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The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are seen in Washington, July 6, 2009. One said some firms could pay as much as $50 million. The SEC has previously negotiated two other large group settlements as part of its "off-channel" communications probe. In August, regulators fined nine Wall Street firms, including Wells Fargo (WFC.N) and Societe Generale (SOGN.PA), a combined $549 million over employees' use of personal messaging apps. In September 2022, it fined 16 firms, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and Bank of America, $1.8 billion for similar lapses.

Persons: Jim Bourg, Spokespeople, Oppenheimer, Voya, Wells, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Chris Prentice, Carolina, Michelle Price, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, REUTERS, Reuters, Truist Financial Corp, US Bancorp, Voya Financial, LPL, Interactive, Oppenheimer, Fifth Third Bancorp, Fifth, Truist, Wall Street, Societe Generale, Citigroup, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Washington

Birkenstock believes it can obtain the final sign-off from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission even during a shutdown when the financial regulator would operate with only essential staff, the sources said. SEC Chair Gary Gensler said on Wednesday that a shutdown would reduce his agency's staffing to "skeletal" levels, blocking it from approving companies' IPO filings and hindering the agency's ability to respond to any market turmoil. An SEC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Birkenstock's IPO plans. Companies less advanced in their IPO preparations, including healthcare software vendor Waystar, healthcare services firm Brightspring and car-sharing platform Turo, could be affected by a government shutdown. They did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Birkenstock, Kevin McCarthy, Gary Gensler, Abigail Summerville, Anirban Sen, Chris Prentice, Echo Wang, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: U.S, U.S . Securities, Exchange, Republican U.S, SEC, Companies, Thomson Locations: Washington, New York

☆ Burkina Faso junta says it thwarted coup attempt
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A man holds his national flag as people gather to show their support to the Junta leader Ibrahim Traore and demand the departure of the French ambassador at the Place de la Nation in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Vincent Bado/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDAKAR, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's military junta said on Wednesday that a coup attempt had been thwarted the previous day by security and intelligence services, without providing specifics on what had happened. In a statement, it said it had on Wednesday opened an investigation based on "credible allegations about a plot against state security implicating officers." The junta on Monday suspended French news magazine Jeune Afrique for publishing "untruthful" articles that reported tension and discontent within Burkina Faso's armed forces. Over 50 Burkinabe soldiers and volunteer fighters were killed in clashes with militants in early September - the heaviest losses in months.

Persons: Ibrahim Traore, Vincent Bado, Alessandra Prentice, Chris Reese, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Burkina Faso's, Jeune Afrique, Islamic, Reuters, Thomson Locations: French, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Burkina, Republic, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West Africa's

The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. DWS Investment Management Americas made "concerning" misstatements regarding its ESG investment process, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said in a statement. Separately, the SEC found DWS failed to develop a mutual fund anti-money laundering program as required by law. Reuters in July reported that the SEC was preparing to slap DWS with a fine after a two-year probe into allegations of "greenwashing". Under Democratic leadership, the SEC has pledged to crack down on the inflating of ESG credentials to attract investors.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, DWS, Goldman Sachs, BNY, Chris Prentice, Chizu Nomiyama, Emelia Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Deutsche Bank, DWS Investment Management, SEC, Regulators, Democratic, BNY Mellon, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Germany

In those cases, the SEC asked companies to review staff messages and report to the agency how many discussed work. SEC staff reviewed only a sample of messages themselves, according to three sources with knowledge of the previous investigations. As with broker-dealers, the SEC initially sought details on investment advisers' record-keeping policies. The SEC later demanded that the investment advisers hand over the messages, the sources said. The agency is ignoring important differences in investment advisers' recordkeeping requirements, said Jennifer Han, the MFA's executive vice president and chief counsel.

Persons: Carlo Allegri, Wall, Carlyle, Gary Gensler, Jaclyn Grodin, Storrs, JPMorgan Chase, Wells, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Jennifer Han, Chris Prentice, Michelle Price, Marguerita Choy Organizations: New York Stock, REUTERS, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Reuters, Carlyle Group, Apollo Global Management, KKR, Co, TPG, Blackstone, Citadel, Apollo, Goulston, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Association, Bloomberg, Carolina, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S

☆ Multi-day protests over economic crisis grip Ghana's capital
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Francis Kokoroko | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/9] Ghanaians gather for the third day of anti-government protests amid police arrests and obstruction in Accra, Ghana, September 23, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko Acquire Licensing RightsACCRA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Saturday for a third day of anti-government protests linked to economic hardship that have led to dozens of arrests. The gold-, oil- and cocoa-producing nation has been battling its worst economic crisis in a generation brought on by spiralling public debt. Last year, protests over soaring prices and other economic challenges led to clashes with police. Economic growth is forecast to slow to 1.5% this year from 3.1% in 2022.

Persons: Francis Kokoroko, Romeo, Christian Akorlie, Maxwell, Alessandra Prentice, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Ghanaian, Police, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Accra, Ghana, Rights ACCRA

☆ Fire in shop kills 35 people in southeastern Benin
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COTONOU, Sept 23 (Reuters) - At least 35 people were killed in southeastern Benin on Saturday after a fire broke out at a shop where witnesses said gasoline was being unloaded, a justice ministry representative said. The fire broke out at 0930 local time in Seme-Podji municipality, near the border with Nigeria. "According to the witnesses interviewed, the fire was probably started during the unloading of bags of gasoline." Reuters was not immediately able to verify the video. Reporting by Pulcherie Adjoha Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Abdoubaki Adam, Bongle, Pulcherie, Alessandra Prentice, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: COTONOU, Benin, Seme, Podji, Nigeria

☆ Congo Army Seeks Insight Into Islamist Militants From Women Held Captive
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Since then they have pledged allegiance to Islamic State and maintained their insurgency, attacking civilian and military targets in both Congo and Uganda. Congo army spokesperson Antony Mwalushay told Reuters that after sometimes lengthy spells in the camps, the women can have valuable insight on the group's operations that helps counter-insurgency efforts. So far this year the army has questioned around 425 women, who had been freed or escaped from rebels since January, including Mariam, Mwalushay said. Speaking to Reuters in the yard of the centre, Mariam described how she was coerced into moving to the rebel camp. Another 22-year old woman who ended up in an ADF camp when her husband signed up, said she was surprised by the strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Persons: Yassin Kombi, Muiysa, Mariam, Antony Mwalushay, Mwalushay, Sonia Rolley, Alessandra Prentice, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Congolese, Allied Democratic Forces, Islamic, Reuters, ADF Locations: Muiysa BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ugandan, Islamic State, Uganda, Congo, Beni

☆ US SEC charges investment firm linked to Russian billionaire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are seen in Washington, July 6, 2009. REUTERS/Jim Bourg/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Concord Management, Ltd FollowWASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday charged Concord Management and its owner with failing to register with regulators while operating as an investment adviser to an unidentified billionaire former Russian official. Concord Management LLC of Tarrytown, New York, and owner Michael Matlin were operating as unregistered investment advisers to a single client, a former Russian official with apparent connections to the Russian Federation, the SEC said in a statement. Matlin founded Concord in 1999 to provide investment advice and supervise investments in U.S. private funds, the SEC said. The firm monitored investments for the Russian individual until March 2022, when the United Kingdom and European Union sanctioned the unidentified client, it said.

Persons: Jim Bourg, Michael Matlin, Matlin, Abramovich, Chris Prentice, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Josie Kao, Mark Potter, David Gregorio Our Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, REUTERS, Concord Management, WASHINGTON, Russian, Russian Federation, Concord, New York Times, Reuters, European Union, Thomson Locations: Washington, Tarrytown , New York, United Kingdom, New York

☆ Lyft to pay $10 mln civil penalty over disclosure failures -SEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Prior to its public listing in March 2019, a Lyft board director arranged for the sale of $424 million worth of private shares through a special purpose vehicle affiliated with the director, the SEC said in a statement. Lyft did not disclose this information in its SEC filings for 2019, said the regulators, who did not disclose the director's name. Representatives for Lyft, which did not admit or deny the SEC allegations, did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The SEC said that Lyft was required to report details of the transaction because Lyft, which approved sale of the private sales, was a participant in the deal. The director left Lyft's board at the time of the transaction, regulators said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lyft, Chris Prentice, Doina Chiacu, Katharine Jackson, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Lyft, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, Washington

Wells Fargo Bank branch is seen in New York City, U.S., March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Wells Fargo & Co FollowSept 15 (Reuters) - The former head of Wells Fargo's (WFC.N) retail bank on Friday avoided prison time after pleading guilty to an obstruction charge related to the bank's sweeping fake-accounts scandal. Prosecutors had sought a one-year prison term for Tolstedt, but the judge said it would unfairly make Tolstedt appear solely responsible for Wells Fargo's misconduct. That cap remains in place, though Wells Fargo remains the fourth-largest U.S. bank. Wells Fargo has also clawed back tens of millions of dollars of her pay.

Persons: Wells Fargo's, Carrie Tolstedt, Josephine Staton, Wells, Tolstedt, Martin Estrada, Wells Fargo, John Stumpf, Stumpf, Chris Prentice, Jonathan Stempel, Jaiveer Singh, Shounak Dasgupta, Matthew Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Wells, U.S, San, Wells, Prosecutors, Federal Reserve, Securities and Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: Wells Fargo Bank, New York City, U.S, Los Angeles, San Francisco, America, Wells, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Goldman Sachs fires several executives in transaction banking -memo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Saeed Azhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N) fired several executives in its transaction banking unit after they violated the firm's communications policy, according to a memo seen by Reuters on Wednesday. Philip Berlinski, the bank's treasurer, will take over day-to-day management of transaction banking alongside Akila Raman and Luc Teboul. The fired executives also failed to cooperate with Goldman Sachs' compliance department. The bank remains strongly committed to the transaction banking business, it said. Goldman Sachs was among the first wave of big banks regulators hit with stiff penalties for such recordkeeping failures.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Andrew Kelly, Philip Berlinski, Akila Raman, Luc Teboul, Berlinski, Hari Moorthy, Moorthy, Saeed Azhar, Chris Prentice, Leslie Adler, Lananh Nguyen, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, FINRA's, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York, U.S

[1/2] The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. Picture taken May 12, 2021. A lawyer for Stoner Cats did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Stoner Cats is an adult animated series about house cats that become sentient after being exposed to their owner's medical marijuana, which is used to alleviate early Alzheimer's symptoms. The NFTs provided holders with exclusive access to watch "Stoner Cats" online.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, NFTs, Jane Fonda, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Seth MacFarlane, Chris Rock, Stoner, Carolyn Welshans, Jonathan Stempel, Chris Prentice, Deepa Babington Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Stoner, U.S, Securities, SEC, Investors, Stoner Cats, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, New York

☆ Niger Junta Ends Military Accord With Benin Amid Regional Standoff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

NIAMEY (Reuters) - The junta in Niger on Tuesday said it would end a military pact with neighbouring Benin, accusing it of authorising the deployment of troops on its territory for a possible military intervention against Niger by the West African regional bloc. The junta in a statement read on national television said Benin had "authorised the deployment of soldiers, mercenaries, and war materials" in the context of the possible ECOWAS intervention. As a result the new Nigerien authorities "decide to renounce the military cooperation agreement (with Benin)," it said. ECOWAS has not shared any details about possible deployments and Niger last week said talks with the bloc continued. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who holds ECOWAS' revolving chairmanship, has suggested that a nine-month transition back to civilian rule could satisfy regional powers.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Boureima Balima, Alessandra Prentice, Grant McCool Organizations: West African, ECOWAS, Nigerien Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, Benin, Nigerian

Signage is seen at the headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. YieldStreet, a New York investment firm that offers alternative assets to investors, failed to disclose a heightened risk related to the collateral behind one of its securities offerings, the SEC said in a statement. In September 2019, YieldStreet offered securities to finance a loan it made to companies to transport and deconstruct a retired ship. It did not tell investors of a heightened risk that they would not be able to seize the ship if the borrowers stole the funds and defaulted, as they ultimately did. Reporting by Chris Prentice; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, YieldStreet, Osman Nawaz, Chris Prentice, Jonathan Oatis, Paul Simao Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Yieldstreet Inc, U.S, Securities, YieldStreet, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, New York

Signage is seen at the headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday said it has charged a former national office leader at audit firm Marcum LLP over quality control failures, the regulator said in a statement. The SEC said Alfonse Gregory Giugliano, a certified public accountant, failed to sufficiently address and remediate deficiencies in the firm's quality control system. In his role as a National Assurance Services Leader, he was aware of numerous deficiencies in Marcum's quality control system, the SEC said. The SEC in June charged marcum with a $10 million penalty for standards violations related to its audit work for hundreds of special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Marcum, Alfonse Gregory Giugliano, Giugliano, Nikola, Chris Prentice, Nick Zieminski Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, National Assurance Services Leader, DraftKings Inc, Thomson Locations: Washington ,

Signage is seen outside of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 30, 2020. A centralized registry would also make it easier for the government to identify repeat offenders and deter potential fraudsters, Goldsmith Romero said. Goldsmith Romero had suggested the registry several years ago while serving as the watchdog of a key 2009 financial crisis bailout program. In Goldsmith Romero's previous role, the government watchdog did launch a database of such financial crimes related to the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Such a centralized database could serve as a model for a larger, national registry that federal regulators could organize and that state regulators could also participate in.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Christy Goldsmith Romero, Goldsmith Romero, Goldsmith Romero's, Chris Prentice, Leslie Adler Organizations: US, Futures Trading Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, fraudsters, CFTC, Reuters, Troubled Asset, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, U.S

☆ Gabon Junta Eyes 24-Month Transition to Elections - AFP Cites Interim PM
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - A 24-month transition to elections in Gabon would be "reasonable" after last month's coup, junta-appointed Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima was quoted as saying by French news agency AFP on Sunday. Army officers seized power on Aug. 30, annulling an election minutes after an announcement that President Ali Bongo had won, which they said was not credible. Bongo, in power since 2009, had succeeded his father Omar Bongo, who ruled for 42 years. The junta has promised to oversee free and fair elections, but has not given a timetable for organising them. In the first comments on a possible length of this transition, Ndong Sima told AFP: "It is good to start with a reasonable goal by saying: 'We hope to see the process completed within 24 months so that we can return to elections.'"

Persons: Raymond Ndong Sima, annulling, Ali Bongo, Bongo, Omar Bongo, Ndong Sima, Nilutpal, Alessandra Prentice, Peter Graff Organizations: Reuters, AFP, Sunday . Army Locations: Gabon, Bengaluru

☆ US authorities interview Winklevoss over claims against DCG and its CEO -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 7 (Reuters) - U.S. authorities are probing claims of fraud that Cameron Winklevoss, the co-founder of crypto firm Gemini Trust Co, has made against the Digital Currency Group (DCG) and its founder Barry Silbert, according to a source familiar with the inquiry. Winklevoss has said that DCG and Silbert misrepresented the financial health of DCG's lending arm Genesis, which filed for bankruptcy in January. Gemini was the largest creditor of the bankrupt firm and is suing DCG and Silbert. Federal prosecutors in New York and investigators from the FBI and the Securities and Exchange Commission asked Winklevoss about his claims during an interview in recent months, the source said. Authorities have not accused DCG or Silbert of any misconduct and investigations do not always lead to charges.

Persons: Cameron Winklevoss, Lucas Jackson, Barry Silbert, Winklevoss, Silbert, Gemini, DCG, Chris Prentice, Jaiveer Singh, Devika Syamnath, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: New York State Department of Financial Services, REUTERS, Gemini Trust, Digital Currency Group, FBI, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bloomberg, SEC, Gemini, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, Bengaluru

[1/5] Oze Makvala, 19, a homeless teenager who has slept rough on the streets for years, sings at the studio of Mokili Na Poche cultural centre, a Congolese arts refuge that helps street children, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo September 5, 2023. "It really makes me happy when I sing," said 19-year-old Osé Mavakala, who has slept on the streets for years like more than 20,000 other homeless children in Kinshasa, according to U.N. agency UNICEF. Other teens looked on with pride as Mavakala rapped intently into the microphone at a session in late August. Founder Cedrick Tshimbalanga hopes these skills and the routine will help the children find their feet and their voices. Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Makvala, Justin Makangara, Mavakala, Lil Wayne, Fally, Cedrick Tshimbalanga, Tshimbalanga, Alessandra Prentice, Aurora Ellis, Emelia Organizations: Democratic, REUTERS, Rights, UNICEF, Thomson Locations: Congolese, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rights KINSHASA

The seal of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Prime Group Holdings Llc FollowNEW YORK, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Prime Group Holdings LLC, a private equity firm based in Saratoga Springs, New York, has agreed to pay $20.5 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges related to disclosure failures, the regulator said on Tuesday. Prime Group failed to adequately disclose millions of dollars in real estate brokerage fees paid to a firm owned by its CEO. Prime Group did not adequately disclose to its investors that an affiliated firm was booking real estate brokerage fees related to an investment fund the group launched in 2017, the SEC said. A representative for Prime Group, which did not admit or deny the SEC's charges, declined to comment.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Chris Prentice, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, Prime Group Holdings, U.S, Securities, Exchange, Prime, SEC, Prime Group, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, Saratoga Springs , New York

☆ US securities regulator charges 5 investment advisers with custody rule violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The headquarters of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. The firms - Lloyd George Management (HK) Ltd, Bluestone Capital Management LLC, the Eideard Group, Disruptive Technology Advisers LLC, and Apex Financial Advisors Inc - did not admit or deny the SEC's findings. Disruptive Technology agreed to pay a civil penalty of $225,000, the SEC said. Lloyd George agreed to pay a penalty of $50,000. Apex, which declined to comment when called for comment, agreed to pay $130,000.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Lloyd George, Chris Prentice, Jonathan Oatis, Nick Zieminski Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, SEC, Lloyd, Lloyd George Management, Bluestone Capital Management, Eideard, Technology, Apex Financial Advisors, Bluestone Capital, Apex, Thomson Locations: Washington ,

☆ Central African Republic President Meets Gabon Junta Leader for Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Wilfried ObangomeLIBREVILLE (Reuters) - Central African Republic President Faustin Touadera held closed-door talks with Gabon's junta-appointed leader in Libreville on Tuesday in the wake of the main regional bloc's condemnation of the Aug. 30 coup. Central African bloc ECCAS has suspended Gabon's membership, but has so far stopped short of imposing sanctions in response to the non-violent military ouster of President Ali Bongo - West and Central Africa's eighth coup in three years. In a possible sign some internal political forces are rallying around the new authorities, the leader of Gabon's main opposition alliance, Albert Ondo Ossa, said he had spoken with Nguema on Tuesday. Military officers seized power shortly after Bongo was announced as its winner - a result they annulled and said was not credible. Apart from one video appeal for international support, little has been heard from Bongo since he was placed under house arrest during the coup.

Persons: Wilfried Obangome, Faustin Touadera, Ali Bongo, Brice Oligui Nguema, Bongo, Touadera, Nguema, Gabon's, Albert Ondo Ossa, Alessandra Prentice, Leslie Adler Organizations: Wilfried Obangome LIBREVILLE, Reuters, African, Gabon's, Central, Military Locations: Libreville, Gabonese, Gabon, Ondo

☆ Gabon coup leader sworn in as interim president in scene of jubilation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Gerauds Wilfried Obangome | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Gabon coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema is sworn in as interim president during his swearing-in ceremony, in Libreville, Gabon, September 4, 2023. State TV showed images of a cheering crowd and armoured personnel carriers firing into the sea to mark the moment. PLEDGE TO RETURN POWER TO CIVILIANSNguema reiterated that his administration would organise free and fair elections, though he gave no timetable. "After this transition ... we intend to return power to civilians by organising new elections that will be free, transparent, credible and peaceful," he said. The coup had drawn cheering crowds onto the streets of the capital Libreville but condemnation from abroad.

Persons: General Brice Oligui Nguema, Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Bongo, Ali Bongo, Nguema, Nellie Peyton, Karin Strohecker, Alessandra Prentice, Estelle Shirbon, Peter Graff, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Central Africa LIBREVILLE, Gabon's, Central, State, Central African, United Nations, African Union, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gabon, Libreville, West, Central, of Gabon

☆ Burkina Faso says leader discussed possible military cooperation with Russian delegation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Russia's President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Burkina Faso's interim President Ibrahim Traore during a meeting following the Russia-Africa summit in Saint Petersburg, Russia, July 29, 2023. Sputnik/Alexei Danichev/Pool via REUTERS /File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOUAGADOUGOU, Aug 31 (Reuters) - A Russian delegation held talks with Burkina Faso's interim president Ibrahim Traore on Thursday at a meeting that included discussions on possible military cooperation, the Burkinabe presidency said in a statement. It said the visit, led by Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, was a follow-up to talks between Traore and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg in July. It did not say if Russian military trainers would be sent to Burkina Faso. Reporting by Thiam Ndiaga Writing by Alessandra Prentice Editing by Leslie Adler and Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Burkina Faso's, Ibrahim Traore, Alexei Danichev, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Traore, Russian Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Thiam, Alessandra Prentice, Leslie Adler, Grant McCool Organizations: Sputnik, Rights, Russian, Russian Deputy, Wagner Group, Thomson Locations: Russia, Africa, Saint Petersburg, Rights OUAGADOUGOU, St . Petersburg, African, Moscow, Mali, Russian, Burkina Faso

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