Aug 31 WATCH: Pentagon holds news briefing amid coup in Gabon By Sam Mednick, Associated Press The ouster of Gabon's president by mutinous soldiers appears to have been well organized and capitalized on the population's grievances against the government as an excuse to seize power, analysts said. Continue reading
Aug 26 Watch 6:51 Why West African nations are seeing a spate of military coups By Ali Rogin, Harry Zahn In recent years, several West African nations have seen the military seize control of the government. While there are unifying factors running through these coups, looking at each case individually helps explain what’s going on. Ali Rogin speaks with Kamissa… Continue watching
Aug 18 Niger’s neighbors running out of options as defense chiefs discuss potential military force By Sam Mednick, Associated Press Defense chiefs from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, were meeting Thursday in Ghana to discuss next steps in their stated goal of restoring Bazoum. Continue reading
Aug 16 First major jihadi attack since Niger coup kills 17 and wounds dozens By Sam Mednick, Associated Press Insurgents killed 17 soldiers and wounded nearly 24 in the first major attack in half a year against the army in Niger, where Western powers fear a coup by the elite presidential guard last month is weakening a rare ally… Continue reading
Aug 07 West African leaders to meet after Niger’s military junta fails to reinstate ousted president By Sam Mednick, Associated Press The mutinous soldiers have closed the country’s airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack. Continue reading
Aug 06 Niger’s citizens await what’s next as deadline arrives for president to be reinstated By Sam Mednick, Associated Press The deadline arrived Sunday for Niger’s military junta to reinstate the country’s ousted president, but the West Africa regional bloc that has threatened a military intervention faces prominent appeals to pursue more peaceful means. Continue reading
Aug 01 Watch 5:04 News Wrap: Democrats warn that asylum-seekers in custody aren’t getting legal counsel In our news wrap Tuesday, dozens of congressional Democrats are petitioning to end expedited screening of asylum-seekers in Border Patrol custody because they are not getting access to legal counsel as promised. Also, France, Italy and Spain moved to begin… Continue watching
Jul 28 Niger coup leader calls for support from people and international partners By Sam Mednick, Associated Press The general who led a coup in Niger has defended the takeover on state television and asked for support from the nation and international partners. Continue reading
Jul 27 Watch 7:06 Coup in Niger puts U.S. efforts to thwart terrorism in Africa’s Sahel region at risk By Stephanie Sy, Teresa Cebrian Aranda and Sarah Cutler, Columbia Journalism Fellow An apparent military takeover has occurred in the African nation of Niger. It's a country struggling with grinding poverty and fighting back an Islamist insurgency. The U.S. denounced the coup and has long counted Niger as a partner in the… Continue watching
Jul 27 How the coup in Niger could expand the reach of Islamic extremism, and Wagner, in West Africa By Cara Anna, Associated Press More than 1,000 U.S. service personnel are in Niger to combat the growing threat from various groups of Islamic extremists. Continue reading