Former British Army officer and mercenary Simon Mann, who was part of a coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea in 2004, has died of a heart attack while exercising, friends confirmed. The 72-year-old made millions of pounds from protecting businesses in conflict zones before he took part in the failed attempt to overthrow the west African…
Brazil Supreme Court A woman in Brazil has been jailed for 14 years after writing an offensive message in lipstick on a statue during riots in Brasilia. Debora Rodrigues took part in the unrest in January 2023, along with hundreds of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The riot saw thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters attack…
Burkina Faso’s military government has said it foiled a “major plot” to overthrow junta leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré, with the army alleging the plotters were based in neighbouring Ivory Coast. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the coup attempt was led by current and former soldiers working with “terrorist leaders”. The intention was to attack the…
Paul Njie BBC News, Libreville AFP Gen Brice Oligui Nguema has been handed a seven-year mandate by an electorate relieved that the Bongo era is now past Gabon’s military leader Gen Brice Oligui Nguema – who in 2023 led a coup that ended a 60-year dynasty – has won Saturday’s presidential election with more than…
People are heading to the polls to pick the next president of Gabon, where for the first time in decades a Bongo family member is not on the ballot. Former President Ali Bongo was forced from power 19 months ago by coup mastermind Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, who in turn has changed the constitution to…
Paul Njie BBC News, Libreville Getty Images Gen Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema led the republican guard before overthrowing the man he was supposed to protect, Ali Bongo Every day, 40-year-old Landry Obame-Mezui drives a taxi in Gabon’s capital Libreville. But it’s not just any taxi. It’s a sparkling, brand-new white car with the inscription “Taxi…
Niger’s military ruler has been sworn in as the country’s president for a transitional period of five years. Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani has led the country since 2023, after he deposed Niger’s elected President, Mohamed Bazoum. On Wednesday, Gen Tchiani took the presidential office under a new charter that replaces the West African country’s constitution. He…
Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup against current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, after a ruling from the country’s top court. The Supreme Court’s five-member panel voted unanimously in favour of the trial going ahead. Bolsonaro, 70, denies trying to block Lula’s inauguration and says…
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been charged by the country’s chief prosecutor with attempting a coup after he was defeated in the 2022 presidential election. The 69-year-old was handed five charges over the alleged bid to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after a bitter election race. The prosecutor’s advice…
Rob Cameron Prague correspondent EPA The protest seemed much larger than the last such demonstration two weeks ago Tens of thousands of people throughout Slovakia are demonstrating against the government of Prime Minister Robert Fico, defying his warnings that provocateurs linked to the liberal opposition would use the protests to bring about a coup. Rallies…
