Latest news with #BokoHaram
Al-Ahram Weekly
13 hours ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Jason Miller outlines Trump's Africa trade vision at Afreximbank meetings - Economy
Speaking before policymakers, financiers, and industry leaders, Miller said Africa's rise hinged on strategic choices. In a conversation with Viswanathan Shankar, CEO of Gateway Partners, he analyzed America's evolving trade posture and its implications for the continent. Miller began by stating that Africa will surpass Europe as the world's third-largest economic bloc by 2050. He added that Nigeria would rank among the top ten global economies. By 2100, sub-Saharan Africa will host four of the world's most populous nations, Miller predicted, positioning the continent as an economic superpower. "This is Africa's century," he declared, "but if these opportunities aren't seized strategically, Africa risks being taken advantage of again." Miller contrasted US engagement with that of other global players. He criticised decades of exploitative practices where outsiders "took, took, took, leaving broken promises." By contrast, America, he argued, aims for strategic partnerships anchored in private capital with no debt traps, military occupations, or hollow rhetoric. The distinction lies in market-driven investments, which demand mutual accountability, unlike what Miller termed "debt diplomacy." Miller outlined non-negotiables for nations seeking a partnership with the US. First, Africa must demand tangible value over empty deals, avoiding unsustainable debt disguised as aid. Partnerships should prioritise foreign direct investment in future-proof infrastructure: roads, ports, data centres, and clean energy. He highlighted Africa's critical minerals and youthful workforce as key factors in dominating the AI supply chain, the impact of which he likened to that of the Industrial Revolution. Second, accelerating business climate reforms is essential. Enforcing contracts, stabilising currencies, and rooting out corruption are not just suggestions but "the price of admission" for attracting trillion-dollar US pension funds and private capital. While praising Nigeria's "gutsy" currency reforms, Miller urged broader, faster action continent-wide. Third, Africa must choose allies wisely. Miller drew sharp contrasts between China's record of "unregulated fishing, environmental disasters, and crippling debt" and the US's contributions such as PEPFAR's HIV/AIDS support, security cooperation against groups like Boko Haram, and conflict mediation in hotspots like the DRC-Rwanda border. True friendship, he stressed, respects sovereignty and borders without exploitation. Furthermore, Miller decoded recent US moves. He explained that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in September 2025, faces an uncertain future. "Why renew one-way preferences," he noted, "if African nations impose tariffs on US goods or favour Chinese partners?" His solution: proactive renegotiation focused on reciprocity. Miller defended Trump's signature tariffs as multipurpose tools for protecting strategic industries such as auto manufacturing ("a US national security issue") while forcing fairer trade terms. Meanwhile, he emphasized that the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC) emerges as Africa's catalyst, deploying profit-driven investments in projects such as the Lobito Corridor and the Mozambique LNG project. "This is revenue-generating capital, not debt," Miller emphasised, urging reforms to unlock giants like BlackRock and CalPERS. Miller offered advice to African leaders on how to deal with the US. He stressed the importance of preparation before meetings. He also underlined identifying President Trump's priorities before meetings by following his Truth Social Platform. In addition, Miller advised African leaders to engage with specific asks and solutions, and shun "photo-ops." He urged them to emulate Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, whose investment commitments and peace-building efforts earned early presidential visits. Moreover, he encouraged them to push CEOs and investors, not just bureaucrats, to amplify Africa's economic narrative globally. In conclusion, Miller called for Africa's potential to be translated into provable partnerships through renegotiating AGOA terms for mutual benefit, fast-tracking business reforms to attract private capital, and demanding infrastructure-for-minerals deals to build AI capacity. He also urged African leaders to proactively engage the DFC on bankable projects and, above all, to champion stability, the bedrock of investment. In closing, Shankar revealed that Miller has been appointed Senior Adviser to Gateway Partners to "bring American capital to Africa's future industries." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
News24
a day ago
- News24
Soldiers killed in bandit attacks on Nigerian Army bases
At least 17 soldiers were killed when armed gangs attacked three of the army's forward operating bases in central and northwestern Nigeria. In what appeared to be a coordinated assault, the gangs, commonly referred to locally as bandits, attacked bases on Tuesday in the states of Niger and Kaduna. The attackers engaged troops in prolonged firefights lasting several hours. 'Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles while four troops wounded in action are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds,' the army said in a statement on Wednesday. One officer told the AFP news agency, 'bandits attacked the camp while others laid ambush on soldiers outside.' Nigerian Army launched counteroffensive The Nigerian Army confirmed the attacks and said it had launched counteroffensives in coordination with the Nigerian Air Force, which resulted in 'significant enemy losses'. Armed groups operating in the northwest are known for mass kidnappings for ransom and frequent attacks on security personnel. They maintain camps in a vast forest that spans parts of Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna states in the northwest, as well as Niger state in the central region. In addition to fighting armed gangs, the Nigerian military continues to face persistent threats from Boko Haram and 'Islamic State'-affiliated groups operating in the region. Earlier in June, gunmen killed scores of people in Benue state. Amnesty International Nigeria said that at least 100 people were killed, and police later reported that 26 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Nigeria's North Central region violence reveals systemic state failure
Durable solutions to end deadly attacks in Benue State will remain elusive if the crisis continues to be misdiagnosed. Nigeria's North Central region has been engulfed in protracted conflict for decades. But the violence receives less humanitarian attention, government intervention and global publicity than Boko Haram terrorism in the North East and banditry in the North West. In North Central, rural communities often bear the brunt of attacks. On 13 June 2025 armed groups attacked Yelwata in Benue State's Guma Local Government Area, reportedly killing more than 200 people. In April, gunmen killed at least 52 people and displaced nearly 2,000 residents over several days of attacks in neighbouring Plateau State. Perceptions vary about why attacks occur and who the perpetrators are. Security analyst Bulama Bukarti tags the violence as terrorism. Prominent Benue State politician Terseer Ugbor explains it from the perspective of identity politics, saying Fulani herdsmen are taking land in Benue State. Some claim it's due to religious differences between the largely Muslim herding community and their mostly Christian host farming communities; or link the attacks to foreign criminals who enter Nigeria via porous borders. Others say the violence stems from resource scarcity, farmer-herder disagreements about land use, and the impacts of climate change. Climate change is indeed a threat multiplier, disrupting opportunities for livelihoods, leading to failure in agricultural productivity and forced population displacement. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu says the conflict requires communal peacebuilding and resolution, and has advised the state governor to 'pursue reconciliation and dialogue as part of a political solution to the ongoing killings in the state'. Framing the root causes of any conflict is vital to finding durable solutions. What is clear is that violence in Nigeria is a manifestation of state failure. The state has proven unable, unwilling and incapable of protecting its citizens. It has failed in five key areas: intelligence, protection, delivery of justice, politics and strategy. Intelligence forms the bedrock of security governance by gathering and acting on processed information. Although the government has diverse defence, security, intelligence and law enforcement institutions to undertake this task, its approach has been reactive at best, and ineffective at worst. This is evident in its failure to turn early warning information into actionable intelligence, or to proactively use available intelligence to prevent attacks. There are instances where communities have reported witnessing the gathering of armed groups, but law enforcement failed to act. Tinubu affirmed this problem when he rebuked senior police officers during a recent visit to Benue, asking why no arrests had been made. Regarding protection, the state has failed to deploy the military and police to ensure citizens' safety. While soldiers are reportedly deployed to the epicentres of violence in North Central, locals are again targeted as soon as the military leaves the area. Criminals also relocate to other communities to perpetrate attacks. These reactionary responses by state security and law enforcement agencies have not helped stem the deadly violence in North Central Nigeria (or indeed other parts of the country), as Acled (conflict index) data confirms. Benue experienced 722 violent attacks and 3,251 deaths from 2015 to 2024. Acled relies heavily on information from local groups and media reports, so many incidents go unrecorded. The third area of state failure is ensuring a judicial system that can process legitimate grievances, punish offenders and compensate victims. Despite repeated presidential directives, victims and the public rarely see perpetrators of this violence being arrested, prosecuted and convicted — so there is little to deter future attacks. When arrests do occur, those charged aren't always prosecuted. This emboldens criminals and reinforces victims' grievances against the state. Furthermore, the government struggles to enforce its authority and the law across the entire country. This not only enables the emergence of groups with access to illicit weapons, but challenges the state's territorial integrity, as armed groups take control of some rural areas and borderlands. At the political level, the fourth key area, citizens have not seen the government demonstrate any decisive commitment to ending the crisis. Instead, the state has repeated promises of security that have not translated into action. This is apparent in the rising number of attacks on rural civilians. The last area of government failure relates to strategy. Nigeria's state authorities continue to negotiate with organised criminal gangs and bandits, who carry out mass attacks in North Central and North West Nigeria. Such negotiations are flawed, as the sub-national governments constitutionally lack control over the military and police. That means they engage armed groups from a position of weakness — further highlighting the erosion of state authority. The poor framing of violence in North Central Nigeria has led to misdiagnosis, inappropriate policy responses and the escalation of conflict rather than solutions. What is happening there is not terrorism, as it lacks an ideological underpinning; and it goes beyond climate change explanations and religious or farmer-herder conflicts. Instead, it is protracted criminality that is intentional and coordinated, and should be treated as such. The state must make a concerted effort to revamp and deploy all instruments of national power — such as its army, police and a competent judiciary — to address violent crime by gathering intelligence and fostering deterrence. If the criminals are foreign fighters, how do they get into the country? Where are the arms and ammunition coming from? What are the state's strategies to curb the influx of criminals and illicit weapons? These pertinent questions must be answered to enable the government to reinforce security and go beyond merely identifying and labelling the perpetrators. DM Oluwole Ojewale is the Enact Central Africa Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator, Institute for Security Studies (ISS); Freedom Onuoha is the Department of Political Science and Coordinator, Security, Violence and Conflict Research Group at the University of Nigeria.
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Gunmen kill 17 soldiers in northern Nigeria attacks
Armed gangs in Nigeria, known locally as bandits, typically target security forces. (EPA Images pic) LAGOS : At least 17 soldiers were killed in northern Nigeria when gunmen stormed three army bases, security sources and a local official said today, the latest assault in a region plagued by violence. Armed gangs operating in the northwest, known locally as bandits, typically engage in kidnapping for ransom and target security forces. The Nigerian army confirmed the attacks yesterday but did not provide details. 'Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles while four troops wounded in action are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds,' the army said in a statement. Two security sources said gunmen launched surprise attacks on the army's forward operating bases in the Kwanar Dutse Mariga and Boka areas in Niger state and another base in neighbouring Kaduna state, battling troops for several hours. The sources and Abbas Kasuwar Garba, chairman for Mariga district, said all 17 fatalities were at the Kwanar Dutse Mariga base. 'It was an ambush. They (gunmen) came from nowhere and used heavy ammunition to attack,' said a Niger-based army officer. The Nigerian army said it launched counter-attacks, killing several gunmen. Insecurity has stretched Nigeria's military, as it confronts armed gangs alongside Islamist groups Boko Haram and an Islamic State affiliate in the northeast. Niger state has witnessed ambushes against military personnel, with Boko Haram fighters known to operate there.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Gunmen kill 17 soldiers in northern Nigeria attacks
LAGOS: At least 17 soldiers were killed in northern Nigeria when gunmen stormed three army bases, security sources and a local official said on Wednesday, the latest assault in a region plagued by violence. Armed gangs operating in the northwest, known locally as bandits, typically engage in kidnapping for ransom and target security forces. The Nigerian Army confirmed the attacks on Tuesday but did not provide details. 'Sadly, some gallant warriors paid the supreme price in the day-long battles while four troops wounded in action are currently receiving treatment for their gunshot wounds,' the army said in a statement. Two security sources said gunmen launched surprise attacks on the army's forward operating bases in the Kwanar Dutse Mariga and Boka areas in Niger State and another base in neighboring Kaduna State, battling troops for several hours. The sources and Abbas Kasuwar Garba, chairman for Mariga district, said all 17 fatalities were at the Kwanar Dutse Mariga base. 'It was an ambush. They (gunmen) came from nowhere and used heavy ammunition to attack,' said a Niger-based army officer. The Nigerian Army said it launched counterattacks, killing several gunmen. Insecurity has stretched Nigeria's military, as it confronts armed gangs alongside militant groups Boko Haram and a Daesh affiliate in the northeast. Niger State has witnessed ambushes against military personnel, with Boko Haram fighters known to operate there.
