The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) enters an intense stage as the first two quarter-final matchups are set after the weekend’s Round of 16 games. Senegal will meet Mali in the opening quarter-final on Friday, January 9, at 5 pm local time. The Teranga Lions came from behind to beat Sudan 3–1, showing resilience …
Moktar Diallo left Mali in 2015 hoping to reach Europe through Mauritania and Spain’s Canary Islands. Ten years later, he remains trapped in Nouakchott, working long nights making bricks and evading police patrols intensified by a new EU-backed migration crackdown. Migrants and rights groups say security operations sharply increased after Mauritania signed a border-control pact …
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has declared a state of emergency across the region following escalating political instability and security threats in member states. The announcement was made on Tuesday by ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray during the 55th Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the ministerial level in Abuja. …
Mali is experiencing a sharp rise in insecurity as jihadist groups carried out a record number of abductions targeting foreigners this year. ACLED data shows that between May and October 2025, 22 to 26 foreign nationals were abducted, the highest number ever recorded in the country. This nearly doubles the previous record of 13 kidnappings …
Mali’s military ruler, General Assimi Goita, has addressed the nation for the first time regarding the ongoing fuel crisis, warning of deadly risks faced by citizens and tanker drivers amid a blockade by a jihadi group. Speaking early this week during a visit to Bougouni in southern Mali to inaugurate a lithium mine, Goita said, …
The United States Embassy in Mali has told all American citizens to leave the country immediately. The warning follows growing terror threats and a crippling fuel crisis caused by a jihadi blockade. In a statement, the embassy urged Americans to take commercial flights out of Mali. It said travel by road is unsafe due to …
The Malian government has shut down all schools and universities across the country following a severe fuel crisis caused by a militant blockade. Education Minister Amadou Sy Savane announced on state television Sunday that classes would be suspended for two weeks. He explained that the fuel shortage has disrupted the movement of teachers and school …
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have climbed four places to 41st position in the latest FIFA men’s world ranking, moving back into Africa’s top five. The new FIFA rankings, released on Friday, marked a significant improvement for Nigeria's Super Eagles, which have climbed from 45th to 41st. The three-time African champions also moved ahead of Ivory Coast, now …
Long queues have continued to form at fuel stations across Mali’s capital, Bamako, as residents struggle to access petrol amid an ongoing blockade by militants affiliated with al-Qaida. The crisis began in early September when members of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) declared a blockade on fuel imports from neighbouring Senegal and Ivory Coast, targeting …
By Esther Ososanya Mali’s military authorities have arrested at least 45 soldiers, including two generals, over the weekend for allegedly attempting to “destabilise the institutions” of the Sahel nation. Among those detained is General Abass Dembele, a former governor of the central Mopti region and a respected figure within army ranks. He was arrested early …
