Niger's Junta Accuses France of Orchestrating Failed Mutiny
Niger's military government has accused France of masterminding last week's failed mutiny in Niamey, which saw renegade soldiers target a military base and clash with loyalist forces before Russian paramilitaries helped put it down. France has dismissed the accusation as "pure fantasy," but the standoff underscores deepening tensions since Niger's 2023 coup, which has already led to the expulsion of French troops and the ambassador, plus a ban on French state broadcasters.
Egyptian TV Host Sentenced to Death in Drug Trafficking Case
Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted on drug trafficking charges tied to a criminal gang that imported ingredients to manufacture narcotics. Authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of drugs and raw materials during the investigation, while Khalifa — who denies the charges — plans to appeal.
DR Congo's Ebola Burial Teams Face Growing Strain and Hostility
Burial teams in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, the epicenter of history's deadliest Ebola outbreak, say they're stretched to their limits handling near-daily burials while facing hostility from grieving families who resent being kept from traditional rites. Paid $20 a day, workers like Yuma Adolphe and Benjamin Muhindo say they've absorbed physical and emotional exhaustion, plus occasional attacks, but keep going because, as Adolphe put it, "we are here to safeguard our community."
Former Sierra Leone President Returns Home After Treason Charges Dropped
Ernest Bai Koroma, Sierra Leone's president from 2007 to 2018, returned to Freetown yesterday, Sunday, September 6, after treason charges tied to a 2023 army uprising were dropped in July. He'd left for Nigeria in 2024 for what was meant to be a three-month medical trip but stayed away for more than two years, and his homecoming comes ahead of Sierra Leone's 2028 presidential election.
Libya Arrests 5 Over Drone Attacks on Major Oil Facility
Libyan authorities in the west have arrested five people, including foreigners, in connection with a string of drone attacks on the Zawiya oil complex near Tripoli, which they say exposed a "sabotage cell" planning further attacks on a power station and other key facilities. The complex, home to Libya's second-largest refinery, caught fire in August after a drone strike, with additional attacks following before one was thwarted on Thursday.
China Issues Over 8,000 Visas to Burkinabè Citizens as Ties Deepen
China issued more than 8,000 visas to Burkina Faso citizens in 2025 for business, study, and training, as the two countries work to expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, and technology, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Deyong says. Burkina Faso's government wants the partnership to focus on building local production capacity and transferring technology rather than one-off aid, and China pledged to align its support with Burkina Faso's development priorities.
