Politics

2 months after suspension, Libya’s oil and gas minister resumes

Published

7 months ago

May 29, 2024

The oil and gas minister of Libya, Mohamed Oun, temporarily suspended in March by the Administrative Control Agency amid an investigation, has resumed duties.

Oun was suspended over claims about “the presence of legal violations.” The ministry announced in a brief statement that Oun had returned to work on Tuesday after being out of it for two months pending a legal investigation.

The suspension occurred at a time when worker protests in Libya caused regular shutdowns of oil production and disruptions to supplies to international markets. Since leader Moammar Al Qaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011, the nation has been divided between opposing administrations in the east and west.

The core of these divisions has been the energy sector of the OPEC member. Oun had attempted in 2021 to remove Mustafa Sanalla, the long-serving CEO of the state oil giant National Oil Corp., which at the time raised fears about further turmoil and significant divisions within the sector.

The ministry stated that because the investigation was over, ACA revoked the suspension on May 12. For information on the suspension, we were unable to get in touch with the ACA almost away.

A photo of Oun at his desk going over a dossier was shared by the oil ministry along with the statement, “Has resumed his duties this morning.”

The ACA monitors government performance and has the authority to increase public accountability and contest appointments to public office.

Related Topics:Featured Libya Oil and Gas

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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.