Latest Coups d'etat News

Erdogan says the cleric accused of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt had a 'dishonorable death'

Oct. 22, 2024 11:30 AM EDT

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded Tuesday to the death of exiled Islamic cleric Fetullah Gulen, accused by Turkey of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016, by saying he suffered a “dishonorable death” and likened him to a “demon in human form.” ...

Self-exiled Turkish spiritual leader Fethullah Gülen dies in the US

Oct. 21, 2024 18:36 PM EDT

SAYLORSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Fethullah Gülen, a reclusive U.S.-based Islamic cleric who inspired a global social movement while facing unproven accusations that he masterminded a failed 2016 coup in his native Turkey, has died. The Alliance for Shared Values, a New York-based group...

The head of Mali's military junta appoints himself to the highest rank in the army

Oct. 16, 2024 17:24 PM EDT

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The head of the military junta that seized power in Mali in 2020 promoted himself Wednesday to the rank of army general with special title: Colonel Assimi Goita of the land army, the highest military distinction held only by two former heads of state in the country’s...

Burkina Faso’s junta suspends Voice of America broadcasts over coverage of militant violence

Oct. 08, 2024 10:46 AM EDT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Burkina Faso’s military junta has suspended Voice of America's broadcasts for three months over its coverage of militant attacks in the country and in neighboring Mali, the state news agency reported, in the latest measure targeting media freedom in the country. ...

Two men close to Benin's president jailed after alleged coup plot

Oct. 02, 2024 06:17 AM EDT

COTONOU, Bénin (AP) — Two men close to Benin's president who were arrested last week on suspicions of plotting a coup in the small West African country were remanded in custody ahead of their trial, one of their lawyers said Tuesday. Olivier Boko — a businessman and longtime...

Gunfire erupts near Guinea's presidential palace and the military locks down the area

Sep. 26, 2024 21:39 PM EDT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Shots were fired late Thursday near the presidential palace in Guinea ’s capital Conakry, and the army briefly locked down the city center and evacuated it. Local journalist Fode Toure, who was a few hundred meters from the presidential palace, told The...

Military juntas in 3 West African nations investigate a French journalist over jihadi analysis

Sep. 26, 2024 08:37 AM EDT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Prosecutors in military junta-ruled Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso launched investigations on Wednesday against the French journalist and researcher Wassim Nasr into what they called his “apology of terrorism” and “complicity” in alleged terrorist acts, in the latest...

New Caledonia marks anniversary of French colonization with tight security and simmering tensions

Sep. 24, 2024 16:08 PM EDT

NOUMEA, New Caledonia (AP) — New Caledonia marked the anniversary on Tuesday of France's takeover of the Pacific archipelago with tight security and simmering tensions between the pro-independence Indigenous Kanak people and the white settler communities loyal to Paris. The 171st...

Media freedom group sounds alarm on increased security risks for local journalists in Africa's Sahel

Sep. 24, 2024 12:49 PM EDT

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Local journalists in the Sahel region of Africa are facing increased security risks, a media freedom group said Tuesday, as extremist attacks and military coups have shaken the region in recent years. At least two community radio journalists were killed and...

Burkina Faso's ruling junta claims foiling an attempt to destabilize the country

Sep. 24, 2024 10:33 AM EDT

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Burkina Faso’s ruling junta said it thwarted an attempt to destabilize the African country “with the help of foreign powers.” A transitional government has been running the West African country after the military seized power in 2022,...