August 31, 2023

*)Dozens dead, many wounded in building blaze in South Africa's Johannesburg At least 58 people have been killed and more than 40 wounded following a fire at a multistorey building in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, local media and emergency workers said. Johannesburg Emergency Management Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said the blaze on Thursday morning engulfed the building located in the city’s central business district. Emergency Management Services said another 43 people were injured in the blaze. Mulaudzi said a search and recovery operation was underway, and it was likely the death toll would rise. *) Gabon junta names new transitional leader Gabon coup leaders have named Republican Guard chief General Brice Oligui Nguema as transitional president in a press release. The military seized control in the wake of elections, cancelling the August 26 general elections, closing all borders until further notice and dissolving all institutions of the republic. Gabon coup will be the eighth in West and Central Africa since 2020 if successful, ending the Bongo family's 56-year grip on power. *) Burkina Faso endorses troop deployment to Niger Burkina Faso’s Cabinet has given the government the green light to send troops to help defend neighbouring Niger, where the military deposed President Mohamed Bazoum about a month ago. A Cabinet statement late Wednesday said the government was allowed to deploy a military contingent to Niger “in line with our country's strategic commitments.” Last week, Niger’s military administration authorised troops from neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso to intercede on their side “in the event of aggression” following threats of military intervention by a West African bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) force seeking to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum. *) N Korea says simulated 'scorched earth' nuclear strikes on South Korea North Korea’s military said they fired two tactical ballistic missiles from the capital to simulate “scorched earth strikes in Sout