Africa
France speaks on alleged plot with Nigeria to destabilise Niger

France speaks on alleged plot with Nigeria to destabilise Niger
France has dismissed allegation that Nigeria has offered space in its territory to it in order to destabilise the former French colony, Niger Republic.
Abdourahamane Tchiani, Nigerien military leader, had accused France of plotting to destabilise the country by using neighbouring Benin and Nigeria as a base for attacks.
In a Christmas Day interview, Gen. Tchiani accused France of allying with militant groups in the Lake Chad region to undermine his country’s security, allegedly with Nigeria’s knowledge.
He said: “Nigerian authorities are not unaware of this underhanded move.”
Gen Tchiani said France made a “substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu” to establish a military base in Nigeria.
“They (France) met and negotiated with Boko Haram/Lakurawa,” Tchiani said.
But reacting yesterday, Mr. Bertrand de Seissan, Political Counsellor to the Embassy of France in Nigeria, said the allegation was groundless. “This allegation is groundless. This has never been discussed, nor even suggested by either France or Nigeria,” he said.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, had also described the allegations as insulting to Nigeria and dismissed calls for Nigeria to cut ties with France.
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According to him, Nigeria has always maintained a relationship with France. He dismissed reports suggesting that the ties were driven by ulterior motives.
The minister said: “We have always had a relationship with France, it did not start today and there is nothing different about our relationship with France today but it does not mean that other countries or other people have to dictate to Nigeria who it should have a relationship with.”
Tuggarr noted combating terrorism as one of Nigeria’s key interests with France.
“We cannot tackle the issue of insecurity in our region simply by a partnership or by being friends with the Sahelian countries. Even if you do that you still have Libya to contend with,” he said.
“I just finished describing to you the weaponry that is being churned out of Libya; training, fighters, terrorists, the criminal gangs and so on and so forth.
“To solve Libya we need a relationship with France, we need a relationship with the United States of America, we need a relationship with Russia, we need a relationship with all of these major powers.
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“You cannot say that ‘Oh no, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali have decided after all these years they no longer want to have anything to do with France therefore Nigeria must be compelled’ and meanwhile Nigeria is the senior partner in the relationship, to begin with. It is shortsighted, myopic, and not in Nigeria’s national interest.”
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, had earlier said the Nigerien leader’s allegations were baseless and false.
Mr. Ribadu said Nigeria would never “sabotage Niger or allow any disaster to befall it.”
Similarly, the Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, said the allegations were unfounded and a diversionary tactic aimed at covering his administration’s failures.
Reports alleging hidden motives from France started to swirl after President Bola Tinubu travelled to the country for a three-day state visit.
Gen Tchiani’s allegations have worsened diplomatic tensions with Nigeria, already strained since the 2023 military coup that ousted ex-president Mohamed Bazoum.
France speaks on alleged plot with Nigeria to destabilise Niger
Africa
Plane crash in South Sudan kills 20 oil workers

Plane crash in South Sudan kills 20 oil workers
A small aircraft carrying oil workers in South Sudan’s Unity State crashed on takeoff from its oilfield airport on Wednesday, killing 20 people, the region’s information minister said.
The plane had departed for the capital Juba when it went down, Gatwech Bipal said.
The passengers were oil workers of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation and state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation, he said.
Among the dead were two Chinese nationals and one Indian, he added.
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President Salva Kiir said engineers and technical staff were among the dead, and pledged a thorough and swift investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
Bipal gave no more details on the circumstances. Media reports had initially put the death toll at 18 but Bipal told Reuters two survivors had later died. One person survived.
Several air crashes have occurred in war-torn South Sudan in recent years. In September 2018, at least 19 people died when a small aircraft carrying passengers from Juba to the city of Yirol crashed.
In 2015, dozens of people were killed when a Russian-built cargo plane with passengers on board crashed after taking off from Juba airport.
Plane crash in South Sudan kills 20 oil workers
Africa
S’African man gets life jail for stabbing ex-girlfriend to death

S’African man gets life jail for stabbing ex-girlfriend to death
A regional court in Western Cape, South Africa has sentenced a man, Jerome Windvogel, to life imprisonment after he was convicted for the brutal killing of his ex-girlfriend.
The mother and sister of the deceased said Windvogel laughed while he stabbed Nelnisha Kortjie 39 times.
Windvogel, a member of the 28s gang, had a previous record of convictions, all for violent crimes committed between 2006 and 2018.
On February 17, 2023, Windvogel stabbed Nelnisha Kortjie 39 times after she failed to respond to his text messages.
Kortjie was on her way to the bus stop in Bonnievale when Windvogel approached her.
“He called her but she did not respond. He then chased after her as she turned to go home, took out a knife and stabbed her in the face, neck, upper body, lower body, arms, and legs,” said National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson in the Western Cape, Eric Ntabazalila.
Kortjie’s mother tried to intervene but Windvogel lunged at her.
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He then sat on top of Kortjie and continued to stab her.
Kortjie, aged 36, died at the scene.
“He was arrested that same morning after community members chased him,” Ntabazalila said.
During the trial, state prosecutor Elton Willmse said Kortjie’s murder was a fifth offence involving violence as an element and it was committed before the period of suspension, in one of his cases, had expired against the accused.
According to Willemse, Windvogel has a propensity to commit violent crimes.
He was previously convicted of an offence where violence was an element, as he did not want to accept that the relationship was over.
“Again, in this matter, he would not take no for an answer. He admitted to having a problem with controlling his anger yet he still armed himself with a knife,” he added.
The court noted that Windvogel gave no regard for the child they shared and Kortjie’s other two children.
S’African man gets life jail for stabbing ex-girlfriend to death
Africa
Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso officially exit ECOWAS

Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso officially exit ECOWAS
The three military-led West African nations – Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso – have officially withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, the Republic of Mali and the Republic of Niger from ECOWAS has become effective today, 29th January 2025,” a statement by the ECOWAS Commission on Wednesday reads.
ECOWAS assured that passports and identity cards bearing its logo will remain valid for travel within the region.
Trade and economic activities will also proceed under the existing ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, allowing goods and services from the three countries to move freely.
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“Allow citizens of the three affected countries to continue to enjoy the right of visa free movement, residence and establishment in accordance with the ECOWAS protocols until further notice,” it further added.
More so, it urged members to continue providing full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the three countries in the course of their assignments for the Community.
“These arrangements will be in place until the full determination of the modalities of our future engagement with the three countries by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government,” the statement clarified.
Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso officially exit ECOWAS
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