West Africa
West Africa is a land region covering the entire western part of sub-Saharan Africa. It roughly includes the coastal countries north of the Gulf of Guinea to the Senegal River, the countries covered by the Niger River basin as well as the countries of the Sahelian hinterland. The birthplace of successive empires in Ghana, Mali and Songhai, West Africa is a collection of countries with common influences and heritage. The joking kinship system that still links West African ethnic groups and social groups together today is a striking example. Imperial authority was exercised through the control of trans-Saharan trade, the production of gold and salt. Its decline began in the sixteenth century with the development of maritime trade. Fragmented and weakened after the battle of Tondibi, West Africa underwent European and American colonization at the end of the 19th century and during the first part of the 20th century. Certain foundations of West African civilization as well as imperial history gradually fell into oblivion, but the rediscovery of the Timbuktu manuscripts opened up considerable hope for their understanding.
West Africa is today a community of peoples, which tends to reconstitute itself politically, with in particular the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and a space of civilization forged by a millennial history. According to the IMF, the overall PPP GDP of the ECOWAS member states amounts to $ 564.86 billion, making it the 25th economic power in the World. West African states created ECOWAS with the initial goal of creating a West African economic and monetary union. However, in 1990, its power was extended to maintain regional stability with the creation of ECOMOG, a military intervention group which became permanent in 1999, which gave it important means of diplomatic pressure. However, major dysfunctions appear within the ECOWAS following difficult democratic transitions in Guinea (2009) and in Ivory Coast (2010). They are growing in the face of the emergence of various jihadist groups which today constitute the first security threat in the region. Thus, in 2012, armed groups took control of northern Mali which was forced to request military intervention from France in the face of the inaction of the ECOWAS and no joint military response was put in place against the jihadist insurgency in Nigeria led since 2009 by Boko Haram and Ansaru.
West Africa countries
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cape Verde
- Ivory Coast
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea Bissau
- Liberia
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Military Gives Two Weeks’ Time To Evacuate Before Army Operation
Burkina Faso’s army on Friday said it has given two weeks’ time to the civilians to evacuate vast areas in…
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Mali
UN Chief Antonio Guterres Condemns Deadly Attacks By Rebels In Mali
The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday issued a statement expressing his shock and outrage over reports…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Army Orders Civilians To Evacuate Two Vast Military Zones
Burkina Faso’s military has ordered civilians to evacuate two large military interest zones in its northern and southeastern regions ahead…
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Mali
Mali’s Government Confirms Suspected Militants Kill 132 Villagers In Latest Attacks
Mali’s government on Monday confirmed at least 132 civilians were killed in multiple militant attacks on villages in central Mali…
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Guinea Bissau
ECOWAS Begins Deploying Military Troops To Guinea-Bissau Following Failed Coup
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Monday began deploying military troops to Guinea-Bissau to help stabilize the…
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Mali
UN Peacekeeper Dies In A Mine Blast In Northern Mali, MINUSMA Head Confirms
A United Nations (UN) peacekeeper was killed by a mine blast in northern Mali on Sunday as he was participating…
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Burkina Faso
UNHCR Appeals Urgent Support For Refugees After Deadly Burkina Faso Attack
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday appealed for urgent support for about 16,000 people in Burkina Faso, after attacks…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Government Says Over 50 Killed By Militants In Latest Attack
Burkina Faso’s government spokesman, Lionel Bilgo, on Monday informed at least 55 civilians lost their lives in an attack by…
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Senegal
Senegalese President Says Hopeful Of Compromise With Mali On Transition Timeline
Senegalese President Macky Sall on Thursday said he is still hopeful that there can be a negotiation with Mali’s ruling…
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Nigeria
Nigeria’s Ruling Party APC Selects Bola Tinubu As Presidential Election Candidate
Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wednesday selected Bola Tinubu as its presidential candidate for the upcoming 2023…
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Mali
West African Bloc ECOWAS Regrets Mali’s 24-Month Transition Decision
The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, on Tuesday said it regretted Mali’s ruling military body’s decision to extend the transition…
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Mali
Mali’s Military Ruling Body Promises Return To Civilian Rule In March 2024
Mali’s ruling military body on Monday said it has decided to delay a return to civilian rule until March 2024…
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Burkina Faso
West African Leaders Decide To Continue Sanctions On Mali For Now
West African leaders on Sunday said they have decided to maintain sanctions on Mali for now but they could lift…
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Nigeria
Nigeria: At Least 50 People Feared Dead After Gunmen Attack Worshippers At Church
At least 50 people including women and children were killed in southwestern Nigeria after gunmen opened fire on worshippers and…
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Senegal
Senegalese President Sall Reassured & Happy After Talks With Russian President
Senegalese President Macky Sall, who chairs the African Union, on Friday told Russian President Vladimir Putin that African countries are…
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Senegal
Senegalese President Sall To Meet Russian President Putin In Sochi On Friday
Senegalese President Macky Sall, who is also the head of the African Union, will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin…
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Guinea
Guinea’s Ruling Junta Rejects UN Call To Lift Ban On Political Demonstrations
Guinea’s ruling junta on Wednesday rejected a call made by the United Nations to lift a ban on political demonstrations,…
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Mali
UN Report: Over 500 People Lost Lives In Mali Clashes From January To March 2022
A United Nations (UN) report released on Monday claims more than 500 people lost their lives in attacks carried out…
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Nigeria
Nigeria’s PDP Selects Former Vice President As Presidential Election Candidate
Nigeria’s main opposition party has selected former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as its candidate to stand in elections to succeed…
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
Senegalese President Sall Calls For Dialogue Between Rwanda & DR Congo
Senegalese President Macky Sall, who is also the Chairperson of the Africa Union, on Sunday, called for dialogue between Rwanda…
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Nigeria
Nigerian Government Sets Up Committee To Prevent Possible Spread Of Monkeypox
The Nigerian government on Friday established an inter-ministerial committee that will work to prevent the possible spread of the monkeypox…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: At Least 50 People Killed In Jihadist Attack On Eastern Rural Village
At least 50 civilians have been killed in a militant attack in eastern Burkina Faso on Wednesday, the region’s governor…
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Senegal
Senegalese President Fires Health Minister Over Deaths Of Newborn Babies In Fire
Senegalese President Macky Sall on Thursday fired his Health Minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, after newborn babies were killed by a…
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Senegal
Senegalese President Informs Eleven Newborn Babies Die In A Hospital Fire In Tivaouane
Senegalese President Macky Sall on Wednesday said eleven newborn babies died in a hospital fire in the western Senegalese city…
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Gambia
Gambian Government Ready To Prosecute Ex-Dictator Jammeh For Host Of Crimes
Gambian authorities on Wednesday the government is ready to prosecute former dictator Yahya Jammeh for a host of crimes including…
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