Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have all experienced military coups in the past few years. They say the regional trade organization is not helping them fight terrorism but rather imposing severe sanctions on them. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman reports from Ghana on the implications of their withdrawals.
Over his 18-year music career, José González has tapped into sounds from three continents: Brazilian bossa nova, Swedish hardcore punk, and now, West African styles.
China and France have condemned the new Aukus security pact between Australia, the UK and the US to build nuclear-powered submarines in the Indo-Pacific region. Also, French forces say they've killed the leader of ISIS in the Greater Sahara in Mali. And thousands of people protested the introduction of Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador on the nation's bicentennial.
In the 21st century, many UN peacekeeping mandates have included so-called “green goals,” benchmarks meant to prevent conflict by reducing resource competition and environmental degradation.
Mali's former coup leader Assimi Goita took control of the country again Tuesday after firing the president and prime minister of the transitional government following their announcement of a cabinet reshuffle without his permission.
From the onset, the military junta has promised to pave the way to new elections. But some are concerned it might be trying to hold onto power in this transition.
The Malian soldiers who led a coup ousting President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta on Tuesday have promised to hold new elections and a transition to civil political rule. And, the European Union stepped up pressure on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday by announcing support for the ongoing protests in the country. Also, prosecutors in Germany are investigating a series of crashes on the Berlin autobahn as a possible terrorist attack.
Soldiers who ousted Mali's president and government in a military coup promised on Wednesday to oversee elections within a "reasonable" time, as calls from abroad grew for a peaceful resolution to an acute political crisis.
In recent years, Mali has experienced a combination of security challenges, including growing violence from armed militias and terrorist groups that has displaced more than a million people in the Sahel region, and killed thousands, including Malian and foreign troops.
Author and photographer Teju Cole speaks to host Marco Werman about Malian musical tradition.
Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara has a new video out for her latest single, “Bonya.” The lively track, from her recently released second solo album, asks listeners to show respect to others.