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Shi’ites on rampage in Northern Nigeria

Kaduna, a state in Northern Nigeria, erupted in violence Thursday as suspected members of the Shi’ite sect clashed with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force

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Kaduna, a state in Northern Nigeria, erupted in violence Thursday as suspected members of the Shi’ite sect clashed with operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

A policeman was reportedly killed in the incident while many members of the sect also sustained injuries in the clash which started on Wednesday.

Members of the group had trooped out in large numbers to witness the the trial of Ibrahim Zakzaky, their leader, at the Kaduna State High Court.

Aliyu Mukhtar, spokesman of the Kaduna police command, said the deceased officer died after being hit by objects thrown at him by the Shi’ites.

“It was a large crowd, the shiite members as usual were hiding in the midst of people and when our men were trying to disperse them, they started throwing stones at them.

“The policeman was hit with stones several times and he fell down. He was taken to the Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital were he gave up,” he said.

Meanwhile, Femi Falana, counsel to Zakzaky, told reporters that the court did not sit and the case was adjourned till July 11.
Falana also condemned the authorities for barring journalists from the court, saying trial is public.

“Ladies and gentlemen you also have a duty to insist on being part of this trial because it is a public trial. It is your right to cover the proceedings” he said.

“What happened in court today is that, the court did not sit. We were informed by the registrar of the court that his lordship, Justice Gideon Kurada is indisposed. In the circumstance, we have to take a date, the prosecution and defense counsel have agreed to come back on 11th July to have possibly the arraignment and file an application for bail for our client.

“So, that is where we are. We don’t know the reason the judge is not in court but we were told he was indisposed.”

Politics

South African police arrest 87 persons ahead of planned protest by opposition party, EFF

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Reports from South Africa on Monday morning say security forces have arrested 87 persons across the country over public violence ahead of planned protests by the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party.

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa labeled the planned national wide protest by members of the opposition party as an attempt to overthrow him.

The EFF called for a national shutdown to protest crippling power cuts and demand the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party’s strong base consists of working-class Black South Africans who feel left out of the country’s prosperity since the governing African National Congress (ANC) ended white minority rule in 1994.

As reported by National intelligence body NatJOINTS, 41 people were arrested in Gauteng, including Pretoria and Johannesburg, 29 people were arrested in North West, and 15 people were arrested in Free State. Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape have also been arrested, according to NatJOINTS.

“Law enforcement officers are on high alert and will continue to prevent and combat any acts of criminality,” NatJOINTS said.

The country lately has had challenges with its electricity supply which has forced struggling state power company, Eskom to announce the previous series of power rotation arrangements.

Eskom has implemented scheduled electricity outages every day in 2023, with most households and businesses without power for up to 10 hours a day.

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South Africa to host Russia’s President Putin despite ICC ruling

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South Africa has insisted that it is not without knowledge of what is at stake ahead of a proposed visit by Vladimir Putin after an international court issued an arrest warrant against the Russian leader.

President Cyril Ramaphosa through his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya on Sunday said it was aware of legal obligation as Russian President Putin is expected to visit South Africa in August to attend a BRICS summit.

In 2006, the foreign ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, and China met for the first time on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, marking the beginning of BRIC cooperation.

“We are, as the government, cognisant of our legal obligation. However, between now and the summit we will remain engaged with various relevant stakeholders,” spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

President Putin is expected to attend the 15th BRICS summit, as he did in 2013.

“We note the report on the warrant of arrest that the ICC has issued,” Magwenya said.

“It remains South Africa’s commitment and very strong desire that the conflict in Ukraine is resolved peacefully through negotiations.”

According to the International Court of Justice (ICC), President Putin is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of the population (children) and the unlawful transfer of the population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian-occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022.

There has been back and forth between the US and the global South, notably Russia and China over influence and relations with Africa.

Russian president, Vladimir Putin, plans to host the second Russia-Africa summit in July in St. Petersburg, an event intended to underline his attempts to curry favour in African nations after being shunned by the West over his invasion of Ukraine a year ago.

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