Category: Top Stories

A tense situation unfolded in Cotonou, Benin’s economic hub, this Sunday morning as gunfire echoed through the streets and soldiers stormed the national television station. A group of eight military personnel, identifying themselves as the «Military Committee for Refoundation» (CMR), declared on live television that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office. However, the government swiftly countered, asserting that the «maneuver has been thwarted». what happened during the coup attempt? The self-proclaimed CMR, led by a lieutenant colonel, justified their actions by citing the «deteriorating security situation in northern…

Accueil International Afrique Tentative de coup d’État au Bénin, la présidence dit garder le contrôle Des militaires ont annoncé dimanche matin à la télévision publique du Bénin avoir “démis de ses fonctions” le président Patrice Talon, dont l’entourage a affirmé à l’AFP qu’il était en sécurité et que l’armée reprenait le contrôle. AFP Agence Publié le 07-12-2025 à 11h05

In a concerning development in Burkina Faso, human rights lawyer Ini Benjamine Esther Doli has been sentenced and remains arbitrarily detained. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (a partnership between FIDH and OMCT) has issued an urgent appeal highlighting the continued repression of civil society and the shrinking space for free expression in the country. who is ini benjamine esther doli? Me Ini Benjamine Esther Doli is a distinguished Burkinabe lawyer and human rights defender with a notable career in public service. She previously served as a…

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…

Armed forces and allied militias accused of targeted killings in Ségou Military personnel from the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) and allied Dozos militias stand accused of carrying out deliberate attacks against civilians in two villages within the conflict-stricken Ségou region. On October 2 and October 13, at least 31 villagers—including women and men—were killed, and several homes were set ablaze, according to local testimonies compiled during field investigations. Village of Kamona: Execution-style killings and arson On the morning of October 2, armed forces personnel arrived in Kamona aboard seven pick-ups…

Eyewitness Accounts Reveal Brutal Killings in Ségou Region Dramatic testimonies from survivors describe how soldiers from the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) and allied Dozos militia executed at least 31 civilians—21 men in Kamona on October 2nd and 10 more in Balle on October 13th—while burning homes in this volatile central region. October Violence Leaves Deep Scars in Rural Communities In Kamona, attackers arrived in seven pickup trucks, three armored vehicles, and on motorcycles around 10 a.m., targeting men solely based on ethnicity and alleged ties to armed groups. Survivors report…

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…

Gruesome killings in central Mali prompt calls for justice The Malian army and allied Dozos militias stand accused of executing at least 31 civilians and torching homes in two villages in the conflict-ridden Ségou region during early October, according to fresh accounts from local witnesses and community leaders. The first of these tragic incidents unfolded on October 2 in Kamona, where soldiers operating seven pickup trucks, three armored vehicles, and Dozos on motorcycles stormed the settlement. Survivors reported that suspected Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM) militants had alerted villagers of…

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…

Mali soldiers and allied militias accused of killing civilians in Ségou region Click to expand Image In the central region of Ségou, Mali, soldiers and allied militias have been accused of committing grave atrocities against civilians. On October 2 and October 13, at least 31 villagers were killed, and homes were set ablaze in two separate villages under the control of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group. Mass killings in Kamona: soldiers and Dozos target civilians On the morning of October 2, Malian…

Six journalists face judicial persecution in Niger amid press freedom crackdown The arrest of six journalists in Niamey on November 2 has escalated into a full-blown crisis for press freedom in Niger. Three of these media professionals remain arbitrarily detained, while the others have been released on bail but still face serious charges. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), through the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, have condemned these actions as flagrant violations of press freedom and called for…

The acute fuel shortage gripping Mali has sent shockwaves through its already fragile humanitarian landscape. A jihadist blockade on key highways has choked vital supply routes, leaving millions in desperation. This crisis is not just about fuel—it’s about lives hanging in the balance as aid organizations struggle to reach those most in need. Blockades crush aid delivery The Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (GSIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, has tightened its grip on fuel imports from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, cutting off the primary lifelines for this landlocked…