Politics

Egypt, Turkey reach diplomatic resolution after decade-long break

Published

2 years ago

May 30, 2023

Egypt and Turkey have reached a diplomatic resolution to exchange ambassadors, following an agreement between President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.

Relations between the two countries had gone sour for years as the countries faced off on multiple fronts, and their leaders attacked each other in speeches. The leaders resolved to begin “the immediate start of upgrading diplomatic relations, exchanging ambassadors.”

According to a statement by Egypt’s presidency, Sisi spoke with Erdogan in a phone call to congratulate him on his presidential win and the conversation stretched to the re-enactment of relations.

In March, Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Cairo to hold talks with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry for the first time since bilateral relations were severed about a decade ago.

In the following month, Shoukry visited Turkey in April and again met his Turkish counterpart, Cavusoglu, where they both agreed on the specific time frame to raise the level of diplomatic relations and to prepare for a summit between the two presidents.

Background

The trouble between the two countries began in 2013 after Egypt’s current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi led the overthrow of then-President Mohamed Morsi who had the backing of Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP).

At the time, Erdogan criticized the coup as “damaging, inhumane, and against the people, national will, and democracy.”

Since then, Turkey has granted asylum to Egyptian dissidents, many of whom are leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood whom Cairo regards as “terrorists,” and allow them platforms that publicly criticized the Egyptian president.

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 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

4 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.