Category: Top Stories

Click to expand Image On September 1st, Burkina Faso’s transitional legislative assembly passed a bill criminalizing consensual same-sex relationships, marking a significant setback for LGBTQ+ rights in the country. Under the new legislation, individuals convicted of homosexuality face up to five years in prison and substantial fines. This move infringes upon the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, including their rights to non-discrimination and privacy. It was enacted amid a broader tightening of civic space and political repression by the military junta against opposition groups, media outlets,…

The Burkina Faso junta expels a top UN official following a damning report on child rights Click to expand Image The military leadership in Burkina Faso has declared the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, persona non grata in a sharp escalation of tensions over a recent UN report documenting severe violations against children in the country. Why was the UN coordinator expelled? The junta accused Carol Flore-Smereczniak of contributing to the April UN report, which examines the devastating impact of armed conflict on children in Burkina Faso. Authorities rejected…

Forced disappearance of human rights defenders Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo in Burkina Faso In a deeply troubling development, two prominent human rights defenders, Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé and Amadou Sawadogo, have been forcibly disappeared in Burkina Faso amid escalating repression against civil society. Their sudden abductions have sent shockwaves through the human rights community, raising urgent concerns about their safety and well-being. © Balai citoyen Timeline of distressing events The crisis unfolded rapidly, beginning with the abduction of Miphal Ousmane Lankoandé, a sociologist and executive secretary of the Balai…

allegations of war crimes in Mali: army and Wagner group target fulani men Since january 2025, the Mali armed forces and the russian-backed Wagner group have been implicated in a series of extrajudicial killings and forced disappearances targeting men from the fulani ethnic group, according to human rights organizations. These allegations include at least 12 confirmed executions and the disappearance of at least 81 individuals, all linked to counter-insurgency operations in regions under pressure from islamist armed groups. key findings of human rights watch mass killings in sebabougou: in april…

Empowering Sickle Cell Warriors: How Dr. Gloria Damoaliga Berges Is Transforming Care in Burkina Faso Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso — With a prevalence rate of 4.63% and nearly 2% of newborns diagnosed with the severe SS form, sickle cell disease remains a critical public health challenge in Burkina Faso. This inherited blood disorder demands urgent, multisectoral action to address its devastating physical, psychological, and socioeconomic impacts across the nation. At the forefront of this fight is Dr. Gloria Damoaliga Berges, Vice President of the Centre d’Initiative contre la Drépanocytose au Burkina…

The Sahel has faded from global headlines, yet its crises persist unabated. While international attention shifted to conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Congo, the Sahel’s decade-long struggles have only worsened. From Mali to Niger and Burkina Faso—the three nations forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—violence and instability continue to escalate, defying promises of security by military regimes that seized power in recent years. Once touted as saviors, these juntas have failed to curb jihadist groups. Instead, extremist violence has surged, making the Sahel the world’s deadliest hotspot for jihadist…

Niger faces rising cholera outbreak as authorities scramble for solutions Health authorities in Niger are urgently responding to a cholera outbreak that has already hospitalized over 600 patients in the Maradi and Zinder regions. Share Heavy seasonal rains along the Niger-Nigeria border have triggered a fresh cholera outbreak in the region. This acute intestinal infection stems from Vibrio cholerae bacteria contaminating stagnant water sources. Official reports confirm over 600 confirmed cases across affected areas, with 400 patients already recovered and 156 currently receiving treatment. Cholera spreads rapidly when contaminated water…

Hôpital Au Mali, l’accès aux soins reste un défi Au nord du Mali, l’accès aux soins de base – particulièrement pour les femmes et les enfants – reste une préoccupation majeure. Par Barou Dembélé Mis à jour le 25/06/2025 Partager L’accès aux soins de santé reste critique pour les Maliennes. La crise sécuritaire survenue à partir de 2012 a eu des répercussions négatives sur un système de santé déjà fragile dans le nord du pays. Aujourd’hui, beaucoup de Maliens, notamment les enfants en bas âge et les femmes enceintes, particulièrement vulnérables, mais…

International human rights experts have strongly criticized a recent legislative move in Mali that threatens fundamental political freedoms. A draft law abolishing key protections for political participation and a decree suspending party activities indefinitely have raised serious concerns about the country’s commitment to human rights obligations. Violation of fundamental rights In a joint statement, UN experts emphasized that these measures represent a direct violation of Mali’s international human rights commitments, particularly regarding freedom of association and expression. The decree, signed after a cabinet meeting, immediately suspends all political party activities,…

Military regimes in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Niger are systematically using forced disappearances and illegal detentions to silence critics and suppress dissent. These tactics, widely documented in recent reports, target activists, journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders who challenge military rule or demand a return to constitutional order. In Guinea, two prominent opposition figures—Mamadou Billo Bah and Oumar Sylla (also known as Foniké Menguè)—were abducted from Oumar Sylla’s home just before a nationwide protest against rising living costs and military rule. According to Mohamed Cissé, another detained activist who…

Eighteen months following the military takeover on 26 July 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, the CNSP military junta is consolidating its authority over Niger. A recent report by Amnesty International, released on 18 March, documents a disturbing trend of forced disappearances, unlawful detentions, media suppression, and the prohibition of political activities. The document, titled “Niger: Threatened and Silenced: Human Rights and Civic Space Under Pressure Since the 26 July Coup,” details significant violations of political and civil liberties occurring between July 2023 and January 2025. Critical voices and former…

Sahel governments escalate crackdowns on human rights defenders The Sahel region is witnessing an alarming surge in state-led repression targeting human rights defenders and civil society organizations. A new report reveals systemic attempts by governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad to silence dissent through coordinated legal harassment, arbitrary detentions, and digital surveillance. © AFP Systematic repression methods uncovered The report by the Observatoire pour la protection des défenseurs des droits humains (a joint program of FIDH and OMCT) documents 61 verified cases of human rights violations against defenders…