Politics

Congo DR president, Felix Tshisekedi, charges country’s youth against M23 rebel

Published

2 years ago

November 4, 2022

In the face of a recent attack by the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Felix Tshisekedi, has called on his country’s “youth.”

The president on Thursday evening called that young people in the DRC “organize themselves into groups of vigilance”

The president in a Message to the Nation broadcast by national television again accused its Eastern African neighbour, stressing that Rwanda has “expansionist ambitions, with the main interest of appropriating our minerals”

“To do this, it is working to destabilise eastern Congo to create a lawless zone to satisfy its criminal appetites,” the DRC president continued, deploring that the various diplomatic initiatives undertaken to ease tensions have not led to “any tangible result”.

The diplomatic brouhaha between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda went on a downward sloop again as the DRC has given 48 hours to the Rwandan Ambassador to leave the country.

He also asked the Congolese “not to give in to xenophobic remarks and other speeches of hatred or stigmatization of Rwandophone communities”.

But “in response to the strong demand from the youth, I invite them to organize themselves into vigilance groups in order to support, accompany and sustain our armed forces”. He also “renewed” his appeal to young people who have the vocation “to enroll massively” in the army.

The United States also on Tuesday reiterated the position that Rwanda is supporting rebel group M23 in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 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

4 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.