Robbie Corey-Boulet's Avatar

Robbie Corey-Boulet

@rcoreyb

West and Central Africa bureau chief, Reuters. Author of Love Falls On Us: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/love-falls-on-us-9781786995179/. Robbie.corey-boulet@thomsonreuters.com. Ex-AFP, WPR. Previously in Riyadh, Addis, Abidjan, elsewhere. 5x marathoner

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Latest posts by Robbie Corey-Boulet @rcoreyb

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Nigerian airstrikes helped foil coup bid, Benin says Nigerian fighter jets carried out airstrikes to thwart a coup bid in Benin in which mutinying soldiers tried to seize President Patrice Talon, according to an account provided by Benin's government on...

Nigerian fighter jets carried out airstrikes to thwart a coup bid in Benin in which mutinying soldiers tried to seize President Talon, Benin's government said Monday.

They got close enough for Talon to witness violent clashes firsthand.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...

08.12.2025 19:43 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

- At Benin's request, Nigeria sent fighter jets to take over Benin's airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the state television network and a military camp, a statement from President Tinubu's office said.

- Nigeria has also sent ground troops.

07.12.2025 23:15 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

- Benin last had a successful coup more than half a century ago

- Insecurity in north likely a motivating factor for coup plotters. Benin has been hit harder than others on West Africa's coast by jihadist insurgencies gaining ground in the central Sahel

07.12.2025 20:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Benin president says coup bid thwarted, vows retribution Benin President Patrice Talon said on Sunday that the West African nation's government and armed forces had thwarted a coup attempt by a group of soldiers and vowed to punish them.

Our latest on the Benin coup attempt:

- President Talon goes on state TV, says "last pockets of resistance" cleared and vows to punish perpetrators

- ECOWAS to deploy elements of standby force, including troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana www.reuters.com/world/africa...

07.12.2025 20:56 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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General sworn in as new Guinea-Bissau leader, ousted president arrives in Senegal Guinea-Bissau’s military installed Major-General Horta Inta-a as transitional president on Thursday, a day after soldiers toppled the civilian leadership in a swift power grab made before the results ...

Ousted Guinea-Bissau President Embalo has been flown to Senegal.

Major-General Horta Inta-a is the new leader in the region.

He's promised a one-year transition, let's see: www.reuters.com/world/africa...

27.11.2025 21:59 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

More than 1,400 citizens from three dozen African countries are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, Kyiv's foreign minister said on Friday. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

07.11.2025 15:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Is al Qaeda on the brink of taking over Mali? Seems unlikely.

Does the JNIM-imposed fuel blockade pose a major threat to Mali's military government? Absolutely.

Our latest on what's happening in Bamako:

www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

03.11.2025 21:09 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Ivory Coast votes in an election today that President Ouattara has strongly hinted will be his last.

"It's not easy to work at the same pace at our age," he said Wednesday.

www.reuters.com/world/africa...

25.10.2025 06:14 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

To get a sense of the frustration many voters have with Paul Biya, Cameroon's 92 y/o president, start with this striking photo essay by Zohra Bensemra and accompanying article by Amindeh Blaise Atabong on the underemployed "benskin" (motorbike taxi) drivers of Douala. www.reuters.com/investigates...

16.10.2025 10:05 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Issa Tchiroma Bakary – from Cameroon government mouthpiece to Biya challenger Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a longtime ally and former spokesperson for Cameroon President Paul Biya, is mounting a strong challenge to his former boss, claiming to have defeated him in the October 12 presidential election.

Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a longtime ally and former spokesperson for Paul Biya, is mounting a strong challenge to Cameroon's 92-year-old president.

On Monday night he claimed to have won the October 12 election.

Read @batefelix.bsky.social's profile here: www.reuters.com/world/africa...

14.10.2025 10:51 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Cameroon holds presidential election, Biya seeks to extend four-decade iron grip Cameroonians were set to vote on Sunday in a presidential election where incumbent Paul Biya, the world's oldest ruler at 92, is widely expected to maintain his 43-year grip on power despite an energized opposition pushing for change.

In a sign of tensions around the election, security forces fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Tchiroma's supporters, who tried to gather around his residence in Garoua.

Cameroon counts votes as world’s oldest president seeks to extend rule www.reuters.com/world/africa...

12.10.2025 18:53 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Babies' deaths in Cameroon show how US aid cuts curtail malaria fight Nine-month-old baby Mohamat burned with fever for three days before his family took him to the closest health centre in northern Cameroon, but it was too late. He died of malaria that day.

Our story from northern Cameroon -- a malaria hotspot and longtime beneficiary of US aid that has now, with Trump's cuts, been stripped of funding for community health workers and drugs.

"We may get to a point where all the gains against malaria are reversed."
www.reuters.com/business/hea...

03.10.2025 13:01 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: Mali mining dispute proved last straw for Barrick's 'Mercurial Mark' Bristow, sources say Mark Bristow's handling of Barrick Mining's flagship asset in Mali proved to be the last straw for the board to initiate a change in leadership, according to four people familiar with the development.

Mark Bristow's handling of Barrick's flagship asset in Mali proved to be the last straw for the board to initiate a change in leadership.

Barrick has lost control of the Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine complex and had 3 metric tons of gold seized by the military govt.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...

30.09.2025 10:02 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Internal meeting notes seen by Reuters highlight long-standing disagreements that have complicated efforts to make peace.

The two sides fought over Rwanda's relationship to M23, the size of the FDLR and who is responsible for neutralizing it.

Mediators had to intervene repeatedly.

24.09.2025 22:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: Congo, Rwanda eye October start to security measures under Trump-backed peace deal, sources say Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agreed to start implementing security measures under a U.S.-mediated deal next month, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, in what would be a key step toward carrying out the peace agreement amid concerns over lack of progress.

Congo and Rwanda have agreed to start implementing security measures from the US-mediated peace deal in October.

Under the new plan, neutralization of the FDLR and the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from eastern DRC will be done by year's end.

Our latest: www.reuters.com/world/africa...

24.09.2025 22:30 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Reuters is hiring a correspondent to be based in Dakar who would lead coverage of DRC and contribute to our broader file (23 countries in total).

The job would involve frequent travel to Congo, always a major story: thomsonreuters.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/pt-BR/Extern...

18.09.2025 10:06 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Congo's army and M23 are dispatching hundreds of men to frontline towns and blaming each other for flouting agreements in an escalation that risks reigniting a conflict Trump claims to have ended.

Our latest on the complicated attempt to make peace: www.reuters.com/world/africa...

18.09.2025 09:23 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This week in democratic transitions:

Chad MPs back removing presidential term limits: m/world/africa/chad-votes-allow-president-run-unlimited-times-2025-09-16/

Guinea to vote Sunday on a new constitution that would let Doumbouya run for office: www.reuters.com/world/africa...

17.09.2025 11:00 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Senegal intercepts pirogue carrying 112 migrants attempting Atlantic crossing Senegalese authorities intercepted 112 migrants aboard a long wooden fishing boat known as a pirogue off the coast of Dakar on Tuesday as they attempted to reach Europe via a perilous Atlantic Ocean route, officials said.

Senegalese authorities intercepted 112 migrants aboard a pirogue off the coast of Dakar on Tuesday as they attempted to reach Europe via a perilous Atlantic Ocean route.

One of the migrants told Reuters the group was from Gambia and had been at sea for five days. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

16.09.2025 16:48 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

- One deportee, a bisexual man, has been sent back to Gambia and is in hiding
- Four others have been held in an open-air detention facility in Ghana
- Opposition MPs say the deal "risks our country being perceived as aligning itself with the US govt's current immigration enforcement regime"

14.09.2025 13:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The complaint said:

- Five of the deportees were taken from a Louisiana immigration detention center, shackled and put on a US military plane without being told their destination
- Several were placed in straitjackets for 16 hours

14.09.2025 13:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Ghana agrees to accept West Africans deported from US, president says Ghana has agreed to accept West African nationals deported from the United States and 14 have already arrived in the country, President John Dramani Mahama told reporters late Wednesday.

Ghana President John Dramani Mahama said this week his country had agreed to accept West Africans deported by the Trump administration, and that 14 had arrived already: www.reuters.com/world/africa...

A complaint filed on Friday offered new details of the operation: www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

14.09.2025 13:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Exclusive: Congo-Rwanda draft deal outlines role of US, others in revamp of minerals sector Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will commit to working with third parties, including the U.S., to revamp their mineral supply chains and develop reforms, according to a draft of an economic framework seen by Reuters, as they seek to spur investment following a peace deal reached in Washington.

Even as Congo's peace process stalls, talks on revamping the lucrative minerals sector continue.

A draft agreement seen by Reuters outlines the role of the U.S. and regulatory bodies in "de-risking" private sector investment, a priority for the Trump administration:
www.reuters.com/world/africa...

14.09.2025 12:39 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Land quarrels in rebel-occupied Congo threaten Trump peace deal Returning to land they fled during a violent advance by M23 rebels, some farmers in eastern Congo have had an unwelcome surprise: Their fields of cauliflower and cabbage have been taken over by newcomers, including Rwandans.

M23's advance in eastern Congo allowed new arrivals, including some from Rwanda, to seize coveted land earlier this year.

The resulting disputes pose yet another hurdle for the Trump administration as it seeks to end the conflict and lure Western investments.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...

05.09.2025 14:25 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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East African migrants drive surge of arrivals in Spain's Balearic islands More than 30 boats carrying about 600 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain's Balearic islands since Monday, officials said, as a new migratory route from North Africa gains traction after a crackdown by authorities in other jumping off points.

30+ boats carrying around 600 irregular migrants have arrived in Spain's Balearic islands since Monday, as a new route from North Africa gains traction after a crackdown by authorities elsewhere.

A significant number of the arrivals are from East Africa.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...

13.08.2025 14:38 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Inside the mine that feeds the tech world - and funds Congo’s rebels M23 insurgents control one of the planet's largest sources of coltan, a mineral prized by high-tech industries. Dislodging them is a focus of peace talks. It won't be easy.

"Inside the mine that feeds the tech world - and funds Congo’s rebels" - a Reuters investigation into the operations of Rubaya, which produces 15% of the world's coltan.

Some US entrepreneurs have set their sights on Rubaya as Trump seeks to broker a peace deal. www.reuters.com/investigatio...

13.08.2025 10:55 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Israel strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza Rights advocates said Anas Al Sharif had been targeted for his frontline reporting on the Gaza war and Israel's claim lacked evidence.

Al Jazeera said Al Sharif had left a social media message to be posted in the event of his death that read, "...I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent." www.reuters.com/world/middle...

11.08.2025 07:50 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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BCG consultants modelled relocating Gazans to Somalia Cost estimates of moving Palestinians to five destinations were included in project on postwar plans

Boston Consulting Group consultants modelled relocating Palestinians to Somalia and Somaliland during a project on postwar Gaza, according to people familiar with the work.
www.ft.com/content/2206...

07.08.2025 16:45 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Most Nihilistic Conflict on Earth Sudan’s devastating civil war shows what will replace the liberal order: anarchy and greed.

"After the Roman empire stopped functioning, many people went on deferring to the distant emperor, acting as if he still mattered; in Sudan, I found similar nostalgia for the interest and engagement that once came from Washington." www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

06.08.2025 21:39 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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US requires Zambia, Malawi citizens to pay up to $15,000 bond for some visitor visas President Donald Trump's administration will require visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi to pay bonds up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot program launching in two weeks, the State Department said on Tuesday.

The Trump administration will require visa applicants from Zambia and Malawi to pay bonds up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a pilot program launching in two weeks, the State Department said on Tuesday. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

06.08.2025 07:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1