Politics

Comoros President, Azali wants talks with France over planned expulsion of Mayotte migrants

Published

2 years ago

April 23, 2023

Comoros President, Azali Assoumani wants a diplomatic discourse with the French government over plans to expel all illegal migrants from the French island of Mayotte, most of whom are Comorians.

The president of the Indian Ocean territory, while speaking on Saturday, insisted Comoros would not accept any of the migrants.

“In regards to the situation in Mayotte, I would like to assure you, my dear compatriots of the four islands, that the path chosen by the government is that of establishing communication with our partner France,” Assoumani said.

Assoumani added that his government “hopes the French side will take into account the position of the Comorian government on the territorial dispute between our country and France on the Comorian island of Mayotte.

“We favour the pursuit of new perspectives in order to find a solution to this unfortunate dispute which has lasted for more than forty years while respecting international law and the well-understood interests of our two friendly countries.”

Mayotte is a region and single territorial collectivity of France located in the northern part of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Southeastern Africa, between Northwestern Madagascar and Northeastern Mozambique.

Comoros is concerned about the possible migrant crisis as it is located in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of East Africa.

About half of Mayotte’s 350,000 residents lack French nationality according to the French National Institute of Statistics (INSEE), while a third of the island’s foreign residents were born there.

Although the French minister of Interior and Overseas is yet to set a precise date for the operations, the minister, Gérald Darmanin revealed that 1,800 police and gendarmes are already stationed in Mayotte.

Related Topics:Comoros Featured France Mayotte migrants

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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.