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☆ Ivory Coast Seizes 100 Tons of Cocoa at the Border With Guinea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

That compares with 1,000 CFA francs a kilogram in Ivory Coast, where the price is fixed and guaranteed throughout the year. Global cocoa prices have hit record highs in recent months amid worries about a bean deficit this season and with concerns growing for the next. Ivory Coast and neighbouring Ghana, the world's second biggest producer, have said smuggling hampers their effort to meet their yearly production target. "This year, despite the high price in both countries compared to Ivory Coast, there is less leakage... People are really finding it hard to get cocoa out of Ivory Coast," said Abel Gbale, a cocoa buyer in Danane, the country's last major town before the borders with Liberia and Guinea. Amadou Konate, a cocoa buyer based in Man, the main city in western Ivory Coast, said cocoa producers earn nothing from smuggling and the middlemen pocket all the money.

Persons: Ivory Coast's, Yves Brahima Kone, Kone, Abel Gbale, Amadou Konate, Ange Aboa, Anait Miridzhanian, Bate Felix, Frances Kerry Organizations: Ivory, Cocoa Council, CFA, Reuters Locations: ABIDJAN, Guinea, West African, Liberia, Ivory Coast's, Ivory Coast, Sipilou, Ghana, Danane

☆ Ethnic Conflict Kills 11 People in Western Congo
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

KINSHASA (Reuters) - Fighting between ethnic communities left 11 people dead in western Congo on Tuesday, a local authority and civil society leader said after their bodies were collected on Wednesday. The conflict between Teke and Yaka communities that started in 2022 over a land dispute caused a deterioration in the humanitarian and security situation in several provinces near the capital Kinshasa. At least 3,000 people have been killed and more than 150,000 displaced by the conflict, according to the United Nations. The clashes in Mai-Ndombe province killed 10 Mobondo militants, allied with the Yaka community, and one soldier, village chief Stany Libie and civil society leader Martin Suta told Reuters. (Reporting by Ange Kasongo; Additional reporting by Sonia Rolley; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Portia Crowe; Editing by David Gregorio)

Persons: Stany Libie, Martin Suta, Libie, Ange Kasongo, Sonia Rolley, Anait Miridzhanian, Portia Crowe, David Gregorio Organizations: United Nations, Reuters Locations: KINSHASA, Congo, Kinshasa, Mai, Ndombe

☆ South African Foreign Minister: States Must Stop Funding Israel's Military
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - All states have an obligation to stop funding and facilitating Israel's military actions in Gaza after the World Court indicated that those actions could plausibly be genocidal, South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor said on Wednesday. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case brought by South Africa. South Africa has for decades been a strong advocate for the Palestinian cause, comparing the plight of Palestinians to that of Black South Africans under apartheid. Israel has strongly denied allegations of genocide and rejects the comparison to the apartheid era. (Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Alexander Winning)

Persons: Naledi Pandor, Anait Miridzhanian, Nellie Peyton, Alexander Winning Organizations: Court, Court of Justice, Black South Locations: JOHANNESBURG, Gaza, Israel, South Africa, Black

☆ More Than 40 Killed in Artisanal Mine Collapse in Southwest Mali - Mines Ministry
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BAMAKO (Reuters) - More than 40 artisanal gold miners were killed in southwest Mali last week after the shaft they were working in collapsed, Mali's mines ministry said on Wednesday. Deadly accidents are frequent as artisanal miners often use old-fashioned and unregulated methods of digging. The incident in Mali occurred on Friday on a site in the Kangaba Cercle in the south-western Koulikoro Region, the mines ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that did not specify the number of deaths. A spokesperson for the ministry, Baye Coulibaly, said via telephone on Wednesday that the death toll was still provisional. According to mines ministry data, an estimated six tonnes of gold was produced in artisanal mines in Mali in 2023.

Persons: Baye Coulibaly, Coulibaly, Tiemoko Diallo, Anait Miridzhanian, Sofia Christensen, Alex Richardson Locations: BAMAKO, Mali, West Africa, Kangaba, Koulikoro Region

☆ Twenty killed in Sierra Leone attack and nearly 2,000 prisoners escape
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Umaru Fofana | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

FREETOWN, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Twenty people were killed and nearly 2,000 inmates escaped during Sunday's attack on a military barracks, a prison and other locations in Sierra Leone, officials said on Monday. The West African country was thrown into panic in the early hours when the assailants sent gunfire ringing across the capital Freetown. Some 1,890 inmates escaped from the Pademba Road central prison after the attackers broke in, according to a situation report that prison officials shared with Reuters on Monday. [1/2]Sierra Leone's Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh visits the central Pademba Road prison after unidentified gunmen attacked a military barracks and the prison, following which inmates escaped, in Freetown, Sierra Leone November 27, 2023. In August 2022, at least 21 civilians and six police officers were killed in anti-government protests.

Persons: Julius Maada Bio, Issa Bangura, Shek Sulaiman Massaquoi, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Umaru, Umaru Fofana, Anait Miridzhanian, Bate Felix, Edward McAllister, Alison Williams, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Sierra Leone's, REUTERS, European Union, Thomson Locations: FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, Freetown, United States

☆ South Africa's 'Vogue Opera' honours life of gay anti-apartheid activist Nkoli
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Vogue Opera" - a mix of classical music, hip-hop, protest songs and dance - tells the story of Nkoli, whose activism helped to enshrine gay rights in South Africa's constitution - the first country on the continent to do so. Nkoli faced prejudice even from fellow anti-apartheid activists while serving a four-year prison sentence on treason charges when he revealed his sexuality. The opera reveals not only Nkoli's struggles but also the happiness he brought to others. "If there isn't social buy-in, we're not done," the show's co-writer and rapper S'bo Gyre said. Reporting by Catherine Schenck, Thando Hlophe and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Simon Nkoli, Africa's, Nkoli, Philip Miller, William Kentridge's, London's, Miller, Abiah, Lishivha, Gay, we're, S'bo Gyre, Catherine Schenck, Thando, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Market, London's Tate, Theatre, International Lesbian, Thomson Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, JOHANNESBURG, South Africa's, New, Harlem

[1/3] Liberia's opposition Unity Party Joseph Boakai waves to his supporters as holds his final campaign rally for the presidential elections in Monrovia, Liberia October 7, 2023. The result marks a stark turnaround from 2017, when global soccer legend Weah, buoyed by a wave of hope, trounced Boakai with 62 percent of the vote. "A few moments ago, I spoke with president elect Joseph Boakai to congratulate him on his victory," Weah said on national radio. Instead, Boakai supporters in the capital Monrovia danced, shouted and honked car horns in the rain after the near-final results were announced. Many felt that Weah did not follow through on promises to alleviate poverty and improve the country's crumbling infrastructure.

Persons: Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Boakai, George Weah, Joseph Boakai, Weah, Sarkor, Doe, Alphonso Toweh, Edward McAllister, Anait, Louise Heavens, Jonathan Oatis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Unity Party, Reuters, Boakai, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, MONROVIA, West, Central Africa

Boakai led with 50.89% of the vote over Weah's 49.11%, according to results from 99.6% of polling stations, the country's elections commission said on Friday. Final results are expected in the coming days. Boakai, a softly spoken career politician, was more than 28,000 votes ahead of Weah, according to the latest results. Arkoi Sarkor, 43, told Reuters she supported Boakai because she was not able to get a job during Weah's term. "We can safely declare victory – Boakai is the next president, but we will wait for the final result before celebrating," Boakai's spokesperson Amara Konneh said in an interview.

Persons: Unity Party Joseph Boakai, Carielle, Joseph Boakai, George Weah, Boakai, Arkoi Sarkor, Boakai's, Amara Konneh, Carielle Doe, Alphonso Toweh, Anait Miridzhanian, Edward McAllister, Louise Heavens, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Unity Party, Reuters, Boakai, Thomson Locations: Monrovia, Liberia, MONROVIA, West, Weah

☆ IMF board approves $178 mln loan to Malawi
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Malawian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Sosten Gwengwe speaks at the State Department in Washington, DC, U.S., September 28, 2022. Kevin Wolf/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBLANTYRE, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's executive board has approved a loan of about $178 million for Malawi, with an immediate disbursement of about $35 million, the IMF said in a statement on Wednesday. "The decision is a big breather for us and our economy," Finance Minister Simplex Chithyola Banda said in a telephone interview with Reuters. The IMF programme will unlock more financial support from development partners, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera said in a televised national address late on Wednesday. The World Bank could give Malawi $60 million for trade finance, a $217 million package linked to fiscal reforms and $250 million for agriculture, Chakwera said.

Persons: Sosten Gwengwe, Kevin Wolf, Banda, Lazarus Chakwera, Chakwera, Frank Phiri, Anait Miridzhanian, David Gregorio, Sandra Maler Organizations: Finance, Economic Affairs, State Department, Rights, Monetary Fund's, Malawian, Simplex, Reuters, IMF, Bank, Thomson Locations: Washington , DC, Rights BLANTYRE, Malawi

☆ Islamist Militants Tie Up, Kill Congo Villagers - Local Official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Islamist militants tied up at least 19 villagers and killed them with machetes and other weapons in a raid in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo late on Sunday, a civil society leader said. Other villagers fled but may have drowned as they tried to cross the Lamia river into Uganda, Maurice Mabele Musaidi told Reuters. Congo's army said it killed at least six of the militants that night, without going into detail on the operation. Army spokesperson Antony Mualushayi put the civilian death toll at 11, though he said that figure was provisional. (Reporting by Yassin Kombi; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Andrew Heavens; Editing by Gareth Jones and Andrew Heavens)

Persons: Maurice Mabele Musaidi, Musaidi, Antony Mualushayi, Yassin Kombi, Anait Miridzhanian, Andrew Heavens, Gareth Jones Organizations: Reuters, Allied Democratic Forces, Islamic, ADF Locations: BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Beni, Congo, Islamic State

☆ Conflict uproots record 6.9 million people in Congo -IOM
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Paul... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreJOHANNESBURG, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Conflict and escalating violence have uprooted a record 6.9 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, mostly in the east of the country, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday. Years of rebel conflict and recurrent natural disasters have helped fuel one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Most of those forced to flee their homes live in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika, according to the data collected by the United Nations. In North Kivu alone, up to one million people have been displaced due the ongoing conflict with a Tutsi-led rebel group M23, IOM said. The most recent escalation of the conflict has uprooted more people in less time like rarely seen before," said Fabien Sambussy, IOM's head of mission in Congo.

Persons: Paul, Fabien Sambussy, Anait, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: United Nations Organization Stabilization, Democratic, REUTERS, International Organization for Migration, United Nations, IOM, Thomson Locations: Democratic Republic of, Congo, Djugu's, Ituri's province, Democratic Republic of Congo, JOHANNESBURG, North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika, Congolese

☆ Home countries of major rainforests agree to work together to save them
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Ange Adihe Kasongo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The countries recognised the importance of cooperation and agreed to develop ways to protect the forests in a seven-point plan. Deforestation increased 4% worldwide in 2022, according to an October report showing countries went further off track from pledges made at the 2021 U.N. climate talks to halt and reverse loss and degradation by 2030. Over the three days of the summit in Brazzaville, experts and policymakers from countries with tropical forests discussed shared priorities ahead of the U.N. COP28 climate talks next month. They examined different funding mechanisms to help developing countries preserve their important ecosystems. Additional reporting by Alessandra Prentice; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian and Edward McAllisterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ueslei Marcelino, We've, we've, Arlette Soudan, Alessandra Prentice, Anait Miridzhanian, Edward McAllister Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Wildlife Fund, Thomson Locations: Belem , Para, Brazil, BRAZZAVILLE, Congo Republic, Congo, Southeast Asia, Republic of Congo, Brazzaville

☆ Dengue fever kills hundreds in Burkina Faso as cases spike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's health ministry has declared a dengue fever epidemic amid the deadliest outbreak in years in which more than 200 people have died and new cases are rising sharply. Lack of treatment or misdiagnosis, common in poverty-stricken countries such as Burkina Faso where healthcare is spotty, increase the chance of death. Burkina Faso's outbreak dwarfs other African outbreaks in recent years. According to figures from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, dengue killed 18 people in Burkina Faso in 2017 and 15 in 2016. The health ministry said that it was providing free rapid diagnostic tests and had organised spraying of insecticide in public places to counter the spread.

Persons: Bobo Dioulasso, Anait Miridzhanian, Edward McAllister, Alex Richardson Organizations: World Health Organization, Africa, for Disease Control, Thomson Locations: OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina, Ouagadougou, Africa, Burkina Faso

☆ Desmond Tutu's modest car reminds South Africans of his values
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Archbishop Desmond Tutu laughs as crowds gather to celebrate his birthday by unveiling an arch in his honour outside St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, October 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAPE TOWN, Oct 7 (Reuters) - South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Desmond Tutu could have chosen practically any car in the world when billionaire Warren Buffett offered to buy him a vehicle. The Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust, which manages his legacy, has put the old car on show along with his books and possessions in honour of Tutu's 92nd birthday, which he would have celebrated on Saturday. The car, displayed in Cape Town, the city where the archbishop lived for most of his later life, became a symbol of Tutu's values. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to white minority rule, died in 2021.

Persons: Desmond Tutu, Mike Hutchings, Warren Buffett, Mercedes Benz, Tutu's, Mamphela Ramphele, Tutu, Ramphele, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Esa Alexander, Anait Miridzhanian, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Toyota Corolla, Trust, Reuters, Thomson Locations: St George's Cathedral, Cape Town , South Africa, Cape Town, Africa

☆ Senegal seeks regulation deal with TikTok after ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TikTok logo is seen in this illustration taken, June 2, 2023. "For the time being, the restriction is being maintained pending the conclusion of a comprehensive written agreement," communications minister Moussa Bocar Thiam told a press conference, adding that authorities were in discussions with TikTok. During its discussions with TikTok, the government requested better regulation of the platform and asked questions about the functioning of its algorithm and data protection. It also asked for fair remuneration for content creators that would enable young people to make a living from social media. Reporting by Ngouda Dione; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Mark PorterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Moussa Bocar Thiam, Ousmane Sonko, Macky Sall, TikTok, Ngouda Dione, Anait Miridzhanian, Mark Porter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Rights DAKAR, Sonko, West Africa

☆ South African rand slightly firms as US dollar dips
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The South African rand traded slightly higher on Wednesday following several days of weakness as the softening of the U.S. dollar supported risk sentiment. At 1619 GMT, the rand traded at 19.2800 against the dollar , about 0.3% stronger than its previous close. South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was weaker in afternoon deals, with the yield up 6.5 basis points to 11.085%. Reporting by Tannur Anders and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alexander Winning and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Hutchings, Tannur Anders, Anait, Alexander Winning, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., P, Africa PMI, Local, Woolworths, Africa's, Thomson Locations: Rights JOHANNESBURG, Africa, Stillwater, Johannesburg

☆ Air Senegal, Royal Air Maroc sign codeshare agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Air Senegal planes are parked at Blaise Diagne International Airport amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Thies, Senegal, March 28, 2020. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDAKAR, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Air Senegal and Morocco's Royal Air Maroc on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding for code-sharing and other steps to deepen cooperation. Air Senegal said in statement the carriers would seek to increase connections and provide more options for passengers. "Royal Air Maroc and Air Senegal today are giving concrete expression to the desire of the highest authorities in our respective countries to develop this air bridge, in terms of both passenger and cargo transport," Air Senegal's CEO, Alioune Badara Fall, said. Reporting by Diadie Ba; Writing by Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Cynthia OstermanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Zohra, Alioune, Diadie, Anait Miridzhanian, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Blaise Diagne, REUTERS, Rights, Air, Morocco's, Air Maroc, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: Senegal, Thies, Air Senegal

But in an about turn, Macron announced on Sunday that the ambassador would return to Paris and French troops would leave. Two security sources in Niger said Itte had flown out of the country. Demonstrators hold placards and Niger's flags as they gather outside Niger's embassy in support of the President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum in Paris, France, August 5, 2023. Crowds of junta supporters have spent days camping outside a French military base to demand the troops' departure. Some analysts have expressed concern that the withdrawal of French troops from Niger could further hamper Western efforts to stem the violence, which has risen since the coups, and bolster Russian influence in the region.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Sylvain Itte, Mohamed Bazoum, Macron, Itte, Catherine Colonna, Yucouba Abdou, Abdou, Niger Mohamed Bazoum, Stephanie Lecocq, Paris, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Moussa Aksar, Michel Rose, John Irish, Sofia Christensen, Anait, Toby Chopra, Estelle Shirbon, Philippa Fletcher, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Niger, Quai, French, Nigerien, Reuters, REUTERS, France, Thomson Locations: Niger French, NIAMEY, Niger, Paris, France, Niamey, French, N'Djamena, Niger's, West Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Sahel

☆ Taiwan president arrives in Eswatini to visit last African ally
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI/MBABANE, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrived on Tuesday in Eswatini, Taipei's last African ally, saying the island will continue to confidently engage with the world and show it is a force for good. The Taiwanese delegation signed three memoranda of understanding with the southern African country after it met with Eswatini's King Mswati III. Eswatini is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa, which Chinese President Xi Jinping visited last month. Tsai last visited Eswatini in 2018, and this time is being accompanied by Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua. Taiwan has provided large amounts of aid to the small southern African country ruled by an absolute monarchy, including in 2021 antiviral medication to help King Mswati III recover from COVID.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Taipei's, Eswatini's King Mswati III, Tsai, Eswatini, Xi Jinping, Economy Minister Wang Mei, King Mswati III, Ben Blanchard, Anait Miridzhanian, Michael Perry, Josie Kao, William Maclean Organizations: Eswatini's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economy Minister, COVID, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, MBABANE, Taiwan, Eswatini, China, Latin America, Caribbean, Belize, Nauru, Honduras, Swaziland, South Africa, America, United States, Lunga

☆ Gabon coup leader will not rush to elections despite mounting pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Trucks carrying industrial equipments wait because of the closure of the border after the coup in Gabon, in the border town of Kye-Ossi, Cameroon August 31, 2023. The officers placed Bongo under house arrest and installed Nguema as head of state, ending the Bongo family's 56-year hold on power. "Going as quickly as possible does not mean organising ad hoc elections, where we will end up with the same errors," he said. Gabon's election commission said after the election that Bongo had been re-elected with 64% of the vote, while Ondo Ossa secured almost 31%. It said it will impose sanctions on the coup leaders if they do not restore constitutional order.

Persons: Danga, Nguema, Gabon's, Ali Bongo, General Brice Oligui Nguema, Bongo, Alexandra Pangha, Albert Ondo Ossa, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, Ian Ghislain Ngoulou, Bongo Valentin, Bongo's, Mohamed Bazoum, Ondo Ossa, Pangha, Wilfried Obangome, Sonia Rolley, Libby George, Juliette Jabkhiro, Edward McAllister, Anait Miridzhanian, Sofia Christensen, Frances Kerry, Peter Graff, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Military, Central Africa's, Central African, ECCAS, United Nations, African Union, BBC, Nguema, Gabon, Timothe, Ondo, Security, Thomson Locations: Gabon, Kye, Ossi, Cameroon, Monday LIBREVILLE, Libreville, Republic, France, United States, State, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ondo

☆ Gabon awaits next move from junta after coup ousts President Bongo
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gaetan M-Antchouwet Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreDAKAR, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Gabon on Thursday awaited the next move by its new military junta one day after it overthrew the government, named a new leader and detained long-standing President Ali Bongo in his residence. The coup is the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020, and the second - after Niger - in as many months. Gabon, an OPEC member, is a major oil and manganese producer whose ousted president also made strides to protect vast Gabon's pristine forests and endangered elephants. But Bongo's popularity had worn thin amid claims of corruption, sham elections, and a failure to spend more of Gabon's oil revenues on the country's poor. Bongo took over in 2009 on the death of his father Omar, who had ruled since 1967.

Persons: Ali Bongo, Gaetan M, Bongo, Omar, Edward McAllister, Anait Miridzhanian, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Military, United Nations, African, African Union and France, Thomson Locations: Port Gentil, Gabon, DAKAR, West, Central Africa, Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libreville, African Union

☆ Niger junta instructs police to expel French ambassador
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Nigerien security forces launch tear gas to disperse pro-junta demonstrators gathered outside the French embassy, in Niamey, the capital city of Niger July 30, 2023. REUTERS/Souleymane Ag Anara/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNIAMEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The junta that seized power in Niger last month said that the French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, no longer had diplomatic immunity and police had been instructed to expel him. The junta on Friday ordered the ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours in response to actions taken by the French government which it said were "contrary to the interests of Niger". The visas of the ambassador and his family were cancelled, the junta said in a statement dated Aug. 29 and confirmed as authentic by the junta's head of communications. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the ambassador would stay in the country despite the junta's pressure and reiterated France's support to Niger's ousted president Mohamed Bazoum.

Persons: Sylvain Itte, Emmanuel Macron, Niger's, Mohamed Bazoum, Boureima Balima, Anait Miridzhanian, Alexander Winning Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Nigerien, Niamey, Niger, NIAMEY

☆ Who is Brice Oligui Nguema, the general named as Gabon's transition leader?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 30 (Reuters) - Gabon's military junta named General Brice Oligui Nguema as transition leader on Wednesday, following the apparent ouster of President Ali Bongo. The elite force is in charge of protecting the president, his family and other high-profile figures. ANTICORRUPTION MANDATEShortly after he took on the new role in 2019, Nguema launched an operation named "clean hands" to crack down on alleged state-led embezzlement. The Bongo family has ruled oil-rich Gabon for over half a century. In an interview with French newspaper Le Monde on Wednesday, Nguema said people in Gabon were frustrated with their government.

Persons: General Brice Oligui Nguema, Ali Bongo, Bongo, Nguema, Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Ingrid Melander, Anait, Sofia Christensen, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Republican Guard, Thomson Locations: Gabon's southeasternmost, Haut, Republic of Congo, United States, Gabon, Libreville, Paris, Johannesburg

☆ Reaction to Gabon army officers announcing coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Below are reactions to what appeared to be the eighth military coup in West and Central Africa since 2020. FRENCH GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON OLIVIER VERAN"We condemn the military coup and recall our commitment to free and transparent elections." EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY JOSEP BORRELL"If this is confirmed, it is another military coup which increases instability in the whole region. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON MARIA ZAKHAROVA"Moscow has received with concern reports of a sharp deterioration in the internal situation in the friendly African country. U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES"The Secretary-General is following the evolving situation in Gabon very closely.

Persons: Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Ali Bongo, Moussa Faki Mahamat, BOLA TINUBU'S, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GENERAL PATRICIA SCOTLAND, OLIVIER VERAN, WANG WENBIN, Bongo, JOSEP BORRELL, MARIA ZAKHAROVA, JOHN KIRBY, It's, GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES, Nellie Peyton, Sofia Christensen, Alexander Winning, Sharon Singleton, Andy Sullivan Organizations: REUTERS, Central African, AU, H.E, WEST, BLOC ECOWAS, GENERAL, Commonwealth Secretariat, MINISTRY, EU HIGH, Thomson Locations: Libreville, Gabon, West, Central Africa, Gabonese Republic, Republic, NIGERIA, African Union, CHINA, China, Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Moscow

☆ Explainer: What do we know about the Gabon military coup?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The opposition had denounced the Aug. 26 vote as fraudulent, which Bongo's campaign denied. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsWHO IS ALI BONGO AND WHY WAS HE OUSTED? If successful, the Gabon coup would end the Bongo family's 56-year grip on power. It remains unclear how long the transition promised by the military would be or what exactly the officers are planning. Military officers have also seized power in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Chad, and most recently in Niger, erasing democratic gains since the 1990s.

Persons: Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Ali Bongo's, Bongo, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, Ali Bongo, Omar Bongo, Brice Oligui Nguema, Anait, Alessandra Prentice, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Military, Central African, Gabonese, Reuters Graphics Reuters, WHO, ALI, Monde, Thomson Locations: Libreville, Gabon, GABON, autocrats, Morocco, West, Central Africa, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Gabonese

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