![A naval boat is seen off the Atlantic coast in Nigeria's Bayelsa state in the Gulf of Guinea, where maritime piracy is so common that the IMB describes the passage as 'one of the most dangerous shipping routes in the world' [File: Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/a3110820cc4e4c76b523cbb80b9b6d58_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
The cost of maritime piracy in West Africa was more than $800m in 2017: Oceans Beyond Piracy
![Officials from the West African countries attend the ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria [Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/c02992a82eef4f31a1a7cbb35dbb3849_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Regional security and integration dominate agenda as heads of states from across West Africa meet for ECOWAS summit.
![Alpha Conde has been president of Guinea since December 2010 and his opponents fear he may attempt to cling to power by changing the constitution [Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/6e5ffd2ece784843a8990280b9126ede_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Conde’s administration hints at changing constitution, raising fears current presidential term limit could be scrapped.
![Despite the armed group losing much of its territory, analysts say the war against Boko Haram is far from over [Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/58c38247e46d45aba3e0167f57b7c25e_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
A decade later, one of the world’s most dangerous armed groups is still wreaking havoc in the region it sprouted from.
![Members of security forces secure the area outside the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria [Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/455a311ee5994bb7bb26d4bb20ff0b08_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Gunfire erupts outside parliament during clashes between police and Shia Muslim protesters, witnesses say.
![Some observers said the election was tarnished by low turnout and deadly violence [Fidelis Mbah/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/32e86c19314c4df9971babb8f4382c10_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Election tribunal starts discussing legal challenges to the February vote filed by the main opposition.
![Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola inspecting a WeCyclers van [Courtesy of WeCyclers]](/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/c187aa0429484f21887b00304d97a590_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
From recycling to up-cycling, entrepreneurial women lead the fight to reduce waste in Nigeria’s densely populated city.
![Women pass by an abandoned market in the majority Anglophone South West province in Buea on October 3 next to the wreckage of a car burned allegedly by separatist fighters [Marco Longari/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/46044dcdd729465f9814dc3a854ed4eb_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
As Cameroon heads to elections, experts warn of the fallout from an ongoing separatist crisis in the Anglophone regions.
![Presidential guard and police officers contain the crowd at the Maroua stadium, Far North Region of Cameroon, during an election rally of Cameroonian President Paul Biya [Alexis Huget/AFP]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1b0321b39be245188d369a9b886d6d5d_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Cameroon heads to the polls on Sunday with eight candidates looking to unseat 85-year-old President Paul Biya.
![At 66 years old, Akere Muna plans to end President Paul Biya's 36-year-rule [Max Mbakop/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/60789c9071f443158f4ac2b1b21487cf_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180)
Akere Muna wants to unseat President Paul Biya, who has led since 1982, as the Cameroon heads to polls.