The pact allows Mali and Burkina Faso to provide military assistance to Niger in the event of military intervention against the putschists there.

A group of senior Gabonese military officers appeared on national television in the early hours of Wednesday and said they had taken power, minutes after the state election body announced President Ali Bongo had won a third term.

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.

Gabonese hope for jobs, eventual civilian rule following military coup

The Greek island of Paros, in the Cyclades, is a popular tourist destination during the summer season, when around 450,000 visitors flock to the picturesque island of 12,000 inhabitants. But locals have become exacerbated by this huge influx of tourists and the illegal privatisation of certain beaches. Protests have even erupted on Paros under the banner of "Reclaim the beach".

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.

Among those hurt were 30 police officers and three protesters hit by police fire.

Hundreds of millions of dollars are pledged to boost African carbon credit production at the opening day of a landmark climate summit for the continent, despite protesters in Nairobi warning the approach is flawed. Also, Gabon's new leader promises elections to restore civilian rule as he is sworn in as president less than a week after toppling his predecessor.

Military coups are resurging in Africa. A phenomenon that once plagued the continent. There have been over 70 coups in Africa since countries on the continent gained independence from colonial rule. Here are the African countries currently being led by military juntas.

Families of killed activists are under pressure as authorities crack down on any sign of protest a year after the death of a young woman in police custody sparked an Iran-wide civil disobedience movement.

No details have yet been given by Malian authorities on any casualties from the attack. It's the latest violence in the West African country after two assaults by suspected jihadis killed dozens a day prior.

The US Open became the latest high-profile sporting event interrupted by environmental activists demanding the end of fossil fuel usage. The Extinction Rebellion group said it used the event as their "last resort."