Rising waters, political upheavals, and diplomatic manoeuvres marked the region on August 20, 2025, highlighting the diverse challenges confronting the Sahel and surrounding countries.
In Senegal, the Senegal River Valley continues to grapple with significant flooding.
The World Bank estimates the economic losses at nearly 600 billion CFA francs, according to Wal Fadjri cited by Seneweb.
Authorities have issued warnings about rising water levels in Bakel, Matam, and Kédougou, while the Senegal River Development Organization (OMVS) cautioned that flooding, though ecologically beneficial in moderation, can turn catastrophic if uncontrolled.
Mali faces both economic and political pressures. In Bamako, the state-run Sabalibougou Courani refrigerated slaughterhouse, founded in 1988 with African Development Bank support, is seeking ISO certification to export meat under the Mali label.
Interim administrator Harouna Sangaré stressed compliance with health and halal standards. Supplying roughly 60% of Bamako’s butcher shops, the facility recycles by-products to reduce pollution. However, consumers are protesting rising meat prices, now reaching 3,200 to 3,500 CFA francs per kilogram due to increasing livestock costs.
Political tensions in Mali are also high following the imprisonment of former Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga. After a week in police custody, he was remanded by the Supreme Court for alleged damage to public property.
Authorities are expanding the investigation to include former colleagues. Diplomatically, Burkinabe Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo visited Bamako to meet with Malian counterparts as part of cooperation within the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
In Guinea, President Mamadi Doumbouya instructed the operationalisation of the High Council for National Defense to strengthen national security and sovereignty. Meanwhile, in Côte d’Ivoire, a national survey by HACA revealed high digital penetration, with 92% of the population accessing the Internet and television maintaining peak viewership of over two million at 8 p.m.
Elsewhere, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé attended TICAD-9 in Yokohama, Japan, a summit focused on sustainable development, youth, women, and regional integration. In Gambia, internal negotiations within the Democratic Union (UDP) continue ahead of the 2026 presidential election, with Ousainou Darboe confirmed as a candidate amid lingering party divisions.
In Nigeria, the court adjourned consideration of a bail application for defendants detained since 2022 until September 10. The prosecutor opposed release, citing threats to witnesses, underscoring ongoing challenges in the judicial system.
From floods to high-stakes politics and regional diplomacy, West Africa faces a complex mix of emergencies and strategic decisions shaping its immediate and long-term future.
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