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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Nigeria
UN Chief Guterres Expresses Sadness At Devastation Caused By Floods In Nigeria
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday expressed sadness at the devastation caused by floods in Nigeria this…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Coup Leader Traore Sworn-In As Country’s New Interim President
Burkina Faso’s young coup leader, Ibrahim Traore, was sworn-in as the country’s new interim president on Friday, reported The France…
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Guinea
Guinean Security Forces Injure At Least 5 Anti-Government Protesters In Firing
Guinean security forces on Thursday fired at anti-government protesters in Conarky, injuring at least five of them, an opposition coalition…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Coup Leader Traore To Be Sworn In As Interim President On Friday
Burkina Faso’s young army captain who led the latest coup, Ibrahim Traore, will get sworn-in as the country’s new interim…
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Mali
Mali’s Foreign Minister Accuses France Of Violating Airspace, Supporting Militants
Mali’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop on Tuesday said that the country’s military government would resort to self-defense if France…
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Nigeria
Nigeria’s Government: Death Toll From Worst-Ever Flooding Crosses 600 Mark
Nigeria’s ministry of humanitarian affairs on Sunday said over 600 people have lost their lives in the worst flooding the…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s National Forum Declares Ibrahim Traore As Transitional President
Burkina Faso’s national forum on Friday unanimously declared coup leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré as the country’s transitional president, reported The…
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Burkina Faso
National Meeting Begin In Burkina Faso To Appoint New Transitional President
A national meeting has begun in Burkina Faso on Friday to appoint a transitional president who will serve the country…
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Nigeria
Nigeria’s Lecturers’ Union ASUU Suspend Prolonged Strike After Eight Long Months
Nigeria’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday announced that it has decided to suspend a prolonged strike which…
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Mali
Mali’s Junta Leader Assimi Goita Receives A Draft Of A New Constitution
Mali’s junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita on Tuesday received a draft of a new constitution, an important part of the…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s New Transitional President To Be Picked Soon, Says Decree
Burkina Faso’s new military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore on Saturday signed a decree that calls for a national meeting next…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Military Warns Citizens Not To Circulate Rumors & False Information
Burkina Faso’s military on Thursday warned the people of the country not to circulate rumors and false information amid claims…
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Gambia
WHO: Deaths Of 66 Children In Gambia May Be Linked To India-Made Cough Syrup
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said the deaths of 66 young children in Gambia…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Damiba Steps Down Two Days After Coup Removes Him From Power
Burkina Faso’s junta leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba on Sunday agreed to step down, two days after military officers ousted him…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Soldiers Ousts Military Leader Damiba, Dissolves Government
Burkina Faso’s military leaders on Friday announced they had ousted military leader Paul-Henri Damiba, dissolved the government and suspended the…
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Nigeria
Nigeria’s Presidential Election Candidates Sign Accord To Commit Peaceful Campaign
Nigeria’s three top presidential election candidates signed an accord on Thursday committing to a peaceful campaign for the 2023 election,…
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Ivory Coast
Mali’s Military Leader Receives ECOWAS Team For Talks To Resolve Ivory Coast Issue
Mali’s ruling military junta on Thursday received a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for talks…
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Guinea
Mali’s Interim PM Says Mali Will Not Respect Regional Sanctions On Guinea
Mali’s interim Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga on Wednesday said Mali does not respect and will not apply sanctions imposed by…
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Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso’s Government: 11 Soldiers Killed, Dozens Missing After Convoy Attack
Burkina Faso’s government on Tuesday said at least 11 soldiers have been killed and 50 civilians were missing after unidentified…
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Mali
Mali’s Interim Prime Minister Maiga Lashes Out At France Over Troop Withdrawal
Mali’s interim Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga on Saturday lashed out at France and the United Nations over his nation’s deteriorating…
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Guinea
West African Leaders Agree To Impose Gradual Sanctions On Guinea’s Military Junta
West African leaders on Thursday agreed to impose gradual sanctions on Guinea’s junta over its inflexibility on setting a date…
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Nigeria
Nigerian President Buhari Vows To Hold Fair, Transparent, & Credible Elections
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday vowed to hold fair, transparent and credible elections in Nigeria, reported The Reuters. In…
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Senegal
Senegalese President Sall Calls For Lifting Of Sanctions Against Zimbabwe
Senegalese President Macky Sall on Tuesday called for a lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe in his address to the 77th…
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Senegal
Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba Unveils New Government Of 38 Ministers
Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba has unveiled a new government with fourteen new faces, after President Macky Sall appointed him…
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