Politics

Burkina Faso’s PM, Kyélem de Tambèla, moots ‘federation’ idea with neighbouring Mali

Published

2 years ago

February 2, 2023

There are indications that neighbouring West African countries, Mali and Burkina Faso might be forming a “federation” to boost their economic clout.

The indication was given by Burkina Faso’s prime minister, Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela who is currently on a visit to neighbouring Mali this week.

According to an official account of the visit published by his office on Thursday, Prime Minister Tambela said, “we could create a flexible federation that would be mutually reinforcing and respect the aspirations of both sides.”

“Mali is a major producer of cotton, cattle, and gold. Burkina Faso also produces cotton, cattle, and gold,” Kyelem de Tambela said during the trip on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“So long as we each take separate paths, we don’t have much clout. But if you put Mali’s and Burkina Faso’s production of cotton, gold, and cattle together, it becomes a powerhouse.”

There has been the idea to forge a federation in francophone West Africa, consisting of Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Benin shortly before they gained independence from France in 1960.

“Our forebears tried to create groupings, like the Mali Federation, which sadly did not last. But they showed us the way,” he said.

“One of my reasons for going to Mali is that for a long time, we’ve been looking elsewhere for solutions when they’re often right under our noses,” he continued.

The West African neighbours are battling a brutal jihadist insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives, driven more than two million from their homes, and prompted military takeovers of the elected government.

Each has witnessed two military coups since 2020 and is under pressure from the international community to return to democratic civilian rule. The two have also tilted towards embracing relations with global south-in Russia and China as they have both engaged Russian mercenaries- the Wagner group in containing terrorism as well as seeing relations with France.

A federation consists of a group of countries or regions that have joined together to form a large organization or government. Under the federal arrangement, no region is politically stronger enough to dominate the other but each can influence the other through the instrument of negotiation and compromise.

Related Topics:Burkina Faso Featured Federation Kyélem de Tambèla Mali

Click to comment

Politics

Nigeria’s Tinubu to call for Gaza ceasefire in Riyadh

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Nigeria’s presidency has announced that President Bola Tinubu will demand a truce and a peaceful settlement of the Israel-Palestinian dispute when he visits the next Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

“Nigeria will also advocate for renewed efforts to revive the two-state solution as a pathway for lasting peace in the region,” said presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

Nigeria, as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member was invited by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to an annual summit scheduled for November 11.

Along with the head of the security intelligence agency and his national security adviser, Tinubu will travel to Riyadh with a group of cabinet ministers, including those in charge of information and foreign affairs. Tinubu’s administration is currently engaged in combat with Islamist insurgents in the country’s northeast.

According to a United Nations estimate, 1.74 million more Palestinians will be forced into poverty throughout the State of Palestine as the conflict in Gaza approaches its seventh month.

Africa is a geopolitical interest for the Western powers, and its institutions, which are biased towards Israel in the conflict.

Politics

Equatorial Guinea bans sex in govt offices after tapes leak

Published

7 days ago

November 6, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following the release of private recordings on social media that seemed to show a senior finance ministry official having sex with multiple women in a variety of locations, including his office, Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday announced a crackdown on sex in government offices.

The administration claimed that because the recordings had damaged the reputation of the small Central African nation, it was taking action.

Since the videos first surfaced last week, the controversy has been rocking the government of Equatorial Guinea, which has had the same president for decades.

Hundreds of amateur films were discovered at the finance official’s residence during a raid related to a corruption inquiry, according to local media sources.

According to local media, the women in the films seemed to be family members and the spouses of other influential government officials.

According to a government statement, Vice President Nguema Obiang Mangue issued fresh directives on Tuesday to stop ministry and court workers from committing crimes at work.

These included increased security and the installation of security cameras in every workplace.

“The executive is taking this decision following the videos of a sexual nature that have gone viral on social media in recent days and that denigrate the country’s image,” the state information agency said in the statement.

According to the statement, the measures were decided upon in emergency sessions with the attorney general, the Supreme Court, and other parties.

It stated that individuals featured in the sex tapes would be suspended without being given their identities, and those in charge of guarding the buildings where the videos were purportedly shot would receive reprimands for their negligence.

The longest-serving president in history, Teodoro Obiang, has led Equatorial Guinea, a country of around 1.7 million inhabitants on the west coast of Central Africa, for 45 years.