa: Tense Atmosphere in Sahel As Neighbors Warn Against Military Intervention in Niger
Military chiefs from the West African bloc ECOWAS are holding talks in Nigeria Wednesday about last week's coup in Niger. Earlier this week, the regional economic bloc set a… Read more »
Niger: Washington Closely Watching Niger After Coup
The White House says it's closely watching a coup in Niger, as the U.S. Embassy prepares to evacuate some staff from the West African nation. With the coup plotters staring down a… Read more »
August 01, 2023
Botswana: Botswana Parliament Defers Debate On Controversial Homosexuality Bill
Botswana's parliament on Tuesday abandoned debate on a bill that if passed would decriminalize same-sex relations. In 2019, Botswana's High Court and Court of Appeal ruled that… Read more »
July 31, 2023
West Africa: Sahel Region Coups Make Room for Terrorist Groups - Analysts
West African nations have given Niger one week to return to civilian rule following the recent coup there and threatened measures including the use of force unless coup leaders… Read more »
Cameroon: Women Protest Separatist War, Cost of Living On Pan African Women's Day
Hundreds of women and activists marched in the capital of Cameroon Monday, calling for an end to the country's separatist crisis and for the government to provide more help to… Read more »
Sudan: Rights Groups Call for Sudan War Crimes Investigation
A group of Sudanese rights and professional bodies has accused both warring parties in Sudan of committing atrocities that could be prosecuted as war crimes and crimes against… Read more »
July 28, 2023
Burkina Faso: Countries Urged Not to Deport Burkina Faso Refugees Amid Escalating Violence
The U.N. refugee agency, the UNHCR, Thursday appealed to West African states not to forcibly repatriate refugees who have fled escalating insecurity and violence sparked by… Read more »
Africa: Six Countries Restricted Internet Access Due to Protests or Political Crisis - Report
A cyber security company says six African countries, including war-torn Sudan, enforced internet limits within their territory during the first half of 2023. Read more »
Africa: Target 'Niche' Chinese Travelers, Not Numbers, Tourism Experts Tell Africa
African countries are investing heavily in trying to attract tourists from the world's biggest outbound travel market, China, as they battle to recover from losses suffered during… Read more »
July 27, 2023
Nigeria: Analysts Criticize Detention of Central Bank Governor
Nigeria's Department of State Services, or DSS, has launched an investigation into the chaotic arrest of Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele. Read more »
Africa: Putin Promises Russian Grain Shipments to Africa
Russian President Vladimir Putin told leaders and officials from African countries on Thursday that Moscow would provide grain for sale or free to the neediest countries to avert… Read more »
Niger: Coup By Elite Presidential Guard Might Be Short Lived - Analysts
Analysts say the apparent coup attempt in Niger was not totally surprising, given the West African nation's history of political upheaval. There have been four successful coups and… Read more »