₦airaland Forum

WriterNig:
🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡

So the 80% of the world's population that supports Putin and Russia must be Russians as well?

Is it a crime to hold second opinion?

Believe it or not Putin has millions of supporters in the west, even in the United States. And they're very open about it.

The Greek coastguard has caused the deaths of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean over a three-year period, witnesses say, including nine who were deliberately thrown into the water.

The nine are among more than 40 people alleged to have died as a result of being forced out of Greek territorial waters, or taken back out to sea after reaching Greek islands, BBC analysis has found.

The Greek coastguard told our investigation it strongly rejects all accusations of illegal activities.

We showed footage of 12 people being loaded into a Greek coastguard boat, and then abandoned on a dinghy, to a former senior Greek coastguard officer. When he got up from his chair, and with his mic still on, he said it was "obviously illegal" and "an international crime".

The Greek government has long been accused of forced returns - pushing people back towards Turkey, where they have crossed from, which is illegal under international law.

But this is the first time the BBC has calculated the number of incidents which allege that fatalities occurred as a result of the Greek coastguard's actions.

The 15 incidents we analysed - dated May 2020-23 - resulted in 43 deaths. The initial sources were primarily local media, NGOs and the Turkish coastguard.

Verifying such accounts is extremely difficult - witnesses often disappear, or are too fearful to speak out. But in four of these cases we were able to corroborate accounts by speaking with eye witnesses.

Our research, which features in a new BBC documentary, Dead Calm: Killing in the Med?, suggested a clear pattern.

An interviewee migrant from Cameroon
Image caption,This man from Cameroon told the BBC he was thrown into the sea by the coastguard - his two companions drowned
In five of the incidents, migrants said they were thrown directly into the sea by the Greek authorities. In four of those cases they explained how they had landed on Greek islands but were hunted down. In several other incidents, migrants said they had been put onto inflatable rafts without motors which then deflated, or appeared to have been punctured.

One of the most chilling accounts was given by a Cameroonian man, who says he was hunted by Greek authorities after landing on the island of Samos in September 2021.

Like all the people we interviewed, he said he was planning to register on Greek soil as an asylum seeker.

"We had barely docked, and the police came from behind," he told us. "There were two policemen dressed in black, and three others in civilian clothes. They were masked, you could only see their eyes."

He and two others - another from Cameroon and a man from Ivory Coast - were transferred to a Greek coastguard boat, he said, where events took a terrifying turn.

“They started with the other Cameroonian. They threw him in the water. The Ivorian man said: ‘Save me, I don’t want to die… and then eventually only his hand was above water, and his body was below.

"Slowly his hand slipped under, and the water engulfed him."

Our interviewee says his abductors beat him.

"Punches were raining down on my head. It was like they were punching an animal." And then he says they pushed him, too, into the water - without a life jacket. He was able to swim to shore, but the bodies of the other two - Sidy Keita and Didier Martial Kouamou Nana - were recovered on the Turkish coastline.

The survivor’s lawyers are demanding the Greek authorities open a double murder case.

Another man, from Somalia, told the BBC how in March 2021 he had been caught by the Greek army on arrival on the island of Chios, who then handed him to the Greek coastguard.

He said the coastguard had tied his hands behind his back, before dropping him into the water.

"They threw me zip-tied in the middle of the sea. They wanted me to die," he said.

He said he managed to survive by floating on his back, before one of his hands broke free from the ligature. But the sea was choppy, and three in his group died. Our interviewee made it to land where he was eventually spotted by the Turkish coastguard.

In the incident with the highest loss of life - in September 2022 - a boat carrying 85 migrants ran into trouble near the Greek island of Rhodes when its motor cut out.

Mohamed, from Syria, told us they rang the Greek coastguard for help - who loaded them onto a boat, returned them to Turkish waters and put them in life rafts. Mohamed says the raft he and his family were given had not had its valve properly closed.

"We immediately began to sink, they saw that… They heard us all screaming, and yet they still left us," he told the BBC.

"The first child who died was my cousin's son… After that it was one by one. Another child, another child, then my cousin himself disappeared. By the morning seven or eight children had died.

"My kids didn't die until the morning… right before the Turkish coastguard arrived."

Greek law allows all migrants seeking asylum to register their claim on several of the islands at special registration centres.

But our interviewees - who we contacted with the help of migrant support body Consolidated Rescue Group - said they were apprehended before they could get to these centres. They said these men would be apparently operating undercover - non-uniformed, and often masked.

Human rights groups allege thousands of people seeking asylum in Europe have been illegally forced back from Greece to Turkey and denied the right to seek asylum, which is enshrined in international and EU law.

Austrian activist Fayad Mulla told us he discovered for himself how secretive such operations seem to be in February last year, on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Driving towards the location of an alleged forced return after a tip-off, he was stopped by a man in a hoodie - who was later revealed to work for the police. He said the police then attempted to delete the footage of him being stopped from his dashcam and charge him with resisting a police officer.

Ultimately, no further action was taken.

Two months later, in a similar place, Mr Mulla managed to film a forced return, published by The New York Times.

A group which included women and babies was unloaded from the back of an unmarked van and marched down a jetty onto a small boat.

They were then transferred onto a Greek coastguard vessel further away from the coastline, taken out to sea, and then put onto a raft where they were left to drift.

They were later rescued by the Turkish coastguard.

We showed this footage - which the BBC has verified - to Dimitris Baltakos, the former head of special operations with the Greek coastguard.

During the interview, he refused to speculate about what the footage showed - having denied, earlier in our conversation, that the Greek coastguard would ever be required to do anything illegal. But during a break, he was recorded telling someone out of shot in Greek:

"I haven't told them much, right? It's very clear, isn't it. It's not nuclear physics. I don't know why they did it in broad daylight… It's… obviously illegal. It's an international crime."

Greece's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy told the BBC the footage is currently being investigated by the country's independent National Transparency Authority.

An investigative journalist we spoke to based on the island of Samos says she began chatting with a member of the Greek special forces via the dating app Tinder.

When he rang her from what he described as a "warship", Romy van Baarsen asked him more about his work - and what happened when his forces spotted a refugee boat.

He replied that they "drive them back", and said such orders were "from the minister", adding they would be punished if they failed to stop a boat.

Greece has always denied so-called “pushbacks” are taking place.

Greece is an entryway into Europe for many migrants. Last year, there were 263,048 sea arrivals in Europe, with Greece receiving 41,561 (16%) of those. Turkey signed a deal with the EU in 2016 to stop migrants and refugees crossing into Greece, but said in 2020 it could no longer enforce it.

We put the findings in our investigation to the Greek coastguard. It replied that its staff worked "tirelessly with the utmost professionalism, a strong sense of responsibility and respect for human life and fundamental rights", adding that they were "in full compliance with the country's international obligations".

It added: "It should be highlighted that from 2015 to 2024, the Hellenic Coast Guard has rescued 250,834 refugees/migrants in 6,161 incidents at sea. The impeccable execution of this noble mission has been positively recognized by the international community."

The Greek coastguard has previously been criticised for its role in the biggest migrant shipwreck in the Mediterranean for a decade. More than 600 people are feared to have died after the Adriana sank in Greece’s demarcated rescue area last June.

Greek officials have insisted the boat was not in trouble and was safely on its way to Italy, and so the coastguard did not attempt a rescue.

The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) recently confirmed the start of US forces’ withdrawal from Niger, marking a significant shift in American military presence in the region. The first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft departed from Air Base 101 in Niamey on 7 June 2024, signifying a pivotal moment in the broader context of US strategy in the Sahel and West Africa.

For over a decade, Niger has been a critical hub for US military operations aimed at counterterrorism and regional stability. The withdrawal represents a significant change in US policy, reflecting both evolving strategic priorities and the complex dynamics of regional security. The decision to withdraw comes amidst ongoing instability in the Sahel region, where militant groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates continue to pose significant threats.

The withdrawal also highlights the shifting allegiance of the putschists in Niger, who, since sacking democratic President Mohamed Bazoum last year, have aligned militarily with Russia.

US authorities, however, said the withdrawal of US forces is being done in cooperation with Nigerien authorities.

AFRICOM’s press release highlights the “productive cooperation between the US and Nigerien forces” through the Joint Disengagement Commission. This collaboration is essential for ensuring an orderly and secure withdrawal, which is slated for completion by 15 September 2024.

However, the withdrawal raises questions about the future of US engagement in the region and its implications for both Niger and broader West African security.

The departure of the first C-17 signifies not just logistical prowess but also the complex coordination required for such an operation, officials said.

The US Africa Command Director of Strategy, Engagement, and Programs, Kenneth Ekman, a US Air Force Major General, lauded the professionalism of US service members, noting, “The US service members I have met here continue to impress me with their professionalism and commitment to their mission despite the unique set of challenges they have faced over the last few months.”

The transition from planning to execution underscores the extensive preparations undertaken by the US Department of Defense, officials said. A small contingent of US personnel has been deployed to Niger to provide logistical support, ensuring a smooth withdrawal of remaining forces and assets from Air Bases 101 and 201. This planning is crucial to avoid any potential security vacuum that militant groups could exploit.

The Nigerien Ministry of National Defense has emphasised its commitment to protecting and securing American forces throughout the withdrawal process. This assurance is vital given the precarious security environment in the Sahel. The collaboration between US and Nigerien officials aims to mitigate any negative impacts of the withdrawal on local and regional stability.

However, the broader implications of the US withdrawal are multifaceted. While the withdrawal may be seen as a response to changing priorities and resource allocations, it also raises concerns about the ability of local forces to manage security challenges independently. The presence of US forces has been a deterrent to militant activities, and their absence could embolden insurgent groups.

The withdrawal also highlights the shifting allegiance of the putschists in Niger, who, since sacking democratic President Mohamed Bazoum last year, have aligned militarily with Russia. Before the withdrawal of US forces, French forces were also made to withdraw from Niger by the putschists.

“We are encouraged by this transition from planning to execution,” Mr Ekman said, suggesting that the US remains committed to its objectives in Africa, albeit through different methods.

Moreover, the US could increase its diplomatic and developmental efforts to address the root causes of instability in the Sahel. By focusing on governance, economic development, and human rights, the US can contribute to long-term stability in the region.

The departure of the first C-17 from Niger marks a significant moment in US military strategy in West Africa. While the withdrawal presents operational challenges and potential security risks, it also offers an opportunity for strategic realignment. The future of US engagement in Niger and the broader Sahel region and West Africa will likely involve a combination of military, diplomatic, and developmental approaches aimed at promoting stability and addressing the underlying causes of conflict. As the US navigates this transition, the commitment to a safe and orderly withdrawal remains paramount, ensuring that the region does not descend into further chaos amidst the changing landscape of international engagement.

cococandy:
A good man will always be good man. I agree

We just don’t know what OP is.

cococandy:
This literally the reason why OP created this thread. So he’ll have people come join him and tell men not to be good husbands and fathers.

On Father’s Day for that matter.

Make una rest small. At least for today.

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a major attack on el-Fasher in North Darfur a day after the UN Security Council demanded the militia halt its weeks-long siege of the city.

Sudan’s Armed Forces “aborted the attack and inflicted huge losses” with “hundreds” of dead and wounded in the failed RSF assault, it said in a statement.

Among those killed was a senior RSF commander, Ali Yagoub Gibril, and the attackers “fled from the battlefield”, it added.

The conflict in Sudan broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, which is loyal to General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.

The violence has killed at least 14,000 people and displaced more than 10 million others, according to UN estimates. The UN and human rights groups have said they fear ethnic cleansing if RSF captures el-Fasher, a city of 1.8 million people and the last army stronghold in the Darfur region.

‘Rape of our sisters and mothers’

Many Sudanese have joined the armed forces to fight back against the rampaging RSF.

Musa Adam was displaced from his city of Nyala in South Darfur. He told Al Jazeera the horrors committed by RSF soldiers made him join the SAF effort against the militia.

“The displacement, the looting of civilians, the rape of our sisters and mothers is what made me join. The RSF took over Nyala and staying there became too dangerous. So I came here but joined to return to Darfur and fight the RSF.”

In North Darfur, RSF launched repeated attacks that led to the displacement of more than 130,000 people in the past month. Several mass graves have been reported in the state. Dozens of villages have been burned to the ground, mostly of ethnic Zaghawas.

Abu-Alqassim Mohammed, a former RSF officer, also joined the Sudanese Arm[b][/b]ed Forces.

“I reported to the army on the first day of the conflict against the RSF because it rebelled against the government. They stood against the army and against the country from day one. They killed civilians and forced them from their homes,” he said.

El-Fasher has become a focal point of the nearly yearlong war. The battle for the city – seen as crucial for humanitarian aid in a region on the brink of famine – has raged for more than a month.

The charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, said on Friday fighting in el-Fasher has killed at least 226 people and wounded 1,418. The overall death toll is believed to be far higher with the wounded unable to get treatment amid continuing air raids, shelling and ground combat.

“The situation in el-Fasher is chaotic,” said Michel-Olivier Lacharite, head of MSF’s emergency programme.

‘Need the world to wake up’
The UN Security Council’s latest resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and compliance with an arms embargo on Sudan, following a previous unsuccessful ceasefire call in March coinciding with Ramadan.

The United States on Friday announced $315m in emergency aid for Sudan warning a famine of historic proportions could be unfolding.

“We need the world to wake up to the catastrophe happening before our very eyes,” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters.

“We’ve seen mortality projections estimating that in excess of 2.5 million people – about 15 percent of the population – in Darfur and Kordofan, the hardest-hit regions, could die by the end of September,” she said.

“This is the largest humanitarian crisis on the face of the planet, and yet somehow it threatens to get worse as the rainy season approaches.”