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By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) – Two days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his envoy in Niger would return within several hours after deciding to withdraw his troops from the country, the whereabouts of Ambassador Sylvain Itte are unclear. In a sudden about turn on Sunday, Macron said France’s 1,500 counter-terrorism troops would …

No sign of departing French envoy after Macron announces Niger retreat Read More »

By El Tayeb Siddig, Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz PORT SUDAN, Sudan (Reuters) – About two months after heavy clashes around his home in Sudan’s capital drove Sherif Abdelmoneim to flee, soaring rent and food costs forced the 36-year-old and his family of six to return to a city where fighting still rages. Most of …

Sudan’s displaced millions struggle to survive as economy seizes up Read More »

ACCRA (Reuters) – Ghana’s former trade minister said on Monday he would resign from the ruling party and run as an independent candidate during the next presidential election in December 2024, dividing a government faced with dwindling support as it grapples with the worst economic crisis in a generation. Alan Kyeremanten, who has served twice …

Ghana ex-trade minister quits ruling party to run for president Read More »

BAMAKO (Reuters) -Mali’s military junta on Monday said it would postpone February elections for technical reasons, further pushing back a timeline for a return to democratic rule after two coups. Mali had been expected to hold the first round of the vote on Feb. 4, 2024, and a second round two weeks later, which was …

Mali junta expects delay to February elections Read More »

By John Irish and Edward McAllister PARIS/DAKAR (Reuters) – France’s decision to pull 1,500 troops from Niger leaves a gaping hole in Western efforts to counter a decade-long Islamist insurgency and could bolster Russian influence across the vast, insecure scrublands of West Africa, analysts and diplomats said. Niger was the West’s last key ally in …

Analysis-West losing sight of Sahel after France announces Niger withdrawal Read More »

(Reuters) – France will pull its troops out of Niger by the end of the year following a coup in the West African country in July, dealing a huge blow to French influence and counter-insurgency operations in the West Africa Sahel region. Niger, a key ally of Western countries against Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel, …

Factbox-Which Western countries have foreign forces in West Africa? Read More »

CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt will hold a presidential vote on Dec. 10-12, the elections authority said on Monday, with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi widely expected to win reelection despite an economic crisis including record inflation and foreign currency shortages. Sisi, 68, can stand for a third term due to constitutional amendments in 2019 that also …

Egypt to vote for president in December, Sisi expected to win Read More »