nguema is related to ali bongo, the former president.he bongo era is continuing because that is the same family. more than 50 years already. but if brice oligui nguema stays in power, this means the era of bongo continues. it's the reason why ali bongo was not killed. i think there's an arrangement. what is really important it i -- is what comes after this coup. we don't think military officers are able to leave the country. there's no minister. the senate, everything. the coup leader says the president is arrested. we've seen yesterday the president was able to send a video on the internet. i think they have made some arrangement. mohammed: stella, i saw you reacting to some of what antoine was saying and it looked like he wanted to jump in, so please go ahead. stella: we definitely know that the president got assistance to send out that information, if he was under house arrest at the palace by the military. but more importantly is the fact that he was calling on individuals outside of the country to come out and support him. he was ca

with the swearing in, nguema appears to be solidifying his grip on power.looks like. take a listen. >> translator: dissolution of institutions the republic is temporary. the aim is to reorganize them to make them more democratic tools more in line with international standards in terms of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law but also the fight against corruption which has become commonplace in our country, money laundering and above all the preservation of our environment which is a battle endeared to our country. >> reporter: so nguema is under some pressure to say when exactly he will give way to this democratic transition. and not all countries have recognized his rule, or his leadership, because, quite frankly, military coups are not the way forward. and kind of ousting even unpopular leaders like ali bongo who had been in power for 14 years and about to start another term. and his father before him, remember, was in power for nearly 42 years. so even in those circumstances and with the people of gabon, very happy

. >> reporter: i think for one th thing, the break will not be part of nguema's break.it takes power is very reluctant to give it back up, so while the opposition cheered the overthrough of the dynasty which has been going on for more than 50 years, now they're a little dunous after hearing this televised address. here's the way the televised address as general nguema went to the public. >> re >> translator: the aim is to make them more in line with international substantial dards, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule against law, but the fight against corruption, money laundering, and above all, the preservation of the environmental which is a battle endearing to our country. >> he's watching very carefully and seeing what kind of substance is behind general nguema's words. in any case the french have a great deal of vested interest in gabon. they do over $300 billion in business with them. at the moment no one is saying anything about evacuating them but there are french soldiers who will aid in an evacuation if it becomes necessary, but at the moment, it's n

the coup leader, general brice 0ligui nguema, has insisted the suspension of gabon�*s state institutionsbe temporary, and the country will be returned to democracy. the opposition has warned that the military shows no sign they plan to return power to a civilian government. the coups in niger and gabon of course came in quick succession, prompting many questions about what the two countries�* situations share in common. on friday, my colleague caitriona perry spoke with bisa williams, former us ambassador to niger, and eric benjaminson, former us ambassador to gabon. if i can start with you, bisa, in the wake of the niger coup, ecowas had concern about the risk of contagion on the continent. french president emmanuel macron thinks they are different situations — what is your view? i think both things are correct. i think the coup in niger is a very bad signal to militaries that are thinking perhaps political leadership is no longer necessary and nobody�*s going to do anything about it. at the same time, i think what happened in gabon is not... ..did not happen to the same kinds of reason

general brice 0ligui nguema seized powerjust after ali bongo was declared to have won a third term.election was widely described as flawed and mr bongo is now under house arrest. the head of the un nuclear watchdog has said he regrets that "no progress" has been made by iran on resolving outstanding issues over its nuclear programme. rafael grossi of the international atomic energy agency cited tehran's failure to re—activate surveillance cameras at its nuclear facilities. 2.7 tonnes of cocaine, worth more than $200 million has been seized off the canary islands in a joint operation by spanish and serbian police. it began in brazil where the cocaine was loaded onto the boat which was intercepted in international waters. six people were arrested and authorities say a balkan criminal organisation was dismantled. videos have emerged from syria which suggest that a renewed wave of protests against president assad is continuing. unverified videos from the province of sweida show demonstrators calling on president bashar al—assad to step down. footage — said to have been taken on monday m

had another announcement from the military leaders in gabon saying general brice clotaire 0ligui nguemanal court on monday. the authorities have also tried to kind of come the international reaction to the crew by saying that it will ensure the country sticks to its commitments, including paying off the debts that it currently has. at the same time, we have had an interesting development from the opposition coalition that was trying to defeat the president, ali bongo 0ndimba, on the election on the weekend. it is saying if the vote count should continue and it is appealing to the military authorities to install what it sees as its rightful candidate. the coalition believes it won the election but i think the chances of the military leaders doing anything about that appeal are pretty slim. it looks as though they are here to stay, as it were. the person we have not heard from 524 hours is the deposed president ali bongo, who we understand is still being detained. we are waiting now also for a wider international reaction to curve. the african union has been meeting and so have the centra

general brice 0ligui nguema says the institution will be "reorganised and improved", and that their suspensionent ali bongo was overthrown, was temporary. earlier, gabon�*s opposition coalition accused the military of showing no indication they plan to hand back power to a civilian government. ali bongo, whose family has held power for over half a century, now remains under house arrest. the situation has drawn regional and international condemnation. these are two of the latest in a wave of coups in west and central africa in recent years. the region has now seen eight military takeovers since 2020. a short time ago i spoke with bisa williams, former us ambassador to niger, and eric benjaminson, former us ambassador to gabon, for a roundtable discussion about these issues. let's dive in deeper on these coups, joining me live is bisa williams, former us ambassador to niger, and eric benjaminson, former us ambassador to gabon. ——bisa williams, the wake of the niger coup, ecowas warned about their concern about the risk of contagion on the continent. french president emmanuel macron thinks they

the coup leader, general brice 0ligui nguema, has insisted the suspension of gabon�*s state institutionsry and the country will be returned to democracy. the opposition has warned that the military shows no sign they plan to return power to a civilian government. in other news: the british museum has named a new interim director, sir markjones, to help lead the institution after its former director, hartwig fischer, resigned after nearly 2,000 artifacts were reported missing, stolen or damaged. the chair of the british museum, george osborne, says jones was approved unanimously by the museum's board of trustees. the nobel foundation announced it will not invite the ambassadors of russia, belarus, and iran to attend this year's nobel prize awards ceremony in stockholm, reversing an earlier decision after sparking criticism. last year the foundation did not invite the ambassadors of russia and belarus because of moscow's invasion of ukraine. after lashing parts of hong kong and macau, typhoon saola has made landfall in the southern chinese province of guangdong early saturday. so far one p

mood in the country remains calm and stable, but many are uncertain about the future, as general nguemay to civilian rule. thomas naadi, bbc news, 6abon. north korea claims to have launched its first submarine capable of carrying out an underwater nuclear attack — though there's no evidence yet of its operational ability. these pictures were released by north korean state media. the vessel was reportedly unveiled in a ceremony on wednesday, presided over by the country's leader kimjong—un. a report in state media said the submarine strengthened the country's nuclear deterrent by "leaps and bounds". the new boss of a j—pop agency disgraced by the extensive sexual abuse committed by its late founder johnny kita—gawa has also been accused of sexually assaulting young boys. noriyuki higashiyama he could not remember reported acts which he said may or may not have occurred. he was named the new boss ofjohnny and associates afterjulie fujishima resigned over her uncle's offences. jonny kitigawa was the head ofjapan�*s biggest pop talent agency until his death four years ago. ofjapan�*s bigges

the coup leader, general brice oligui nguema, has insisted the suspension of gabon�*s state institutionsemporary, and the country will be returned to democracy. the opposition has warned that the military shows no sign they plan to return power to a civilian government. the coups in niger and gabon of course came in quick succession, prompting many questions about what the two countries' situations share in common. on friday, my colleague caitriona perry spoke with bisa williams, former us ambassador to niger, and eric benjaminson, former us ambassador to gabon. ifi if i can start with you, in the wake of the niger two, there was concern about the risk of contagion on the continent. emmanuel macron thinks they are different situations, what is your view? i they are different situations, what is your view?— is your view? i think both things are correct- _ is your view? i think both things are correct. i _ is your view? i think both things are correct. i think— is your view? i think both things are correct. i think the - is your view? i think both things are correct. i think the coup - is

during a ceremony monday, general brice oligui nguema promised "free, transparent and credible elections" to restore civilian rule but gave no timeline for elections. the military coup ousted president ali bongo, whose family had ruled the oil-rich nation since 1967. oligui is a cousin of the ousted president and the former head of gabon's presidential guard. meanwhile, in niger, tens of thousands of protesters rallied saturday outside a french military base demanding french troops leave niger. tension has been escalating between niger and its former colonial ruler since a military coup in niger in late july. niger's new military leaders have ordered french troops and france's ambassador to leave the country but france has ignored the requests. protesters in niger on saturday called on the french to leave them alone. >> people say, oh, no, we get paid to go out and protest. that is a thing of the past. it is the people of niger that are out here. you would have to be blind not to see it. we are fed up. we want to be responsible for ourselves. leave us alone. is that too much to ask? amy: