West Africa News Agency - Agence de Presse Ouest-Africaine Skip to content

West Africa News Agency

Agence de Presse Ouest-Africaine

West Africa News Agency

Agence de Presse Ouest-Africaine

West Africa News Agency

Search news

Type to search stories, topics and pages.
Latest

Latest stories

West African Politics

ECOWAS Mission to African Union Backs People-Centred Border Governance After Abidjan Forum

By Harouna Mayaki

The ECOWAS Permanent Representation to the African Union has endorsed conclusions from the third Abidjan Border Forum, held 20 to 22 October 2026 on the theme of border communities, culture, integration and security. The representation said it agreed that cultural and historical ties and traditional mediation matter for stability, that cross-border trade drives integration despite administrative and infrastructural obstacles, and that security alone cannot answer terrorism and illicit trafficking. It committed to carrying five recommendations to the continental level, including faster ratification of the Niamey Convention and stronger capacity for the African Union Borders Programme.

Defense and Security

Algeria Approves Military Deployment to Niger as Parliament Backs Tebboune’s Order

By Lotfi Sour

Algeria's Parliament has approved sending army units to Niger under Article 91 of the Constitution, with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ordering the deployment less than 24 hours later. A researcher writing for The Conversation argues the move reflects a shift in a doctrine long reluctant to accept foreign military engagement, while the mission's mandate, troop numbers and duration remain undefined.

Agriculture & Food Security

ECOWAS Parliament Agriculture Committee Visits Lomé to Review Regional Food Agency’s Work

By Harouna Mayaki

A delegation from the ECOWAS Parliament's Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources is in Lomé from 27 to 29 October 2026 to review the work of the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food. The mission focuses on the ECOWAS STOCKS II project and the West African School Feeding Modernisation Programme.

Social Impact & Development

Researchers Map Three Routes for African Universities to Drive Social Change

By Addisu Lashitew, Annika Surmeier and 5 others

Researchers writing for The Conversation argue that deficit-based views of African universities obscure their role in social innovation. Their study of the University of Cape Town identifies three pathways — intrapreneurship, entrepreneurship and extrapreneurship — while cautioning that the case is relatively well-resourced and more research across contexts is needed.

West African Politics

ECOWAS Statistics Directorate Urges Bigger Budget, Regional Data Governance Framework After Seminar

By Harouna Mayaki

A strategic seminar of the ECOWAS Directorate of Research and Statistics has recommended a larger Commission budget allocation to cut reliance on development partners, and a regional data governance framework as a precondition for expanding AI-based platforms. The directorate was also urged to set up a regional technical working group and upgrade its servers, software and data management practices.

Health Care Programmes

ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau Takes Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign to Bissau School

By Harouna Mayaki

The Office of the ECOWAS Resident Representative and the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau held a breast cancer awareness campaign at Kwame Nkrumah Secondary School in Bissau on 22 October 2026. Ambassador Ngozi Ukaeje and Force Commander Brigadier General Danjuma Ribah Dantani stressed early detection, while Major Sylvester Alhassan delivered a sensitisation lecture on signs, risk factors and treatment.

Business & Economy

Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana Agree Pilot Product List for Mutual Recognition of Inspection Certificates

By Harouna Mayaki

Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana have selected an initial list of priority products for a pilot phase of their Mutual Recognition Agreement on inspection certificates and approved an implementation action plan. The agreement was approved by ECOWAS trade ministers in May 2025, and the pilot is described as a step towards mutual recognition along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor.

Business & Economy

Tax Officer Presence Builds Trust in Rich Areas, Erodes It in Poor Ones: Tanzania Study

By Christopher Hoy and Revocatus Paul

A randomised experiment in mainland Tanzania found that the presence of a tax officer during a survey interview raised trust and tax payments in wealthier regions but lowered both in poorer ones. The study, covering 1,210 small businesses and matched against administrative records for about 40,000 firms, suggests outreach programmes need to be tailored to local trust levels.