In Mali, Russian Wagner mercenaries are helping the army kill civilians, rights groups say

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Russian mercenary group known as Wagner is helping government forces in central and northern Mali carry out raids and drone strikes that have killed scores of civilians, including many children, rights groups said in reports published this week that span the period from...

Burkina Faso's security forces are killing more civilians. Survivors detailed 1 village's massacre

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Women slain with babies wrapped against their bodies, lifeless children intertwined together, a 2-month-old face-up on the ground with puppies crawling on his tiny frame. The scenes were horrifying, but the 32-year-old farmer felt he had to document them, as proof of the...

Attack on Nigerien forces kills 23 soldiers and underscores continued conflict with militants

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — A militant attack on Nigerien forces in a border region near Mali and Burkina Faso killed 23 soldiers, the defense ministry said Friday. The soldiers were taking part in an overnight clearing operation on Tuesday in the country's west when they were ambushed...

Juntas ruling Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso agree to create a joint force to fight worsening violence

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A joint security force announced by the juntas ruling Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to fight the worsening extremist violence in their Sahel region countries faces a number of challenges that cast doubt on its effectiveness, analysts said Thursday. Niger's top...

Five killed in a private plane crash in eastern Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — A private aircraft with seven people aboard crashed into a tree Wednesday after failing to take off successfully in Burkina Faso's eastern region, killing five people and injuring two, authorities said. The plane was taking off from a local airport...

At least 15 Catholic worshippers were killed in an attack during a service in northern Burkina Faso

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 15 Catholic worshippers were killed in a Burkina Faso village on Sunday when gunmen attacked a community as they gathered for prayers in the country's conflict-hit northern region, church officials said. The violence in the village of Essakane was a...

After coups, West African nations hurry to leave the regional bloc that opposed military takeovers

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The coup-hit nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are in haste to quit West Africa’s regional bloc without following its rules of exit, the body said Thursday as its ministers met to deliberate on growing division and political tension in the region. At...

What is ECOWAS and why have 3 coup-hit nations quit the West Africa bloc?

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Monthslong tension between three coup-hit countries in West Africa and the regional bloc known as ECOWAS boiled over when the nations announced their immediate withdrawal from the bloc and accused it of a lack of support and “inhumane” coup-related sanctions. ...

Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso withdraw from West Africa regional bloc ECOWAS as tensions deepen

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — West African nations Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have withdrawn from the regional economic bloc known as ECOWAS, their respective juntas announced Sunday. They accused the bloc of “inhumane” sanctions to reverse the coups in their nations. ECOWAS said in...

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso withdraw from West Africa economic bloc ECOWAS, citing coup sanctions, officials say