Connect with us

Metro

Ethiopia: Tigray rebel forces agree to participate in AU brokered peace talks

Published

on

Rebels of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) which has been at war with the Ethiopia government in the past two years say they are now ready to take part in peace talks brokere by the African Union (AU).

Leader of the TPLF based in the Northern parts of the country, Gen. Debretsion Gebremichael, who made the announcement on Monday, two days after he had kicked against the naming of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as the peace envoy because of his “proximity” to Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, said the rebel group was now ready for a peace talk.

“The government of Tigray is prepared to participate in a robust peace process under the auspices of the African Union,” Gebremichael
said a statement.

“Furthermore, we are ready to abide by an immediate and mutually agreed cessation of hostilities in order to create a conducive atmosphere,” he said, removing an obstacle to potential negotiations with the government to end the two years of fighting.

The statement, which coincided with Ethiopia’s new year, made no mention of any preconditions for the talks, although it said it expected a credible peace process with mutually acceptable mediators as well as international observers.

The Ethiopian government has said several times that it was ready for talks anywhere at any time and without preconditions but the Tigrayan authorities had shown much enthusiasm as it continued to list conditions for such talks to hold.

The conflict in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region has so far, claimed the lives of over 20,000 prople people and had left millions of others displaced without basic services for over a year after fighting erupted in late 2020.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Metro

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

Published

on

The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest that spread across the country from August 1 to the 10th.

The nation was thrown into shock on Friday when the Nigeria Police presented 76 protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on treason. Among the suspects were four minors who slumped before they could be arraigned before the court.

This caused serious uproar in the country with Nigerians condemning the government and calling for the unconditional release of the kids and the dismissal of the charges against them.

The decision to withdraw the charges against the underage accused came following a directive by President Bola Tinubu who ordered the immediate withdrawal of the charges and an in-depth investigation into what led to the arrest and detention of the minors.

Tinubu had also ordered the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) to officially take over the case file as well as review the cases following public outcry that came with the arraignment of the minors.

The charges were finally withdrawn on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja through an application for discontinuance filled by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammed Abubakar, on behalf of the AGF.

According to Abubakar, the discontinuance application was based on provisions of sections 174(1), (b) and (c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and 108 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

The DPPF also applied for further proceedings to be conducted without the presence of the minors in the courtroom, in line with provisions of Section 266(b) of the ACJA, 2015, and Section 1 of the Childs’ Rights Act.

In response, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Fanala (SAN), who stood in for the accused as well as other defence lawyers in the matter, did not oppose the applications which promoted the judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, to strike out the charges, while the four affected minors were also delisted from the charge sheet.

Continue Reading

Metro

Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

Published

on

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as the nation continues to face the menace of drought.

Hichilema, who made the plea while speaking during the Shikaumpa traditional ceremony of the Ila people in Namwala on Sunday, expressed hope for divine intervention and sufficient rains.

“We pray that this year, God will give us rains, sufficient rains, so we can grow more food, so we can take care of the things, the assets that we keep,” the President stated.

He noted that he was informed of certain chiefs known for their rainmaking abilities, including Senior Chief Mwamba of Northern Province, Chief Sailunga of North-Western Province and Mwami Monze from the Southern Province and urged them to use their powers to invoke rain, adding that the chiefs should continue their prayers for rain, believing that “God will hear our cry.”

The President also encouraged not only the chiefs but also the churches and the entire nation to join in prayers for rain.

“All of us, the churches, everybody, we must pray for rains so that we can take care of God’s people properly,” he said.

The head of state further urged farmers to intensify efforts at planting crops and maximizing their harvest for national food security once the rain comes.

The drought in Zambia in recent
seasons have left 84 districts severely impacted, leading to food shortages and a worsening electricity deficit due to low water levels.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Sports1 hour ago

Kenyan court jails killers of Ugandan Olympian Kiplagat for 35 years

A Kenyan court sitting in Nairobi on Tuesday sentenced two men, Peter Ushuru Khalumi, 30, and David Ekai Lokere, 25,...

VenturesNow2 hours ago

Zambian govt spends K16.6 billion in October on debt servicing, gulping K4.7 billion

Zambian Ministry of Finance and National Planning released K16.6 billion in October to assist Zambian development and public service delivery,...

Metro5 hours ago

Following backlash, Nigerian govt withdraws treason charges against minors

The Nigerian government has officially withdrawn the treason charges it entered against some minors who participated in the #EndBadGovernance protest...

Sports22 hours ago

Chepkirui leads Kenya to podium sweep at New York City Marathon

Kenya had a clean sweep of the podium at the 2024 New York City Marathon on Sunday as Sheila Chepkirui...

Tech22 hours ago

AfriLabs to host ‘Annual Gathering’ in Cape Town

Pan-African innovation hub, AfriLabs, has announced Cape Town, South Africa, as the host of its “Annual Gathering” scheduled to hold...

Metro22 hours ago

Zambia: President Hichilema urges traditional leaders to invoke rainmaking powers amid drought

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on traditional leaders to call upon their rainmaking powers by praying for rain as...

VenturesNow1 day ago

South Africa: Petrol, diesel prices to rise on Wednesday. Here’s why

Following an increase in the price of oil due to the crisis between Iran and Israel, petrol and diesel prices...

Metro1 day ago

Tiinubu committed to easing hardship Nigerians are going through— Info Min, Idris

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has, once again, reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s dedication and commitment to...

Culture2 days ago

Ghanaians react angrily as American video vixen Rubi Rose tours Jubilee House

Some Ghanaians have been outraged following a tour of the Jubilee House, the country’s seat of government, by American entertainer...

Metro2 days ago

Zambia, Japan celebrate 60 years of bilateral relationship

Zambia and Japan, during the weekend, celebrated 60 years of bilateral relationship on the occasion of the African country’s 60th...

Trending