August 19
Niger: Onyeka Onwenu Remembered - Nigerian Pop Star, Activist and Voice of National Unity
The news of the death of Nigerian musician Onyeka Onwenu on 30 July 2024 hit me, as a musician and popular music scholar, like a thunderbolt. I have listened to and appreciated… Read more »
August 04
Niger: U.S. Military Is Leaving Niger Even Less Secure - Why It Didn't Succeed in Combating Terrorism
The United States is winding down its military operations in Niger ahead of a mid-September deadline agreed with the country's ruling military junta. Read more »
March 19
Niger: Niger Has Cut Military Ties With the U.S. - Why This Is Bad for the Sahel's Security
Niger - a landlocked country of 25 million people in one of the most unstable parts of the world - recently announced it was suspending military cooperation with the United States. Read more »
March 14
Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Hint At a New West African Currency - What It'll Take for It to Succeed
On 11 February 2024, the head of Niger's ruling military junta, General Abdourahmane Tiani, spoke of the possible creation of a common currency with Burkina Faso and Mali. "The… Read more »
February 22
Africa: Learning in Two Languages - Lessons From Francophone Africa On What Works Best
Children living in multilingual communities often learn in a language at school that does not match the language they speak at home. This mismatch makes it challenging for them to… Read more »
February 14
West Africa: West Africa Trade Will Take a Hit As Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Leave Ecowas
The membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) has been whittled down from 15 to 12 following the unilateral withdrawal of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso in… Read more »
Africa: Wagner Group Is Now Africa Corps. What This Means for Russia's Operations On the Continent
In August 2023, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died after his private jet crashed about an hour after taking off in Moscow. He had been Russia's pointman in Africa since the… Read more »
February 07
West Africa: Why Withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Signals Trouble for the Sahel
On 27 January 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced their plan to withdraw from membership of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), despite repeated… Read more »
January 29
Niger: Niger and Russia Are Forming Military Ties - 3 Ways This Could Upset Old Allies
In July 2023, Niger's military took over in a coup just two years after the country's first transition to civilian power. The coup has brought into sharp focus the role of foreign… Read more »
October 19, 2023
Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Have a New Defence Alliance - an Expert View of Its Chances of Success
On 16 September 2023 in Bamako, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger established the Alliance of Sahel States, a mutual defence pact. The agreement was signed against the backdrop of an… Read more »
October 03, 2023
Niger: France's Decision to Leave Niger Was a Bad Move - Three Reasons Why
After about two months of wrangling between France and the new military regime in Niger, President Emmanuel Macron finally decided, on 24 September, to withdraw the French… Read more »
September 12, 2023
West Africa: U.S. Response to Gabon and Niger Coups Suggests Need for a New West Africa Policy in Washington
Recent coups in the West African nations of Gabon and Niger caught U.S. diplomats a little off guard. They also indicate Washington may need to reassess its policy in the region or… Read more »
August 28, 2023
West Africa: Niger's Coup Weakens Regional Fight Against Boko Haram - Four Reasons Why
Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum was detained and deposed on 26 July by his military guard under the command of General Abdourahamane Tchiani. Read more »
August 17, 2023
West Africa: Niger - Ecowas Military Intervention Could Trigger 3 Bad Outcomes
The threat of military force to end the coup in Niger has led to significant divisions in the region. Read more »
August 08, 2023
West Africa: Niger Coup - Why an Ecowas-Led Military Intervention Is Unlikely
Hopes are fading for a quick resolution of Niger's coup or the potential use of force by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) to free Nigerien president Mohammed… Read more »
July 31, 2023
Niger: What Caused the Coup in Niger? an Expert Outlines Three Driving Factors
At an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on 30 July, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanded the "immediate release and reinstatement" of Niger's elected… Read more »
July 29, 2023
West Africa: Military Takeover Is a Setback for Democracy and U.S. Interests in West Africa
The West African nation Niger is under military rule following a coup in which President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown and held captive by members of his own guard. Read more »
February 25, 2023
Africa: Niger Is Africa's Fastest Growing Country - How to Feed 25 Million More People in 30 Years
Niger, a landlocked country in the dry Sahel region of Africa, struggles to feed its 25 million people. It currently ranks 115th out of 121 countries on the Global Hunger Index,… Read more »
November 02, 2022
Nigeria: Nigeria's Deadly Conflicts Over Water and Grazing Pasture Are Escalating - Here's Why
Violence in the Sahel is escalating, killing more than 11,000 people in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso since 2012. Such conflict has emerged for a number of reasons, including… Read more »