Regional News
Militant attacks in Mali capital kill more than 70: security officials (trtworld.com)
A militant attack in the Malian capital targeting a military police training camp and a military airport left more than 70 dead and 200 wounded, one of the highest tolls suffered by the security forces in recent years. A security source speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP news agency that 77 people had been killed and 255 wounded in Tuesday’s attacks in Bamako. An authenticated confidential official document put the toll at around 100, naming 81 victims.
Boat Capsizes With 70 Aboard In North West Nigeria – HumAngle (humanglemedia.com)
More than 70 persons, mostly farmers, were aboard a boat that capsized yesterday at the Mashayar Dantauri river bank in the Gummi town of Zamfara, North West Nigeria. The unfortunate incident happened on Saturday, Sept. 14, around 9:45 a.m., as hundreds of people queued to cross to the other side of the river.
Hundreds escape after massive flood causes prison wall collapse in Nigeria (trtworld.com)
Nigerian authorities have said 281 inmates escaped after devastating floods brought down a prison’s walls in the country’s northeast. Officers attempted to evacuate the city of Maiduguri’s main prison last week when they found out that the prisoners had escaped, Umar Abubakar, spokesperson for the Nigeria Correctional Services said in a statement on Sunday night. “The floods brought down the walls of the correctional facilities including the Medium Security Custodial Centre, as well as the staff quarters in the city,” Abubakar said.
Nigeria’s 11 states face flood risk as Cameroon releases dam water (trtworld.com)
Nigeria’s hydrological services agency has warned of potential flooding in 11 states after neighbouring Cameroon said it was starting to release water from one of its largest dams following recent heavy rainfall in West and Central Africa. The warning comes as Nigeria is already grappling with severe floods in northeastern Borno state where a dam burst its walls after heavy rains that have also caused floods in Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Niger – all part of Africa’s Sahel region that usually receives little rain.
Dozens drown as boat capsizes in Nigeria: President (trtworld.com)
A boat carrying mostly farmers capsized on a river in northwest Nigeria, drowning at least 40 people, President Bola Tinubu has said. The accident happened in Zamfara state, as farmers were trying to get to their land, Tinubu said in a statement on Sunday. The president promised support for the victims and directed emergency agencies to assess the incident.
After seeking shelter for a week in the Teachers Village Internally Displaced Persons Camp, Muhammad Ali returned home last Saturday to find a section of his house and properties destroyed. His home was one of countless others devastated by floods which began September 9 across Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Jere, and Konduga L Local governments of Borno.
Islamist armed groups terrorize civilians in Burkina Faso-Human Rights Watch | Africanews
The Human Rights Watch group has warned about the ever-increasing cases of attacks on civilians by the Islamist armed groups in Burkina Faso. The rights group further said that the armed groups have massacred villagers, displaced people, and Christian worshipers. They claim the group has killed at least 128 civilians across Burkina Faso since February 2024 in attacks that violate international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes. The two main Islamic groups linked to Al-Qaeda, the Support of Islam and Muslims and the Islamic State control large swathes of land and have been fighting with the Burkina forces since they entered the country in 2016.
Severe floods continue to hit northeastern Nigeria, death toll climbs nationwide | Africanews
Severe floods on Wednesday (Sep. 18) continued to ravage northeastern Nigeria, impacting more than 400,000 people, according to the United Nations. In Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state about 15% of the city is under water. The flooding has worsened the humanitarian crisis in the region, where armed violence has already displaced millions. “With our small children, we don’t know where to stay now. Government should be sympathetic to allow us to stay longer in the camp, because if we go back to our house now, we will not have a place to sleep with our children. And if we go to somebody’s house, we will not feel comfortable.”
The rise of cybercrime in Africa: A growing threat | Africanews
In recent years, cybercrime has skyrocketed globally, with the number of successful cyberattacks more than doubling in the past five years. This alarming trend is also evident in Africa. In 2023, the continent recorded the highest number of weekly cyberattacks per organization. These incidents can have devastating consequences for businesses and governments, ranging from disruptions in business operations to large-scale theft of funds and the leak of sensitive data. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the lack of preparedness against cyber threats could cost African countries up to 10% of their GDP annually.
A military training camp in Mali’s capital has been attacked, the army says | Africanews
A military training camp in Mali’s capital was attacked early Tuesday, the army said. Col. Marima Sagara, deputy director of the army’s communications service, said it received reports of an attack on the gendarme training school in Bamako but had no further information. An Associated Press reporter heard two explosions and saw smoke rise in the distance. The training school is located on the outskirts of the city. It was unclear who the attackers were, how many there were and whether the situation was under control.
Sahel Alliance to unveil biometric passports | Africanews
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will soon launch new passports, the serving president of the confederation that groups the three countries has announced. In a televised address on Sunday (Sep. 15), Malian president Col Assimi Goïta said the issuance of new official documents was aimed at harmonizing travel documents,” within the confederation. It is also aimed at facilitating the circulation of their citizens across the world, he said. The cost of the new passport remains unknown. So is the list of countries within which Malians, Burkinabés and Nigerians will still be allowed to enter visa free. During his speech, Goïta notably -and of a media outlet.
Burkina Faso insurgency: Human Rights Watch says jihadists have stepped up attacks (bbc.com)
Islamist insurgents in Burkina Faso have stepped up attacks on civilians, carrying out door-to-door killings, slitting throats and targeting Christian worshippers, a report by campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) says. It quoted data showing that more than 6,000 deaths, including around 1,000 civilians killed by Islamists insurgents, have been recorded in the West African state in the first eight months of the year.
Food security: Why Nigeria is vulnerable – Sweden ambassador – Daily Trust
The Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englund, has said that Nigeria is vulnerable to global shocks because the country imports most of its food. She made this call while speaking at the Nordic Food Fest in Abuja. The Nordic countries are Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden. “Despite Nigeria’s lush arable land, many people lack access to nutritious food. “Nigeria imports most of its food, making it well vulnerable to global shocks like the Russian illegal invasion of Ukraine, the war between Israel and Hamas, and climate-related disasters such as droughts and floodings,” she said.
Stage play ‘Iloya’ in Lagos highlights the realities of migration | Africanews
The hall in Lagos, Nigeria was filled with an audience captivated by the vibrant artwork surrounding them, as powerful solo drama “Iloya” unfolded on stage. “Iloya” is a Yoruba word meaning “the journey begins” and the show sheds light on the realities people face while pursuing their dreams and how they make peace with the outcomes. The performance – starring Segun LafUp Ogundipe as Makan – depicts a heart-wrenching tale of a brilliant young Nigerian, a first-class graduate of petrochemical engineering, who had to contend with challenges facing contemporary Nigeria – from job crisis to housing shortages – in the fast-paced city of Lagos.
Cameroon Represented At Miss Global Heritage – Journal du Cameroun
On October 16, Zambia will host the international Miss Global Heritage beauty pageant. 43 contestants from different African countries will compete to showcase their countries’ cultural heritage. Cameroon will be represented by Roxy Ebe. She will compete in three categories: Night of the Gifted (presenting the country’s tradition, heritage and culture), Heritage Cuisine Queen (competing by preparing a dish indigenous to her country) and Indigi Gaming Queen (competing by playing a game indigenous to the host country’s tradition and culture).
Flood disaster damages parts of Maiduguri water supply network – Yerwa Express News (yen.ng)
The Borno State Ministry of Water Resources has announced a significant disruption to the water supply network across Maiduguri and its surrounding areas following a recent flood disaster. The flood, which inundated large parts of the state capital, has severely damaged key water distribution facilities, leading to widespread shortages, said the ministry.
Mr Mataluwo, an air commodore, who noted that search and rescue operations have continued in the affected parts of the state, added, “The main objective of the committee is to check the affected buildings and see if it is possible for the people to go back. This will be done when the water recedes to some extent, especially in places like 505, the College of Agriculture and so on. “The government is also considering building the entire structures affected for the residents or relocating them to other areas that are safer.”
Anti-Separatist Crusader, Hon Ngala Gerard Takes Oath Into Cameroon Bar – Journal du Cameroun
Fighting for the rights of women and children has been a passion of Honourable Ngala Gerard Ndombang since his childhood days.
That passion was further fueled by the outbreak of the crisis in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions where hundreds of thousands of children have been out of school for seven years. The figures may be dark in several parts of these two regions but bnot in Nkambe, Donga Mantung Division, North West region of Cameroon. The town has stood in school enrolment defying all separatist threats to see children in school.
Flooding in west and central Africa worsens after dam collapse in Nigeria | Africanews
On Tuesday, September 10, the collapse of the Alau Dam in northern Nigeria intensified the ongoing flooding across West and Central Africa. The dam, located 20 kilometers from Maiduguri, Borno State’s capital, failed after weeks of heavy rain, submerging parts of the city and destroying thousands of homes in an area with nearly one million residents. The collapse has caused 30 deaths and displaced around 400,000 people, adding to the severe impact of the floods in Nigeria. As of September 6, the UN had already reported over 200 deaths and 225,000 displacements. Borno State remains one of the most affected regions.
President Bola Tiinubu on Thursday received a report from a committee he set up to reform Nigeria’s livestock sector. Mr Tinubu’s media adviser, Bayo Onanuga, announced the submission of the report in a post on X. The committee is chaired by Mr Tinubu but co-chaired by former electoral chief Attahiru Jega, who presides over its meetings in Mr Tinubu’s absence. Part of the committee’s mandate is to establish modalities for the establishment of a Ministry of Livestock Development.
JUST IN: CDS, service chiefs visits Maiduguri – Yerwa Express News (yen.ng)
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, has arrived in Maiduguri to assess the devastating flood that has ravaged several communities in Borno State. He was accompanied by other service chiefs and top military officials, who landed at Maiduguri Airforce Base today This visit comes just days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trip to Borno State on Monday.
Two days after severe flooding hit Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeast Nigeria, rescue operations are battling against the odds, as many residents remain missing or trapped in the flood. Families who managed to escape still cannot account for missing relatives, fearing the worst. Eyewitnesses report that unidentified bodies have been found floating in the floodwaters, raising concerns for the safety of missing individuals, including children.
WHO grants first mpox vaccine approval to ramp up response to disease in Africa | Africanews
The World Health Organization said Friday it has granted its first authorization for use of a vaccine against mpox in adults, calling it an important step toward fighting the disease in Africa. The approval of the vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic A/S means that donors like vaccines alliance Gavi and UNICEF can buy it. But supplies are limited because there’s only a single manufacturer. “This first (authorization) of a vaccine against mpox is an important step in our fight against the disease, both in the context of the current outbreaks in Africa and in future,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
In the wake of the tragic floods that have swept through Maiduguri in northeastern Nigeria since last week, swallowing humans and properties and food alike, desperate but disturbing trends are beginning to emerge. HumAngle spotted people drying out flood-affected food items. This trend has been observed by other residents who say they are worried about the quality of the food they will be buying from the markets in the coming days and weeks.
Cameroon – School Resumption: No Pupils In Classes In Momo Division – Journal du Cameroun
Since the start of the school year on September 9, 12,000 pupils have attended classes in the crisis-hit North West region. The figures sent to the Regional Assembly by the Regional Delegate for Secondary Education for the North-West show differences between departments. At the top of the list is Donga-Mantung, with 7,000 students in classrooms. At the bottom of the list is Momo, with zero pupils in classrooms. The Ngoketunjia department has two pupils.
Flood-Related Prison Break In Maiduguri: Many Inmates Still Missing – HumAngle (humanglemedia.com) Facts are beginning to emerge following an alleged flood-induced prison break on Tuesday that saw more than 400 inmates escape after flood waters breached the walls of a correctional facility in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria. Amid the confusion caused by the devastating floods, unverified reports suggested that prison officials fired shots in an attempt to prevent a mass escape, as a major perimeter wall of the New Prison Maiduguri collapsed under the rising waters.
BREAKING: Bridge collapse strands thousands of motorists in Adamawa – Yerwa Express News (yen.ng)
A bridge along the Savannah to Lafiya route, connecting Adamawa and Gombe states, collapsed on Thursday afternoon, leaving thousands of motorists stranded. The cause of the collapse remains unclear, but efforts are underway to provide a temporary solution to restore accessibility. Our correspondent, reporting live from the scene, confirmed that a makeshift repair is being constructed to enable temporary passage.
Reports Say 6,000 Cameroonians Moved To Canada In The First Quarter Of 2024 – Journal du Cameroun
In the first months of 2024, an average of 6,000 Cameroonians immigrated to Canada in search of a better life, the Cameroonian Business Association (Gecam) said at an economic meeting with the press. “Between January and April 2024, nearly 6,000 Cameroonians immigrated to Canada, bringing to several hundred thousand the number of Cameroonians who have chosen to emigrate to this and other countries in the last two decades.
Attack by al-Qaeda linked group in Mali killed more than 70 people | Al-Qaeda News | Al Jazeera
More than 70 people are thought to have been killed in an attack by an al-Qaeda-linked group on Mali’s capital Bamako earlier this week, according to diplomatic and security sources. Hardline fighters from the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM) carried out the attack on an elite police training academy and the nearby airport on Tuesday, prompting shock and anger in the West African country.
How a beauty queen became the face of South Africa-Nigeria tensions | Social Media News | Al Jazeera
Johannesburg, South Africa – Anita Odunyao Solarin, a 21-year-old Nigerian who has spent her entire life in South Africa, finds it safer not to disclose her West African roots. She does her best to assimilate with her peers and rarely volunteers her origins. This, she says, shields her from persistent bullying – a phenomenon she’s faced since childhood after moving to South Africa as a baby.
Road crashes claim 91 persons in 1 month – FRSC – Daily Trust
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, says the agency has recorded three landmark crashes that claimed the lives of 91 people in the last one month. Speaking yesterday during a press briefing and meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, he said the crashes included one that occurred in Niger State on the 8th of September this year which claimed 48 lives, another in Sabon Wuse on 12 September which claimed 18 lives as well as another in Kaduna State on 15 September, claiming 25 lives.
Peace and Security
Can the US find new partners in West Africa after Niger exit? | Conflict News | Al Jazeera
Following 11 years of defence cooperation and millions of dollars spent on maintaining military bases, the United States officially pulled its troops out of Niger this week in a surprise divorce that experts are calling a “blow” to Washington’s ambitions for influence in the troubled Sahel region of West Africa. Once-close relations between the two countries saw the US establish large, expensive military bases from which it launched surveillance drones in Niger to monitor myriad armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS).
Four years ago this month, a group of Malian soldiers descended on a military base in Kati, close to the capital Bamako, arrested their most senior leaders, and seized weapons from the armoury. Shortly after, they stormed Bamako in trucks, where they detained then-President Aboubakar Keita, as Malians jubilated in the streets
Situation under control following Bamako attack by al-Qaida affiliate | Africanews
Mali’s capital sustaineduesday (Sep. 17) a terrorist attack carried by Al-Quaida affiliate group JNIM which started around 5:30 am local time. Citing a security official, AP reported that both the Faladié gendarme school and the military base near the Modibo Keita Senou airport were targetted. Later in the day, the situation was under control and the army chief of staff visited the camp where he urged to fight division and amalgams “I’m telling the Malian people that this attack was done on purpose. and that we’re all Malians and we mustn’t let people pit us against each other, so we must avoid amalgams.”
US says its completed its military withdrawal from Niger | Africanews
The United States military on Monday said it had completed the withdrawal of its troops and assets from Niger, meeting a 15 September deadline. Its pull-out took place in phases, starting in May, after Niger’s new leaders scrapped a military cooperation deal with Washington. They seized power in a coup last year and in recent months, Niamey has pulled away from its Western partners, turning instead to Russia for security. The withdrawal of the US’ nearly 1,000 military personnel is seen as a major setback for Washington. Prior to the coup, Niamey had been a key partner in its battle against Islamist insurgents operating in the region.
Top diplomats of West African breakaway alliance meet in Mali (trtworld.com)
The top diplomats of the West African states of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are meeting to “identify actions and measures” for coordination among the member nations of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Abdoulaye Diop of Mali, Jean Marie Karamoko Traore of Burkina Faso, and Niger’s Bakary Yaou Sangare are meeting on Monday in Mali ‘s capital Bamako, following preparatory meetings held since Friday by the alliance’s senior officials.
Humanitarian
The Sahel and Lake Chad region, already grappling with the devastating impacts of conflict, displacement, and climate change, is now facing a fresh wave of humanitarian challenges as severe floods ravage communities across multiple countries. In northeast Nigeria alone, more than 50,000 people have been displaced in the last week as floodwaters have submerged homes, destroyed livelihoods, and disrupted essential services. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) issued an urgent call on Monday, Sept. 16, for international support, warning that the situation is increasingly dire and requires immediate intervention.
UN Calls For Immediate Global Action To Close Gender Gaps – HumAngle (humanglemedia.com)
The United Nations Women (UN Women), in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, have called for immediate action to close gender gaps across the globe. According to Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director, sustainable goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.
The North East Development Commission, NEDC, has initiated a large-scale humanitarian response to the recent flood disaster in Maiduguri, Borno State. Following a devastating flood earlier this week, the NEDC has distributed essential relief materials to affected communities, with a focus on immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts.
Do not ignore Mali’s multifaceted humanitarian catastrophe | Humanitarian Crises | Al Jazeera
Each year, we witness a further drop in rainfall – which translates to a drop in produce – resulting in us not having enough food to consume, let alone sell,” Debele Coulibaly, deputy chief of the small village of Safekora in central Mali, told me earlier this year. Sitting under a tree to shield himself from the scorching sun, he explained how farming has always been the only source of income in the village with 1,400 inhabitants, and climate change has left him and countless others struggling to provide for their families.
Maiduguri flood: Victims in dilemma after discharge from camps – Daily Trust
The decision by Borno State to shut down relief camps for people displaced by the devastating floods that ravaged Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Jere Local Government Area (LGA) has thrown some families into confusion. Some survivors of the flood taking refuge inside the camps said the state government’s decision will push them into deeper crises, because their houses are inhabitable, with nowhere to go.
Nigeria Alau Dam collapse in Maiduguri: Survivors desperate as hunger bites (bbc.com)
Fatima Yakubu cannot believe that she and her six children are still alive after a dam collapsed following torrential rains in north-eastern Nigeria. The family, who live south of the city of Maiduguri near the Alau Dam, were asleep when their house began filling with water in the early hours of Tuesday. “I woke up at 1am when I felt water on my legs,” the 26-year-old told the BBC.
Devastating floods in northeastern Nigeria have submerged entire residential areas, displaced tens of thousands of people, and forced zoo animals to escape into the streets. At least 30 people have died in the floods, officials said. However, the death toll is likely to rise as authorities are still scrambling to rescue thousands of others feared trapped in their homes.
Abuja-based philanthropist and founder of Heeba Foundation, Barr. Fatima Abdu, has visited two flood victim camps in Borno State, providing essential relief materials to over 1,800 displaced persons. Barr. Abdu visited the Ultimate Primary School camp in Mairi Ward, Jere Local Government Area, which houses 962 beneficiaries, including women, children, and 72 men. She donated 400 breads, 150 packs of food, and 100 mosquito nets.
Maiduguri, Nigeria – Halimah Abdullahi has spent most of the last week peering out of the gates of the displaced person’s camp she and her family are squatting in, hoping that her three-year-old toddler, Musa, will suddenly come waddling towards her, safe and sound.The boy disappeared as Abdullahi struggled to join a queue and register for the cooked food aid the Borno State government had been giving out to displaced people in the camp.
Maiduguri flood: Man divorces wife for disguising as flood victim – Yerwa Express News (yen.ng)
A man has divorced his wife at a flood victims camp in Maiduguri, after discovering she is there disguising as a victim of September 10 Flood. This happened at a temporary camp located at Fori, a community situated along the river that flooded Maiduguri. The camp is hosting over 1,000 people from Fori, Aji-Alari, Galtimari and Gwange communities.
Mobilization and economic development
Dangote refinery begins gasoline sales to Nigeria’s domestic market | Africanews
Nigeria’s 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery has begun selling gasoline domestically, with state-owned NNPC as the sole buyer. NNPC is paying Dangote in US dollars for September gasoline deliveries, with a crude-for-gasoline swap starting in October to be settled in naira. The refinery’s ex-refinery price for gasoline is set at $736/t, or 898.78 naira/litre ($0.55/l), with a retail price of N950.22/l in Lagos, reflecting recent price hikes due to reduced government subsidies. Gasoline pricing is negotiated directly between parties under Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act.
FIRS to introduce e-invoice to enhance Nigeria’s tax system – Yerwa Express News (yen.ng)
The Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, says it will introduce the FIRS e-Invoice, a digital solution for managing invoices, in line with the Tax Administration and Enforcement Act 2007. Executive Chairman, FIRS, Dr Zacchaeus Adedeji, stated this on Wednesday in Lagos at the LCCI-FIRS Organised Private Sector Stakeholders Engagement with the theme: “Emerging Tax Matters”.
World Bank set to approve $1.5bn loan to Nigeria – Daily Trust
The $1.5 billion will be distributed through three major development projects aimed at improving Nigeria’s economic stability and resource mobilisation capacity. The projects, targeting crucial sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure, are pivotal for the country’s sustainable development and economic stability. A breakdown of the projects showed the World Bank will approve $500 million for the first project tagged ‘Nigeria: Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening Programme’.
Nigeria loses $9.2bn annually from foreign vessels – Operators – Daily Trust
Nigeria is said to be losing about $9.2 billion capital flight as cost of freight to foreign vessels operating in the country’s water. Chairman, Starzs Investments Company Limited (SICL), Engineer Greg Ogbeifun, made this disclosure on Thursday at the 16th Marine and Technical Summit of the Association of Marine Engineers (AMES).
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