Many African countries are anxious not to be sucked into a new Cold War and want to maintain cordial relations with both Russia and the West
How musical icon Aicha Kone has turned her back and microphone on the old political class in West Africa
Mali’s “king of kora” Toumani Diabaté died last Friday, 19 July, at the age of 58
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have left the Economic Community of West African States, which could adversely affect trade and the end of military rule
Why foreign powers France, Russia, China and the United States are interested in the region
Burkina Faso and Mali may pay Rosatom to build nuclear plants. But why indenture yourself when energy emancipation is staring you in the face?
Violence has risen since August as the military, rebels and jihadists battle for control
Rigging elections has been a national sport in too many of the region’s territories – will Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville be next?
Far too many African assets are still under the control of Western powers
At the core of the Sahel coups is the removal of governments and leaders either historically not in support of the US/France or moving away from external domination
Activist-turned-banker Lincoln Mali’s memoir Blazing a Trail is well intentioned but sadly it misses the mark in many ways
A Malian court last month sentenced the troops to 20 years in prison
Mansa Musa ruled Mali when it was the world’s gold hub, travelled and invested in religion and education, but remains a mystery
The expanding use of private military and security companies in recent years suggests that they may take a leading role as the Ukraine conflict develops
To celebrate International Museum Day, we look at10 culturally-relevant museums in African
French troops have now begun to leave Mali, but they are not returning to France. They will be sent to neighbouring Niger
The world’s poorest country is nevertheless host to 61 000 Malians who fled jihadist attacks
This time, the civilian government managed to hang on to power
Many among the deposed African heads of state held major positions in the AU at the peak of their atrocities back home
Africa is again becoming the stage for the proxy wars of foreign powers
France’s role as international security guarantor in Francophone Africa is being contested, especially in the Central African Republic and Mali
Mali’s junta now finds itself ostracised by its regional peers – and at the centre of a dangerous new geopolitical game.
Conflict hotspots, most in the Sahel region, will continue to dominate the news this year, while a number of countries will hold key elections.
The highlights of 2021 in Africa
Why are coups happening more frequently? The most significant trend is the deepening democratic deficit across many African countries, and a corresponding decline in effective enforcement of democratic norms
What’s been happening on the continent this week?
The well-being of about 3.2-billion people, 40% of the world’s population, has been harmed
Malian officers upset with a government reshuffle have detained the president and prime minister at an army camp outside the capital
This performative documentary restores the historical record of the ‘great king’ of Mali
Guinea is fighting the virus with a vaccine used in the DRC, while their neighbours Sierra Leone and Liberia increase border surveillance
In exclusive interviews, former officials explain what has gone wrong and why the United States keeps making the same mistakes
Militias have increased in numbers and strength, and now outnumber state security forces by four to one