Military juntas in West Africa and the Sahel escalate crackdown on freedoms

Click to expand Image According to the Human Rights Watch World Report 2026, several West African leaders significantly increased their suppression of civil liberties during 2025 while consolidating their grip…

Us strategy shifts to trade and security focus in Sahel region

US strategy shifts to trade and security focus in Sahel region This week’s visit by Nick Checker, head of the US State Department’s Africa Affairs Bureau, to Mali signals Washington’s…

Chad 2026 human rights overview: political consolidation and rising tensions

Significant developments President Mahamat Idriss Déby solidified his grip on power throughout 2025, following a 2024 presidential election that faced heavy criticism from the opposition for various irregularities. Constitutional amendments…

Niger: human rights crisis under military rule in 2025

Since the July 2023 military coup, Niger has experienced a sharp decline in human rights, with the junta intensifying repression against political opponents, dissidents, union members, and journalists. The military…

Russia’s growing role in Niger security after islamist attack in Niamey

In the early hours of Wednesday, January 28, to Thursday, January 29, gunfire and explosions echoed around the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger. This rare…

Us military support for Sahel after Russia pivot challenges security ties

Following a strategic shift in military alliances, the United States has announced a renewed commitment to engage with three Sahelian nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—despite their growing ties with Russia.…