Category: iNTERNATIONAL

‘Coups, Democratic Reversal: Citizens tired of voting, not seeing results’ – West African elders

Aminu Imam

The West African Elders Forum, (WAEF), has urged African leaders to respect constitutions and put citizens’ welfare, peace, and security at the centre of governance. According to a statement by the forum’s Communication Officer of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Wealth Ominabo, the forum gave the advice during a webinar, themed: ‘Making meaning of democratic reversals in West Africa’. Eight countries in West and Central Africa have witnessed coups in three years, with Gabon being the most recent. The Forum examined the challenges to democratic governance in the region and how…

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Donald Trump’s election fraud trial will be live-streamed – US Court

Aminu Imam

Former United States (US) President, Donald Trump’s trial in the State of Georgia over charges of election fraud will be live streamed and televised, a judge has ruled. According to a BBC report, all the hearings will be available live on Fulton County Court’s YouTube channel, according to Judge Scott McAfee. Though proceedings in Fulton County’s courts are usually live streamed, it will be the only one of Trump’s four trials that will be broadcast, and could be one of the most watched trials in recent years. A date for…

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Judicial Review: UK court authorises SSS victim to seize $21m from CBN account with JP Morgan in New York

Aminu Imam

A court in the United Kingdom (UK) has authorised a British-Nigerian, Louis Williams Emovbira, allegedly abused and defrauded by the State Security Service (SSS) in 1986, to seize $21 million and nearly £20,000 from Nigeria’s central bank account domiciled with the firm, JP Morgan in the United States, according to court filings. By the judgment of Justice Mary Clare Moulder, Mr Emovbira has the UK’s legal backing to approach JP Morgan in New York and seize $21,231,960.74 and £19,763.130 from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s account domiciled in the top…

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Coup: Defence Chiefs express readiness to attack Niger Republic – ECOWAS

Aminu Imam

The Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), says it has begun the activation of its standby force in Niger Republic to restore constitutional order. ECOWAS Defence Chiefs, who met in Accra, Ghana’s capital, released a statement on Wednesday to say they have commenced the activation of their standby force for the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. “To this end, the ECOWAS committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff will be having an extraordinary meeting in Accra, Ghana from 17th to 18th August 2023 to finalise plans for the deployment…

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Niger: ‘U.S. won’t declare soldiers who removed President Bazoum, coup plotters’ – Official

Aminu Imam

The United States (U.S) government is refraining from labelling the overthrow of Niger’s democratic government a coup and the military junta coup plotters as a precautionary move to preserve America’s interest. The visit of U.S. acting Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, to Niger on Monday met a dead-end, as she disclosed that the junta refused to grant her an audience with the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and junta leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani. She, however, met with the coupists’ chief of defence, Moussa Salaou Barmou, a general trained by the…

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Blinken accuses Wagner Group of taking advantage of Niger crisis

Aminu Imam

United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has said that the Russia’s Wagner mercenary group is “taking advantage” of instability in the Republic of Niger. Recall that Niger experienced a change of government after the military ousted democratically-elected President, Mohamed Bazoum two weeks ago. There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali. Speaking with the British Broadcasting Corporation, (BBC), Blinken said he did not think Russia or Wagner instigated the coup, but said they are trying…

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ECOWAS schedules fresh meeting over Niger coup as deadline elapses

Aminu Imam

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), will reconvene on Thursday to discuss the crisis in the Republic of Niger. ECOWAS made the announcement on yesterday – a day after its deadline to the military junta in Niger to reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. In the statement, the organisation said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and chairman of the authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of the ECOWAS leaders will be considering and discussing…

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Niger signs military contract with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries in anticipation of ECOWAS invasion

Aminu Imam

The Nigerien Government has reportedly signed a military contract with Russia’s Wagner mercenaries, according to a news report. American journalist, Jackson Hinkle citing France 24 says Niger, who overthrew the elected president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, has reached out to Wagner, a well-known mercenary group known for its fighting in Syria, Ukraine, Africa, and most recently the botched Russian coup. He tweeted on Friday afternoon, August 4; “The new government of Niger has reportedly signed a contract with the Wagner Group – France 24”.

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ECOWAS imposes no-flight zone on Niger Republic

Aminu Imam

…Gives junta one week to cede power West African leaders yesterday gave the military junta in Niger Republic one week to cede power, warning they did not rule out the “use of force”, and imposed immediate financial sanctions. The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanded the “immediate release and reinstatement” of Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held by the military since Wednesday. After its emergency summit in Abuja, the bloc said in a joint statement: “In the event the authorities’ demands are not met…

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War Alert: “Don’t send troops to our country”, Niger coup leaders warn ECOWAS

Aminu Imam

Niger’s military leaders have warned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) not to send troops to the Republic of Niger. General Abdourahmane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, and the chief of Niger’s Presidential Guard, proclaimed himself leader while the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the military since the coup took place last week. The military leaders in Niger warned against any military intervention in a statement read on Niger national television. During the meeting, the regional body issued a seven-day ultimatum to the…

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