Category: LATEST NEWS

A diplomatic row between Burundi and Rwanda took on a new front Thursday as Burundi closed its borders with its neighbor.”We have stopped ties with him until he changes” Burundi’s Interior Minister Martin Niteretse said in a statement.

The latest follows accusations from Burundi to Rwanda of funding rebel attacks. Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye made the accusation in December after 20 people were killed near Burundi’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Rwandan President Paul Kagame denies the charge. His government has responded to the border closure saying that it “regrets the unilateral closure of the border by Burundi”.

Red Tabara admitted to carrying out the December attack, but said they killed nine soldiers and one police officer. The Burundian rebel group operates from DR Congo’s South Kivu province bordering Burundi.

It is not the first time that Burundi was shutting its borders with Rwanda.

In 2015 its authorities closed borders to Rwanda due to political tensions and then because of Covid-19. It took seven years for them to be reopened even though land crossings were never interrupted.

For Rwanda, the latest is yet another diplomatic tension after that of the DR Congo. In July 2023, the DR Congo’s army said Rwandan forces crossed its border and attacked its frontier security forces, potentially escalating tensions between the central African neighbours.

“The ensuing clashes enabled the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to repel the Rwandan terrorists who perpetrated this intolerable provocation,” Congo’s army said in a statement.

In December, Bintou Keita, a UN special representative to DR Congo warned the Security Council that tensions between “Congo and Rwanda have escalated, heightening the risk of a military confrontation that could draw in Burundi”.

Nigeria’s president on Monday suspended the country’s minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation over the use of a private bank account for ministry financial transactions in the government’s social welfare program.

Betta Edu was suspended with immediate effect while Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency carries out a “thorough investigation” of all ministry financial transactions,” presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said in a statement. It said the investigation would extend to the entire framework of Nigeria’s social investment programs.

President Bola Tinubu was elected last year after promising to rid Africa’s most populous country of chronic corruption and extreme poverty. His government said the suspension follows his commitment “to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability” in how Nigeria’s resources are managed.

Edu’s suspension comes days after local media cited an official memo in which she directed that 585 million naira ($661,000) worth of grants meant for vulnerable groups should be paid into a private account — a decision that the minister’s office said followed due process. The minister has denied any wrongdoing.

In a country where the government’s austerity measures have further squeezed millions of people facing extreme levels of poverty, many Nigerians criticized the use of a private bank account for the grants program and called for the minister to be fired.

The office of Nigeria’s Accountant General of the Federation said in a statement that such funds are meant to be sent directly from government accounts to the beneficiaries.

Edu’s predecessor, meanwhile, reported to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday as it investigated alleged corruption in the disbursement of public funds during her time as minister.

Sadiya Umar-Farouq said on social media that she was at the commission’s office to “offer clarifications in respect of some issues that the commission is investigating.”

A Haitian judge has issued arrest warrants for more than 30 senior officials accused of government corruption, including many former presidents and prime ministers.

The warrants, issued on Friday and leaked on social media over the weekend, accuse the officials of misappropriating funds or equipment linked to Haiti’s National Equipment Centre. This centre is responsible for using heavy machinery for tasks such as building roads or clearing rubble, particularly after earthquakes.

Those named include former presidents Michel Martelly and Jocelerme Privert, as well as former prime ministers Laurent Lamothe, Jean-Michel Lapin, Evans Paul and Jean-Henry Céant.

No one has been arrested in this case. No further details of the investigation were immediately available.

Judge Al Duniel Dimanche has requested that the accused meet with him for questioning while the investigation continues. The judge could not immediately be reached for comment.

It is common for Haitian officials accused in criminal or civil cases to ignore arrest warrants or requests for questioning and incur no sanction, because they accuse judges of political persecution. It is also rare for a senior Haitian official to be accused of corruption, let alone put on trial.

Local newspaper Le Nouvelliste has obtained a copy of a statement by Mr Lapin in which he claims that he was never officially notified of the arrest warrant. He also said that at no time during his 32-year political career had he been involved with the National Equipment Centre.

“Nor have I ever requisitioned or requested the use of any equipment from this institution for my personal needs or those of my relatives”, he said.Mr Privert issued a statement accusing the judge of having acted maliciously and thoughtlessly.

He also stated that the Court of First Instance in the capital Port-au-Prince “does not have jurisdiction over acts committed by presidents, prime ministers and ministers in the exercise of their duties”.

Former prime minister Claude Joseph, who is not named in the arrest warrant, said he had met the judge on Monday in case he could contribute to the case.

“No one, regardless of their position in the state, is above the law,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, before the meeting.”If a judge decides to abuse his office by abusing justice, that’s his business. I will not despise the justice of my country. I will be there”.

Boeing finds itself grappling with renewed safety concerns as federal authorities announce a temporary grounding of select Boeing 737 Max planes following a distressing incident involving an Alaska Airlines jetliner.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency order mandating immediate inspections for some Max 9 planes, impacting a global fleet of approximately 171 aircraft.

This development compounds the challenges facing Boeing, given the history of two fatal crashes involving its Max line-up. In the most recent incident, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 experienced a fuselage panel blowout shortly after takeoff, resulting in a swift loss of cabin pressure.

While remarkably no injuries were reported, the FAA’s emergency order intensifies scrutiny on the safety of Boeing’s best-selling plane, raising concerns within the aviation industry.

The repercussions of this safety directive are palpable for Alaska Airlines, which had to cancel 141 flights, amounting to 20% of its scheduled departures on Monday.

The airline foresees travel disruptions extending at least through mid-week. United, having grounded its 79 MAX 9s, faced the cancellation of 226 flights on Monday, constituting 8% of its scheduled departures.

Notably, out of the 171 planes affected by the FAA order, 144 are currently operating in the United States, as per data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

International carriers, including Turkish Airlines, Panama’s Copa Airlines, and Aeromexico, have also announced the grounding of affected jets in compliance with the safety directive.

This widespread response underscores the gravity of the situation, with airlines prioritizing passenger safety amid heightened scrutiny and ongoing investigations.

The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) denies allegations that Uganda may face Nigeria’s rejection of its degree certificates over authenticity concerns.

Prof Mary Okwakol, NCHE’s executive director, clarified that there have been no complaints from Nigeria about the legitimacy of Ugandan academic papers. NCHE investigates complaints related to higher learning institutions and takes appropriate action.

Contrary to reports, Nigeria has not suspended accreditation for Ugandan degrees. Prof Okwakol urged anyone with evidence of fake degrees to provide information for necessary action.

Educationist Rose Stella Akongo cautioned against obtaining degrees in under two months, urging vigilance against substandard courses. The Ministry of Education refrained from commenting until formal communication is received.

Last year, a Ugandan student faced challenges in a UK university due to an allegedly expired undergraduate course. NCHE directed universities to submit programs for review, with 2,395 out of 4,369 accredited degree programs in the final stages.

Makerere University investigated fake degree awards, urging employers to reverify degrees. Kyambogo University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Eli Katunguka, pledged to revoke degrees obtained fraudulently. Some Ugandans were reported using genuine academic documents that did not belong to them.

Sierra Leone’s former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, has been charged with four offenses, including treason, for his alleged involvement in a failed military attempt to overthrow the government in November.

The charges come amid heightened tensions following the attempted coup and a disputed June 2023 election, where President Julius Maada Bio secured a second term.

The election’s outcome faced rejection by the main opposition candidate and skepticism from international partners.

In November, gunmen attacked military barracks and a prison, leading to over 2,200 inmates’ release and more than 20 deaths. The government attributed the incident to a foiled coup, mainly involving Koroma’s bodyguards.

The ex-president, charged with treason, misprision of treason, and harboring, condemned the attacks. His lawyer called the charges a “political vendetta.” Koroma was granted bail, and the case is adjourned until January 17. Twelve others, including a member of Koroma’s security detail, were also charged with treason in connection with the coup attempt.