[Ghanaian Times] As usual, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held a meeting yesterday to respond to the military takeover of the presidency in Burkina Faso, a member state.

[The New Humanitarian] Warrap, South Sudan -- 'It's the politicians in Juba that are causing all the problems here.'

[VOA] Accra, Ghana -- The chairman of the West African bloc ECOWAS said a surge of coups since a military government took power in Mali in 2020 must be contained before it devastates the whole region.

[CAF] Egypt are through to the final of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations after beating hosts Cameroon 3-1 on penalties at the end of a goalless 120 minutes in Yaounde on Thursday.

[DW] Instead of fresh sanctions, leaders called for a return to democracy and the release of ousted President Roch Marc Christian Kabore "within the shortest time." ECOWAS is also deploying soldiers to Guinea-Bissau.

[DW] Efforts have intensified to rescue a 5-year-old boy who has been stuck in a deep well for almost three days. The case has gripped Northern Africa, sparking a wave of sympathy online.

[CPJ] Lusaka -- Zambian authorities must immediately drop the criminal investigation into television station manager Petty Chanda and stop harassing journalists whose reporting may embarrass top officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Th...

[ISS] The deteriorating security situation and governance deficits have taken their toll on the Kaboré regime.

[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Stringent travel advisories have continued to depress the performance of airlines' in Africa with numbers still below 2019 capacity, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) has said.

[VOA] Bamako, Mali -- Mali has failed to meet debt payments of some $40 million in treasury bonds, blaming sanctions imposed on the country's military junta by West African bloc ECOWAS.

[UN News] Peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have stepped up their presence in the area around a camp for displaced people in Ituri province following a deadly attack this week, the United Nations said on Thursday.

[UN News] The COVID-19 pandemic could reverse decades of global progress in stamping out female genital mutilation (FGM), UN agencies warn ahead of the International Day to eliminate the harmful practice.

[UN News] The COVID-19 vaccination rate in Africa needs to increase six-fold for the continent to meet the 70 per cent target set for the middle of this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

[DW] It is still unclear who is behind the attempted coup in Guinea-Bissau. President Embalo claims that the coup plotters wanted to end his fight against drug trafficking. But what about the role of the political elite?

[VOA] An oil production and storage ship exploded in southern Delta state and 10 crew members are feared dead, Nigerian authorities said.

[Premium Times] About 78 per cent said they were either 'sad' or 'extremely' sad about the current state of Nigeria.

[Premium Times] "The insurgents have destroyed about 5000 classrooms in Borno State and about 800 municipal buildings, including local government secretariats, prisons and traditional rulers' buildings, among others. Furthermore, they destroyed about...

[SciDev.Net] Partnership and country ownership are key to fighting neglected tropical diseases, writes Gail Davey.

[SciDev.Net] Nairobi -- Deaths from common lung diseases are on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa but a simple screening method could significantly reduce their occurrence in the region, a study says.

[SciDev.Net] The number of human cases of Guinea worm disease halved in 2021 to a record low of 14, putting the goal of global eradication in sight, the US-based Carter Center has announced.

[AIM] Several villages in the northern province of Cabo Delgado came under renewed attack by islamist terrorists during the last week of January, according to a report in the newssheet "Mediafax" on 31 January.

[HRW] Nairobi -- Ensure Independent Investigations; Hold Those Responsible to Account

[Namibian] Analysts have expressed mixed feelings over Namibia's weakening performance on the Corruption Perceptions Index, according to which the country's ranking fell from 56th place out of 180 countries in 2020 to 58th place in the latest results...

[HRW] Nairobi -- 3 Months After Coup, Concrete Action Needed to End Repression

[New Times] Rwanda has started a pilot project to use drones to deliver swine semen to veterinarians for use in artificial insemination to facilitate farmers' access to improved breeds and boost the pig industry.

[CFR] A rash of coups in West Africa is forcing a rethink in how Western countries have backed authoritarian governments in the name of stability.

[Premium Times] Bonga, Nigeria's first deep-water oilfield, can produce 225,000 barrels of crude oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.

[Unicef] UNICEF wholeheartedly condemns the latest attack in Ituri province, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, in which 15 children are initially reported to have been killed and more than 30 injured. Children are not a target.

[Nyasa Times] Spurred by the need to root out graft, The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) Commissioner General John Biziwick, has vowed that the tax policing authority will take the fight against corruption to the wire and a top most priority.

[New Zimbabwe] Outspoken Chimurenga music guru Thomas Mapfumo has endorsed the newly formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) president Nelson Chamisa before urging him to stand with the people.