Coups: ECOWAS sanctions Guinea, Mali …seeks UN, EU, AU, support …says coup unacceptable in Africa - Newstrends
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Coups: ECOWAS sanctions Guinea, Mali …seeks UN, EU, AU, support …says coup unacceptable in Africa

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU) and other bodies to support its sanctions on the military junta in Mali and Guinea for forcefully overtaking democratic governments in their countries.

This was the resolution of the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Accra, Ghana, to review the political situations in the two countries. The body declared coups d’état as unacceptable means of changing governments in Africa.

The communiqué at the end of the 3rd Extraordinary Summit on Guinea and Mali attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on behalf of the President, stated that “the Authority decides to uphold the suspension of the Republic of Guinea from all ECOWAS governing bodies as well as the travel ban and freeze on financial assets imposed on the members of the CNRD and their family members until constitutional order is restored” in the country.

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On Mali, the ECOWAS leaders at a meeting presided over by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority resolved that in “conformity with the decision taken on 16th September 2021, the Authority decides to impose sanctions with immediate effect against individuals and groups who have been identified, including the entire transition authorities and the other transition institutions.”

According to him, the sanctions will also be imposed on the members of their families and these include a travel ban and a freeze on their financial assets.

T he body further instructed the President of the Commission to consider and propose additional sanctions at its next Ordinary Session on December 12 should the situation persist. Osibanjo said in a release by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, that African countries had gone far beyond military coup as a means of changing political actors and that coups were unacceptable.

He added that ECOWAS Heads of State and Government would continue to prevail on the military juntas in Guinea and Mali to return their countries to democratic rule.

The VP, who observed that significant progress had been made in the political situation in Guinea, regretted that not much had been achieved in Mali.

Other decision reached in Guinea by the ECOWAS summit were the reaffirmation of the demand for unconditional release of President Alpha Condé; calling on the Transition Authorities to urgently submit a detailed timetable of activities to be carried out under the transition towards the holding elections in accordance with the decisions of the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government held on 16th September 2021 and the appointment of Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas as Special Envoy to Guinea with a view to strengthening dialogue with the Transitional Authorities towards a successful and short transition process.

On Mali, the leaders expressed concerns at the deterioration of the security situation as a result of the heightened political uncertainties in the country while calling on the Transition Authorities to intensify efforts to improve the security situation, especially by ensuring effective state presence in the affected areas.

The Authority also called for a more robust and offensive mandate and enhancement of the operational capacity of MINUSMA to deal with terrorism challenges in Mali. ECOWAS accordingly requested the United Nations Security Council to make the necessary amendments to the mandate of MINUSMA.

It also insisted that the transition timetable regarding the conduct of election in February 27, 2022 be adhered to by the Transition Authorities while condemning the expulsion of the ECOWAS Permanent Representative to Mali.

The summit was attended by the Presidents from Ivory Coast, Senegal, Niger and Guinea-Bissau.

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NNPC CEO Ojulari Receives Prestigious Energy Institute Fellowship in London

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NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari Receives Prestigious Energy Institute Fellowship
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari Receives Prestigious Energy Institute Fellowship

NNPC CEO Ojulari Receives Prestigious Energy Institute Fellowship in London

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has earned international acclaim as its Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has been conferred with the Fellowship of the Energy Institute (FEI), United Kingdom — one of the highest honours in the global energy industry.

The Fellowship recognises senior energy leaders who have demonstrated sustained, high-impact contributions to the advancement of the energy sector. It was formally conferred on Ojulari during International Energy Week (IEW) in London, a leading platform for energy policy, finance, and industry leadership. (punchng.com)

The honour was presented by Andy Brown, President of the Energy Institute, who praised Ojulari’s transformative leadership of NNPC Ltd., highlighting his role in strengthening governance, embedding a performance-driven culture, and repositioning the company for long-term value creation.

Under his stewardship, NNPC Ltd. has implemented investor-focused reforms, enhanced operational excellence, and expanded strategic global partnerships, all contributing to increased confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector. The recognition reinforces NNPC’s ongoing transformation into a commercially driven, globally competitive, and transparent energy company.

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Significance for Nigeria and Africa

Experts note that the FEI Fellowship is not only a personal achievement for Ojulari but also a major institutional endorsement of NNPC Ltd.’s reform agenda. Being recognised at International Energy Week, which convenes policymakers, financiers, regulators, and industry leaders, positions the company at the centre of critical global energy discussions on sustainability, energy transition, and capital formation.

The award also signals growing international confidence in NNPC Ltd. and highlights Nigeria’s strategic role in Africa’s energy security and global energy transition ambitions. (vanguardngr.com)

Ojulari’s Leadership Achievements

Since assuming office, Engr. Ojulari has overseen multiple strategic reforms at NNPC Ltd., including:

  • Driving governance and operational reforms to boost accountability.
  • Expanding strategic partnerships and investor-focused initiatives.
  • Enhancing execution efficiency across the company’s subsidiaries.
  • Positioning NNPC Ltd. as a credible, investment-ready energy enterprise.

These efforts have not only improved the company’s profitability and performance but also strengthened Nigeria’s energy security and market competitiveness. (punchng.com)

Ojulari described the Fellowship as a reflection of collective effort within NNPC and reiterated his commitment to sustainable value creation, global best practices, and energy sector innovation.

NNPC CEO Ojulari Receives Prestigious Energy Institute Fellowship in London

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FCT Polls: CSO Situation Room Flags Late Voting, Vote Buying, Logistical Challenges

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CSO Situation Room

FCT Polls: CSO Situation Room Flags Late Voting, Vote Buying, Logistical Challenges

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has raised concerns over multiple irregularities in the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, citing late polling unit openings, reports of vote buying, and logistical challenges that could affect voter participation.

According to the Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 civil society organisations advocating for credible elections in Nigeria, many polling units opened late, with an average start time of 9:15 a.m., well after the official 8:30 a.m. schedule. Observers also noted low voter turnout in several areas, particularly in AMAC, although queues began forming later in Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji Area Councils.

Vote Buying Observed

The coalition reported instances of vote buying, with voters allegedly offered up to ₦10,000 in exchange for ballots in units such as PU008, PU056, PU057, and PU058 in Gidan Mangoro Ward, AMAC. While some of the transactions were open, others were conducted discreetly.

The Situation Room warned that such electoral malpractice undermines the integrity of the election and called on electoral officials, political parties, and security agencies to intervene and prevent further incidents.

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Logistical and Accessibility Issues

Observers noted that some voters struggled to locate their polling units after last-minute changes communicated by INEC via text messages. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) generally performed efficiently, with a one-minute average accreditation time, though malfunctions were reported in a few units including Gwako Town Primary Schools II & IV and PU143, Gwagwalada.

The Situation Room also highlighted accessibility challenges for voters with disabilities, noting that braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, and other assistive materials were largely absent, even in designated disability communities such as Karimajiji and PU052, Wuse.

Security and Election Conduct

Security personnel, including officers from the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence, Immigration Service, and Fire Service, were present in significant numbers and generally maintained order and professionalism.

Isolated incidents of intimidation and harassment were reported in locations such as Grade 1 Area Court, Rubochi (Kuje); Naharati Sabo School II, Rimba/Ebagi; and PU3, UNG Liman/UNGWAR LIMAN 1, Abaji Central, but security agents swiftly resolved these situations.

Call for Calm and Integrity

The Situation Room commended the INEC FCT Help Desk for promptly addressing reported issues and called on all stakeholders to maintain calm, resist vote buying, and ensure that the will of the people is respected as the polls continue and results are collated.

The report was jointly signed by Mma Odi and Celestine Odo, co-conveners of the coalition.

FCT Polls: CSO Situation Room Flags Late Voting, Vote Buying, Logistical Challenges

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Trump Moves to Indefinitely Suspend Work Permits for Asylum Seekers

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U.S President Donald Trump
U.S President Donald Trump

Trump Moves to Indefinitely Suspend Work Permits for Asylum Seekers

United States President, Donald Trump, has introduced a sweeping immigration proposal that could halt the issuance and renewal of work permits for asylum seekers for many years, marking what analysts describe as one of the most consequential shifts in U.S. asylum employment policy in decades.

The proposed rule, released on Friday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeks to suspend new employment authorisation for asylum applicants until the average processing time for designated asylum cases falls to 180 days or fewer.

According to DHS data, the asylum case backlog now exceeds 1.4 million applications, with the department projecting that meeting the 180-day benchmark could take between 14 and 173 years under current conditions—effectively creating an indefinite suspension of asylum work permits.

Despite the bleak projections, DHS said administrative restructuring, staffing increases, and efficiency-focused reforms could eventually reduce processing delays. However, officials acknowledged that significant improvements would take time.

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In a statement accompanying the proposal, DHS said the rule, if finalised, “would reduce incentives for frivolous, fraudulent, or otherwise meritless asylum claims.” The department stressed that work authorisation is not an entitlement, but a discretionary benefit granted by the DHS secretary.

If implemented, the policy would generally bar migrants who entered the United States unlawfully from receiving new work permits or renewing existing ones while their asylum claims remain pending.

Limited exemptions would apply only to individuals who alerted U.S. border officials within 48 hours of arrival that they feared persecution, torture, or faced another urgent humanitarian threat.

The proposal forms part of a broader immigration clampdown under President Trump, who returned to office in 2025 after campaigning on stricter border enforcement and tougher asylum standards.

Throughout his campaign and early months back in office, Trump portrayed immigrants and asylum seekers as economic and security burdens, claims that critics argue are not supported by crime or labour market data.

Immigrant advocacy groups, civil rights organisations, and some Democratic lawmakers have criticised the proposal, warning that denying work permits could push asylum seekers into poverty, increase dependence on charities, and drive people into undocumented employment.

Legal experts also expect significant court challenges, arguing that the rule could weaken long-standing U.S. and international asylum protections and undermine due-process guarantees.

The proposal will undergo a 60-day public comment period once it is formally published in the Federal Register on Monday. The regulatory process could extend for months or even years, with the final outcome uncertain amid anticipated legal battles.

Until then, existing regulations governing asylum seeker work permits in the United States remain in force.

Trump Moves to Indefinitely Suspend Work Permits for Asylum Seekers

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