Politics

Thousands of Sudanese celebrate 3 years of al-Bashir fall, protest against Fattah al-Burhan reign

Published

2 years ago

April 7, 2022

Thousands of Sudanese on Wednesday, dared the weather, police tear gas, and hunger from their Ramadan fast for a protest march in the capital Khartoum and more towns across the country to mark the third anniversary of the fall of former President Omar al-Bashir and against the current military reign of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

Security forces fired tear gas at protesters in the capital Khartoum, its twin city Omdurman, and Wad Madani in the south of the country.

Reuters reports that many were injured in the mass action and that a 19-year-old protester was shot and killed by security forces in the Sharg al-Nil area of Bahri, across the Nile from Khartoum.

Sudan is currently led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan after coming to power through a coup on 25 October 2021, thus disrupting a period of political transition and damaging the economy of one of the world’s poorest countries.

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has however promised that the army will leave politics after elections that are scheduled for 2023 but that seems a long wait for Sudanese who also protested against the military rule.

“We came out despite the heat and despite fasting to regain our civilian government and bring down the coup,” said protester Mayada Kheiry.

The Northeast African country has a long history of military coups and unrest that dates back to 1957. More recently, the country experienced a coup in 2019 that ousted the military junta of Omar-al-Bashir which had been in power for over 30 years. There was also a report of an aborted coup in September 2021 and a “self-coup” later in October of the same year that brought in Head Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.

Related Topics:al-Burhan Featured Omar al-Bashir Sudan

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Politics

Barrick Gold, Mali govt resolve issues on Loulo and Gounkoto mines

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The government of Mali and Barrick Gold Corp (ABX.TO) have resolved their ongoing claims and disagreements about the Loulo and Gounkoto gold mines in that West African nation, the company announced on Monday.

Two days after four Barrick employees were detained by the Malian government, the second-largest miner in the world made a statement. A new mining agreement that would allow Mali’s military-led government more control over its resources has been negotiated by the two sides. Among Africa’s top producers of gold is Mali.

According to Barrick, once the terms of the settlement have been finalised, the agreement’s specifics will be made public.

“The current negotiations have proved challenging but we’re encouraged by the government’s recognition of the importance of securing the long-term viability of the Loulo-Gounkoto complex as a substantial contributor to the Malian economy,” Barrick’s CEO, Mark Bristow, said in a statement.

It was not immediately possible to reach the Mali government for comment.

Barrick announced in July that it has made over $10 billion in economic investments in Mali during the previous 29 years.

Politics

Equatorial Guinea wants Gabon’s claim on islands rejected by ICJ

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Equatorial Guinea requested on Monday that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismiss Gabon’s claim to multiple islands situated in potentially oil-rich seas within the Gulf of Guinea.

The tiny island of Mbanié, which is located less than a kilometre (about 1,000 yards) off the coast of Gabon, is the centre of a dispute between the two major oil-producing countries of Africa. They have requested that the UN’s highest court resolve the case.

“Gabon’s position is factually and legally untenable,” said Equatorial Guinea’s representative at the court, Domingo Mba Esono.

Since Gabon’s army ousted Equatorial Guinean soldiers from Mbanié in 1972, there has been violence. Since then, Gabon has established its own military outpost on the 74-acre, nearly deserted island (30 hectares).

However, the conflict was forgotten until the early 2000s, when renewed interest in the Gulf of Guinea was sparked by the possibility of oil.

Following years of UN mediation, the nations inked a deal in 2016 that would eventually allow the International Court of Justice, or World Court, to resolve the conflict.

The convention that divided up French and Spanish colonial holdings in West Africa in 1900 serves as the foundation for Equatorial Guinea’s claim to the islands.

In the meantime, Gabon asserts that the 1974 accord ought to serve as the foundation for the ICJ’s ruling. Gabon’s 1974 agreement evidence document, according to Equatorial Guinea, is not an original and is not signed.

Hearings will last a week. Gabon presents its case on Wednesday. Next year is anticipated to see the court’s definitive and binding decision.