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.

The M23 rebel group continues to destabilize eastern DRC, with the Congolese government blaming Rwanda for supporting them.

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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.

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.

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.

 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.”

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.

Another tragic incident involving migrants attempting to reach Europe: 13 bodies are found washed ashore in Tunisia.

The remains were brought back from Zimbabwe and Zambia for a homecoming ceremony and reburial.

At least 28 people were killed and 29 others injured in southern Ethiopia when a bus plunged into a river, with authorities fearing more fatalities due to critical injuries.

Launched in 2022, the academy now has 30 members, with an increasing number of girls eager to learn

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 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.

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.

A recent World Health Organization report reveals nearly 30,000 suspected mpox cases in Africa since the beginning of the year, primarily concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Burundi. The report also indicates over 800 deaths linked to suspected mpox during this period. Following the declaration of a public health emergency by the WHO’s director general, this outbreak represents the organization’s highest alert level. Outside Africa, a few cases have been confirmed in countries such as Sweden and Pakistan. Although the virus was first identified decades ago, it has evolved, making human-to-human transmission more efficient. Vaccination efforts against the virus are set to begin in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 2nd.

According to UNICEF, children aged 5 to 19 make up 33 percent of mpox cases in Burundi. As the new academic year begins, schools and parents are taking this data seriously. At a school in western Burundi, staff are implementing measures to protect both students and themselves. The director of the ‘Les Petits Trésors’ school stated, “When they line up in front of the flag, they must keep their distance to avoid touching each other, and handwashing is mandatory.” In recent weeks, Burundi has seen a more than 40 percent increase in mpox cases, with hundreds reported since July. Meanwhile, neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo is also experiencing a rise in mpox cases. The World Health Organization recently noted that suspected cases in the DRC account for a significant portion of the nearly 30,000 cases recorded across Africa this year. In August, the WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency in parts of Africa. Beyond the continent, a few cases have also been confirmed in countries like Sweden and Pakistan.

Burkina Faso’s security minister claims foreign powers are involved in jihadi attacks targeting the country.

Several ex-officials in Mali, including former prime minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga, face trial for alleged fraud linked to the controversial purchase of a $40 million presidential jet and military equipment.

Donation would help ease congestion of 53,000 refugees, asylum seekers at country’s only camp, says official

The meeting aimed to reassess the threat and provide additional guidelines for security.