Politics

Senegalese opposition leader, Sonko in ‘medical emergency’

Published

1 year ago

August 7, 2023

Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko was according to one of his aides and lawyers admitted to a hospital for a medical emergency on Sunday in Dakar.

Sonko’s politician party, Patriots of Senegal (PASTEF), which was dissolved last week by authorities, also confirmed the development through a statement on Monday.

The party added that it held the authorities “responsible” for his health, but there have been no comments from the government on the matter.

The controversial politician had last week revealed that he had started a hunger strike from custody after being arrested this week, as his lawyers condemned his arrest. His hunger strike follows a recent arrest which has resulted in seven new charges against the politician who has been a vocal critic of incumbent President Macky Sall.

He was jailed on Monday for a number of offences, including inciting insurrection, criminal association with a terrorist undertaking, and undermining state security.

This came after many tragic incidents of public protest and two consecutive convictions for defamation and “corruption of youths.” On the same day, the government declared his party disbanded.

Sonko had written to the court last week from prison to express his displeasure with the verdict, which his attorneys claimed was a requirement for the judgment to be overturned and a new trial to be ordered.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has confirmed that Juan Branco, one of Sonko’s lawyers, was arrested last weekend after several days of cat-and-mouse games with the authorities. The Franco-Spanish lawyer is in the hands of an elite police unit and remains in custody.

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.