Western Africa
Photo: Rawpixel 2282519, CCO 1.0)
Woman-to-woman marriage in West Africa: a vanishing tradition of power and agency
Marriage in west Africa has played a central role in shaping aspects of society, and has evolved over time. While traditional heterosexual unions dominate discussions, a lesser-known but significant practice – woman-to-woman marriage – has existed
Guinea-Bissau’s political crisis: a nation on the brink of authoritarianism
Guinea-Bissau faces a deep political crisis. For several years, the small west African nation has endured growing tensions between political institutions and there’s now a strong climate of uncertainty.
Travel enthusiast who had her bra removed in Ghana seeks justice
Digital Creator and Travel Enthusiast - Chen Micha, better known as Coco Girl, is seeking justice over an alleged assault while currently visiting Ghana. The Israeli-born YouTuber alleged that her assaulter “took my bra off...” and “I was humiliated
Photo: Sherbro Alliance Partners
From a colonial hill town to Idris Elba’s island masterplan: what do these Sierra Leone developments tell us about urban elites?
Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, is celebrated as a city founded to resettle freed slaves in the 1790s. Over the following century, it became a truly cosmopolitan port city as people from across western Africa and the Americas made it their home.
Ghana’s President John Mahama makes a comeback – what lies ahead
John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s incoming president, has won a chance to rewrite his legacy. He was voted out of office in 2016 by what was then the highest margin in the post-independence history of the west African nation amid corruption scandals and
Photo: Nick Youngson, CC BY-SA 3.0 - Pix4free.org
Hustle academies: West Africa’s online scammers are training others in fraud and sextortion
As the world becomes increasingly connected, digital fraud has evolved from a local problem into a global one. West Africa, particularly Ghana and Nigeria, is witnessing the rise of “hustle kingdoms” – informal academies that train individuals to
Photo: Nigeria High Commission London
Nigeria recalled all its ambassadors a year ago and has not replaced them – international isolation looms
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has yet to replace the ambassadors he recalled a year ago, leaving only the country’s UN permanent representative. Nigeria has 109 diplomatic missions worldwide, comprising 76 embassies, 22 high commissions and 11
Photo: Eric Ngaba, Ria Fan
Russia-Ukraine war spills into West Africa: Mali attacks signal dangerous times ahead
Russia suffered significant blows to its reputation in mid-2024. An attack on its territory by Ukraine came as a surprise. In West Africa, the Wagner mercenary group, supported by Russia, suffered one of its heaviest fatalities in Mali.
U.S. Army Africa Photo by Mr Robert Timmons. (CC BY 2.0)
US military is leaving Niger even less secure: why it didn’t succeed in combating terrorism
The United States is winding down its military operations in Niger ahead of a mid-September deadline agreed with the country’s ruling military junta.
Photo: Dr Isatou Touray
The Gambia may allow female genital mutilation again – another sign of a global trend eroding women’s rights
The Gambia’s ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) since 2015 is under threat. Proposed changes before parliament could permit medicalised female genital cutting and allow it for consenting adults.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger want to leave ECOWAS. A political scientist explains the fallout
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have sent Ecowas, west Africa’s main political union of 15 countries, a formal notice of their withdrawal from the bloc. The three countries are governed by military rulers
Liberia transferred power peacefully again: 3 reasons the calm is holding, and one red flag
Joseph Boakai was sworn in as Liberia’s 26th president on 22 January 2024. Boakai secured a six year term of office after defeating incumbent president George Weah in a keenly contested November 2023 poll with 50.9% of the votes cast.
Photo: Phillip Kleinfield, The New Humanitarian
Briefing: Why Mali’s peace deal with northern rebels is on the brink
Fierce fighting between Malian government forces and former separatist armed groups in the north is generating a dangerous new conflict front in the country, which is already contending with destabilising jihadist insurgencies and the tumult of
France’s decision to leave Niger was a bad move: three reasons why
After about two months of wrangling between France and the new military regime in Niger, President Emmanuel Macron finally decided, on 24 September, to withdraw the French ambassador and pull out French military forces from Niger.
Sierra Leone election: voter trust has been shaken, and will need to be regained
Catherine Bolten, Professor of Anthropology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, fielded questions on lessons learnt from the poll and the future of democracy in Sierra Leone.
Photo by Filip Andrejevic - Unsplash
Sierra Leone has been at peace for 20 years after a brutal civil war - what went right
I found that the peace which Sierra Leone has experienced in the last two decades was achieved through collaborative efforts. These are the legacy of transitional justice and its relationship to long-term peace, and the resilience of the Sierra Leone
UN reiterates commitment to credible elections in Sierra Leone
United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) in Sierra Leone - Mr. Babatunde Ahonsi has reiterated the UN’s commitment to supporting national institutions and the people of Sierra Leone in conducting peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections later in
Uncle’s quest for five-year-old’s smile fulfilled after death
An uncle’s dying wish has been granted with his niece receiving transformative surgery from a medical charity. When Awa was born in a remote village in southern Senegal with a cleft lip and palate, her mother Rougui was scared about her future.
Photo: Saffea Gborie / WHO
Sierra Leone moves against cervical cancer with HPV vaccine
In a move to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer, the Government of Sierra Leone has introduced the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine to the routine immunisation schedule and launched the start of a campaign to reach 153,991 girls with
Photo: Jacques BOUDA, Norwegian Refugee Council
Aid organisations call for more humanitarian assistance funds
Twenty-eight international aid organisations operating in Burkina Faso – including: Christian Aid, International Rescue Committee, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Plan International, Save the Children and World Vision; have sounded a note of
IMF visits Ghana to assess economy
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Carlo Sdralevich has visited Accra, to assess the current economic situation and discuss the broad lines of the government’s Enhanced Domestic Program that could be supported by an IMF lending
AfDB promises to help Sierra Leone build resilient economy
Sierra Leone will look to the African Development Bank (AfDB) to stimulate agribusiness development in the country with a focus on rice production, its President Maada Bio told a visiting delegation led by AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina.
Photo: IOM
Providing support for Gambian shipwreck survivors
One survivor watched eight members of his family die. Another said he counted 20 bodies washed onto the nearby shore. He also says he saw two fishing boats nearby, close enough to have rescued others. They did not.
Upskilled nurses and midwives return to Sierra Leone
Forty-seven nurses and midwives have returned home to Sierra Leone to take up jobs in hospitals and health centres across the country after successfully completing a two-year diploma in Ghana. The return of these up-skilled medical staff will boost
Picture: Human Rights Watch
Jammeh’s accusers narrate experiences
He then pulled her dress off, she said, and said “Let’s see if you’re a virgin.” She said he rubbed his genitals in her face and touched them to arouse himself. She screamed that she was dying. “He said, ‘This does not kill, it’s fun.’” Jallow said
Gambia’s women break their silence
During his 22-year dictatorial rule that ended in early 2017, Gambia’s former president, Yahya Jammeh, used his power as well as State institutions to entrap and sexually abuse young women. Jammeh’s reign was already characterised by enforced
Women accuse Jammeh of Sexual Violence
Three women have accused Gambia’s former President – Yahya Jammeh, of rape and sexual assault while he was in office, according to Human Rights Watch and TRIAL International. Former Gambian officials said that presidential aides regularly pressured
Photo: UNHCR - Ibrahim Abdou
Violent attacks in Nigeria drive thousands of refugees into Niger
Recent spike in violence in north-western parts of Nigeria has forced an estimated 20,000 people to seek safety and security in Niger since April.
Picture: WFP / Justin Smith
Sahel crisis reaching unprecedented levels, warn top UN humanitarian officials
Repeated and increasingly sophisticated armed attacks in the Sahel and food shortages linked to last year’s severe drought, have reached unprecedented levels, putting the future of a “whole generation” at stake, three top UN humanitarian officials
Sierra Leone High Commissioner presents credentials to the Queen
The new Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland - H.E Tamba James Sylvanus Lamina, has presented his diplomatic credentials to the Queen.
Murder of gay South African imam Muhsin Hendricks reignites queer Muslim debate
Dubbed the “world’s first openly gay Imam”, South African religious leader Muhsin Hendricks was gunned down on 15 February 2025 in an attack that many believe was targeted. Tributes have poured in across the world, but so have online comments that
Taiwo Akpabio and Kehinde Bogunjoko celebrate 60 years
Twin sisters - Arch. (Mrs) Taiwo Mojisola Akpabio and Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Gbemisola Bogunjoko celebrated their 60th Birthday Anniversary in Miami, Florida recently.
Photo: Moe Magners, Pexels-6672086
Unlocking the Weight Loss equation - “Calories In vs. Calories Out”
The core idea is Energy Balance: consuming fewer calories than you burn leads to weight loss. This simple equation - balancing the energy you consume with the energy you burn - is the crux of sustainable weight management.
Trumpet is 30 Years fresh!
We are happy to announce formally - that Trumpet Newspaper is 30 years fresh! This milestone reminds us that Trumpet is the longest-surviving and far-reaching media organisation targeting UK's Diaspora African community.
Photo: Alex Wynter, IFRC
Attacks on people with albinism in Tanzania: African court holds government responsible – why it matters
People with albinism face widespread discrimination in many sub-Saharan African countries. In Tanzania, this minority has been subjected to extreme forms of violence. The government’s failure to protect their rights prompted the filing of a case
Photo: African Union
African Union’s new chair has a long list of tough tasks – what it will take to get them done
Following seven rounds of balloting, 60-year-old diplomat Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected the sixth chair of the African Union Commission in February 2025. Politics professor Ulf Engel, who is the editor of the Yearbook on the African Union,
Family of dad shot dead appeals for witnesses
The family of an innocent man who was fatally shot outside a birthday party have appealed for the public’s help to get justice. Hanif Redwood, a 32-year-old father of two, was attacked in Linton Road, Barking in the early hours of Sunday, 13 October.
Murder of gay South African imam Muhsin Hendricks reignites queer Muslim debate
Dubbed the “world’s first openly gay Imam”, South African religious leader Muhsin Hendricks was gunned down on 15 February 2025 in an attack that many believe was targeted. Tributes have poured in across the world, but so have online comments that
Taiwo Akpabio and Kehinde Bogunjoko celebrate 60 years
Twin sisters - Arch. (Mrs) Taiwo Mojisola Akpabio and Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Gbemisola Bogunjoko celebrated their 60th Birthday Anniversary in Miami, Florida recently.
Young middle-class Nigerians are desperate to leave the country: insights into why
Since the 1980s, migration has been a part of the Nigerian middle-class psyche, catalysed by the usual suspects: high unemployment, security concerns, infrastructure gaps, and poor governance. Migrants tends to be middle-class since one needs
Photo: Jay Galvin, Flickr CC 2.0
How the Mandela myth helped win the battle for democracy in South Africa
To begin with, Winnie and Nelson mythologised themselves. Both intuitively understood that their greatest talent lay in public performance. Not just any public performance, but the sort that is exemplary, that embodies a collective spirit, a set of
Trumpet TV
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK) in a Zoom rage, calls Journalist 'Femi Okutubo stupid!
Nigerian politician and lawyer - Chief Femi Fani-Kayode stormed out of a Zoom Conversation organised by BEN Television London after calling Publisher of Trumpet Media Group - 'Femi Okutubo, stupid!
Dr Titus Odedun speaks about his GAB Award
Nana Ofori-Atta Oguntola interviews former Surgery tutor and examiner - Dr Titus Odedun on his recent Award from the Gathering of Africa's Best. Titus Odedun bagged a Gathering of Africa's Best (GAB) Award for outstanding contributions to the
Why Nigeria must celebrate - Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida, Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK
Nigeria High Commissioner to the Court of St. James' - Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR speaks to Trumpet TV about the giant strides being taken at the Mission, efforts to combat corruption at the Mission, why Nigeria must celebrate, and more.
You can't compare Nigeria with the UK - Dr Dalhatu Sarki Tafida
Nigeria High Commissioner to the Court of St. James' - Dr. Dalhatu Sarki Tafida OFR, CFR tells Trumpet TV that you can not compare Nigeria with the United Kingdom.
