Politics

Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu reelected as ECOWAS chairman

Published

6 months ago

July 7, 2024

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reelected Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria, to the position of chairman at its 65th regular session, which was held in Abuja.

During the 65th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, which took place at the presidential palace in Abuja on Tuesday, Tinubu was reelected as the head of the economic bloc.

At the 63rd ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Bissau, the capital city of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Tinubu was first elected in July 2023. The Nigerian president is the ninth person to hold the position of ECOWAS chairman. Former President Muhammadu Buhari served as both the military’s and the country’s democratic president, leading the bloc in both capacities.

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo are among the member states of ECOWAS, which was established in 1975.

In the meantime, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger left the ECOWAS in February and established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a new alliance. Following multiple coups, the three states under military junta control fell out with the West African regional bloc.

This led to sanctions against the junta-led countries, including border closures and the suspension of electricity exports to Niger, as part of efforts to overthrow the coups in those countries. However, the sanctions were removed in February, and the nations left ECOWAS a few days later.

Speaking to the bloc before his reelection as chairman, Tinubu stated that the political resolve of the heads of state in the ECOWAS is necessary to eradicate terrorism from their nations.

“As we move to operationalize the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) in combating terrorism, I must emphasize that the success of this plan requires not only strong political will but also substantial financial resources,” Tinubu told the gathering.

“We must, therefore, ensure that we meet the expectations and recommendations set forth by our ministers of defence and finance to counter the insecurity and stabilize our region.

“Member states must make extra commitments to providing resources for stabilizing the region.”

Related Topics:ECOWAS Featured President Bola Tinubu

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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.