South Africa votes in general election

Defense chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) say they finalized a plan for a potential military intervention in Niger. The regional bloc has given coup leaders in Niger until Sunday to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger's political scene became more complex on Wednesday as former rebel Rhissa Ag Boula announced a new Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR) aimed at reinstating deposed Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum.

The African Union has expressed its concern for the health of President Mohamed Bazoum and called for his "immediate" release. The bloc also said it backed the West African ECOWAS group.

The African Union, EU and US are amongst those expressing growing international concern for the wellbeing of Niger's detained president Mohamed Bazoum. Also, reporters from France 24's info migrants desk speak to family members of Africans who say they've been arbitrarily detained. Finally, conservationists in Guinea dig deep to try to save the Kakimbo forest in Conakry.

International organizations and leaders had condemned the conditions of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who was been held in his official residence by Niger's junta. Meanwhile, ECOWAS deferred a Saturday meeting.

Niger's Junta said on Sunday they had gathered enough evidence to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason following his imprisonment last month and Niger's military subsequent dissolving of the elected government.

Jennifer Hermoso said she “did not enjoy” the kiss that was planted on her by president of the Spanish FA, Luis Rubiales. The incident, which many deemed inappropriate, occurred after Spain beat England 1-0 to win their first ever World Cup.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he was confident he would win the election on Wednesday after casting his vote in Kwekwe.

Military officers in oil-producing Gabon said they had seized power on Wednesday, placing President Ali Bongo under house arrest and naming a new leader after the Central African state's election body announced Bongo had won a third term.

The vote for the largely ceremonial role is widely viewed as a test of support for the ruling People's Action Party.

The regional bloc CCAS, and the country's opposition coalition, have urged international partners to push for a rapid return to civilian rule. Also in this edition: In Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 48 protesters are reported to have been killed in the eastern city of Goma. And finally: In South Africa, the death toll rises to 76 after the devastating Johannesburg fire at an abandoned apartment block that housed dozens of homeless people and squatters.

Pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili is facing possible impeachment after she visited leaders in the bloc. The current government is seen by the opposition as taking the country away from Europe and toward Russia.