Month: November 2023

Gunmen stormed the main prison in Guinea’s capital early Saturday and freed former dictator Moussa “Dadis” Camara, the country’s justice minister said, announcing the closure of the West African nation’s borders.

The announcement by Justice Minister Charles Alphonse Wright came several hours after heavy gunfire erupted in the Kaloum district of the capital, Conakry.

Among the others who escaped were Claude Pivi and Blaise Goumou, Wright said.

“We will find them. And those responsible will be held accountable,” Wright told local Radio Fim FM.

Camara, who came to power in a 2008 coup d’etat, had been detained in connection with a stadium massacre during his brief time in power. He had lived for years in exile after surviving an assassination attempt before returning home in late 2021.

Nigeria’s lower chamber of parliament has rejected the government’s plan to purchase a presidential yacht for $6 million. The decision came in response to public outcry over perceived extravagance during a severe economic crisis.

President Bola Tinubu, took office in May with a promise to reduce wasteful spending and alleviate financial hardships. However, he proposed the yacht’s acquisition in a supplementary budget submitted to the National Assembly. However, human rights activists and citizens criticized the move, highlighting the absolutely economic disparities in the country.

In response to the public’s concerns, lawmakers redirected the $6 million allocation to boost the student loan budget, doubling its funding. This decision reflects a shift in priorities toward addressing pressing economic and social challenges.

Despite the controversy surrounding the yacht purchase, President Tinubu’s spokesperson, Temitope Ajayi, clarified that the request for the yacht originated from the navy, citing operational requirements.

The approved budget also included substantial allocations for State House expenditures, such as luxury vehicles and the construction of a presidential office complex. Additionally, $15 million was set aside for the presidential air fleet.

This debate comes as President Tinubu grapples with mounting pressure over the cost of living crisis and the sharp depreciation of the Nigerian naira against the US dollar. The country’s annual inflation rate reached 26.7% in September, according to official statistics.

Equatorial Guinea would welcome activities of Russian companies especially if they operate in the mining industry.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo gave the asurance on Thursday in Moscow during talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Putin, Russia and Equatorial Guinea have many overlapping mutual interests.

“Russian companies are seriously interested in working in Africa in general and in your country. Potential investment opportunities are large. And the capacities of your country for the improvment of these opportunities are also good, mostly in regard to the potential of minerals extraction” said the Russian President.

Obiang Nguema Mbasogo expressed appreciation for the invitation to Moscow and spoke about plans to boost defense and economic cooperation relations with Russia.

“When the Russian government promises to send its businessmen to help Africa develop, we can only say: let them come. Equatorial Guinea gladly accepts this proposal” Nguema Mbasogo said.

Both parties identified commitment as the fundamental step along the path to the development. The opening of Russia’s embassy in the central African country, before the end of the year, is also expected to contribute to the rapid growth of cooperation between the two nations.

Equatorial Guinea’s president is the longest-serving president of any country ever. Nguema Mbasogo currently heads the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), a regional bloc that includes members such as Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Principe.

A group of UN-mandated human rights experts, including the special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, said on Thursday (Nov. 02) that  “time is running out to prevent genocide and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza”, which Israel called Hamas “propaganda”.

“We remain convinced that the Palestinian people are at grave risk of genocide,” the experts said in a joint statement.

“Israel’s allies also bear responsibility and must act now to prevent its disastrous course of action.”

UN special rapporteurs are unpaid, independent figures mandated by the Human Rights Council. They do not speak for the United Nations but report their findings to it as part of the council’s fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms.

“The situation in Gaza has reached a catastrophic tipping point,” the experts said, warning of the “dire need” for food, water, medicine, fuel and essential supplies and the risk of looming health hazards.

The statement was signed by Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.

The other signatories were the special rapporteurs on safe drinking water; food; physical and mental health; internally displaced persons; freedom of expression; and on contemporary racism.

Israel’s embassy in Geneva said on X, formerly Twitter, that it was “deplorable and deeply concerning” that UN special procedure mechanisms “repeated propaganda” led by Hamas.

It also added the state of Israel “makes every effort to mitigate harm to civilians in Gaza”.

“Instead of endorsing the Hamas narrative, we call on the international community to condemn Hamas’ use of civilians as human shields and to condemn the diversion of humanitarian aid for its terrorist operations,” the embassy said.

The UN experts called for the immediate release of all civilians being held captive since the Hamas attack.

“All parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law,” they said.

“We demand a humanitarian ceasefire to ensure that aid reaches those who need it the most. A ceasefire also means channels of communication can be opened to ensure the release of hostages,” the experts said.

Hundreds of people are estimated to have been killed in Jabalia, Gaza’s largest refugee camp by repeated Israeli airstrikes.

The UN experts voiced “deepening horror” about the strikes, calling them “a brazen violation of international law — and a war crime”.

“Israel and Palestinian armed groups must bear in mind that even wars have rules.”

Israel has heavily bombarded Gaza after Hamas militants carried out an unprecedented attack last month.

Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping at least 240 others, including children, according to Israeli officials.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 9,000 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory bombing campaign, mostly women and children.

United Nations

Th U.N. Security Council is the U.N’s most powerful body, charged with maintaining international peace and security, but dissensions in its midst have left it impotent and scrambling to try to find a resolution with acceptable language.

The U.N. Security Council failed on  Wednesday (Oct. 25) to address the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza, rejecting rival United States and Russian resolutions.

The resolution drafted by the United States, Israel’s closest ally, would have reaffirmed what the United States of America have called Israel’s right to self-defense, urged respect for international laws — especially protection of civilians — and advocated “humanitarian pauses” to deliver desperately needed aid to Gaza.

In Wednesday’s vote in the 15-member council, 10 countries including Gabon voted in favor, 3 voted against, and 2 including Mozambique abstained. The resolution was not adopted because permanent council members Russia and China cast vetoes.

The Russian resolution, which was then put to a vote, would have called for an immediate “humanitarian cease-fire” and unequivocally condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and “indiscriminate attacks” on civilians and civilian objects in Gaza.

In that vote, four countries voted in favor – including Russia and Gabon. Two voted against, and nine countries including Ghana abstained. The resolution wasn’t adopted because it failed to get the minimum nine “yes” votes.

On October 27, the United Nations General Assembly where each country has a vote adopted a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.

It also demands “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave, as news reports suggest Israel has expanded ground operations and intensified its bombing campaign.

Former Ghana national team captain, Asamoah Gyan, has been directed by a Ghanaian court to provide compensation to his ex-wife following a lengthy divorce case.

The court ruled that he is indeed the biological father of their three children, concluding a three-year legal battle that involved allegations of infidelity and paternity doubts.

The court’s decision mandates Asamoah Gyan to allocate various assets and financial support to his ex-wife, Gifty Gyan. Specifically, he is required to provide her with a residence in the UK, another in Accra, a petrol station, and two vehicles.

Additionally, Gyan has been instructed to pay 25,000 Ghanaian cedis per month, which is equivalent to $2,100 or £1,729, for the care and well-being of their children.

This legal dispute has been ongoing for several years, exacerbated by Gyan’s previous accusations of infidelity and his skepticism about the paternity of their three children. However, a DNA test has unequivocally established his biological connection to the children, ultimately dispelling his doubts.

The court formally annulled the marriage, which had already ended, following a petition submitted by Asamoah Gyan. In its judgment, the court acknowledged that Gifty Gyan had contributed significantly to the purchase of the properties in question as she was primarily responsible for the children’s upbringing while Gyan pursued his professional football career.

Asamoah Gyan, who retired from football in June, boasts an impressive career as Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 109 national team appearances. Furthermore, he holds the record as Africa’s top goal scorer in World Cup history, having netted six goals across the 2006, 2010, and 2014 editions.