Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | The African Union and France warned against any “unconstitutional” change of power in Gabon, whose government on Monday claimed to have foiled an attempted takeover. AU chief Moussa Faki Mahamat, in a tweet, said his organisation “strongly condemns the coup attempt” in Gabon. “I …
Read More »UN chief condemns attempted coup in Gabon
United Nations, United States | AFP | UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned an attempted coup in Gabon, his spokesman said, recalling that the UN chief opposes unconstitutional changes of power by force. Gabon’s presidency said in a statement that soldiers burst into a state radio station at …
Read More »Gabon foils coup attempt, with ailing president out of country
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon foiled an attempted coup on Monday, capturing the rebel chief and killing two of his men after a group of soldiers stormed a radio station to call for an uprising while the country’s ailing president was abroad. Renegade soldiers burst into RTG state radio …
Read More »Gabon soldiers call for uprising, shots heard in capital
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon soldiers on state radio early Monday called on the people to “rise up” and announced a “national restoration council” would be formed, as an ailing President Ali Bongo is out of the country. Shots were heard in the around state television headquarters in …
Read More »Soldiers announce coup in Gabon
Gabon soldiers announce national council, shots heard in capital Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon soldiers said on state radio early Monday that a “national restoration council” has been formed, with ailing President Ali Bongo convalescing in Morocco. Shots were heard in the around state television offices in the centre …
Read More »Zambia’s president fires army chiefs
Lusaka, Zambia | AFP | Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Monday sacked the army commander and his deputy, a rare firing of the top military brass in the country. He did not give reasons for removing Lieutenant-General Paul Mihova but cautioned his successor, William Sikazwe, not to abuse the authority …
Read More »Macron takes champagne and foie gras to French soldiers in Chad
N’Djamena, Chad | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron paid a pre-Christmas visit to French soldiers in Chad on Saturday, bringing enough champagne, foie gras and chocolate for 1,300 troops along with him. Macron landed at Kossei air base near N’Djamena, the nerve centre of Operation Barkhane, a four-year campaign …
Read More »Six killed by landmine in central Mali: local officials
Bamako, Mali | AFP | Six civilians, including four women, were killed in central Mali on Wednesday when the vehicle they were in drove over a landmine, local officials said. The road they were travelling on is regularly the scene of explosions by improvised bombs blamed on jihadists. Last month …
Read More »Mali to send reinforcements to Timbuktu
Bamako, Mali | AFP | Mali on Sunday announced it will be sending reinforcements to the northern city of Timbuktu amid growing concerns about security in the region. Another 350 police officers, paramilitary gendarmes and soldiers will be deployed, Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga told reporters in Bamako Saturday on …
Read More »Ethiopia jails soldiers who protested for better pay
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | An Ethiopian court has jailed 66 soldiers over a rare protest in the capital in October demanding better pay, state media reported Saturday. The Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) reported that the soldiers would be jailed from five to 14 years each. In October, hundreds …
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