Author: Aïcha Abdou

Journalist

Sahel junta regimes risk justice as countries exit ECOWAS

Aïcha Abdou

The Sahel region is facing a troubling shift as military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger tighten their grip on power, each sharing a dangerous disregard for accountability. These regimes share three critical—and concerning—commonalities. First, they are all governed by unelected military leadership. Second, they are notorious for committing severe human rights violations, including widespread civilian atrocities in conflict zones, alongside systematic suppression of civil and political freedoms. Third, they have collectively withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). While this final point may seem unrelated…

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Niger’s landmark achievement: first african nation to eradicate river blindness

Aïcha Abdou

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized Niger for successfully meeting the criteria for onchocerciasis elimination. This significant public health milestone positions Niger as the fifth country globally and the inaugural nation in Africa to be certified by the WHO for halting the transmission of the parasite Onchocerca volvulus. “Eliminating a disease represents a monumental achievement, demanding tireless dedication,” stated Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO. “I commend Niger for its unwavering commitment to freeing its people from this stigmatizing, sight-robbing disease, which inflicts immense human suffering,…

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Burkina Faso secures World Bank funding to boost health system resilience

Aïcha Abdou

World Bank approves €142 million to strengthen Burkina Faso’s health system WASHINGTON — The World Bank has approved a €142 million ($150 million) credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and a $17 million grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF) to fund the Performance and Resilience Strengthening Health System Project (PRPRSS). This initiative targets adolescents, women, and children under five, aiming to enhance disease surveillance, health service utilization, and nutrition. The project will span the entire country, with special focus on internally displaced persons and underserved communities. Aligning with…

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African commission urged to address human rights violations in Burkina Faso

Aïcha Abdou

why the african commission on human and peoples’ rights must prioritize Burkina Faso Human rights advocates are urging the Africa Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (CADHP) to spotlight critical human rights challenges during Burkina Faso’s upcoming review on October 23, 2024. The call emphasizes the urgent need for the Burkinabe government to safeguard civilians amid armed conflict, uphold civic freedoms for activists, journalists, and opposition groups, and ensure accountability for severe abuses. The CADHP’s State reporting procedure—a mechanism under the African Union—requires member states to submit periodic reports on…

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Burkina Faso: two years after the coup, rights violations surge alarmingly

Aïcha Abdou

Two years following Burkina Faso’s 2022 military takeover, the transitional regime continues to deepen its grip while systematically eroding democratic freedoms. Despite initial pledges to restore constitutional order, authorities have instead crushed civic spaces, silencing dissent and trampling fundamental rights. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) condemns this alarming escalation of human rights abuses and urges immediate restoration of the rule of law. Nairobi, Dakar, Paris, September 30, 2024 — Since seizing power in the September 30, 2022 coup, Burkina Faso’s military authorities have systematically targeted critics of their…

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Bénin: coup d’état foiled raises questions about Patrice Talon’s succession

Aïcha Abdou

The arrest this week in Benin of three prominent figures, including a high-ranking military officer and two close associates of President Patrice Talon, has thrust the debate over his 2026 succession into the spotlight. On Wednesday, the prosecutor of Benin’s Court for the Repression of Economic and Terrorist Offenses (CRIET) revealed that Djimon Dieudonné Tévoédjrè, commander of the Republican Guard, former sports minister Oswald Homéky, and businessman Olivier Boko were detained between Monday and Tuesday nights. Authorities allege they conspired to stage a coup d’état in the West African nation…

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Kémi Séba: the controversial panafricanist influencer under Russian propaganda allegations

Aïcha Abdou

Who is Kémi Séba and why is he a major figure in francophone Africa? In francophone Africa, Kémi Séba stands out as a polarizing figure. With over a million Facebook followers and viral YouTube content viewed hundreds of thousands of times, this 42-year-old Béninois activist has built a powerful digital presence. His anti-Western rhetoric and panafricanist speeches attract large crowds at his public meetings across the continent. His recent declaration on social media following the loss of his French nationality—“No more French citizenship, glory to God. I am free from…

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Military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger face legitimacy crisis amid repression

Aïcha Abdou

The military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are facing deepening crises of legitimacy as they resort to widespread repression, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on freedoms. This crackdown has left human rights defenders and journalists in a precarious position, struggling to operate under mounting pressure. why repression fails to hide systemic failures Alioune Tine, President of Afrikajom Center, highlights the growing difficulties faced by these regimes. ‘’The reality today is that Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s regime in Burkina Faso, and its counterparts in Mali and Niger, are trapped in a…

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Niger’s post-coup authorities imperil human rights and freedoms

Aïcha Abdou

Since the military coup on July 26, 2023, Nigerien authorities have engaged in arbitrary arrests of numerous former government officials and have actively suppressed critical media and peaceful dissent, according to recent statements by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. These organizations urge the authorities to immediately release individuals detained for politically motivated reasons and to ensure that all due process guarantees are rigorously upheld. On July 26, General Abdourahmane Tiani, alongside other Nigerien army officers forming the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), overthrew the…

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Niger: amnesty international urges immediate release of journalist samira sabou

Aïcha Abdou

Following the forcible disappearance of Samira Sabou—a Nigerien journalist and blogger—who was abducted from her mother’s home in Niamey on September 30 by masked individuals claiming to be security personnel, Ousmane Diallo, Sahel Researcher at Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Regional Office, has issued a strong appeal. We are deeply concerned about Samira Sabou’s enforced disappearance and call on the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) to disclose her whereabouts immediately and secure her prompt, unconditional release. If the authorities are unaware of her detention, they…

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Bénin’s Démocrates party advocates for diplomatic resolution in Niger crisis

Aïcha Abdou

The escalating political turmoil in Niger, coupled with the looming prospect of military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against the Nigerien putschists, has deeply troubled Bénin’s opposition party, “Les Démocrates”. In a press release issued on Saturday, August 5, 2023, Eric Houndété, the party’s president, asserted that the military coup in Niger not only propels this neighboring nation into a precarious situation but also “attracts opportunistic individuals accustomed to exploiting such crises.” “Les Démocrates” unequivocally “condemns any seizure of power by force, irrespective of its…

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Press freedom under threat in Mali and Burkina Faso

Aïcha Abdou

press freedom under threat in Mali and Burkina Faso: rsf and 30 organizations call for action Under the leadership of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), nearly 30 human rights and media organizations have issued a joint open letter to authorities in Mali and Burkina Faso, urging an immediate end to escalating attacks on press freedom in both nations. “This coordinated initiative highlights the critical need to protect journalists and uphold the right to information,” stated Sadibou Marong, RSF’s Sub-Saharan Africa Director. “In light of World Press Freedom Day, authorities must act…

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