Politics

Egypt commits to mediation role in Sudan

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2023

Egypt is committed to helping with stability in Sudan amidst recent clashes between the Sudanese army and the country’s paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Egypt President, Abdel Fattah el-Sissi revealed on Monday that Cairo wasreaching out to warring parties in the East African country which has been plagued with violence that has had over 97 civilians killed, with more than 1,000 others wounded, according to the country’s doctors’ union.

President el-Sissi said, while speaking at a meeting with Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, that his country was willing to “play a mediation role” to quench the crisis.

“If I had a message to deliver, and I have said that to President Salva Kiir (of South Sudan), we are both ready to play a mediation role between our brothers in Sudan in order to reach a truce between the brothers and this is still going on and we have endless calls between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces, we are in constant contact with them to encourage them to cease fire and end the bloodshed of the Sudanese and reaching negotiations that lead to restoring stability once again,” said President el-Sissi.

He maintained that Egyptian soldiers were not deployed to Sudan “to side with anyone or to support a side against another” and added that Egypt was in contact with the RSF in order to secure the release of a number of Egyptian soldiers who were captured in Sudan.

The ongoing clash has drawn reactions from other international actors, with the United States and the European Union expressing “concern” over the development.

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.