Politics

Ethiopia, Tigray rebels set for peace talks in South Africa

Published

2 years ago

October 24, 2022

All is set for the much-anticipated peace talks aimed at bringing lasting peace between Ethiopia and rebels from its northern Tigray region after a two-year war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.

The peace talks which were brokered by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo who is the African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa, is kicking off in South Africa on Monday, October 24, with both warring factions agreeing to participate after initially expressing different opposing views.

On Friday, the Ethiopian government had put out a statement saying it viewed the talks as “an opportunity to peacefully resolve the conflict,” while the leadership of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), also confirmed their attendance with a member of the central committee, Kindeya Gebrehiwot, tweeting that the delegation had arrived in South Africa Sunday.

According to the spokesman of the TPLF, Getachew Reda, the Tigrayan delegation is being led by one of the region’s top generals, Tsadkan Gebretensae.

An official of the US Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, in an announcement early Monday, said the Tigrayan delegation arrived on a US military aircraft.

The Ethiopian government also announced that it has arrived in South Africa for the peace talks on Monday “to find a solution to the two-year war in northern Ethiopia.”

“The federal government delegation left Addis Ababa in the morning to South Africa for the peace talks under the aegis of the AU.

“The government sees this as an opportunity to peacefully resolve the conflict and consolidate the improvement of the situation on the ground made possible by the sacrifices of the army,” the statement said.

The exact location of the venue for the talks have not been revealed or whether the media will be allowed a coverage is not yet known.

Related Topics:#war Conflict Ethiopia Featured Peace Talks Tigray

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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.