Musings From Abroad

French President, Macron insists Ambassador won’t leave Niger despite expulsion

Published

1 year ago

August 28, 2023

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has insisted that France’s ambassador to Niger will stay in the country despite expulsion order by the junta.

Macron made the position known during a speech to diplomats on Monday while maintaining his country’s position amid the political situation in Niger following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup in July.

The junta leaders last week gave French Ambassador, Sylvain Itte, 48 hours to leave the country following a further deterioration of bilateral relations between the countries as a result of the July 26 coup.

“I think our policy is the right one. It’s based on the courage of President Bazoum, and on the commitments of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite all the pressure, despite all the declarations made by the illegitimate authorities,” said Macron.

Macron also rejected requests from some Americans and Europeans for Western countries to abandon Bazoum.

“We do not recognise those who have carried out the putsch, we support a president who has not stepped down, and besides whom we remain engaged,” said Macron.

France’s relationship with most of its former colonies has been cold lately, notably in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso with a series of anti-France protests across the countries.

A similar event has been reported today in Niger where supporters of the ruling junta staged demonstrations in the capital, Niamey demanding the departure of French troops.

Musings From Abroad

Nigeria, India to strengthen counterterrorism, maritime security cooperation

Published

3 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

During a state visit to Nigeria on Sunday, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra, Modi reached an agreement, on behalf of his country, to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism, intelligence, and maritime security.

President Bola Tinubu invited Modi to visit Nigeria, the first Indian prime minister to do so in 17 years.

Tinubu is looking for investments from some of the largest economies in the world.

In addition to discussing economic development, defence, healthcare, and food security, Modi and Tinubu met at the presidential mansion on Sunday after arriving in the capital, Abuja, on Saturday night, according to a joint statement.

The two nations decided to work together to protect maritime trade routes and fight piracy in response to the mounting risks in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea.

The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria, is looking to attract more Indian investment and lower-cost credit lines in order to strengthen its economy and generate employment.

Nigeria announced last year that it had obtained about $14 billion in pledges from Indian businesses, including Jindal Steel and Power, which promised to spend $3 billion in Nigeria’s steel industry, during the G20 conference.

Over 200 Indian businesses are present in Nigeria.

Modi was scheduled to go to Brazil for this year’s G20 conference after Nigeria.

Nigeria and India have a long-standing and cordial bilateral relationship. Nigeria, home to more than 200 million people, and India, home to 1.3 billion people, are both sizable emerging nations with multilingual, multiethnic, and multireligious communities.

Musings From Abroad

Military advisors from Russia arrive Equatorial Guinea

Published

23 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Russian military advisors are in Equatorial Guinea training indigenous soldiers.

Anonymous sources cited by Reuters during the week claim that between 100 and 200 Russian instructors are training with elite guards in charge of guarding the President and the first family.

The males had been seen in Malabo, the country’s capital, and Bata, its second city. Reports of Russian forces stationed in the nation initially appeared in August.

Oil-rich Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has maintained close relations with Moscow.

Nguema travelled to Moscow in September to attend the Russian Energy Week International Forum.

Russia has strengthened military connections with African countries, sending advisors and combat soldiers to the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Faced with an Islamist terrorist insurrection, three Sahel countries have turned to Moscow for support, expelling French and American troops.