Politics

Coalitions intensify call for protest against Guinea ruling junta over ‘credible dialogue’

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2022

There has been fresh call for protest by Guinean political coalition against the ruling junta, after government’s delay to demands for “credible dialogue” on the transition to civilian rule.

The coalition which comprises parties, unions and civil society organizations, National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), initiated the July 28 and 29 demonstrations, which were banned by the authorities.

Protesters hit the sreets of Guinea two weeks ago, days after the chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) Umaro Sissoco Embalo hinted that the bloc persuaded the junta to shorten its timeline for a return to democracy.

Regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on August 1 called on “the Guinean authorities, the political class and civil society to engage in an inclusive dialogue in order to defuse the tension and agree on a timetable and reasonable modalities for the peaceful restoration of constitutional order.

But the junta has consistently rejected the calls and failed “to respond to the many calls for dialogue on the transition,” the FNDC denounced Monday in a statement also criticizing “the chronic attitude of defiance” of the Guinean government towards ECOWAS, its “unilateral and authoritarian management of the transition” and “the illegal use of lethal weapons in the management of demonstrations.

Guinea is in the West African region of the continent that has been rocked by two coups in Mali, and in Burkina Faso since August 2020. The military juntas have had kick-backs from different quarters, including ECOWAS.

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, overthrew Guinean President Alpha Conde, who has been in power since 2010, on September 5, pledged to hand over power to elected civilians within three years. The proposed transition period has been widely criticized.

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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.