Africa
BREAKING: No survivor as missing Malawi VP’s plane found
BREAKING: No survivor as missing Malawi VP’s plane found
The wreck of a plane carrying Malawi’s vice-president has been found with no survivors, President Lazarus Chakwera has said.
Saulos Chilima and nine others were flying within the country on Monday morning when their aircraft disappeared from airport radars.
The plane, a military aircraft, was flying in bad weather.
Soldiers had been searching Chikangawa Forest overnight and into the morning in an effort to find the plane.
In a news briefing on Tuesday, President Chakwera said the Malawi Defence Force commander informed him that the search and rescue operation had been completed and the plane was found.
Mr Chakwera said he was “deeply saddened and sorry” to inform Malawians of the terrible tragedy.
He said the rescue team found the aircraft completely destroyed.
The vice-president and president come from different parties but the two teamed up to form an alliance during the 2020 elections.
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Mr Chakwera paid tribute to Dr Chilima, describing him as “a good man”, “devoted father” and “formidable VP”.
“I consider it one of the great honours of my life to have had him as a deputy and as a counsellor,” he added.
Dr Chilima, 51, was on his way to represent the government at the burial of former government minister Ralph Kasambara, who died four days ago.
Former First Lady Shanil Dzimbiri was also on the flight, which took off from the capital, Lilongwe, on Monday morning.
It was meant to land at the airport in the northern city of Mzuzu, but was turned back because of poor visibility.
The military is transporting the remains of Dr Chiima and the other victims to Lilongwe, the president said, adding that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
Dr Chilima had been vice-president of Malawi since 2014.
He was widely loved in Malawi, particularly among the youth, AFP news agency reports.
However, Dr Chilima was arrested and charged in 2022 on allegations that he accepted money in exchange for awarding government contracts.
He denied any wrongdoing.
Last month, the court dropped the charges, giving no reasons for the decision.
Dr Chilima is survived by his wife, Mary, and two children, Sean and Elizabeth.
BREAKING: No survivor as missing Malawi VP’s plane found
BBC
Africa
Okada rider allegedly stabbed to death by wife over money
Okada rider allegedly stabbed to death by wife over money
A Bodaboda operator identified as Geoffrey Ouma, was allegedly stabbed to death by his wife in their home in Ongata Rongai town, Kenya after he returned with less money than usual.
Witnesses reported that the man fondly called Jeff, had just come back from work, having earned significantly less due to heavy rainfall affecting business.
His wife confronted him about the household items that they lacked and demanded that he provided the money to get them. When he was unable to do so, an argument ensued between them.
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In a fit of rage, she rushed to the kitchen to grab a knife.
Sensing the imminent danger, the Bodaboda operator attempted to flee but slipped and fell on the floor.
The wife then stabbed him in the chest, ending his life instantly.
By the time neighbors arrived, it was too late; he was already dead.
The two have been married for around 5 years and have a child.
It was gathered that the Ongata Rongai Police have arrested the woman.
Okada rider allegedly stabbed to death by wife over money
Africa
West African juntas impose levy on imported goods ECOWAS nations
West African juntas impose levy on imported goods ECOWAS nations
West African neighbours Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have announced a new 0.5% levy on imported goods as they seek to fund a new three-state union after leaving the larger regional economic bloc, they said in a statement.
The Alliance of Sahel States began in 2023 as a security pact between the military rulers of the three countries, who all took power in coups in recent years. It has since grown into an aspiring economic union with plans for biometric passports and closer economic and military ties.
The levy was agreed on Friday and will take effect immediately. It will affect all goods imported from outside the three countries, but will not include humanitarian aid, the statement said. It will “finance the activities” of the bloc, it said, without giving details.
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The move ends free trade across West Africa, whose states have for decades fallen under the umbrella of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and highlights the rift between the three states that border the Sahara Desert and influential democracies like Nigeria and Ghana to the south.
The juntas of the three countries announced plans to leave ECOWAS last year, accusing the bloc of failing to assist in their fight against Islamist insurgents and ending insecurity.
ECOWAS had imposed economic, political and financial sanctions on the three in a bid to force them to return to constitutional order, to little effect.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are some of the poorest countries in the world and have been overrun by an armed Islamist insurgency over the past decade.
The violence, committed by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, has killed thousands, forced millions to flee, and eroded faith in the democratically-elected governments who initially struggled to contain it.
West African juntas impose levy on imported goods ECOWAS nations
Africa
Niger coup leader sworn in as president for five years
Niger coup leader sworn in as president for five years
Niger’s military ruler Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani has been sworn in as the country’s president for a transitional period of five years.
Tchiani has led the country since 2023, after he deposed Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
On Wednesday, Tchiani took the presidential office under a new charter that replaces the West African country’s constitution.
He was also promoted to the highest military rank of army general in the country and signed a decree ordering that all political parties be dissolved.
During the ceremony in Niamey, Tchiani said of his new military rank, “I receive this distinction with great humility… I will strive to live up to the trust placed in me.”
The transition to democratic government is consistent with the recommendations of a commission formed following national deliberations.
The new charter states that this five-year timeframe is “flexible” based on the country’s security position.
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Niger has been plagued by Islamist attacks for years, which was one of the reasons junta officials staged their coup.
The military takeover came after a number of others in the region; adjacent Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso are also ruled by dictatorships.
All four countries have split ties with erstwhile colonial power France, forming new alliances with Russia.
And all save Guinea have pulled out of ECOWAS, the West African regional group.
Niger’s relations with ECOWAS broke down when the junta demanded a three-year transition period to democratic governance directly after the coup.
Ecowas labelled this plot a “provocation” and vowed to interfere with force before eventually backing down.
Gen Tchiani’s regime is prosecuting former President Bazoum on charges of high treason and damaging national security.
Bazoum and his wife remain in the presidential palace, despite the fact that his son was granted provisional freedom in January.
According to state-run news agency ANP, Gen Tchiani stated that Niger’s new charter adheres to traditional constitutions while also implementing “unprecedented measures to protect our natural resources so that Nigeriens truly benefit from the exploitation of their wealth.”
Niger coup leader sworn in as president for five years
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