In Senegal, the bastion of the region's Francophonie, French is giving way to local languages

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — For decades Senegal, a former French colony in West Africa, has been touted as the bastion of the French language in the region. Leopold Sedar Senghor, the country’s first president and a poet, is considered one of the founding fathers of the concept of Francophonie, a...

Military juntas in 3 West African nations investigate a French journalist over jihadi analysis

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Prosecutors in military junta-ruled Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso launched investigations on Wednesday against the French journalist and researcher Wassim Nasr into what they called his “apology of terrorism” and “complicity” in alleged terrorist acts, in the latest...

Media freedom group sounds alarm on increased security risks for local journalists in Africa's Sahel

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Local journalists in the Sahel region of Africa are facing increased security risks, a media freedom group said Tuesday, as extremist attacks and military coups have shaken the region in recent years. At least two community radio journalists were killed and...

Attacks by Islamic extremists are rampant in Africa's Sahel. Here's what we know about them

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Extremist attacks in Sahel, an arid swath of land south of the Sahara in Africa, have proliferated in recent months: Last week, Islamic militants attacked Bamako, the capital of Mali, for the first time in almost a decade, demonstrating their capacity to carry out large...

Mali officials close livestock markets over suspected links to militants

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Authorities in Mali’s capital announced Thursday after a deadly attack by al-Qaida-linked militants that they were closing several livestock markets that typically are run by an ethnic group that officials associate with the militants. The al-Qaida-linked...

A U.N.-chartered plane was damaged in an Islamist attack in Mali

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A plane that was used for humanitarian work by the World Food Program was damaged during an Islamist attack in the capital of Mali, according to the South African aviation company that owns the plane. The company, National Airways Corp., said late Wednesday that...

Mali troops put down a deadly militant attack in the capital

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali troops subdued the Islamic militants who attacked a military training camp and the airport in Mali’s capital Tuesday after gunbattles that killed some soldiers, authorities said. An al-Qaida-linked group claimed the attack. The militants tried to...

Explosions heard in Mali’s capital; army says a military training camp was attacked

African nations are losing up to 5% of their GDP per year with climate change, a new report says

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — African nations are losing up to 5% of their GDP every year as they bear a heavier burden than the rest of the world from climate change, a new report said Monday after one of the continent's hottest years on record. The World Meteorological Organization said...

The trash in Mali's capital is piling up. Donkey carts are coming to help

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — When handling the garbage of a city of over 3 million people and equipped with little more than a face mask and gloves, it helps to have a sense of humor. Yacouba Diallo decided to name the two donkeys that pull his cart after his cousins, Keita and Kanté. ...