West Africa

The regional economy shows targeted growth initiatives amid operational controversies. ECOWAS reports 4.6% growth and prioritizes security to reach a 5% target, while Lagos invests in creative industries and infrastructure like the tolled Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway. However, corporate scandals emerge with MTN's CEO ousted over Iran operations and a Liberian gold miner accused of repeated chemical spills.

• 1Liberia’s largest gold miner repeatedly spilled dangerous chemicals, records show
• 1First iron ore shipment from Simandou arrives in China
• 1Egypt, AfDB sign $170M deal to support budget, advance structural reforms
• 1Egypt signs $170 mln AfDB financing deals for private sector support, wastewater project - Economy - Business
• 1Ghana clears $1.47B in energy debts, including to Turkish firm

Political normalization and crackdowns define the period, with Guinea's Doumbouya sworn in as president and ECOWAS lifting sanctions on the country. Concurrently, Togo deports former Burkina Faso president Damiba and Benin's opposition fails to secure parliamentary seats, indicating a trend of consolidating power. Lagos faces internal scrutiny as police investigate a DPO for alleged abuse.

• 1Benin opposition fails to secure seats in parliamentary election
• 1Venezuelan official dismantles part of Maduro's political network
• 1Egyptian ambassador hosts Ghanaian foreign minister and business leaders
• 1Benin holds unprecedented combined legislative and local elections
• 1Benin legislative and municipal election results due January 15

Security is dominated by Niger's military government accusing France, Benin, and Côte d'Ivoire of an airport attack, raising interstate tensions. Within Lagos, police enforce traffic laws on the new coastal highway, seize motorcycles, and dismantle criminal syndicates, while also facing scrutiny for not firing on anti-demolition protesters. A Dutch drug trafficker expands power in Sierra Leone.

• 1Dutch drug trafficker expands power and threatens press in Sierra Leone
• 1Ghana arrests Nigerians accused of running cyber-crime networks in Accra
• 1Brazilian beach closed after boat numbers exceed limit
• 1Ghana took in Trump's deported West Africans. Then it forced them home
• 1Attack in northwest Cameroon kills 14, including children

Urban infrastructure failure and state violence against protesters in Lagos drive public outrage. Heavy rain causes severe flooding and gridlock on major roads, while police tear-gas residents protesting evictions and demolitions, sparking widespread condemnation. This local crisis contrasts with international cultural and aid collaborations, such as France-Nigeria work on Afrobeats.

• 113-year-old dies in shark attack at Brazilian beach
• 1China and Sierra Leone open vocational training academy
• 1UNHCR, others clear 3,122 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon for repatriation
• 1Sierra Leone patient thanks Wuxi medical team for lifesaving care
• 1US-funded hepatitis B study in West Africa sparks ethical concerns