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Nigerian Military Intervention in Benin Thwarts Coup Attempt, Stabilizes Region

Nigerian Military Intervention in Benin Thwarts Coup Attempt, Stabilizes Region

Nigerian military forces intervened in Benin to thwart a coup attempt, stabilizing the region and reaffirming Nigeria's role as a regional power. The intervention was ordered by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu after receiving requests from the Beninese government for immediate air and ground support. The coup attempt in Benin was led by mutinous soldiers in the economic capital of Cotonou. Nigerian fighter jets and ground forces played a decisive role in regaining control of key military positions. The intervention was part of a broader effort by Nigeria to prevent instability in the region, especially following the 2023 coup in Niger, which had significant regional implications.
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West Africa is in a state of emergency after several coups, bloc leader says

West Africa is in a state of emergency after several coups, bloc leader says

A leader of the West African regional bloc says coups and attempted coups have left the region in a state of emergency
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UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Halts Travel to Mali Amid Safety Concerns

UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Halts Travel to Mali Amid Safety Concerns

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel advisory on December 9, 2025, urging all Emirati nationals to avoid traveling to Mali immediately. This decision comes in response to recent developments in Mali that have heightened safety concerns. The Ministry has not disclosed specific threats but emphasized that the current conditions pose significant risks to personal safety. Emirati citizens currently in Mali have been instructed to return to the UAE without delay. The Ministry has also activated a 24-hour emergency hotline to assist those in need of immediate support and has urged citizens to maintain direct contact with UAE authorities for updates and guidance.
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UAE Suspends Travel to Mali Amid Rising Sahel Insecurity, Urges Citizens to Return

UAE Suspends Travel to Mali Amid Rising Sahel Insecurity, Urges Citizens to Return

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a directive suspending all travel to Mali and advising its citizens currently in the country to return home immediately. This decision comes in response to escalating insecurity in Mali and the broader Sahel region, which has prompted several governments to reassess travel advisories. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized the importance of precautionary measures to safeguard Emirati citizens, citing significant risks to personal safety. The Ministry has activated a 24-hour emergency hotline to assist citizens in Mali, urging them to maintain contact with UAE authorities for updates and support.
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US backs Japan in dispute with China over radar incident

US backs Japan in dispute with China over radar incident

By Daphne Psaledakis and John Geddie WASHINGTON/TOKYO, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The United States has for the first time criticised China for aiming radars at Japanese military aircraft during a training exercise last week, incidents that the Asian neighbours have given differing accounts of amid
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South Korea Protests Chinese and Russian Warplanes Entering Air Defense Zone

South Korea Protests Chinese and Russian Warplanes Entering Air Defense Zone

South Korea has lodged a formal complaint with China and Russia after their military aircraft entered South Korea's Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) without prior notification. On Tuesday, seven Russian and two Chinese military planes briefly entered the KADIZ, prompting South Korea to deploy fighter jets as a precautionary measure. Although the aircraft did not violate South Korean airspace, the incident has raised tensions in the region. The South Korean defense ministry emphasized its commitment to responding to such activities in compliance with international law. This is not the first time Chinese and Russian aircraft have entered the KADIZ, with similar incidents occurring since 2019.
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Nigerian air force plane's emergency landing puts Burkina Faso defense forces on high alert

Nigerian air force plane's emergency landing puts Burkina Faso defense forces on high alert

A Nigerian Air Force plane has landed in Burkina Faso due to what it calls an in-flight emergency
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Burkina Faso Accuses Nigerian Air Force of Airspace Violation Amid Emergency Landing

Burkina Faso Accuses Nigerian Air Force of Airspace Violation Amid Emergency Landing

Burkina Faso has accused the Nigerian Air Force of violating its airspace after a Nigerian military aircraft made an emergency landing in the country. The incident involved a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft that was en route to Portugal but had to land in Burkina Faso due to technical issues. Burkina Faso's Territorial Administration Minister, Emile Zerbo, stated that the aircraft entered the country's airspace without authorization. The aircraft, carrying eleven Nigerian military officers, landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso's second-largest city. The Nigerian authorities explained that the emergency landing was necessary for safety reasons. However, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, issued a joint statement confirming the airspace violation and described the landing as an 'unfriendly act.' The AES has put its air forces on high alert, authorizing them to neutralize any unauthorized aircraft. The Nigerian military officers were briefly detained but later re...
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Why some African countries are prone to military takeovers

Why some African countries are prone to military takeovers

It had become a familiar scene in West Africa
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Takeaways from AP's investigation into Russia's Africa Corps in Mali

Takeaways from AP's investigation into Russia's Africa Corps in Mali

Refugees from Mali have told The Associated Press that a new Russian military unit, Africa Corps, is committing abuses like rapes and beheadings
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West African bloc says region is in a state of emergency after surge in coups

West African bloc says region is in a state of emergency after surge in coups

A leader of the West African regional bloc says coups and attempted coups have left the region in a state of emergency
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Benin government says short-lived coup left casualties on both sides

Benin government says short-lived coup left casualties on both sides

Benin's government has said Sunday's short-lived coup left “casualties on both sides” of the government forces and the mutinous soldiers