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
-
Mali
Germany’s Defence Minister: Troops Will Continue In Mali Until 2024 Under Conditions
Germany’s Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht on Thursday said the German troops will continue to stay in Mali until 2024 only…
Read More » -
Ghana
IMF Reaches Agreement With Ghana Government On A $3 billion Bailout Loan
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday announced it has reached an agreement on a $3 billion bailout loan with…
Read More » -
Guinea
Guinea’s Ex-Military Leader Moussa Camara Denies 2009 Massacre Role In Court
Guinea’s ex-military leader Moussa Dadis Camara on Monday denied charges that he was responsible for a 2009 stadium massacre, reported…
Read More » -
Nigeria
Nigerian Government Refutes Report On Mass Military Abortion Programme
The Nigerian government has denied a report published last week about a secret programme of forced abortions run by the…
Read More » -
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Military Leader: Fight For Total Independence Has Started
Burkina Faso’s military junta head, Ibrahim Traoré, on Sunday said the fight for total independence began a few weeks ago,…
Read More » -
Nigeria
UN Calls Out Nigerian Authorities To Investigate Mass Abortion Programme
The United Nations (UN) spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appealed Nigerian authorities to investigate allegations…
Read More » -
Mali
Mali’s Transitional PM Choguel Maiga To Resume His Role Following Medical Leave
Mali’s transitional Prime Minister, Choguel Maiga will resume his role on Monday after more than three months of medical leave,…
Read More » -
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Interim President Traore Confirms Recent Failed Coup Attempt
Burkina Faso’s interim leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, on Thursday revealed that he was the target of a coup attempt last…
Read More » -
Ghana
Ghana’s Vice President: Working On Plan To Buy Oil With Gold Instead Of U.S. Dollars
Ghana’s Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday said the government is planning to undertake a new policy regime where it…
Read More » -
Mali
Mali’s MINUSMA Mission: Germany Announces Withdrawal Of Troops By 2024
Mali’s United Nations peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, is at the verge of disintegration as many countries have announced withdrawal of their…
Read More » -
Ghana
Ghana’s President Warns Sahel Insurgency Could Spillover Entire West Africa
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday warned that a rampant rebellion in West Africa’s Sahel region is feared to spread…
Read More » -
Mali
Mali’s Military Junta Bans Activities Of All NGOs Funded Or Supported By France
Mali’s ruling military junta on Monday imposed a ban on all non-governmental organisations (NGO) that are funded or supported by…
Read More » -
Ghana
Ghana’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta Apologizes For Country’s Economic Hardship
Ghana’s Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on Friday apologized for the country’s economic woes but defended himself against accusations that he…
Read More » -
Mali
France Halts Development Aid To Mali Over Russia Paramilitary Ties
France has stopped development aid to Mali on Thursday, citing the presence of Wagner mercenaries from Russia, according to Foreign…
Read More » -
Senegal
IMF Board Approves Senegal Credit Extension Until January 2023 For Reviews
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Senegal’s request for a credit extension until Jan. 10, 2023, to allow for completion…
Read More » -
Mali
German Government To Withdraw Troops From UN’s MINUSMA Force In Mali
The German government has decided to withdraw troops from the United Nations peace-keeping force in Mali by the end of…
Read More » -
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast To Withdraw Troops From UN’s Peace Keeping Force MINUSMA In Mali
The Ivory Coast government has decided to withdraw its troops from the United Nation’s peacekeeping operations in Mali, a move…
Read More » -
Mali
Britain Government To Withdraw Its Troops From Mali Peacekeeping Mission
The Britain government on Monday announced that it has decided to withdraw its troops from Mali six months earlier than…
Read More » -
Ghana
Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo Fires Junior Finance Minister Over Corruption Allegations
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday fired Charles Adu Boahen, the minister of state for finance, over corruption allegations, reported…
Read More » -
Nigeria
Nigeria’s Electoral Commission Warns Of Looming Threat To Disrupt 2023 Elections
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday warned of the threat of intensifying election campaign violence just over three…
Read More » -
Ghana
Ghanaian Protesters March Through Capital Demanding President’s Resignation
Hundreds of Ghanaian protesters marched through capital Accra on Saturday, demanding the resignation of President Nana Akufo-Addo over his government’s…
Read More » -
Guinea
Guinean Ruling Junta Orders Legal Proceedings Against Former President Conde
Guinean Justice Minister Charles Wright on Thursday ordered legal proceedings against former President Alpha Conde and more than 180 officials…
Read More » -
Nigeria
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari Travels To London For Medical Check-Up
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari left for the United Kingdom on Monday for a routine medical check-up, his special adviser confirmed,…
Read More » -
Ghana
Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo Says IMF Talks Will Not Lead To A Debt Haircut
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on Sunday reassured the country that his government can manage an economic crisis as it is…
Read More » -
Nigeria
Nigerian President Urges Citizens To Avoid Panic Amid Terror Attack Warnings
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged people to avoid panic and remain calm in the wake of warning calls…
Read More »