International
ECOWAS Leaders Meet In Abuja As Region Struggles With Coups
West African leaders meet on Sunday for talks with the region in deepening crisis, after four countries fell under military rule and with risks growing from Sahel jihadist conflicts.
After coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger since 2020, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc also saw member states Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau claim attempted coups in recent weeks.
A French military withdrawal from the Sahel — the region along the Sahara desert across Africa — is increasing concerns over conflicts spreading south to Gulf of Guinea states Ghana, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast.
“These military coups are not only based on fake narrative and false justifications; they are also a driver of insecurity in the region,” ECOWAS commission president Omar Touray said in a meeting before the summit.
ECOWAS leaders will meet in Nigeria’s capital Abuja for an ordinary summit where they will discuss delayed transitions back to civilian rule for Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is current chair of ECOWAS and US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee will also be at the meeting to discuss how to support Niger’s return to democratic rule and Sahel security.
Niger — a key Western partner in the fight against Sahel militants — has demanded French troops based there leave, while the US still has military personnel in the country.
ECOWAS members have imposed tough economic sanctions on the military regime in Niger, whose troops ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in July.
Mediator
ECOWAS has demanded Bazoum’s immediate return to the presidency, but the military junta has kept him in detention and says it may need up to three years for a return to civilian rule.
Earlier this month, Nigeria said it was asking the Niger regime to free Bazoum and allow him to fly to a third country, as a step to opening talks on lifting sanctions.
But Niger’s military leaders rejected that option and have asked Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe to act as a mediator.
Before Sunday’s ECOWAS meeting, Niger’s military leader General Abdourahamane Tiani visited Togo on Friday with some of his ministers.
ECOWAS has also left on the table the last option of a military intervention in Niger though analysts say that appears increasingly unlikely.
Transitions back to democracy and elections have also been stalled or left uncertain in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
After French troops began leaving the region, military regimes in Niger, Mali and Burkina, struggling with jihadist violence, hardened their positions and joined forces in an Alliance of Sahel States.
Last month, armed attackers stormed military posts, prisons and police stations in another ECOWAS member Sierra Leone, in what the government called a coup attempt that killed 21 people.
A week later Guinea-Bissau also denounced an attempted coup, with fighting between the national guard and special forces of the presidential guard.
AFP
International
Nigeria’s Enang Presents Credentials to German President Steinmeier (Images)
Senator Ambassador Ita Solomon Enang, LLD, OFR, has formally presented his Letters of Credence to the Federal President of Germany, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in Berlin.

The solemn ceremony, conducted in accordance with diplomatic tradition, included a welcome parade by the German military, the signing of the Accreditation Register at the Presidency, and the formal presentation of credentials. President Steinmeier subsequently received Ambassador Enang for bilateral discussions.

Ambassador Enang expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the honour of his appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany.
During the talks, President Steinmeier commended the excellent relations between Nigeria and Germany. He recalled state visits and meetings on the sidelines of multilateral forums, and noted the swift processing of Germany’s incoming Ambassador to Nigeria.

Discussions focused on strengthening economic ties, particularly in the power sector, including off-grid technology and Siemens projects; agriculture and food security; citizen diplomacy; and migration and consular matters. Emphasis was placed on opportunities for skilled Nigerians in medicine, technology, IT, artificial intelligence and other fields under a proposed formal Nigeria-Germany migration agreement.
The two sides also addressed Nigeria’s leadership role in ECOWAS and the importance of engaging Sahelian states that have left the regional body for improved security coordination. Other topics included attracting German automobile assembly plants to Nigeria to promote local manufacturing, technology transfer and job creation, rather than continuing imports of fully assembled vehicles.
They reviewed Germany’s role as guarantor of the Green Tree Agreement following the International Court of Justice ruling on the Nigeria-Cameroon land and maritime boundary, including issues related to Bakassi and population displacements. Interest from German firms in capturing flared gas in the Niger Delta for electricity generation, as well as Nigerian oil’s place in the German economy, was also discussed.
Ambassador Enang conveyed the Federal Government of Nigeria’s appreciation for the humanitarian aid donation announced by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during a courtesy call on Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, on 22 July 2026.

Both sides noted the strong personal relations between President Tinubu and President Steinmeier and discussed the value of further high-level state visits. The audience was attended by designated federal ministers and named members of the German Federal Government.
The meeting concluded with an exchange of memorabilia involving officials of the German Federal Foreign Office, the Nigerian Mission in Berlin and the visiting delegation. Ambassador Enang was accompanied by Deputy Head of Mission Ambassador Bashir, Head of Chancery H.E. Dr (Mrs) Chioma Haidara, his wife H.E. Dr (Mrs) Rosemary Ita Enang, his son Mr Charles Ita Enang and his daughter Engr Dr Roses Ita Enang.
As the ceremony closed, a detachment of the German military rendered honours while the Nigerian flag was simultaneously hoisted at the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Germany.
International
Trump threatens Iran bridges, power plant in latest Hormuz attacks
Trump told reporters that he was “not finished” with a war that has already cost Washington $37.5 billion.
US President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to bomb Iranian bridge or power plant each time Theran attack ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest round of escalation began on July 18.
Trump told reporters that he was “not finished” with a war that has already cost Washington $37.5 billion.
Fighting over the strait led to the collapse of a preliminary deal between the United States and Iran, and Tehran has reimposed its blockade on the strategic conduit for oil and gas shipments, firing on vessels that seek to transit.
The blockade has rattled markets and sent oil prices climbing, adding to the pressure on Trump to find an off-ramp to a conflict that has hit Americans’ pocketbooks heading into closely-fought midterm elections.
International
Zelensky sacks Ukraine’s top army commander after days of protests
Syrskyi was replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, who is a popular, battle-hardened general.
•Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the country’s army commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
It comes just days after the removal of popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov – a move that triggered street protests across the country.Initial rumours that the end of Fedorov’s tenure was related to a conflict between him and Syrskyi were soon confirmed.
Fedorov, 35, has been widely praised for energising the ministry and transforming the armed forces, as well as leading a drive against corruption.
Syrskyi, 60, is seen by many in Ukraine as a Soviet-school commander reluctant to implement radical changes in the army.
Syrskyi defended his record in a farewell address, writing on Telegram: “An army that was fighting a difficult defensive campaign two years ago is now on the offensive.””I am handing over to my successor an army that is not only holding the line but is advancing… I sincerely hope this offensive will continue.”
Syrskyi was replaced by Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, who is a popular, battle-hardened general.
” I will work responsibly, with full focus, and with respect for the people who are defending our country today,” Drapatyi said on Facebook
BBC
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