African Union Suspends Gabon Following Coup 

The African Union on Thursday suspended Gabon's participation in all of its activities following Wednesday's military takeover, which it strongly condemned. The decision followed AU’s Peace and Security Council meeting on Thursday. The AU said it had decided to “suspend the participation of Gabon in all activities of its organs and institutions” until constitution order is restored. The AU suspended Niger Republic’s membership just a few weeks ago after the military took power there at the end of July.

President Tinubu Speaks On Gabon Military Take-Over

Following the military coup in Gabon, which deposed President Ali Bongo on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu has warned that the rule of law and democratic instruments of resolving electoral disputes must not be allowed to perish in Africa. The President said he is watching the unfolding events in the Central African country and working with other leaders of the African Union to achieve a consensus position on the matter.

Sudan War: Army Chief Burhan Arrives Egypt On First Trip Since Conflict 

Sudan's army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, arrived in the Egyptian coastal town of El Alamein on Tuesday to meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to a military statement. General Burhane is accompanied by the head of Sudanese intelligence, Ahmad Ibrahim Muffadal, and the interim foreign minister, Ali al-Sadeq. His plane took off from Port Sudan, the only city in the country with a functioning airport, the one in Khartoum having been bombed on the first day of the war. It was the first time Burhan had left Sudan since the beginning of the conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on April 15.

Over 70 Die In Migrants’ Building Fire In Johannesburg

More than 70 people were killed overnight when fire tore through a derelict multi-storey building in Johannesburg South Africa’s biggest city. According to officials about 52 more were injured in the blaze. Robert Mulaudzi, a spokesman for Johannesburg emergency services, has warned the number of fatalities may rise further, as more people could be trapped inside. There were "obstructions" everywhere, and this would have made it difficult for people to escape. Firefighters are still dousing the smouldering debris from the fire which took hold in the early hours of the morning.

Gabon Military Announce Take Over, Declared Election Fraud  

A group of senior Gabonese military officers on Wednesday declared that they have taken power, minutes after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo the winner of Saturday’s general election. The soldiers appeared on Gabonese national television Gabon 24, to announce the dissolution of “all the institutions of the republic” and closure of all borders until further notice. The group’s members were drawn from the gendarme, the republican guard and other elements of the security forces. They highlighted serious institutional, political, economic and social crises as factors responsible for the coup that they tagged, ‘necessary’ for the progress of the West African country. “In the name of the Gabonese people … we have decided to defend the peace by putting an end to the current regime,” the officers said in a statement.

President Emmanuel Macron during a speech on Monday stressed that France’s ambassador to Niger will stay in the country despite pressure to leave form leaders of a recent coup. Macron who was speaking during a major foreign policy speech to ambassadors gathered in Paris insists that France will not change its position in condemning the coup and offering support to removed President Bazoum.