Metro

Moroccans protest against killing of two skiers by Algerian coastguards

Published

1 year ago

September 5, 2023

Hundreds of Moroccans on Monday staged a demonstration outside the parliament building in Rabat to protest the killing of two of their nationals who were shot dead by Algerian coastguards during a jet skiing holiday.

The protesters, who denounced what they called “the crime committed by the Algerian state” following the killing of the two holidaymakers, called on the Moroccan government “to take a very firm stance in the face of these crimes.”

The Moroccans, who were skiing in their country’s territorial waters, were shot dead by the Algerian coastguards on Friday after they were alleged to have strayed across the maritime border between the two countries.

The incident has sparked further diplomatic row between the two North African countries which have had frosty relations for several years.

A member of the Moroccan League for Citizenship and Human Rights, Hicham Mellioui, who was one of the leaders of the protesters, told journalists that the country’s government must do everything possible to get justice for the killed men.

“The government, whether through declarations, through possible actions before international bodies, should challenge them (Algeria), at least in the media, with official statements, with diplomatic acts,” Mellioui said.

Another leader of the rally, Thami Belmaalam said Moroccan and international associations would be filing applications at international level.

“A letter will be sent to the UN Secretary-General for the same reason”, he said.

Algerian authorities in a statement on Sunday, justified the shooting of the Moroccan citizens, saying its security forces had opened fire after the group of jet skiers ignored warning shots and refused to comply with orders to stop.

“During a security patrol inside our territorial waters, a coastguard unit intercepted three jet skis that clandestinely entered our territorial waters,” a defence ministry press release said.

The victims, who were part of a group of skiers on holiday, were identified as Bilal Kissi, a 29-year-old French-Moroccan tourist and his Moroccan cousin Abdelali Mechouar, 40, while a third tourist, Smail Snabe, was wounded and detained in Algeria, according to media reports in Morocco.

Kissi’s brother, Mohamed, who had also been in the group, told the media they got lost and ran out of fuel after leaving the Moroccan resort of Saidia, near the border with Algeria, before the shooting incident.

He said he managed to leave the area after the incident and was picked up by the Moroccan navy while his brother’s body was recovered on Saidia beach on the Moroccan side of the border.

Related Topics:Algeria Featured Killings Morocco Protest

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Metro

Zambia: Expert warns of food security threat due to climate change

Published

30 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A prominent Zambian climate-smart agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has warned of a collapse of the county’s agricultural sector with a potential threat to food security due to the worsening impact of climate change.

Bulaya, who bared his mind in an interview with Zambia Monitor on Friday, warned that ignoring the crisis could lead to severe disruptions in the country’s food supply and economy.

“Unless concerted efforts are made, the country will continue facing dire consequences from climate change,” the expert noted.

He lamented a growing trend of farmers relocating to regions experiencing above-normal rainfall, such as the northern block, as they struggle with losses caused by climate variability.

Bulaya emphasized that the once-reliable rainfall areas like North-Western Zambia are now experiencing lower precipitation, as seen during the 2023/2024 farming season and cautioned that poor farming practices, which had already strained the Southern region, could lead to similar challenges in other parts of the country if proactive measures were not implemented.

Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

5 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.