Burkina Faso

Guinea

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Niger

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced that it would lift economic sanctions on Niger and Guinea, as well as political sanctions against Mali, Reuters reported Feb. 24.

Niger, Guinea: ECOWAS Removes Economic Sanctions on Niger and Guinea

The junta-led Burkinabe and Malian governments, which are currently suspended from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), jointly said they would exit the bloc if it or France began a military operation in Niger to combat the country's July 26 coup, Jeune Afrique reported on July 31.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Disagreements Over Niger's Coup Threaten to Fracture ECOWAS

The Guinean military junta and a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed on Oct. 21 to consolidate the timetable of Guinea's transition to civilian rule to 24 months, down from three years, Jeune Afrique reported the next day.

Guinea: Junta Shortens Transition Timeline

Members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed on Sept. 22 to impose gradual sanctions on Guinea’s military junta over its failure to set an acceptable date for a return to civilian rule, Africanews reported Sept. 23.

Guinea: ECOWAS to Impose Gradual, Individual Sanctions on Junta Leaders

Guinea's ruling junta announced the dissolution of the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) after the opposition coalition called for a new round of country-wide protests on Aug. 17, Radio France Internationale reported Aug. 9.

Guinea: Junta Dissolves Leading Opposition Group Following Calls for New Protests

Guinea's opposition coalition National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) warned that it would take further action following the arrest of two of its leaders by Guinea's ruling junta and the surrounding of several opposition parties' headquarters by security forces, Radio France International reported on July 30.

Guinea: Opposition Warns of Further Action Following Arrest of Leaders

Former Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi, the new mediator to Guinea for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), landed in Guinea on July 19 and will discuss implementing a 24-month transition period to constitutional order with the country's junta, Radio France Internationale reported July 20.

Guinea: ECOWAS Mediator Pushes for 24-Month Transition Period

Violent protests erupted in Guinea's capital of Conakry on July 5 following the emergence of video footage showing the heavy-handed arrest of three leaders of the opposition coalition National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), Anadolu Agency reported July 7.

Guinea: Violent Protests Threaten to Derail Talks With ECOWAS

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F-16 aircraft at the Danish Air Show on June 19, 2022, at Karup Airport, Denmark. Turkey wants modernization kits for its existing F-16s plus more jets, but some members of Congress remain opposed to Turkey obtaining more such advanced military technology, citing concerns about Turkey's warm ties with Russia.

U.S.-Iran Relations

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Turkey and the U.S. Talk F-16s, Kosovo's and Serbia's Leaders Meet

Ghana

Chile

China

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Members of the Constitutional Convention pose for a picture during the official presentation of the draft they made of the new constitution on May 16, 2022, at the Ruinas de Huanchaca National Monument in Antofagasta, Chile.

Energy

The Weekly Rundown: The Chilean Constitution Is Unveiled, an ECOWAS Summit

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On Geopolitics

Chad

Guinea Bissau

Demonstrators in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, hold up photos of Malian coup leader Assimi Goita (who seized power in Mali for the second time in a May 2021 coup) and Burkina Faso coup leader Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba on Jan. 25, 2022.

Security

Old Leaders in a New Africa

The Suitors of Sub-Saharan Africa

Niger may soon join the wave of military takeovers, but that risk has more to do with what’s happening within the country's borders.

Putting West Africa’s ‘Coup Contagion’ in Context

Sub-Saharan Africa

This photo shows Guinean President Alpha Conde at a rally in Conakry, the country's capital.

For the West African country's aging president, pulling off his third-term dream will depend on the size and fervor of opposition efforts -- and whether his Russian allies help counter them.

Guinea's President Tempts Fate to Extend His Reign

Benin

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

The Niger River Basin

Nigeria: Obstacles to Prosperity

Commodities: A Cautionary Tale

The region's natural geographic advantages have sustained several empires throughout history. But they can't overcome its longstanding problems. 

The Niger River Basin: Supporting West Africa's Empires 

Snapshots

Gambia

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Senegal

So far, the incoming forces have met little resistance on their way to the country's capital.

Gambia: Senegalese, Nigerian Troops Invade To Unseat President

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Since the fall of colonialism in Africa, foreign powers have been protecting their interests on the continent one leader at a time.

For countries without colonial interests in Africa, the wave of independence movements offered an opportunity to make inroads in nations outside their traditional spheres of influence. Providing physical security for a leader and his or her family is a particularly useful tool for a country that wants to assert its influence without committing extensive resources.

The Devious Art of Securing Influence in Africa

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European Disintegration

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Global events unfold without waiting for mankind to catch up. If we do feel we are the masters of our own destiny, it is only because we have convinced ourselves that we have outrun the challenges thrown at us. But the age-old advice regarding the stock market is no less applicable to handling international crises: Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

What the Brexit and Ebola Crises Have in Common

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Graphics

Paris Agreement Emphasizes Shift Away From Oil

The pace of the transition will be decided by how quickly new technologies reach the developing world.

Delegates attend a plenary session at the U.N. climate change summit in Paris on Dec. 9.

The agreement signed Dec. 12 in Paris is just a small part of a broader energy transition driven by technological change.

Climate Agreement Will Only Hasten Transition Beyond Oil

_Energy

Environmental Issues

On Security

Iraq

 The Liberian government and international groups are trying to convince residents of the danger and are urging people to wash their hands to help prevent the spread of the epidemic, which is spread by bodily fluids.

Although the media has speculated that terrorist groups might try to use the Ebola virus as a weapon, the disease is a poor agent for a biological attack. 

Evaluating Ebola as a Biological Weapon

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Global Affairs with Robert D. Kaplan

What if, deeper into the 21st century, Russia and China prove to be ungovernable by centralized means?

Super Chaos?

SITUATION REPORTS

Niger, Guinea: ECOWAS Removes Economic Sanctions on Niger and Guinea

Sub-Saharan Africa: Disagreements Over Niger's Coup Threaten to Fracture ECOWAS

Guinea: Junta Shortens Transition Timeline

Guinea: ECOWAS to Impose Gradual, Individual Sanctions on Junta Leaders

Guinea: Junta Dissolves Leading Opposition Group Following Calls for New Protests

Guinea: Opposition Warns of Further Action Following Arrest of Leaders

Guinea: ECOWAS Mediator Pushes for 24-Month Transition Period

Guinea: Violent Protests Threaten to Derail Talks With ECOWAS

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