…administration had made Rideout’s release a priority in its latest strategy on African Sahel states, after years of fighting extremism found limited success. Niger, governed by a military junta for three years, has been plagued by jihadist violence and saw a spate of kidnappings of Westerners last year. Wamaps, a colle…

…Rideout’s release comes amid continuing insecurity across Niger and other parts of the Sahel, where jihadist groups have carried out attacks and kidnappings targeting civilians and security forces. Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have faced persistent militant violence for more than a decade, resulting in thousan…

…its “ironclad” commitment and allocated $144 million for defence sites.Alliance of Sahel StatesBurkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed this bloc after breaking with ECOWAS. They rely heavily on Russia for military support, with a joint force of 5,000 personnel battling insurgencies across the Sahel.ECOWAS security framewor…

…dialogue. He said Nigeria’s strategic position at the intersection of West Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, the Gulf of Guinea and the wider Atlantic world made the country’s peace and stability important to the region. “Our position means that peace in Nigeria has consequences far beyond Nigeria. It also means…

…called for stronger political, economic, and security engagement with countries in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, while proposing a development compact to address the region’s security and development challenges. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Saturday in Maidu…

…by 2029 after suffering a 59.5 per cent cut in two years to 2027-2028. Funding for the Sahel Department, which covers funding for the regional programmes, fell 33.2 per cent to £67.8m, while Africa and Expertise Departments suffered an 83 per cent cut to £24m. Other African countries, comprising Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’…

…cooperation between the Economic Community of West African States and the Alliance of Sahel States to combat terrorism, insurgency and transnational crimes across the region. Musa made the call on Tuesday during a three-day working visit to Cotonou, Benin Republic, where he is holding talks aimed at harmonising regiona…

…Burkina Faso and Niger, as well as persistent insurgency and jihadist violence in the Sahel.Although Guinea-Bissau has largely avoided the scale of violence experienced in parts of the region, ECOWAS maintains a stabilisation mission in the country to support constitutional order and deter potential security threats. b…

…said. He added that both countries would deepen cooperation to enhance security in the Sahel region. Trump also pledged stronger economic cooperation, saying he had directed his administration to encourage economic and social development in Morocco, including in Western Sahara. According to him, U.S. technology and inn…

…weakened before our very eyes. The emergence of breakaway blocs, such as the Alliance of Sahel States, does not speak well of Nigerian leadership,” he said. The NDC leader urged President Tinubu to ensure that state institutions were not deployed for partisan purposes, warning that governments perceived as operating ab…

…between some of the attackers and jihadist groups operating across Nigeria and the wider Sahel region. “We are deeply concerned that the violence confronting our communities has evolved beyond ordinary criminality. What our people are living through today is a hybrid threat: the calculated, ideologically driven violenc…

…governance, migration, regional security, developments within ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States, as well as broader international issues. Mignot informed the minister that the European Union intended to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission for Nigeria’s forthcoming elections to provide technical support for elector…

…Traoré's statementThe bold declaration has sparked intense discussions across the Sahel and Nigeria, with one content creator's viral reaction capturing the sentiments of thousands of reform-minded Africans.Reacting to the news in a viral video, @madmires warmly applauded the young Burkinabè leader's decision.He said:"…

…the 2032 Africa Cup of Nations”. The three neighbours and allies within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) are led by post-coup juntas and grappling with insecurity amid deadly attacks from jihadist groups which have killed thousands. The Malian federation said the CAF meeting marks “a pivotal stage in the bidding proc…

…which is designed to link Nigeria’s gas resources with markets across West Africa, the Sahel, Morocco and Europe. The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Andy Odeh. The AAGP, which is being jointly pr…

…that terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria and across West Africa and the Sahel are increasingly deploying drones, sophisticated communications technology and cryptocurrencies to strengthen their operations.The warning was delivered by Leonardo SimÀ£o, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for…

…resource-based conflicts. Shaibu also identified instability in the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea as major regional security concerns. He noted that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities, were reshaping the contemporary battlespace. According to him, the evo…

…Terrorism worsened in the country when Niger was considered France's main ally in the Sahel region in the fight against armed groups. However, the security situation steadily deteriorated, leading to a popular and military conviction that the French military presence (comprising about 1,500 soldiers) had not achieved i…

…is that Niger, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, etc., serve as routes for fighters in the Sahel Region to sneak into Nigeria and wreak havoc of unimaginable proportions. I am aware of the fact that ISIS has plans to make the Sahel its permanent home, due to weak governments. I am also aware of the fact that ECOWAS protocols s…

…said the latest ambush was an attempt to undermine the stability of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), of which Niger is a member. Others are Burkina Faso and Mali. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reaffirmed Russia’s solidarity with the Niger population and leadership, headed by President Abdourahamane Tc…