Category: Top Stories

Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration in Burkina Faso has announced the discovery of an extensive “network of unscrupulous officials” operating within the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal. These judicial officers, who were detained in October, stand accused of accepting payments to influence legal proceedings and deliver prejudiced rulings. significant judicial systemic failure in Burkina Faso According to an official statement from the authorities, approximately ten senior magistrates in Burkina Faso, including several chamber presidents, a public prosecutor, and an investigating judge, are now facing corruption charges. These arrests, which took place throughout…

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…

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…

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.…

The Global Initiative Against Impunity (GIAI), which includes prominent organizations like the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Coalition for the International Criminal Court (CICC), Redress, Trial International, and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ), has condemned the announced withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move represents a significant setback, undermining decades of African leadership in the global fight against impunity and weakening both the ICC and the broader project of international justice at a time when…

WHO strengthens NGO partnerships in Mali’s health sector The World Health Organization (WHO) has led the coordination of health sector partners in Mali since 2012. By 2025, Mali faces a severe humanitarian crisis, with 6.4 million people—nearly 28% of its population—requiring urgent assistance. The humanitarian response plan remains critically underfunded at just 8.5%, with only 6% allocated to health, severely limiting the ability of aid organizations to address pressing needs. To tackle these challenges, the second reserve allocation from the Humanitarian Fund for Rapid Response in Africa (FHRAOC) targets displaced…

Bamako — Kadidia, a 19-year-old student in Bamako, once hesitated to discuss contraception. « I was ashamed to talk about it, » she admits. « In my community, it’s still a taboo subject. I feared judgment or gossip. » Her story reflects the challenges many young women in Mali face when accessing sexual and reproductive health services. Despite progress, Mali continues to grapple with high maternal mortality rates. In 2024, the country recorded 583 maternal deaths, including 89 among adolescents aged 15 to 19. Early and unintended pregnancies remain significant…

When the notorious Russian mercenary group Wagner declared its departure from Mali earlier this year, it proclaimed on social media that its “mission was accomplished.” However, after three and a half years of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, their impact proved disastrous. The Sahelian nation of Mali regrettably continues to be recognized as a global epicenter of terrorism. “Despite its combat-ready reputation and occasional claims of public successes in Mali, the Wagner Group’s strategy has been plagued by a series of failures,” stated the investigative organization The Sentry in an August…

Our operations Burkina Faso since 2008 Our operations Burkina Faso Key figures Population: 23 548 781 GDP per capita: 987.3 Human development index: 186 / 193 Operational volume: 23 165 251 People supported: 1 238 398 Life expectancy: 61 years Team: 367 Burkina Faso Intervention areas 1. Bobo-Dioulasso 2. Dori 3. Fada N’gourma 4. Ouagadougou 5. Ouahigouya 6. Tenkodogo Since 2019, Burkina Faso has been grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis driven by political instability, escalating security threats, and climate-related shocks. In 2024, over 2,938 security incidents were recorded, leaving…

UN warns of growing authoritarianism and repression in Mali The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has raised urgent concerns about the deteriorating political situation in Mali, where democratic processes are being eroded under an increasingly repressive regime. The alarm was sounded following a series of legal and institutional changes implemented by the military junta since 2020, consolidating power in the hands of General Assimi Goïta. These measures have effectively closed the door on any democratic elections in the foreseeable future, according to Volker Türk. Indefinite suspension…

Mali: the UN raises alarm over suspended elections and crackdown The United Nations has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating situation in Mali. In a strong statement, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed deep concern about the indefinite postponement of elections and the escalation of repression targeting civil society groups. “Recent legislative changes risk undermining human rights in Mali for years to come,” Türk warned, urging the transitional authorities to take urgent, concrete action to repeal these problematic laws. Unlimited mandate sparks controversy In July, General…