Author: Jideofor Elumogo

A brother of World Cup winner Paul Pogba went on trial Tuesday with five other men as part of an extortion case that targeted the soccer player two years ago.

The case at the Paris criminal court is taking place without the former Manchester United and Juventus player, who has decided not to attend. The trial is set to last one week.

A judge ordered the six men to stand trial following an investigation into whether Pogba was the target of extortion by his brother Mathias and childhood friends.

Mathias Pogba is on trial “for the offenses of attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy,” the prosecutor’s office said.

The five others — identified by their first names only — allegedly demanded 13 million euros ($13.6 million) from the France midfielder, and repeatedly intimidated him, claiming he should have supported them after he became an international soccer star.

They are accused of extortion and attempted extortion by using violence, abduction and confinement to facilitate a crime or misdemeanor, as well as criminal conspiracy.

Defense lawyers Yves Leberquier and Karim Morand-Lahouazi reportedly asked the court Tuesday to summon Pogba so they can question him.

During the investigation, Pogba said he paid 100,000 euros to the organized group including his brother. According to French media reports, the 31-year-old player also told investigators the alleged extortionists wanted to discredit him by claiming he asked a witch doctor to cast a spell on France teammate Kylian Mbappé. Pogba denied the allegation.

The case became public after Mathias Pogba posted threats on social media to share “explosive” revelations about his brother, Mbappé and Paul Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta. Mathias Pogba was also a soccer player who spent most of his career with lower-tier teams in Europe.

Once one of the world’s top midfielders, Pogba has made the headlines in recent years more often for his off-field problems than for his soccer brilliance.

Egyptian naval forces rescued five people Tuesday and recovered four bodies, a day after a tourist yacht carrying 44 passengers sank in the Red Sea coastal town of Marsa Alam, officials said, after facing rough weather.

This brings the total to 33 survivors while seven remain missing.

Sea Story, a live-aboard used mainly for maritime activities, sent a distress signal after a large wave crashed into the boat, causing it to capsize, according to survivors’ accounts. Some passengers were inside the cabins when the boat overturned within minutes, according to statements.

A rescue operation, still ongoing, was ordered and 28 people were rescued Monday from the vessel.

On Tuesday, the governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said the five survivors were two Belgians, an Egyptian, a Swiss citizen, and a Finnish national. He also said the four bodies are yet to be identified.

The boat carried 13 Egyptians, including crew members, and 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain, and Ireland.

The German foreign ministry said Tuesday that three Germans remain missing while three others have been rescued.

Meanwhile, Paweł Wroński, Poland’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said two Polish nationals, a man and a woman, are also missing and that their families have been notified.

Live-aboards usually depart port for multiple-day excursions. Sea Story left Port Ghalib in Marsa Alam on Sunday and was scheduled to deck in Hurghada five days later. It sank 46 nautical miles away from Marsa Alam, according to the governor.

The boat had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March, officials said. According to the website of the boat operator Dive Pro Liveaboard, the Sea Story was built in 2022 and can hold 36 passengers.

The Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned of turbulence and high waves, advising against naval activity on Sunday and Monday.

Marsa Alam is renowned for its pristine beaches, a wide variety of marine life, and regular shark sightings, particularly the curious Oceanic White Tip, drawing in scuba diving enthusiasts worldwide. However, some of the dive sites are challenging, with rough currents, and require advanced certification.

The Egyptian military is also involved in coordinating the rescue operation.

Just four years after being hit by a severe drought, Cape Verde is undergoing a remarkable agricultural transformation. Once struggling to sustain crops, the archipelago is now embracing innovation, with lush greenery emerging as a symbol of progress. A key driver behind this shift is the implementation of modern infrastructure, including seawater desalination plants.

Empowering Farmers

Agronomist Edy Simão highlights the impact of these developments:

“These measures to boost production and improve water access will truly help farmers achieve better livelihoods. Many already sustain themselves through farming but often need additional income from construction or other jobs. With this support, they can fully rely on their agricultural production.”

A Revolution in Agriculture

Cape Verde is mobilizing significant resources to introduce innovative crops and expand seawater desalination. Complementing these efforts, an ambitious agricultural insurance system is being rolled out to provide further stability for farmers.

A Model for West Africa

This agricultural policy is positioning Cape Verde as a model for the region, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). At the 16th meeting of the multidisciplinary team from the FAO’s West Africa office in Praia, social protection was a key focus.

FAO Public Policy Officer Bintia Stephen Tchicaya emphasized the importance of viewing social protection as an investment:

“In most of our countries, social protection is seen as an expense. We want governments to recognize it as an investment in human capital.”

Challenges in Social Protection

Despite these advancements, West Africa’s social protection coverage remains limited, reaching just 13% of the population with at least one service. However, Cape Verde’s progress offers hope and a blueprint for sustainable development in the region.

Namibia’s Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah could become the country’s first female president if she wins the presidential election on Wednesday.

At least 1.4 million people, or about half of the population, have registered to vote in the elections, with 15 political parties running for president and seats in the National Assembly.

Results from special early polls held for Namibia’s foreign missions, seamen and security services announced by the Electoral Commission of Namibia this month indicate Nandi-Ndaitwah and her party, the South West Africa People’s Organization, or SWAPO, are in the lead.

SWAPO has governed the southwest African country since its independence from South Africa’s apartheid minority government in 1990.

But in 2019, the party lost its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for the first time since 1994. Its dismal electoral performance has been widely attributed to allegations of corruption and money laundering in the Namibian fishing industry. Two cabinet ministers were arrested, and businessmen connected to the ministers were also convicted and imprisoned.

Political analyst Henning Melber, a professor at the University of Pretoria and the University of the Free State, believes SWAPO and Nandi-Ndaitwah must take the 2019 election results as a warning even though they appear favoured to win the elections.

Melber said the party needs to attract support from younger voters who do not feel a link to the party’s history of liberation struggles — a challenge also shared by Africa’s other former liberation movements, such as South Africa’s African National Congress.

“It looks like there is no way back to regain such dominance. The process of erosion of legitimacy as a former liberation movement has advanced too much,” he said.

He added that the “born-frees” — a term for children born after their country’s liberation — will not vote based on emotions like the older generations did, but will do so based on delivery and governance.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, 72, has promised to create more jobs and tackle the 20% unemployment rate for young people and graduates. She has pledged to spend approximately 85 billion Namibian dollars ($4.7 billion) over the next five years to create more than 500,000 jobs, a goal that her critics call unrealistic.

Issues affecting women, including reproductive rights, equal pay and healthcare, are also likely to rank high for voters.

If she becomes president, Nandi-Ndaitwah would follow in the footsteps of Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who made history when she became the continent’s first elected female president in 2005, as well as Malawi’s Joyce Banda and Samba Panza of the Central African Republic.

Erika Thomas, a political science lecturer at the University of Namibia, said should Nandi-Ndaitwah be elected as president of Namibia, she must strive to be independent, transparent and accountable.

“She must also try to push for policies and legislation frameworks for women participation and to bring more women into the political structures,” Thomas said.

SWAPO will face competition from the Independent Patriots for Change, led by former dentist Panduleni Itula, and university professor Job Amupanda’s Affirmative Repositioning party.

Political parties contesting the elections wrapped up their campaigns with final rallies this weekend.

Elections in southern Africa this year have delivered ground-breaking changes to the region’s political landscape, with the ANC in South Africa losing its 30-year parliamentary majority and Botswana’s Democratic Party getting unseated after 58 years in power.

In Mauritius, considered one of the most stable democracies in Africa, the opposition won recent elections by a landslide.

Disputed election results in Mozambique, which saw the ruling Frelimo party declared the winner, have led to ongoing protests that have seen at least 30 people killed.

Niger’s government has requested the European Union to replace its ambassador, Salvador Pinto da Franca, following tensions over the disbursement of emergency aid.

The EU recalled its envoy on Saturday after Niger’s military rulers accused him of distributing €1.3 million in flood relief to NGOs without prior approval. The EU rejected the allegations, expressing “profound disagreement.”

On Sunday, Niger’s foreign ministry claimed da Franca continued “unauthorized operations” despite warnings issued in October. In a statement, it said collaboration with the ambassador was no longer viable and requested his replacement “as soon as possible.”

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa hosted creditors and finance executives on Monday to discuss plans for clearing the country’s $12.7 billion external debt and restructuring arrears.

With the nation’s debt representing 81% of its GDP, the task is daunting for a country with a history of financial crises, including hyperinflation and failed currency reforms.

Mnangagwa revealed that Zimbabwe is negotiating a Staff Monitored Program (SMP) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which would pave the way for key policy reforms. African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina expressed the AfDB’s readiness to provide financial support for these reforms and help clear arrears.

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said timelines for debt restructuring would be clearer by mid-2025, once Zimbabwe secures bridge financing from lenders. Analysts warn that addressing arrears is crucial for the country’s economic recovery, as Zimbabwe currently cannot access funds from the IMF due to its debt situation.

Clearing arrears with major creditors, including the AfDB, World Bank, and European Investment Bank, is key to unlocking future funding. The IMF has been unable to provide financial support due to Zimbabwe’s unsustainable debt.

While the SMP would not include financial aid from the IMF, it would signal a return to sound economic policies. Zimbabwe’s debt situation remains complex, with a significant portion of the debt in arrears and penalties, limiting access to international financial assistance.

A Zambian lawmaker facing robbery charges has been arrested in Zimbabwe after escaping custody earlier this year, Zambian authorities confirmed.

Emmanuel “Jay Jay” Banda, an independent MP since 2021, fled from Chipata Central Hospital in August while awaiting a court appearance. He had been admitted to the hospital under police guard following his arrest. A bounty of 2 million Zambian kwacha ($72,000) was later issued for his capture.

Banda was detained in Harare earlier this week. The Zambian Home Affairs Minister, Jack Mwiimbu, announced that Banda was arrested by Zimbabwean police at a flat he had been renting and would remain in Zimbabwe pending extradition.

Mwiimbu expressed interest in uncovering the individuals involved in Banda’s escape and his wife’s visits to Harare. He also thanked Zimbabwean authorities for their cooperation.

Opposition members from the Patriotic Front (PF) party, led by former president Edgar Lungu, condemned Banda’s arrest, calling it an “abduction” and urging the Zambian government to follow international extradition protocols. Banda had been previously linked to Lungu’s administration, which lost power to Hakainde Hichilema in 2021.

Banda’s legal troubles stem from a 2015 robbery charge, for which he faces a non-bailable offence, along with charges of escaping custody. His supporters, including opposition figures, argue the charges are politically motivated, aimed at silencing him over his involvement in a controversial abduction case earlier this year.

Banda’s case has raised concerns over the state’s handling of political opponents and the application of justice in Zambia. The BBC has sought comment from the Zambian government

Mali’s ruling junta on Thursday appointed a new prime minister from within its military ranks, a day after dismissing the civilian prime minister who had openly criticized the regime.

The appointment further consolidates power in the hands of the military, which has governed Mali since seizing power in a 2020 coup, followed by a second coup in 2021.

On Wednesday, civilian prime minister Choguel Maïga was removed from office after criticizing the junta for delaying the presidential election originally scheduled for 2024. His dismissal was announced in a presidential decree issued by Gen. Assimi Goïta, Mali’s military leader, and read on the state broadcaster, ORTM.

On Thursday, Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga was named as his replacement, according to Alfouseyni Diawara, secretary general of the Malian presidency. The two Maïgas are not related.

The appointment places all three branches of Mali’s transitional government — the presidency, the National Transitional Council (acting as the legislative body), and the prime minister’s office — firmly under military control.

Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga, 43, has held several key roles under the junta, including minister of territorial administration, government spokesman, and deputy prime minister. Analysts believe his close ties to Goïta played a decisive role in his selection.

“The choice of the new prime minister shows that the military is tightening its grip on power. General Maïga is seen as especially close to President Goïta, who wanted someone loyal as the country prepares for possible elections next year,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mali.

Laessing added, “Choguel provoked his dismissal by positioning himself as a potential candidate in the elections.”

Although Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga was not one of the five officers directly involved in the 2020 coup, he quickly rose to prominence within the junta and became a key figure in the transitional government.

He is known for his fiery rhetoric, particularly against France and MINUSMA, the now-departed U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali. During the U.N. General Assembly in September, he sharply criticized Algerian diplomats who accused the Malian army of killing civilians near the border with Algeria.

Since taking power, Mali’s military rulers have tightened their control over the country, cracking down on dissent by severely restricting freedom of expression. More than a dozen politicians and activists have been arrested for speaking out against the junta.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (Nov. 21) condmened the decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against him and his former defense minister.

They way both men have allegedly conducted the war is at the center of the prosecution’s accusations.

“This is a black day in the history of nations. The International Court of Justice in The Hague, [Editor’s Note: It is the International Criminal Court which issued the warrants] , which was established to protect humanity, has today become the enemy of humanity,” the Israeli politican said vehemently.

“This biased court has decided to issue arrest warrants against me and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on the fundamentally unfounded accusation that we have allegedly committed “crimes against humanity,” while the truth is completely the opposite. This is moral bankruptcy. It violates the natural right of democracies to defend themselves against murderous terrorism.”

The ICC panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe that both Netanyahu and his ex-defense minister bear responsibility for the war crime of starvation and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts.

Netanyahu denied the accusations claiming that Israel has provided “hundreds of thousands of tons of food to feed the population” and blamed Hamas for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

However, Gaza remains at risk of famine according to the UN and other NGOs despite biding orders issued by the International Court of Justice earlier this year.

The Chamber of the International Crimnal Court, noted that “decisions allowing or increasing humanitarian assistance into Gaza were often conditional. They were not made to fulfil Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law or to ensure that the civilian population in Gaza would be adequately supplied with goods in need. In fact, they were a response to the pressure of the international community or requests by the United States of America. In any event, the increases in humanitarian assistance were not sufficient to improve the population’s access to essential goods.”

Netanuahy said the arrest warrants will not “deter” him from continuing Israel’s military campaign.

Rights groups and UN agencies have repeatedly said some of Israel’s military moves violated war rules in Gaza.

Israel, like the US or Russia is not a state party to the ICC.

It questioned the jurisdiction of the ICC on the matter but its challenge was rejected.

What’s next?

The decision turns Netanyahu and his former minister into internationally wanted suspects and could further isolate them, putting them at risk of arrest when they travel abroad.

Its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States have slammed the warrants.

Still, they marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice.

It put Israel’s allies, including some of its closest European friends, in an awkward position.

Spain will grant residency and work permits to about 300,000 migrants living in the country illegally each year for the next three years, the country’s migration minister said Wednesday.

The policy will take effect next May and aims to expand the country’s ageing workforce. Spain has remained largely open to receiving migrants even as other European nations seek to tighten their borders to illegal crossings and asylum seekers.

Spain needs around 250,000 registered foreign workers a year to maintain its welfare state, Migration Minister Elma Saiz said in an interview on Wednesday. She contended that the legalization policy is not aimed solely at “cultural wealth and respect for human rights, it’s also prosperity.”

“Today, we can say Spain is a better country,” Saiz told national broadcaster Radio Nacional de España.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has often described his government’s migration policies as a means to combat the country’s low birthrate.

The new policy, approved Tuesday by Sánchez’s leftist minority coalition government, simplifies administrative procedures for short and long-term visas and provides migrants with additional labor protections. It extends a visa previously offered to job-seekers for three months to one year.

In August, Sánchez visited three West African nations in an effort to address irregular migration to Spain’s Canary Islands.

The archipelago off the coast of Africa is seen by many as a step toward continental Europe with young men from Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and elsewhere embarking on dangerous sea voyages there seeking better job opportunities abroad or fleeing violence and political instability at home.

By mid-November, some 54,000 migrants had reached Spain this year by sea or land, according to the country’s Interior Ministry. The exact number of foreigners living in Spain illegally is not clear.

Many such migrants make a living in Spain’s underground economy as fruit pickers, caretakers, delivery drivers, or other low-paid but essential jobs often passed over by Spaniards.

Without legal protections, they can be vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Saiz said the new policy would help prevent such abuse and “serve to combat mafias, fraud and the violation of rights.”

Spain’s economy is among the fastest-growing in the European Union this year, boosted in part by a strong rebound in tourism after the pandemic.

In 2023, Spain issued 1.3 million visas to foreigners, according to the government.