2021 in West Africa

This is a list of events in 2021 in West Africa.

Incumbents

Benin

Chief of state and Head of government: President Patrice Talon (since 2016)^[1]

Burkina Faso

Chief of state: President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré (since 2015)^[2]
Head of government: Prime Minister Christophe Dabiré (since 2019)^[2]

Cabo Verde (Cape Verde)

Chief of state: President Jorge Carlos Fonseca (since September 9, 2011)^[3]
Head of government: Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva (since April 22, 2016)^[3]

Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Chief of state – President Alassane Ouattara (since 2010)
Head of government: Prime Minister
- Hamed Bakayoko (until March 8)^[4] Died March 10.^[5]
- Patrick Achi (Interim, starting March 8)^[6]

The Gambia

Chief of state and Head of government: President Adama Barrow (since 2017)^[7]
- Vice President Isatou Touray (since 2019)^[7]

Ghana

Chief of state and Head of government: President Nana Akufo-Addo (since 2017)^[8]
- Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia (since 2017)^[8]

Guinea

Chief of state: Coup dètat Mamady Doumbouya (since 2021)^[9]
Head of government: Prime minister None (since 2021)^[9]

Guinea-Bissau

Chief of state:President Umaro Sissoco Embaló (since 2020)^[10]
Head of government: Prime Minister Faustino Imbali (since 2019)^[11]

Liberia

Chief of state and Head of government: President George Weah (since 2018)^[12]
Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor (since 2018)^[12]

Mali

Chief of state: President
- Bah Ndaw, interim president (starting 2020)^[13]
- Assimi Goita, interim vice-president (starting 2020)^[13]
Head of government: Prime Minister

Mauritania

Chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (since 2019)^[14]
Head of government
- Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal (since 2020)

Niger

Chief of state: President Mahamadou Issoufou (since 2011)^[15]
Head of government: Prime Minister Brigi Rafini (since 2011)^[15]

Nigeria

President: Muhammadu Buhari (APC) (since 2015)^[16]
Vice President: Yemi Osinbajo (APC) (since 2015)^[16]
Chief Justice: Mahmud Mohammed

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

St. Helena, Ascension, and

Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since 1952)^[17]
Governor of Saint Helena: Governor Philip Rushbrook (since 2019)^[17]
Administrator of Ascension:
Administrator of Tristan da Cunha: Sean Burns (since 2016)

Senegal

Chief of State: President Macky Sall (since 2012)^[18]
Head of Government: Prime Minister Mahammed Dionne^[18]

Sierra Leone

Chief of State, Head of Government, and Minister of Defense: President Julius Maada Bio (since 2018)^[19]
- Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh (since 2018)^[19]

Togo

Chief of State: President Faure Gnassingbé (since 2005)^[20]
Head of Government: Prime Minister Komi Sélom Klassou (since 2015)^[20]

Monthly events

January and February

January 1 – The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) officially begins.^[21]
January 2 – One hundred people, including dozens of civilians, are killed by unidentified terrorists in Tillabéri Region, Niger.^[22]
January 4 – Musu Bakoto Sawo, 30, of the Gambia ("Think Young Women") is chosen as 2020 Daily Trust "African of the Year".^[23]
January 11 – Nigeria signs a US$2 billion agreement to build a rail line through Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states as far as Maradi, Niger.^[24]
January 13
- The International Maritime Bureau says that kidnappings by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea reached a new record in 2020.^[25]
- Three U.N. peacekeepers from the Ivory Coast are killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) on the road between Douentza and Timbuktu, Mali. Six other soldiers are wounded.^[26]
January 16 – Thirty migrants are rescued near Gran Canaria island, Canary Islands, but a 9-year-old boy dies.^[27]
January 22 – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports the number of displaced persons in West Africa has quadrupled in the last two years to two million people, including 850,000 refugees who have fled across international borders, mainly from Mali.^[28]
February 14 – Guinea declares a new ebola outbreak in Gouéké, Nzérékoré Region.^[29]
February 24 – Ghana is the first country to receive COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX vaccine-sharing plan.^[30]
February 25 – Burkina Faso and Senegal are added to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list of places that are only partially in compliance with international efforts against financing terrorism and money laundering.^[31]

March and April

March 5 – The World Health Organization (WHO) says Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Liberia are not prepared for ebola vaccines. 1,604 people have been vaccinated in Guinea.^[32]
March 6 – More than 1,500 candidates peacefully contest 255-seats in the 2021 Ivorian parliamentary election.^[33]
March 10
- Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko of the Ivory Coast dies of cancer in Germany.^[5]
- Al Jazeera publishes an opinion piece signed by 100 Senegalese artists and academics calling for President Macky Sall to be held accountable for corruption and authoritarian rule. At least ten people have died protesting the March 3 arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko on rape charges.^[34]
March 12 – Pirates kidnap 15 sailors on a Dutch chemical tanker in the Gulf of Guinea 210 nautical miles (389 kilometres) south of Cotonou, Benin.^[35]

Scheduled and programmed events

Elections

February 21 – 2020–21 Nigerien general election second round
TBA – 2021 Cape Verdean presidential election and 2021 Cape Verdean parliamentary election

Holidays

January and February

January 4 Revolution Day, Burkina Faso.^[36]
January 7 – Constitution Day, Ghana.^[37]
January 10 – Traditional Religions Day, Benin.^[38]
January 13 – Democracy Day, Cape Verde.^[39]
January 20
- Heroes' Day, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (Assassination of Amílcar Cabral in 1973).^[40]^[39]
- Armed Forces Day, Mali.^[41]
February 11 – Armed Forces Day, Liberia.^[42]
February 18
- Independence Day, The Gambia (from the UK, 1965).^[43]
- Armed Forces Day, Sierra Leone.^[44]

March and April

March 8
- International Women's Day, widely celebrated throughout the region.
- Independence Day (Ghana) (from the UK, 1957).^[37]
March 10 – Decoration Day, Liberia.^[42]
March 15 – Joseph Jenkins Roberts Birthday, Liberia.^[42]
March 26 – Martyrs' Day, Mali (honors victims of 1991 Malian coup d'état).^[41]
April 2 – Good Friday, Christian holiday celebrated in The Gambia,^[43] Ghana,^[37] Nigeria,^[45] Sierra Leone.^[44]
April 3
- Second Republic Day, Guinea (overthrow of Ahmed Sékou Touré, 1984).^[46]
- Pidjiguiti Day, Guinea-Bissau.^[40]
April 4 – Independence Day, Senegal (from France, 1960).^[47]
April 5 – Easter Monday, Christian holiday celebrated in Benin,^[38] Burkina Faso,^[36] The Gambia,^[43] Ghana,^[37] Guinea,^[46] Ivory Coast,^[48] Niger,^[49] Nigeria,^[45] Senegal,^[47] Sierra Leone.^[44]
April 9 – Fast and Prayer Day, Liberia.^[42]
April 24 – Concord Day, Niger.^[49]
April 27 – Independence Day, Sierra Leone (from the UK, 1961).^[44]

May and June

May 1/3 – Labour Day and International Workers' Day
May 13
- Ascension of Jesus, Christian holiday celebrated in Benin,^[38] Burkina Faso,^[36] Ivory Coast,^[48]
- Korité, Muslim Feast of Breaking the Fast.
May 14 – National Unification Day, Liberia.^[42]
May 24 – Whit Monday, Christian holiday celebrated in Ivory Coast,^[48] Senegal,^[47]
May 25 – Africa Day, celebrated throughout Africa.
June 1 – Youth Day, Cape Verde.^[39]
June 14 – Democracy Day (Nigeria).^[45]

July and August

July 5 – Independence Day, Cape Verde (from Portugal 1975).^[39]
July 20 – Tabaski, Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice
July 22 – Revolution Day, The Gambia (1994 coup d'état led by Yahya Jammeh)^[43]
July 26 – Independence Day, Liberia (from the United States, 1847).^[42]
August 1 – Independence Day, Benin (from France, 1960).^[38]
August 3 – Independence Day (Niger) (from France, 1960).^[49]
August 4 – Founders' Day (Ghana).^[37]
August 5 – Independence Day, Burkina Faso (from France, 1960).^[36]
August 7 – Independence Day, Ivory Coast (from France, 1960).^[48]
August 10 – Islamic New Year, celebrated in Mauritania.^[50]
August 15/16 – Assumption of Mary, Roman Catholic holiday celebrated in Benin,^[38] Burkina Faso,^[36] Guinea,^[46] Cape Verde,^[39] Ivory Coast,^[48] Senegal,^[47]
August 24 – Flag Day, Liberia.^[42]

September and October

September 21 – Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, Ghana.^[37]
September 22 – Independence Day, Mali (from France, 1960).^[41]
September 24 – Independence Day, Guinea-Bissau (from Portugal, 1974).^[40]
September 25 – Grand Magal of Touba, Muslim pilgrimage in Senegal.^[47]
October 2 – Independence Day, Guinea (from France, 1958),^[46]
October 1 – National day, Nigeria (independence from the UK, 1960),^[45]
October 18/19 – Maouloud, Muslim Feast of the Birth of the Prophet.
October 26 – Baptism of Muhammad, Muslim feast celebrated in Mali.^[41]
October 31 – Martyrs' Day, Burkina Faso (2015 Burkinabé coup d'état).^[36]

November and December

November 1 – All Saints' Day, Roman Catholic holiday celebrated in Benin,^[38] Cape Verde,^[39] Ivory Coast,^[48]
November 14 – Readjustment Movement Day, Guinea-Bissau (1980 coup).^[40]
November 15 – National Peace Day, Ivory Coast.^[48]
November 28 – Independence Day, Mauritania (from France, 1960).^[50]
November 29 – William Tubman's Birthday, Liberia.^[42]
December 3 – Farmers' Day, Ghana.^[37]
December 11 – Proclamation of the Republic of Upper Volta, Burkina Faso (1958).^[36]
December 18 – Republic Day (Niger).^[49]
December 25 – Christmas, Christian holiday, also celebrated by some Muslims.
December 26/27 – Boxing Day, celebrated in the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.^[37]

Culture

Sports

January 16 – Hugues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso sets a world record in the indoor triple jump of 18.07 meters (59.28 feet) in Aubière, France.^[51]

Deaths

January 2 – Modibo Keita, 78, Malian politician, Prime Minister (2002, 2015–2017).^[52]
1 February – Joshua Hamidu, 85, Ghanaian military officer and diplomat, Chief of the Defence Staff (1978–1979), High Commissioner to Zambia (1978) and Nigeria (2003–2005).^[53]
February 3 – Abdoul Aziz Mbaye, 66, Senegalese diplomat and politician, Minister of Culture (since 2012); COVID-19.^[54]
March 10 – Hamed Bakayoko, 56, Prime Minister of the Ivory Coast (2020-2021); cancer^[5]

References

^ Africa: Benin The CIA World Fact Book: Benin, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b Africa: Burkina Faso The CIA World Fact Book: Burkina Faso, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b CIA: Cabo Verde The CIA World Fact Book: Cabo Verde, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ "Ivory Coast defence minister Bakayoko named prime minister". www.msn.com. Reuters. July 8, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Ivory Coast Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko dies at 56". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
^ "Ivory Coast President Ouattara names Patrick Achi as interim prime minister". news.yahoo.com. Reuters. March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Africa: Gambia, The The CIA World Fact Book: The Gambia, 9 Jan 2020, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b Africa: Ghana The CIA World Fact Book: Ghana, 9 Jan 2020, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b Africa: Guinea The CIA World Fact Book: Guinea, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ Kebba Af Touray (Jan 13, 2020). "Guinea Bissau Rules Out 'Laissez-Passer' Between Gambia and Bissau". aaAfrica/FORAYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda). Retrieved Feb 8, 2020.
^ Africa: Guinea-Bissau The CIA World Fact Book: Guinea-Bissau, 18 Dec 2019, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b [1] The CIA World Fact Book: Liberia, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b "Bah Ndaw named Mali's interim president, colonel named VP". www.aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera. September 21, 2020. Retrieved Sep 23, 2020.
^ [2] The CIA World Fact Book: Mauritania, 18 Dec 2019, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b [3] The CIA World Fact Book: Niger, 18 Dec 2019, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b The World Factbook, Nigeria CIA, retrieved 4 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b Africa: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Central Intelligence Agency, The World Fact Book, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b The World Factbook: Africa: Senegal CIA Library, retrieved 18 Jan 2020
^ ^a ^b [4] The CIA World Fact Book: Sierra Leone, 11 Dec 2019, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ ^a ^b [5] The CIA World Fact Book: Togo, 11 Dec 2019, retrieved 7 Feb 2020
^ "After months of COVID delays, African free trade bloc launches". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. January 1, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ "Niger village attacks killed 100, says prime minister". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. January 3, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ "Africa: Musu Bakoto Sawo Emerges 2020 Daily Trust African of the Year". allAfrica.com. Daily Trust. 17 January 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
^ Yakubu, Dirisu (12 January 2021). "Nigeria: Govt Signs U.S.$1.959bn Kano-Maradi Rail Line". allAfrica.com. Vanguard. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
^ George, Libby (January 13, 2021). "Gulf of Guinea pirate kidnappings hit record in 2020". msn.com. Reuters. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
^ "Three Ivorian UN peacekeepers killed in Mali attack". msn.com. AFP. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
^ "Boy reported dead at sea in attempt to reach Canary Islands". msn.com. AP. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
^ "Violence in West Africa's Sahel displaces record 2 million people, U.N. says". news.yahoo.com. Reuters. January 22, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
^ "Guinea declares new Ebola outbreak". news.yahoo.com. The Telegraph. Reuters. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
^ Coulibaly, Media (February 26, 2021). "Ivory Coast becomes second country to receive COVAX vaccines". news.yahoo.com. Reuters. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
^ GANLEY, ELAINE (February 25, 2021). "Senegal, Morocco, Caymans added to terror finance watch list". ABC News. AP. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^ "WHO sees Ebola risk as 'very high' for Guinea's neighbours". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
^ "Ivory Coast votes in a parliamentary poll amid political turmoil". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
^ Diop, Boubacar Boris; Absa, Moussa Sene (March 10, 2021). "Senegal: Impunity for Macky Sall's regime must end". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
^ HENNOP, Jan (March 12, 2021). "Pirates kidnap 15 sailors in Gulf of Guinea off Benin: company". news.yahoo.com. AFP. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Burkina Faso Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Ghana Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Benin Public Holidays 2021". PublicHolidays.africa. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Cape Verde Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Guinea-Bissau Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Mali Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Liberia Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Gambia Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Sierra Leone Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Nigeria Public Holidays 2021 (Africa/OPEC)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Guinea Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Sénégal Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Côte d'Ivoire Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Niger Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Mauritania Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
^ "Zango leaps into record books with world indoor triple jump mark". aljazeera.com. Al Jazeera English. January 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
^ Ex-Malian PM Modibo Keïta dies at 78
^ Lieutenant General Joshua Mohammadu Hamidu (Rtd), Former Chief of Defence Staff dead at 85
^ Décès de Abdoul Aziz Mbaye de la Covid-19 : Fin de mission d’un diplomate et 1er Directeur de Cabinet du Président Sall (in French)