Category: Top Stories

Pro-russian influencers in Africa: voices amplifying Kremlin narratives

Aïcha Abdou

In the complex geopolitical chessboard of Africa, Evgueni Prigojine, a key Kremlin figure and financier of the Wagner Group, stands as a central player in spreading pro-Russian narratives. His influence network extends through organizations like the Afric (Association for Free Research and International Cooperation), led from Maputo by Mozambican academic José Matemulane. This structure, headed by Ioulia Afanasieva, a Prigojine associate, acts as a conduit for Russian influence operations across the continent. Through Afric, Prigojine collaborates with panafricanist media outlets such as Radio Révolution panafricaine and Afrique Média TV, based…

Read More

Mali human rights crisis in 2025: repression and violence escalate

Aïcha Abdou

Mali human rights crisis in 2025 Under the current administration, Mali has seen a severe contraction of fundamental freedoms, particularly regarding freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Political opponents and civil society members face arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and unlawful detention. Security forces, allied militias, and armed groups have intensified attacks on civilians, while militant factions have imposed crippling blockades in multiple urban centers. The conflict has left over 2,000 schools shuttered, depriving hundreds of thousands of children of their right to education. Political and legal backdrop The country…

Read More

Niger’s health common fund assessed by french development agency

Aïcha Abdou

The Health Common Fund in Niger: Evaluating AFD’s Impact The Health Common Fund in Niger has been a game-changer for the country’s healthcare system. Launched in 2006, this multi-donor initiative has mobilized €91 million between 2015 and 2019 to strengthen health policies and services across the nation. A recent evaluation by the French Development Agency (AFD) highlights its achievements and identifies key areas for improvement. Why the Health Common Fund Was Created The Nigerien government, with initial support from AFD and the World Bank, established the Health Common Fund to…

Read More

Un’s growing alarm over Sahel armies’ alleged human rights abuses

Aïcha Abdou

Allegations of severe human rights abuses, including forced disappearances and summary executions, are increasingly being leveled against soldiers from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. These forces are actively engaged in counter-jihadist operations across the Sahel region, prompting significant concern from the United Nations. During a Security Council videoconference focusing on the Sahel, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, emphatically stated, “I urge the G5 Sahel Joint Force and its member states to spare no effort” in upholding human rights. This concern has been voiced with increasing urgency for…

Read More