Mali Junta Courts US Business, Security Ties in Volatile Region
US officials visited the country on Monday for talks with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop. The American delegation included US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa William Stevens.
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Madlanga inquiry's six-month investigation to cost R147.9m
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News24
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What has changed in Niger two years after the coup?
On 26 July 2023, Niger was thrown into political turmoil. A coup d'etat was announced on state television just hours after members of the presidential guard detained democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The coup was led by the head of the presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, with support from elements of the nation's armed forces. When he took power two years ago, Tchiani justified the coup by citing growing insecurity, harsh economic conditions and what he described as excessive influence from Western powers, particularly the country's former colonial ruler, France. Niger has experienced multiple military takeovers in the past, but this time was different: Many citizens took to the streets to show their support for the military leaders. But in the two years that followed, some analysts say little has changed for the better. 'In some cases, the situation has worsened,' Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar, executive director of the West African Centre for Counter Extremism, told DW. Turkish Red Crescent / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images With the events of 26 July, Niger joined the ranks of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, which were already under military rule. In early 2024, Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, announced its withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS. The move marked a major shift in the region, deepening the divide between the military-led governments and the bloc pushing for a return to civilian rule. Job losses in the nonprofit sector Niger's current leadership has forced many nongovernmental organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) - which had been assisting more than two million people affected by armed conflict - to shut down operations. For some Nigeriens, especially those who lost their jobs following the leadership change, life has become more difficult. 'Right now, I'm suffering. It's been a year since we stopped,' said Souley, 35, who lost his job as a nutrition researcher at a local NGO after the coup, in an interview with DW. Mahamane, 32, also lost his position as an assistant coordinator at an NGO based in Tillaberi. 'Right after the coup, funds weren't coming in regularly, and our activities were delayed,' he said. Finally, they decided to stop funding altogether. Mahamane 'There is a very constricted space for civil society or NGO work, so there are a lot of job losses in that space,' said Muqthar from the West African Centre for Counter Extremism. Niger already struggles with high levels of youth unemployment. In 2023, the International Labor Organisation estimated that about 23% of Nigeriens between the ages of 15 and 29 were unemployed - one of the highest youth unemployment rates in Africa. Human rights abuses continue Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have accused the junta of cracking down on freedom of the press and expression in the media and civil society. Ilaria Allegrozzi, a senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, said freedom of expression has been deteriorating in the country since the military leaders took charge. 'Since the coup d'etat two years ago, authorities have shown a high level of intolerance. They have cracked down on the opposition, the media and civil society, and they are clearly rejecting any transition back to civilian democratic rule,' Allegrozzi told DW. 'They have arbitrarily detained former president Mohamed Bazoum and his wife for two years. They have also arbitrarily arrested and detained dozens of other officials from the ousted government - people close to the former president, including ministers. And they have failed to grant them due process and fair trial rights,' she said. In its 2025 State of the World's Human Rights report, Amnesty International wrote that Niger has routinely violated 'human rights to information and freedom of expression'. Although about 50 detainees were released from prison in April, the organisation pointed out that 'several others still languish behind bars on politically motivated charges.' In January 2024, the Press House (Maison de la Presse) - an umbrella group of 32 media organisations - was suspended and replaced by an ad hoc committee headed by the secretary-general of the Interior Ministry, according to Amnesty International. Is a return to civilian rule still possible? In March, the leader of Niger's military government, General Tchiani, was sworn in for a five-year term under a new charter that replaced the country's constitution. For many, it signalled that a return to civilian democratic rule is unlikely to happen anytime soon. 'In the beginning, we were talking about three years; now we are talking about five years. It's an indication that this regime is seeking to stay much longer than expected. And it is my estimation that they are probably going to stay much longer than even five years,' said Muqthar. Efforts by ECOWAS to help Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali transition back to civilian rule have so far failed.
News24
11 hours ago
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ANC fights back against Zuma's court challenge to overturn his expulsion
Former president Jacob Zuma has filed a court challenge to overturn the ANC's disciplinary process that led to his expulsion, arguing procedural flaws and intimidation by ANC officials. Zuma claims the ANC's national disciplinary committee unilaterally scheduled hearings when his representatives were unavailable and accuses secretary-general Fikile Mbalula of intimidation during the process. The ANC has filed a notice to oppose Zuma's application and promises to submit its answering documents at a later stage. The ANC has moved to block former president Jacob Zuma's bid to return to the party, filing court papers to oppose his legal challenge against his expulsion. City Press understands that the party filed a notice of intention to oppose Zuma's Johannesburg High Court application on 25 July, in which he argues his disciplinary process was unlawful and seeks reinstatement to the ANC. READ: Jacob Zuma challenges ANC expulsion in court, citing intimidation and procedural irregularities Zuma's application at the same court, filed on 8 July, shows that the Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) leader contends that the process leading to his expulsion as a member of the ANC in November last year was 'irregular and illegal'. He claims that the ANC's national disciplinary committee (NDC) unilaterally determined the hearing dates despite his representatives being unavailable at the time, on 23 July last year. In the notice, the ANC, with President Cyril Ramaphosa cited as a respondent, indicates that its answering papers and all the necessary documents to substantiate its case will be submitted at a later stage. The ANC and Cyril Ramaphosa hereby give notice of the intention to oppose the notice of motion and appoint the address at the attorneys set out in the notice of motion as the address where all documents in the matter will be served ANC legal papers The contentious legal action by Zuma comes as the ANC's disciplinary committee found him guilty of 'prejudicing the integrity' of the party by joining the MKP and has given him three weeks to appeal against its ruling. In his court papers, he highlights procedural flaws that led to the verdict of his expulsion. A pre-hearing conference was not held, despite being expressly directed by the NDC. 'A pre-hearing conference is an important feature of a fair hearing and not just a mere optional formality,' his papers state. Zuma also alleges that his representatives were subjected to intimidation at the hands of ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. According to the court papers, Mbalula allegedly sent WhatsApp messages to Tony Yengeni, Zuma's representative in the hearing. The alleged messages from Mbalula to Yengeni read: 'Who do you think you are, to destroy the ANC, and who are you, Tony?' Zuma further states that Yengeni regarded Mbalula's actions as bizarre and unconstitutional. 'He correctly regarded Mbalula's conduct as insulting, intimidating and a breach of the spirit of the ANC constitution. I agreed with his view and, after he reported the incident to me, I instructed him to raise it with the NDC at the earliest convenience, in the hope that the ANC would take appropriate action against such blatant misconduct,' read the court papers. He further asserts that the ANC failed to provide him with the heads of argument, an omission he regards as a violation of his constitutional rights.
