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☆ US preparing to officially designate military takeover in Niger as a coup d'etat after months of delay, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Oren Liebermann Alex Marquardt | Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The US embassy can continue to operate and the US military will be able to legally keep forces in Niger if a coup designation is made, US officials said. But the Pentagon is still assessing how the change will impact the approximately 1,000 US forces stationed in the country, officials said. The administration could continue with life-saving and other kinds of assistance that are important for US security interests while simultaneously suspending other assistance to the government, including economic and security assistance. Nigerien military leaders overthrew the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July. Senior Pentagon officials believe that keeping a presence in Niger is vital to efforts to tackle terrorism in the region and believe that it’s feasible even amid the domestic political turmoil there.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Defense Lloyd Austin, haven’t, “, Sabrina Singh Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Pentagon, State Department, Nigerien, France, Congress, Defense, DOD, Congressional Research Service, Senior Pentagon Locations: Niger, ”, Africa’s Sahel, Niamey, Saharan Africa, Djibouti, United States

☆ France to begin troop withdrawal from Niger this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - France will begin withdrawing its troops from coup-hit Niger this week after President Emmanuel Macron said last month he refused to be "held hostage" by the putchists and was ending military cooperation with the West African country. The decision to pull 1,500 troops from Niger leaves a gaping hole in Western efforts to counter a decade-long Islamist insurgency. In a statement on Thursday, the French Armed Forces Ministry said the troops would return to France and that the military exit should be complete by the end of the year. Niger was the West's last key ally in the central Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert until a July 26 coup brought in a military junta which called for France to leave. Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Nicolas Delame; Editing by Richard Lough and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mahamadou, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Nicolas Delame, Richard Lough, Gareth Jones Organizations: French Army, REUTERS, Rights, West, French Armed Forces Ministry, Thomson Locations: France, Nigerien, Niamey, Niger, Russia

☆ Mali in meltdown as militants advance and U.N. withdraws
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Edward Mcallister | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] A man walks toward Sankore mosque, also known as the former University of Sankore, in Timbuktu, Mali September 25, 2023. "This conflict is escalating fast," said Ulf Laessing, the Bamako-based head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer foundation. Back in 2012, French forces and the U.N. intervened to halt the advance in Mali. In Mali, fighting began in August between the army and an ethnic Tuareg group called the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) around a base vacated by the U.N. "The problem is Mali has too few troops and too little mobility," said Michael Shurkin, director of global programs at 14 North Strategies consultancy.

Persons: Stringer, Sory Touré, jihadists, Ulf Laessing, Konrad Adenauer, Russia's Wagner, Jama'at Nusrat al, Michael Shurkin, Iyad Ag, Shurkin, Mohamed Massaya, Salaha, Aicha Sababou, Edward McAllister, Alexandra Zavis, Edmund Blair Organizations: University of Sankore, REUTERS, U.N, United Nations, Islamic, Reuters Graphics, CMA, Ghali, Transitional Council, Reuters, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Sankore, Timbuktu, Mali, DAKAR, jihadists, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West, Burkina Faso, Niger, Bamako, France, U.S, Sahara, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Al Qaeda, Gao, Dakar

☆ In Burkina Faso, a Million Children Out of School Due to Insecurity– UNICEF
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

DAKAR (Reuters) - More than one million children and 31,000 teachers have been unable to return to their classrooms in Burkina Faso due to violence and insecurity as the West African nation starts another academic year on Monday, UNICEF said. About 6,100 schools, or at least one out of four, was shut on the first day of the school year, UNICEF said. "Having so many children still unable to return to school due to violence and insecurity, and so many schools closed, is very upsetting," John Agbor, UNICEF Representative in Burkina Faso, said in the statement. Burkina Faso has been struggling to contain Islamist insurgents linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State who have killed thousands and displaced over two million people in the country, more than half of them children. More than 3.8 million children in total are still due to return to school in Burkina Faso, including in areas affected by conflict, UNICEF said, adding it was working with authorities and other partners to help facilitate access to education, including programmes such as lessons by radio.

Persons: John Agbor, Bate Felix, Bernadette Baum Organizations: UNICEF, Islamic, Reuters Locations: DAKAR, Burkina Faso, West African, U.S, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Mali, Niger

☆ A young engineer 3D prints drones for rebel forces fighting Myanmar's military dictatorship. 'My parents would kill me' if they knew, he says.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

One engineer began printing semiautomatic rifles and drones to fight the military regime, per Wired. AdvertisementAdvertisementA young engineer has been producing semiautomatic rifles and drones for a rebel group fighting against Myanmar's military regime behind his parents' backs, Wired magazine reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs of January 2023, about 3,000 people were killed, nearly 17,000 detained, and more than 1.5 million people displaced under the military regime, according to the US State Department. "That's when I thought, I have to find a way to make weapons from scratch," 3D told Wired. Armed with a 3D printer, the engineer began making FGC-9s, a 3D-printed semiautomatic rifle, using blueprints accessible online.

Persons: —, Thierry Falise, Ukraine's Organizations: US State Department, Service, Wired, Karenni Nationalities Defence Force, Union Solidarity and Development Party, KNDF, Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, Liberator, United Nations Locations: Ukraine

☆ Burkina Faso: Four officers arrested after thwarted coup attempt, prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Martin Goillandeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Four army officers were arrested in Burkina Faso, a military prosecutor said, a day after the country’s ruling military junta announced it had thwarted a coup attempt. Two other officers were “on the run,” according to a statement from the public prosecutor’s office at the military court in Ouagadougou, the capital city. Burkina Faso’s military junta said in an earlier statement that intelligence and security services had foiled a “proven coup attempt” on Wednesday. “A number of officers and other alleged actors involved in this destabilization attempt have been arrested, while others are being actively sought,” the statement said. Earlier this month, Burkina Faso’s military leaders signed a mutual defense pact with the juntas in Mali and Niger.

Persons: Captain Ibrahim Traore, “, ”, Traore Organizations: CNN, Junta Locations: Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina, West African, Mali, Niger, Sahel

☆ Azerbaijan arrests former top Karabakh minister as exodus tops 50,000
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Karabakh is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic Armenians who broke away in the 1990s in the first of two wars there since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Karabakh authorities said more than 50,000 had left so far, out of an estimated ethnic Armenian population of 120,000. Azerbaijan rejects Armenian accusations of ethnic cleansing, but images of tens of thousands of desperate people on the move have provoked widespread international alarm. Germany added its voice to U.S. calls for Azerbaijan to allow international observers into Karabakh. Karabakh authorities said they lost at least 200 people in Azerbaijan's offensive last week.

Persons: Ruben Vardanyan, Veronika Zonabend, Morris Tidball, Binz, Annalena Baerbock, Matthew Miller, Washington, Irakli, Ilham Aliyev, Zonabend, Miller, Vera Petrosyan, Daphne Psaledakis, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones, Philippa Fletcher, Alison Williams Organizations: Twitter, U.S . State Department, REUTERS, Reuters, Local, Russian, Russia, State, Washington, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan Karabakh, Germany, GORIS, Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Baku, Soviet Union, Kornidzor, Russia, Ukraine, Caucasus, Turkey, Iran, United States, Washington

☆ French Ambassador to Niger Has Left the Country - Security Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

NIAMEY (Reuters) - France's ambassador in Niger was flown out of the country early on Wednesday morning, two security sources said, around one month after the military government ordered his expulsion. The junta that seized power in a July coup ordered French ambassador Sylvain Itte to leave the country within 48 hours at the end of August in response to what they called actions by France "contrary to the interests of Niger". But the order was at first ignored by France, who has refused to recognise the coup leaders, triggering daily protests in front of the French embassy. French President Emmanuel Macron said this month that Itte and his staff were effectively being held hostage at the embassy. Over the weekend, Macron said the ambassador was being pulled out and would return to France.

Persons: Sylvain Itte, Emmanuel Macron, Itte, Macron, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Sofia Christensen, Toby Chopra Locations: NIAMEY, Niger, French, France

☆ Niger coup: French ambassador returns to Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Chris Liakos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Paris CNN —The French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, has returned to Paris, the French Foreign Ministry told CNN on Wednesday. “Our ambassador to Niger returned to Paris today, as decided by the President of the Republic on Sunday,” the ministry said. After their July coup, the Niger military junta ordered Itte to leave the country, and later revoked his visa. The ambassador remained in place following instructions from the French government, with French authorities saying that they do not recognize the junta’s authority. Around 1,500 French troops are stationed in Niger, many of whom are there to assist with counterterrorism missions.

Persons: Sylvain Itte, “, Catherine Colonna, Emmanuel Macron, Itte, Macron Organizations: Paris CNN, French Foreign Ministry, CNN, Republic, French Locations: Niger, Paris, France, Niamey, West

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

☆ 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

☆ Gabon coup: US suspends aid program
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —The United States is holding back assistance that might aid the government of Gabon following last month’s coup, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement released by the US State Department on Tuesday. The move is in line with steps taken by Economic Community of Central African States, the African Union, and other international partners. Army officers in Gabon seized power on Aug. 30, annulling an election minutes after an announcement that President Ali Bongo had won, which they said was not credible. 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 earlier this month. The African Union suspended Gabon’s membership following the coup.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, annulling, Ali Bongo, Bongo, Raymond Ndong Sima Organizations: Reuters, US State Department, Economic Community, Central, African Union, Army, AFP Locations: United States, Gabon, Central African States, Central

☆ Burkina Faso junta suspends French magazine over ‘untruthful’ articles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —Burkina Faso’s military junta on Monday suspended the French news magazine Jeune Afrique for publishing “untruthful” articles that reported tension and discontent within the country’s armed forces, it said in a statement. Jeune Afrique’s suspension marks the latest escalation in a crackdown on French media since the West African country fell under military rule last year. A soured relationshipRelations between Burkina Faso and its former colonizer France have soured since frustrations over worsening insecurity linked to a jihadist insurgency spurred two military takeovers last year. In April, two French journalists working for newspapers Le Monde and Liberation were expelled from the country. Liberation said the suspension was unjustified as the two journalists were of “perfect integrity” and had all their paperwork in order.

Persons: Jeune, Liberation Organizations: Reuters, Burkina, Jeune Afrique, Afrique, Radio France, TF1, Le Monde, Liberation Locations: Burkina Faso, France, French, Sahel

"The public in West African countries has become increasingly wary of hosting a Western military presence," said Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at London-based risk firm Verisk Maplecroft. "The French exit from Niger will push Western troops further away from the central Sahel." The U.S. has refused to call the Niger takeover a coup, meaning it can avoid severing ties for now. Unlike France, American forces do not actively engage with Niger forces against Islamist militants and could be open to working within a transition to civilian rule. Tens of thousands of people gathered outside the French military base in the capital calling for the troops' departure.

Persons: Mahamadou, Mucahid Durmaz, Verisk, Emmanuel Macron, Russia's, Washington's, Defence Lloyd Austin, Washington, Nathaniel Powell, Joe Biden, Macron, Aissami Tchiroma, It's, Oxford Analytica, Paris, Jalel Harchaoui, John Irish, Edward McAllister, Abdel, Kader Mazou, Andrew Gray, George Obulutsa, Andrew Heavens Organizations: French Army, REUTERS, London, Russia's Wagner, Defence, Oxford, Protesters, France, Military, Royal United Services Institute, Thomson Locations: France, Nigerien, Niamey, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger PARIS, DAKAR, West Africa, West, Russia, United States, Libya, The U.S, Nairobi, American, West African, Afghanistan, AFRICA, French, Africa, It's, CHAD, GUINEA France, Chad, Paris, Sahel, Europe, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Gabon, London, Brussels

☆ Mali Junta Expects Delay to February Elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

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Organizations: U.S . News, U.S News

PARIS (AP) — President Emmanuel Macron announced Sunday that France will end its military presence in Niger and pull its ambassador out of the country after its democratically elected president was deposed in a coup. He noted that France’s military presence in Niger was in response to a request from Niger’s government at the time. The military cooperation between France and Niger had been suspended since the coup. The junta leaders claimed that Bazoum's government wasn’t doing enough to protect the country from the insurgency. After the deadline expired without France recalling him, the coup leaders then revoked his diplomatic immunity.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Sylvain Itte, U.N, Antonio Guterres Organizations: PARIS, “, African Locations: France, Niger, Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, French, “ France, New York

☆ Thailand's Opposition Move Forward Party Names New Leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition Move Forward named a new leader on Saturday after Pita Limjaroenrat, who led the party to a stunning election victory in May, was thwarted in his efforts to become premier. The progressive party will lead the opposition after conservative lawmakers and an unelected senate blocked its attempts to form a government. Pita stepped down as party leader earlier this month amid a host of legal and legislative challenges that many see as part of a pattern by the pro-military and royalist establishment to diminish a new generation of leaders. Pita would continue on as advisor to the party and manage activities outside parliament, Chaitawat said. "This could easily wipe out members of the opposition, who give commentary calling for reforms," he added.

Persons: Pita Limjaroenrat, Chaithawat, Pita, Chaitawat, Pannika, penalises, Phasuk, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panu, Kanupriya Kapoor, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Human Rights Watch, Reuters Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand

☆ Thailand's opposition Move Forward Party names new leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition Move Forward named a new leader on Saturday after Pita Limjaroenrat, who led the party to a stunning election victory in May, was thwarted in his efforts to become premier. The progressive party will lead the opposition after conservative lawmakers and an unelected senate blocked its attempts to form a government. Pita stepped down as party leader earlier this month amid a host of legal and legislative challenges that many see as part of a pattern by the pro-military and royalist establishment to diminish a new generation of leaders. Pita would continue on as advisor to the party and manage activities outside parliament, Chaitawat said. "This could easily wipe out members of the opposition, who give commentary calling for reforms," he added.

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — The military government that seized power in Niger has accused United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of “obstructing” the West African nation's full participation at the U.N.'s annual meeting of world leaders in order to appease France, Niger's former colonizer, and its allies. The junta had wanted Niger’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Bakary Yaou Sangare, who was made foreign minister after the coup, to speak on its behalf at the General Assembly. The deposed president appealed to a regional court this week to order his release and reinstatement as president. Bazoum took office in 2021 in the country's first transfer of power between elected leaders since the country's independence from France in 1960. ECOWAS has said it considers a military intervention an option for restoring Bazoum as president.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Col, Maj, Amadou Abdramane, Mohamed Bazoum, Bakary Yaou Sangare, Bakary, ” Stéphane, Guterres, Hassoumi Massoudou, ”, France, ” Abdramane, Bazoum Organizations: United Nations, African, General Assembly, General, Nigerien, European Union, West African, ECOWAS Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Niger, France, New York, Bazoum

☆ Guinea junta leader denounces Western democracy amid wave of coups
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Guinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya addresses the 78th Session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid Acquire Licensing RightsDAKAR, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Guinea's military leader Mamady Doumbouya told the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday that the Western model of democracy does not work for Africa, as evidenced by a recent wave of coups. Doumbouya took power in a coup in 2021, which was one of eight in West and Central Africa in the last three years. The coups have been strongly condemned by the United Nations and Western powers such as the U.S. and France, which have urged democracy to be restored as soon as possible. Doumbouya took power by overthrowing Alpha Conde, Guinea's then 84-year-old president who had changed the constitution to run for a third term, sparking widespread protests.

Persons: Mamadi Doumbouya, Brendan McDermid, Mamady Doumbouya, Doumbouya, Alpha Conde, Guinea's, Bate Felix, Nellie Peyton, Alex Richardson Organizations: General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, General, United Nations, ECOWAS, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Africa, West, Central Africa, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Gabon, France, New York, Russia

☆ Azerbaijan says Armenians of Karabakh arrive for meeting after ceasefire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Armenian delegation from Karabakh arrived in the town of Yevlakh for talks, Azerbaijan's presidency said. Under the ceasefire agreement, as outlined by Azerbaijan, breakaway Armenian forces must disband and disarm, and the region will be integrated as part of Azerbaijan. Aliyev said that "war criminals" had tried to poison the brains of 120,000 Karabakh Armenians, who, he said, would now live in paradise and have their religious and cultural rights respected. But thousands of Armenians massed at the airport in Stepanakert, the capital of Karabakh known as Khankendi by Azeris. Known as Artsakh by Armenians, the territory is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, which is mainly Muslim, but its inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Armenians, who are Christians.

Persons: Melkumyan, Stringer, Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijan's, Ramin Mammadov, Ilham Aliyev, Aliyev, Nailia Bagirova, Felix Light, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: National Assembly of, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Yevlakh, Azerbaijan, Rights YEREVAN, Armenian Karabakh, Stepanakert, Russians, Ottomans, Artsakh

Karabakh Armenian authorities accused Azerbaijan of violating a ceasefire agreed on Wednesday after a lightning Azerbaijani offensive forced the separatists to agree to disarm. When asked about giving up weapons, Babayan said his people could not be left to die, so would security guarantees first. Talks took place on Thursday in the Azerbaijani city of Yevlakh between Azerbaijan and representatives of the Republic of Artsakh, as the Karabakh Armenians call themselves. He said the region's ethnic Armenians would enjoy full educational, cultural and religious rights. An aide to Aliyev said Baku had given Yerevan a new draft peace agreement, Russia's RIA news agency reported.

Persons: Pashinyan, GORIS, David Babayan, Samvel Shahramanyan, Babayan, Ilham Aliyev, Melkumyan, Stringer, Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Khankendi, Gayane Sargsyan, Felix Light, Guy Faulconbridge, Nailia Bagirova, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Azerbaijan reclaims, Protesters, Reuters, National Assembly of, REUTERS, Karabakh, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Azerbaijan, Karabakh, Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh's, Azerbaijani, Yevlakh, Republic of Artsakh, Artsakh, Soviet Union, AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, Caucasus, Baku, Yerevan, Russia, Moscow, Stepanakert, Goris

☆ Nigeria's Tinubu tells UN he seeks to restore democratic order in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu looks on after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria May 29, 2023. Tinubu is chairman of the main West African bloc ECOWAS, which has been trying to negotiate with the Niger military junta. ECOWAS has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems," Tinubu said. The junta in Niger last month ordered its armed forces to go on highest alert, citing an increased threat of attack.

Persons: Bola Tinubu, Temilade, Tinubu, Felix Onuah, MacDonald Dzirutwe, Howard Goller, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, West, ECOWAS, Niger, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Niger, New York, West Africa, Africa

☆ Sudan: Ukraine's special services 'likely' behind strikes on Wagner-backed forces, a Ukrainian military source says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Victoria Butenko Nima Elbagir Gianluca Mezzofiore Tamara Qiblawi Allegra Goodwin Andrew Carey Pallabi Munsi Mahamat Tahir Zene Barbara Arvanitidis Alex Platt Lauren Kent | Victoria Butenko | Nima Elbagir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Covert strikes by Ukraine in Sudan would mark a dramatic and provocative expansion of Kyiv’s theater of war against Moscow. Aside from a string of Ukrainian drone attacks that hit deep inside Russian territory, Ukraine’s ongoing counter-offensive has been focused on the country’s occupied east and south. A high-level Sudanese military source said he had “no knowledge of a Ukrainian operation in Sudan” and did not believe it was true. What appears to be a DJI MAVIC 3 drone can be seen in the videos filming the drone strikes. Six drone strikes targeted pickup trucks driving on Shambat bridge.

Persons: Wagner, Sudan ”, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo –, Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, Wim Zwijnenburg, ” Zwijnenburg, Zwijnenburg, Hemedti, Gen, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Wagner’s, General Khalifa, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, Prigozhin’s, Prigozhin, Yunus, Bek Yevkurov, Andrey Averyanov, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba Organizations: Chad CNN, CNN, Sudanese, Kyiv, Rapid Support Forces, Ukrainian, Central African, PAX, AK, CAR, PMC Wagner, Reuters Analysts, Kremlin, Agence France, Presse Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, N'Djamena, Chad, Ukrainian, Sudan’s, Russian, Sudan, Moscow, Omdurman, Khartoum, balaclava, British, al, Zurug, Russia, Africa, Mali, Central African Republic, Libya, Ombada, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Latakia, Bangui, “, Syria, Burkina Faso, St . Petersburg, Eritrea

☆ Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso sign Sahel security pact
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBAMAKO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, three West African Sahel nations ruled by military juntas, signed a security pact on Saturday promising to come to the aid of each other in case of any rebellion or external aggression. Mali and Burkina Faso have vowed to come to Niger's aid if it is attacked. "Any attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of one or more contracted parties will be considered an aggression against the other parties," according to the charter of the pact, known as the Alliance of Sahel States. "I have today signed with the Heads of State of Burkina Faso and Niger the Liptako-Gourma charter establishing the Alliance of Sahel States, with the aim of establishing a collective defence and mutual assistance framework," Mali junta leader Assimi Goita said on his X social media account. France has been forced to withdraw its troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, and is in a tense standoff with the junta that seized power in Niger after it asked it to withdraw its troops and its ambassador.

Persons: Assimi Goita, Mahamadou Issoufou, Francis Kokoroko, Mohamed Bazoum, Tiemoko Diallo, Bate Felix, Jason Neely Organizations: Economic, West African States, REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, West, Alliance, Thomson Locations: Accra, Ghana, Rights BAMAKO, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West African States, Sahel, State, France, Chad, Mauritania

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