Mali’s military government has suspended all political activities across the country “until further notice”.
The decree signed on Wednesday by transitional president, General Assimi Goita, cited “reasons of public order” and applies to both parties and organisations.
It was issued a few days after a rare pro-democracy rally and ahead of a planned protest on Friday against the junta which has ruled the country since coups in 2020 and 2021.
Hundreds of activists last weekend defied government threats and demonstrated in the capital, Bamako, against a bill recommending the dissolution of all political parties.
“I’m not surprised, I expected this because this is their way of preventing us from carrying out our activities, but we will continue to defend democracy in Mali,” said one of its leaders, Cheick Oumar Doumbia.
Civil society figures, political parties, and labour leaders have called for “a rapid and credible return to constitutional order through the organisation of transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections.
The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022, but that timeline has been pushed back several times.
This is not the first time the military government has suspended the activities of political parties on the eve of important decisions.
In April 2024, it announced a suspension ahead of an “inter-Malian dialogue” that called for the transition period to be extended from two to five years.
Last year Mali formed a new partnership known as the Alliance of Sahel States, together with Burkina Faso and Niger, after military leaders in the three countries quit the West African bloc, ECOWAS.
Some analysts described it as an attempt to legitimise their military governments amid coup-related sanctions and strained relations with neighbours.
All three have cut ties with former colonial power, France, and are instead building partnerships with Russia.
For more than a decade, Mali has faced attacks by armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State organisation, and the threat has been growing.
Gabon is back in the community of African states after nearly two years out in the cold.
The African Union (AU) said Wednesday that sanctions against Libreville had been lifted, reintegrating the central African country into the bloc.
The AU’s peace and security council said in a statement on X that it was convinced with Gabon’s political transition.
Gabon was suspended when General Brice Oligui Nguema took power after overthrowing president Ali Bongo in August 2023.
In April, Oligui overwhelmingly won a presidential election where he was virtually unchallenged.
The lifting of sanctions comes just days before Oligui’s inauguration as president. Gabon’s foreign affairs ministry welcomed the removal of sanctions.
Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger remain suspended by the African Union for failure to revert to civilian rule. The countries are still ruled by juntas that overthrew popularly elected leaders.
Thousands of people rallied in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ougadougou, on Wednesday in support of transitional President Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
With placards in hand and whistles blowing, they were angry over remarks made by the head of United States’ military in Africa, General Michaël Langley.
Earlier this month, he accused Traoré of using the country’s mining resources to benefit the junta instead of the people.
Burkinabé musician, Ocibi Joan, who came to the protest said Langley and especially “the predators” should stop lying.
“Burkina Faso is not against anyone, but we will no longer tolerate looting. The general is a liar. We own it, we use it whenever we want, and sell it to whomever we want,” he said.
Demonstrator Haroun Sawadogo said that “if they want to eliminate Captain Traoré, they should eliminate the people first”.
“What we experienced in the 1987 [assassination] will not be repeated. What happened to Captain Sankara will not happen to Captain Traoré. We will go all the way to defend our President.”
The rally comes days after the military authorities said they’d uncovered what they described as a “plot” to overthrow the government.
Several members of parliament attended the gathering including Prime Minister Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
He told the crowd that the time had come to “never again kneel before the world”.
“May the people of Burkina Faso free themselves once and for all, and may the people of the Sahel free themselves permanently,” he said.
The demonstrators came from across the country in what was the biggest show of support for the junta since Traore seized power in a September 2022 coup.
The landlocked countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have endorsed an initiative by Morocco to give them access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The foreign ministers of the three military-ruled West African nations shared their countries positions during a meeting Monday with King Mohammed VI in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, according to a ministry statement.
The three-nation block of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced last year that they were leaving the regional bloc known as ECOWAS. They then created their own security partnership, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, severed military ties with longstanding Western partners such as U.S. and France, and turned to Russia for military support.
In December 2023, Morocco announced a trade initiative to facilitate Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger’s access to the Atlantic Ocean using Moroccan ports after ECOWAS imposed trade restrictions on the the three junta-led countries.
The foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger reaffirmed their “full support for and commitment to accelerating its implementation,” during the royal meeting, the ministry said. The meeting comes at a time of growing tensions between Morocco’s regional rival Algeria and the Sahel states. Last month, Algeria says it shot down a Malian drone when it crossed into its air space near the border town of Tin Zaouatine. Mali denied the drone crossed the border.
Amnesty International has warned of the deteriorating global human rights crisis as the ‘Trump effect’ accelerates destructive trends.
The annual report entitled ‘The State of the World’s Human Rights’ assessed national, regional and global developments across a wide range of human rights themes.
Among the issues that hinder human rights are violations in armed conflicts, repression of dissent, discrimination, economic and climate injustice, and the misuse of technology to infringe on human rights.
The report also stated that while Africa’s armed conflicts caused relentless civilian suffering, including increasing levels of sexual and gender-based violence, and death on a massive scale, international and regional responses remained woefully inadequate, with civilians feeling forgotten.
It also highlighted the cost-of-living crisis that has deepened as prices of food, fuel and other necessities spiralled. High taxation levels, unsustainable public debts, widespread and unchecked corruption, escalating conflicts and extreme weather events exacerbated the crisis.
Protesting meant putting one’s life in danger, according to the report. Demonstrations were too often brutally and lethally dispersed and attacks on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association remained rampant.
Repressive tactics used by governments included enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests and detentions of opponents, human rights defenders, activists, journalists and their critics.
Conflict and climate-induced shocks remained the main drivers of forced displacement, and Sudan continued to suffer the largest displacement crisis worldwide.
The number of refugees from conflict zones continued to soar; many refugees lived in squalid conditions or fear of forced return. Discrimination and gender-based violence, fuelled by societal norms, remained a daily reality for women and girls.
Unlawful attacks and killings by government forces and armed groups were reported across the region, including in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
Operations by government forces often left a trail of civilian deaths. In Burkina Faso, the military reportedly killed at least 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in the villages of Soro and Nodin in February.
Hundreds of civilians were reportedly killed in May by the military and its proxy forces during a supply operation against besieged towns in the east.
In Ethiopia, following armed clashes in January between government forces and militias in Merawi town, Amhara region, government forces rounded up scores of civilian men from their homes, shops and the streets and executed them.
A week after an attempted coup in Burkina Faso, the situation remains tense in Ouagadougou, particularly among the armed forces.
Local media indicate that a meeting scheduled on April 22 at the headquarters of the general staff, which was supposed to include several army officers, was postponed and then later cancelled as the invited officers failed to show up.
According to Radio France Internationale RFI, an influx of people was seen flocking to the Mogho Naaba palace, a traditional authority in Burkina Faso. Among those seen were army personnel and families of missing civilians, further signaling tension within the West African country.
A cabinet meeting also took place on April 24 at the presidential palace under high security, with sniffer dogs and helicopters seen flying around the area during the meeting.
Some military camps were also placed under high supervision. Military vehicles were seen placed at the entrance of the General Baba Sy military camp in the southern part of the capital.
The government of Captain Ibrahim Traore has now called for massive demonstrations on April 30 in support of the regime. Their main objective is to condemn “Western interference,” especially after recent accusations by U.S. General Michael Langley of diverting the country’s gold reserves to support its own security.
Burkina Faso’s military government said on April 22 that it had foiled a “major plot” to overthrow the country’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The military government first gained knowledge of the plot when it intercepted communications between a high-ranking Burkinabé military officer and terrorist leaders.
Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said on state television that plotters included current and former soldiers, as well as terrorists. He cited Captain René David Ouédraogo as one of the soldiers who rallied to the plan. Ouédraogo is currently on the run.
The coup attempt aimed to “sow total chaos, and place the country under the supervision of an international organisation”, Sana said. Plotters had planned to swarm the presidential palace on 16 April 2025.
Burkina Faso, along with its neighbors Niger and Mali, has for over a decade battled an insurgency fought by jihadi groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
Following military coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance. The three countries have vowed to strengthen their cooperation by establishing a new security alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States.
But the security situation in the Sahel, a vast region on the fringes of the Sahara Desert, has significantly worsened since the junta took power, analysts say, with a record number of attacks and civilians killed both by Islamic militants and government forces.
A report by the Timbuktu Institute think tank has indicated that the jihadist activities mainly by the JNIM Jihadi group, have expanded into the region of Kayes between 2021 and 2024.
According to the institute, the JNIM is now trying to infiltrate eastern Senegal as it has increased its attacks sevenfold in the past three years.
The Kaye region is a tri-border area of Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.
JNIM, an extremist group linked to al-Qaida, has orchestared dozens of attacks in the broader Sahel region that encompasses Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Benin and Chad.
Benin has been the latest victim with recent attack claiming the lives of at least 70 soldiers and has for years faced spillover violence in its north from Sahel countries like Burkina Faso and Niger in their battle against Islamic extremist groups.
The tri-border area has long been a hotbed for extremist violence, primarily concentrated around the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex.
The large national park spills over into all three countries and has become a launching pad for cross-border attacks by militants.
KAMPALA, Uganda, April 23, 2025 /African Media Agency (AMA)/ – Africa still bears the brunt of the global malaria burden—with 94% of cases occurring on the continent. According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2024 World Malaria Report, approximately two thirds of global malaria cases and deaths are concentrated in 11 African countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. While the world must mobilise around Africa to put an end to malaria, the disease remains a deeply local public health issue and a challenge for the new generation of African scientists. Eliminating malaria demands African leadership, innovation, and investment.
The WHO Report indicates that there were 11 million more cases of the disease in 2023 than there were in 2022. Another 600,000 people died in 2023 with no significant improvement compared to 2022. While some progress has been made in combating malaria, it is not enough, or fast enough. Existing prevention methods like drugs, bed nets, and vaccines have saved millions of lives, however, they will unlikely be able to take us to eliminating the disease completely.
“The reality is malaria kills mostly children under five in Africa, and hits the poorest hardest—fueling a cycle of poverty, underproductivity, underinvestment, impeding overall development,” says Krystal Birungi, Research Associate for Outreach at Target Malaria and Global Fund Advocates Network speaker.
“Imagine what our continent could achieve if the resources spent on malaria were freed up for education, infrastructure, and economic growth. But we will only get there if we match bold innovation with bold investment,” adds Birungi.
Women drying fish on Nsadzi Island, Uganda. Credit: Target Malaria
“The Global Fund needs US$18 billion to save 23 million lives between 2027 and 2029, and reduce the combined mortality rate by another 64%, relative to 2023 levels, and to prevent around 400 million infections”, adds Birungi.
Now, the global fight against malaria must intensify in light of global aid decreases. Target Malaria remains at the forefront of scientific innovation in its commitment to eliminating the deadly disease. The research consortium’s gene drive technology is a potential tool for vector control and would be complementary to other control methods offering a sustainable approach to control malaria.
“Our technology aims to provide protection from malaria mosquitoes for everyone in the community, regardless of their education, wealth or ability to access healthcare services.”
“But, our work does not happen in isolation and sustained global funding for malaria research remains essential. For this World Malaria Day (April 25th, 2025), now is the time to double down because eliminating malaria isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable, if we choose to fund it and fight for it together,” concludes Birungi.
Target Malaria is an international not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share new, cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission. Our vision is to contribute to a world free of malaria. We aim to achieve excellence in all areas of our work, creating a path for responsible research and development of genetic technologies, such as gene drive. www.targetmalaria.org
Target Malaria receives core funding by the Gates Foundation and Open Philanthropy. The lead grantee organization is Imperial College London with partners in Africa, Europe and North America.
KAMPALA, Uganda, 16 April 2025 /African Media Agency (AMA)/- Ahead of World Malaria Day, Target Malaria, a not-for-profit research consortium pioneering genetic technologies for malaria control, hosted a live demonstration this month of its educational video game, Target Malaria: The Game. This interactive tool is reshaping how science is communicated by making complex genetic technologies accessible, engaging, and fun.
Originally launched at the end of 2024, the educational game places players in the role of a lab technician working on genetically modified mosquitoes — a potential tool for vector control being explored to eliminate malaria in Africa. It introduces players of all ages and backgrounds to the real-world tools and processes of molecular biology through two modules: “Microinjection” and “Transgenic Screening.”
In “Microinjection”, players simulate injecting a DNA solution into mosquito embryos, and in “Transgenic Screening”, players sort fluorescent, genetically modified mosquito larvae.
“This isn’t just a game — it’s a capacity-building tool,” says Louise Marston, Senior Research Technician for Target Malaria at the Crisanti Lab, in Imperial College London and who conceived the idea for the game. “We’re demonstrating how a digital experience can bring scientific discovery to life, even in low-connectivity environments.”
A tool developed for easy accessibility
Developed with independent game developer Michael Marston, the game was designed to work on low-spec systems and in low-bandwidth environments — critical for areas where internet access is limited or unreliable. This makes it a powerful tool for science educators and trainers working beyond urban centres in Africa and beyond.
According to a recent report, Africa’s gaming industry is the fastest growing in the world, with over 186 million gamers across the continent as of 2024. The majority of these gamers are under 30, representing a massive opportunity to educate, inspire, and engage future scientists using platforms they already enjoy.
“Gaming is a language young people understand. Target Malaria: The Game harnesses that energy to spark curiosity, give an overview of molecular biology, and build scientific literacy,” adds Marston.
A new frontier for stakeholder engagement
Target Malaria: The Game is part of a wider suite of creative tools used by Target Malaria to build awareness on the potential of gene modification for malaria control and on its gene drive technology, currently under development. Alongside tools like “Mozzie Drive” (a card game), “Swarm” (a sound art “sonification” experience), and interactive theatre in countries like Burkina Faso, the game is helping foster trust, transparency, and understanding among communities and stakeholders.
Target Malaria regularly arranges science café meetings where these tools are presented to communities impacted by, and most vulnerable to malaria.
A stakeholder meeting in Uganda. Credit: Target MalariaA woman observing mosquito larva in a microscope in Burkina Faso. Credit: Target Malaria
We encourage universities, schools, and labs to adopt this tool not just for awareness, but for training. It brings the lab into the classroom, and demystifies many misconceptions about science and biotechnology,” adds Jean Birba, Stakeholder Engagement Officer at Target Malaria Burkina Faso.
Target Malaria: The Game is available in English and French and runs seamlessly on both gaming PCs and low-spec systems. Soon the research consortium will be offering a Beta launch on Mac and a mobile version.
“Engaging stakeholders at all levels is a key pillar of our approach to responsible research. The game reflects our commitment to transparency, inclusion, and education on gene drive technology in our fight against malaria. We want to reach as many people as possible and encourage them to download, play and share the game,” concludes Birba.
Open the downloaded file “TargetMalariaTheGameInstaller” and execute it.A pop-up window, The Game Setup Wizard, will appear on your screen. Accept the license agreement and click on Next (several times). If you want to create a shortcut on your desktop, check the relevant box before clicking on “Finish”.
The Game will automatically launch once the setup is done. Select your preferred language and play!
Target Malaria is an international not-for-profit research consortium that aims to develop and share new, cost-effective and sustainable genetic technologies to modify mosquitoes and reduce malaria transmission. Our vision is to contribute to a world free of malaria. We aim to achieve excellence in all areas of our work, creating a path for responsible research and development of genetic technologies, such as gene drive. www.targetmalaria.org
Target Malaria receives core funding by the Gates Foundation and Open Philanthropy. The lead grantee organization is Imperial College London with partners in Africa, Europe and North America
One of the most popular radio stations in Burkina Faso, Radio Omega has been suspended after it broadcast an interview deemed “insulting” to Niger’s new military leaders.
Burkina Faso’s junta-led government announced the immediate suspension of the station on Thursday until further notice in a statement signed by Communications Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo. It noted that the measure was “in the higher interests of the Nation.”
The station, part of the Omega media group was said to be owned by journalist and former foreign minister Alpha Barry. It ceased broadcasting after the statement was issued late Thursday.
According to a report done by AFP and published by Barron’s, the channel had run an interview with Ousmane Abdoul Moumouni, the spokesman for a newly-established Nigerien group campaigning to return President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
Mali and Burkina Faso sent a joint delegation to Niamey, the capital of Niger, on Monday in a show of solidarity amidst a coup crisis, the Malian army said.
“The development shows the solidarity of the two countries with the brotherly people of Niger,” the army tweeted.
The governments in Burkina Faso and Mali have declared support for the Nigerien soldiers who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.
The two countries also warned that any military intervention in Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them and would lead to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The regional bloc has threatened to restore order in Niger by force.
