This is the reality of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. In 2025, the bloc turned 50 years old. Instead of celebrating unity and progress, it faced its most serious crisis of relevance since its founding.

This moment of doubt comes at a time when West Africa needs regional coordination more than ever. Security threats are multiplying, trade remains fragmented, mobility is expensive, and democratic institutions are fragile. As ECOWAS enters its sixth decade, fundamental questions are being asked openly. Can it still enforce democratic norms? Does it still carry economic weight? And can it survive in its current form?

Paper tiger

On paper, ECOWAS is formidable. It brings together 15 member states, represents more than 440 million people, and has a combined GDP of roughly 600 billion US dollars. That makes it one of the largest regional blocs in the Global South.

In practice, integration remains shallow. Trade between ECOWAS countries still accounts for less than 20 percent of their total trade. In more integrated regions such as the European Union, internal trade exceeds 60 percent. The comparison highlights a central weakness. ECOWAS has scale, but it lacks cohesion.

That weakness became impossible to ignore in 2025, when Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formally withdrew from the bloc. Together, these Sahelian states represent around 70 million people and nearly 17 percent of ECOWAS landmass. While they contribute less than 5 percent of total GDP, their strategic and security importance is enormous.

Their departure followed years of tension after military coups, sanctions, and repeated threats of intervention. When ECOWAS failed to act militarily after the coup in Niger, it exposed a hard truth. The bloc did not have the political consensus or operational capacity to enforce its strongest decisions.

Empty threats

The crisis of democratic enforcement did not stop there. Later in the year, disputed elections in Guinea-Bissau once again demonstrated how fragile political institutions remain in the region. The military intervened, and ECOWAS responded with condemnation, suspension, and the threat of sanctions.

This has become a familiar pattern. Since 2020, sanctions alone have rarely reversed coups. More often, they have hardened military rule and eroded ECOWAS authority. Each repetition weakens the credibility of the bloc’s commitment to democracy.

The elusive Eco

Economically, ECOWAS continues to pursue one of its oldest ambitions: a single currency. The Eco was first proposed more than 20 years ago and is now tentatively scheduled for 2027 after missing multiple deadlines.

The obstacles are structural. Nigeria alone accounts for more than 60 percent of ECOWAS GDP, while many smaller economies struggle with inflation, debt distress, and fiscal instability. Without real convergence on economic fundamentals, the Eco remains a symbolic project rather than a functional one.

These challenges are made more acute by a fragmenting global economy and shrinking foreign assistance from traditional partners in Europe and the United States . Regional self-reliance is becoming more important just as ECOWAS capacity is being questioned.

Tax-free flying

Yet amid the uncertainty, there is a reason for cautious optimism as 2026 begins.

From January, air travel across ECOWAS member states is set to become tax-free, with sharp reductions in passenger and security charges. This is one of the bloc’s most tangible policy wins in years.

The reform matters because West Africa has some of the highest intra-regional airfares in the world. It is often cheaper to fly to Europe than to a neighbouring country. If fully implemented, the changes could reduce fares by 20 to 40 percent, benefiting traders, students, tourists, and families while advancing free movement in a practical way.

Connectivity has long been neglected in African economic policy, despite its importance for growth. People want to travel, and people travelling drives commerce. Currently, international departure taxes in Africa average around $68 per trip, with West Africa the most expensive subregion. Short flights of just a few hundred kilometres can cost hundreds of dollars.

This reform requires coordination and execution more than large financial outlays. If governments create the right conditions, the private sector can step in. For ECOWAS, this could be a rare example of delivery matching ambition.

A chance for redemption

As 2025 ends, ECOWAS looks like this: large in population, fragmented in politics, slow in economic integration, weak in enforcing democracy, but still capable of delivering reforms that people can feel in their daily lives.

At 50, ECOWAS is no longer just a regional institution. It is a test case for whether African multilateralism can adapt to a changing political reality. The question now is whether the future of regional cooperation will be driven by declarations, or defined by delivery.

The answer will shape not just ECOWAS, but the credibility of regional integration across the Global South in the years ahead.

Click here to watch our previous episodes

World Reframed is produced in London by Global South World, part of the Impactum Group. Its editors are Duncan Hooper and Ismail Akwei.

ISSN 2978-4891

This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can  contact us  here.

Dr Touray attributed the projection to Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms and renewed regional leadership under President Bola Tinubu. He also commended Nigeria for taking up a leadership role at a time of regional instability. 

He noted that ECOWAS forces had been deployed to Guinea-Bissau to help prevent escalation and support stability in the country. He recognised Nigeria’s active role in promoting peace, security , and development across the West African sub-region.

“While I celebrate this historic milestone, I want to particularly express appreciation to the leadership of Nigeria for advancing ECOWAS integration,” Dr Touray stated. “Despite the security challenges Nigeria is faced with and the loss of lives to terrorism, we continue to see commitment and the willingness to secure the West African region.”

According to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) World Economic Outlook data released in April 2025, the world’s top five economies by GDP are the United States ($30.50 trillion), China ($19.23 trillion), Germany ($4.74 trillion), India ($4.19 trillion), and Japan ($4.19 trillion).

As of April 2025, the top five economies in Africa are South Africa ($410 billion), Egypt ($347 billion), Algeria ($269 billion), Nigeria ($188 billion), and Morocco ($166 billion). In the third quarter of 2023, over 5% of Nigeria’s GDP was generated by oil.

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development's head of Research and Strategic Planning, MacDonald Goanue told Global South World

An immediate problem for the bank has been that it has had to delay the sale of Eurobonds: “Because of the geopolitical situation and rising tariffs in the United States, the cost of funding has gone up,” Goanue said in an exclusive interview at the Crans Montana Forum. “Given the fact that we are a non-investment-grade bank, we are waiting to see how the market cools down before we can go.”

For Goanue, this is not a problem confined to EBID. It reflects a deeper flaw in the international financial architecture. Credit rating agencies, he argues, apply methodologies that “tend to punish” African countries because of structural factors - security risks, low per-capita incomes, shallow domestic markets - that are hard to change overnight. When West African regional entities try to raise capital, they end up paying nine or ten percent interest - sometimes even 12 percent - far higher than institutions elsewhere.

While a major part of the answer lies in debt forgiveness, countries can also improve their situations but developing deeper domestic capital markets, he argued. However he cautioned against following artificial deadlines for the introduction of a single currency - the Eco is still official slated for 2027.

"I think the leadership of ECOWAS is playing cautious, because they want to be sure that they don't want to go into an arrangement tomorrow that will collapse," he said, adding that intraregional trade only accounted for perhaps 8 percent within the block against 77 percent in the euro area prior to the introduction of the Euro.

Powering growth

Against this backdrop, EBID’s core mission is to finance infrastructure—especially energy. Access to electricity in West Africa is among the lowest in the world, a bottleneck that constrains industrialisation, raises costs for basic services, and feeds inflation. Nigeria, the region’s largest economy, still faces enormous deficits in power supply, while only a few countries like Cape Verde and Côte d’Ivoire have relatively high coverage.

Goanue, himself Liberian, paints a vivid picture: without reliable electricity, shops close at sunset, hospital services cost more to run, and even banks struggle with overheads. “With electricity access, there will be a 24-hour economy,” he said. “Small businesses can stay open later, people feel safer, and factories can be powered. It will create the entrepreneurial spirit.”

EBID has already financed power plants in Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire and is seeking to increase its footprint in Nigeria. One flagship example is the Maria Glater plant in Benin, which the bank has supported. Yet the scale of the challenge is immense, and Goanue is cautious about promising big breakthroughs in the next 12 months. “It takes time,” he said, noting that the bank also funds connecting roads and other infrastructure that underpin regional trade.

Climate considerations

How does EBID square this urgent need for energy with global pressure to shift away from fossil fuels? Goanue admits it is not easy. “It’s not possible to end investment in fossil fuels immediately,” he said. Nigeria’s budget, for example, still relies heavily on oil revenues, and new discoveries are seen as good news by African governments. EBID does have environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, and most of its member states subscribe to the Paris Climate Accord, but Goanue emphasises that transition will take time. “There is a way you can make these things clean,” he said. “We want to invest into clean energy, but we have to balance it.”

Managing a split

Guanoe is evidently proud of his institutions pragamtic approach to the biggest challenge ECOWAS has faced in recent times - the departure or Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger - reducing the bloc's membership to twelve. With major major exposure in these states - about 23 percent of its portfolio or more than $200 million - the bank has resisted pressure to pull out completely.

Instead, the bank has persuaded ECOWAS leaders to let it continue disbursing funds for ongoing projects and to keep staff from these countries in place. Goanue likens the approach to how British citizens were treated in EU institutions after Brexit. “We are careful and circumspect to ensure that our facilities are repaid,” he said. Burkina Faso has stayed current on its restructured repayments, Mali has restarted payments, and Niger is making token transfers despite fiscal stress.

This pragmatic stance is driven by economic as much as political logic. If EBID simply withdrew, non-performing loans would spike, undermining its own creditworthiness and pushing up borrowing costs further. In addition, nobody benefits if projects already paid for are not completed.

A brighter future

Despite the obstacles, Goanue remains optimistic. West Africa’s population exceeds 480 million—roughly the size of the European Union —but its GDP is only around $700 billion, and per-capita incomes and banking penetration are low. Building deeper domestic markets, harmonising regulations, and moving toward a single currency are all on the agenda.

What gives him hope is demographics. The region’s average age is under 20, offering a potential “youth dividend” if the right investments in capacity and infrastructure are made.

It is real. It is devastating. But the narrative of Christians versus Muslims misses the complexity.

The perpetrators are not one monolithic force. Boko Haram and its splinter group ISWAP are part of it. But so are armed Fulani militias clashing with farmers over land. And criminal syndicates run kidnapping rackets where ransom is the real motive.

In Kaduna State’s Rijana area, jihadist camps are believed to be holding 850 Christians hostage. Those whose families cannot pay are killed.

When framed only as religious persecution , the world risks missing the deeper drivers: weak governance, economic desperation, corruption, and even climate change.

The role of the state

Advocacy groups like Intersociety have accused elements of Nigeria’s security forces of complicity in kidnappings and killings. Sometimes they look away. Sometimes worse.

That blurs the line between counterinsurgency and persecution. Nigeria’s crisis is not only about insurgents, but also about governance failures and the erosion of trust between citizens and the state.

Borders that protect insurgents, not citizens

On paper, Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest militaries. In reality, insurgents move freely across porous borders with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

These borders slow down Nigerian troops, who are often tied up in checkpoints and bureaucracy. But for insurgents, rivers, forests, and deserts are open highways. Weapons and fighters flow across with little resistance.

It is a cruel irony: the very lines drawn to define nations protect insurgents while trapping citizens.

ECOWAS delays as villages burn

In August, ECOWAS announced a bold plan: a 260,000-strong joint counter-terrorism force, at a cost of $2.5 billion annually.

The need is urgent. West Africa accounted for 51% of global terrorism deaths in 2024. Over a thousand insurgent groups are believed to be active.

But the plan is stalled. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso pulled out of ECOWAS in January. Without them, intelligence sharing breaks down, and the joint force is weakened.

While ECOWAS delays, villages are attacked, churches fall, and displacement camps fill. Insurgents don’t wait for budget approvals.

Why framing matters

When the world sees only “Christians under fire from jihadists,” the response is militarised: send troops, sell weapons, declare war on terror. That framing sometimes benefits factions within states, particularly armies that want the problem seen purely as jihadist groups carving out a caliphate.

But when reframed, the picture shifts. It shows displaced families trapped in ransom economies, local peacebuilding efforts that rarely get support, and communities whose survival depends on more than soldiers.

Nigeria’s stability matters far beyond its borders. With over 220 million people, its collapse would destabilise all of West Africa. Yet too often Africa is portrayed as a backdrop for violence.

The Global South lens forces new questions: What about the millions of Muslims in Nigeria who reject extremism? What about economic and climate drivers of conflict? And what about international partners who see Africa mainly as a security threat or a source of unwanted migrants?

Reframing the “Islamic State” in Africa

Yes, a new Islamic State is taking shape. Militants control swathes of territory, and their influence is expanding. But just as in Syria and Iraq, religion is only one piece of the puzzle.

Poverty, displacement, and survival are the real drivers fracturing communities. Groups that provide some form of order or resources, often Islamist militants, win allegiance not because of ideology, but because of need.

When reframed, the story is not simply about a religious war. It’s about failed governance, porous borders, delayed regional action, and communities abandoned in the middle.

Click here to watch our previous episodes

World Reframed is produced in London by  Global South  World, part of the Impactum Group. Its editors are Duncan Hooper and Ismail Akwei.

ISSN 2978-4891

On September 11, the European Parliament adopted a resolution (2025/2862(RSP)) condemning the detention of Abdoul Aziz Goma, an Irish-Togolese citizen held in Lomé since 2018. Lawmakers denounced torture, inhumane conditions, and an unfair trial that led to a ten-year sentence after a one-day hearing in February. They urged his immediate release, medical evacuation, and annulment of his conviction, while warning of democratic backsliding in Togo. Goma has been on hunger strike since August 27, with reports of critical health complications.

ECOWAS Parliament relocates session amid rising tensions

The ECOWAS Parliament has shifted its second extraordinary session of 2025 from Lomé to Abuja, citing “circumstances beyond our control”. The move came shortly after the June 6 Movement (M66) announced a September 20 protest demanding President Faure Gnassingbé’s resignation and the release of political prisoners. Civil society actors view the relocation as recognition of mounting unrest following Togo’s contested constitutional changes earlier this year.

Togo summons EU ambassador over resolution

Following the European Parliament’s resolution, Togolese authorities summoned Gwilym Ceri Jones, the EU’s ambassador in Lomé, on September 12. Officials accused the EU of interference and defended the independence of Togo’s judiciary. The move came as international voices, including UN experts, continued to criticise Goma’s detention and trial.

Fintech becomes Togo’s first to win BCEAO authorisation

Togo-based Ollo Africa has become the country’s first fintech to win authorisation from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) to operate across the eight-nation UEMOA zone. The company is launching Ohana Africa, a platform designed to digitise traditional group savings systems and expand financial inclusion. Backed by partnerships with Ecobank, Ollo Africa aims to reach one million users in Togo before scaling regionally.

Togo posts sharp economic rebound in 2024

Togo’s economy surged in late 2024, with GDP growing 17.7% in the fourth quarter compared to the same period in 2023, according to INSEED data. Annual growth reached 6.5%, driven by strong performances in agriculture, construction, extractive industries, and services. While electricity, hospitality, and public administration contracted, officials credited reforms under the Government Roadmap 2020–2025 for strengthening economic resilience through diversification, logistics, and infrastructure investment.

Since then, authorities have reported 28 suspected cases and at least 16 deaths, including four health workers, putting the case fatality rate at about 57%. 

The country’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre has activated its Incident Management System, deploying rapid response teams and reinforcing epidemiological surveillance. Triage and isolation facilities have been established, and investigations are underway to identify and monitor contacts.

This marks the 16th Ebola outbreak in DRC since the virus was first discovered there in 1976. Officials confirmed the latest flare-up is caused by the Zaire strain, for which a vaccine exists. According to the World Health Organisation, stocks of the vaccine are prepositioned in Kinshasa and are expected to be delivered to affected sites.

Following this, the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) has said the risk of the virus spreading to West Africa is “significant” due to the high volume of travel between the DRC and West African capitals.

The Regional body has therefore urged ECOWAS member states to amongst others, "strengthen surveillance and early warning systems, especially at airports and other entry points for passengers arriving from or transiting through the DRC, reinforce rapid response teams to ensure immediate action if suspected cases are identified," an information note stated.

The warning despite heightened vigilance in West Africa, which suffered a devastating Ebola outbreak from 2014 to 2016 that killed more than 11,000 people across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. 

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who took over as the new ECOWAS chair, said the region was "at a crossroads" and needed urgent action.

He called for a stronger regional security system to deal with terrorism, armed groups, and cross-border crimes.

According to him, democracy in some countries was under pressure, and the rule of law had been disrupted.

His comments reflect deepening concern over the impact of recent military coups and the worsening jihadist violence in the Sahel.

Over the past decade, nearly half of ECOWAS member states have experienced coups or attempted takeovers. Three of them, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, have since left the bloc and formed their own alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States.

Jihadist groups have continued to expand their presence across the region, launching deadly attacks in Mali, targeting cities in Burkina Faso, and killing soldiers in Niger. Nigeria, which hosted the summit, has also seen a rise in attacks in recent weeks.

Outgoing ECOWAS chair President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria said that while the bloc had made diplomatic efforts to bring the three military-led states back, violent extremism and cross-border threats remained major obstacles.

He warned that ECOWAS must urgently make its planned regional standby force operational.

The 5,000-strong standby force was announced last year to help respond to terrorism and political instability. But Tinubu expressed concern over delays in setting it up, saying the region could no longer wait.

ECOWAS has a history of military deployments in crises, including past missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Ivory Coast, The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

Dr. Touray stated that global economic growth is expected to slow to 2.8% in 2025 from 3.3% in 2024, before rising slightly to 3.0% in 2026. Global inflation is projected to ease from 5.7% in 2024 to 4.3% in 2025. In emerging and developing economies, inflation is expected to decline from 5.5% in 2024 to 4.6% in 2025.

“In sub-Saharan Africa, inflation is projected to decline significantly from 18.3% in 2024 to 13.3% in 2025,” he said . He also projected a further decline to 11.5% in 2026, attributing the trend to tighter monetary policies and falling food and energy prices.

“Equally, inflation is expected to decline to 12.8% in 2025, compared to 18.4% in 2024,” he added.

On the regional situation, Dr. Touray said, “The political and security context of the region is also marked by the effective withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS, though the initial tensions generated by their withdrawal is waning down, giving way to a more constructive engagement.”

“Activities of terrorists and armed groups have intensified, with repeated attacks against security forces in the northern part of Benin Republic; the resurgence of Boko Haram in the northeastern part of Nigeria, and the advent of the ‘Lakurawa’ armed groups, disrupting lives and livelihoods in the northwestern part of Nigeria,” he said, as he expressed concerns over ongoing violence. 

Dr. Touray also referenced global tensions, including the war in Ukraine and U.S. policy shifts, which he said are affecting the region.

He reported that each ECOWAS member state received $100,000 under the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme. “The Gambia, Ghana and Senegal received the second tranche of the disbursement to finance various projects,” he said.

The vehicle was developed by Guedesign Automotive, a Niamey-based manufacturer. According to a report by Defence Blog , the Tamgak Wangari is designed to meet the specific operational needs of the Sahel region, including extreme heat, soft sand, and rugged terrain.

Guedesign Automotive describes the vehicle as offering “high mobility, structural resilience, and ease of maintenance in austere environments with minimal infrastructure ”. 

The company added that the Tamgak Wangari was built entirely in Niger by local engineers and technicians. 

“After 5 months of sweat, sleepless nights, plans, bolts and black coffee... he's finally here. Introducing the first-ever 100% Nigerian military buggy, designed, assembled and refined in our own workshops, by a team that is as passionate as they are stubborn,” the company stated in a Facebook post .

The name “Tamgak” refers to the Tamgak mountains in the Aïr region, which are known for their strength and endurance. “Wangari” symbolises struggle and national pride in local innovation.

Guedesign Automotive further stated that the vehicle was developed not only as a tactical platform but also as a representation of Niger’s sovereignty and industrial self-reliance. 

Niger is currently facing security challenges alongside Mali and Burkina Faso. The three countries have also experienced strained diplomatic ties with Western nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In January, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) formally withdrew from ECOWAS after refusing to meet conditions for the restoration of civilian rule.

In March, the military government led by General Abdourahamane Tiani designated Hausa as the national language , replacing French.

Bringing together around 30 participants from national institutions and international experts, the initiative seeks to tailor the regional TIP+ (Trafficking in Persons) framework to Cape Verdean realities.

The program included technical presentations, interactive discussions, and the administration of a detailed questionnaire to assess the country’s legal and protective mechanisms against trafficking.

Cape Verde is the latest ECOWAS member state to take steps toward the national implementation of the TIP+ Strategy, which is designed to provide a comprehensive and harmonised regional response to human trafficking across West Africa.

Joel Ahofodji, Head of Communication for the ECOWAS Commission, confirmed the meeting and said all issues, including possible responses, would be discussed.

He told reporters, "ECOWAS will have an Extraordinary Council on the 22nd of April. All these issues will be discussed."

The AES, formed by the military governments of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, started collecting the new import tax on March 28.

The levy does not apply to humanitarian aid but affects all other goods entering the three countries.

This move has raised concerns because it goes against ECOWAS’s goal of free trade within the region.

Even after Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso left ECOWAS in January 2025, the regional bloc said it would continue to treat their goods and services under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, which allows duty-free movement.

The new tax could disrupt trade, raise costs, and weaken the regional free trade agreement. Relations between ECOWAS and the three countries have been tense since early 2024 when the three states left the bloc.

The AES countries accused ECOWAS of failing to help them fight terrorism and criticised sanctions that hurt their populations. Although ECOWAS later removed the sanctions, the three countries did not rejoin.

ECOWAS has said it is open to discussions if the AES nations wish to return. The bloc has also introduced measures to ease the impact of the split, including duty-free trade, visa-free movement, and residence for citizens.

Meanwhile, Niger has left the Multinational Joint Task Force, a regional military force that has fought Islamist insurgents in the Lake Chad region since 2015. The force includes troops from Nigeria , Chad, and Cameroon.

The annual tournament gathers wrestlers from 11 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Member States as part of the organisation’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. However, this year’s edition is notable not only for introducing a women’s division but also for the absence of athletes from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger following their breakaway from ECOWAS.

Female wrestlers from across the region have embraced this opportunity, challenging long-standing gender stereotypes in the sport. Celine Bakayoko, a competitor from Ivory Coast, highlighted the significance of this moment. “Only 40 percent of people believe that women can wrestle, especially in Africa,” she said. “Men say it's not a woman's place, that women belong in the kitchen or should take care of children . But I say there is no sport just for men,” she told the AFP.

Bakayoko expressed joy at the long-overdue inclusion of women in the tournament. “From the first edition to the twelfth, there were no women. We’re delighted because women know how to fight. We just needed the chance,” she added.

Yvonne Ami, another Ivorian wrestler, echoed this sentiment, calling the event a major step forward. “It’s an honour for us women to participate in this tournament. It opens the door for gender equality in wrestling, and that truly makes me happy,” she said.

Massandje Litsé Touré, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, emphasized the strategic importance of this investment for West Africa's agricultural sector. She noted that this grant follows a previous $1 million allocation in 2023, which supported 24 training centres under ECOWAS' Regional Strategy for Youth Employability in Agriculture.

“This initiative aligns with ECOWAS’ vision for inclusive and innovative agricultural development,” Touré stated. “Training young people is an investment in our collective future. It equips them with the tools to transform agriculture, enhance productivity, and strengthen sector competitiveness. It also addresses youth unemployment by fostering self-employment and entrepreneurship.”

The grant distribution includes $936,000 for Songhai Centers, $708,000 for the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) and its ten national agronomic research centres, and $594,000 for agroeconomic and organic production centres implementing the Organic and Ecological Agriculture (EOA-I) initiative under the WASEOA secretariat.

The majority bloc of Liberia's House of Legislature will hold new elections for the country's representatives at the ECOWAS Parliament on February 25, 2025, replacing the current delegation. Frontpageafrica reports that this decision follows concerns regarding the selection process and adherence to ECOWAS protocols, initiated by calls from representatives James Kolleh and Johnson Williams to withdraw current delegates. Nimba County Representative Taa Wongbe, slated for replacement, opposed the decision, asserting on social media that the current delegates will remain until 2028.

Calls for justice for alleged torture victim

A group of concerned citizens in Liberia is demanding justice for Momo David, an alleged torture victim, following an incident involving Chinese national Michael Shio and his security guards. They were arrested for allegedly assaulting David under accusations of theft on January 13, 2025. Reports indicate he was restrained and tortured in a bathroom. According to the Liberianinvestigator , controversy arose when Shio was reportedly released shortly after his arrest, allegedly on the order of a judicial official. At a press conference, spokesperson Alpha G. Gray condemned the assault and warned of the dangers of inaction by police and the judiciary. He highlighted the severity of the attack, calling it a violation of human rights, and urged the government to act promptly to restore public confidence in the justice system. Gray emphasised this case as a pivotal moment for President Joseph Boakai’s administration, calling for nationwide unity against impunity and injustice.

Corruption charges

Former Liberia Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and co-defendants, including ex-Justice Minister Cllr. Nyanti Tuan is seeking to dismiss their corruption case, claiming it's politically motivated and lacks evidence. They are accused of financial misconduct involving over one billion Liberian dollars and half a million U.S. dollars transferred from the Central Bank of Liberia to the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) without proper documentation. The defence argues that these transfers were legitimate national security operations, asserting immunity under the National Security Reform and Intelligence Act, Smartnewsliberia reports. They also claim the prosecution has provided no clear evidence of wrongdoing. The court is expected to rule on the motion to dismiss, with ongoing scrutiny of the government’s failure to produce key financial documents related to the case.

Commissioning of new diplomats

Liberia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, has commissioned Mr. Johnnie F. Fallah as Consul General in Dakhla, Morocco, and Mr. Baba Sillah as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United Nations. Frontpageafrica reports that the appointments, endorsed by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, aim to enhance Liberia's international engagement and advance economic development. Minister Nyanti emphasised the importance of economic diplomacy for job creation and sustainable futures in Liberia while reaffirming the alignment with the nation's transformation goals through the ARREST AGENDA. She expressed confidence in the new diplomats' capacity to strengthen Liberia’s global presence and partnerships.

Gov’t takes step to strengthen healthcare

Twenty-six top medical professionals from the U.S., Canada, Europe, and other regions have arrived in Liberia for the 2025 Liberia Medical Mission (LMM), aimed at improving the country’s struggling healthcare system. This initiative, facilitated by the Liberian government and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, includes the distribution of over $500,000 worth of life-saving medicines across five counties: Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Bomi, Grand Bassa, and Montserrado. At a reception, President Boakai emphasised the government's commitment to addressing healthcare challenges inherited from previous administrations and engaging the Liberian diaspora in rebuilding the nation. The LMM will provide critical services, including cataract surgeries, mental health training, CPR and emergency training, and repairs of biomedical equipment at key hospitals, Liberianobserver reports.

Burkina Faso launches its first electric car  

Burkina Faso has unveiled its first electric car, designed and built entirely by local company ITAOUA.

This is the first time the country has produced its own car, marking a major step forward in technology and industry. Read more here .

  West Africa bloc announces formal exit of three junta-led states

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) on January 29, announced the formal exit of junta-led Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the bloc following their withdrawal last year. Read more here .

Uganda's top court bans military prosecution of civilians

Uganda's top court said on January 31, that trying civilians in military courts was unconstitutional and ordered any ongoing prosecutions to stop immediately. The ruling will offer relief to a key opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who has been undergoing trial by the country's general court martial, his lawyer Erias Lukwago said, adding that the defendant would now not appear in court on Monday as originally scheduled. Read more here .

Asia

Myanmar imposes travel ban on young people amid new army draft rules

Myanmar’s military government has introduced new rules under its conscription law, including a ban on foreign travel for people who are eligible for military service. The changes, announced on January 23, 2025, have sparked criticism from political groups and legal experts, who say the new rules will increase oppression in the country. Read more here .

More Indians losing hope of improved quality of life under Modi, survey shows

More Indians are becoming less hopeful about their quality of life as stagnant wages and higher living costs cloud future prospects, a survey showed, in disappointing news for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of this week's annual budget. Read more here .

Taiwan says government departments should not use DeepSeek, citing security concerns

Taiwan's digital ministry said on January 31 that government departments should not use Chinese startup DeepSeek's artificial intelligence (AI) service, saying that as the product is from China it represents a security concern. In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs said that government departments are not allowed to use DeepSeek's AI service to "prevent information security risks". Read more here .

Latin America

Brazil, U.S. officials agree to discuss how deported migrants are treated

Brazilian and U.S. officials agreed on January 29, to discuss regularly how Washington will deport migrants from Brazil, as some leaders in Latin America have balked at what they see as poor treatment of their citizens on repatriation flights. Brazil's foreign affairs ministry said in a social media post that the talks will be led by officials from the ministry and the U.S. embassy, after the ministry summoned a senior U.S. diplomat earlier this week over the treatment of recent deportees that local officials condemned as degrading. Read more here .

Colombian planes carrying US deportees arrive in Bogota after Trump-Petro row

Two Colombian air force planes carrying deportees from the United States arrived in Bogota on January 28, the government said, paving the way for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to lift visa restrictions and other measures on Colombian citizens. Read more here .

Mexico's Sheinbaum awaits US tariff deadline with 'cool head'

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on January 31, that she will wait with a cool head for a decision from the United States ahead of a Saturday deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. Read more here .

The three countries, all led by military governments, say the passport will replace the ECOWAS passport. However, people can still use their ECOWAS passports until they expire. Citizens are encouraged to register for the new AES passport.

Why these countries have left ECOWAS

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger left ECOWAS in January 2024, accusing the regional group of not supporting them enough in their fight against terrorism.

They also claim ECOWAS was siding with France, their former colonial power. The withdrawal became official on January 29, 2025.

Since leaving, they have strengthened military and political ties with Russia and other countries. They are also working on forming a joint military force of 5,000 soldiers to fight insurgents in the Sahel region.

What it means for travellers

Before leaving ECOWAS, citizens of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger could travel visa-free to other West African countries. Now, it is not clear if they will need visas to visit ECOWAS nations.

For now, ECOWAS has advised its member states to continue recognising passports from these three countries until further notice. But in the future, travellers may face new border rules, longer checks, or higher fees.

People with family in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger may also face travel difficulties. Many West African families have relatives across borders, especially in areas like Nigeria-Niger and Ghana-Burkina Faso. If new visa rules come in, visiting loved ones may become harder and more expensive.

ECOWAS response

ECOWAS says it will keep its doors open if the three countries want to return. It has also given them a six-month grace period until July to reconsider.

In the meantime, ECOWAS has urged its members to continue allowing trade with Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger under the usual agreements. The regional body says it wants to avoid confusion and economic harm during this transition.

However, leaving ECOWAS means these countries will no longer enjoy duty-free trade within the bloc. Since all three are landlocked, they rely on coastal nations like Ghana, Nigeria, and Benin for international trade. If new tariffs and border restrictions are introduced, goods could become more expensive, affecting businesses and consumers.

What happens next?

The launch of the new passport marks a major shift in West Africa. It signals that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are moving further away from ECOWAS and towards their own independent alliance.

While the full impact is still unclear, many experts believe this split could reshape travel, trade, and security in the region. For now, citizens will have to wait and see how governments handle the changes in the months ahead.

The three countries have teamed up to form a separate confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

They had formally notified ECOWAS of their plan for an "immediate" withdrawal in January 2024, alleging the organisation's excessive dependence on France in particular. Paris has become the common enemy of the three juntas, which now favour partnerships with countries such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.

In Niger, thousands of people led by members of the military regime gathered around a square in the capital Niamey on Jan. 28 before heading towards the nearby National Assembly.

They chanted slogans hostile to French President Emmanuel Macron as well as other leaders in the region with whom Niger has strained relations, such as Benin, Nigeria and Ivory Coast.

"On January 28, 2024, we announced our exit from ECOWAS with immediate effect. Many thought it was a joke, that we were going to go back on our decision," AFP quoted Ibro Amadou Bacharou, private chief of staff of Niger's junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani. "This is ending today, there is nothing left between ECOWAS and us," he said. 

"It is in our collective interest to work together in all areas, including in the area of security," Touray tells a press conference in Nigeria's capital Abuja where ECOWAS' headquarters is located.

Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, addressing the crowd, described the withdrawal as a step toward Burkina Faso's liberation from external control. “ECOWAS is one of the strings of our enslavement that was cut cleanly on 28 January 2024,” Ouédraogo declared. “We know that there are other strings left, but our three heads of state still hold the axe firmly. In other words, all the strings will be cut without a second thought.”

Calling for continued vigilance, the Prime Minister emphasised the struggle for freedom. “This is a message of remobilisation,” he urged. “We must remain vigilant because the imperialists and their puppet institutions will never give up. Freedom is not granted; it is fought for. It comes at the price of sweat and blood.”

Demonstrators echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments, expressing unwavering support for the decision. Asseta Salogo, one of the protesters, celebrated the move as long overdue. “It’s a very good decision, a good decision that they’ve made,” Salogo told the AFP. “We’ve been waiting for this decision for a long time. Right now, we’re saying: ECOWAS to bat, forever. We can't go back. Either it’s our bodies they’re going to trample on so that we can come back, or it’s corpses they’re going to use to create their damned ECOWAS.”

Another protester, Faraga Bazié, reinforced the irreversible nature of the decision, remarking that, “under no circumstances are we going to look in the rear-view mirror again,” he said. “This doesn't represent the people of the Sahel, Burkina Faso, Mali, or Niger. We take responsibility for ourselves, and history has brought us together. There were just some people who refused to allow this union to see the light of day through a puppet institution, as the Prime Minister has just said.”

The withdrawal of the three, now united in a confederation called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), takes effect on 29 January, despite all three countries having ignored ECOWAS's call to extend the period by six months to try and find a solution.

The three Alliance of Sahel States will be launching the new passport in the coming days as part of their withdrawal from the wider regional bloc Ecowas.

The three indicated plans to exit Ecowas after a series of coups between 2020 and 2023 earned them sanctions from Ecowas.

Goita who is also acting president of the Sahel alliance revealed plans to launch a joint service that will promote information between all three states.

"In the coming days, a new biometric passport of the [alliance] will be put into circulation with the aim of harmonising travel documents in our common area," Malian junta leader Col Assimi Goïta was quoted .

Prior to this, Burkina Faso had revealed plans to launch a new biometric passport without the Ecowas logo.

It remains unclear how the new passports will affect travelling within Ecowas states where nationals of these countries enjoyed visa-free movement using the Ecowas passport.

Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said in July that the region risked disintegration and worsening insecurity after junta-led Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger made clear their intentions to leave the bloc by signing a confederation treaty.

What they said

Security Minister Mahamadou Sana told reporters , "On this passport, there's no ECOWAS logo and no mention of ECOWAS either. Since January, Burkina Faso has decided to withdraw from this body, and this is just a realisation of the action already taken by Burkina Faso".

The Nigerian government endorsed the initiative, viewing it as a catalyst for growth and development across West Africa, Punch Nigeria reports.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, emphasised the significance of the ECO in ensuring economic growth and development.

“The vision for the ECO extends beyond a mere currency. It aspires to become a cornerstone of economic integration, streamlining trade and bolstering monetary stability across the region,” he said.

The ECOWAS single currency will be featured in the new three-in-one identity card planned by the Nigerian National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which is set for roll-out in August.

During the regional bloc’s 65th Ordinary Session held in Abuja, Nigeria, on July 7, authorities instructed the High-Level Committee on the Practical Modalities for the creation of the ECO to submit a draft Supplementary Act. This act will define the modalities for the participation of Member States in the Monetary Union and will be presented at the first Ordinary Session in 2025.

The ministers agreed on a text establishing the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a plan that was initially disclosed in February .

"The objective was to finalise the draft text relating to the institutionalization and operationalization of the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)," stated Niger Foreign Minister Bakary Yaou Sangare.

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, following a meeting with the head of the Nigerien junta, General Abdourahamane Tiani, declared, "We can consider very clearly, today, that the Confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has been born."

The heads of state from the three countries are set to formally adopt the text at an upcoming summit, although the exact date is yet to be specified, according to reports by Punch Nigeria .

The three military-ruled West African nations announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in a joint statement on January 28. This decision followed sanctions from the regional bloc aimed at pressuring their military leaders to revert to democratic governance.

The three states have also ended their ties with former colonial ruler France . This move followed a series of events beginning with Mali expelling French soldiers in 2022, followed by Niger in early 2023, and Burkina Faso in late 2023. These actions were taken amid accusations that France had failed to curb jihadist violence in the region.

What they said

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, said , “The authority takes note that the withdrawal will have political, social, socio-economic, financial, and institutional implications for the three countries as well as for ECOWAS as a region. The authority recalls that within the framework of regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism, and organised crime, the three countries benefited from about 100 million US dollars mobilised by UMR within the context of the ECOWAS plan of action against terrorism. Moreover, some funds, about 7.5 million US dollars, are being allocated towards supporting the three countries in acquiring equipment to help their fight against terrorism." He added that “the withdrawal will affect security cooperation in terms of sharing intelligence and participation in regional counterterrorism initiatives. Such as the Accra initiative and the Multinational Joint Task Force.” He further noted that such actions “will automatically affect the immigration status of the citizens, as they may be required to obtain visas to travel around the region. Citizens may no longer be able to reside or set up businesses under an ECOWAS arrangement and may be subject to diverse national laws.”

Although the ECOWAS treaty provisions typically bind member states to a one-year timeframe following notification of withdrawal, Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 7 in a statement posted online said it will not respect the one-year timeframe.

The West African nation said ECOWAS had rendered the treaty "inoperative" when it violated its regulations by imposing sanctions on Mali including restricting Mali's right of access to the sea and freedom of transit, provided for by the UN Convention and closing its borders.

“In response, The Ministry reiterates the irreversible nature of the decision of the Government of the Republic of Mali to withdraw without delay from ECOWAS due to the violation by the Organization of its own texts, as well as the other legitimate reasons mentioned in Joint Communiqué N °001 of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger, dated January 28, 2024,” the statement said.

"Consequently, the Government of the Republic of Mali is no longer bound by the deadline constraints mentioned in Article 91 of the Revised Treaty and referred to by the Commission," the statement added.

Mali has been a founding member of ECOWAS back in 1975. ECOWAS suspended the country and imposed heavy sanctions after a military coup overthrew the elected civilian government in 2021.

ECOWAS who viewed Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger as important members reiterated its commitment to finding a negotiated solution since the announcement of their withdrawal from the bloc.

“If you put all three states together, their economies will not equal half of what Nigeria’s economy is worth. So, in terms of economic size, it is very insignificant,” he told GSW in an interview.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, three West African states led by the military, announced on January 28 they were immediately leaving the 15-member regional bloc ECOWAS where goods and citizens move freely. This comes after the suspension of the three nations by ECOWAS in the aftermath of coups in the respective countries.

“If they move, no member state of ECOWAS can question their leadership or its legitimacy. Domestically, these states are going to oppress the opposition. ECOWAS from Abuja has been supporting the opposition, pushing their agenda by telling the junta to move towards transition so that political parties can participate,” he said.

The Sahel Region

These countries are landlocked, which means they do not have access to the coast so they have to rely on the ports of their neighbour coastal states for imports and exports. Even though they can resort to non-member ECOWAS states, “It is more economically efficient to import their goods through coastal ECOWAS member states. If they use any other routes, it is going to be longer, sophisticated and costly for them,” Felix told GSW.

Ethnic groups that live across the borders of ECOWAS member states and the Sahel trio will face difficulties because it is going to disrupt the social and cultural life they have built over the years.

If they exit ECOWAS, visa-free travel and the right of settlement and work in member countries for citizens of member states will all come to an end. “Kenyans and South Africans trying to enter Nigeria may even get easier than Nigeriens because they are approaching the organization with hostility,” Felix told GSW.

This decision will also affect the support these countries receive from ECOWAS. For instance, in 2013, it took the ECOWAS forces to intervene and stop the JNIM militant group and other militants from overrunning cities in the Sahel.

“Perhaps they see another alternative in Russia,” Felix suspected that it might be the reason for their exit from the bloc.

ECOWAS

ECOWAS, responding to the trio's exit, expresses readiness to negotiate their stay. However, their exit will signal the weakness and failure of the regional bloc, particularly that of the current leadership.

Their exit could also compromise trade and push back the return to civilian rule in the coup countries.

The Sahel has emerged as a global centre for global terrorism, representing 43% of global terrorism-related fatalities in 2022. West Africa is already witnessing the overflow of violent extremism from the Sahel into typically peaceful coastal states like Togo, Benin, and the Ivory Coast.

There is now the possibility of a weak border cooperation to stop extremists from entering the coastal states. “Instead of cooperating with ECOWAS, they might sabotage the bloc by allowing these extremists to cross into ECOWAS member states and cause problems,” Felix said.

The tough stance that ECOWAS took in a bid to force them to return to democratic rule, including heavy sanctions, seems to have intensified the positions of the military-led nations, creating a growing fault line within the regional bloc.

What they said

Further, it said, “A key driver of the downgrade is also the deterioration in Niger’s institutions and governance strength, reflected in the suspension of the constitutional order, with immediate repercussions on the government’s access to international donor support and security cooperation, which otherwise provide key support to Niger’s credit profile.” In addition, “the longer sanctions , including border closures and freezes of service transactions, remain in place, the greater the adverse economic repercussions within the landlocked country.”

While the postponement is the first in the history of Senegal, the decision to postpone the election was influenced by a disagreement between the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court, particularly related to the rejection of certain candidates.

Meanwhile, ECOWAS commended President Sall for “upholding his earlier decision not to run for another term, and encouraged him to continue to defend and protect Senegal’s long-standing democratic tradition.”

It would be recalled that President Macky Sall of Senegal announced the indefinite postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 25, just hours before the official commencement of campaigning.

In an address to the nation, President Sall stated that he signed a decree revoking the previous measure that set the election date. “I will begin an open national dialogue to bring together the conditions for a free, transparent, and inclusive election,” said President Sall. The decision was made as lawmakers were investigating two Constitutional Council judges whose integrity in the election process had come under scrutiny.

What they said

The military leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, in a joint press release that was signed in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on January 28, 2024, said, “ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure… The organization did not assist our States in the framework of our existential fight against terrorism and worse insecurity when our States decided to take their destiny into their own hands, it imposed irrational and unacceptable illegal, illegitimate, inhumane and irresponsible sanctions.” The ECOWAS regional bloc in response to the withdrawal also said in a press statement, “The ECOWAS Commission is yet to receive any direct formal notification from the three Member States about their intention to withdraw from the Community. The ECOWAS Commission, as directed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, has been working assiduously with these countries for the restoration of constitutional order. Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority remains committed to finding a negotiated solution to the political impasse. The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves.”

In Burkina Faso, President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was ousted through an uprising on September 30, 2022, after which Captain Ibrahim Traoré took over power as an interim leader.

Niger joined the fray on July 26, 2023, when Presidential Guard Commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani declared himself the leader of the military junta after a successful coup d’état.

Following the overthrows in each of these countries, the respective junta leaders have made steady efforts to move away from France which had been a bilateral partner.

Security

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have all requested the withdrawal of French troops from their respective countries. This forms part of efforts to scale down France’s military presence in the region.

The withdrawal began in Mali with the last batch of French troops leaving the country in August 2022. A statement from the French military said that the final contingent of the Barkhane force on Malian territory crossed the border on August 16, 2022.

In February 2023, the Burkina Faso army announced the closure of operations of French forces in the country. On February 18, a flag-lowering ceremony was held to mark the occasion at a camp on the outskirts of the capital Ouagadougou.

And in Niger, France had begun withdrawing its troops with about 1,500 soldiers leaving the country in December 2023.

The most recent to withdraw its mission in Mali was the United Nations after 10 years of peacekeeping in the country following allegations that the force was inadequate to deal with violent extremism in the country.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are now no longer members of the France-supported G5 Sahel alliance joint force with Chad and Mauritania which was launched in 2017 to tackle Islamist groups in the region.

The three states have since signed a security pact to support each other in the face of external aggression or rebellion. Amidst efforts to tackle insurgency and terrorism linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, the Alliance of Sahel States aims to establish a collective defence and mutual assistance framework as a defence mechanism, depending solely on their efforts while trying to rope in Russia whom they say is a better option compared to France.

Language

French is no longer an official language in Mali and Burkina Faso. Mali began the move away from its colonial language earlier in 2023 when it modified its constitution by referendum, moving French to a working language.

Burkina Faso followed suit by introducing a bill to elevate indigenous languages as the official language while dropping French as a working language. With this new direction, all official documents and businesses do not need to be written in French, and local languages can be used officially in any public administration capacity.

Monetary shift

All three states may soon be using a single currency with attempts to form a monetary alliance. Niger’s General Abdourahamane Tchiani gave a hint about this after a visit to Mali and Burkina Faso.

The countries currently use the West African CFA Franc which is pegged to the euro, together with five others in the region.

Burkina Faso’s military leader Ibrahim Traoré also hinted at plans to establish closer economic alliance ties with Mali and Niger.

A shift from the eight-member West African monetary union to adopt a new currency may further isolate Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, who have called their new union the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

ECOWAS restrictions

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are still making decisions amidst stringent sanctions slapped by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Sanctions including economic and financial restrictions between member states have been placed on these countries as a means to force them back to constitutional democracy.

Mali and Burkina Faso were suspended from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after undergoing military coups since 2020. Niger has also been suspended following its refusal to reinstate former President Mohamed Bazoum.

Meanwhile, plans have been indicated by ECOWAS to establish a committee of three leaders to negotiate with Niger’s military junta on a possible transition to democracy and easing of sanctions.

Efforts of solidarity are intensifying to address the fuel crisis stemming from the recent fire at Guinea's primary oil depot. Hydrocarbon carriers, playing a crucial role in the supply chain, have mobilized at least 400 trucks, prepared for immediate deployment to help curb the fuel crisis in the country. “We, in the hydrocarbon transport sector, have gathered all our logistics to make it available to the State. Fortunately, the friendly countries have extended us a hand of fraternity to help us so that this crisis does not have enough negative impacts on the functioning of our country. That's why we put vehicles. SONAP, too, is making all the arrangements. Had it not been for this incident, there would not have been all this problem. Because the government, through the Sonap, has imported enough fuel,” Elhadj Nana Télico, the leader of the employers' section for oil tankers, told African Guinee .

Conakry's fire: Government creates six technical commissions

In response to the fire at Conakry's largest fuel depot, the Guinean government has created six technical commissions to effectively manage the crisis. These commissions include the Health, Safety, and Environment Committee; the Victim Support Committee; the Energy, Transport, and Logistics Committee; the Communication and Awareness Committee; the Evaluation and Compensation Committee; and the Economy, Finance, and Partner Relations Committee. Minister of Security and Civil Protection, Bachir Diallo, announced this development on Saturday, December 23, 2023, in a decree , Guinee Matin reports. Each commission is tasked with specific missions and responsibilities, and their operational budgets are sourced from the crisis management budget designated for the aftermath of the Kaloum hydrocarbon depot fire.

National team squad for Africa Cup of Nations

Guinea's national coach, Kaba Diawara, has unveiled the 25-man squad that will represent the country in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. The team comprises three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders, and six attackers, Guineelive reports. The full list includes; Goalkeepers: Aly Keita, Moussa Camara, Ibrahim Koné; Defenders: Antoine Conté, Ibrahima Diakité, Issiagha Sylla, Sékou Oumar Sylla, Mouctar Diakhaby, Julien Janvier, Saidou Sow, Mohamed Aly Camara; Midfielders: Amadou Diawara, Seydouba Cissé, Aguibou Camara, Naby Keita, Aboudoulaye Touré, Mory Konaté, Moriba Kourouma, Karim Cissé; Attackers: Guilavogui Morgan, Serhou Guirassy, François Kamano, Mohamed Bayo, Facinet Conté, José Martinez Kanté. From the list, Fascinet Conté who currently plays for Bastia in the French League 2 is the only new addition to the team.

Conakry fire finally extinguished

The civil protection services, assisted by teams from Senegal, France, Ivory Coast, and other substitutes, successfully extinguished the catastrophic fire that ravaged Guinea's primary hydrocarbon depot on the night of December 17 to 18, 2023, after six days of battle, Africa Guinee reports. "The coordination was exceptional. The operation was well coordinated under the leadership of General Bachir Diallo. Huge efforts have been made. There have been many difficulties but the objective has been achieved, it is the main thing. We have an effective fire service because even before the arrival of foreign support, we had been able to organize ourselves and circumscribe the fire" Director General of Civil Protection, Colonel Mohamed Camara said. He added "When we are in extinguishing operations, we use emulsifiers prepared from chemicals. They are mixed with water to make the foaming solution to extinguish this fire. This solution was up on three firefighters, they were slightly affected. Apart from these cases, we have caused zero victims," says the Director General of Civil Protection.

ECOWAS sympathizes with Guinea

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed sympathy with Guinea following the December 17th explosion at the country's major fuel depot. In an official statement, the sub-regional institution conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims and extended sympathy to the Government and People of Guinea, ActuGuinee reports. The leadership of the organisation has further member states and the international community to provide support to Guinea during these challenging times.

Dussey represented President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo who is serving as a mediator to help resolve the crisis in Niger.

“A very enriching working session with the Prime Minister and my foreign affairs counterpart from Niger. We worked and agreed on the content of the timing of the transition,” the minister is quoted by local media ActuNiger .

“As soon as this work is done, we will, from now on, present this to the heads of state mediators and to the ECOWAS commission of this content that we agreed together," he added.

Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said the finalization of the agreement will be at the beginning of January and a precise timeline of the transition will be determined and then presented to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) .

On July 26, 2023, soldiers from the Nigerien presidential guard staged a coup and detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Niger including border closures by Niger's neighbours and a cut in power supplies by Nigeria , which led to a shortage of medicines and food, causing hardships.

On November 21, the transitional authority petitioned the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice to suspend the sanctions but the case was dismissed. "The military junta is not a recognised government and is not a member of the ECOWAS state and therefore lacks the locus to institute this action. The case is hereby dismissed," Justice Dupe Atoki ruled was quoted by international media Reuters .

What they said?

ECOWAS President Omar Alieu Touray at the summit said “Based on the outcomes of the engagement by the committee of heads of state with the CNSP, the authority will progressively ease the sanctions imposed on Niger… Failure by the CNSP to comply with the outcomes of engagement with the committee, ECOWAS shall maintain all sanctions.” President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a statement at the ECOWAS summit also said, “On our part, we should be prepared to provide them with technical and material support, to ensure the achievement of these strategic goals.”

President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio delivered his second address to the citizens of the West African nation following the alleged coup attempt on November 26. President Bio in his address promised to uphold the rule of law. “No matter the provocation, our response to the events of November 26 will be measured and determined along only one parameter – the rule of law, nothing more, nothing less…Therefore, let all be rest assured that we will follow the evidence wherever it leads us, and all those found culpable – no matter their status, shall be held fully to account for their actions within the confines of the law,” Bio in his address said.

Opposition arrests for alleged coup

The Sierra Leone police force has carried out a series of arrests of senior members of the main opposition political party All People’s Congress (APC) following the government’s claim of an attempted coup, local media the Sierra Leone Telegraph reports. According to the publication, the security personnel searched the residence of the former president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma on November 30. The former president until 2018 was also the leader and chairman of the APC.

Attempted coup casualties

The government of Sierra Leone has announced that fourteen Sierra Leone Armed Forces personnel lost their lives during the recent coup attempt. In a press briefing on November 28, the Sierra Leone minister of information told reporters that in addition to the fourteen soldiers that were killed, one police officer, one correctional officer and a private guard were also killed. He added that military officers and civilians have been arrested." The security situation is under control and we continue to pursue those who attempted to unseat a legitimate government by use of force," the minister is quoted by local media Politico .

ECOWAS delegation

A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Nigerian government visited Freetown, Sierra Leone, to address the coup attempt in the West African country. The delegation met with Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio on November 27 a day after the coup attempt. “A High-level delegation from ECOWAS Commission and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has visited Freetown, Sierra Leone following a plot by certain individuals to acquire arms and disturb the peace and constitutional order in the country,” the ECOWAS in a statement said.

People living with HIV

Approximately 76,000 people in Sierra Leone are living with HIV. The key demographic of people living with HIV in the West African country are female sex workers at 11.8%, homosexuals at 3.2%, syringe drug users at 4.2% and prisoners at 3.7%, Politico reported. The director of the Aids commission in Sierra Leone has said that women are more affected by the disease. " For men, the HIV prevalence rate is 1.1% and for females 2.2%...The numbers of HIV patients have not been increasing," he is quoted by Politico.

Intense shootings occurred around the Guinea-Bissau presidential palace on December 1 2023. Heavily armed military persons from the Intervention and Reserve Brigade (BIR) of the National Guard are said to have engaged in shooting and allegedly released some government officials including a minister from the main opposition party detained for suspected misuse of public funds. The incident according to local news outlet Rispito resulted in deaths and injuries and created panic among the population.

Attempted coup allegations

President of Guinea-Bissau, General Umaro Sissoco Embaló has described the incident as an attempted coup d'état financed by some politicians and moral actors. According to local news outlet Odemocrata , the president revealed in a statement to media persons that several vehicles were ceased and members of the BIR forces were detained, with some confessing and mentioning names of persons who financed the action. He also assured that the event will be investigated and updates made clear to everyone.

ECOWAS response to chaos

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned the violence that broke out in Guinea-Bissau and has called for the persecution of those involved in the incident intended to disrupt the constitutional order of the country. In a statement , ECOWAS further expressed solidarity with the people and constitutional authority of Guinea-Bissau.

IMF grants

The Board of Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have concluded a third assessment under the credit mechanism extended to Guinea-Bissau, allowing the disbursement of a sum of 8.23 ​​million US dollars to support the country’s balance of payments.  According to Odemocrata , the move which was completed on November 30, 2023, was announced through a press release issued by the Communication Office of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in which it recalls that the three-year agreement, approved on January 30, 2023, aims to guarantee debt sustainability, improve governance and reduce corruption while creating fiscal space for inclusive growth.

Parliament approvals

 Ginea-Bissau’s parliament has approved the General State Budget Law for the 2023 financial year. This was approved by the National Popular Assembly (ANP) on November 28, 2023, with 92 votes from the deputies present. According to Rispito , the information was contained in a note from the Press Office of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. “To support the 2023 budget execution, the Government will collect taxes, fees, contributions and other revenues provided for by current legislation and in accordance with the changes contained in the current law,” the statement further noted.

What they said

Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako said that there’s an urgent need to address the glaring threat of the oceans globally. “The urgent need to address this threat has led Nigeria and its sister ECOWAS member nations to unite and call on the international community to be more ambitious in its response. Our appeal for an ambitious global response to the biodiversity crisis is urgent and focused," he was quoted by Nigerian media Punch . The Director of the Environment Department, ECOWAS, Moussa Leko, also indicated that “The task upon us today is to ensure that the vital ECOWAS appeal to the global community, calling for an ambitious global response to the biodiversity crisis continues to be heard loud and clear. “This appeal represents a fundamental truth, which is that we must take robust action now, to protect our planet. We must urgently protect biodiversity to preserve ecosystem services vital to human well-being, and the livelihood of our local communities. Losing these services or standing idle while our communities go impoverished and hungry would result in an unimaginable future. It cannot be considered an option.”