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Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mali coup leader granted five-year term in power
Mali's military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has been granted a five-year presidential term by the transitional parliament, which is renewable without elections. The junta leader, who has seized power twice, had promised the return of democracy last year, but it never materialised. The bill granting his new mandate said the transition would last "as many times as necessary" and until Mali was "pacified". It clears Gen Goïta to lead the West African country until at least 2030, with many fearing the move could lead to the repression of the opposition or dissenting opinions. The 41-year-old military leader was named transitional president after his last coup in 2021. At the time he promised to hold elections the following year - but has since reneged, in a blow to efforts to restore multi-party rule. The transitional bill was on Thursday unanimously approved by 131 members of the National Transitional Council, which is composed of 147 legislators. The council had already adopted the measure in April. The president of the legislative body, Malick Diaw, called the development "a major step forward in the rebuilding of Mali". "The adoption of this text is in accordance with the popular will," he said. The bill allows the transitional president, government and legislative members to stand in presidential and general elections. The military government has been trying to quell jihadist violence unleashed by groups linked with the Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda. Since taking power, the junta leader has formed an alliance with coup leaders in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, pivoting the region towards Russia after cutting ties with former colonial power France. Gen Goïta has also withdrawn Mali from the regional grouping Ecowas over its demands to restore democratic rule. Burkina Faso and Niger have also left the grouping. He first staged a coup in August 2020 overthrowing then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta after huge anti-government protests against his rule and his handling of the jihadist insurgency. However, these attacks have continued and even intensified since he took power. Gen Goïta handed power to an interim government that was to oversee the transition to elections within 18 months. He had sought to lead that government, but Ecowas insisted on a civilian leader. Unhappy with the performance of the civilian transitional arrangement, he seized power again in May 2021. The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combined Three military-run states leave West African bloc - what will change? Why young Africans are celebrating military takeovers Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jihadists on 200 motorbikes storm Niger army base
More than 200 gunmen on motorbikes have attacked a Niger army base near the border with Mali, leaving at least 34 soldiers dead, the country's defence ministry said. The attackers - described by the ministry as "mercenaries" - raided the base in the western town of Banibangou on Thursday, injuring 14 other soldiers. The ministry said that its forces killed "dozens of terrorists" in the battle. Niger's military is under pressure for failing to curb militant attacks, one of its justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023. "This Thursday, June 19, a cowardly and barbaric attack was carried out against [the town of] Banibangou by a horde of several hundred mercenaries aboard eight vehicles and more than 200 motorbikes," the ministry said in a statement read out on state TV. It added that the troops were conducting search operations in Banibangou to track down the attackers. The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combined Niger military leaders to nationalise uranium firm The town, which lies close to the three-way border between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is prone to jihadist attacks from Islamist groups. Niger's ruling junta has expelled French and US forces that had been heavily involved in the fight against jihadists. West African neighbours Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are facing an insurgency from different jihadist groups which operate across the Sahel region. The three countries have formed an alliance to fight the jihadists and scaled back ties with the West, turning to Russia and Turkey instead for their security needs. But the violence has continued. WATCH: How has Niger changed since the coup? Three military-run states leave West African bloc - what will change? 'I thought I would die' - freed captive tells BBC of life in West African jihadist base PODCAST: The Sahel's coup contagion Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DR Congo bans reporting on ex-President Kabila
The Congolese government has banned the media from reporting on the activities of former President Joseph Kabila and interviewing members of his party. This comes after Kabila returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo last month amid heightened tensions between himself and the government, led by his successor, President Félix Tshisekedi. The authorities are pushing to prosecute Mr Kabila amid accusations of treason and alleged links to the M23 rebels which have been fighting the army - something he has previously denied. Breaches of the ban could result in suspension, said the head of DR Congo's media regulator, Christian Bosembe. Responding to the announcement by the regulator, known as the the Supreme Council of Audiovisual and Communication (CSAC), an M23 spokesperson said the media outlets in parts of the country under its control would not abide by the ban. There has been no immediate response from Kabila, however, the secretary of his party, Ferdinand Kambere, rejected the ban, describing it as "arbitrary" on X. Kabila was last week seen in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, which is under M23 control. He has been highly critical of the government after the senate voted to lift his immunity over his alleged support of the M23 group. DR Congo's neighbour, Rwanda has been accused of backing the rebel group, but Kigali denies this. Kabila, who has not yet been charged with any crime, launched a scathing attack on the Congolese government last month, describing it as a "dictatorship". A government spokesperson at the time rejected Kabila's criticism, saying he had "nothing to offer". Reacting to the announcement by the CSAC, activist and president of the African Association for the Defence of Human Rights, Jean-Claude Katende, said the ban constituted an "abuse of power", according to local media. Meanwhile, political analyst Ambroise Mamba indicated on X that the ban could be self-defeating because it could pique people's interest to find out about Kabila's movements and activities. Since returning to DR Congo after two years of self-imposed exile, Kabila's party has been posting his activities online, which include visiting civil society groups and local religious representatives in Goma. Additional reporting from BBC Monitoring. What's the fighting in DR Congo all about? The evidence that shows Rwanda is backing rebels in DR Congo Is Trump mulling a minerals deal with conflict-hit DR Congo? Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Death toll in Nigeria floods hits more than 200, officials say
The death toll after deadly floods hit the Nigerian town of Mokwa on Thursday has risen to more than 200, officials say. There are still 500 people missing in the town in north-central Niger State, as a search mission continues. The deputy chairman of Mokwa Local Government, Musa Kimboku, told the BBC that rescue efforts have ceased because authorities no longer believe anyone could still be alive. The floods, said to be worst in the area for 60 years, swept through the towns of Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa after a bout of torrential rain. In an effort to prevent disease in the area, authorities will soon start to dig out corpses buried underground, Mokwa's district head Muhammadu Aliyu said. Recounting scenes of catastrophe, local residents have told the BBC that they saw their homes and family members get washed away. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) announced it had started the process of providing relief packages to people affected. The agency added in a post on Facebook that roads and bridges were also affected by the flood, which has had a knock-on effect on the local economy and traffic. The Nigerian Red Cross also released a statement on Friday saying the floods had caused "significant loss of life and widespread distress". Floods are not uncommon during the Nigerian rainy season, which lasts from April until October. In 2024, Nigeria experienced flooding from heavy rain which caused deaths and drove people from their homes. There was also severe flooding in 2022, when more than 600 people died and 1.3 million were displaced. Could Nigeria's careful ethnic balancing act be under threat? Blank questions, power cuts and a suicide: Nigeria's exams fiasco 'How I survived Nigeria attack that killed my 16 friends' Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghana temporarily shuts embassy in US over alleged visa scandal
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister has announced that the country has temporarily closed its embassy in the US capital amid an investigation into an alleged visa scam. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the embassy will be shut following the "damning findings" of an audit team he put together to investigate alleged corruption at the Washington diplomatic mission. The statement added that the closure would last "a few days" until a "restructuring and systems overhaul" is finalised. According to Ablakwa, a locally recruited staff member and "collaborators" were allegedly involved in a "fraudulent" scheme whereby they extracted money from visa and passport applicants. It is alleged that the scheme consisted of creating an unauthorised link on the embassy's website to redirect visa and passport applicants to a private firm where they were "charged extra for multiple services" without the knowledge of the foreign ministry. Ablakwa added that the staff member "kept the entire proceeds" in their private account, and that the scheme had been going on for five years. Applicants seeking visas were charged unapproved fees ranging from almost $30 (£22) to $60 by the private firm. "This conduct has been reported to the attorney-general for possible prosecution and retrieval of funds obtained through fraudulent schemes," Ablakwa added. As a result, foreign ministry staff in Washington "have been recalled home" and "all locally recruited staff at the embassy have been suspended", Ablakwa said. "President [John] Mahama's government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest and blatant abuse of office." 'We are poisoning ourselves': Ghana gold rush sparks environmental disaster 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
