Politics

Guinea: Court frees anti-government activists of contempt charge

Published

2 years ago

July 9, 2022

In Guinea, a court on Friday freed three political leaders not guilty of contempt of court over comments posted on social media.

The defendants, who are leaders of an influential political and civil society coalition had posted comment on social media criticising the prosecutor’s office and the military-appointed parliament.

Mamadou Billo Bah, rapper Alpha Midiaou Bah also known as Djanii Alfa, Sylla, also known as Fonike Mengue were beaten and had their clothes torn by police officers.

The political leaders whose arrest Tuesday prompted two days of violent protests were released Friday following a trial in Dixinn, a suburb of the capital Conakry.

Protesters hit the street in solidarity for the arrested leaders, they burned tyres, set up barricades, knocked over bins and threw projectiles at the police, who tried to disperse them with tear gas.

According to the National Transitional Council (CNT), prosecutor of the Conakry Court of Appeal, Alphonse Richard Wright, on Tuesday accused Sylla and Bah of “producing and disseminating through a computer system insulting remarks” against the junta-appointed parliament.

Guinea is one of the West African countries that have recently experienced a military takeover of government. Mali and Burkina Faso are part of the negative trend.

There has been wide spread criticism of “high handedness” exhibited by the current junta led by Mamady Doumbouya, who took power after a coup in September.

Recall that Guinea’s pressure group, The National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC) last month called for a nationwide demonstration against the military junta despite the ban placed on public demonstration.

Regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently rejected a 3-year transition proposed by the Doumbouya led junta.

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.