Niamey, Niger — AFP Niger’s military junta gathered thousands of people in the capital Niamey on Friday to celebrate the first anniversary of its coup. Dressed in clothes bearing photos of regime members, the crowd chanted the name of junta chief Abdourahamane Tiani. “We’re celebrating, our dear country will gradually r...
Abuja, Nigeria — AFP The West African bloc ECOWAS has warned that the region may face “disintegration” after the military rulers of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso cemented a breakaway union. The three countries formed a “Confederation of Sahel States” at a meeting on the eve of the Economic Community of West African...
Dakar, Senegal – AFP The observation missions deployed to Senegal by the European Union and West Africa’s regional bloc on Tuesday praised the smooth running of the presidential election, won by an anti-establishment opponent after three years of unrest. Around 7.3 million Senegalese were eligible to take part in Sunday’s vot...
JOHANNESBURG (AA) – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso to reconsider their decision to leave it. ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray has said in a statement that the bloc needs to remain more unified than ever. “If there is a time for ECOWAS to stay […]
Dakar, Senegal — AFP Senegalese civil society groups have urged mass action after this month’s presidential poll was deferred to December, as President Macky Sall sought to quell public outcry and faced global pressure. The normally stable West African nation has plunged into its worst political upheaval in decades after lawmakers ...
KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc decided Sunday to maintain sanctions imposed on Niger following a July military intervention that deposed elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Since the July 26 intervention, ECOWAS has imposed economic sanctions on Niger including the closure of borders ...
DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) – Niger’s military authorities have denied that they accepted a six-month transition period that had been proposed by Algeria, according to the Foreign Ministry. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Nigeriens Abroad was surprised to read on social networks and in certain media a communiqué f...
PARIS (AA) – France will look into how its embassy in Niger is operating once Ambassador Sylvain Itte returns, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Tuesday. Responding to Anadolu’s question during a weekly news conference, Anne-Claire Legendre said during the 78th UN General Assembly, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna...
Malanville, Benin — AFP Lines of hundreds of trucks stretch back many kilometres close to Benin’s northern border with Niger, their cargo wasting and their drivers going broke after weeks stranded at the closed frontier. Almost two months since a coup ousted Niger’s president, the trucks blocked in Malanville at Benin’s...
Niamey, Niger – AFP Niger’s military-appointed prime minister on Monday said he saw hopes of a deal “in the coming days” with the West African bloc ECOWAS, which has threatened to use force to restore civilian rule after a coup in July. He also said that “contacts” were underway over a “very swift̶...
