All articles tagged with #junta
Mali's junta chief Gen. Assimi Goita has taken on the defense minister's duties, signaling a consolidation of power as he remains the head of the ruling military government and attends the funeral of former defense minister Sadio Camara in Bamako.
JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front have forged a coordinated offensive across Mali, including a blockade of Bamako, and called for a united front to overturn the ruling junta, signaling a pragmatic but fragile alliance between Islamist militants and Tuareg separatists with divergent long‑term aims. The push recalls 2012 dynamics, comes as Mali mourns defence minister Sadio Camara, and unfolds amid continued Russian-backed support for the junta and a looming, possibly protracted siege of the capital.
Mali's ruling junta faces its most serious test in years after a coordinated rebel offensive by the Azawad Liberation Front and JNIM saw rebels strike Bamako, seize key northern city Kidal, and threaten further gains, including Gao and Timbuktu. The defence minister was killed, and Malian and Russian forces reportedly withdrew from Kidal, prompting questions about the junta’s durability and Moscow-backed security strategy. Analysts outline scenarios ranging from the junta staying in power with expanded partnerships (Turkey, the US, AES) to potential shifts in leadership or a power-sharing arrangement with rebel groups, with Russia’s influence hanging in the balance.
Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing has been nominated for the presidency by parliament after elections boycotted by opposition, signaling his likely elevation and a civilian-appearing regime that preserves military influence. He would need to relinquish direct command of the armed forces, a contentious step that risks internal blowback, while the junta continues its crackdown and civil conflict persists.
Five years after the coup, Myanmar’s National Unity Government, a shadow, exile-based pro-democracy coalition, has largely failed to unite rebel groups, win broad international support, or overturn the junta’s staged elections. With criticized leadership, limited resources, and ongoing fighting in central Myanmar, the military has maintained control over roughly half the country while the shadow government struggles to effect practical change and avoid irrelevance.
Heavy security was deployed around Niamey’s main airport after overnight gunfire and explosions; General Abdourahmane Tchiani accused France, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire and vowed retaliation, with observers suggesting a jihadist attack. Reports on state TV of damage to aircraft and a French national killed remain unverified, as Niger’s junta tightens control and deepens ties with Russia amid persistent insurgencies.
Burkina Faso’s military regime led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré announced a decree banning all political parties and transferring their assets to the state as part of its plan to 'rebuild the state,' a move that follows the 2022 coup and extends the junta’s rule by five more years.
A burst of heavy gunfire and explosions near Niamey’s international airport subsided within hours, with no confirmed casualties. The incident focused on an area housing an air force base close to the presidential palace, amid Niger’s ongoing military rule and regional insecurity tied to jihadist violence and Sahel security efforts. Video footage showed flames and bright streaks in the sky, while sirens and evacuation chatter followed the blast.
Myanmar's military-led election, criticized as a sham and lacking credible opposition, is underway amid ongoing conflict and low voter turnout, with the military-backed USDP leading and concerns about legitimacy and future stability.
Guinea's Supreme Court confirmed the election victory of junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya, marking his transition to a democratically elected president after a 2021 coup, amidst concerns over political repression and ongoing economic challenges despite rich mineral resources.
Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea's junta leader who had pledged not to run for office, was elected president with 86.72% of the vote amid an opposition boycott and allegations of irregularities, after leading a coup in 2021 and changing the constitution to allow his candidacy.
Guinea's current military leader Mamady Doumbouya is the frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election, following a controversial referendum that allowed him to run and extended presidential terms, amid opposition criticism and concerns over democratic backsliding. The election marks a significant moment in Guinea's ongoing political upheaval in West Africa, with many fearing the consolidation of military power and suppression of opposition.
Guinea is holding its first presidential election since a 2021 military coup, with junta leader Mamadi Doumbouya expected to win amid concerns over the lack of genuine opposition and democratic legitimacy, as the election is seen by critics as a move to legitimize his continued rule.
Burkina Faso's military-led government has passed a law criminalizing homosexuality, with penalties of up to five years in prison, making it one of the latest African countries to implement such legislation amid regional trends and ongoing political instability.
Myanmar's figurehead president Myint Swe, who had been in declining health and serving in a largely ceremonial role since the 2021 coup, died at 74 due to neurodegenerative diseases. The military junta, led by Min Aung Hlaing, has been in control since the coup, with Hlaing acting as the de facto leader. Myint Swe's death comes amid ongoing turmoil and preparations for upcoming elections, which critics view as a sham to legitimize military rule.