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West Africa

A group of people in military uniforms walking indoors, with a mix of camouflage and orange-brown patterns.

The future of Burkina Faso’s democracy is in question 

Leaders

The military leader of Burkina Faso has said that its citizens should forget about democracy. The statement came amid ongoing violence and an insurgency that has left thousands dead and displaced. But President Ibrahim Traoré has also developed a cult-like following outside of his country. The World’s Host Marco Werman speaks with Leonardo Villalón, a University of Florida professor who specializes in the region, about what this means for the future of Burkina Faso and West Africa.

Fuels are not just for transportation in Nigeria, many people also use fuel to power their generators in order to get electricity at home and also run their businesses.

Nigeria’s low-income communities bear the brunt of faltering economy

Business, Finance & Economics
The defense chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger, gather for their extraordinary meeting in Accra, Ghana, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, to discuss the situation in Nig

3 coup-hit West African nations exit ECOWAS citing sanctions, no support against terrorism 

A graphic with three photos. Left to right: Wheat harvest, Tibisay Zea and a man harvesting wheat in Senegal.

VIDEO EXPLAINER: How the war in Ukraine is affecting wheat exports and food culture in Senegal

Ukraine
An offshore gas terminal is lit up amid the Atlantic Ocean as houses lay on the beachfront between the sea and the Senegal River, bottom, in Saint-Louis, Senegal, Jan. 18, 2023.

Europe looks to Senegal for new energy supply. But what’s in it for the Senegalese?

Energy
The ancient fishing village of Guet Ndar in Saint-Louis, Senegal.

An important fishing village in Senegal is on the verge of disappearing as sea levels rise

Environment

The former administrative capital of French West Africa, Saint-Louis in Senegal sits between the Senegal River and the Atlantic Ocean. Its highest point stands just 13 feet above sea level, and it gets waves from both fresh and seawater that have become a growing threat as water levels rise.

bread and flour

Is it time for Senegal to end its romance with the French baguette?

Food

The war in Ukraine has interrupted the delivery of wheat to Senegal, and that’s shaking up a big part of that country’s culture.

a group of students sitting barefoot on the ground as they go through burned documents

Young Senegalese feel the impact of the country’s political crisis

Youth

Senegal is often seen as a model of political stability in West Africa. But that could be changing. President Macky Sall has upset people with the suggestion that he may run for a third term next year, defying the Constitution, and young people are increasingly frustrated by a lack of opportunities. Recent protests turned deadly, and most victims were under the age of 30.

Ghana has been producing commercial oil since 2010.

As global oil prices surge, some African countries may see a silver lining

Business, Economics and Jobs

Surging oil prices are hurting everyday consumers in Africa, but some oil-producing countries have seen a windfall with higher revenues — boosting investment spending in other areas.

In this Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, file photo, people pass a banner reading "STOP EBOLA," forming part of Sierra Leone's Ebola free campaign in the city of Freetown, Sierra Leone. 

How do ‘whole-of-government’ programs actually work? Part II

Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive into the “whole-of-government” approach to the Ebola crisis in West Africa.