I cover 25 countries, traveling out from my base in Senegal to report on daily life, family, culture, politics, work, migration, conflicts and people’s struggles to get by. It’s an enormous, diverse, dynamic region so I’m pulled in many directions and I am constantly learning. Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and the region’s economic and cultural powerhouse, is a big focus.
I’ve been living and working in West Africa since 2016, and have spent a lot of that time on the road, reporting from Nigeria, the countries in the Sahel region, Congo and elsewhere.
I’m British, and I grew up in five countries in East and Southern Africa, before studying history at York University and broadcast journalism at City University, London. As a reporter, I’ve lived in Mexico, the U.K., and South Africa. I worked for the Guardian and The Times of London, before moving to The New York Times in 2019. I speak French and I’m learning Wolof and German. I once spoke Spanish and Kiswahili and hopefully one day I’ll get them back.
I’m a big fan of Senegalese style, Congolese music, and Nigerian everything. And the food in the whole region! If I could, I’d start every day with chapatis in eastern Congo for breakfast, have Senegalese ceebu jen for lunch, and fisherman’s soup in the Niger Delta for dinner.
I’m committed to The Times’s ethical journalism standards, and to being fair and open in my reporting. I never accept or offer bribes in any guise. I’m also committed to increasing and improving our coverage of Africa, a region often ignored by media organizations.
Email me story tips, feedback and Yorùbá proverbs.
Email: ruth.maclean@nytimes.com
Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips
Tigran Gambaryan, an American compliance official for the giant cryptocurrency exchange Binance, flew to Nigeria in February for a planned two-day business trip. He hasn’t returned.
By David Yaffe-Bellany and Emily Flitter
Their capture set off a global campaign to “Bring Back Our Girls.” But many are still missing, and kidnappings in Nigeria have proliferated.
By Ismail Alfa and Ruth Maclean
Senegal’s new president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, took the oath of office in Tuesday’s ceremony. Close behind him sat the popular opposition leader who had clinched the win.
By Ruth Maclean
How did Bassirou Diomaye Faye, age 44, go from obscurity to a resounding win in Senegal’s presidential election? At the family homestead, one relative explained, “This family is not new to ruling.”
By Ruth Maclean
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who turned 44 on Monday, was little known until he received the backing of Ousmane Sonko, Senegal’s most formidable opposition politician. Both men were released from jail only 10 days ago.
By Ruth Maclean
The top opposition politician, Ousmane Sonko, is barred from running. So Sunday’s vote is widely seen as a choice between his handpicked candidate and the departing president’s designated successor.
By Ruth Maclean and Mady Camara
A wave of military coups and presidents clinging to power are two sides of the same anti-democratic coin plaguing Francophone Africa, experts say.
By Ruth Maclean
Female genital mutilation is still widespread despite international efforts to end it.
By Ruth Maclean
Senegal was seen as an outpost of democracy in a coup-plagued region until its president tried to cancel the election last month. He failed, and it’s going ahead next Sunday.
By Ruth Maclean
Lawmakers in the West African country voted to advance a bill repealing a 2015 ban. If it passes the final round of voting, Gambia will become the first nation to roll back protections against the practice.
By Ruth Maclean
