Africa’s Sahel, home to some of the world’s poorest, most politically unstable and conflict-prone countries, is once again in crisis. With the July 26 military takeover in Niger, the region has become a true “coup belt” across the girth of Africa, and many Sahel nations are now governed by unelected military rulers. In recent years, … Read moreFrench mistakes helped create Africa’s coup belt
France will support efforts by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to make the military coup in Niger fail, the French foreign ministry said on Saturday. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna met with Niger Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou and the Niger ambassador in Paris on Saturday. Earlier, Colonna said the coup leaders in Niamey had … Read moreFrance backs ECOWAS push to reverse Niger military coup
France has banned the sale, possession and transport of fireworks during the July 14 national holiday weekend, following protests sparked by the killing of a teenager by the police. Fireworks were used in some protests that erupted in France after a police officer shot dead 17-year-old Nahel M during a traffic stop on June 27 … Read moreFrance bans Bastille Day fireworks sale after anti-gov’t protests
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed France’s nationwide riots on “institutional racism” and the country’s colonial past. The French government has been battling violence and looting in Paris and across the country since 17-year-old Nahel M – a French citizen of Algerian background – was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic … Read moreTurkey’s Erdogan blames France riots on ‘institutional racism’
Major cities in France experienced a third night of rioting as President Emmanuel Macron fought to contain growing public anger triggered by the police killing of a 17-year-old teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent during a traffic stop. National police said on Thursday night that its forces faced new incidents in the cities of Marseille, … Read moreFrance rocked by third night of riots over police killing of teen
French prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Lebanon’s central bank governor, Riad Salameh, who slammed the move and promised to appeal. The warrant followed Salameh’s failure to appear before French prosecutors on Tuesday to be questioned on corruption charges, officials said. In a statement, he said the arrest warrant is a violation of the … Read moreFrance issues arrest warrant for Lebanon’s central bank chief
Air France and plane manufacturer Airbus have been acquitted over the 2009 crash of a Rio-Paris flight after a French court ruled their errors could not be proven as the disaster’s cause. While the ruling was expected after prosecutors recommended to the Paris court not to seek a conviction, it is still a huge blow … Read moreFrench court acquits Air France, Airbus over 2009 Rio-Paris crash
Protesters opposing President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular plan to raise the retirement age to 64 have marched in cities and towns across France in a final show of anger before a decision on whether the measure meets constitutional standards. In Paris, as thousands marched along the designated protest route on Thursday, some protesters holding lit flares … Read moreProtests in France before Friday’s pension reform ruling