Metro

30 Burundian soldiers killed in Al-Shabab militants attack in Somalia

Published

2 years ago

May 5, 2022

The Burundian military has confirmed that at least 30 of its soldiers were killed and 20 others injured in an attack by al-Shabab militants on an African Union base in southern Somalia on Tuesday.

According to the report, 10 of the soldiers who were part of the AU Peacekeeping force stationed in the war-ravaged Somalia, died on the spot while the rest of the soldiers succumbed to their wounds while receiving treatment at different hospitals.

The report added that other soldiers are still missing following the attack which the al-Qaeda has since accepted responsibility for.

In a statement on the militants’ Telegram channel, al-Shabab said it killed 173 soldiers in the attack on the AU base in the village of El-Baraf, about 150 kilometers north of Mogadishu.

Though the casualty figure has not been independently verified by officials, military sources say at least 161 soldiers were at the camp at the time of attack.

A Somalian official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said soldiers had intelligence that al-Shabab was gathering in a nearby village about 48 hours prior to the attack. He said the soldiers prepared to defend themselves and dug trenches but were caught by surprise by the enormity of al-Shabab explosives detonated at the camp.

He added that the militants used three truck bombs, one of which fell into a ditch, estimating the militants detonated about 20 kilograms of explosives, and that 450 militants overran the camp.

The official also said 20 al-Shabab militants were killed in the attack.

Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiyec who posted on Twitter on Wednesday, said there are no words strong enough to condemn the terrorist attack against the Burundian contingent.

“I join with all of Africa which has just lost sons and daughters … to console the hard-hit families,” Ndayishimiyec wrote.

Late last month, the al-Shabaab group has launched a mortar attack on the Somalian parliament during a joint session where six people were injured while last week, the group also Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for a blast at a seaside restaurant in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, where six people were also killed and several others wounded.

Related Topics:African Union Al-Shabaab Attack Featured

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Metro

‘Rights must go with responsibilities,’ traditional leader cautions on use of social media

Published

53 mins ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

Mansa, Luapula Province: Annette Katema, the Head Woman of Chitumbi Village in Mansa District, voices concerns about the detrimental effects of irresponsible social media usage.

In a recent interview with Zambia Monitor, Katema argued that social media platforms were contributing to delinquency among the youth, particularly platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook.

“Children are being exposed to inappropriate content on WhatsApp, which is harmful to their upbringing. Social media platforms are fostering moral decay,” remarked Head Woman Chitumbi.

She stated that this trend undermined the cultural values that were essential for societal cohesion.

Katema expressed reservations about the prevalence of nudity and offensive language on social media, calling for stricter moderation.

She advocated for proactive measures to steer young people away from harmful online content, suggesting the revitalization of traditional recreational activities like playhouses and sports.

“Instead of solely relying on punitive measures, let’s invest in creating positive alternatives to counter the allure of social media,” Katema proposed.

She urged the youth to uphold traditional values alongside their digital rights, stating the importance of responsible behavior online.

“We should not lose respect in the name of digital rights because rights should go with responsibilities,” the traditional leader said.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

President Tinubu finally returns to Nigeria amid speculations over his absence

Published

5 hours ago

May 8, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

After spending the last two weeks out of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has finally returned to the country.

Tinubu, who returned to Nigeria on Wednesday morning, had departed the country two weeks ago, on April 23, for The Netherlands for a three-day official visit, honouring an invitation from the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte.

While in the European country, Tinubu participated in the Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum, which brought together heads of conglomerates and organisations in both countries.

After his engagements in The Netherlands, Tinubu, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, proceeded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to attend a World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development which held between April 28–29.

However, after the summit, the president did not return to the country as he was said to have proceeded to London for a private visit which gave room to speculations over his health.

The Nigerian Presidency did not also help matters as there was no official statement on the President’s engagements, nor were they willing to douse the tension created by his absence, leading to Nigerians raising posers with the hashtag #WhereisTinubu.

In a tweet on Tuesday evening, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had revealed that Tinubu would be back in the country on Wednesday.

“President Bola Tinubu, along with his aides, will return to Nigeria tomorrow from Europe,” he had written.

The recent foreign trip was Tinubu’s 20th since assuming office on May 29, 2023, effectively logging 96 days abroad, which has made him one of Africa’s most globe-trotting leaders.

In his less than one year in office, President Tinubu has visited Paris, France (thrice); London, the United Kingdom (twice); Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (twice); Nairobi, Kenya; Porto Norvo, Benin Republic, New Delhi, India.

He has also taken a trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; New York, the United States of America; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (twice); Berlin, Germany; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dakar, Senegal; Doha, Qatar; and The Hague, The Netherlands.