Africa
Niger coup: Tinubu writes Senate, seeks approval for military action
Niger coup: Tinubu writes Senate, seeks approval for military action
President Bola Tinubu has written the Nigerian Senate, intimating it of the proposed military action and other sanctions against the military officers who recently seized power in the Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
Since the soldiers seized power in Niger on July 26, the leaders of the West African regional bloc headed by President Tinubu, has been in discussions, especially on sanctions against the coup plotters.
However, the junta has remained adamant. Not even a delegation by Tinubu, yesterday, could de-escalate the situation.
His letter to the Senate was read on the floor of the Upper Chamber by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The letter read: “Political situation in Niger. Following the unfortunate political situation in the Niger Republic culminating in the overthrow of its President, ECOWAS under my leadership condemned the coup in its entirety and resolved to seek the return of the democratically elected government.
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“In a bid to restore peace, ECOWAS convened a meeting and came out with a communique:
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with the Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.
“Cutting off electricity supply to the Niger Republic; mobilising international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communique.
“Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic; blockade of goods in transit to Niger, especially from Lagos and eastern seaports.
“Embarking on sensitisation of Nigerians and Nigeriens on the imperative of these actions, particularly via social media.
Africa
Man who has lived in America for over 13 years says he’s tired, wants to return home
Man who has lived in America for over 13 years says he’s tired, wants to return home
After 13 years of residing in the United States of America, a Kenyan man has expressed his strong desire to return to his homeland.
The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly relocated to the US in 2011, initially serving in the military for four years before transitioning into corporate employment.
During his time in the US, he held various positions, including a deployment in Afghanistan, and was earning a substantial salary of $12,000 per month.
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However, despite the financial security, he found himself grappling with a sense of unfulfillment, realizing that he was sacrificing his most valuable asset (time) for a pursuit that left him with little satisfaction.
In December of the previous year, he reportedly resigned from his corporate job and delve into entrepreneurship, seeking freedom and autonomy in his endeavors.
Man who has lived in America for over 13 years says he’s tired, wants to return home
Africa
23 killed in violent clashes over cattle in South Sudan
At least 23 people were killed and 44 were injured in violent clashes between different ethnic groups over cattle theft in South Sudan, a local official said on Tuesday.
Heavily armed cattle thieves attacked a village in the state of Eastern Equatoria, a local administration spokesman said.
Hundreds of cattle were stolen during the raid.
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Seven children and five women were also abducted during the attack.
Members of the Murle ethnic group were armed with machine guns and other rapid-fire weapons, he said.
The latest incident comes after other, deadly attacks relating to cattle theft in South Sudan.
Several ethnic groups in South Sudan breed cattle, with farming not only key for economic reasons and critical to prosperity, but also deeply embedded in their culture.
23 killed in violent clashes over cattle in South Sudan
(dpa/NAN)
Africa
Electricity crisis forces Energy minister to resign
Electricity crisis forces Energy minister to resign
Following weeks of disruption, electricity supply has been finally restored in most cities across Sierra Leone after a part payment was made for the $48m (£38m) utility bill it owed to a Turkish company, Karpowership.
The payment of the sum of $18m comes as the country’s energy minister, Kanja Sesay announced his exit from government, saying he took full responsibility for the crisis.
Most electricity supplies to the capital, Freetown, is generated from a Turkish ship floating off the country’s coast.
Last week, Karpowership said it had severely cut supplies to the city, from 60 megawatts to 6 megawatt, citing backlog of unpaid bills.
Residents of the country’s main cities have been going for days on end without any power and hospitals have also been affected.
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At least one infant has died because of a lack of power, while medics have been using mobile phones to provide light as they carry out procedures, Reuters news agency quotes a doctor as saying.
“How do you iron your clothes, how do you make your food, how do you go to sleep? We pay our electricity bills so I don’t see why we should be forced to live like this,” BBC quoted a second-year engineering student in Freetown, Fatmata Gassim as saying.
Following the resignation of Sesay, the office of President Julius Maada Bio said the energy ministry would now fall under the direct supervision of the president.
Karpowership previously cut supplies to Sierra Leone in September over unpaid bills.
It is one of the world’s biggest floating power plant operators, with several African states relying on it for electricity.
In October, it briefly cut power to Guinea-Bissau, saying it had no option “following a protracted period of non-payment”.
Electricity crisis forces Energy minister to resign
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