The first of three flights to evacuate French and European citizens from Niger lifted off Tuesday evening, six days after a coup toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel.”There are 262 people on board the plane, an Airbus A330, including a dozen babies,” French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told AFP.”Nearly all …

France launches evacuation flights from coup-hit NigerTue, 01 Aug 2023 19:10:30 GMT Read More »

French and European citizens were to be evacuated on Tuesday from Niger, six days after a coup toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel and stoked anti-French demonstrations.In the region’s third military takeover in as many years, President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by his own guard, sounding alarm bells in France, …

European nations to evacuate citizens after Niger coupTue, 01 Aug 2023 18:11:18 GMT Read More »

The coup in Niger has left former colonial master France with an array of headaches ranging from how to extract its citizens in the face of a deteriorating security situation to future French military strategy.The ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum by his own guard was deeply unwelcome for President Emmanuel Macron at a time when …

Niger coup leaves France facing range of dilemmasTue, 01 Aug 2023 17:13:13 GMT Read More »

Senegalese opposition figure Ousmane Sonko’s presidential plans have been blighted by a fresh barrage of criminal charges and the dissolution of his party ahead of next February’s elections.The firebrand politician, President Macky Sall’s fiercest critic, has faced a string of legal woes, which he claims have been designed to keep him out of politics.”It is …

Presidential hopes darken for Senegal’s SonkoTue, 01 Aug 2023 14:22:32 GMT Read More »

The military coup in Niger last week raises the question of Europe’s dependency on uranium mined in the West African nation for its nuclear power plants. France’s nuclear fuel firm Orano, formerly part of Areva, operates a uranium mine in the north of the country, employing some 900 mostly Nigeran staff.The company said last week that …

Niger coup raises questions about uranium dependenceTue, 01 Aug 2023 12:58:16 GMT Read More »

France and Italy prepared on Tuesday to fly out their citizens and other Europeans from Niger on Tuesday, six days after a coup that toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel and stoked anti-French demonstrations.President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 by his own guard, in the region’s third putsch …

European nations prepare to evacuate citizens after Niger coupTue, 01 Aug 2023 12:21:20 GMT Read More »

South Africa said on Tuesday its world-famous Kruger park had witnessed a steady decline in rhino killings as better patrols and the onslaught it suffered in recent years pushed poachers elsewhere.The government said 42 of the park’s rhinos were killed for their horns from January to June this year, almost half the numbers poached in …

S.Africa links fall in Kruger’s rhino poaching to declining animal numbersTue, 01 Aug 2023 10:58:41 GMT Read More »

France prepared to evacuate French and other European citizens from Niger on Tuesday, six days after a coup that toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel and stoked anti-French demonstrations.President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 by his own guard, in the region’s third putsch in as many years following …

Europeans set to evacuate from tense Niger following coupTue, 01 Aug 2023 09:56:06 GMT Read More »

Nigeria are “destined for something special” at the Women’s World Cup, their coach Randy Waldrum has said, after reaching the last 16 and a likely clash with England.The Super Falcons confounded expectations by beating co-hosts Australia 3-2 on the way to progressing unbeaten from one of the toughest groups at the tournament.A 0-0 stalemate against …

Nigeria ‘destined for something special’ at World Cup, coach saysTue, 01 Aug 2023 03:58:11 GMT Read More »

Junta-led Burkina Faso and Mali warned Monday that any military intervention in Niger to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum would be considered a “declaration of war against their two countries.The warning from Niger’s military-ruled neighbours came a day after West African leaders, supported by their Western partners, threatened to use “force” to reinstate the democratically …

Junta-led Burkina and Mali warn against military intervention in NigerTue, 01 Aug 2023 03:22:30 GMT Read More »