Politics

South African President Ramaphosa fights back, says ex-Intelligence chief Fraser trying to bully him

Published

2 years ago

July 19, 2022

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has fired back at former head of the country’s State Security Agency (SSA), Arthur Fraser, following criminal charges brought against him by the former spy boss, calling them an attempt to “intimidate and bully him” into stopping his fight against corruption.

Fraser had in February, filed criminal charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and assault against Ramaphosa, alleging that foreign currency worth $4 million (about R68.3m) was stolen from the president’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, but the crime was not reported.

Fraser also alleged that Ramaphosa had participated in the assault of the perpetrators, including his domestic workers after the theft and robbery was discovered in 2020.

But Ramaphosa, while responding to calls for him to step down including from his ANC ruling party and members of the Radical Economic Transformation (RET), said Fraser was only whipping up sentiments against him to break the ANC rank, insisting that he would not step down.

Ramaphosa who addressed a gathering on the third day of the 15th national congress of the SACP at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre on Tuesday, spoke on the allegations for the first and said Fraser’s criminal charges and other “related matters were an effort to stop him from renewing and uniting the ANC.”

“If the ANC loses power, the land will return to the whites. I am not going to be intimidated or bullied into submission to stop the fight against corruption and wrongdoing.

“I will do my work. I will do my work for the good of the country. We are in the fight for the soul of the ANC,” a defiant Ramaphosa said.

“I appeal to you to be part of the battle against corruption. You must not be spectators, onlookers, bystanders and neighbours. You must be active participants in our task to renew and rebuild the ANC,” he added.

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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.