Politics

Benin Republic says diplomacy preferred over Niger crisis, but stands with ECOWAS

Published

1 year ago

August 5, 2023

Benin Republic’s foreign minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, has maintained that his country’s position on the current political situation in Niger is diplomacy.

Bakari told journalists on Saturday that his country was demanding the immediate release and reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The minister also commended the efforts of the subregional body, the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) in finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

“We are and we fully subscribe to the diplomatic actions that are underway and that remain the preferred solution for the time being,” said Bakari.

“But if tomorrow, for whatever reason, whatever action ECOWAS were to take, Benin would in fact be fully involved as a member of ECOWAS”.

Bakari added: “So, today, the only thing to remember is that the president of Niger recognized by ECOWAS, the African Union, and the entire international community is President Bazoum.

“President Bazoum is currently being held hostage, and what we want is for him to be reinstated as President of Niger.”

In an emergency meeting on Sunday, ECOWAS threatened to apply penalties on Niger if the coup leaders did not return Bazoum within a week of last Sunday. Defence chiefs of its member states have also met to explore options, fuelling speculations of likely forceful intervention.

As some Western nations have withdrawn aid, regional powerhouse Nigeria has disconnected Niger’s electricity supply. One of the world’s poorest nations, Niger depends almost entirely on foreign aid for its annual budget. The Netherlands on Friday also announced an end to direct cooperation with Niger.

Relations between Benin and Niger, both former French colonies, remain cordial notwithstanding the sporadic recurrence of a boundary dispute over Lete Island in the Niger River.

Related Topics:#NIGER REPUBLIC Featured Republic of Benin

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Politics

Mauritius’ Prime Minister to double as Finance Minister

Published

2 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In an effort to maintain a tight eye on the economy, Mauritius’ Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, who took office this month following a resounding election victory, said on Friday that he would retain the position of finance minister for himself.

“We are doing an audit of the economy to see to what extent the outgoing government has destroyed it,” Ramgoolam told reporters in the capital Port Louis after he presided over the swearing-in of other ministers.

Ten years after he stepped down as prime minister, the seasoned politician returned to the position when his Alliance du Changement (ADC) alliance won 60 of the 62 seats in the national legislature.

The 77-year-old Ramgoolam said earlier this week that he would be auditing governmental finances. Before this, he was prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.

Ramgoolam started a campaign in 2006 to streamline taxes and reduce bureaucracy to diversify the $10 billion economy beyond exports of sugar, textiles, and tourism.

Since then, the 1.3 million-person nation, which positions itself as a bridge between Africa and Asia, has developed into a major offshore financial hub and has been rated by the World Bank as the easiest location to do business in Africa regularly.

Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

23 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to state broadcaster, ORTM.

A source close to Choguel Maiga told Reuters that the ruling generals were incensed by Maiga’s remarks over the weekend denouncing the junta’s inability to hold elections within the 24-month timeframe given for the return to democracy.

After promising to hold elections in February, the military authorities, who took control in two separate coups in 2020 and 2021, have put off the poll indefinitely, citing technological difficulties.

Choguel Maiga’s firing coincides with indications of growing discontent and disarray among Mali politicians, even those who first supported the coup and collaborated with the junta.

As the wait for elections continues, Choguel Maiga, a civilian prime minister who was installed by the military junta in 2021, is the most recent to lose support.

He was cited on Saturday as claiming he learnt of the junta’s decision via the media and that there had been no discussion regarding the delay of the elections inside the cabinet.

“It’s all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister’s knowledge,” Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before then, he had frequently stood up for Mali’s junta against criticism from foreign friends and neighbours in West Africa who denounced its repeated election delays and military collaboration with Russian mercenaries.

As government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, the new prime minister, has also made strong public remarks against France, the previous colonial master. One such speech was demanding French President Emmanuel Macron to stop his “neocolonial” and “condescending” behaviour.

Abdoulaye Maiga and Assimi Goita, the leaders of the junta, announced they had kept all of the important cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new administration in a statement that was broadcast on state television ORTM.

The announcement said that Abdoulaye Maiga will remain minister of territory administration.