Prisoners escape from Niger jail that holds jihadists
Authorities in Niger have declared a curfew in the volatile Tillaberi region after several prisoners escaped from a heavily fortified jail known to hold jihadists. The incident occurred on Thursday at Koutoukale prison located about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north-west of the capital, Niamey, the interior ministry said. Two other attempted jailbreaks at the facility […]
France closes Niger embassy after row with military junta
France is closing its embassy in Niger indefinitely as tensions between the two countries escalate. The embassy says it is “no longer able to function normally or fulfil its missions” due to restrictions imposed by Niger’s military government. Local embassy staff have also been dismissed, former French ambassador Sylvain Itté said in a letter. Niger’s […]
Salif Keïta, ‘Golden Voice of Africa’ supports Mali’s coup leaders
Music fans have expressed their shock and Bafflement at the appointment of Mali’s much-beloved Salif Keïta – known as the Golden Voice of Africa as a special adviser to coup leader Col Assimi Goïta. The 73-year-old might be in semi-retirement and eclipsed nowadays by Afrobeats stars, but he was one of the pioneering giants of […]
France defies ultimatum for ambassador to leave Niger
French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed in a defiant speech that France’s Ambassador has remained in Niger despite being given a 48-hour deadline to leave the country last Friday. Ambassador Sylvain Itte had been ordered to go amid rapidly deteriorating bilateral ties. In a major foreign policy speech to Ambassadors gathered in Paris as well […]
