West Africa

Liberians are voicing strong opposition to a proposed fee policy at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, the nation’s largest referral health facility. A leaked memo revealed that, effective August 1, the hospital has scrapped free care for children under…

A foodborne illness outbreak in Bas-Mono prefecture, southeastern Togo, has left two people dead and several others hospitalized. The health crisis began on July 27, 2025, and continues to raise concern among residents and authorities. Preliminary analyses have traced the…

Ghana has been plunged into mourning following a tragic Ghana Armed Forces helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The Z‑9 aircraft, which had taken off from Accra en route to…

Listeners in Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, have lauded West Africa Democracy Radio’s In The Sahel programme for fostering dialogue and raising awareness on security challenges facing communities. The feedback came during an evaluation mission assessing the show’s impact,…

Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has arrived in Niamey for a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and fostering Sahelian solidarity. According to a statement from the Chadian presidency, the trip also builds on ongoing diplomatic engagements that…

The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has criticized what it calls external political pressure aimed at restricting its right of access to the sea. The statement was made during the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan. Comprising…

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has dismissed an appeal by opposition leader Maurice Kamto, upholding the rejection of his candidacy for the October presidential election. The Election Commission, ELECAM, had earlier ruled Kamto’s application invalid, citing multiple nominations as the reason for…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a 50% increase in taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks across Africa, aiming to boost health sector funding and save lives. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the call at the…

Senegal has reinforced security along its border with Mali following recent terrorist activity in the region. Authorities have deployed three new gendarmerie units to the country’s eastern region to counter potential cross-border infiltration. The move comes after an early July…

Niger’s transitional government has launched a new security initiative, “Garkuwar Kassa,” meaning “Shields of the Homeland,” aimed at enlisting civilian support for security forces in combating urban crime. Led by the M62 civil society movement and backed by the Ministry…

A new political coalition, “The 3rd Voice,” has been officially launched in Benin as the country gears up for the 2026 general elections. The alliance brings together several opposition parties and political movements under one platform. Its leaders say the…

Liberia and Sierra Leone have jointly launched the ECOWAS Free Roaming service, enabling mobile subscribers in both countries to call, text, and browse without incurring international charges. The move is expected to boost cross-border communication and strengthen regional integration. The…