Panama hailed the momentum of openness and modernization underway in Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, and expressed its appreciation for Morocco’s pioneering role in Africa, making the Kingdom a credible and valued partner on the international stage.
In this respect, Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, commended, in a Joint Communiqué signed on Monday in Rabat following his talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, HM King Mohammed VI’s regional and international leadership, mainly Morocco’s role in Africa.
In this respect, he underlined key projects such as the Royal Initiative aiming to promote stability, security and economic prosperity in Atlantic riparian African countries, the Initiative aiming to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean and the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline megaproject, which represent the Kingdom of Morocco’s pioneering commitment to South-South cooperation.
The head of Panamanian diplomacy also praised the role of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the leadership of HM the King, as a pioneering player in counter-terrorism, fighting organized crime and preserving peace and security in Africa.
The two ministers also explored the prospects for collaboration in the various Atlantic cooperation initiatives.
They also expressed their aspiration to make this area a geostrategic framework for concerted action to promote development and guarantee security, solidarity and understanding between South-South and South-North peoples.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Morocco and Panama reiterated their commitment to further bolstering their bilateral ties.
This commitment was formalized in a joint Communiqué signed in Rabat on Monday, following a meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and his Panamanian peer, Mr. Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom of Morocco on June 14-18.
In the joint communiqué, the two ministers underscored the excellent ties of friendship and solidarity between the two countries and concurred on the need to maintain these exchanges and take stock of the bilateral relationship, to further reinforce it.
The two countries pointed out that cooperation ties are founded on the principles of peaceful coexistence, democracy and good governance, solidarity, transparency, mutual respect, respect for human rights and international humanitarian law and the non-use of unilateral sanctions.
Both sides highlighted that international law is essentially founded on mutual respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and State independence and the fulfillment of obligations arising from treaties and other international law sources.
The two ministers welcomed their convergence of views on regional and international issues, and reiterated their determination to work for peace and security in the world.
They agreed to pool efforts in the face of global challenges such as climate change, gender, human rights, blue agenda, green agenda, food security, health, prevention, preparation and response to pandemics, and the fight against insecurity and corruption and other sectors in the various international and multilateral forums.
Morocco and Panama also reaffirmed the importance of exchange between peoples in strengthening mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation and the fields of communication, culture, education-learning, sports, arts, the youth, civil society and the economy.
The two sides delved into collaboration prospects in the numerous Atlantic cooperation initiatives, expressing their ambition to turn the area into a geostrategic framework for concerted action to promote development and guarantee security, solidarity and closer ties between South-South and South-North peoples.
The two foreign ministers stressed that Morocco and Panama enjoy strategic geographic situations positioning them as vital hubs in the main international trade roads.
As converging countries in terms of their maritime role, the two senior officials highlighted the fundamental role of the Tanger Med port, recognized as one of the most advanced logistics centers in Africa and a gateway to the Mediterranean, as well as the importance of the Panama Canal, which efficiently links Atlantic and Pacific oceans, facilitating global maritime trade.
They also expressed their firm commitment to intensifying investment through a fluid exchange of business information, the promotion of strategic alliances with the private sector, and the active promotion of initiatives facilitating and developing bilateral trade, in order to multiply business opportunities and explore the potential for diversifying trade and investment between the two countries.
Emphasizing the positive results achieved in the development of their bilateral and multilateral relations, Mr. Bourita and Vásquez expressed their shared willingness to continue strengthening the bilateral legal framework, in order to address areas of common interest for cooperation.
To this end, they welcomed the signing of several legal instruments, namely the Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Diplomatic and Official Passports between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Panama, the Roadmap for Cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Panama 2025-2027 and the Joint Declaration sanctioning the videoconference of November 27, 2024.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
Alahli Tripoli Forward Jean Jacques Boissy Named 2025 BAL Most Valuable Player
Record141,564FansAttendedBALGamesThisSeason
Libya’s Alahli Tripoli today defeated Angola’s Petro de Luanda 88-67 to win the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com) Championship, which took place at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, and reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages. Alahli Tripoli, which made its BAL debut this season, is the first team from Libya to win the BAL Championship. A record 141,564 fans attended games over the course of the BAL’s milestone fifth season.
Following the game, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave presented Alahli Tripoli with the BAL Championship Trophy and Alahli Tripoli forward Jean Jacques Boissy with The Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy for winning the 2025 BAL Most Valuable Player Award. For the first time in BAL history, the 2025 champions received championship rings (https://apo-opa.co/4l9udcZ), following a tradition long associated with global basketball excellence.
Alahli Tripoli went 9-1 during the Nile Conference group phase in Kigali, Rwanda, and the Playoffs, defeating Cape Verde’s Kriol Star and Rwanda’s APR in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively, to advance to the Finals. Alahli Tripoli is the first team in league history to win both its conference and the championship in the same season. APR defeated Egypt’s Al Ittihad 123–90 in the third-place game yesterday, setting a league record for the most points scored in a single game.
Boissy is also the 2025 BAL Scoring Champion and was named to the 2025 All-BAL First Team and the 2025 All-BAL Defensive Team, recording per game averages of 18.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.9 assists.
Several former NBA players attended games during the 2025 BAL Playoffs and Finals, including 2014 NBA champion Boris Diaw (France; ties to Senegal), seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady (U.S.), BAL Ambassadors and NBA Africa investors Luol Deng (South Sudan), Ian Mahinmi (France; ties to Benin) and Joakim Noah (grandfather from Cameroon), 2015 FIBA AfroBasket champion Olumide Oyedeji (Nigeria), former NBA player Hasheem Thabeet (Tanzania) and former NBA player and Olympian Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Ghana).
The BAL has also announced the Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sportsmanship Award winner, All-BAL First Team, All-BAL Defensive Team, and Ubuntu Award winner. The voting panels varied for each award and comprised fans, coaches, team captains, media, broadcasters, and scouts.
2025 BAL Coach of the Year
Alahli Tripoli head coach Abou Chacra Joseph Fouad led his team to a BAL Championship with a 9-1 record during the Nile Conference group phase and the Playoffs.
2025 Defensive Player of the Year
APR center Aliou Diarra won The Dikembe Mutombo Trophy as the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year. Diarra led APR to a 6-4 record during the Nile Conference group phase, and the Playoffs, averaging 17.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks in 10 games this season. He is the first player in league history to win the award twice, having previously received the honor in 2023 with Stade Malien (Mali). Diarra was also named to the All-BAL First Team.
2025 BAL Sportsmanship Award
Petro de Luanda (Angola) guard Souleyman Diabate received The Manute Bol Trophy for exemplifying the ideals of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
2025 All-BAL First Team
Position
Player
Team
Guard
Jean Jacques Boissy
Alahli Tripoli (Libya)
Guard
Jaylen Adams
Alahli Tripoli (Libya)
Guard / Forward
Majok Machar Deng
Al Ittihad (Egypt)
Forward
Patrick Gardner Jr.
Petro de Luanda (Angola)
Forward / Center
Aliou Diarra
APR (Rwanda)
2025 All-BAL Defensive Team
Position
Player
Team
Guard
Jean Jacques Boissy
Alahli Tripoli (Libya)
Guard
Obadiah Noel
APR (Rwanda)
Guard / Forward
Caleb Agada
Alahli Tripoli (Libya)
Forward
Teafale Lenard Jr.
Made by Basketball (MBB; South Africa)
Forward / Center
Aliou Diarra
APR (Rwanda)
2025 BAL Ubuntu Award
Kriol Star Basketball (Cape Verde) guard Joel Almeida won the 2025 BAL Ubuntu Award in recognition of his ongoing efforts to use the game of basketball to positively impact the lives of youth in his native Cape Verde. Over the past year, Almeida organized basketball camps and clinics that reached more than 100 aspiring players and coaches, including from underserved communities. Almeida was presented with the 2025 BAL Ubuntu Trophy during an on-court ceremony on Wednesday, June 11.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Contact:
Edwin Eselem
BAL Communications
+221 78 615 4287 EEselem@theBAL.com
The State of Qatar called on the international community to continue mobilizing financial and technical resources and to fully fund the Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan to help ensure a dignified life for the Afghan people.
This came in a statement delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva Juhara bint Abdulaziz Al Suwaidi during her participation in the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan held as part of the 59th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva.
Al Suwaidi affirmed the State of Qatar’s continued commitment as an active international partner, highlighting that through its mediation efforts and by hosting the Special Envoys on Afghanistan meetings under the auspices of the UN, the State of Qatar succeeded in enhancing international consensus on many key issues and continued to provide humanitarian and development aid to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Afghan people.
She highlighted the State of Qatar’s commitment to including human rights issues in its discussions with Afghan parties, particularly in supporting and promoting the participation of Afghan women in the peacebuilding process, ensuring their right to education and equal employment opportunities, as well as protecting the rights of all segments of Afghan society.
The Afghan people endured decades of conflict, natural disasters, and terrorism, she added, pointing out that Afghanistan is currently facing numerous humanitarian, social, political, security, and economic challenges, which in turn affect efforts to promote and protect human rights.
The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Delegation of the State of Qatar to the UN Office stressed that addressing these challenges requires intensified efforts to rebuild Afghan institutions, ensure continued humanitarian and development assistance for the Afghan people, and maintain dialogue and engagement with all Afghan parties to reach solutions that foster greater stability and growth.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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Angola has taken a decisive step in advancing its strategic partnership with the U.S., following a high-level meeting between Angolan Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Azevedo and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington, D.C. on June 11. The meeting – also attended by Angola’s Ambassador to the U.S., Agostinho Van-Dúnem – underscored the shared commitment of both nations to deepen cooperation across oil and gas, critical minerals and renewable energy development.
American companies have long played a leading role in Angola’s oil and gas industry, from offshore exploration to production and infrastructure. Minister Azevedo and Secretary Wright explored opportunities to build on this foundation through new upstream projects, gas monetization, refining and critical mineral development which is vital for clean technology supply chains. They also highlighted Angola’s efforts to attract U.S. capital for renewable energy initiatives, particularly in solar and green hydrogen, as part of the country’s diversification and modernization drive.
“This meeting reflects the robust and evolving partnership between Angola and the United States. We are committed to working together to achieve a balanced energy transition – one that leverages Angola’s natural resources, advances technological cooperation and contributes meaningfully to our economic transformation and development goals,” stated Minister Azevedo.
With more than nine billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Angola has unveiled over $60 billion in oil and gas investment prospects through its National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG). These span exploration, development, gas processing, refining and midstream infrastructure. A licensing round set to launch this year will offer ten new blocks in the Kwanza and Benguela basins, while 11 additional blocks are open for direct negotiation, alongside five marginal field opportunities.
U.S. firms continue to play a foundational role in Angola’s energy landscape. Earlier this month, ExxonMobil, as a joint venture partner alongside operator TotalEnergies, secured an extension of the PSC for Block 17, enabling continued deepwater exploration and development in this prolific basin and underscoring its long-term commitment to Angola’s offshore sector. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil is advancing the redevelopment of Block 15 – where over 2.6 billion barrels have already been produced – with an 18-well program extending the block’s life by more than two decades and yielding two new discoveries. The company is also undertaking prospective studies on Blocks 17/06 and 32/21, in collaboration with TotalEnergies and ANPG, aiming to identify future drilling targets.
Chevron, through its affiliate Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, is leading Angola’s gas development efforts. The company has ramped up gas supply to 600 million cubic feet per day to the Angola LNG plant and achieved first gas earlier this year from its Sanha Lean Gas Connection Project, which will supply both the Soyo power plants and Angola LNG. Angola LNG – one of sub-Saharan Africa’s few operational LNG export terminals – offers a strategic entry point for U.S. firms into global LNG supply chains. As part of the New Gas Consortium, Chevron is also developing Angola’s first non-associated gas project, set to come online in late 2025 or early 2026.
Downstream and midstream projects are another key pillar of Angola’s energy transformation. Construction is advancing on the $920-million Cabinda Refinery, with U.S. firms engaged in engineering and procurement roles. The U.S.-backed Lobito Corridor – a major infrastructure initiative connecting Angola’s Lobito port to Zambia and the DRC – is poised to boost regional energy transport and industrialization, offering additional opportunities for American companies in logistics, storage and rail-linked energy infrastructure. Complementary investments in storage terminals, fuel distribution and domestic refining capacity are helping Angola reduce its reliance on imports and increase energy self-sufficiency.
The engagement marks a renewed commitment to aligning U.S.-Angola energy collaboration with the goals of sustainable development, energy security and economic modernization.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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OPTIC, Senegal’s leading organization for tech professionals, has worked for three years with the Netherlands Trust Fund (NTF) V project at ITC to improve its services. Together we’ve improved Senegal’s entire digital ecosystem by investing in new skills and opportunities.
Positive spin-offs for Senegal’s digital ecosystem
OPTIC, the Organisation des Professionnels des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication, has a long-standing and fruitful collaboration with ITC. They’ve worked with the current NTF V project, which is now winding down, as well as the previous NTF IV project.
The project supports Senegal’s efforts to grow its economy with digital technology. That includes both information technology (IT) companies, and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms that offer back-office services to international businesses.
‘NTF’s support has enabled us to establish our legitimacy and intensify our efforts in the Senegalese tech ecosystem,’ said Antoine Ngom, President of OPTIC. ‘Dozens of IT and BPO start-ups have benefited from this initiative, not to mention the indirect spin-offs that have benefited the entire tech economy.’
OPTIC has set itself several goals: to create a regulatory environment conducive to growth and innovation; to improve the skills and competitiveness of players on international markets; and to foster partnerships.
‘Our members have been able to seize international development opportunities thanks to personalized coaching sessions, as well as work on their pitch and sharpen their fund-raising skills through specialized training courses. Participation in leading B2B events, both national (SIPEN) and international (VivaTech, Africarena, GITEX International), considerably increased their visibility and expanded their professional network. A 360° diagnosis helped them to identify levers for improving their company’s performance, while certification support opened doors to national and international public procurement markets, synonymous with new growth prospects. The agritech community also benefited from a number of thematic meetings and a mapping of solutions.’
Strengthen achievements and maintain regional influence
OPTIC also received comprehensive, structuring support from the NTF V Project. After a performance diagnosis, OPTIC restructured its governance, revised its fundamental texts, and defined its recruitment needs for the permanent secretariat.
‘Cooperation between OPTIC and the NTF V project has also helped to make the SIPEN trade show a major focal point for players in the African digital economy. And that’s not counting the technical support we’ve provided for workshops, digital mornings and other ThémaTIC breakfasts that benefit Senegal’s Tech community,’ said Ngom.
All these initiatives have contributed to the emergence of the Digital Senegal consortium and to the realization of promising partnerships with players such as Sen Startup. ‘There’s no doubt that the NTF V project has helped OPTIC to strengthen its leadership capabilities and increase its regional influence. We’ve seen a significant increase in membership over the past few years,’ added Ngom, who hopes to build on this positive impact over the long term. Now that the trade organization has secured a plot of land on which to build its future head office, achieving financial autonomy is a new challenge.
‘We want OPTIC to reinforce its position as a key digital player in Senegal and more widely in West Africa. To achieve this, we plan to boost our regional cooperation and support dialogue with public authorities more than ever. To continue our work, diversify our best practices and develop profitable activities, we are launching an appeal to national and international partners,’ he said. Ngom hopes a future NTF VI project will be part of that.
About the project
The Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF) programme (July 2021 – June 2025) is based on a partnership between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Trade Centre. NTF V supports SMEs in the digital technology and agribusiness sectors in Benin,Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Uganda. Its ambition is to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable transformation of agri-food systems partly through digital solutions, to improve the international competitiveness of local tech start-ups and to support the implementation of the export strategy of IT&BPO companies.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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This morning, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf convened & presided over a session of the AU Peace Fund Executive Management Committee. He received a comprehensive briefing from H.E. @dagmawit_moges, Director-General of the @AUPeaceFund, & H.E. @Bankole_Adeoye, Commissioner of @AUC_PAPS, on the strategic and progressive utilisation of the Fund.
The Chairperson underscored the Fund’s pivotal role in advancing African-led peace & security initiatives & emphasised the imperative of timely & efficient disbursement of resources in support of stabilisation & conflict prevention efforts across the continent.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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H.E. Harold Bundu Saffa, Ambassador of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Ethiopia & Permanent Representative to the AU, paid a courtesy call on H.E. @ymahmoudali, Chairperson of the AU Commission, to convey a message of congratulations on his election.
They took the opportunity to exchange views on the ongoing efforts to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Guinea & on the broader developments in the West African region.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) (https://TheACG.org/), the world’s second-largest development finance group, extended US$19.6 billion collectively to fund nearly 650 operations in more than 90 countries in 2024. This significant financing was geared towards developing critical infrastructure, addressing global challenges like climate change and food security, and supporting international trade.
The ACG Heads of Institutions gathered in Vienna today for their 20th annual meeting hosted by the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund). Ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) which is scheduled to take place from 30 June to 3 July 2025 in Spain, the group reaffirmed its commitment to scaling-up financial assistance for sustainable development.
The top three sectors supported by ACG financing last year were energy (29 percent), agriculture (20 percent) and the financial sector (16 percent). Over 45 percent of the total financing promoted global trade, ensuring the movement of critical products and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.
In 2024, approximately 20 percent of the ACG’s commitments were dedicated to Africa, aligned with the US$50 billion pledge made by the group in November, 2023. During their meeting in Vienna today, the Heads of Institutions pledged continued and increasing support to the most vulnerable communities in Africa. The commitment aims to provide financing for energy security and energy transition; food security; enhanced integration of the Arab and African regions; gender and youth initiatives; and private sector support.
The ACG will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in October 2025, marking a significant milestone in its journey of fostering sustainable development worldwide. This momentous occasion will provide an opportunity to reflect on the Group’s remarkable legacy, achievements, and challenges, while also reaffirming its commitment to global development. This event will not only document the Group’s accomplishments over the past fifty years but also inspire renewed commitment to advancing impactful development solutions worldwide.
– on behalf of Arab Coordination Group (ACG).
About the Arab Coordination Group (ACG):
The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) is a strategic alliance that provides a coordinated response to development finance. Since its establishment in 1975, ACG has been instrumental in developing economies and communities for a better future, providing more than 13,000 development loans to over 160 countries around the globe. Comprising ten development funds, ACG is the second-largest group of development finance institutions in the world and works across the globe to support developing nations and create a lasting, positive impact.
The Group comprises the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Olivier Walther, Associate Professor in Geography, University of Florida
What’s the connection between roads and conflict in west Africa? This may seem like an odd question. But a study we conducted shows a close relationship between the two.
We are researchers of transnational political violence. We analysed 58,000 violent events in west Africa between 2000 to 2024. Our focus was on identifying patterns of violence in relation to transport infrastructure.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that roads, bridges, pipelines and other transport systems are increasingly attacked across west Africa, but little is known about the factors that explain when, where and by whom.
Violence in west Africa involves a complex mix of political, economic and social factors. Weak governance, corruption, urban-rural inequalities and marginalised populations have been exploited by numerous armed groups, including transnational criminal networks and religious extremists.
West Africa has been one of the world’s most violent regions since the mid 2010s. In 2024 alone, the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data initiative recorded over 10,600 events of political violence in the region. These ranged from battles between armed groups, explosions and other forms of remote violence, to attacks on unarmed civilians. An estimated 25,600 people were killed. This has been the status quo in the region for nearly a decade.
The results of our study show that 65% of all the attacks, explosions, and violence against civilians recorded between 2000 and 2024 were located within one kilometre of a road.
Only 4% of all events were located further than 10km from a road. This pattern was consistent across all road types but most pronounced near highways and primary roads.
We think the reason for this pattern is that there is fierce competition between state and non-state actors for access to and use of roads.
Governments need well-developed road networks for a host of reasons, including the ability to govern, enabling economic activity, and security. Roads enable military mobility and reduce potential safe havens for insurgents in remote regions.
Insurgent groups also see transport networks as prime targets. They create opportunities to blockade cities, ambush convoys, kidnap travellers, employ landmines, and destroy key infrastructure.
Our research is part of a long line of work that explored the role of infrastructure in relation to security in west Africa. Our latest research reinforces earlier findings linking the two. Transport networks have become battlegrounds for extremist groups seeking to destabilise states, isolate communities and expand their influence.
The network
The west African road network is vast, estimated at over 709,000km of roads by the Global Roads Inventory Project. It compares unfavourably with other African regions. For example, paved roads remain relatively scarce in west Africa (17% of the regional network) when compared with north Africa (83%).
Poorly maintained roads impose costs on west African countries. They increase transport time of perishable goods, shorten the operational life of trucks, cause more accidents, and reduce social interactions between communities.
Still, significant variations in road quality are found across the region. The percentage of paved roads ranges from a high of 37% in Senegal to just over 7% in Mali. Nigeria has the largest road network in west Africa with an estimated 195,000km, but much of it has deteriorated because of poor maintenance.
Road-related violence is on the rise
We found that road-related attacks have been on the rise since jihadist groups emerged in the mid-2010s. Only 31 ambushes against convoys were reported in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger from 2000-2015, against 497 from 2016-2023.
Attacks frequently occur along the same road segments, such as around Boni in the Gourma Mounts, where Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) conducted nine attacks against Malian forces and Wagner mercenaries between 2019 and 2024.
Violence was the most clustered near roads in 2011, with 87% of all violent events located within 1km of a road. Our analysis shows that, though still high, there’s been a decline post-2000: 59% in 2022 and 60% in 2024. This evolution reflects the ruralisation of conflict in west Africa. As jihadist insurgents target rural areas and small towns more and more, an increasing share of violent events also occurs far away from roads.
We’ve studied the root causes of west Africa’s violence for nearly a decade, documenting the ever-intensifying costs paid by its people. In the process, we’ve uncovered overlooked aspects of the turmoil, including the centrality of the road networks to an understanding of where the violence is happening.
The most dangerous roads of west Africa
Our findings show that violence against transport infrastructure is very unevenly distributed in west Africa and that specific road segments have been repeatedly targeted. This was particularly the case in the Central Sahel, Lake Chad basin, and western Cameroon.
For example, the 350km ring road linking Bamenda to Kumbo and Wum in Cameroon is the most violent road in west Africa, with 757 events since 2018, due to the conflict between the government and the Ambazonian separatists.
The longest segments of dangerous roads are in Nigeria, particularly those connecting Maiduguri in Borno State to Damaturu, Potiskum, Biu and Bama.
In the central Sahel, the road between Mopti/Sévaré and Gao is by far the most violent transport axis, with 433 events since the beginning of the civil war in Mali in 2012. South of Gao, National Road 17 leading to the Nigerien border, and National Road 20 heading east toward Ménaka have experienced 177 and 139 events respectively since the Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP) intensified its activities in the region in 2017.
In Burkina Faso, all the roads leading to Djibo near the border with Mali have experienced high levels of violence since the early 2020s.
Building transport infrastructure to promote peace
Roads are an important part of state counterinsurgency strategies and a strategic target for local militants. Yes, as our work highlights, transport infrastructure is largely ignored in debates that emphasise more state interventions as a means of combating insecurity. Sixty years after the independence of many west African countries, road accessibility remains elusive in the region.
Peripheral cities such as Bardaï, Bilma, Kidal and Timbuktu, where rebel movements have historically developed, are still not connected to the national network by tarmac roads.
The duality of the transport infrastructure, as both a facilitator and target of violence, has put government forces at a disadvantage. Regular forces are heavily constrained by the sparsity and poor conditions of the road network, which makes them vulnerable to attacks without necessarily allowing them to project their military power over long distances.
Rather than building transport infrastructure, states have focused on strengthening security by investing in military bases. The military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have further reinforced this trend, with the creation of a joint force by the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States.
Strengthening security has taken precedence over developmental support for peripheral communities, who experience the worst of the violence.
– Highways to hell: west Africa’s road networks are the preferred battleground for terror groups – https://theconversation.com/highways-to-hell-west-africas-road-networks-are-the-preferred-battleground-for-terror-groups-258517
