Politics

Rwanda pledges counter-terror support for Benin Republic

Published

2 years ago

April 16, 2023

East African country, Rwanda has expressed commitment to help the Republic of Benin in tackling spillover from jihadist conflict across its northern border with Burkina Faso.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda made the promise while meeting with his Benin counterpart, Patrice Talon on Saturday.

Kagame said at a press conference with Talon in Cotonou, “We are ready to work with Benin to prevent anything that may happen around its borders.

“There will be no limit” in what “will be accomplished together for security challenges”.

President Talon revealed that the defense tie could include “supervision, coaching, training, joint deployment”. No further details were given about the relations.

Benin’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Talon and Kagame had a one-on-one meeting to discuss relations between the two countries and “the search for strategic partnership” in several areas including security.

They discussed “the terrorist threat and its spread” as well as the means of strengthening cooperation to deal with it, the statement said.

As Burkina Faso battles to manage an Islamist militant insurgency that is gaining a foothold just beyond their northern borders, coastal nations in West Africa, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Ivory Coast are prepared for a potential spillover.

The likely spread of terrorism in the Sahel has also drawn reactions outside the continent. Last week, the United States deputy assistant secretary of state in charge of West Africa, Michael Heath described the situation in the region as “a significant and burgeoning threat”, particularly as countries like Mali, Nigeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have suffered continuous terror attacks for over a decade.

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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.