China announced it will loan Guinea USD 20 billion to support infrastructure development in the country over the next 20 years. In turn, the Guinean government granted several mining concessions to Chinese companies, including for the bauxite mines in northern Guinea. Read on

On 25 February 2017, Morocco officially asked the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to become a full member. Morocco has been an observer to ECOWAS and has developed strong political, human, historical, religious and economic ties at all levels with ECOWAS member countries. Read on

An ambitious flagship project, the long-awaited construction of a trans-African gas pipeline connecting Nigeria via Morocco to Europe, might finally advance. The project was officially announced in December 2016 during a visit of King Mohammed VI to Nigeria. The 4 000 km pipeline will run along the Gulf of Guinea countries and will help create industrial hubs, and thereby will also boost regional economic integration beyond the energy sector. Read on

The 2014 Ebola epidemic cost the lives of more than 11 000 West Africans. Researchers now have developed a vaccine that they consider to offer 100% protection against the disease. A trial involving nearly 12 000 people was conducted by the WHO and partners in Guinea. No Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination of nearly 6 000 people who received the new vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV. Read on