Niger: Prominent Human Rights Defender Detained: Moussa Tchangari

On 3 December 2024, Moussa Tchangari, a human rights defender and secretary general of the civil society organization Citizens' Alternative Spaces, was arrested in Niamey, Niger's… Read more »

Niger: Prominent Civil Society Activist Arbitrarily Arrested

Niger's military authorities should immediately drop all charges and release a prominent civil society activist and critic of the government, as he is detained solely for the… Read more »

Nigeria: Amnesty International Petitions ICC Judges to End Prosecutor's Delaying of Justice for Atrocity Crimes

Amnesty International today submitted a legal filing to the Pre-Trial Judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on behalf of several victims' networks, to request an end to… Read more »

Nigeria: Police Used Excessive Force to Violently Quash #endbadgovernance Protests

Nigerian police used excessive force against protesters during the nationwide #Endbadgovernance demonstrations between 1-10 August, killing at least 24 people in the states of:… Read more »

Nigeria: Bloody August - Govt's Violent Crackdown On #EndBadGovernance Protests

The briefing documents attacks on the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression during the #EndBadGovernance protests in many parts of Nigeria, between 1-10 August 2024.… Read more »

Cote d'Ivoire: Suspension of Evictions in Abidjan Must Be Followed With Adequate Support for the Tens of Thousands of Affected Residents

Responding to the Ivorian authorities' decision to suspend eviction operations in the Autonomous District of Abidjan, Samira Daoud, Amnesty International's Regional Director for… Read more »

West Africa: Authorities Must Repeal Colonial Vagrancy Laws Following Historic ECOWAS Ruling

The Sierra Leonean authorities must repeal vagrancy laws without delay, following a landmark ruling by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court that the… Read more »

Mali: Investigation Demanded After Deadly Mali Drone Attack

The Malian authorities must carry out an effective and transparent investigation into the deaths of at least eight civilians following drone strikes that targeted a market on a… Read more »

Mali: Drone Strike Deaths Must Be Investigated As a War Crime

Strikes occurred in Inadiafatane, in the Timbuktu region in northern Mali Read more »

Mali: Author Activist Remained Arbitrarily Detained: Étienne Sissoko

On 14 October, the Bamako Court of Appeal ordered Étienne Sissoko's provisional release pending his appeal trial on 11 November, but the decision was suspended later the… Read more »

Togo: Security Forces' Failure to Protect Participants At Opposition Party Conference Must Be Investigated

The Togolese authorities must immediately conduct an investigation into the serious violence that took place on 29 September during a conference organized by the opposition… Read more »

Nigeria: Repression of Peaceful Protest Must End

Responding to the repression and arrests on 1 October during the #FearlessOctober peaceful protests against the cost-of-living crisis and bad governance, Isa Sanusi, Director… Read more »

Cote d'Ivoire: Thousands of Families Still Awaiting Support Measures After Forced Evictions in Abidjan

Tens of thousands of people evicted since January 2024 from the Gesco, Boribana, Banco 1 and Abattoir neighbourhoods Evictions without adequate and reasonable prior notice, some… Read more »

Benin: Prisoners Penned Into Overcrowded, Dirty Cells Denied Healthcare Amid Heatwave

Inhumane detention conditions, exacerbated by unprecedented heatwave At least 46 prisoners died in four prisons between January and July 2023, according to information gathered by… Read more »

Guinea: Convictions for Crimes Against Humanity Following 28 September 2009 Massacre Trial a Historic Moment

Reacting to the conviction today of eight persons for crimes against humanity notably following the murder of at least 156 persons, the rape and sexual violence inflicted to at… Read more »

Nigeria: Authorities Must Uphold Human Rights Ahead of Planned Nationwide Protests

Ahead of planned nationwide protests in response to food shortages and cost of living crisis, Amnesty International's Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, said: Read more »

Mali: Mali - Arbitrarily Detained Opposition Leaders Must Be Immediately Released

Malian authorities must immediately release Youssouf Daba Diawara and 11 other opposition politicians who remain arbitrarily detained solely for exercise of their human rights amid… Read more »

Gambia: Continued Ban On FGM Is Good News but Authorities Must Urgently Address Its Root Causes

Reacting to the rejection of a bill to repeal the 2015 Women's (Amendment) Act which bans female genital mutilation (FGM), by Gambia's parliament on 15 July, Samira Daoud, Amnesty… Read more »

Guinea: Authorities Must Immediately Release Detained Activists

Reacting to the arbitrary arrest and detention of two activists from the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (Front National pour la Défense de la… Read more »

Nigeria: Regulator Must Help Protect Human Rights By Ensuring No Conflict of Interest in Assessing Shell's Proposed Sale

Reacting to the hiring by the Nigerian oil regulator of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and S&P Global to help scrutinize the sale of Shell's onshore assets in the country,… Read more »

Sierra Leone: Historic Bill to End Child Marriage Passed - Sustained Efforts to Raise Community Awareness Must Now Follow

Reacting to the signing into law of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 on 2 July by President Julius Maada Bio, Samira Daoud, Amnesty International Regional Director for… Read more »

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone: Historic Bill to End Child Marriage Passed - Sustained Efforts to Raise Community Awareness Must Now Follow

Reacting to the signing into law of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024 on 2 July by President Julius Maada Bio, Samira Daoud, Amnesty International Regional Director for… Read more »

Mali: ICC Conviction of Al Hassan for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Provides a Measure of Justice for Victims

Reacting to the decision of the Trial Chamber X of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to convict Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz for some of the war crimes and crimes against humanity… Read more »

Nigeria: 'Help Us Build Our Lives' - Girl Survivors of Boko Haram and Military Abuses in North-East Nigeria

After surviving years of abuse by Boko Haram and by Nigerian forces, reintegration support and justice remain elusive for girls associated, or perceived to be associated, with Boko… Read more »

Nigeria: Girls Failed By Authorities After Escaping Boko Haram Captivity - New Report

Girls endured abduction, sexual slavery and other crimes by Boko Haram Escape was often followed by further violations in military detention Girls continue to be neglected by… Read more »