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The Latest Breaking News from West Africa

Why West Africa has had so many coups and how to prevent more

West Africa’s latest successful coup, in Burkina Faso on 24 January 2022, has renewed unease about coups “returning” and democracies “dying” in Africa. The recent attempt in Guinea-Bissau, too, recalled the first decades after independence, when coups were rampant.

The Conversation

First person dies from Lassa fever as three cases confirmed in the UK

Before these new cases, there have only ever been a total of eight cases of Lassa fever in the UK. While an endemic in West Africa, cases in the UK are very rare.

Edinburgh Live

As French forces kill 10 suspected islamists, Sahel instability persists

French counter-terrorism forces based in West Africa have killed ten suspected jihadists accused of involvement in a massacre of police officers in Burkina Faso last November.

Radio France Internationale

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Lassa fever: Death from rare rat-borne virus recorded in UK as two other cases probed

Three people from the same family in east England have been confirmed to have contracted Lassa fever after returning from a trip to West Africa. One has now died

Daily Mirror

Failed coup puts spotlight back on Guinea-Bissau's role in cocaine trade

In October, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo told French radio that drug trafficking and corruption were over in Guinea-Bissau, a country that has struggled to shake off its reputation as a "narco state" of West Africa.

Reuters

Commentary: Coups are happening where democracy is failing

The latest blow to democracy is the explosion of coups around the world. Weak democratic governments that are failing to deliver are being overthrown. This global phenomenon has been most evident in West Africa.

Chicago Tribune

Two cases of rare rat-born Lassa Fever discovered in UK with third being probed

The potentially deadly Lassa Fever was detected in two people with a third person currently being checked and tested by medics.

Daily Record

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Two people in England diagnosed with Lassa fever

Potentially deadly infectious disease, endemic to West Africa, not seen in UK for 10 years

The Guardian - UK

Two cases of rare infection transmitted through rats found in UK with third under investigation

These are the first cases of Lassa Fever seen in the country for more than a decade

Wales Online

Two cases of rare rat-born Lassa Fever found in UK with third being probed

The UK Health Security Agency has said that members of a family which recently travelled to West Africa have tested positive for Lassa Fever - similar to Ebola - which kills around 5,000 people each year

Daily Mirror

Mali says it will work with regional bloc, AU, UN on transition timeline

Mali's transitional government has created working groups with members of West Africa's regional bloc, the African Union and the United Nations to work toward a return to constitutional order, it said on Wednesday.

Reuters

As militarisation spreads, ECOWAS faces credibility crisis

There have been four coups across West Africa in 18 months amid public collapse of trust in state institutions.

Al Jazeera

Mali asks West African monetary union to lift "inhumane" sanctions

Mali's government has asked the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) to lift sanctions that will have severe consequences for the population, it said on Monday.

Reuters

Contagious coups: what is fuelling military takeovers across west Africa?

Specific contexts differ, but underlying factors often include jihadist conflict and failures to provide inclusive governance

The Guardian - UK

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The Independent UK

West Africa grapples with new wave of military coups

West Africa is grappling with a wave of military coups over the past 18 months that has some wondering which country could be next

Reuters

Factbox: Pushed into the shadows, Islamic State still has global reach

(This February 4 story deletes incorrect description of Boko Haram as an affiliate of Al Qaeda in paragraph 14; corrects number of Islamic State affiliates in West and Central Africa in paragraph 15; relationship between Islamic State West Africa Province and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara in paragraph 17;…

Reuters

Mali says it has defaulted on bonds, blames sanctions

Mali has defaulted on bonds worth 2.7 billion CFA francs ($4.67 million), its finance ministry said on Wednesday, blaming sanctions imposed by West Africa's regional bloc and central bank.

The Independent UK

Heavy gunfire heard near Guinea-Bissau's Government Palace

Witnesses say they fear another coup attempt is underway in the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau

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France 24

Guinea-Bissau president says many dead after 'failed attack against democracy'

President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday said he survived heavy fire for five hours during an attempted coup which he claimed killed or injured many people in the unstable West African country.

Reuters

Coups cheered in West Africa as Islamist insurgencies sap faith in democracy

The last time rebellious soldiers attempted to overthrow Burkina Faso's government in 2015, Marcel Tankoano was among thousands of protesters who took to the streets to oust the junta. Within days, loyalist forces had restored the president to power.

Al Jazeera

ECOWAS suspends Burkina Faso after military coup

West Africa regional bloc suspends Burkina Faso days after mutinous soldiers forced President Kabore to resign.

Reuters

W. African bloc suspends Burkina Faso after military coup - sources

West Africa's main regional bloc on Friday suspended Burkina Faso from its governing bodies over this week's military coup and decided to send a delegation to the capital Ouagadougou, two diplomatic sources told Reuters.

Al Jazeera

ECOWAS to hold extraordinary meeting on Burkina Faso coup

The West African bloc’s session is set for Friday to discuss the third military coup in the region in 19 months.

The Conversation

Eavesdropping on nature: why Africa needs more bioacoustics research

Sound plays an important role in nature. It also helps researchers to study and interpret different landscapes and the species that live there. Most animals make sound; biologists often rely on chirps, squawks or whistles to describe and identify species or groups of species. They can also extract behavioural information…

Reuters

West African leaders to hold summit after latest coups

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will hold an extraordinary summit on Burkina Faso and Mali on Friday, Ivory Coast's information minister said on Wednesday, after military takeovers in both countries.

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