Politics

BRICS leaders to adopt mechanism for addition of new members

Published

1 year ago

August 23, 2023

Leaders of the emerging economies group, BRICS, have agreed to adopt mechanisms for new intakes, paving the way for dozens of interested nations to join the group.

The leaders, at the 15th Summit of the group at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, which began on Tuesday, said they “have agreed on the matter of expansion.”

The main topic on the agenda for the Johannesburg meeting is expanding BRICS. Although all of the BRICS nations had officially stated their support for the bloc’s expansion, there had been disagreements among the presidents on how quickly and by how much.

The BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa might benefit from the membership expansion, particularly when Beijing and Moscow are working to turn the BRICS into a solid alternative to the West due to geopolitical polarization.

South Africa’s foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, confirmed the position following a meeting by BRICS leaders at the three-day summit.

“We have a document that we’ve adopted which sets out guidelines and principles, processes for considering countries that wish to become members of BRICS…That’s very positive,” Pandor said.

The minister only stated that the leaders of the bloc would make a declaration regarding expansion before the summit ended on Thursday. She did not provide specifics regarding the framework or criteria for accepting applicants.

South Africa is the only African state in the group, although some more African countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS. Algeria, Egypt and Ethiopia are some of the interested countries in Africa.

Related Topics:BRICS Featured South Africa

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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.