The African Union demanded Niger’s military “return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority” within 15 days as the EU intensified pressure on the coup leaders Saturday by suspending security cooperation with the jihadist-hit country.General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, appeared on state television on Friday to declare himself the troubled West …

African Union, EU up pressure on Niger coup leadersSat, 29 Jul 2023 14:54:39 GMT Read More »

General Abdourahamane Tiani, the chief of Niger’s powerful presidential guard who took power after a military coup, is an army veteran who has foiled similar uprisings in the restive West African nation.Tiani, 59, has shunned the limelight despite a stellar military career which saw him lead the elite 700-member unit from 2011 up until now.”He …

General Tiani: Shadowy army veteran who seized power in NigerSat, 29 Jul 2023 11:16:53 GMT Read More »

The Niger general who staged a coup on Friday declared himself the new leader of the jihadist-hit African nation and warned that any foreign military intervention would lead to chaos.General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, appeared on state television, saying he was the “president of the National Council for the Safeguard …

Niger army general declares himself country’s new leaderSat, 29 Jul 2023 02:28:10 GMT Read More »

Leading Senegalese opposition politician Ousmane Sonko was arrested on Friday for allegedly stealing a gendarme’s phone and posting a “subversive” message.The firebrand politician, a thorn in the flesh of President Macky Sall, has faced a number of legal woes, which he says are aimed at keeping him out of politics.His sentencing last month in a …

Leading Senegal opposition figure Sonko arrestedFri, 28 Jul 2023 22:18:01 GMT Read More »

A powerful Niger general who staged a coup declared himself the new leader of the unstable jihadist-hit nation on Friday and warned that any foreign military intervention would lead to chaos.General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, appeared on state television saying he was the “president of the National Council for the …

Army general declares himself Niger leaderFri, 28 Jul 2023 20:35:53 GMT Read More »

Tens of thousands of spectators attended Friday’s opening ceremony of the ninth Francophone Games in DR Congo’s capital Kinshasa, celebrating a rare feel-good event in the impoverished and conflict-torn country.Gathering athletes and artists from mostly-French speaking countries, the Games are being held for the first time in central African metropolis of an estimated 15 million …

Spectacular ceremony launches Francophone Games in DR Congo capitalFri, 28 Jul 2023 20:17:02 GMT Read More »

Leading Senegalese opposition politician Ousmane Sonko was arrested on Friday, members of his party, a senior security official and a lawyer told AFP, although the precise reasons for the arrest were unconfirmed.The firebrand politician and presidential candidate has faced a number of legal woes in recent years, which he claims are part of a plot …

Senegalese opponent Sonko arrestedFri, 28 Jul 2023 19:37:20 GMT Read More »

Despite the military intervention in Ukraine and efforts by the West to paint Russia as a pariah state, Moscow can still count on support from several African, Latin American and Asian governments, including that of heavyweight China.Visibly satisfied, Russian President Vladimir Putin stood shoulder to shoulder on Friday with a score of African heads of …

Russia retains allies, despite the Ukraine conflictFri, 28 Jul 2023 18:16:04 GMT Read More »

Tens of thousands of spectators turned out to attend Friday’s opening ceremony of the ninth Francophone Games in DR Congo’s capital Kinshasa, despite security and safety fears.Gathering athletes and artists from mostly-French speaking countries, the Games are being held for the first time in the central African metropolis. Some 80,000 people turned out to watch the …

Francophone Games kick off in DR Congo capitalFri, 28 Jul 2023 17:25:24 GMT Read More »

The United Nations insisted Friday it is still providing humanitarian assistance on the ground in Niger but was forced to suspend aid flights after the coup closed borders.A UN spokesperson had said on Thursday that this week’s putsch in troubled Sahel country had put humanitarian operations on hold.But Nicole Kouassi, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Niger …

UN says humanitarian work in Niger continuesFri, 28 Jul 2023 16:45:45 GMT Read More »