Politics

Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso intensify talks for political, economic alliance

Published

1 year ago

December 11, 2023

Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, has revealed that his country is considering political and economic alliances with West African neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Tiani, who had recently visited his neighbours, made the position public on national television about a move that could mark a further break with the sub-regional bloc, but did not give a timeline or details about the discussion.

“In addition to the security domain, our alliance must evolve in the political domain and in the monetary domain,” he said in an interview on Sunday.

A common currency factor in the three countries and five others in the region that has as legal tender, the West African CFA franc, is a likely factor in the proposed alliance.

In a speech on Sunday night, Ibrahim Traoré, the head of Burkina Faso’s armed forces, also outlined his plans for deeper relations with Mali and Niger.

“The Alliance of Sahel States … (is) a defence alliance a priori, but which will evolve toward an economic alliance and much more,” Traore said.

Since 2020, coups have resulted in military juntas ruling the three neighbouring states. They are now at odds with the other members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is pushing for their return to democratic governance, and is the primary political and economic bloc in the region.

The three, which have dubbed their new union the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), would become even more isolated if they were to leave the eight-member West African monetary union and adopt a new currency.

The region has witnessed five coups in the last three years, and the World Bank recently warned that the latest coup, which took place in Niger, may complicate issues around Nigeria and other West African nations’ food markets.

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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.