Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

For months, Sudan's army kept silent amid alleged Emirati interference in the country's civil war, but its anger has finally boiled over, leading to harsh exchanges between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi.

The brutal conflict broke out in mid-April between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing more than 12,000 people and displacing millions.

The military that overthrew the legal authority in Niger has requested help from the Russian private military company "Wagner" on the eve of an expected West African military intervention to restore constitutional order, writes "Associated Press".

France has suspended all development aid and budgetary support to Niger following a military coup against President Mohamed Bazoum, the French Foreign Ministry said.

Paris "calls for an immediate return to constitutional order in Niger," along with the reinstatement of democratically-elected Bazoum, the ministry said in a statement.

The army took power in Niger. In a televised address, the military announced that President Mohamed Bazoum had been removed from power and that all institutions and state borders would be closed until further notice, BTA reported. The message was read on national television by Colonel Amadou Abdraman.

Air raids, gunfire and explosions rocked Sudan's capital on Sunday ahead of a one-week ceasefire agreed by rival generals, the latest in a series of truces that have been systematically violated.

Six Iranian border guards were killed in a clash with an unknown armed group trying to enter the country near the Pakistani border, state TV reported Sunday.

Sudanese fighter jets pounded paramilitary positions in Khartoum on Thursday while deadly fighting and looting flared in Darfur, despite the army and a rival force agreeing to extend a ceasefire deal.

Russia has been invited to participate in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) championship in June, Reuters reported. This comes amid speculation that the Russian Football Union may switch to the Asian Confederation (AFC).

Russian football has been sanctioned by the European Football Federation (UEFA) as well as FIFA, but is seeking a return to international competition.

Azerbaijan is suspending work in its embassy in Iran, days after a gunman stormed the embassy and killed a security guard, AFP reported.

Iran said Friday's attack was motivated by personal reasons, but Baku described it as an act of terrorism.

"Today, a memorandum on Iran's obligations in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was signed. This paves the way for the country to become a full member of the SCO," a representative of the Iranian ministry told reporters, as reported by Sputnik.