Politics

Niger’s junta vows to prosecute ousted President Bazoum

Published

1 year ago

August 14, 2023

Niger Republic’s junta has vowed to prosecute ousted President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason over his interaction with foreign heads of state and international organisations.

In a statement delivered on state television late on Sunday, the junta’s spokesperson, Colonel Amadou Abdramane said the military regime had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”

According to Abdramane, a disinformation campaign is being waged against the junta in an effort to “derail any diplomatic solution to the issue in order to justify military involvement… in the name of ECOWAS.”

Bazoum has been under house arrest since his presidential guard under General Abdourahmane Tchiani ousted him from power. Worry over his living condition in custody has been expressed by the United Nations, the United States, among others.

Bazoum’s political party said that his family did not have access to running water, fresh food, or doctors. The ousted president also claimed that his son needed to see a doctor due to a severe heart problem, in a statement to Human Rights Watch.

If found guilty, Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to Niger´s penal code.

Meanwhile, there have been indications that the junta might become receptive to delegates of ECOWAS after weeks of deadlock. Officials from ECOWAS are anticipated to press for additional discussions with the junta on Monday since they have shown signs of being open to finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis surrounding the July 26 coup.

The suggested timeframe of that trip is unclear, but the bloc’s parliament stated on Saturday that it wanted to send a team to speak with the junta in Niamey.

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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

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.