Metro

Mali denies UN’s accusations of human rights abuses

Published

2 years ago

September 4, 2022

Mali has responded to accusations by the United Nations that its security forces were engaged in human rights abuses, saying the reports were false.

The Malian foreign ministry on Saturday, said the country is denying the accusations in its entirety as its forces have never been found to indulge in human rights violations.

The UN mission to Mali, MINUSMA, had, on Friday. released its quarterly note on human rights, and while accounting for the period between April 1 and June 30 of this year, said it had recorded several cases of human rights abuses and violations in the West African country.

The UN report said during that period in review, the violations were committed both by Islamist militant groups and state security forces.

It added that it has documented “serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law” by government forces.

In the report, the UN said tensions between Malian forces and MINUSMA in recent months have led to the country’s security forces clashing with members of the mission including the arrest of 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast who had arrived as support for a UN contingent on their arrival at Bamako’s airport, after accusing them of being mercenaries, in July.

A fallout of the arrest saw the MINUSMA’s spokesperson expelled from the country after he made comments on Twitter claiming the UN had notified the Malian government of the soldiers’ arrival.

The Malian government also denied the UN’s access to the Moura region in April, where it wanted to carry out a human rights investigation into an alleged massacre committed by Malian forces working with Russian mercenaries, the report noted.

But the country’s foreign ministry, in a statement on Saturday, called the allegations against the state security forces biased and made without “tangible proof and under the threat of terrorist groups, with an objective to tarnish the image of state security forces.”

In an 11-page statement posted on the website of Mali’s foreign ministry, the country denied all allegations leveled in the UN note that implicated Malian state security forces.

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Metro

Nigeria not considering permitting foreign military bases— Information Minister

Published

5 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

The Nigerian government has denied reports that it is considering permitting the establishment of foreign military bases in the country to combat insurgency and other crimes, as a way of accommodating American and French troops following their expulsion from neighbouring countries like Niger Republic and Chad.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the Federal Government was aware of false alarm being raised in some quarters about discussions with some foreign countries, notably the United States and France, on the siting of foreign military bases in Nigeria.

There have been rumours of late that the United States and the French governments had perfected plans to relocate their military bases from the Sahel to Nigeria, with many Nigerians cautioning the President Bola Tinubu administration from accepting such a proposal as it would pose dangers to the country.

But Idris insisted there were no such plans in the present as the reports were mere rumours which should be disregarded.

“The Federal Government is aware of false alarms being raised in some quarters alleging discussions between the Federal Government of Nigeria and some foreign countries on the siting of foreign military bases in the country,” Idris said in the statement.

“The Federal Government is not in any such discussion with any foreign country.

“We have neither received nor are we considering any proposals from any country on the establishment of any foreign military bases in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian government already enjoys foreign cooperation in tackling ongoing security challenges, and the President remains committed to deepening these partnerships, with the goal of achieving the national security objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

“We urge the general public to totally disregard this falsehood,” the minister said.

Metro

Media manager identifies bureaucratic bottlenecks as hindering access to public information

Published

24 hours ago

May 6, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

As discussions on press freedom persist, Albert Mwiinga, Station Manager of Byta FM, sheds light on the hurdles journalists encounter in accessing public information.

Mwiinga identified bureaucracy as a major obstacle impeding media access to information in Zambia.

Speaking to Zambia Monitor in Choma, Mwiinga identified bureaucracy as a significant barrier hampering journalists’ access to vital public information.

“The media has long grappled with the challenge of accessing information, particularly from public sources, due to entrenched bureaucratic practices,” Mwiinga explained.

He lamented the absence of legislation compelling officials to disclose public information to the media.

“There is currently no legal mechanism to compel officials to share such information, making it exceedingly challenging. Moreover, bureaucratic red tape often exacerbates the situation,” Mwiinga observed.

Mwiinga expressed optimism regarding the potential impact of the Access to Information Bill once it becomes operational, foreseeing enhanced media independence.

“Although progress is being made, journalists remain subject to legal constraints, including defamation and libel laws. The regulatory framework, such as the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), further complicates matters,” Mwiinga said.

His analysis underscored the persistent bureaucratic hurdles impeding media access to public information in Zambia.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.