Via: AA

“In Benin, it became evident that Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) played a significant role in suppressing the attempted coup. Beninese President Patrice Talon held an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, during which the details of the coup attempt that took place on Sunday, December 7, were examined in the presence of senior military commanders. According to a statement released after the Council of Ministers meeting, the coup plotters attacked the home of General Bertin Bada, director of President Talon’s military office, during the night from Saturday to Sunday. General Bada survived the attack, but his wife was killed. After the attack, the commander of the Togbin military base, Colonel Faizou Gomina, who had been sent to the region, was attacked by the coup plotters and taken hostage.

The coup plotters then went to the home of the commander of the land forces, General Abou Issa, and kidnapped him.

At dawn, violent clashes broke out between the coup plotters, who were advancing toward President Talon’s residence, and the presidential guard regiment. Repelled by the presidential guard, the coup plotters seized control of the national television station and announced Talon’s removal, but they were expelled from the building thanks to the intervention of a group of soldiers loyal to Talon.

Nigeria launches airstrikes against coup plotters

At night, Nigeria, at Benin’s request, carried out an air operation against the Togbin military base, where the revolt had begun. The base was then retaken by ECOWAS Reserve Forces, composed of Nigerian soldiers, while a special unit from Côte d’Ivoire supported the operation. General Issa and Colonel Gomina, who had been kidnapped, were also rescued during the operation carried out on Sunday.

Although an investigation has been launched to identify the perpetrators and those responsible for the attempted coup, the search continues for the leader of the group of coup plotters who escaped.”

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Via: Africanews

“Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau on Thursday announced a new junta leader for the country, cementing a forceful takeover of power that began after the country’s presidential election.

The military high command inaugurated Gen. Horta Inta-A as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period, according to declaration announced on state television.

“The inability of political actors to stem the deterioration of the political climate ultimately prompted the intervention of the armed forces,” said Inta-A, who was the army chief of staff until the coup and a close ally of deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

Embaló’s whereabouts remained unknown Thursday. He told French media Wednesday that he was arrested by soldiers as gunshots rang out near the presidential palace.

The opposition, meanwhile, alleged Embaló had fabricated the coup to avoid an election defeat in Sunday’s closely contested presidential vote.

The military takeover and the reported arrest of Embaló was “fabricated” to disrupt election results expected Thursday, according to his rival Fernando Dias, who, like Embalo, claimed to have won the vote.

The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims by Dias, a member of the Social Renewal Party.

The opposition African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde and Dias had called on residents to stage protests against the coup and demand publication of the election results. But on Thursday morning, activities appeared to be normal in the capital Bissau, with businesses and public transport gradually picking up.

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Via: Sputnik

“US Boycott of Johannesburg G20 Signifies ‘Fear of Loss of Influence’: Political Scientist

Washington is attempting to exert “geopolitical pressure” on South Africa by snubbing the first G20 summit on African soil, Djibril Gningue, director of the peace and security research unit of GRADEC (a research group on participatory democracy and good governance), told Sputnik Africa.

“This is due to Pretoria’s decision to file a complaint against Israel before the ICC. The other reason is the fact that South Africa is an influential member of the BRICS. The United States is boycotting for deterrent purposes,” he noted.

The West panics as soon as Africa dares to “assert its sovereignty and its desire to diversify its relations,” the speaker added.

To have influence on the international stage, the continent must:

🟠focus on political unity;

🟠have a voice at the UNSC;

🟠gain influence over global financial governance.”

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