West Africa

Benin is a French-speaking country in West Africa. It is the birthplace of the Voodoo religion, and also the land of the former Kingdom of Dahomey (around 1600–1900). In Abomey, the former capital of Dahomey, the historical museum occupies two royal palaces adorned with bas-reliefs that recount the kingdom’s history, and features a throne mounted on human skulls. In the north, Pendjari National Park offers safaris to see elephants, hippos, and lions.

Burkina Faso, literally "land of the upright people" or "land of integrity," commonly referred to as Burkina, is a landlocked country in West Africa, formerly known as the Republic of Upper Volta.

Get the latest news from Cape Verde: politics, economy, society, environment, culture, and tourism. A section focused on this multifaceted West African island nation.

The Gambia is a small West African country, bordered by Senegal and with a narrow coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It’s known for the varied ecosystems of the Gambia River, which flows through the center of the country. The abundant wildlife of Kiang West National Park and the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes monkeys, leopards, hippos, hyenas, and rare birds. Banjul, the capital, and the nearby city of Serrekunda offer access to beaches.

Ghana, a West African nation located on the Gulf of Guinea, is known for its diverse wildlife, ancient forts, and secluded beaches such as Busua. The coastal towns of Elmina and Cape Coast feature posubans (indigenous shrines), colonial buildings, and various castles converted into museums that testify to the slave trade. North of Cape Coast, the vast Kakum National Park offers a canopy walkway above the rainforest.

Political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental news from Guinea. This section tracks the major developments of this evolving West African nation.

Stay informed on Guinea-Bissau’s political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental news. This section covers this Portuguese-speaking West African nation with its many challenges and assets.

Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (RCI), is a country in Africa, in the western part of the Gulf of Guinea. It is roughly square in shape, about 600 km on a side5. With an area of 322,462 km2, it is bordered to the northwest by Mali, to the northeast by Burkina Faso, to the east by Ghana, to the southwest by Liberia, to the west-northwest by Guinea, and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The population was estimated at 29,389,150 in 2021.

Political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental news from Liberia. This section highlights developments in this English-speaking West African nation with a unique historical legacy.

Mali, officially the Republic of Mali, is a West African country, bordered by Mauritania to the west, Algeria to the north-northeast, Niger to the east, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast to the south-southwest, Guinea to the southwest, and Senegal to the west-southwest.

Niger, officially known as the Republic of Niger, is a country in West Africa, situated between Algeria to the north-north-west, Libya to the north-east, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin to the south-south-west, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west-south-west. The capital is Niamey.

Nigeria, an African country on the Gulf of Guinea, has a large number of nature reserves and natural sites. Protected areas such as Cross River and Yankari National Parks feature waterfalls, dense rainforest, savannas, and habitats that shelter rare primates. One of the most notable landmarks is Zuma Rock, a 725-meter-tall monolith just outside the capital, Abuja. It appears on the country’s currency.

Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north-northeast, Mali to the east-southeast, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the south-southwest.

Political, economic, social, cultural, and health news from Sierra Leone. This section explores the challenges and aspirations of a resilient nation with a powerful past and a promising future.

<strong>Togo</strong> is a country in <strong>West Africa</strong> located on the Gulf of Guinea. It's known for its palm-lined beaches and hilltop villages.