Africa
Niger junta reopens borders with neighbours, excludes Nigeria
Niger junta reopens borders with neighbours, excludes Nigeria
Niger announced overnight that it was reopening its borders with several of its neighbours, excluding Nigeria, a week after a coup that has been condemned by foreign powers.
“The land and air borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya and Chad are re-opened from August 1, 2023,” a junta spokesperson said on state television.
Nigeria shares a 1,608 kilometres (999 miles) land border with Niger. It runs from Benin in the west to Chad in the east.
The junta closed the borders last Wednesday, at the same time that it announced that it had removed democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from power.
The borders that have reopened are mainly in remote desert areas. Niger’s key entryways for trade and commerce remain closed due to sanctions imposed by the regional bloc.
The reopening of the land borders comes as defence chiefs from regional bloc ECOWAS are scheduled to start a two-day meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to discuss the situation in Niger, where ECOWAS has threatened to use force if soldiers do not reinstate the elected president.
READ ALSO:
- Senate stops senator quizzing Alake over controversial media comments
- Niger coup: Mali, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso absent as ECOWAS Defence Chiefs meet in Abuja
- Senate engages aggrieved unions after protesters pull down NASS gate
A delegation from the regional bloc was also expected to arrive in Niger’s capital Niamey on Wednesday to start talks with the junta, led by General Abdourahmane Tiani.
Niger’s coup was the seventh military takeover in less than three years in West and Central Africa, where some of the coup-hit countries have banded together in opposition to the rest of the 15-nation regional bloc.
European countries started evacuating their citizens this week after Mali and Burkina Faso, also ruled by military juntas, said they would consider any regional intervention in Niger to be a declaration of war and would come to its defence.
EUROPEANS EVACUATED
The first military planes carrying mostly European nationals landed in Paris and Rome on Wednesday.
“Things could have turned ugly but it still is nice to be back here,” a French evacuee who gave his name as Charles told Reuters TV.
“We will see how things evolve over there in the coming days and weeks. For us, who care about it quite a lot, we will follow this closely,” he said.
France, the United States, Germany, and Italy have troops in Niger on counterinsurgency and training missions, helping the army to fight groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State.
There has been no announcement of troops being withdrawn so far. Germany’s defence minister said on Wednesday that there were no concerns about the safety of German soldiers.
Any Western military intervention to restore democracy must be ruled out, as it would be “perceived as a new colonisation”, said Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani.
Niger is the world’s seventh-biggest producer of uranium, the radioactive metal widely used for nuclear energy and treating cancer.
The EU Commission said earlier this week that it had sufficient inventories of natural uranium to mitigate any short-term supply risks.
Niger junta reopens borders with neighbours, excludes Nigeria
PM
Africa
Nigeria denies alleged plot to destabilise Niger Republic
Nigeria denies alleged plot to destabilise Niger Republic
The Federal Government of Nigeria has refuted “in very strong terms” allegations that it is plotting to destabilise neighbouring Niger Republic.
The Nigerien authorities alleged that the Lakurawa terrorist group, with the help of foreign security forces, including Nigerian security forces, were responsible for the attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on December 13, 2024, in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.
However, Nigeria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Saturday signed by its acting spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, refuted the allegation.
“The Government of Nigeria condoles with the Government of Niger over the unfortunate attack on the oil pipeline, but informs that the perpetrators were neither backed nor assisted by Nigerian authorities.
READ ALSO:
- Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship
- Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba
- NIMC warns against extortion, reaffirms free NIN enrollment
“The Government of Nigeria is strongly committed to the fight against terrorism and will not condone or support the activities of such groups.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria also expresses very serious concern and states categorically that there are no French military troops in the northern part of the country preparing to destabilize the Government of Niger.
“These allegations are unfounded and should be discarded in their entirety,” the Statement read in part.
It also noted that the relationship between Nigeria and France had always been cordial, saying it is guided by mutual respect, dignity, and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs.
The government of Nigeria assured that it would continue to explore all peaceful means to maintain its cordial relationship with the Republic of Niger for the benefit of the people of both countries.
Nigeria denies alleged plot to destabilise Niger Republic
Africa
Suspected witchdoctors arrested over attempt to ‘bewitch’ Zambia’s President
Suspected witchdoctors arrested over attempt to ‘bewitch’ Zambia’s President
Two men were detained in Zambia on charges of being “witchdoctors” tasked with attempting to bewitch the president.
The police stated they had arrested Jasten Mabulesse Candunde and Leonard Phiri in Lusaka.
“Their purported mission was to use charms to harm” President Hakainde Hichilema, according to the police statement issued on Friday.
Many individuals in the southern African country believe in and dread witches.
The police stated Mr. Candunde and Mr. Phiri were hired by Nelson Banda, MP Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda’s younger brother.
The MP was reportedly arrested last month in nearby Zimbabwe on robbery allegations, which he denies, but he has not been seen in public since.
He is also accused of escaping from detention in August while waiting to appear in court.
The opposition Patriotic Front (PF), led by z, has previously claimed that the charges are politically motivated.
READ ALSO:
- Farotimi: Advocacy group wants UK college to break ties with Afe Babalola
- Yahaya Bello walks home after release from Kuje prison Friday evening
- Fire kills family of three in Ibadan
Emmanuel Banda, who has been an independent MP since 2021, previously worked with Lungu, who lost the presidency to Hichilema that same year.
The police stated the MP’s younger brother, Nelson, was “currently on the run” in their statement.
Mr. Candunde and Mr. Phiri face charges under Zambia’s Witchcraft Act for “possession of charms,” “professing knowledge of witchcraft,” and “cruelty to wild animals.”
The pair was found with “assorted charms,” including a live chameleon, according to the authorities.
According to the police statement, they claimed they had been given more than 2 million Zambian kwacha (£58,000; $73,000) for their “mission.”
The accused are in jail and will appear in court “soon,” according to the police, although no specific date has been set for the hearing. They have not yet responded in public to the charges.
Suspected witchdoctors arrested over attempt to ‘bewitch’ Zambia’s President
Africa
South African man sentenced to six life terms for killing his relatives
South African man sentenced to six life terms for killing his relatives
-
Railway15 hours agoLagos Rail Mass Transit part of FG free train ride – NRC
-
metro2 days agoCourt stops customs from seizing imported rice in open market
-
metro3 days agoFG transfers electricity market regulatory oversight in Lagos to LASERC
-
metro2 days agoIbadan stampede: Tinubu orders probe as death toll hits 40
-
metro2 days agoAfe Babalola: Court grants Dele Farotimi bail, barred from media interviews
-
metro15 hours agoNIMC warns against extortion, reaffirms free NIN enrollment
-
metro1 day agoIbadan stampede: Ooni reacts after arrest of ex-wife
-
News2 days agoAdebayo Ogunlesi, 2 other Nigerians make Forbes 50 wealthiest Black Americans list 2024