Politics

Burkina Faso won’t negotiate with terrorists— PM, de Tambela

Published

2 years ago

May 31, 2023

West African country, Burkina Faso has insisted that it will not negotiate with jihadist insurgents who control some parts of the country.

Burkinabè’s prime minister, Apollinaire Kyelem de Tambela made the position known on Tuesday and hinted that continued security threats in the country posed a great challenge to the planned transition into civil rule. The country is currently under the rulership of military dictator, Ibrahim Traore.

“We will never negotiate, either over Burkina Faso’s territorial integrity or its sovereignty,” de Tambela told the Transitional Legislative Assembly.

“We cannot organise elections without security. If you have a magic wand to ensure we can hold elections as soon as possible, we’d do it,” de Tambela told the representatives.

“If we organised elections now, while part of our territory is inaccessible, they’ll say that whoever is elected has been wrongly elected,” he said.

The prime minister also claimed the government has had progress in its fight against terror.

“Thanks to our efforts” more than 20,000 households, representing more than 125,000 people, “have returned to their regions,” he said, without giving further detail.

“We will defend our territory and our populations whatever the cost,” he declared.

More than 10,000 people have died as a result of the Burkina Faso crisis, and two million more have been forced out of their homes, according to non-governmental aid agencies. According to the United Nations, one in five Burkinabè, and approximately one in 10, or 1.9 million people, are internally displaced as of 31 December 2022.

Despite the troubles with insecurity, the country earlier this year severed defence ties with an age-long partner, France, expelling French ambassadors and French troops in the aftermath.

Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

10 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

10 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.