Pirates attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the West African coast, kidnapping 15 sailors and killing an Azerbaijani sailor.

Turkey's Maritime Directorate said the crew initially locked themselves in a safe area but the pirates forced entry after six hours. During the struggle, one crew member aboard the M/V Mozart died.

Turkish media identified the victim as engineer Farman Ismayilov of Azerbaijan, the only non-Turkish crew member.

That left three crew members to sail the Liberian-flagged Mozart owned by a Turkish company.

The Liberian-flagged Mozart was sailing from Lagos, Nigeria, to Cape Town in South Africa when it was attacked 185 km northwest of the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe on Saturday morning.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has twice spoken to the senior officer remaining on the ship, Furkan Yaren, the Turkish presidency said in a tweet. It added that Erdogan issued orders for the recovery of the kidnapped crew.

Earlier, a voice from the Mozart -- purportedly that of the new captain -- had said on a recording posted on Twitter: "I do not know where I am heading. The pirates cut the cables, only the radar is working."

Ten sailors who were taken hostage from a Turkish vessel off West Africa were released in August 2019.

Pirate attacks on ships worldwide jumped 20 percent last year driven by a record spate of kidnappings off West Africa, the International Maritime Bureau said last week.

A total of 195 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were reported, up from 162 in 2019.

Out of 135 sailors abducted globally last year, 130 were recorded in the Gulf of Guinea -- the highest ever number of crew members kidnapped in the area stretching thousands of kilometres (miles) from Senegal to Angola.

In July 2019, ten Turkish seamen were kidnapped off the coast of Nigeria. They were released less than a month later.

Pirates attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the West African coast, kidnapping 15 sailors and killing an Azerbaijani sailor. Turkey's Maritime Directorate said the crew initially locked themselves in a safe area but the pirates forced entry after six hours.

Pirates attacked a Turkish cargo ship off the West African coast, kidnapping 15 sailors and killing an Azerbaijani sailor. Turkey's Maritime Directorate said the crew initially locked themselves in a safe area but the pirates forced entry after six hours. During the struggle, one crew member aboard the M/V Mozart died. Turkish media identified the victim as engineer Farman Ismayilov of Azerbaijan, the only non-Turkish crew member. That left three crew members to sail the Liberian-flagged Mozart owned by a Turkish company. The Liberian-flagged Mozart was sailing from Lagos, Nigeria, to Cape Town in South Africa when it was attacked 185 km northwest of the island nation of Sao Tome and Principe on Saturday morning. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has twice spoken to the senior officer remaining on the ship, Furkan Yaren, the Turkish presidency said in a tweet. It added that Erdogan issued orders for the recovery of the kidnapped crew. Earlier, a voice from the Mozart -- purportedly that of the new captain -- had said on a recording posted on Twitter: "I do not know where I am heading. The pirates cut the cables, only the radar is working." Ten sailors who were taken hostage from a Turkish vessel off West Africa were released in August 2019. Pirate attacks on ships worldwide jumped 20 percent last year driven by a record spate of kidnappings off West Africa, the International Maritime Bureau said last week. A total of 195 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were reported, up from 162 in 2019. Out of 135 sailors abducted globally last year, 130 were recorded in the Gulf of Guinea -- the highest ever number of crew members kidnapped in the area stretching thousands of kilometres (miles) from Senegal to Angola. In July 2019, ten Turkish seamen were kidnapped off the coast of Nigeria. They were released less than a month later.

Pirates kill one, kidnap 15 crew of Turkish ship off West Africa

India has expressed its concerns on acts of terrorism in West Africa at the United Nations Security Council pointing out to increased activities of Boko Haram and&nbsp;Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Highlighting out how, "terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime have continued unabated", India's envoy to United Nations, TS Tirumurti said, "The terror attacks in Burkina Faso, particularly in regions bordering Mali and Niger, have again underscored the urgent need to intensify efforts to combat terrorism, which is spilling over into other countries and regions"

He explained, "The activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria and Lake Chad have not subsided either". Adding, "the recent terror attacks by the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) are more brutal than those carried out by Boko Haram. ISWAP, supported by elements in West Asia and North Africa, is emerging as a radicalized and brutal terrorist entity, posing a serious threat to peace and stability in the region"

India was speaking at a security council meeting on West Africa and Sahel region. The council had taken up the latest report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) between 23 June to 14 December 2020.

The Indian envoy called for "closer coordination in counter-terrorism cooperation in the region and its periphery, to counter the growth of terrorist entities effectively.". In fact, India has commenced counter-terrorism training in the region.&nbsp;

New Delhi also conveyed its deep condolences for the terror attack in Niger earlier this month that killed around 100 people and the&nbsp;deaths of French soldiers involved in Operation Barkhane in Mali.&nbsp;Operation Barkhane is an ongoing anti-insurgent operation by France and 5 countries of Sahel--G5 Sahel--Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The British and Estonia have also extended support to it.

The Indian envoy commended the "efforts of regional counter-terrorism initiatives such as G-5 Sahel Joint Force, and Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which is a model that illustrates the ownership taken by countries of the region for their collective security. The Council and the international community need to actively support these initiatives."

India expressed its concern vis a vis "piracy hotspot" of Gulf of guinea that has seen 17 incidents in last 6 months. Several Indian sailors have been victims of piracy and kidnappings in that region for which&nbsp;Tirumurti&nbsp;called for "urgent need to increase surveillance to ensure maritime security in the area, through increased international collaboration."

India has expressed its concerns on acts of terrorism in West Africa at the United Nations Security Council pointing out to increased activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP).

India has expressed its concerns on acts of terrorism in West Africa at the United Nations Security Council pointing out to increased activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP). Highlighting out how, "terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime have continued unabated", India's envoy to United Nations, TS Tirumurti said, "The terror attacks in Burkina Faso, particularly in regions bordering Mali and Niger, have again underscored the urgent need to intensify efforts to combat terrorism, which is spilling over into other countries and regions" He explained, "The activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria and Lake Chad have not subsided either". Adding, "the recent terror attacks by the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP) are more brutal than those carried out by Boko Haram. ISWAP, supported by elements in West Asia and North Africa, is emerging as a radicalized and brutal terrorist entity, posing a serious threat to peace and stability in the region" India was speaking at a security council meeting on West Africa and Sahel region. The council had taken up the latest report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) between 23 June to 14 December 2020. The Indian envoy called for "closer coordination in counter-terrorism cooperation in the region and its periphery, to counter the growth of terrorist entities effectively.". In fact, India has commenced counter-terrorism training in the region. New Delhi also conveyed its deep condolences for the terror attack in Niger earlier this month that killed around 100 people and the deaths of French soldiers involved in Operation Barkhane in Mali. Operation Barkhane is an ongoing anti-insurgent operation by France and 5 countries of Sahel--G5 Sahel--Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The British and Estonia have also extended support to it. The Indian envoy commended the "efforts of regional counter-terrorism initiatives such as G-5 Sahel Joint Force, and Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), which is a model that illustrates the ownership taken by countries of the region for their collective security. The Council and the international community need to actively support these initiatives." India expressed its concern vis a vis "piracy hotspot" of Gulf of guinea that has seen 17 incidents in last 6 months. Several Indian sailors have been victims of piracy and kidnappings in that region for which Tirumurti called for "urgent need to increase surveillance to ensure maritime security in the area, through increased international collaboration."

At UNSC, India expresses concern over terror acts by Boko Haram, Islamic State in West Africa

Mali known for it's musical & cultural events attracted artists from across the West Africa to this years Annual Slam Poetry Festival. WION brings you a report.

Young poets participate in Mali's Annual Slam Poetry Festival 2020

Guinea''s opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo declared himself the winner of the West African country''s presidential election Monday before the official results have been announced, setting up a tense showdown with the incumbent leader of a decade.

Guinea elections: Violence grips West African nation amid prez poll

Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Congo Republic and Senegal are among those worst-hit this year,

Severe floods hit 760,000 people in West and Central Africa

The junta that seized power in Mali wants a military-led transitional body to rule for three years, and has accepted that ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita return home

Mali Junta wants military govt to rule for three years

At least five people were killed Saturday in the town of Makeni in northern Sierra Leone, a police officer said, in rioting sparked by the relocation of a power plant.&nbsp;

The West African state had been planning to move the plant to the country's international airport near the capital Freetown, which is due to resume flights on Wednesday after a months-long hiatus. &nbsp;

But an initial attempt triggered a riot early Saturday.&nbsp;

Protesters attacked the offices of President Julius Maada Bio's political party in Makeni, witnesses said, while police fired live rounds and tear gas.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-to-offer-more-financial-support-for-flood-hit-areas-314343">Also read:&nbsp;China to offer more financial support for flood-hit areas</a>

A police official, who declined to be named, said that five people had been killed and 12 others seriously injured in the unrest.&nbsp;

A night-time curfew has been imposed on the town of some 110,000 people, the official added.

Sierra Leone's energy ministry released a statement blaming the unrest on "ill-motivated youths".

It said the international airport is "in dire need of electricity", and that the government had decided to relocate the power plant after consulting with officials in Makeni.&nbsp;

Makeni will continue to receive power supply from a nearby hydroelectric plant, the ministry added.&nbsp;

Relocation was only a stop-gap measure, according to the ministry, until engineers could repair faulty equipment at the airport.&nbsp;

Sierra Leone shut its international airport in March in a bid to stem coronavirus infections in the nation of some 7.5 million people.&nbsp;

The former British colony has registered 1,688 coronavirus cases to date, with 63 fatalities.

As with other poor countries in the region, coronavirus restrictions have taken an economic toll, spurring sporadic protests in Sierra Leone in May.

At least five people were killed Saturday in the town of Makeni in northern Sierra Leone, a police officer said, in rioting sparked by the relocation of a power plant.

At least five people were killed Saturday in the town of Makeni in northern Sierra Leone, a police officer said, in rioting sparked by the relocation of a power plant. The West African state had been planning to move the plant to the country's international airport near the capital Freetown, which is due to resume flights on Wednesday after a months-long hiatus. But an initial attempt triggered a riot early Saturday. Protesters attacked the offices of President Julius Maada Bio's political party in Makeni, witnesses said, while police fired live rounds and tear gas. Also read: China to offer more financial support for flood-hit areas A police official, who declined to be named, said that five people had been killed and 12 others seriously injured in the unrest. A night-time curfew has been imposed on the town of some 110,000 people, the official added. Sierra Leone's energy ministry released a statement blaming the unrest on "ill-motivated youths". It said the international airport is "in dire need of electricity", and that the government had decided to relocate the power plant after consulting with officials in Makeni. Makeni will continue to receive power supply from a nearby hydroelectric plant, the ministry added. Relocation was only a stop-gap measure, according to the ministry, until engineers could repair faulty equipment at the airport. Sierra Leone shut its international airport in March in a bid to stem coronavirus infections in the nation of some 7.5 million people. The former British colony has registered 1,688 coronavirus cases to date, with 63 fatalities. As with other poor countries in the region, coronavirus restrictions have taken an economic toll, spurring sporadic protests in Sierra Leone in May.

Several dead after riot in northern Sierra Leone

Amid rising anti-government protests in the country,&nbsp;Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced the dissolution of the constitutional court on Saturday.

The decision came after the protestors in the country had been demanding resignation of the President over various allegations of corruption and for handling the country;s economy in a bad way.

The constitutional court had been the centre of debate almost for the pas three months after&nbsp;it overturned provisional results for a parliamentary poll, triggering protests in several cities in the African country's latest crisis.

"I have decided to repeal the licences of the remaining members of the constitutional court... this de facto dissolution of the court will enable us, from next week, to ask relevant authorities to nominate new members so that the reformed court can quickly help us find solutions to the disputes arising from the legislative elections," the president said in a television address.

The statement was issued after the&nbsp;Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse promised citizens to form an open government.&nbsp;"The president and I remain open to dialogue. I will very quickly set up an executive with the intention of being open to facing the challenges of the day," he said.

Amid rising anti-government protests in the country, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced the dissolution of the constitutional court on Saturday.

Amid rising anti-government protests in the country, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced the dissolution of the constitutional court on Saturday. The decision came after the protestors in the country had been demanding resignation of the President over various allegations of corruption and for handling the country;s economy in a bad way. The constitutional court had been the centre of debate almost for the pas three months after it overturned provisional results for a parliamentary poll, triggering protests in several cities in the African country's latest crisis. "I have decided to repeal the licences of the remaining members of the constitutional court... this de facto dissolution of the court will enable us, from next week, to ask relevant authorities to nominate new members so that the reformed court can quickly help us find solutions to the disputes arising from the legislative elections," the president said in a television address. The statement was issued after the Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse promised citizens to form an open government. "The president and I remain open to dialogue. I will very quickly set up an executive with the intention of being open to facing the challenges of the day," he said.

Mali President dissolves constitutional court; reformation process starts next week

A militant attack in northern Burkina Faso on Tuesday killed 35 civilians, almost all of them women, the president said, one of the deadliest assaults in nearly five years of jihadist violence in the West African country. #WION #WestAfricancountry #Burkina Faso #jihadist violence

35 civilians, 87 terrorists killed in militant attack in Burkina Faso

Malian President&nbsp;Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Sunday rejected as speculation talk of a military coup after recent jihadist attacks left dozens of soldiers dead.

Keita said lessons would be learned after 38 soldiers were killed in two attacks last week near the border with Burkina Faso, a death toll that observers say is probably an underestimate.

"No military coup will prevail in Mali, let it be said," the president said in remarks recorded Saturday and released on Sunday. "And I don't think this is on the agenda at all and cannot worry us," he added.

"We are at war," the president said after the attacks last Monday and Tuesday in the towns of Boulkessy and Mondoro, which evoked memories of a 2012 army coup in the former French colony.

"What happened at Boulkessy could unfortunately happen again," Keita said.

The assailants used heavily armed vehicles in the raids on the two military camps, during which the government said troops killed 15 jihadists.

The jihadists made off with a large quantity of arms, ammunition and equipment -- local media said about 20 vehicles were captured, including some mounted with machine guns.

Sources said Malian special forces and foreign allies, including French warplanes and helicopters, helped to quash the attacks.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Sunday rejected as speculation talk of a military coup after recent jihadist attacks left dozens of soldiers dead. Keita said lessons would be learned after 38 soldiers were killed in two attacks last week near the border with Burkina Faso, a death toll that observers say is probably an underestimate.

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Sunday rejected as speculation talk of a military coup after recent jihadist attacks left dozens of soldiers dead. Keita said lessons would be learned after 38 soldiers were killed in two attacks last week near the border with Burkina Faso, a death toll that observers say is probably an underestimate. "No military coup will prevail in Mali, let it be said," the president said in remarks recorded Saturday and released on Sunday. "And I don't think this is on the agenda at all and cannot worry us," he added. "We are at war," the president said after the attacks last Monday and Tuesday in the towns of Boulkessy and Mondoro, which evoked memories of a 2012 army coup in the former French colony. "What happened at Boulkessy could unfortunately happen again," Keita said. The assailants used heavily armed vehicles in the raids on the two military camps, during which the government said troops killed 15 jihadists. The jihadists made off with a large quantity of arms, ammunition and equipment -- local media said about 20 vehicles were captured, including some mounted with machine guns. Sources said Malian special forces and foreign allies, including French warplanes and helicopters, helped to quash the attacks.

Mali president dismisses coup speculation

Nine people have been killed in two attacks in northern Burkina Faso, a region bearing the brunt of a jihadist revolt, officials said on Monday.

"Six people were killed by armed men overnight Saturday at Pissele, near Bourzanga", a security official said.

Bourzanga is located about 50 kilometres south of Djibo, a hotspot for jihadist attacks.

A local administrative official said three people "were shot dead in the village of Bool-Kiiba," and their bodies were found after the assailants left.

Others were unaccounted for, the official said, adding that the attackers also looted possessions, including motorbikes.

A security official confirmed that an<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-dead-in-islamist-attack-in-burkina-faso-human-rights-watch-204817"> attack</a> on Bool-Kiiba had taken place but was unable to give a toll.

Burkina Faso has become part of a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/12-civilians-killed-during-a-jihadist-attack-in-burkina-faso-189707"> seven-year-old jihadist insurgency</a> in the poor, fragile Sahel region.

More than 580 people have been killed since early 2015, according to an AFP toll.&nbsp;

Many of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gunmen-kill-six-in-burkina-faso-catholic-church-sources-218146">attacks</a> have been attributed to groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda, and others to the so-called Islamic State group.

On Thursday, five soldiers were killed in an ambush at Toeni, in the northwestern province of Sourou.

Nine people have been killed in two attacks in northern Burkina Faso, a region bearing the brunt of a jihadist revolt, officials said on Monday. "Six people were killed by armed men overnight Saturday at Pissele, near Bourzanga", a security official said.

Nine people have been killed in two attacks in northern Burkina Faso, a region bearing the brunt of a jihadist revolt, officials said on Monday. "Six people were killed by armed men overnight Saturday at Pissele, near Bourzanga", a security official said. Bourzanga is located about 50 kilometres south of Djibo, a hotspot for jihadist attacks. A local administrative official said three people "were shot dead in the village of Bool-Kiiba," and their bodies were found after the assailants left. Others were unaccounted for, the official said, adding that the attackers also looted possessions, including motorbikes. A security official confirmed that an attack on Bool-Kiiba had taken place but was unable to give a toll. Burkina Faso has become part of a seven-year-old jihadist insurgency in the poor, fragile Sahel region. More than 580 people have been killed since early 2015, according to an AFP toll. Many of the attacks have been attributed to groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda, and others to the so-called Islamic State group. On Thursday, five soldiers were killed in an ambush at Toeni, in the northwestern province of Sourou.

Burkina Faso: Nine people killed in Jihadist attacks

West African leaders have pledged $1 billion to combat the spiralling threat of Islamist militancy in the region, the head of the regional ECOWAS bloc said on Saturday.

Groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State have strengthened their foothold across the arid Sahel region this year, making large swathes of territory ungovernable and stoking local ethnic violence, especially in Mali and Burkina Faso.

The fifteen members of the West African bloc and the presidents of Mauritania and Chad had gathered for an extraordinary summit in Burkina Faso`s capital, Ougadougou, to address the growing insecurity.

ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said the commission had decided to "contribute financially and urgently to joint efforts in the fight against terrorism" by pledging $1 billion.

In a speech following the closed meeting, Brou also called on the United Nations to strengthen its MINUSMA peacekeeping mission, which has been based in Mali since 2013.

In July, the UN said Islamist attacks were spreading so fast in West Africa that the region should consider bolstering its response beyond current military efforts.

In 2017, five countries - Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mali and Mauritania - backed by France, launched the G5 Sahel taskforce to combat the insurgents. But the initiative has been perennially underfunded.

The situation in Burkina Faso has deteriorated in particular in recent weeks. An attack in late August killed 24 soldiers, one of the heaviest losses yet in the nation`s fight against Islamist militants. Last week, 29 people were killed in separate attacks in its troubled central-northern region.

Once a pocket of relative calm in the Sahel, Burkina has suffered a homegrown insurgency for the past three years, which has been amplified by a spillover of jihadist violence and criminality from its chaotic neighbour Mali.

Large swathes of Burkina`s north are now out of control, and France`s military Sahel mission began limited operations there earlier this year.&nbsp;

West African leaders have pledged $1 billion to combat the spiralling threat of Islamist militancy in the region, the head of the regional ECOWAS bloc said on Saturday.

West African leaders have pledged $1 billion to combat the spiralling threat of Islamist militancy in the region, the head of the regional ECOWAS bloc said on Saturday. Groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State have strengthened their foothold across the arid Sahel region this year, making large swathes of territory ungovernable and stoking local ethnic violence, especially in Mali and Burkina Faso. The fifteen members of the West African bloc and the presidents of Mauritania and Chad had gathered for an extraordinary summit in Burkina Faso`s capital, Ougadougou, to address the growing insecurity. ECOWAS Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said the commission had decided to "contribute financially and urgently to joint efforts in the fight against terrorism" by pledging $1 billion. In a speech following the closed meeting, Brou also called on the United Nations to strengthen its MINUSMA peacekeeping mission, which has been based in Mali since 2013. In July, the UN said Islamist attacks were spreading so fast in West Africa that the region should consider bolstering its response beyond current military efforts. In 2017, five countries - Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mali and Mauritania - backed by France, launched the G5 Sahel taskforce to combat the insurgents. But the initiative has been perennially underfunded. The situation in Burkina Faso has deteriorated in particular in recent weeks. An attack in late August killed 24 soldiers, one of the heaviest losses yet in the nation`s fight against Islamist militants. Last week, 29 people were killed in separate attacks in its troubled central-northern region. Once a pocket of relative calm in the Sahel, Burkina has suffered a homegrown insurgency for the past three years, which has been amplified by a spillover of jihadist violence and criminality from its chaotic neighbour Mali. Large swathes of Burkina`s north are now out of control, and France`s military Sahel mission began limited operations there earlier this year.

West African leaders pledge $1 billion to fight Islamist threat

West African states fighting Islamist militancy in the region should not take France's military presence for granted because Paris will not be there forever, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday.

The Sahel region is suffering from a spike of violence from militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, highlighting the difficulty international partners face in restoring regional stability.

The northern region of Burkina Faso, bordering Mali and Niger, has been especially hard hit in recent months, while spiralling ethnic conflicts have also added to the instability.

"The authorities of the countries in the Sahel should not stay in the comfort zone of thinking Barkhane (French forces) is behind them," Le Drian told the parliamentary foreign affairs committee.

"It's a temptation, (but) progressively what needs to be said is that the security of Africans will be ensured by Africans. The aim isn't for Barkhane to stay there for an eternity."

France, the former colonial power in the region, intervened in Mali in 2013 to drive out Islamist militants who had occupied the north. It has since kept about 4,500 troops in the region as part of Barkhane counter-terrorism operations.

Led by Paris, Western powers have provided funding to a regional force made up of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania to combat jihadists.

But the so-called G5 force has been hobbled by delays in disbursing the money and poor coordination between the five countries while insecurity has escalated.

"The joint force must progressively assume its responsibilities. Barkhane can't do everything. The baton must be taken by the countries concerned. It's happening , but not fast enough," Le Drian said.

His comments were a rare criticism of the Sahel powers. It shows a growing frustration from France as the violence has taken new dimensions in recent months with repeated Islamist attacks and communal clashes especially in Mali.

The Malian authorities have also come under fire for failing to disarm militias or beat back Islamist insurgents, who have been capitalising on the ethnic violence to recruit new members and extend their reach in the Sahel.

Le Drian also said that the United Nations MINUSMA peacekeeping mission based in Mali since 2013 and which includes about 15,000 soldiers and police, would face a test next month when its mandate is due to be renewed.

The United States said in March it had failed to deliver peace and the Security Council should consider a major drawdown.

"There is pressure from US&nbsp;that wants to reduce costs on peacekeeping forces and could convince some actors (to curb the mission)," Le Drian said.

West African states fighting Islamist militancy in the region should not take France's military presence for granted because Paris will not be there forever, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday.

West African states fighting Islamist militancy in the region should not take France's military presence for granted because Paris will not be there forever, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday. The Sahel region is suffering from a spike of violence from militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, highlighting the difficulty international partners face in restoring regional stability. The northern region of Burkina Faso, bordering Mali and Niger, has been especially hard hit in recent months, while spiralling ethnic conflicts have also added to the instability. "The authorities of the countries in the Sahel should not stay in the comfort zone of thinking Barkhane (French forces) is behind them," Le Drian told the parliamentary foreign affairs committee. "It's a temptation, (but) progressively what needs to be said is that the security of Africans will be ensured by Africans. The aim isn't for Barkhane to stay there for an eternity." France, the former colonial power in the region, intervened in Mali in 2013 to drive out Islamist militants who had occupied the north. It has since kept about 4,500 troops in the region as part of Barkhane counter-terrorism operations. Led by Paris, Western powers have provided funding to a regional force made up of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania to combat jihadists. But the so-called G5 force has been hobbled by delays in disbursing the money and poor coordination between the five countries while insecurity has escalated. "The joint force must progressively assume its responsibilities. Barkhane can't do everything. The baton must be taken by the countries concerned. It's happening , but not fast enough," Le Drian said. His comments were a rare criticism of the Sahel powers. It shows a growing frustration from France as the violence has taken new dimensions in recent months with repeated Islamist attacks and communal clashes especially in Mali. The Malian authorities have also come under fire for failing to disarm militias or beat back Islamist insurgents, who have been capitalising on the ethnic violence to recruit new members and extend their reach in the Sahel. Le Drian also said that the United Nations MINUSMA peacekeeping mission based in Mali since 2013 and which includes about 15,000 soldiers and police, would face a test next month when its mandate is due to be renewed. The United States said in March it had failed to deliver peace and the Security Council should consider a major drawdown. "There is pressure from US that wants to reduce costs on peacekeeping forces and could convince some actors (to curb the mission)," Le Drian said.

Don't take our troops for granted, France warns West African states

More than 200 people were arrested last week in a joint anti-terror and security operation in the West African countries of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin and Togo, the Burkinabe army said.&nbsp

"Fifty-two individuals were arrested in Burkina Faso, 42 in Benin, 95 in Togo and 13 in Ghana", Colonel Blaise Ouedraogo told AFP late Friday.&nbsp

Explosives and contraband goods were also seized.&nbsp

At least two of those arrested in Burkina were suspected of being involved in jihadism, Ouedraogo said, adding that "40 sticks of explosives, 38 guns and 623 illegally registered motor bikes" had been found.&nbsp

Around 2,900 security and defence officers from the four countries took part, he added.&nbsp

Burkino Faso's Security Minister Clement Sawadogo said the joint operation was the result of an agreement between the leaders of the four countries in Ghana's capital, Accra, last year.

He said such operations would be repeated in future "so that we can pool our resources, our expertise and our ability to overcome serious crime and terrorism."

The number of deadly attacks has been on the increase in the north of Burkino Faso in recent years, as well as in the east of the country and the border areas with Togo and Benin.&nbsp

The examination of the teeth did not find any traces of powder, which indicates there was not a revolver shot to the mouth, more likely the neck or the forehead.

Equally, bluish deposits seen on his false teeth could indicate a "chemical reaction between the cyanide and the metal of the dentures," the researcher said.

Charlier, a specialist in medical and legal anthropology, was also involved in the analysis of the mummified heart of Richard Lionheart.

Explosives and contraband goods were also seized

More than 200 people were arrested last week in a joint anti-terror and security operation in the West African countries of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin and Togo, the Burkinabe army said. "Fifty-two individuals were arrested in Burkina Faso, 42 in Benin, 95 in Togo and 13 in Ghana", Colonel Blaise Ouedraogo told AFP late Friday. Explosives and contraband goods were also seized. At least two of those arrested in Burkina were suspected of being involved in jihadism, Ouedraogo said, adding that "40 sticks of explosives, 38 guns and 623 illegally registered motor bikes" had been found. Around 2,900 security and defence officers from the four countries took part, he added. Burkino Faso's Security Minister Clement Sawadogo said the joint operation was the result of an agreement between the leaders of the four countries in Ghana's capital, Accra, last year. He said such operations would be repeated in future "so that we can pool our resources, our expertise and our ability to overcome serious crime and terrorism." The number of deadly attacks has been on the increase in the north of Burkino Faso in recent years, as well as in the east of the country and the border areas with Togo and Benin. The examination of the teeth did not find any traces of powder, which indicates there was not a revolver shot to the mouth, more likely the neck or the forehead. Equally, bluish deposits seen on his false teeth could indicate a "chemical reaction between the cyanide and the metal of the dentures," the researcher said. Charlier, a specialist in medical and legal anthropology, was also involved in the analysis of the mummified heart of Richard Lionheart.

200 arrests in anti-terrorist operations in West Africa

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expanded the power of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), making it a central authority in the &ldquo;<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/sports/olympics/international-olympic-committee-antidoping-wada.html?_r=0">fight against cheating</a>&rdquo;. WADA <a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/general-anti-doping-information/at-a-glance-about-anti-doping">defines doping</a> as the use of prohibited substances and methods designed to enhance athletic performance.

But are prohibited substances defined only by their chemical makeup? Not according to West African athletes, many of whom take spiritual methods to enhance their performances very seriously.

Football in West Africa is often associated with <a href="http://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/2806">witchcraft</a>. In Nigeria and Cameroon, these practices are referred to as &ldquo;jars&rdquo; or &ldquo;<a href="https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/handle/1887/12906">juju</a>&rdquo;. Athletes use them to enhance their performance in ways that are similar to doping as WADA defines it, and even to sabotage opponents. The key to these practices, however, is not the chemical content of the substances, but the spiritual powers they carry.

Spiritual doping

According to Cameroonian footballers among whom <a href="http://global-sport.eu/football-dreams-pentecostalism-and-migration-in-southwest-cameroon">I conducted my fieldwork</a>, the spiritual world is superimposed on the material world, and actions in the former have direct and far-reaching consequences on the latter.

In West Africa, accusations of spiritual performance-enhancing practices can be much more serious than those involving materials and chemicals.

The concept of &ldquo;jars&rdquo; is difficult to pin down, largely because it is shrouded in secrecy and is constantly changing. Information about these practices can be extracted principally from rumours and accusations. Stories allude to small pieces of particular herbs, pieces of tree bark, or small threads that the players acquire from healers who imbue them with supernatural powers.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/142978/width754/image-20161024-28382-1at75is.JPG" />
<figcaption>
A boot reading &lsquo;Holy Trinity&rsquo; shows how young footballers try to tap the power of the Holy Spirit to enhance their performance.&nbsp;

Aware of the fact that Cameroonian referees would sanction them if they were caught, the footballers hide them under their shin guards, in their boots, or in the rubber band sockets of their shorts. Others are concoctions of herbs prepared by healers that footballers drink, or wash their face, hands or feet in.
</figcaption>
</figure>

These objects and herbs are performance enhancers and allow the players to accomplish miraculous feats on the field. When some FIFA officials have <a href="http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-02-21-1447701226_x.htm">expressed concerns</a> about these supposed African forms of doping, they have been suspicious of their chemical content but neglected their more important spiritual properties.

One could simply discount &ldquo;jars&rdquo; as a psychological delusion or as superstition. But the fact that athletes regularly scrutinise and accuse other players of using it indicates that it means much more. When Cameroonian footballers demonstrate extraordinary skills on the field, their opponents and even teammates closely scrutinise them for any evidence of &ldquo;jars&rdquo;.

One player told me that, during a match, his opponents forced him to strip down to his underpants in the middle of the field, insisting that he was hiding a spiritual token. Users have also been detected because of the distinct smell of the potions they wash in.

Just as with doping, most footballers in Cameroon are very critical of the use of &ldquo;jars&rdquo;, arguing that athletes should do away with it once and for all.

Age tampering

Another form of &ldquo;cheating&rdquo;, a public secret in the world of international football, is players <a href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/26174252">lying about their age</a>. Athletes from different parts of the world produce documents to their future clubs that state they are no older than 19 years of age.

In Cameroon, preparation for trials in European football clubs often involves finding ways to obtain documents that show the player to be younger than he actually is.

While the football clubs and sporting bodies seek to catch and sanction the players, West African footballers do not consider the practice as cheating.

<figure class="align-center "><img alt="" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/files/142977/width754/image-20161024-28414-v5og8l.JPG" />
<figcaption>
Footballers in West Africa detest their poor training conditions, and lack of sporting infrastructure.

Athletes tamper with their age as a way of equalising the playing field. They attempt to compensate for the fact that aspiring athletes in the Global North, who from a young age have better access to good sports infrastructure and equipment, are in a privileged position to transform their athletic talent into a long-term career.
</figcaption>
</figure>

While international sporting bodies talk about athletes needing to take individual responsibility for different forms of &ldquo;cheating&rdquo;, young African footballers address large-scale power relations that they see as being turned against them.

By adjusting their age, the footballers challenge the moral high ground on which international sports institutions claim to stand, and demonstrate how &ldquo;cheating&rdquo; is not always cheating, but instead a challenge to unequal power relations.

What is &lsquo;cheating&rsquo; and who defines it?

WADA&rsquo;s anti-doping strategies are based on the separation of the body and the mind, the biological and the psychological, the physical and the spiritual. It consistently prioritises the physical, assuming that being a &ldquo;clean&rdquo; athlete means being free from prohibited chemicals.

While the kind of regulation that WADA seeks to apply on a global level is useful, it is at odds with the ideas of West African athletes, for whom the spiritual and the physical are deeply entangled.

Is &ldquo;jars&rdquo; a form of doping that WADA should attempt to regulate then? Should international sporting bodies clamp down on footballers&rsquo; age tampering? Absolutely not.

The importance of spirituality in sport is <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/tim-tebow-brings-in-a-new-wave-of-christian-athleticism-58871/">not</a> <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/i-belong-to-jesus-soccer-superstar-kaka-is-okay-being-second-if-121440/">exclusive</a> to Africa. The Thai owner of Leicester City famously <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/30/leicester-citys-good-karma-the-buddhist-monks-behind-the-foxes-d/">flew Buddhist monks in from Thailand</a> to bless the players during the team&rsquo;s miraculous 2015-2016 season.

The African game gives us a different insight into what &ldquo;performance-enhancing&rdquo; and &ldquo;cheating&rdquo; really mean. The shift in perspective allows us to avoid taking WADA&rsquo;s and the IOC&rsquo;s definitions for granted and stop regarding them as a universal truth.

Instead, we should see them for what they are &ndash; hegemonic notions constructed in a certain historical period, developed from a specific philosophical standpoint and applied from a position of power.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/juju-and-jars-how-african-athletes-challenge-western-notions-of-doping-67567">original article</a>.

Small pieces of particular herbs, pieces of tree bark, or small threads that the players acquire from healers imbue them with supernatural power.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expanded the power of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), making it a central authority in the “fight against cheating”. WADA defines doping as the use of prohibited substances and methods designed to enhance athletic performance. But are prohibited substances defined only by their chemical makeup? Not according to West African athletes, many of whom take spiritual methods to enhance their performances very seriously. Football in West Africa is often associated with witchcraft. In Nigeria and Cameroon, these practices are referred to as “jars” or “juju”. Athletes use them to enhance their performance in ways that are similar to doping as WADA defines it, and even to sabotage opponents. The key to these practices, however, is not the chemical content of the substances, but the spiritual powers they carry. Spiritual doping According to Cameroonian footballers among whom I conducted my fieldwork, the spiritual world is superimposed on the material world, and actions in the former have direct and far-reaching consequences on the latter. In West Africa, accusations of spiritual performance-enhancing practices can be much more serious than those involving materials and chemicals. The concept of “jars” is difficult to pin down, largely because it is shrouded in secrecy and is constantly changing. Information about these practices can be extracted principally from rumours and accusations. Stories allude to small pieces of particular herbs, pieces of tree bark, or small threads that the players acquire from healers who imbue them with supernatural powers. A boot reading ‘Holy Trinity’ shows how young footballers try to tap the power of the Holy Spirit to enhance their performance. Aware of the fact that Cameroonian referees would sanction them if they were caught, the footballers hide them under their shin guards, in their boots, or in the rubber band sockets of their shorts. Others are concoctions of herbs prepared by healers that footballers drink, or wash their face, hands or feet in. These objects and herbs are performance enhancers and allow the players to accomplish miraculous feats on the field. When some FIFA officials have expressed concerns about these supposed African forms of doping, they have been suspicious of their chemical content but neglected their more important spiritual properties. One could simply discount “jars” as a psychological delusion or as superstition. But the fact that athletes regularly scrutinise and accuse other players of using it indicates that it means much more. When Cameroonian footballers demonstrate extraordinary skills on the field, their opponents and even teammates closely scrutinise them for any evidence of “jars”. One player told me that, during a match, his opponents forced him to strip down to his underpants in the middle of the field, insisting that he was hiding a spiritual token. Users have also been detected because of the distinct smell of the potions they wash in. Just as with doping, most footballers in Cameroon are very critical of the use of “jars”, arguing that athletes should do away with it once and for all. Age tampering Another form of “cheating”, a public secret in the world of international football, is players lying about their age. Athletes from different parts of the world produce documents to their future clubs that state they are no older than 19 years of age. In Cameroon, preparation for trials in European football clubs often involves finding ways to obtain documents that show the player to be younger than he actually is. While the football clubs and sporting bodies seek to catch and sanction the players, West African footballers do not consider the practice as cheating. Footballers in West Africa detest their poor training conditions, and lack of sporting infrastructure. Athletes tamper with their age as a way of equalising the playing field. They attempt to compensate for the fact that aspiring athletes in the Global North, who from a young age have better access to good sports infrastructure and equipment, are in a privileged position to transform their athletic talent into a long-term career. While international sporting bodies talk about athletes needing to take individual responsibility for different forms of “cheating”, young African footballers address large-scale power relations that they see as being turned against them. By adjusting their age, the footballers challenge the moral high ground on which international sports institutions claim to stand, and demonstrate how “cheating” is not always cheating, but instead a challenge to unequal power relations. What is ‘cheating’ and who defines it? WADA’s anti-doping strategies are based on the separation of the body and the mind, the biological and the psychological, the physical and the spiritual. It consistently prioritises the physical, assuming that being a “clean” athlete means being free from prohibited chemicals. While the kind of regulation that WADA seeks to apply on a global level is useful, it is at odds with the ideas of West African athletes, for whom the spiritual and the physical are deeply entangled. Is “jars” a form of doping that WADA should attempt to regulate then? Should international sporting bodies clamp down on footballers’ age tampering? Absolutely not. The importance of spirituality in sport is not exclusive to Africa. The Thai owner of Leicester City famously flew Buddhist monks in from Thailand to bless the players during the team’s miraculous 2015-2016 season. The African game gives us a different insight into what “performance-enhancing” and “cheating” really mean. The shift in perspective allows us to avoid taking WADA’s and the IOC’s definitions for granted and stop regarding them as a universal truth. Instead, we should see them for what they are – hegemonic notions constructed in a certain historical period, developed from a specific philosophical standpoint and applied from a position of power. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

How do you become a better football player? Witchcraft

Covered in dust and without protective kit, two seven-year-old boys gather stones in cups. 
 
One of them, standing in front of a pile of rock as large as he is at the Pissy open-cast granite quarry in a neighbourhood of the capital Ouagadougou, begins to hammer away at his haul. 
 
They are among the army of child labourers who make up Burkina Faso&#39;s young workforce. 
 
As many as 60 per cent of children aged between 5 and 17 are involved in some form of work, according to the National Survey of Child Labour (ENTE) compiled in 2006. 
 
Huge numbers of young people work in sectors as diverse as cotton picking, mining and street selling in the west African country of 19 million people where 44 per cent live below the poverty line. 
 
Two other young mine workers, Amy, 15, and her 14-year-old sister work close to the two young boys. 
 
&quot;We both come on one bike. It takes more than an hour. I pedal and when I can&#39;t do it anymore, my sister takes over,&quot; said Amy. 
 
From about 7am, around one thousand people begin to descend into the vast crater that is their workplace, mostly wearing rubber thongs or flimsy sandals. 
 
Many of them are children whose hands are badly lacerated by the stone that they extract and is used in the construction of roads and houses. None wear gloves for their arduous work. 
 
Working eight hours a day, six or seven days a week, they carry trays laden with stones on their heads which they then attempt to sell for 300 CFA Francs (50 US cents). They can expect to earn up to $2 a day. 
 
According to the ENTE, one quarter of child labourers are engaged in dangerous work like mining. 
 
&quot;Do you have medication? It was the hammer...&quot;, said Nemata, a 12-year-old, whose finger had gone visibly purple following an accident. 
 
Treats kids as lazy 
 
Boureima Koumbem, a doctor and consultant at the CHU Yalgado hospital in Ouagadougou warns that aside from visible injuries, children and adults working in the granite mines are also particularly susceptible to respiratory illnesses. 
 
&quot;They are exposed to pneumoconiosis, their lungs are invaded by mineral dust. These are silent diseases. These people are under-oxygenated throughout their lives - sometimes without even knowing it,&quot; he said. 
 
At the Pissy mine, families have had plots which they are permitted to excavate since France was the colonial power in what was then known as Upper Volta. 
 
Children have long been expected to help support their families by joining in the process from an early age. 
 
Both Nemata, whose father died when she was younger, and Amy are enrolled in school but work in the mine in the summer holidays to help their families &quot;buy notebooks&quot;, said Nemata and to &quot;help pay for school&quot;, according to Amy. 
 
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), just two fifths of children in Burkina Faso attend school and the quality of the education they receive is variable with overcrowding and poor conditions common. 
 
The country&#39;s ministry of social action is aiming to get 80 per cent of children working in mining back into education by opening schools next to mines, promoting enrolment and offering vocational training. 
 
The 26 billion CFA scheme ($45 million) that was adopted by the cabinet in September has however run into difficulties and is facing funding shortfalls. 
 
But the blight of child labour is not just down to government failings, according to Alizetta Korgo, a member of the Foundation for the Teaching and Promotion of Human Rights and Development in Africa. 
 
&quot;If you are a child and you&#39;re going to school, and you do not aid your family, you are frowned upon by society which treats you as lazy,&quot; she said. 
 
(AFP)

A West African country were a child is lazy, if not employed. Sixty per cent of children aged between five and 17 are working

Covered in dust and without protective kit, two seven-year-old boys gather stones in cups. One of them, standing in front of a pile of rock as large as he is at the Pissy open-cast granite quarry in a neighbourhood of the capital Ouagadougou, begins to hammer away at his haul. They are among the army of child labourers who make up Burkina Faso's young workforce. As many as 60 per cent of children aged between 5 and 17 are involved in some form of work, according to the National Survey of Child Labour (ENTE) compiled in 2006. Huge numbers of young people work in sectors as diverse as cotton picking, mining and street selling in the west African country of 19 million people where 44 per cent live below the poverty line. Two other young mine workers, Amy, 15, and her 14-year-old sister work close to the two young boys. "We both come on one bike. It takes more than an hour. I pedal and when I can't do it anymore, my sister takes over," said Amy. From about 7am, around one thousand people begin to descend into the vast crater that is their workplace, mostly wearing rubber thongs or flimsy sandals. Many of them are children whose hands are badly lacerated by the stone that they extract and is used in the construction of roads and houses. None wear gloves for their arduous work. Working eight hours a day, six or seven days a week, they carry trays laden with stones on their heads which they then attempt to sell for 300 CFA Francs (50 US cents). They can expect to earn up to $2 a day. According to the ENTE, one quarter of child labourers are engaged in dangerous work like mining. "Do you have medication? It was the hammer...", said Nemata, a 12-year-old, whose finger had gone visibly purple following an accident. Treats kids as lazy Boureima Koumbem, a doctor and consultant at the CHU Yalgado hospital in Ouagadougou warns that aside from visible injuries, children and adults working in the granite mines are also particularly susceptible to respiratory illnesses. "They are exposed to pneumoconiosis, their lungs are invaded by mineral dust. These are silent diseases. These people are under-oxygenated throughout their lives - sometimes without even knowing it," he said. At the Pissy mine, families have had plots which they are permitted to excavate since France was the colonial power in what was then known as Upper Volta. Children have long been expected to help support their families by joining in the process from an early age. Both Nemata, whose father died when she was younger, and Amy are enrolled in school but work in the mine in the summer holidays to help their families "buy notebooks", said Nemata and to "help pay for school", according to Amy. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), just two fifths of children in Burkina Faso attend school and the quality of the education they receive is variable with overcrowding and poor conditions common. The country's ministry of social action is aiming to get 80 per cent of children working in mining back into education by opening schools next to mines, promoting enrolment and offering vocational training. The 26 billion CFA scheme ($45 million) that was adopted by the cabinet in September has however run into difficulties and is facing funding shortfalls. But the blight of child labour is not just down to government failings, according to Alizetta Korgo, a member of the Foundation for the Teaching and Promotion of Human Rights and Development in Africa. "If you are a child and you're going to school, and you do not aid your family, you are frowned upon by society which treats you as lazy," she said. (AFP)

Burkina Faso counts cost of child labour

The bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, who were abandoned by people smugglers while trying to reach neighbouring Algeria were found in the Niger desert last week, authorities said today. 
 
&quot;Thirty-four people, including five men, nine women and 20 children died trying to cross the desert,&quot; Niger`s interior ministry said in a statement. 
 
&quot;They probably died of thirst, as is often the case, and they were found near Assamaka,&quot; a security source told AFP, referring to a border post between Niger and Algeria. 
 
&quot;(The migrants) were abandoned by people smugglers,&quot; the statement added, and only two of the bodies have so far been identified -- a man and a 26-year-old woman both from Niger.&nbsp; 
 
Temperatures in the region can reach a brutal 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit), with blinding sandstorms tearing across the desert. 
 
The hostile conditions mean that only a fraction of those who die trying to cross the area are ever found. 
 
Thousands of illegal migrants have arrived in Algeria in recent years, mostly from neighbouring Mali and Niger. 
 
Libya used to play host to the majority of migrants in sub-Saharan Africa, but since that country descended into chaos following the ousting of Moamer Kadhafi, Algeria has become the main destination for the region`s migrants. 
 
Many transit through Algeria headed for Europe, but more than 7,000 migrants from Niger, mostly women and children, were returned to their home country in 2015 as part of an agreement between the two countries` governments. 
 
Europe has recently turned its attention to trying to curb the number of illegal arrivals from Africa, after a deal with Ankara in March slashed the number of people trying to cross from Turkey. 
 
More than 2,814 people have drowned trying to reach Europe since January, according to the UN refugee agency, prompting urgent efforts to tackle the problem. 
 
A new proposal mooted last week involves using &nbsp;EU funds to promote &nbsp;private investment of up to 60 billion euros ($68 billion) in countries where many migrants come from -- Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, as well as Jordan and Lebanon. 
 
The European Commission also wants to speed up readmission deals with African countries, and with Pakistan and Afghanistan, to make it easier to send back people who do not win refugee status. 
 
The Commission is also set to unveil a plan for a &quot;blue card&quot; system for skilled migrants to come to Europe legally. 
 
The aim is to reduce the incentive for people to try to smuggle themselves into the continent on flimsy boats and put their lives at risk. 
(AFP)

Officials say they were trying to get to neighbouring Algeria, were abandoned by human smugglers

The bodies of 34 migrants, including 20 children, who were abandoned by people smugglers while trying to reach neighbouring Algeria were found in the Niger desert last week, authorities said today. "Thirty-four people, including five men, nine women and 20 children died trying to cross the desert," Niger`s interior ministry said in a statement. "They probably died of thirst, as is often the case, and they were found near Assamaka," a security source told AFP, referring to a border post between Niger and Algeria. "(The migrants) were abandoned by people smugglers," the statement added, and only two of the bodies have so far been identified -- a man and a 26-year-old woman both from Niger. Temperatures in the region can reach a brutal 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit), with blinding sandstorms tearing across the desert. The hostile conditions mean that only a fraction of those who die trying to cross the area are ever found. Thousands of illegal migrants have arrived in Algeria in recent years, mostly from neighbouring Mali and Niger. Libya used to play host to the majority of migrants in sub-Saharan Africa, but since that country descended into chaos following the ousting of Moamer Kadhafi, Algeria has become the main destination for the region`s migrants. Many transit through Algeria headed for Europe, but more than 7,000 migrants from Niger, mostly women and children, were returned to their home country in 2015 as part of an agreement between the two countries` governments. Europe has recently turned its attention to trying to curb the number of illegal arrivals from Africa, after a deal with Ankara in March slashed the number of people trying to cross from Turkey. More than 2,814 people have drowned trying to reach Europe since January, according to the UN refugee agency, prompting urgent efforts to tackle the problem. A new proposal mooted last week involves using EU funds to promote private investment of up to 60 billion euros ($68 billion) in countries where many migrants come from -- Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria, Mali and Senegal, as well as Jordan and Lebanon. The European Commission also wants to speed up readmission deals with African countries, and with Pakistan and Afghanistan, to make it easier to send back people who do not win refugee status. The Commission is also set to unveil a plan for a "blue card" system for skilled migrants to come to Europe legally. The aim is to reduce the incentive for people to try to smuggle themselves into the continent on flimsy boats and put their lives at risk. (AFP)

34 migrants, including 20 children, found dead in Niger desert

President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger called on Tuesday for France to strengthen military operations against West African Islamist militants, including Boko Haram, after its fighters carried out a deadly attack on a Nigerien town. 
 
France currently has some 3,500 troops spread across five countries - Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso - in the region as part of a two-year-old operation to hunt down jihadists. 
 
Paris also assists West African states in the fight against the Nigeria-based Boko Haram with intelligence, logistics and training, but does not have combat troops directly involved. 
 
&quot;We want ... a strengthening of this operation across the Sahel, including to address the threats we are facing today with Boko Haram,&quot; Issoufou told reporters after a meeting with French President Fran?ois Hollande in Paris. 
 
Hollande said earlier, during the same press conference, that France would back the multinational force - that includes Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin - in its fight against Boko Haram, without giving further details. 
 
Boko Haram killed 26 Nigerien soldiers when it stormed and seized the southeastern town of Bosso on June 3. The attack, one of the deadliest by Boko Haram in Niger, spurred neighbouring Chad to send in 2,000 troops to prepare a counter-attack. 
 
&quot;We hope France will continue to support us in terms of intelligence and operational capacities to deal with this extremely dangerous threat,&quot; Issoufou said in Paris. 
 
France said in April it would increase the number of its troops in Ivory Coast to counter growing jihadist threats in the region, and could deploy them further afield if needed. 
 
But the French military, also involved in the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, has been overstretched since last year&#39;s IS attacks on Paris that led authorities to deploy around 10,000 troops in France.

Paris assists West Africa in the fight against Boko Haram with intelligence, logistics and training, but no combat troops directly involved

President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger called on Tuesday for France to strengthen military operations against West African Islamist militants, including Boko Haram, after its fighters carried out a deadly attack on a Nigerien town. France currently has some 3,500 troops spread across five countries - Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso - in the region as part of a two-year-old operation to hunt down jihadists. Paris also assists West African states in the fight against the Nigeria-based Boko Haram with intelligence, logistics and training, but does not have combat troops directly involved. "We want ... a strengthening of this operation across the Sahel, including to address the threats we are facing today with Boko Haram," Issoufou told reporters after a meeting with French President Fran?ois Hollande in Paris. Hollande said earlier, during the same press conference, that France would back the multinational force - that includes Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin - in its fight against Boko Haram, without giving further details. Boko Haram killed 26 Nigerien soldiers when it stormed and seized the southeastern town of Bosso on June 3. The attack, one of the deadliest by Boko Haram in Niger, spurred neighbouring Chad to send in 2,000 troops to prepare a counter-attack. "We hope France will continue to support us in terms of intelligence and operational capacities to deal with this extremely dangerous threat," Issoufou said in Paris. France said in April it would increase the number of its troops in Ivory Coast to counter growing jihadist threats in the region, and could deploy them further afield if needed. But the French military, also involved in the US-led coalition against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, has been overstretched since last year's IS attacks on Paris that led authorities to deploy around 10,000 troops in France.

Niger President asks France to boost operations against Islamist militants

Liberia said today it was free of Ebola, meaning there are now no known cases of the deadly tropical virus left in west Africa following an outbreak that began in neighbouring Guinea in December 2013. 
 
Liberia was worst hit with more than 4,800 Liberians killed by the virus, and was awaiting the all-clear following the discharge of its last known patients in May. 
 
&quot;Liberia is again free of Ebola. We have just ended the incubation period following the last case,&quot; Sorbor George, chief of communication at the ministry, told AFP. 
 
The west African nation has now passed the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of 42 days -- twice the incubation period for the virus -- since the last known patient tested negative for the second time. 
 
&quot;WHO commends Liberia`s government and people on their effective response to this recent re-emergence of Ebola,&quot; said Alex Gasasira WHO representative in Liberia in a statement. 
 
&quot;WHO will continue to support Liberia in its effort to prevent, detect and respond to suspected cases,&quot; Gasasira added. 
 
The country now enters a 90-day period of heightened surveillance for any new cases. 
 
At its peak in 2014, Ebola sparked anxiety about a possible global pandemic and led some governments to threaten or unilaterally enforce travel bans to and from the worst-affected countries -- Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.&nbsp; 
 
The WHO declared an end to Ebola cases in Guinea on June 1 and Sierra Leone on March 17. 
 
However, previous declarations announcing the end of Ebola flare-ups in west Africa have been followed by new cases -- the virus has re-emerged three times in Liberia.Health authorities were monitoring for new cases after a woman died of Ebola in the capital of Monrovia on March 31 after arriving from Guinea. 
 
Two of her three children, aged five and two, subsequently tested positive for the virus. 
 
The virus affected ten countries, including the United States and Spain, with more than 28,000 cases reported. 
 
The Liberian health ministry called on people to remain vigilant in order to avoid another outbreak in the future. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;We have been carrying on a sensitisation campaign. This campaign will continue, and we will still be in readiness to contain any eventual outbreak,&quot; George said. 
 
The risk of infection lasts beyond the 42-day period because the virus can survive in certain bodily fluids of survivors, particularly sperm, where it can linger up to a year, according to experts. 
 
In Paynesville, the Monrovia suburb where the most recent spate of cases were registered, residents were glad to be moving on. 
 
&quot;It is good to hear that Ebola is gone again, but from what we saw recently we remain resilient in our preventive measures. We don`t want our neighbourhood`s name to be attached to the outbreak,&quot; said Bubakar Sanor, 56. 
 
&quot;We are happy that our health workers are now up to the task, containing the virus with bravery and professionalism,&quot; he told AFP.

With the country rid of the disease - the last known patient tested negative twice - there are no cases of the virus left in west Africa

Liberia said today it was free of Ebola, meaning there are now no known cases of the deadly tropical virus left in west Africa following an outbreak that began in neighbouring Guinea in December 2013. Liberia was worst hit with more than 4,800 Liberians killed by the virus, and was awaiting the all-clear following the discharge of its last known patients in May. "Liberia is again free of Ebola. We have just ended the incubation period following the last case," Sorbor George, chief of communication at the ministry, told AFP. The west African nation has now passed the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold of 42 days -- twice the incubation period for the virus -- since the last known patient tested negative for the second time. "WHO commends Liberia`s government and people on their effective response to this recent re-emergence of Ebola," said Alex Gasasira WHO representative in Liberia in a statement. "WHO will continue to support Liberia in its effort to prevent, detect and respond to suspected cases," Gasasira added. The country now enters a 90-day period of heightened surveillance for any new cases. At its peak in 2014, Ebola sparked anxiety about a possible global pandemic and led some governments to threaten or unilaterally enforce travel bans to and from the worst-affected countries -- Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The WHO declared an end to Ebola cases in Guinea on June 1 and Sierra Leone on March 17. However, previous declarations announcing the end of Ebola flare-ups in west Africa have been followed by new cases -- the virus has re-emerged three times in Liberia.Health authorities were monitoring for new cases after a woman died of Ebola in the capital of Monrovia on March 31 after arriving from Guinea. Two of her three children, aged five and two, subsequently tested positive for the virus. The virus affected ten countries, including the United States and Spain, with more than 28,000 cases reported. The Liberian health ministry called on people to remain vigilant in order to avoid another outbreak in the future. "We have been carrying on a sensitisation campaign. This campaign will continue, and we will still be in readiness to contain any eventual outbreak," George said. The risk of infection lasts beyond the 42-day period because the virus can survive in certain bodily fluids of survivors, particularly sperm, where it can linger up to a year, according to experts. In Paynesville, the Monrovia suburb where the most recent spate of cases were registered, residents were glad to be moving on. "It is good to hear that Ebola is gone again, but from what we saw recently we remain resilient in our preventive measures. We don`t want our neighbourhood`s name to be attached to the outbreak," said Bubakar Sanor, 56. "We are happy that our health workers are now up to the task, containing the virus with bravery and professionalism," he told AFP.

Liberia says it is free of ebola

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