French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he was awaiting “clarifications” from Burkina Faso’s new junta leader following a report saying authorities in the West African country ordered hundreds of French troops to leave within a month. Macron said during a…
Burkina Faso asked France troops to quit, diplomatic note confirms
Burkina Faso asked France to move its troops out of the country within a month, according to a diplomatic letter from the authorities there to Paris obtained by AFP Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said Paris was awaiting clarifications…
Myanmar junta says it will hold ‘free and fair’ election but no timetable given
Myanmar’s junta said it would hold “free and fair” multiparty elections as it marked Independence Day on Wednesday. The junta, which recently wrapped up a series of closed-court trials of jailed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is preparing for fresh…
Burkina Faso requests French ambassador withdrawal, Paris says
The French foreign ministry says it received a letter from the Burkinabe authorities in December requesting the departure of France’s ambassador from Burkina Faso. The French ministry’s spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday by email that it had received such…
US drops Burkina Faso from Africa duty-free trade programme
The United States has dropped Burkina Faso from its trade preference programme citing deep concerns over “unconstitutional change” in government in the West African country, the US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office said on Sunday. Frustrations over the government’s inability to…
Myanmar democracy leader says 2,000 dead fighting junta, urges military aid
At least 2,000 pro-democracy fighters have been killed in Myanmar battling a military junta that seized power last year, the head of a parallel civilian government said in an interview aired on Thursday, urging allies to provide military aid. Duwa…
Myanmar junta kills dozens in aerial attack on concert, sources say
Myanmar military junta reportedly killed 60 people including well-known artists and musicians have been killed in an aerial attack on a concert. Sources told dpa on Monday that the concert in Kachin state in the country’s north was held to…
Myanmar court conviction raises Aung San Suu Kyi’s prison term to 26 years
A court in military-run Myanmar convicted deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on two charges of corruption Wednesday, according to local reports, adding three years to her previous sentences and extending her total prison time to 26 years. The…
Burkina Faso: Heavy gunfire heard around presidential palace
Heavy gunfire was heard around Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, on early Friday morning, sparking fears of a mutiny nine months after a military coup d’etat overthrew the country’s president. Shots and a large blast were also heard around the presidential…