African Leaders Blast European No-Shows at Climate Adaptation Summit
African leaders have criticised their European counterparts for missing a summit in Rotterdam on how Africa can adapt to climate change. While three African presidents flew to the Netherlands for the Africa Adaptation Summit on Monday, only Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte was there to meet with them. Rich countries have unmet promises to financially support poorer countries in boosting climate resilience. Senegal’s president Macky Sall said: “I cannot help but note, with some bitterness, the absence of leaders from the industrial world. I think if we made the effort to leave Africa to come to Rotterdam, it would be easier for the Europeans and others to be here.” Climate Change News
Clashes in Guinea, One Year After Military Coup
Clashes broke out in Guinea Monday between security forces and protesters calling on the ruling junta to speed up the handover of power to civilian rulers, an AFP journalist saw. The latest unrest on the outskirts of the capital Conakry came one year to the day after a military coup toppled former president Alpha Conde. A military-dominated government headed by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya has led Guinea since September 2021. Doumbouya has pledged to hand over power to elected civilians within three years. The National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), a political coalition, called the demonstration to demand a shorter transition period. Despite the military junta having banned all rallies since May and having decreed the dissolution of the FNDC last month, scattered demonstrations took place in several districts in the suburbs of Conakry. AFP
Guinea: ICC Mission Arrives in Conakry Ahead of 2009 Stadium Massacre Trial
A mission from the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrived in Conakry on Monday evening to assess the state of preparations for the trial of the alleged perpetrators of the massacre of opponents at the Conakry stadium on September 28, 2009. On that day, soldiers killed at least 157 people and raped 109 women in the stadium where thousands of opponents to the presidential candidacy of junta leader Moussa Dadis Camara were gathered, according to a UN commission of enquiry. The judicial investigation was completed in December 2017, with a dozen defendants referred to court, including Mr Camara. The trial is yet to be held, despite multiple commitments from the authorities in Conakry, particularly under the regime of former president Alpha Conde, who was overthrown by a military coup a year ago. AfricaNews with AFP
Mali Releases 3 Ivorian Soldiers; 46 Others Still Detained
Three female Ivorian soldiers arrived home late Saturday after being detained for nearly two months in Mali, while 46 others remain jailed in a case that has heightened tensions between the West African neighbors. Togolese Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Dusse, whose country has been mediating talks, said the three women were “released as a humanitarian gesture” by Mali’s leader, Col. Assimi Goita. “We are sad because our friends are still there and we hope to be able to retrieve them very soon,” said one of the soldiers, Sita Bamba, who was released along with Awa Bakayoko and Kangah Badou Adele Bledou. The Ivorian soldiers were sent to Mali in July to work for Sahelian Aviation Services, a private company contracted by the United Nations. Voice of America
Togo: Parliament Extends State of Emergency in the North for Six Months
Togo’s parliament on Tuesday extended for six months the state of emergency in the Savannah region in the far north of the country, which has been plagued by incursions by jihadist groups. While jihadist groups operating in the Sahel appear to be gradually moving toward the West African coast, northern Togo has suffered at least five attacks since November 2021. Declared in June by the Togolese president, the state of emergency was unanimously extended until March 2023 by the National Assembly meeting in Kara, about 400 km north of Lome. The country’s constitution requires parliamentary approval to extend the state of emergency beyond three months. “Faced with attacks on our peaceful people, our objective (…) is to give the defense and security forces the necessary means to stop the threat,” said National Assembly Speaker Yawa Djigbodi Tsegan. According to Security Minister Damehame Yark, the state of emergency “creates (…) the conditions for administrative and operational measures”, “necessary for the proper conduct of military operations” and “a return to peace” in the region. AfricaNews
Nigeria: Kaduna Train Hostage Negotiator Arrested in Egypt
The spokesperson for the Kaduna-based cleric, Ahmad Gumi, Tukur Mamu, was arrested in Egypt Tuesday. He was arrested and detained by Interpol at the Cairo International Airport while awaiting a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia. Mr Mamu, who is the Publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper in Kaduna, negotiated the release of some of the victims of the March 2022 Kaduna Train attack. He, however, told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday morning that he has been flown back to Nigeria by Interpol after he was interrogated and nothing was found incriminating against him. He was accompanied by his two wives and one other person. He is expected to arrive at Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano Wednesday afternoon and may be interrogated further by officials of Nigerian secret police, Department of State Security (DSS). Mr Mamu announced his withdrawal as the lead negotiator in securing the release of the hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack after he alleged a threat to his life by the Nigerian government. The terrorists are still holding several of the victims captive. Premium Times Nigeria
2023: Nigerian Fact-Checkers Coalition Hold Conference on Information Disorder
The Nigerian Fact-checkers Coalition on Tuesday, in Abuja, held a conference to deliberate on the scourge of misinformation and disinformation and how these could be curbed ahead of the nation’s 2023 general elections. The conference, tagged ‘Curbing Information Disorder’ had in attendance officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police, election monitoring groups, civil society groups, the media and the diplomatic corps. The Executive Director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Dayo Aiyetan, and Tobi Oluwatola of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in their opening remarks, harped on the need for more sensitisation of relevant groups as the polls approach, hoping that the conference would proffer solutions to stop the spread of fake news before, during and after the elections. “We know that there will be frequent disinformation this year and that’s why it’s important we work together,” Mr Aiyetan said. “Politicians and their aides will be weaponising information deliberately.” Premium Times Nigeria
Namibia and Botswana Look to Upgrade Their Cooperation with New Commission
The inaugural Botswana and Namibia Bi-National Commission (BNC) got under way in Gaborone on Monday and will culminate in a meeting between the countries’ heads of state. In a statement, the foreign affairs ministry of Botswana said senior government officials from the two countries were meeting on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, ministers from the two countries will have a session that will foreground the heads of state meeting on Friday. Last year, Namibia and Botswana agreed to upgrade their cooperation from bilateral frameworks such as the Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation (JPCC) and the Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security (JPCDS). News24
Burundi MPs Eject Prime Minister amid Coup Rumours
Burundi’s parliament on Wednesday approved the appointment of a new prime minister after President Evariste Ndayishimiye warned last week of a possible coup plot against him. Security Minister Gervais Ndirakobuca has replaced Alain Guillaume Bunyoni as prime minister after a unanimous vote in parliament, the national broadcaster RTNB said. Mr Bunyoni’s departure came after President Ndayishimiye, who has been in power for just over two years, had last week warned of a coup plot against him. “Do you think an army general can be threatened by saying they will make a coup? Who is that person? Whoever it is should come and in the name of God I will defeat him,” President Ndayishimiye had warned at a meeting of government officials on Friday. There has been speculation of a possible feud between the Prime Minister and the President due to a power struggle. AFP
Why Lesotho’s Law Society Is Challenging the Constitutionality of Laws Passed by Parliament
The Law Society of Lesotho challenged the constitutionality of laws passed by Parliament when it was briefly convened by King Letsie III a fortnight ago. The Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution Bill 2022 and the National Assembly Electoral Amendment Act were passed last Wednesday. When the laws were passed, Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro expressed gratitude to all Members of Parliament for what he described as “selfless commitment and dedication for enduring and overcoming their political differences.” The country’s 10th Parliament failed to pass the laws during its regular sitting, which ended on 14 July. News24
One Dead in Fresh Anti-UN Mission Protests in Eastern DR Congo
At least one person has been killed in the eastern Congolese city of Beni as shots were fired during another protest against the United Nations’ MONUSCO peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The incident happened on Tuesday, a police spokesperson said. Protesters on motorbikes had gathered and blocked a MONUSCO convoy in Beni – a continuation of violent demonstrations against the mission that have killed dozens, including civilians, peacekeepers and Congolese police elsewhere in eastern DR Congo in recent months. Thirty-six people, including four UN peacekeepers, were killed in July as hundreds of protesters vandalised and set fire to the mission’s buildings in several cities in the region. One motorcycle taxi driver was killed when shots broke out, Beni police spokesperson Nasson Katembo said without giving further details about who was responsible for the gunfire. Al Jazeera
Sudan, S. Sudan Back Regional Efforts to End Conflict in Ethiopia
Sudan and South Sudan have intensified regional efforts to end to the conflict in Ethiopia, citing its significant role in regional peace and stability…The presidential aide revealed that hybrid efforts by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through the office of its special envoy and the secretariat are being exerted to ensure a sustained provision of humanitarian aid as well as to facilitate the resumption of basic services and also to resolve the conflict peacefully are the priority. These efforts, he added, seeks to push for a ceasefire deal between the warring factions. To expedite this process, according to Manime, Kenya, Sudan and South Sudan have been asked by the friends of Ethiopia to deliberate upon and adopt a peace proposal that would lead to conclusion of a ceasefire and lay foundation for future political dialogue. Sudan Tribune
Drought and Hunger in Somalia, Ethiopia and Region: What to Know
The Horn of Africa region is on the brink of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, the United Nations and several aid organisations have said. Millions of people are facing food insecurity, as scientists and aid groups warned that Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia could be experiencing their worst drought in 40 years this October-December with drier-than-average conditions predicted. In addition to delayed rains over the past two years, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted food supply globally and led to a rise in food and energy prices in the region. Here’s all you need to know about the situation. Al Jazeera