Search Results for: ECOWAS

The UK announced Thursday that it would reduce the number of staff at its embassy in Niger amidst ongoing social unrest over a military-led coup that occurred last week. The UK joins other countries, such as the US and multiple EU states, in reducing or evacuating its citizens from Niger. The military coup in Niger [...]

EU member states announced on Tuesday they would evacuate their citizens from Niger. Their decision was prompted by mounting concerns over the country’s instability following a military coup. France, Germany, Italy and Spain, represented by their respective spokespersons and ministries, reaffirmed their resolve to begin evacuation operations for both their nationals and people of other [...]

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions Sunday on Niger’s coup leaders and called for the reinstatement of ousted President Mohammed Bazoum. The association of West African nations also threatened to use force against the junta if the democratically elected president is not reinstated in a week’s time. This came hours after [...]

Niger’s national broadcaster identified Army General Abdourahamane Tiani as President of Niger’s new military government on Friday following a coup that deposed former President Mohamed Bazoum. The country’s ruling council, called the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland, was formed out of Niger’s presidential guard, which carried out the coup. In a televised [...]

Niger Foreign Minister Massoumi Massoudou told France 24 on Thursday that the administration is attempting mediation with members of Niger’s military who conducted a coup of President Mohamed Bazoum’s administration. His statement comes only hours after Niger’s military announced they supported the coup carried out by military members of Bazoum’s elite guard on Wednesday. Colonel [...]

Mali’s constitution was revised in a referendum on Friday, with an overwhelming 97 percent of voters supporting the changes. This marks a significant stride towards the ruling junta’s objective of reinstating civilian rule. The amended constitution grants more power to the president, fueling speculation about Colonel Assimi Goita, the junta’s leader, potentially running for president. [...]

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sierra Leone released 35 political prisoners from custody Friday on the eve of a high-stakes national election. The country’s fifth election since the end of its civil war in 2002 has sparked wide-spread unrest and prompted calls for peace from the international community. The development is the latest move [...]

A Burkina Faso human rights group Tuesday reported that 28 people were found shot dead in the town of Nouna in an alleged ethnic killing at the hands of a volunteer militia group. The Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatization of Communities (CISC) reported the killings were perpetrated by Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland [...]

A Mali court Saturday sentenced 46 Ivory Coast soldiers to 20 years in prison for conspiring against the government, according to Mali Attorney General Ladji Sara. Another three soldiers were sentenced to death, despite being absent from the trial. The court found the soldiers guilty of “attacking and plotting against the government,” “undermining the external [...]

In 2013, the United Nations (UN) established the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) to address conflict in the Sahel region. Support for MINUSMA, the deadliest UN mission, has declined, especially after Western leaders have increasingly focused on the Russian intervention in Ukraine. In fact, several Western countries have announced their withdrawal from MUNUSMA, [...]