Musings From Abroad

Putin’s Russia takes war to social media, bans Facebook, Instagram, for being ‘extremist’

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2022

Russia has taken its clampdown on the traditional media to the social media, after a court on Monday, placed a ban on Facebook and Instagram, claiming that the two platforms are “extremist.”

The ban on the new media platforms are part of sweeping efforts by Moscow to crack down on social media during the conflict in Ukraine.

Before the ban, the Russian authorities had accused the U.S. tech giant, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, of tolerating what it termed as “Russophobia” since President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine on February 24.

The Moscow’s Tverskoi District Court acceded to a request from prosecutors for the two social media platforms to be banned for “carrying out extremist activities” just as the two platforms have been inaccessible in Russia since early March and Instagram was blocked in the country.

In the judgement, the court ruled that Meta’s WhatsApp messenger service would not be prohibited because it is not used to post public statements.

During Monday’s court hearing, Russia’s FSB security service accused Meta of working against the interests of Moscow and its army during the conflict.

“The activities of the Meta organization are directed against Russia and its armed forces,” FSB representative Igor Kovalevsky told the court.

“We ask the court to ban Meta’s activities and oblige it to implement this ruling immediately,” he said.

Meta had announced on March 10 that the platforms would allow statements like “death to Russian invaders” but not credible threats against civilians, but in what appeared to be damage control, Meta’s global affairs president, Nick Clegg, later said the laxer rules would only apply to people posting from inside Ukraine.

In a statement before the ruling, a Meta representative has said that “following public debate” the company had now changed its policy and deemed that “Russophobia and calls for violence against Russian citizens are unacceptable.”

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has come down hard on the media with its regulator, Roskomnadzor, earlier blocking access to euronews.com, the website of the French channel Euronews, and its Russian version, ru.euronews.com, at the request of the prosecutor’s office.

Earlier this month Roskomnadzor also blocked access to the BBC’s main news website, with Moscow’s Foreign Ministry warning of more retaliatory measures against the media.

Before the ban, Facebook and Instagram were widely used in Russia and the latter was the most popular social media platform among young Russians.

Instagram was also a key platform for advertising, processing sales and communicating with clients for small businesses in the country.

Related Topics:Facebook Featured Instagram Russia

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Musings From Abroad

France, Nigeria sign agriculture, infrastructure deals

Published

5 days ago

November 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Two agreements to improve food security and infrastructure development have been struck between France and Nigeria, while Nigerian lenders, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Zenith Bank, have expanded their operations into France.

The agreements were signed during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Paris, according to Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who said on Friday that the agreements included a 300 million euro investment plan to support the development of human capital, healthcare, transportation, agriculture, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure throughout Nigeria.

A letter of intent was signed by French Economy Minister Antoine Armand and Nigerian Finance Minister Wale Edun to enable the investments. Onanuga added in a statement that both countries have promised to simplify trade and investment procedures.

“The two countries committed to forge a strategic relationship in project implementation and enhance mutual trade and cross border services by removing fiscal barriers while protecting labour rights,” a joint statement said.

Zenith Bank opened its doors in Paris in addition to the government-level accords, and UBA is expected to follow after reaching an agreement with French authorities to start business in Paris, according to Onanuga.

Nigeria is the fourth-largest trading partner of France in Africa, behind Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and the top trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria Exports to France was US$4.26 Billion during 2023, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

Musings From Abroad

Chad terminates defence cooperation with France

Published

5 days ago

November 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

France’s influence in Sub-Saharan Africa has suffered a fresh setback as the government of Chad says that it has terminated its defence cooperation agreement with France, potentially leading to the withdrawal of French troops from the Central African nation.

After more than 60 years of independence, Chad, a crucial Western partner in the war against Islamic terrorists in the area, said in a statement that it wants to completely establish its sovereignty.

It stated that it would be allowed to reinterpret its strategic alliances as a result of the 2019 revision to the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

Although Chad has always worked closely with the military forces of Western countries, in recent years it has become more close to Russia.

After being forced to withdraw its soldiers from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso due to military coups, the decision represents yet another blow to France’s colonial and historic position in West and Central Africa.

Since then, the military juntas have looked to Russia, which has been developing stronger connections with Chad’s president Mahamat Deby and has mercenaries stationed throughout the Sahel area, a group of nations that stretches from the northwest to the northeast shores of Africa.

“Under the terms of the accord, Chad will respect the modalities of the termination including the necessary deadlines, and will collaborate with French authorities to ensure a harmonious transition,” the statement said.

The French foreign ministry is yet to officially comment on the development.

Although a French envoy to President Emmanuel Macron this week submitted a report with recommendations on how France could scale back its military presence in Chad, Gabon, and Ivory Coast, where it has stationed thousands of troops for decades, there were no signs that Paris had been informed in advance of the decision.

Approximately 1,000 French soldiers and combat aircraft are presently stationed in Chad.

In a further setback for France, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye stated Thursday in an interview with French state television that French troops should not be stationed in his nation.

He stated that Paris would be the first to know, but he did not specify whether or when French forces would be ordered to depart. There are about 350 French soldiers stationed in Senegal.

The decision to terminate the country’s defence relationship with France should not in any way jeopardise the two nations’ cordial ties, according to a statement from Chad’s foreign ministry.