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Benin coup plot: 1.5 billion CFA Francs seized

Africa /

Banknotes totaling 1.5 billion CFA francs were allegedly hidden in suitcases to finance a coup in Bénin, according to the special prosecutor. The announcement of the arrest of several high-profile figures close to the regime was made on Wednesday. Among those implicated are former Sports Minister Oswald Homéky and the commander of Benin’s presidential guard. The coup was reportedly planned for September 27. Special prosecutor Mario Metonou stated, “Starting from August 6, the individuals involved opened a bank account at NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire, with the Commander of the Republican Guard as the beneficiary.” He added that the account had an initial balance of 105 million CFA francs. The alleged mastermind behind the plot is Olivier Boko, a wealthy businessman and close ally of President Patrice Talon, whose term is set to end in 2026. Many are left wondering about the shift in relations between the two, who have historically been aligned. As of now, President Talon has not appointed a successor. More details about the attempted coup are expected to emerge after the Special Prosecutor hears from the defendants on Friday, September 27, reports Africanews correspondent Romuald Vissoh.

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Tunisia sentences Zammel to six months in prison before Election

Africa /

A Tunisian court sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison on Wednesday for falsifying documents, according to his lawyer. This marks Zammel’s second prison sentence in a week, coming just days before the presidential election. The verdict underscores increasing tensions surrounding the election, as opposition and civil society groups express concerns over a potentially rigged process to maintain President Kais Saied’s hold on power. Last week, Zammel received a 20-month sentence for falsifying popular endorsements. “It’s another unjust ruling and a clear attempt to undermine his candidacy, but we will defend his rights until the end,” Zammel’s attorney Abdessattar Massoudi told Reuters. Zammel is one of only three candidates running for president alongside incumbent Saied and Zouhair Magzhaoui. Political unrest has escalated in Tunisia ahead of the October 6 election, following the electoral commission appointed by Saied disqualifying three prominent candidates this month amid protests from opposition and civil society groups.

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Biden to make first presidential visit to Africa next month

Africa /

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Africa next month, marking his first trip to the continent while in office, the White House announced on September 24. He will begin his journey in Berlin to strengthen alliances and express gratitude to Germany for its support of Ukraine against Russia, among other issues. Biden will then travel to Angola from October 13-15 to discuss economic ties and security with President Joao Lourenco. They will also explore a rail project linking the Atlantic and Indian oceans. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden’s visit to Luanda will celebrate the evolving U.S.-Angola relationship and highlight America’s commitment to African partnerships. Although Biden aimed to visit Angola last year, plans were delayed due to the Israel-Hamas conflict. He has pledged to enhance U.S. relations with African democracies amid growing Chinese influence in the region. Biden had previously promised to visit Africa following a summit with African leaders in late 2022, but 2023 has passed without his visit, despite several high-ranking U.S. officials visiting the continent on his behalf. Earlier on Tuesday, Biden announced over $500 million in aid and 1 million mpox vaccines to support African nations in combating the mpox outbreak. He also delivered his final address to the UN General Assembly as president.

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Amnesty calls on Kenya to probe protester deaths

Africa /

On Wednesday, Amnesty International urged the Kenyan government to investigate the deaths of dozens of protesters during months of demonstrations earlier this year. Rights groups report that over 60 people were killed in the protests, with many more disappearing in the aftermath. The youth-led marches were sparked by a controversial finance bill proposing tax hikes on an already struggling population. Amnesty launched a petition accompanied by a dossier containing footage and interviews with eyewitnesses, lawyers, and medical professionals, arguing that security forces used lethal force against protesters. The organization identified specific rifles, submachine guns, and shotguns employed by the police. Recently, bereaved mothers gathered in Nairobi, demanding justice for their children who were killed or went missing during the protests. This week marks three months since the demonstrations began, yet there has been no thorough investigation into the actions of security forces.

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UN: World cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza

World /

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza, emphasizing that an all-out war “must be avoided at all costs.” “The people of Lebanon, as well as the people of Israel and the people of the world, cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza,” Guterres told a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East situation. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to take concrete steps toward implementing UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701. “Civilians must be protected. Civilian infrastructure must not be targeted,” he added. The UN chief also emphasized the need for the safety and security of all UN personnel, saying international law must be respected by all sides. “Let us say in one clear voice, stop the killing and destruction, tone down the rhetoric and threats step back from the brink. An all-out war must be avoided at all costs. It would surely be an all-out catastrophe,” he warned. The UN chief highlighted that recent exchanges of fire between Lebanon and Israel have repeatedly violated Security Council Resolution 1701, as has the daily use of weapons by non-state armed groups, which also violates Resolutions 1559 and 1701.  Guterres also revealed that escalating violence has forced nearly 200,000 people in Lebanon and over 60,000 people in northern Israel to flee their homes since October of last year. “The communities of northern Israel and southern Lebanon must be able to return to their homes and live in safety and security without fear,” he said, noting that many lives have been lost.  The secretary-general underscored the need for respecting Lebanese sovereignty and allowing the Lebanese state to exercise full control over weapons within its borders. He reaffirmed the UN support for strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces to help stabilize the region. “All of this must stop,” Guterres said, reiterating the urgent need for peace and stability in the region. Israel has launched waves of deadly airstrikes on Lebanon since Monday morning, killing nearly 610 people and injuring over 2,000 others, according to Lebanese health authorities. Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, which has killed over 41,400 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last Oct. 7. The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of spreading the Gaza conflict regionally.

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Benin foils coup attempt, arrests military commander, 2 others

Africa /

 Benin announced Wednesday evening that it had foiled a coup attempt and arrested Republican Guard Commander Djimon Dieudonne Trvoedjre, former Sports Minister Oswald Homeky, and businessman Olivier Boko on charges of plotting to overthrow the democratic government. Elonm Mario Metonou, prosecutor of the Court for the Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism in Benin (CRIET), said at a press conference in the capital Porto-Novo that Benin’s security forces had foiled the coup attempt. Metonou explained that the first concrete act of the attempt occurred on August 6, when the Republican Guard commander opened an account in an Ivory Coast bank in his name. And in that account, 105 million CFA francs (approximately $178000) were discovered. “To overcome the resistance of the commander of the Republican Guard, they promised and handed over to him on September 24, 2024, in cash, more than 1.5 billion CFA francs (approximately $2.545 million),” the official said. He added that Homeky and Tevoedjre were arrested during the transaction, and Olivier Boko was arrested shortly after. Mario Elonm Metonou declined to provide additional information, saying the investigation is still ongoing to identify all those involved in the coup plot. The coup attempt occurred less than two years before President Patrice Talon’s second constitutional term expired. In 2026, he will have to hand over power to a new president. Earlier on Tuesday, the Objectif 2026 movement, which supports Olivier Boko’s possible candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections, in a statement condemned a “serious attack on fundamental rights and the principles of the rule of law” as a “political attack.”

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DR Congo calls for sanctions against Rwanda

Africa /

The president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) on Wednesday called on the international community to impose targeted sanctions on Rwanda for allegedly supporting M23 rebel group. In his address to the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, Felix Tshisekedi accused Rwanda of “destabilizing” eastern Congo, where M23 rebels are fighting government forces. “The situation in eastern DR Congo is of particular concern. The resurgence of the M23 terrorist group has caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with nearly 7 million people internally displaced,” he said. There was no immediate reaction from Rwanda. DR Congo and Western countries accuse Rwanda of backing the M23, one of the rebel groups fighting in eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since its resurgence in 2021, a claim Kigali consistently denies. Kigali, in turn, accuses Kinshasa of harboring Rwandan rebels – the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), whose goal is to overthrow the Rwandan government. A recent cease-fire brokered by Angolan President Joao Lourenco has not been fully implemented, with fighting reported between government troops and M23 rebels in North Kivu province. Last month, the Congolese military accused M23 rebels of violating the cease-fire after fighting erupted. DR Congo has been plagued by violence orchestrated by different armed groups for nearly three decades. More than 900,000 people were recently displaced in the three eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri during the first four months of this year, according to the UN.

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Ramaphosa  calls for vaccine deployment against mpox in Africa

Africa /

 South Africa’s president on Tuesday called for the urgent deployment of vaccines and medical counter-measures to combat the growing threat of mpox, particularly in Africa. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the dangers posed by pandemics and endemics, including mpox, which has been spreading rapidly across the continent. “Pandemics and endemics cause a serious threat to us all,” he said. “We are concerned by the spread of mpox across the world, and Africa in particular. We urge the international community to mobilize vaccine stockpiles and other medical countermeasures for deployment where they are most needed,” he added. The outbreak of mpox has raised alarms across several African nations due to its rapid spread and the vulnerability of healthcare systems. The call for vaccines comes as international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, work to coordinate efforts to contain the virus. The Africa CDC recently warned about a worrying upward trend of mpox cases across the continent, stressing that the disease is not yet under control across Africa. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa CDC, last Thursday said that compared to the same period last year, there has been a 177% and 38.5% increase in the number of mpox cases and deaths, respectively, across 15 African nations. Africa has recorded more than 29,000 cases and 738 deaths this year, according to the latest data from the Africa CDC.

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Botswana hosts talks on elephant trade

Discover /

Botswana is hosting representatives from 33 African elephant range states to discuss the trade in live elephants and develop a unified approach to elephant population management. Environment and Tourism Minister Nnaniki Makwinja emphasized the need for a collective voice, acknowledging the diverse challenges faced by different regions. “While we recognize that solutions are not one-size-fits-all, we urge countries to collaborate before implementing measures that could hinder wildlife conservation efforts,” Makwinja stated at the opening of the four-day meeting. Previous talks in Panama highlighted divisions among African nations regarding elephant management. Southern African countries seek relaxed trade measures, while regions like Eastern and Western Africa advocate for stricter regulations. Conservation scientist Dan Challender noted that while the meeting offers a platform for dialogue, achieving consensus on all issues may be challenging due to varying elephant populations and policies across the continent. Local conservationist Isaac Theophilus expressed hope that delegates opposing elephant trade would engage with communities affected by human-wildlife conflict to gain a better understanding of the issues. Veterinarian Dr. Eric Verreynne pointed out the logistical hurdles of transporting elephants, stressing the complexity and cost involved, especially when relocating family groups. Currently, Africa’s elephant population stands at approximately 415,000, with over half residing in southern Africa.

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Nigeria advocates for permanent African seat on UN security council

Africa /

Nigeria has joined the growing call among African leaders for permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council. During the 79th U.N. General Assembly in New York, Nigerian Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru emphasized that such a change would enhance fairness and inclusivity. “Having participated in 41 different U.N. missions globally, Africa deserves a permanent seat on the Security Council for justice and equity,” he stated. Other African leaders are echoing this sentiment. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently remarked that relying on a select few for global security is “unjust and unsustainable.” Kenyan President William Ruto also criticized the current multilateral system as inadequate. Historically, many African nations were still under colonial rule when the Security Council was established. In 2005, the African Union adopted the Ezulwini Consensus, advocating for at least two permanent and five non-permanent seats for Africa on the council. Currently, the U.N. General Assembly elects five new members for two-year terms, with Africa holding three rotational seats on the 15-member council. Patrick Agbambu, founder of Security Watch Africa Initiative, noted that Africa’s lack of unity is a major barrier to securing representation. “Without a united front, Africa cannot effectively advocate for a permanent seat,” he said, highlighting the divisions within the African Union. Recently, the United States, a permanent member of the Security Council, expressed openness to two African seats, though without veto power. Security analyst Senator Iroegbu acknowledged the need for African representation but cautioned that it won’t resolve all issues. “Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation with significant economic potential, is well-positioned, but Security Council membership alone won’t ensure stability unless underlying issues are addressed,” he said.

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