Breaking News 2 African Nations Have Been Hit With Military Coups In The Past Month





Senegal and Uzbekistan national team players were subjected to strict security searches on the tarmac of a US airport ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Viral footage showed players from both teams undergoing detailed inspections, including shoe removal, metal detector scans, and sniff dog checks, which sparked accusations of discrimination and comparisons to criminal treatment.

The Senegal Football Federation clarified that the procedure was a pre-planned logistical arrangement designed to bypass crowded airport terminals and facilitate boarding onto their private flight. However, FIFA and many fans criticized the optics, noting that similar high-profile European teams were not subjected to the same visible, public scrutiny.

Other African football figures also faced entry issues in the US, including:

  • Omar Abdulkadir Artan: The Somali referee, named CAF Referee of the Year, was denied entry despite holding a valid visa.
  • Talal Salah: Iraq’s team photographer was barred from entering the US.
  • Aymen Hussein: An Iraqi forward was detained and questioned for seven hours upon arrival.
 


The Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has vowed it will not be intimidated following a deadly attack on Niger’s main international airport. In a show of unity in Bamako, foreign ministers from the three military-led governments reaffirmed their commitment to their sovereignty project, insisting they will press ahead despite rising insecurity. Authorities in Niger blamed foreign-backed networks for attempts to destabilise the region, an accusation strongly denied by external actors. The attack, which left multiple security personnel dead and dozens of suspected attackers killed or arrested, has intensified political tensions across the Sahel. The bloc argues the violence fits into a wider pattern of interference aimed at undermining its political transition and security ambitions. Despite the unrest, the alliance is accelerating efforts to build joint political, economic, and military structures while distancing itself from traditional Western partners and deepening ties with alternative global powers.
 
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