Connect with us

Metro

Latest al-Shabab killings stir demand for withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia

Published

on

Latest attacks of deadly terrorist group, al-Shabab on Kenyan soldiers in Kilgoris, south-western Kenya has stirred the demands of withdrawal of Kenya troops from Somalia by Kenyans.

The attack, which killed 35 year-old Kenyan soldier, Mr. Johnson ole Kiyaipi, and nine of his associates have left families of the deceased frustrated as there has been no official statement on the attack.

“How many other young men are we going to lose before our boys are brought back home? How many more families should bear the pain of this war fought in distant lands?” asked Johnson’s elder brother, Dr Joel ole Kiyiapi.

“If our boys should die, they should die protecting our country within our borders.”

In January, the U.S. military says its troop withdrawal from Somalia is complete, in one of the last actions of President Donald Trump’s presidency.

Report from Kenya says “family members of soldiers are angry about the government’s silence when Kenyan troops die in action. They say the blackout and lack of public honouring is disrespectful. The authorities have not explained why they keep quiet about military deaths.”

Wife of one of the slain soldiers, who could not hold back her tears while her scribbled tribute for the late husband was read out by a friend: “Your children and I will miss you and your lovely smile. Shine on your way my love,” the speech read.

Another relative of the deceased, Prof.  Kiyaipi said he was surprised there was no debate amongst lawmakers or the public about the goal of Kenyan forces in Somalia.

“We need to rethink our strategy and have a clear end-date for our troops there. It cannot be an indefinite mission and we sure can’t afford to keep losing our young men in this war,” he told newsmen.

“Every fallen soldier is a father, a son, a daughter. The president needs to publicly acknowledge our heroes,” he continued.

“We are the taxpayers and the government has a responsibility of being open,” he said.

Kenyan troops have suffered many attacks from the deadly al-Shabab. In 2021, a massive bomb attack in Lamu County near the Somali border targeting a Kenyan military convoy killed fifteen soldiers. There have been several other attacks that have left hundreds of soldiers dead with al-Shabab claiming responsibility.

Kenya Defence Forces entered southern Somalia 2011 years ago under a special operation called The Operation Linda Nchi . The Kenyan government declared the operation completed in March 2012, but its forces then joined AMISOM in Somalia with Kenya forces still on ground.

Metro

‘Don’t start what you can’t finish’, ex-Nigerian official replies President Tchiani

Published

on

Former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has told President Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger Republic to refrain from making infantile and puerile allegations that Nigeria is conniving with France and the Lakurawa terrorists to destabilize his country.

Tchiani had, during an interview with Radio-Télévision du Niger on December 25, accused the Nigerian government of using the sect, with the help of foreign security forces notably from France, to wreck havoc in his country, insinuating that President Bola Tinubu had been paid by the France government to allow their military to establish a base in Borno State.

He also alleged that Nigeria, acting in collaboration with the French government and the terrorist group, was responsible for an attack on the Niger-Benin oil pipeline on December 13, 2024, in Gaya, Dosso Region of Niger Republic.

But in a statement he posted on his official X handle on Sunday, Fani-Kayode who is popularly called FFK, said Nigeria does not need the help of France and thr Lakurawa terrorist to destabilize Niger Republic.

FFK insisted that Nigeria is not part of the western powers sponsoring terrorists organizations to wretch havoc on the West African sub region.

“If Nigeria wanted to destabilise Niger Republic, I do not believe that we would need France or any terrorist organisation to do so,” the politician wrote.

He noted that on the contrary, western powers are the ones behind terrorist organizations operating in the region and other parts of Africa.

“I have maintained that the western powers are behind the terrorist groups that have plagued the West African sub region over the last 15 years and for the last ten years I have publicly stated this and given my reasons.

“I am equally certain that Nigeria, being one of the major victims of these terrorist organisations, has had no part in it and that no Nigerian President, past or present, has indulged in such grave and dangerous actions.”

He went on to advice Tchiani against provoking Nigeria with unguarded and infantile utterances capable of stoking Nigeria against his country.

“The Nigerien Military Head of State, Abdourahamane Tchiani, would do well to be careful not to provoke our wrath with his absurd assertions and remain mindful of the fact that the defence budget for his country, Mali and Burkina Faso COMBINED is not up to 25% of Nigeria’s.

“Tchiani’s grave allegations that President Tinubu and NSA Nuhu Ribadu have been bought by the French to destabilise Niger Republic, that our Government is jointly sponsoring a terrorist group with France to do same and that there are French military bases in Nigeria are infantile, puerile, mendacious and asinine.

“It is a squalid attempt by the Nigerien Head of State to sow the seeds of dissention in our country, to alienate our people from constituted authority, to divide our people and to undermine the Tinubu administration,” he added.

“It is also highly provocative and the FG should consider the possibility of taking other more extreeme measures if this reckless provocation continues.

“We are under no obligation to show restraint when we are being undermined and maligned.

Continue Reading

Metro

Zambia announces second case of Mpox as country battles cholera outbreak

Published

on

The Zambian Ministry of Health has reported a second case of Monkeypox, popularly known as Mpox, in Kitwe region of Copperbelt Province.

Acting Health Minister, Douglas Syakalima, who made the announcement on Friday during a press conference in Lusaka, revealed that the Ministry is intensifying contact tracing and surveillance to curb further spread of the disease.

Syakalima who also addressed the ongoing cholera outbreak in Nakonde, Muchinga Province, said thus far, seven cases have been confirmed.

“The second Mpox case involves a 34-year-old female from Ndeke, Kitwe, who presented with symptoms including rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and oral ulcers on December 21,” Syakalima said at the press parley.

He noted that there was an initial misdiagnosis with chickenpox in Lumwana, North-Western Province, but laboratory tests on December 26 confirmed that it was Mpox.

Syakalima added that the patient’s husband, who works in a neighboring country with confirmed Mpox cases, had experienced similar symptoms earlier this month.

“Both patients are now stable and under close monitoring. A rapid response team has been deployed to trace contacts and prevent further spread,” he said, adding that eight close contacts of the couple are currently under observation, while nationwide surveillance has been heightened.

The Health Minister added that on December 26, five cholera cases were confirmed at Nakonde Urban Clinic with the first three patients, a husband, wife, and their son, admitted on December 24 with symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and shock.

“Today, two more cases have been reported, bringing the total to seven confirmed cholera cases from the same household,” Syakalima stated.

He explained that Nakonde’s location as a border town with high cross-border movement poses a risk for the disease to spread to other parts of the country.

The Minister however, assured that the Ministry has deployed teams to trace contacts, chlorinate water sources, disinfect affected homes, and activate Incident Management Systems at district and provincial levels while surveillance has been heightened, and contact tracing is ongoing for 33 individuals.

“The government remains committed to preventing further spread of these diseases,” Syakalima assured.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

VenturesNow3 weeks ago

Nigeria: Marketers predict further price cut as another refinery begins operations

Oil marketers and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority expect refined petroleum product prices to reduce as another...

VenturesNow3 weeks ago

Kenya: Consumer inflation rises to 3.0% from 2.8%

Kenya’s statistics agency said on Tuesday that Kenya’s consumer price inflation increased slightly to 3.0% year-over-year in December from 2.8%...

VenturesNow3 weeks ago

South Africa’s Transnet’s half-year deficit hits $117m

Transnet, a state-owned logistics company in South Africa, announced on Tuesday that it had lost 2.2 billion rand ($117.48 million)...

Musings From Abroad3 weeks ago

Nigeria, China extend $2bn currency swap deal

A 15 billion yuan ($2 billion) currency-swap arrangement between China and Nigeria has been extended to boost investment and commerce...

VenturesNow3 weeks ago

Egypt’s central bank maintains overnight rates

As anticipated, Egypt’s central bank has maintained its overnight interest rates, stating that although inflation was predicted to drop significantly...

VenturesNow3 weeks ago

Illicit flows cost Nigeria, others $1.6bn daily— AfDB

According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), illicit money flows and profit shifting by multinational corporations doing business in Africa...

Metro3 weeks ago

‘Don’t start what you can’t finish’, ex-Nigerian official replies President Tchiani

Former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has told President Abdourahamane Tchiani of Niger Republic to refrain from making infantile and...

Tech4 weeks ago

Again, Starlink raises prices of its services in Nigeria

Elon Musk’s satellite internet service provider, Starlink, has again jacked up the prices of its services in Nigeria after an...

Sports4 weeks ago

Former President of Moroccan club Raja sentenced to 3 years in prison

The former President of Moroccan top club, Raja Casablanca, Mohamed Aouzal, has been sentenced to three and a half years...

Metro4 weeks ago

Zambia announces second case of Mpox as country battles cholera outbreak

The Zambian Ministry of Health has reported a second case of Monkeypox, popularly known as Mpox, in Kitwe region of...

Trending