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☆ Kenya floods: Anger mounts as people left homeless and searching for loved ones swept away in floods
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Larry Madowo | Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —When Julia Wanjiku put her son Isaac to bed last Sunday after a day celebrating his third birthday, she didn’t realize she was also saying goodbye. She was among the survivors gathering at Ngeya Girls High School in Mai Mahiu on Tuesday. A damaged car buried in mud in an area heavily affected by torrential rains and flash floods in the village of Kamuchiri, near Mai Mahiu, on April 29. Luis Tato/AFP via Getty ImagesPeople removing mud and water from their house in Mai Mahiu, Kenya, on April 29. Rescuers carry the body of a young man recovered in the debris following flooding, in Mai Mahiu, Kenya.

Persons: Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —, Julia Wanjiku, Isaac, Wanjiku, — Isaac, “, ” Wanjiku, Isaac’s, Mai Mahui, It’s, Luis Tato, El, William Ruto, Kithure Kindiki, Isaac Mwaura, ” Ruto, Mark Laichena, ”, Simon Maina, Mwaura, Nyagoah Tut, James Wakibia, Joyce Kimutai, herder, Makau, “ I’m, ” Larry Madowo, Laura Paddison, CNN’s Louis Mian, Allison Chinchar, Mary Gilbert Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Girls High School, Getty, Getty Images, “, Kenyan, Space Agency European Space Agency, European Space Agency, Isaac Mwaura ., Communities, United Arab Emirates, Rights Watch, Kenya Meteorological Department, Human Rights Watch, Rescuers, Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute Locations: Kenya, Mai, Kenya’s, Nairobi, Mai Mahiu, Kamuchiri, AFP, Getty Images Kenya, Garissa, Tanzania, Tana, Mathare, New York, El, Nyagoah Tut Pur, Africa, East Africa, London

☆ Kenya floods: Maasai Mara visitors stranded as death toll nears 200
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Larry Madowo | Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Staff and visitors have been left stranded and buildings submerged at Kenya’s famous Maasai Mara nature reserve, as the death toll in catastrophic flooding in the country’s southwest rose to at least 188 people. Local authorities ordered some tourist facilities in the National Reserve to close after River Talek, one of the tributaries of the Mara River, burst its banks and swept through more than a dozen riverside tourist lodges and camps. In Maasai Mara, camp owners were told to leave the affected properties and “move to higher ground further away from River Talek,” governor of Narok county Patrick Ole Ntutu said on Wednesday. Parts of Maasai Mara National Reserve were left submerged by the flooding. Authorities said they had deployed two helicopters to rescue stranded tourists and local staff around the national reserve after receiving distress calls.

Persons: Mai Mahiu, Isaac Mwaura, Susan Kihika, Mara, Patrick Ole Ntutu, Bobby Neptune, Luis Tato, Kipkech Lotiatia, Bush, James Apolloh Omenya, couldn’t, “, X, El Niño, Jagan Chapagain, ”, Nyagoah Tut Organizations: CNN — Staff, National Reserve, CNN, Mara National Reserve, Authorities, Cross, Paramilitary, ”, Youth Service, ” International Federation of Red, Red Crescent Societies, Human Rights, “ Kenyan Locations: Mara, Kenya, Nairobi, Mai, Nakuru County, ”, Narok, AFP, Talek, Kenya’s, Africa, East Africa, Tanzania, Burundi, “ Kenya, Nyagoah Tut Pur

Mai Mahiu, Kenya CNN —Eleven people and a dog were rescued from the raging flood waters in Kenya on Wednesday, the country’s Red Cross has said. The humanitarian agency described the rescue mission as “challenging” but later offered a glimmer of hope with reports that floodwaters were gradually receding. Residents in Mai Mahiu are frantically sifting through heaps of debris to recover bodies trapped by the floods. When CNN visited the town on Tuesday, corpses could be seen accumulating beneath toppled trees and layers of mud. Evacuation from flood hit areasCitizens in the worst affected areas have been ordered to leave due to fears of more rain.

Persons: Mai Mahiu, Isaac Mwaura, William Ruto, he’s, ” Ruto, Ruto, Mwaura Organizations: Kenya CNN —, Red Cross, Residents, CNN, National Youth Service Locations: Kenya, Kitengela, Kajiado County, Nairobi, Mai

☆ US is ‘best’ choice for Africa over Russia or China, US Commerce Secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —The United States is the best partner for African nations “without strings attached” but it will not force African nations to choose its partnership over Russia or China, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told CNN. She spoke on the sidelines of the AmCham Business Summit after meeting Kenyan President William Ruto during her first official trip to Africa. Anti-Western sentimentLike many other African nations, Kenya has deep ties with China, which has funding projects and major infrastructure projects across the continent. Secretary Raimondo addressed the criticism that African nations dislike ‘lectures’ from the US and its European allies about democracy and human rights, and many prefer dealing with China or Russia that don’t make similar demands. Raimondo said the US is coming to Africa “without strings attached,” saying she had brought more than a dozen businesses to the Nairobi summit.

Persons: Gina Raimondo, “, Raimondo, CNN’s Larry Madowo, William Ruto, ‘, Ruto, we’re Organizations: Kenya CNN —, US, CNN Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, United States, Russia, China, Africa

Rescue teams are digging through the mud and debris trying to find survivors near Mai Mahiu, in Kenya’s Nakuru County, Gov. In Mai Mahiu, Kihika said a serious situation was unfolding as floodwaters swept away people and homes. Access to Mai Mahiu, 20 miles north of the capital Nairobi, had been difficult as part of the road had been cut off from recent heavy rains, Kihika said. Other video shows vast flooding around the Tana River, with large parts of the surrounding area underwater. Heavy rains in East Africa have also affected Tanzania and Burundi.

Persons: Susan Kihika, Isaac Maigua Mwaura, Mai Mahiu, Kihika, ” Kihika, Tana, Andre Kasuku, downpours, El Niño, Jagan Chapagain, Kassim Majaliwa Organizations: Kenya CNN —, Gov, CNN, Kenya Red Cross Society, of Education Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Mai Mahiu, Kenya’s Nakuru County, Mai, Mororo, Tana River, Garissa, North Eastern Kenya, Tana, Kona, Tana River County, East Africa, Tanzania, Burundi, Tanzanian

☆ Tanzania flooding: 155 dead and at least 236 injured
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Flooding in Tanzania has killed 155 people and left at least 236 injured, the country’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday. More than 10,000 houses have been damaged and upwards of 200,000 people have been affected, Majaliwa told the Tanzanian parliament in the capital Dodoma. The flooding has also affected Kenya, which shares a border with Tanzania in East Africa. Kenya has registered heavy rain since mid-March but downpours have intensified over the past week, leading to mass flooding that has affected around 103,500 people. Kenya Railways also suspended commuter train services nationwide.

Persons: Kassim Majaliwa, Majaliwa, downpours Organizations: CNN, country’s, El Nino, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Kenyan, Kenya Railways Locations: Tanzania, Dodoma, Kenya, East Africa, Nairobi

☆ At least 32 dead as flash floods sweep through half of Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Lindsay Isaac | Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —At least 32 people have been killed and two are missing after flash floods swept through almost half of Kenya. Kenya has registered heavy rain since mid-March but downpours have intensified over the past week, leading to mass flooding. Simon Maina/AFP/Getty ImagesTwo major highways out of Nairobi saw heavy traffic on Wednesday after floodwaters submerged parts of them. The Kenya Urban Roads Authority partially closed four roads that were heavily affected and warned of flooding on two others. The Kenya Meteorological Department warned of “heavy to very heavy” rainfall in parts of the country in an update on Wednesday.

Persons: downpours, ”, Edwin Sifuna, Simon Maina Organizations: Kenya CNN —, Kenyan, The Kenya Red Cross Society, Getty, Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya Railways, Kenya Meteorological Department Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, The, ”, Mathare, AFP

☆ Simi: Nigerian Afropop singer opens up about charting her path to stardom, and why she still engineers her own music
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Kamayah Scruggs | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —It seems like there’s nothing Nigerian music star Simi can’t do. A singer, songwriter, and one of the few women mixing and producing their own music, Simi is setting the stage for the future of Afropop and soul. Opening for 15-time Grammy-winning vocal powerhouse Alicia Keys on her 2023 tour and making waves on the Billboard World Album Charts has garnered Simi international stardom. Simi, whose real name is Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, began her career as a gospel singer, releasing her first album “Ogaju” in 2008. She followed up with her second studio album, “Simisola,” which peaked at No.

Persons: Simi can’t, Simi, Alicia Keys, Kosoko, Simi “ didn’t, ”, CNN’s Larry Madowo, ” Simi, “, Afropop “, Tiwa Savage, Adekunle Gold, Coco Jones, Doja, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Simi, Kodak Locations: Lagos, Nigeria, Ojuelegba, North America, Nigerian

☆ Kenyan military chief Francis Ogolla died in helicopter crash, says president
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Larry Madowo | Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Kenya’s military chief, Francis Ogolla, died in a helicopter crash in the western part of the country on Thursday, President William Ruto announced in a televised address. “I am deeply saddened to announce the passing on of General Francis Omondi Ogolla, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces,” he said. The helicopter crashed shortly after take-off on Thursday afternoon local time, killing Ogolla and nine other members of the military, Ruto said. Ogolla was on his way to visit troops in the North Rift region of the country and to inspect ongoing school renovations, the president said. “For me, as the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, it is a tragic moment for the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity and it is a most unfortunate day for the nation at large,” Ruto said.

Persons: CNN —, Francis Ogolla, William Ruto, “, Francis Omondi Ogolla, ”, Ogolla, Ruto, ” Ruto Organizations: CNN, Kenya Defence Forces

CNN —Former Senegalese Prime Minister Amadou Ba has conceded defeat to leading opposition figure Bassirou Diomaye Faye in the western African country’s presidential elections. “I wish him lots of success and success for the well-being of the Senegalese people,” he added. Several opposition candidates in Sunday’s election conceded defeat to Faye earlier. Faye was also congratulated early Monday by another presidential candidate, Khalifa Sall. Official results will be announced by Saturday at the latest, according to an official from Senegal’s Autonomous National Electoral Commission.

Persons: Amadou Ba, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, “, Macky Sall, Faye, Ba, Futurs Médias, Anta Babacar Ngom, ”, Faye “, Khalifa, . Ba, kickstart, Ousmane Sonko, Sonko, Sall, – Organizations: CNN —, Senegalese, Saturday, Senegal’s, Electoral Commission Locations: Ba, Senegal, .

☆ Kelvin Kiptum’s funeral: Thousands in Kenya mourn marathon hero as family pays emotional tributes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —Kenyan politicians and leaders in sports gathered on Friday for a funeral service celebrating the life of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a road accident last Sunday. Kiptum, 24, and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died at the scene of the crash outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, police said. Kiptum’s widow, Asenath Cheruto, led the ceremony and paid tribute to her late husband with a moving speech. For Kelvin’s family, his fellow athletes, the legion of friends from within and beyond athletics … But I can speak on behalf of the entire world athletics family,” Coe said“Kelvin, you will be missed. The President of Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei announced that Golazo, a company specializing in athletes management, is launching the Kelvin Kiptum Foundation, which “will predominantly provide continued financial support for education and infrastructure.”

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, William Ruto, Rigathi Gachagua, Musalia Mudavadi, Gervais Hakizimana, Kiptum’s, Asenath Cheruto, “, ” Cheruto, ”, Cheruto, Sebastian Coe, ” Coe, Kelvin, “ Kelvin, Athletics Kenya Jackson Tuwei Organizations: Kenya CNN — Kenyan, Athletics, Athletics Kenya, Kelvin, Kelvin Kiptum Foundation Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Elgeyo Marakwet, Eldoret

CNN —Senegal’s outgoing president Macky Sall Friday said he would hold presidential elections “as soon as possible” one day after the West African country’s constitutional council ruled against his decision to postpone elections. “The head of state will conduct necessary consultations to hold the presidential election as soon as possible,” the statement added. Sall was under pressure to react once the top court Thursday rejected his bid to delay elections until the end of the year. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged all parties in Senegal to comply with the constitutional council’s decision. “No to presidential election postponement”, said another released opposition leader Aboubacar Djamil Sané of the PASTEF Party, who had been imprisoned for seven months.

Persons: CNN —, Macky Sall, “, ”, Sall, Babacar Gueye, Thursday’s, Pierre Goudiaby Atépa, Ousmane Sonko, ” Sonko, Cheikh Oumar Diagne, Diagne, Aboubacar Djamil Organizations: CNN, Constitutional Council, French, RFI, West African States, “, Senegalese, Truth, PASTEF Party Locations: Republic, Senegalese, Senegal

☆ Eddy Kenzo, Uganda’s first Grammy nominee, recounts his journey from sleeping on the streets to global stardom
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Vanessa Offiong | Daniel Renjifo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

I’ve always known that I’ll make it in music because I could feel the creativity in me. But I knew that one day if I ever went into a studio, I would produce good music. Eddy Kenzo (center) pictured here in Uganda with members of the Ghetto Kids dance group, during a music video rehearsal in 2023. Eddy Kenzo, pictured here attending the 65th edition of the Grammy Awards show on February 5, 2023, became Uganda's first-ever Grammy nominee last year. A Grammy nominee is a Grammy nominee.

Persons: Miriam Makeba, Eddy Kenzo, Uganda’s, Matt B, ”, Edrisah Kenzo Musuuza, Kenzo, CNN’s Larry Madowo, Larry Madowo, I’ve, Badru Katumba, ’ I’ve, It’s, Matt Winkelmeyer, Matt, Greg Organizations: CNN, Best, Big Talent Entertainment, Uganda National Musicians Federation, Getty, EK, The Recording Academy Locations: Uganda, Kampala, AFP, Chicago, Los Angeles

☆ Kevin Kang’ethe: Suspect in killing of Boston nurse re-arrested after escaping from Kenyan police station
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —A man accused of murdering his girlfriend in Boston before fleeing to Kenya has been re-arrested following his escape from a police station in Nairobi nearly a week ago, police said. Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, 42, was arrested on Tuesday at a relative’s house in Ngong, a suburb of the Kenyan capital, after a tip-off, Nairobi police chief Adamson Bungei told CNN. US investigators say he boarded a plane to Kenya shortly after killing his girlfriend on November 1, 2023. Officers released Kang’ethe from his cell and left them alone in an office, from which he then ran off. Following an application for extradition from the US, Kenyan authorities began the formal process to send him back to Boston to face murder charges.

Persons: Kenya CNN —, Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, Adamson Bungei, ” Bungei, Margaret “ Maggie ”, Bungei, ”, Kang’ethe Organizations: Kenya CNN, Kenyan, CNN, Boston Logan International Airport, US Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Boston, Ngong, United States

☆ Marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and coach killed in road accident in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nairobi CNN —Current marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a road accident Sunday night outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, Kenyan police confirmed. The 24-year-old Kenyan athlete, who was driving a Toyota Premio, and his coach died at the scene of the crash, Elgeyo Marakwet County Police Commander Peter Mulinge told CNN. Kiptum’s world record marathon time of 2:00:35 set in the Chicago Marathon in October last year was ratified just days ago by World Athletics. He had only switched to running the marathon from shorter distance races a year before setting that record pace. He improved his personal best time by 50 seconds to beat the 2:01:09 record set by fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who is widely considered the greatest marathoner of all time.

Persons: Kelvin Kiptum, Gervais Hakizimana, Peter Mulinge, Mulinge, “, ” Mulinge, Kipchoge, Kiptum, Sebastian Coe, ”, ” Coe, Kelvin, Bob Verbeeck, ” Verbeeck Organizations: Nairobi CNN —, Kenyan, Toyota, Police, CNN, Chicago Marathon, World Athletics, Athletics, Management Locations: Nairobi, Eldoret, Marakwet, Rwanda, Chicago

☆ A fugitive accused of killing his girlfriend in Boston has escaped from a jail in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Larry Madowo | Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A man accused of killing his girlfriend in Boston before fleeing to Kenya has escaped from a Nairobi jail, where he was awaiting extradition after his capture last week. He’s accused of killing his girlfriend, Maggie Mbitu, whose body was found in his SUV in a parking garage at Boston Logan International Airport on November 1, two days after she was reported missing. Within hours, authorities identified him as the Boston-area fugitive who US investigators said boarded a plane to Kenya shortly after killing his girlfriend. The day before her body was found, Kangethe boarded flights from Boston to Kenya. Surveillance footage showed him leaving the parking garage and entering an airport terminal, police said.

Persons: Kevin Kangethe, He’s, Maggie Mbitu, Kangethe, Ann Mbitu, Boston Kangethe, Mbitu, ” Organizations: CNN, Boston Logan International Airport, Massachusetts State Police, Police, Kenyan, Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Locations: Boston, Kenya, Nairobi, United States, African, Massachusetts

☆ Kenya court blocks deployment of police officers to Haiti
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Larry Madowo | Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —A judge in Kenya has barred the East African nation from deploying 1,000 police officers to Haiti to lead a UN-backed multinational force to restore security in the Caribbean nation. High Court judge Chacha Mwita ruled on Friday that President William Ruto and his National Security Council do not have the authority to send police officers to Haiti or any other country under Kenyan law. But Kenyan politician Ekuru Aukot led a legal challenge to the planned in deployment in court, terming it unconstitutional. “There’s no reciprocal arrangement between Kenya and Haiti and there can be no legitimate deployment of police officers to Haiti,” Judge Mwita said when he read his ruling in Nairobi. Gang violence rose by more than 100% in Haiti last year with over 8000 victims documented, according to UN data.

Persons: Kenya CNN —, Chacha Mwita, William Ruto, United States “, Ekuru Aukot, “, ” Judge Mwita, Martin Kimani, Kimani, Jean Victor Geneus, ” Organizations: Kenya CNN, National Security Council, Kenyan, United, State Department, UN Security, UN, African, Security Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Haiti, UN, Caribbean, United States, – Antigua, Barbuda, Bahamas, Jamaica

☆ How Asake developed a boundary-pushing sound that’s changing Afrobeats as we know it
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Lauren Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Nigerian singer and songwriter Asake is creating a new Afrobeats sound that is deeply African and completely global. But to me, I think I do a lot of things because, you know, I love to come with the vibe. It’s just like a bit of Amapiano, a bit of Afrobeat, a bit of Fuji, a bit of R&B, a bit of hip hop, just to make Asake. I think I’m going to be somebody who puts on a show’? I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but the most important thing for me is to keep going.

Persons: Asake, Mr, “ Mr, Larry Madowo, I’m, Fela, Kuti, ‘, Paras Griffin, I’m Ahmed Ololade, Olamide, what’s Organizations: CNN, YBNL, Vibe, Barclays Center, Fuji Locations: Nigerian, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, New York, Miami, Dubai, London, Africa, Atlanta , Georgia

CNN —Mary Achieng’s family is in the malaria ward at Nightingale Hospital in western Kenya almost every month. Mary Achieng and her child on the malaria wars at the Nightingale Hospital in western Kenya. Now with the introduction of the world’s first malaria vaccine, hailed as a breakthrough, there is talk of one day reaching eradication. So it’s a bitter irony that as Kenya celebrates hard-earned gains, new malaria species and cases are popping up in areas historically deemed low-risk. We are seeing [malaria] going to places where we didn’t expect,” she said.

Persons: Mary Achieng’s, she’s, ”, haven’t, Achieng, Mary Achieng, Fred Ooko, Steve Ngugi, Jackson Njehia, Gitahi Githinji, Richard Munang, Ruth Kavere, Faith, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Damaris, “, Muhia Organizations: CNN, Nightingale, Malaria, Kenya Medical Research Institute, International, of, Physiology, Reuters, Health Locations: Kenya, Kisumu, Africa, Nairobi, Health Africa, “, Saharan Africa, Mukuli, AFP, Ghana, Malawi

CNN —The military leaders who staged a coup in Gabon have freed ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba and he is now allowed to travel abroad, a junta spokesperson said Wednesday. Bongo has reportedly been held in house arrest since the coup in the Central African nation in late August. “Given his state of health, the former President of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about. It’s not immediately clear if Bongo will leave Gabon following his release by the junta. If the ousted president leaves, he is likely to go to France where the Bongo family has a portfolio of luxury real estate.

Persons: Ali Bongo Ondimba, Bongo, “, Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba, Ulrich Manfoumbi, Gen, Brice Oligui Nguema, Abdou Abarry, …, ”, swirled, Omar Bongo, ” Bongo’s, Nguema, ” Nguema, It’s Organizations: CNN, United Nations Regional Office, Central, Gabonese Locations: Gabon, Central African, Republic, Central Africa, Libreville, Morocco, Bongo, France, United States

CNN —Niger’s junta ordered the French ambassador in Niamey on Friday to leave the country within 48 hours, according to the Nigerien Foreign Ministry. In a statement published by state-run broadcaster ORTN, the Nigerien Foreign Ministry said the ambassador Sylvain Itte had refused to attend a meeting scheduled for Friday with the country’s foreign minister. The ministry said Nigerien authorities had withdrawn Itte’s credentials in light of the refusal, also citing “other actions by the French government that are against Niger’s interest.”“France has taken note of the putschists’ request,” the French Foreign Ministry told AFP late Friday. “The putschists do not have the authority to make this demand, the ambassador’s approval comes only from the legitimate, elected Nigerien authorities” the ministry said. CNN has reached out to the French Foreign Ministry for comment.

Persons: CNN —, Sylvain Itte, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Nigerien Foreign Ministry, ORTN, Nigerien, French Foreign Ministry, AFP, US State Department, Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Niamey, France

ECOWAS responded days later by enacting sanctions and issuing an ultimatum to the ruling military junta: stand down within a week or face a potential military intervention. ECOWAS leaders have said their preference is to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis and would send in troops as a last resort. The regional bloc will “uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the extraordinary summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023,” at which strong sanctions were decided against the military junta in Niger. Niger’s armed forces appeared to be preparing for possible military intervention this week, a military source told CNN. Confusion and concernSeveral analysts told CNN that a military intervention in Niger would probably not be imminent, as it takes time to assemble the ECOWAS troops.

Persons: Omar Alieu Touray, Mohamed Bazoum, Touray, it’s, Murtala Abdullahi, Bola Tinubu, Abdourahamane Alkassoum, ”, Cameron Hudson Organizations: CNN, West, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, ”, Nigerien, Center, Strategic, International Studies Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Republic of Niger, ”, Niger, ” Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, ” Abuja, Gambia, “ Niger

CNN —General Salifou Mody, one of the Niger officers who seized power in a military coup last week, visited Mali on Wednesday, according to the Mali presidency, amid speculation of a possible interest in the Wagner mercenary group, which has a presence in the country. Mali’s transitional president, Assimi Goïta, hosted Mody and a large Nigerien military delegation on Wednesday, according to pictures and a statement posted on Facebook by the Mali presidency. Hundreds of Wagner contractors are stationed in Mali at the invitation of the country’s military junta, to quell an Islamist insurgency brewing in an area where the borders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger meet. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin last week celebrated the coup in the landlocked West African country, saying his private military company could also help with situations like the one unfolding in Niger. US officials have warned that the Russian mercenary group could now seek new opportunities in Niger.

Persons: Salifou Mody, Wagner, Assimi, Mody, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Bazoum, Matt Miller, Miller, ”, Burkina Faso’s, Niger’s, Mohamed Bazoum Organizations: CNN, Nigerien, Facebook, National Council for, ”, Wednesday ., Central African, Economic, West African States Locations: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, West, Western, France, Russian, “, Africa, histed, Wednesday . Mali, Sudan, Central African Republic, Sahel, Burkina, Guinea

☆ Niger coup: Europeans evacuated from West African country as neighboring juntas warn against intervention
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Joseph Ataman Larry Madowo Caitlin Hu Shirin Faqiri Sana Noor Haq | Joseph Ataman | Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —France was preparing to evacuate French and European citizens from Niger on Tuesday after a presidential coup plunged the West African nation into a political crisis that polarized neighboring countries in the region. A message from the French embassy to French citizens in Niger, seen by CNN, instructed those wishing to be evacuated to bring food and water with them while they wait before boarding. Stringer/ReutersFrance and the European Union also cut off financial aid to Niger following the coup. Niger has “endemic problems, poverty, and terrorism, so there are many factors contributing to instability in the country,” Hudson added. In the wake of the deposition, some Nigeriens expressed their anger against the legacy of French colonialism and its continued influence in the West African country.

Persons: Catherine Colonna, Antonio Tajani, Mohamed Bazoum, Major Amadou Abdramane, Stringer, insurgencies, Bazoum, Cameron Hudson, ” Hudson, Issifou Djibo Organizations: CNN —, French, LCI, Embassy, CNN, Italian Foreign Ministry, West African States, Getty Images Security, Reuters, European Union, Nigerien, Niger, Center, Strategic, International Studies, World Bank, French Armed Forces, National Assembly Locations: CNN — France, Niger, West, France, Niamey, ”, Nigerien, Italy, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sahel, AFP, Reuters France, Guinea, Niger ., Niger’s, Africa’s Sahel, Nigeria, Western, Russia, Elysee, Moscow

CNN —The leader of Niger has reportedly been seized by members of the presidential guard, triggering warnings from regional powers a coup is underway. They said heavily armed members of the Presidential Guard began assembling outside the Presidential Palace early on Wednesday morning. The journalist observed roughly twenty members of the Presidential Guard outside the palace complex later in the day. A statement on the presidency’s social media channels said President Mohamed Bazoum is “doing well.” CNN cannot verify the statement. Boureima Hama/AFP/Getty ImagesNigerian president Bola Tinubu – the current chair of ECOWAS – has also issued a statement condemning “unpleasant developments” in Niger.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Boureima, Bola Tinubu, –, Tinbu, Bazoum Organizations: CNN, West African States, “, Presidential Guard, Republic, Army, National Guard, “ ECOWAS, United States Africa Command, Reuters, Agence France, Presse, country’s Ministry of Defence, Ministry, Interior, la Republique, Agency, Getty Images, ECOWAS Locations: Niger, Niamey, ”, West, Republic, United, AFP, “, Rue, Boureima Hama, Republic of Niger, West Africa, France

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