1-BLUE-LEFT-SECTION-Special-Focus-Free Bound

In the span of a few hours on December 7, a small group of soldiers in Benin, West Africa, moved from night‑time attacks on senior officers’ homes to a televized announcement claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution. Forces loyal to the government swiftly retook the national broadcaster and key positions in Cotonou, and authorities now say the coup attempt has been defeated even as some officers remain missing and questions about the mutineers’ support network persist.

A new agricultural agreement between Morocco and the European Union has ignited a tense dispute over tomato imports, origin labeling, and Western Sahara. European farmer groups accuse Moroccan exporters of unfair competition and misuse of labeling rules, while Moroccan producers argue that they are simply meeting a growing EU demand that local producers cannot fully supply.

Morocco’s former minister Mohamed Ziane remains in detention due to two separate criminal cases, one finalized and one still under cassation review. Authorities argue the detention is legally required, while international rights groups challenge aspects of the proceedings.

Military forces in Guinea-Bissau seized power on November 26, one day before presidential election results were scheduled for release, with regional leaders and civil society groups questioning whether the takeover was orchestrated to prevent an electoral defeat. The electoral commission now says vote tallies were destroyed during the chaos, making it impossible to determine the election’s legitimate winner.