Mali: un alarming rise in repression and suspended elections International concerns are mounting over the deteriorating situation in the Republic of Mali. The United Nations Human Rights Office has issued a stark warning regarding the suspension of elections and the escalating crackdown on civil society. Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has […]

Mali faces growing authoritarianism and rights violations under junta rule In a stark warning to the international community, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating political landscape in Mali. The situation has taken a troubling turn under the leadership of General Assimi Goïta, whose administration has systematically […]

Burkina Faso enacts stringent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation On September 1st, Burkina Faso’s transitional legislative assembly passed a controversial anti-homosexuality law that criminalizes consensual same-sex relationships. Under this new legislation, individuals convicted of homosexuality face up to five years in prison and substantial fines, marking a significant setback for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights in the […]

Click to expand Image Earlier this week, the military leadership in Burkina Faso ordered the departure of Carol Flore-Smereczniak, the primary United Nations representative in the nation. She was designated as persona non grata following the release of a critical UN investigation into child rights violations within the country. This expulsion represents the second time […]

Military conscription of critics in Burkina Faso draws global condemnation In early July 2025, Burkina Faso authorities took a significant step by releasing five journalists and a human rights activist who had been illegally conscripted into the military. Their crime? Criticizing the ruling military junta. While their release is a positive development, it underscores a […]

breaking the silence: combating sickle cell disease in Niger Imagine if a simple blood test before marriage could fundamentally alter a life’s trajectory?  “Upon assuming leadership of the National Reference Centre for Sickle Cell Disease (CNRD), one particular story left an indelible mark: that of a parent, driven by destitution, forced to abandon their child […]

Urgent appeal: forced disappearance of activists in Burkina Faso The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a collaborative effort between the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent mobilization regarding the current events in Burkina Faso. Details of the disappearances The Observatory has been […]

Click to expand Image Authorities in Niger are being urged to immediately release former President Mohamed Bazoum, who remains in arbitrary custody two years after a military coup removed him from power, Human Rights Watch stated today. On July 26, 2023, military officers belonging to the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), […]

Allegations of war crimes by Malian forces and Wagner group Since January 2025, the Malian armed forces and their Russian-backed Wagner allies have been implicated in dozens of summary executions and enforced disappearances targeting Fulani civilians. International observers and local testimonies accuse both forces of systematic human rights violations during counter-insurgency operations against Islamist armed […]

In Burkina Faso, the impact of sickle cell disease is a significant public health priority, with a prevalence rate of 4.63%. Notably, nearly 2% of newborns are diagnosed with the SS form, which is the most acute variation of the condition. This situation demands a comprehensive, multi-sector strategy involving every level of society. Dr Gloria […]