Niger said Friday that it had suspended broadcasting by a major private TV channel and one of its journalists a day after it aired a report on the "performance" of the country's military-led authorities.

The withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – who have formed their own Alliance of Sahel States – from West African bloc Ecowas is set to take effect on 29 January, with security experts and

A group known as Muryar Talaka Awareness Initiative has commended the federal government over its diplomatic efforts in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

Security analysts are divided. Vladimir Antwi-Danso called it unprecedented for a visiting head of state to carry a firearm at such an event, emphasizing that the host nation is typically responsible for ensuring the safety of dignitaries.

Ibrahim Traore hits back at French president saying that African leaders had ‘forgotten to say thank you" to Paris for ‘helping to combat’ insurgencies - Anadolu Ajansı

Analysis - How is Niger enduring the consequences of unprecedented floods last year that devastated an economy already crippled by sanctions?

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is grappling with a significant challenge after Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their withdrawal from the regional bloc.

The Austrian foreign ministry says a female citizen has been taken by unknown assailants in the military-ran West African country, Niger. It confirmed the incident to AFP and said they were aware of the "possible kidnapping of an Austrian woman" in Agadez which is 900 km (559 miles) from the capital Niamey.

Twenty-eight soldiers were killed in an attack in northern Benin, a security source told AFP on Thursday, as violence blamed on jihadists based in neighbouring countries increases.

The three states notified ECOWAS that they would withdraw their membership within one year, which is the stipulated timeline for any country wishing to quit the bloc to make its intention known. The Sahel states had hitherto been hit by violent extremism and terrorism orchestrated by marauding Islamist jihadists emanating mostly from their initial hotbed in North Africa and the Middle-East.

Burkina Faso Joins Chad, Senegal in Criticising Macron’s Comments on Africa | Firstpost Africa Burkina Faso has joined Chad and Senegal in vociferously criticising French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments last week on Africa.