Author: Aïcha Abdou

Journalist

Niger advances toward health sovereignty at dakhla summit

Aïcha Abdou

The Nigerien Minister of Public Health and Hygiene, Colonel Major Garba Hakimi, highlighted on November 29 in Dakhla, Morocco, that Niger is making significant strides toward achieving health sovereignty during a press briefing following the two-day African Summit on Health Systems and Health Sovereignty. Health sovereignty remains a cornerstone of Niger’s leadership vision, championed by key figures such as General Abdourahmane Tiani, President of the Republic, alongside the Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. These authorities are accelerating efforts to strengthen the healthcare sector, the minister emphasized. Infrastructure…

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“La situation au Mali est le résultat d’un échec patent de la Russie”, affirme Jean-Noël Barrot

Aïcha Abdou

“La situation au Mali est le résultat d’un échec patent de la Russie”, affirme Jean-Noël Barrot Le ministre des Affaires étrangères Jean-Noël Barrot est interrogé au Sénat, mercredi 26 novembre, sur la situation au Mali, où la pression des groupes djihadistes est croissante sur Bamako. Le 26/11/2025 à 17h05 | Durée : 1:02 Partager X By Aïcha Abdou — Senior correspondent

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Massacres in central Mali villages linked to armed forces

Aïcha Abdou

Civilian killings in Ségou region amid escalating violence In a series of brutal attacks during October, Malian armed forces and allied Dozo militias executed at least 31 civilians in two villages under the control of Islamist insurgents. The killings occurred on October 2 in Kamona and October 13 in Balle, both located in central Mali’s Ségou region—a hotbed of conflict between government forces and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate. Execution-style killings and village burnings On October 2, soldiers in camouflage uniforms, accompanied…

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Massacres in central Mali village linked to armed forces

Aïcha Abdou

Civilian deaths and destruction in Ségou following armed clashes In the heart of Mali’s central region, two villages became the grim stage for a brutal confrontation on October 2 and 13, where a combined force of Malian soldiers and allied militias unleashed violence that left at least 31 civilians dead and entire homes reduced to ashes. The attacks unfolded in Kamona and Balle, both located in Ségou, an area long contested by armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda. On October 2, just before midday, military vehicles—including at least seven pickup trucks…

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Mali soldiers and allied militias accused of civilian massacres in segou

Aïcha Abdou

In a distressing escalation of violence in central Mali, soldiers from the Malian Armed Forces and allied militias have been accused of executing at least 31 civilians and torching homes during raids on two villages in the Ségou region on October 2 and 13. Villages targeted under suspicion of ties to armed groups On October 2, Malian troops accompanied by dozos—traditional hunters turned counterinsurgency allies—allegedly stormed the village of Kamona. Witnesses reported that soldiers and militiamen rounded up and summarily executed at least 21 men, while torching over 10 homes.…

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Global hunger crisis: un warns of famine in 16 critical regions

Aïcha Abdou

The United Nations has raised a critical alarm about a worsening global hunger crisis, highlighting 16 acute food insecurity hotspots where millions face imminent risk of famine. This stark warning comes as funding shortfalls and escalating conflicts deepen vulnerabilities in already devastated regions. In a joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), experts emphasize that Haïti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen are among the nations teetering on the brink of catastrophic hunger. These areas, plagued by prolonged instability and economic…

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Mali launches major hospital modernization project with 15 new facilities

Aïcha Abdou

President Assimi Goïta initiates construction of 15 modern hospitals across Mali The Transitional President, General Assimi Goïta, has officially launched the Presidential Hospital Emergency Project by laying its symbolic first stone. The ceremony took place at the Korofina Reference Health Centre in Bamako’s Commune I, signaling the start of a massive initiative to upgrade the healthcare infrastructure throughout Mali. Colonel-Major Assa Badiallo Touré, the Minister of Health and Social Development, emphasized that this undertaking follows the recommendations of the national health summit held in late 2024. The primary goal is…

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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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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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