The US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will deliver remarks during the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. The event will take place at the National Museum of American Diplomacy, located at the Department of State August 7, 2023. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s remarks at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania will be streamed live on the Department of State’s homepage and the Department’s YouTube channel. Additionally, the event will be made available to in-person press coverage through pooling arrangements.…
Author: Editor Francis
The Troika comprising Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States expressed their strongest condemnation of the continued violence in Darfur, with particular concern over reports of killings based on ethnicity and widespread sexual violence perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and allied militias. The Troika urgently called on all parties involved to immediately halt attacks and prevent further escalation of hostilities. They emphasised the need to hold those responsible for atrocities accountable and stressed the importance of providing full access to conflict-affected areas for proper investigation of abuses and the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid to survivors in…
In an official statement released on August 4, 2023, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced that certain foreign assistance programs benefiting the government of Niger will be paused. The interim measure, however, does not affect all U.S. foreign assistance programs in the country, with life-saving humanitarian and food assistance remaining unaffected. The U.S. government will continue its activities in Niger where feasible, including diplomatic and security operations, to ensure the safety of U.S. personnel. Secretary Blinken emphasised that the provision of U.S. assistance to Niger’s government depends on democratic governance and respect for constitutional order. This stance aligns…
On Sunday, thousands of supporters of the military coup in Niger assembled at a stadium in Niamey as the deadline set by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS approached. The deadline was for the restoration of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to power. African news reports that a delegation of members of the now-ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), arrived at the 30,000-seat stadium to cheers from supporters, many of whom carried in Russian flags and portraits of CNSP leaders. The stadium, named after Seyni Kountche, who led Niger’s first coup d’etat in 1974, was almost full…
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday played host to governors of States that share boundaries with Niger Republic. The governors present at the event included Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Umar Namadi of Jigawa state, Mai Malam Buni of Yobe state, Idris Nasir of Kebbi state, and Dr. Dikko Radda of Katsina State. It was gathered the meeting held at the State House, Abuja, was part of consultations by the President on the situation in Niger. Recall that the Northern Elites have strongly voiced their opposition to the proposed military offensive against the junta in Niger. They express concerns over the potential…
The Senate has given advice to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to appoint an Auditor General for the Federation (AuGF) as mandated by Section 86 of the 1999 Constitution. The Senate pointed out that the absence of the Auditor-General for the Federation for the past 10 months has exposed the government to possible mismanagement, lack of accountability, and transparency issues. The communication was signed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Aliyu Wadada. The upper legislative chamber expressed concern that the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which is the apex audit institution of the country, had…
According to Bloomberg reports, the new national carrier, Nigerian Air, is set to commence operations by October this year. GOVIMA reported that the new carrier was initially revealed at the Farnborough International Airshow in London back in 2018. Then, in May 2023, Nigeria’s former Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika launched the airline just 48 hours before the end of his administration, along with an aircraft. This move sparked a considerable nationwide controversy. According to ownership breakdown, Ethiopian Airlines holds 49 percent, the federal government holds five percent, and Nigerian private investors (including SAHCO, MRS, and other institutional investors) hold 46 percent…
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has designated every Monday as an “economic empowerment day” in the South-East region The pro-Biafran group, IPOB, stated that the intention behind designating every Monday as an “economic empowerment day” in the South-East region is to mobilise resources and efforts to address the adverse effects on the economic, educational, and social sectors caused by the prolonged sit-at-home protests. The spokesman for the group, Emma Powerful, stated this in a statement on Saturday. According to a statement by the powerful, the decision to declare every Monday as an “economic empowerment day” in the South-East was…
Ahead of the final day of the 7 days ultimatum that the ECOWAS has given in response to Niger coupists, the senators have turned a blind eye to the ultimatum today . The senators rejected the request of President Bola Tinubu for permission to deploy Nigerian troops to Niger Republic as part of an ECOWAS force to reinstate the democratically elected president of the country, During an executive session on Saturday, the senators declined the president’s request. A senator disclosed that consensus was reached among the attendees. Over 90 per cent of senator who spoke are vehement against sending troops/military action.The…
Catherine Colonna, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, has expressed unequivocal support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its determined efforts to “defeat” the coup in the Niger Republic. Colonna spoke on Saturday when she visited Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, prime minister of the Niger Republic, at Quai d’Orsay. The French minister was accompanied by Aichatou Boulama, France’s ambassador to Niger. GOVIMA reported On July 25, a coup was staged in Niger, leading to the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum and other political leaders from office. Abdourahmane Tiani, former head of Bazoum’s presidential guard, later declared…
Benin maintains that diplomatic means remain the preferred approach in handling the crisis resulting from the military coup in Niger. The country’s foreign minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, told reporters his country was demanding the immediate release and reinstatement of President Bazoum. Bakari also pledged his full support for efforts by the west African bloc ECOWAS to resolve the ongoing crisis. “We are and we fully subscribe to the diplomatic actions that are underway and that remain the preferred solution for the time being,” said Bakari. “But if tomorrow, for whatever reason, whatever action ECOWAS were to take, Benin would in…
The Federal Government is calling on the international community to steadfastly support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in its efforts to restore democratic governance in the country. Adamu Lamuwa, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made this statement on Friday during a briefing session organised by the Ministry for the Diplomatic Corps. The briefing focused on the current political situation in Niger Republic and the broader ECOWAS sub-region. GOVIMA reported that On July 30, 2023, ECOWAS, led by Nigerian President BolaTinubu, decided on sanctions against the military personnel in Niger who toppled President-elect Mohamed…