Month: October 2025

Mali authorities urged to end repression of political opponents and free former prime minister

Ousmane Tandja

A two-year prison sentence, including one year without parole and a fine of 500,000 West African CFA francs (€762, with €1 symbolic for the Malian state), handed to former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara for accusations such as damaging the state’s reputation, is nothing short of a mockery of justice, Amnesty International has warned. The organization is calling for his immediate release, alongside all individuals detained solely for expressing their political views. « The conviction and sentence imposed on Moussa Mara reflect the Malian authorities’ persistent disregard for the country’s…

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Malians demand universal healthcare access and government action

Aïcha Abdou

The Mali government faces mounting pressure from its citizens, who rank universal healthcare as their top priority for state intervention. Despite recent improvements in key health indicators—such as reduced infant and under-5 mortality rates, lower maternal deaths, and increased life expectancy—the nation still grapples with systemic barriers to quality medical services. In 2018, Mali launched a bold universal health insurance plan, yet critical challenges persist. A severe shortage of trained medical professionals, chronic underfunding, and persistent political instability have severely limited healthcare accessibility, particularly in rural regions. Shockingly, over half…

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Urgent plea from unhcr for Sahel crisis as displacement surges

Ousmane Tandja

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued a critical appeal for immediate international support to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region. Nearly 4 million people have been displaced across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and neighboring countries—a staggering 66% increase over the past five years. This surge is driven by escalating insecurity, limited access to essential services, and the worsening impacts of climate change. Regional displacement trends and challenges While most internally displaced persons (IDPs) remain within their country of origin, cross-border movements are becoming…

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Unhcr calls for urgent global aid for 4 million displaced in the Sahel

Ousmane Tandja

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued an urgent plea on Friday for extensive international backing to bolster its operations across the Sahel region. Currently, nearly 4 million individuals are internally displaced or have crossed borders in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and surrounding nations. This staggering figure represents an increase of approximately two-thirds over the past five years, driven by pervasive insecurity, limited access to fundamental services, and the escalating impacts of climate change. During a press briefing, Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, Director of the UNHCR Regional Bureau for West…

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Niger faces human rights crisis after 2023 coup: key issues ahead of 2026 review

Aïcha Abdou

This human rights assessment has been prepared in anticipation of Niger’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR), scheduled for April-May 2026. The analysis focuses on the nation’s progress—or lack thereof—in implementing recommendations from its last UPR, particularly regarding arbitrary detentions, illegal arrests, the plight of human rights defenders, and press freedom. The report also scrutinizes Niger’s domestic legal framework in relation to freedom of expression and media rights, highlighting critical gaps and ongoing violations under the current political climate. By Aïcha Abdou — Senior correspondent

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Niger’s deepening economic crisis: a nation confronts severe hunger

Aïcha Abdou

Issu de la série Between junta and jihadists: a report from Niger, at the heart of a besieged nation Caught between the terror of armed factions and the diplomatic isolation stemming from the junta led by Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger is currently enduring one of the most severe economic and security crises in its modern history. This series of reports delves into regions controlled by jihadists, where mere survival has become an act of profound resistance. Sommaire As dusk descends upon the outskirts of Zinder, in southeastern Niger, Rabiatou, 29, packs…

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Mali’s crackdown on dissent: Moussa Mara’s trial sparks free speech fears

Aïcha Abdou

Mali’s judicial system targets former PM in free speech case In Bamako, the capital of Mali, former Prime Minister Moussa Mara stood calmly in court last Tuesday as judges dismissed his legal team’s request for provisional release. Instead, prosecutors pushed for a two-year prison sentence—an outcome that underscores the military junta’s ongoing crackdown on political opposition and dissent in the country. Click to expand Image A social media post sparks legal trouble Security forces arrested Moussa Mara—who served as Prime Minister for eight months between 2014 and 2015—on August 1st.…

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