West Africa

Officials are working to remove thousands of tons of sargassum, a floating brown algae, from Florida’s beaches due to a worsening problem amid the climate crisis. Chris Bumpus, chief of conservation for the Miami-Dade county’s parks, recreation and open spaces department, is responsible for cleaning 17 miles of county beaches. This seaweed issue has been observed on beaches in south Florida, west Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The article discusses the impact of albedo on global temperatures and covers the rising cocaine trade in West Africa and the persistent scarcity of female breadwinners.

Air Peace has started operating flights on the Lagos-Conakry-Bamako route as part of its regional expansion strategy to enhance air connectivity across West Africa.

East and West Africa are establishing a new growth corridor with GDP growth rates of 5.8–6.1% and 4.1–4.3% respectively, creating a US$1 trillion trade opportunity for Latin America.

Global warming may reduce malaria in West and Central Africa by making it too hot for malaria-carrying mosquitoes, though the problem could shift to other regions. Climate change's impact on mosquito survival is highlighted as a potential factor in malaria elimination.

The US State Department incorrectly labeled Nigeria as a landlocked nation in the Sahara Desert during a presentation at the global AIDS conference, despite Nigeria being located in West Africa. The error also affected other African countries.

Senegal is emerging as a key hub for shipping cocaine consumed in Europe, with half of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe expected to transit through West Africa by 2030. In Dakar, a major port city, the use of synthetic drugs is spreading rapidly, described as even more dangerous.

A Ponzi scheme marketed as a cryptocurrency investment on the WS platform has devastated families in Cape Verde, with one victim, Carlos Correia, losing €4,000. West Africa recorded $2.1 billion in suspicious crypto transactions in 2024, and Cape Verde lacks a dedicated crypto-asset regulatory framework.

West Africa's FMCG sector, logistics boom, and informal food trade are reshaping supply chains, attracting Brazilian agribusiness and logistics firms. The situation highlights a paradox between big deals and empty ships in the region.

Scientists rediscovered a coral reef previously thought to be dead in West Africa, finding it teeming with life and eight types of fish using an underwater drone.

West African leaders appointed General Birame Diop, a military figure with UN peacekeeping experience, to lead the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) Commission as the bloc addresses the departure of three member states.

The Nigerian Federal Government plans to commission 11 pharmaceutical manufacturing projects by 2026 to enhance local drug production. These projects, already underway, aim to increase access to locally produced medicines and create export opportunities across West Africa, reflecting growing investor confidence in the sector.

S&P Global reports a rise in clean petroleum transport costs from Northwest Europe to West Africa, but the Dangote Refinery is helping Nigerians avoid global fuel price shocks. Transport costs increased from US$29.70 to US$37.12 per metric tonne due to vessel repositioning.

Floods in West Africa, supercharged by global heating and climate breakdown, caused dozens of deaths, hundreds rescued, and thousands displaced. Scientists attribute the catastrophic floods to climate change.

NFIU will establish a Nigeria branch of a global women’s anti-money laundering network to enhance leadership, mentorship, and collaboration in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing sectors. The network plans to expand across West Africa.

A top US official's visit to Nigeria highlights the Trump administration's engagement with West Africa, focusing on security, commerce, and sovereignty as regional dynamics shift. Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali are central to Washington's strategy in the region.

Chinese investors are funding Africa's shift from petrol-powered motorcycle taxis like boda-bodas and okadas to electric bikes. They supply components, batteries, and infrastructure such as battery-swapping networks to support this transition.

Deadly floods in West Africa, particularly in Liberia, have raised concerns about the country's preparedness as heavy rains continue, according to a FrontPageAfrica report.

Sucrivoire's stock has risen 190% in 2026 despite an $11m loss, shrinking sales, and no dividend since 2020, making it West Africa's top performer. The stock's surge is attributed to factors unexplained in the article's brief excerpt.

The article discusses security and development threats in the Sahel region of West Africa. Ahmedou Ould Abdallah is mentioned as the president of centre4s.

The CJID is hosting a media summit in Ghana to address the threat of disinformation to democratic governance in West Africa. The event will gather journalists, policymakers, academics, and civil society leaders to examine this issue.

63 individuals were charged in an alleged New Jersey auto theft ring that shipped over 90 luxury vehicles worth $8 million to West Africa. Prosecutors described the operation as a yearlong scheme involving luxury car thefts.

Akida Hills plans to develop the Jabi Lake Waterfront into a landmark leisure and tourism destination. The first phase includes a first-of-its-kind dancing musical fountain in West Africa and various waterfront leisure and entertainment experiences.

West Africa spends over $3.5 billion annually importing rice, a staple food that grows naturally in the region. The article highlights the potential of investing in the local rice value chain as a strategic economic opportunity.

Tensions are rising along the border between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso due to armed incursions by Burkinabe militias and a jihadist threat. Civilians in the region are living in fear, and the Ivorian army has granted access to a high-risk zone for reporting.

The Trump administration is targeting 'birth tourism' through visa enforcement, disrupting a West African network involving over 100 individuals using false documents and 'fixers' to obtain U.S. visas for giving birth. Officials also identified 400 suspected cases from Europe since 2024 linked to companies aiding visa applicants. The State Department revoked visas and is working to dismantle similar operations.

The Nigerian Federal Government emphasized the importance of West Africa in Nigeria's foreign policy, urging the country to mobilize resources to combat terrorism in the Sahel, proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, and drug and human trafficking in the sub-region.

Pope Leo XIV warned human traffickers in the Canary Islands to stop exploiting migrants, urging them to repent during his visit to the region, a key entry point for African migrants to Europe. He emphasized the Church's stance on welcoming migrants amid rising anti-migrant sentiment and highlighted the deadly Atlantic migration route, where thousands have perished.

Pope Leo XIV visited the Canary Islands' Arguineguín port, once called the 'dock of shame,' to advocate for migrant rights and criticize global indifference. The port faced squalid conditions for migrants in 2020, and arrivals have decreased after EU-Spain-African agreements. The Pope honored those lost at sea during his visit.

Liberia intercepted a $19.2 million cocaine shipment consisting of 198 compressed plates at Roberts International Airport. The incident highlights Liberia's growing role as a trans-shipment hub in West Africa's narcotics trafficking corridor.

The article argues that West Africa's oceans should sustain the people who depend on them, rather than a system that neglects their needs. It was written by Sonia Kwami and published in Premium Times Nigeria.

An EU-supported National Wildlife Crime Taskforce in West Africa seized 735.5 kilograms of pangolin scales, highlighting the region's role in combating illegal wildlife trafficking linked to transnational networks.

Susan Reichle, a 2014 U.S. Ebola response leader, compared the 2014 West African outbreak to the current Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda situation. In 2014, cases grew from 49 to 300 in 2.5 months; the current outbreak reached 300 confirmed cases in two weeks after hundreds of suspected cases emerged.

US health officials warn that the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could reach a scale similar to the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which killed over 11,000 people. Modeling by the US CDC suggests potential case numbers ranging from 10,000 to over 20,000, though experts caution that predicting outbreaks remains challenging.

The article discusses the risks faced by American healthcare workers and aid personnel deployed to Sierra Leone during the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola epidemic. It argues that these individuals, despite rigorous safety measures, face life-threatening challenges and deserve the right to return home if they become ill.

German authorities seized 8 metric tons of cocaine valued at 500 million euros from a container in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, which was intended to carry cacao beans from West Africa to Spain. Two suspects were arrested in El Ejido, Spain, and linked to the shipment, which was later destroyed before reaching Barcelona.

The article discusses lessons from the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, including insights from a survivor and experts on addressing the current epidemic. Key themes include speed, funding, and compassionate approaches to combatting the disease.

Sierra Leone has received a group of nine West African migrants who were expelled by the United States as part of its strict immigration crackdown. The deportees are from West Africa and were sent back under US immigration policies. This event is part of the US's efforts to enforce its immigration laws.

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in West Africa, finding evidence that humans lived in rainforests 150,000 years ago, rewriting human history. This challenges previous beliefs that ancient humans avoided dense rainforests. The discovery was made in present-day Côte d'Ivoire.

An outbreak of hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship has resulted in eight cases and three deaths. The ship, MV Hondius, is currently sailing to the Canary Islands with 147 passengers and crew on board. Experts from the World Health Organization are working to create a procedure for safe disembarkation.