Africa

ECOWAS defence chiefs agree on D-day for invasion of Niger Republic

Published

1 year ago

August 19, 2023

ECOWAS defence chiefs agree on D-day for invasion of Niger Republic

The Defence Chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ended their two-day meeting in Accra, Ghana, Friday, with an agreement on a “D-day” for a possible military intervention to restore civil rule in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts fail.

This is coming on the heels of the United Nations reaction to Niger’s military junta threat to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason, saying “rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”

Soldiers from the Presidential Guard had on July 26 deposed President Bazoum, thus truncating the constitutional political leadership in the West African country.

Two days later, the soldiers named General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the new leader of the country, with Tchiani warning against any foreign military intervention.After a meeting of ECOWAS Heads of States and Government in Abuja last week, the bloc directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger.

The West African army chiefs decided to meet in Ghana (Thursday and Friday) to hatch out the logistics and strategy for a possible use of force in Niger that ECOWAS has said would be a last resort.

Speaking on Friday after the Defence Chiefs’ meeting, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the “D-Day” for the military intervention in Niger Republic had been agreed, without disclosing the exact date.

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Musah said: “We are ready to go anytime the order is given. The D-Day is also decided. We’ve already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention.”

Musah noted that the community was still seeking to engage with the junta peacefully, saying, “As we speak, we are still readying a mediation mission into the country, so we have not shut any door.

”The ECOWAS Defence Chiefs had on the first day of the two-day meeting in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to fine-tune details of a potential military operation to restore Bazoum if continuing negotiations with coup leaders fail, pledged readiness to participate in a standby force that would restore democracy in Niger.On that first day, all member states, except those under military rule and Cape Verde, agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.

On July 30, ECOWAS, led by Nigeria, decided on sanctions against the military Junta in Niger and gave a week’s ultimatum to them to restore ousted Bazoum to office.In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions.”

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UN to Niger Junta: Rule-By-Gun Has No Place in Today’s WorldMeanwhile, the United Nations yesterday reacted to Niger’s military junta threat to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason, saying “rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”

Last Sunday, the Niger junta threatened to prosecute Bazoum for high treason over his exchanges with foreign heads of state and international organisations.Junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said last Sunday that the military authorities had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute the ousted president for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”

Reacting yesterday, the UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk said there was no legal basis for Niger’s military junta to prosecute deposed president Bazoum for high treason.Turk, also stated that the very notion of freedom in Niger was at stake.He said, “This decision is not only politically motivated against a democratically elected President but has no legal basis as the normal functioning of democratic institutions has been cast aside.

“The very notion of freedom in Niger is at stake. Generals cannot take it upon themselves to defy – at a whim – the will of the people. Rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”The coup leaders have imprisoned Bazoum and dissolved the elected government of Niger, a major uranium producer and a Western ally in the fight against an Islamist insurgency.

ECOWAS defence chiefs agree on D-day for invasion of Niger Republic

Related Topics:defence chiefs ECOWAS Featured Niger Republic

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Africa

Boyfriend of murdered Kenyan journalist arrested

Published

4 days ago

November 10, 2024

Trends Admin

George Mwenda Mutegi and Lilian Achieng Aluko

Boyfriend of murdered Kenyan journalist arrested

A man has been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of Kenyan journalist, Lilian Achieng Aluko, whose body was discovered in a house in Kahawa West, Nairobi, Kenya.

Lilian, who was a presenter at Radio 44, a local radio station, was found dead at her boyfriend’s house with injuries on her face and a stab wound at the back on November 1, 2024.

A day before her death, the 33-year-old had informed her family that she would be spending the night at her boyfriend’s place.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in a statement on Friday said the suspect, believed to be Achieng’s boyfriend, was apprehended in the Kaanwa area of Tharaka Nithi County.

The DCI worked closely with local authorities in Meru County to track down the suspect, whose movements had been monitored since he disappeared on November 1.

Police investigations revealed that Achieng and the suspect spent the evening at a local spot before heading to the suspect’s house in Kahawa West.

“George Mwenda Mutegi, the prime suspect in the monstrous murder of Ms Lilian Achieng Aluko has been arrested after days of scrupulous manhunt. Mutegi was smoked out of his hideaway at Kaanwa area of Tharaka Nithi county,” the statement read.

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“The suspect’s arrest by a combined team of hawkshaws from DCI Hqs augmented by their Meru counterparts is a culmination of days of meticulous investigations launched on 1st November, 2024, the night Mutegi is believed to have murdered his girlfriend. After the heinous killing, Mutegi disappeared and erased his footprints.

“Police and the neighbours would only wake up to a slain Achieng, whose lifeless body lay soaked in blood with a stab wound at the back of her right ear and visible injuries on her face and hips.

“Probing the case, police found out that the two lovebirds had on the fateful night had a good time at a local establishment, before retreating to the boyfriend’s place of abode in Kahawa West.

“In an ugly turn of events, the attention of the neighbours was drawn to loud screams from Mutegi’s locked house, which were quickly deafened by loud noise from his sound system.

“Unaware that the distress call was the last Achieng would ever make, the neighbours went back to their houses hoping that the duo would resolve their issues.

“That night, the life of a 33-year-old lady with a blossoming career as a presenter at a local radio station was ended.

“The suspect is currently being processed for arraignment as the DCI continues to investigate all other cases of a similar nature to ensure justice for all victims.”

Boyfriend of murdered Kenyan journalist arrested

Africa

Baltasar Engonga: I dated him for four years, lady says, sues for betrayal

Published

5 days ago

November 10, 2024

Trends Admin

Cristel Nchama and Baltasar Engonga

Baltasar Engonga: I dated him for four years, lady says, sues for betrayal

Cristel Nchama, one of the women appearing in viral explicit videos allegedly involving Baltasar Engonga, the former director-general of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), has filed a formal complaint with the National Gendarmerie in Malabo.

Engonga has been the focus of intense public scrutiny after investigators, probing allegations of fraud, searched his home and office and reportedly uncovered approximately 400 explicit videos featuring him with multiple women.

The tapes allegedly show Baltasar Engonga with his brother’s wife, his cousin, the sister of the country’s president, the wife of the director-general of police, and around 20 wives of ministers, among others.

The recordings, which have since gone viral, are said to have taken place in Engonga’s office, hotels, and bathrooms, purportedly with the consent of those involved.

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In her complaint, Nchama disclosed that she had been in a four-year relationship with Engonga and expressed profound distress over the public leak of the videos, which she says has harmed her reputation.

Nchama claimed that Engonga “misled” her into trusting him and that she had initially resisted being filmed, under the impression that any recordings would be deleted.

She also claimed to have been “betrayed” by Bello for publishing the videos.

“I am humiliated,” she stated. “It is my reputation, my honour. I want to know where these images came from and why he kept the images.”

In addition to filing her complaint, Nchama has demanded reparations from Engonga for the damage caused to her reputation and personal dignity.

Following the scandal, the government dismissed Engonga from his position at ANIF on Thursday.

Officials also announced the suspension of various public officials allegedly involved in sexual activities within government offices.

Baltasar Engonga: I dated him for four years, lady says, sues for betrayal

Africa

Baltasar Engonga: Equatorial Guinea appoints new anti-graft agency boss

Published

7 days ago

November 8, 2024

Trends Admin

Baltasar Engonga

Baltasar Engonga: Equatorial Guinea appoints new anti-graft agency boss

Equatorial Guinea’s President, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has appointed Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo as the new Director General of the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF), succeeding Baltasar Ebang Engonga, who was removed amid sex scandal.

Recall that Engonga was dismissed following accusations of “irregularities committed in the exercise of his functions,” along with inappropriate family and social behavior unfit for public office, as stated in Decree No. 118/2024, dated November 4.

The investigation uncovered over 400 video recordings in Engonga’s office, reportedly involving the wives and relatives of high-ranking officials, including ministers and police officers.

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The shocking discovery triggered widespread public outrage and prompted swift action by the government.

In response, the Equatorial Guinean government has mandated the installation of surveillance cameras across all state offices, aiming to monitor officials’ conduct and deter future misconduct.

Zenón Obiang Obiang Avomo, who steps into the role at ANIF is a graduate of the National University of Equatorial Guinea, Avomo and has held key positions, including Magistrate Judge in Malabo, Director General of Contract Studies and State Markets at the Ministry of Finance, and Secretary General for both the Ministry of Finance, Economy and Planning, and the Ministry of Mines, Industry, and Energy.