Politics

South Africa’s opposition leader asks FBI to investigate President Ramaphosa over corrupt allegations

Published

3 years ago

June 23, 2022

Leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, John Steenhuisen of the Democratic Alliance (DA), has asked the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to probe President Cyril Ramaphosa over allegations of corruption and money laundering.

Steenhuisen’s request in a written petition to the South African branch of the FBI, comes two weeks after former head of intelligence agency, Arthur Fraser, filed a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa, accusing him of money laundering and not reporting a robbery at his Phala Phala farm where over $4 million was reportedly stolen.

Steenhuisen said it was important for the FBI to investigate how the money ended up in South Africa and whether it was brought in legitimately or laundered by Ramaphosa.

“The FBI are tasked with investigating white-collar corruption and money laundering involving the use of US dollars,” he said.

Accusing the president of remaining silent in the face of the strong accusation, the DA leader said he has refused to come clean on the allegations.

“I think the longer the president stays silent on this issue, the more people will call him to step aside. We are not yet calling on him to step aside yet, we want to give him the benefit of the doubt to come clean and tell us his side of the story,” Steenhuisen said.

In the heat of the allegations and calls for his resignation, Ramaphosa had come out refuting them saying the stolen money was less than the $4 million claimed by Fraser and it was from the proceeds from the sale of the game at his farm and not from the country’s taxpayers.

“I have never stolen taxpayers’ money. I want to reaffirm that I was not involved in any criminal conduct, and once again I pledge my full cooperation with any form of investigation,” Ramaphosa had said.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.