Western Africa: a UN-defined 16-country region shaping the Atlantic and Sahel
The US has expanded travel restrictions for people who have recently been in Congo amid the Congo Ebola outbreak. The policy requires 21 days outside the United States before boarding a commercial flight, with exemptions possible for humanitarian or law-enforcement reasons; several reports note the restrictions may slow deployment of medical staff.
Uganda, Kenya and other African health leaders are pushing for integrated sickle cell care, newborn screening and sustained domestic financing to expand treatment, prevent poverty from illness, and improve outcomes for patients.
ECOWAS members have endorsed the Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a 6,800-km conduit linking 13 West African states with potential to export 30 bcm of gas annually. The project aims to diversify energy supplies, boost regional integration and support electricity generation, while weighing security and financing risks as construction eyes 2028 start.
Three new osprey chicks have been ringed at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, Cumbria, with a long-standing pair producing three healthy youngsters. The release notes that the Birds’ life history is tracked to understand habitat needs amid ongoing conservation pressures.
Kenya has described intensified talks with the United Kingdom and a strengthening security and economic partnership as part of broader regional and Commonwealth engagement. Kenyan leaders say the partnerships are essential for stability, trade and development across the Horn of Africa and beyond.
Uganda has declared the end of its 2026 Ebola outbreak after completing a 42‑day monitoring period. Twenty confirmed cases were recorded, 18 recovered and two deaths, with most cases linked to Congo’s outbreak. Authorities say there is no evidence of further transmission and the Bundibugyo strain remains without a vaccine or treatment.
A total solar eclipse has swept from the Arctic through Greenland and Iceland to parts of Spain and a sliver of Portugal, while much of western Europe has seen a deep partial eclipse. Crowds and tourists have flocked to the path of totality, scientific teams have livestreamed observations, and Spain has reported heavy visitor numbers and local economic benefits.
A 41-year ship has drifted into Liberian waters, prompting conflicting accounts from maritime authorities. A rejected docking request predated a wider government shake-up amid a cocaine scandal, raising questions about accountability and jurisdiction as authorities debate who controls port oversight.
Nigeria has announced the rescue of 308 kidnapped citizens in a coordinated operation involving the military, police, and intelligence services. Of the rescued, 163 were abducted from Woro in Kwara State and 145 from Niger State. Victims are receiving medical care and will be reunited with families as security agencies pledge to strengthen early-warning systems.
Nigeria has freed 308 people who had been held captive for months after a joint military, police and counter-terrorism operation recovered hostages from Kainji Lake national park. The group includes 163 people taken in February from Woro in Kwara state and 145 taken mainly in Niger state; survivors are receiving medical checks at an army facility.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola has reached unprecedented speed, with cases surpassing 4,000 and deaths above 2,000. Health workers face strikes over pay, security risks rise amid conflict, and aid cuts hinder response as experts warn the outbreak could escalate further.
The Bundibugyo-strain Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached over 4,000 confirmed cases with about 1,900 deaths, and is progressing at an unprecedented rate. Health workers face unpaid wages, security threats and misinformation while WHO and Africa CDC coordinate trials and vaccination efforts amid a volatile security situation.
Champagne’s harvest has moved earlier this year due to record heat and drought, with producers starting in mid-August instead of mid-September. Grapes show higher sugar and risk to acidity; producers are adapting by earlier picking, night harvesting, and exploring irrigation research. Yields are expected to fall, but quality remains crucial as climate pressures accelerate.
Mali has granted clemency to Yann Vezilier, a French agent accused of destabilising the government, amid ongoing security battles and a deteriorating relationship with France. Paris denies involvement, while Bamako says the act is compatible with adversarial judgments and will see the agent removed from Mali. The move comes as Mali faces renewed jihadist and separatist assaults and as Franco-MMali tensions deepen.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Bundibugyo-variant Ebola outbreak has reached 4,945 confirmed cases and at least 2,325 deaths. The outbreak, the largest in the country’s history, is expanding rapidly with many cases detected late, and care access remains severely limited. Global health authorities are evaluating experimental options while vaccines and treatments remain limited.
The Bundibugjo virus outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed over 2,000 lives in more than 4,300 documented cases. The disease, lacking approved vaccines or treatments, is spreading in remote communities amid conflict and cuts to international aid, threatening essential health services.
The first 20 people have arrived at Roberts International Airport under the Liberia–U.S. third-country deportation arrangement. Liberia is set to receive up to 1,200 people within a year, with most transfers involving nationals from Africa and the Western Hemisphere who have been medically cleared. Deportees can seek asylum or leave under Liberian law; the U.S. will facilitate transfers and provide support.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded an unprecedented Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak that has spread across six provinces and produced more than 5,000 confirmed cases and over 2,600 deaths. WHO and partners have allocated 70,000 Ervebo vaccine doses—20,000 for a Phase III trial and 50,000 for frontline workers—while CEPI has funded a Bundibugyo-specific vaccine and the US has sent MBP134 treatment vials to Uganda.
A boat carrying farm workers capsized near Gorau in Goronyo, Sokoto state. Officials say at least 47 people have died, with dozens more unaccounted for as rescue operations continue. Victims include many women and children, and communities fear further losses as the search extends to remote waterways.
Liberia’s former vice president has denied involvement in a transnational cocaine-trafficking network. Police accuse her of meetings and payments linked to the operation; she has been detained, hospitalized for a medical emergency, and court appearances have been disrupted as the investigation broadens to include foreign suspects and multiple charges.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 2,500 deaths in a Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak declared in May; the United Nations says infections are growing exponentially and have spread across an area larger than France. Vaccines for the Zaïre strain will be trialled and thousands of doses will go to frontline staff, but security, local hostility and funding shortfalls are hampering the response.
Guinea-Bissau has announced its first mpox outbreak, with seven confirmed cases and 46 suspected cases, many among children. UNICEF warns fragile surveillance risks undetected spread as schools reopen and response efforts intensify.
Scientists say climate change is pushing several bird and mammal species northward, with new breeding evidence appearing in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The latest findings show little egret nesting in Aberdeenshire, barn owls breeding in Fermanagh, and ospreys reestablishing in Anglesey and Rutland Water. Conservation groups urge vigilance and habitat protection as ranges expand and threats persist.
The Trump administration has expanded third-country deportations, striking deals with Liberia and other nations to send migrants to places outside their home countries. The program, described by advocates as a loophole, has involved thousands of departures and include asylum seekers; critics warn of risks and limited due process.
Security forces are conducting a coordinated rescue operation after mass abductions in Niger State. Reports indicate hundreds of victims and rising kidnap-for-ransom incidents; authorities vow to pursue those responsible.
Gap has named Michael Francis as Old Navy’s new chief executive, effective Nov. 2, with Haio Barbeito moving to an advisory role. The appointment follows weaker-than-expected quarterly results for Old Navy, which has dragged on Gap’s overall performance. Francis will push a sharper customer focus and a streamlined product strategy as the brand seeks to restore momentum.
The Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is spreading across eastern Congo, with thousands of cases and deaths reported. Health workers are receiving Ervebo under compassionate-use rules as vaccination campaigns expand amid ongoing insecurity and displacement. WHO warns the outbreak remains out of control while vaccines are being tested for effectiveness against Bundibugyo.
Cambodian authorities say they have eradicated large-scale online scam operations and tightened cyber laws after a sweeping crackdown that detained thousands and shut many compounds. Critics warn that fraud networks persist and recruitment continues, highlighting doubts about the scope of the success.
Cameroon's sovereign credit profile faces renewed pressure as regional liquidity tightens and financing needs rise. Moody's has downgraded institutional strength and governance, while liquidity risk and higher debt burden constrain policy options. Growth is modest, but deficits and subsidy costs complicate financing.
Guinea‑Bissau has organised a constitutional referendum for 30 August 2026 that would replace its semi‑presidential system with a stronger presidency, cut parliament seats and raise candidacy fees ahead of planned December elections. Kazakhstan has held a vote to elect a new single‑chamber Kurultai under a constitution that allows President Tokayev to run for a seven‑year term; four other pro‑government parties have entered the 145‑seat legislature.
Soldiers have attacked Base 101 at Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport and fired on sites near the presidential district overnight, triggering hours of clashes with forces loyal to junta leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani. State television briefly went off air. Authorities have said security forces are regaining control after Russia’s Africa Corps intervened and dozens of mutineers were killed or detained.
Jamaica’s government has filed a petition asking King Charles to refer three questions about transatlantic slavery to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, seeking clarity on legality, criminality, and potential redress. The move is part of a broader reparations push that includes artefact repatriation talks with the British Museum. The UK has previously rejected reparations demands.
Gambia has faced prolonged power cuts since June, triggering street protests in Banjul and major towns. President Barrow has promised new generation capacity and solar power to restore the grid by end-October, while urging calm amid outages that have intensified during the hot season.
Anthropic has reported multiple misuse cases of Claude models linked to state-backed surveillance efforts across China, Mali, and Iran. Campaigns have targeted dissidents and diaspora communities, with actors using AI to automate data collection, social media profiling, and intelligence gathering. The report notes some data exposure and urges tighter safeguards as AI tools move from experiment to routine government work.
South African police have confirmed that six Nigerians linked to the Black Axe network have been extradited to the United States. The Hawks coordinated the handover to FBI and Secret Service officials at Cape Town International Airport, with Interpol South Africa assisting. The group faces wire fraud and money laundering charges for defrauding more than 100 women in the United States of over $6 million through online romance scams.
An audit of coastal and marine protected areas flags under-resourced enforcement, fragmented governance, and questionable progress toward SDG 14.5 targets. It calls for standardised monitoring, better funding, and clearer mandates across agencies.
Scientists are studying storm petrels and other seabirds around Scotland’s islands to better monitor and protect them, while examining techniques that could aid seabird conservation across island archipelagos.
Aliko Dangote has opened a month-long IPO for Dangote Petroleum Refinery, offering roughly 3% of the company to retail investors from 14 September with minimum purchases of 10 shares. The sale will fund plans to double capacity to about 1.4m barrels per day and expand listings outside Africa, while critics warn of concentration of ownership and valuation risks.
Burkina Faso has inaugurated Raffinor-BF, a state-backed gold refinery in Ouagadougou with 164 tonnes annual capacity, aiming to process gold domestically and cut reliance on foreign firms. The project is part of President Traoré’s push for greater state control of minerals amid security challenges and concerns over the informal mining sector.
Amnesty International reports 34 civilian deaths in seven sites across Mali between June 2023 and December 2025, in operations by the Malian army and Wagner and Africa Corps. Victims were not taking part in hostilities; many were pastoralists. Drone strikes and torture are also documented. Mali denies wrongdoing and calls for accountability.
Human Rights Watch says US deportations to African countries violate international law by removing third-country nationals to destinations with little or no ties. The program has expanded under Trump’s return to power, with over 500 people affected and at least 12 LGBTQ individuals sent to hostile states. Critics warn of non-refoulement breaches and opaque deals.
Somalia has announced parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for 2027 as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term transitions, amid opposition resistance and regional pushback over party-based electoral reforms. The government says the process aims to reinforce democracy, while critics warn of potential fragmentation and conflict.