Botragelad: Hehe Cowards! I saw this coming from a mile away. It's a right mess, innit? The poor sods who support them for this and the ones who didn't are stuck with the consequences, while the posh lot who started it all are off to their bunkers hiding, while their families are heading to Dubai.
It's a bloody disgrace, that's what it is. They've left them in the lurch. Well, they've got to sort it out somehow.
As if your own politicians will act differently. At least they are MEN, staying behind to fight.
Even in peace time the children of your useless leaders are all abroad.
The African Union has rejected any military intervention in Niger, officially dissociating itself from the position expressed by the leaders of the Community of West African Countries (Cedeaus). This was reported by sources of "Le Monde", according to which the position was expressed by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union - the body appointed to decide on conflict resolution issues - after a tense meeting lasting more than ten hours. The position, the sources added, should be formalized today in a press release.
The AU's position is dissociated from that of Cedeao which, while continuing to favor "dialogue", has ordered "the immediate activation of its reserve force", and in fact considerably weakens the organization in West Africa. According to analysts, launching a military offensive rejected by the AU would be an unprecedented contradiction.
A diplomat told "Le Monde" that although the African Union has reaffirmed its zero tolerance policy towards unconstitutional government changes, the delegates and leaders present at the meeting have chosen not to support a military intervention in Niger in the fear that this could trigger a bloody civil war.
This decision is all the more surprising as it goes against the customs and traditions of the AU, which has the habit of aligning itself with the positions of regional organizations. The president of the UA commission, the Chadian, also denies it Moussa Faki Mahamat, which in a statement dated August 11 had affirmed "its strong support for the decisions of Cedeao".
Ex-UK Lawmaker, Galloway Vows To Ensure Tinubu Is Stripped Of Presidency Over Alleged Criminal Past
A former parliamentarian in the United Kingdom, George Galloway, has vowed to ensure that the alleged criminal past of Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu is revealed to the world.
The Briton who was a member of the UK Parliament from 1987 to 2015 has taken a sudden and keen interest in President Tinubu after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which he chairs severed ties with Niger and imposed crippling economic sanctions after a military coup toppled the country's democratically elected president.
Galloway while condemning the swooping sanctions resulting in Nigeria cutting power supply to the troubled country, took to his Twitter account to lambast President Tinubu and describe him as a drug dealer in the United States.
He wrote: “I started to look into the past of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Chairman, Tinubu. I didn't realise that he was a drug dealer in the United States. And the election that brought him to power is still being credibly contested as fraudulent."
Soon after, a former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, slammed Galloway, telling him that if he was looking for corrupt leaders, he should look within and to several Western Prime Ministers, Presidents, and leaders like George W. Bush, Tony Blair, Barack Obama, David Cameron, Nicolas Sarkozy, Boris Johnson and so many others "who collectively and over the last 25 years orchestrated proxy wars in so many countries, plundered and stole their national patrimony, mineral resources and treasure all on a false premise and stinking lie".
Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the Nigerian ruling All Progressives Congress and Director of defunct Special Media Projects and Operations & New Media, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, warned Galloway to stop attacking President Tinubu or prepare for a great deal of turbulence in his "murky, inglorious, meaningless, and thoroughly uninspiring little life".
Responding, the former British lawmaker promised not to back out until he brings the alleged criminal past of President Tinubu out for the world to know.
He also admonished the Nigerian Judiciary to deliver a fair trial using the trending hashtag #AllEyesOnTheJudiciary which is a call to action for the judges presiding over the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Also in a Twitter post made via his handle on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the former MP said that if Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu hadn't threatened to invade Niger he might not have time to think of Tinubu and his past.
He wrote: “Truth is if #Nigerian #Bagman #Tinubu hadn’t threatened to invade #Niger and have #Africans murdering Africans for #France and the #USEmpire he might never have caught my eye - I have many fish to fry."
"But now that he has, and his barking chorus is in full-song I won’t give up," he stated.
The report says Putin is asking the coup plotters in Niger republic to back down and restore constitutional order.
Russia's relations with Nigeria and infact Ecowas is far more rewarding than Russia's relation with Niger republic, Mali and Burkina Faso combined. Countries that don't have any independent financial system of their own.
Mali's military leader, Assimi Goita, revealed on Tuesday that he recently held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the current situation in Niger.
Niger has experienced a coup by a junta, raising concerns in the international community.
In a message shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Goita stated that Putin emphasized the significance of a peaceful resolution to ensure stability in the Sahel region.
Western nations are apprehensive that Niger might follow the path of Mali, where a previous coup led to the involvement of Russian Wagner group mercenaries in counter-insurgency efforts.
Putin has urged the restoration of constitutional order in Niger. On the other hand, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner group, expressed support for the coup. Interestingly, there has been a notable surge in pro-Russian sentiment in Niger since the coup, evident in rallies where junta supporters waved Russian flags.
Oblongata: Watch as small kids will rush to this page to yarn their usual dust about how someone stole their messiah's mandate and how their messiah would have solved Nigeria's problem in 3 days
Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, has encouraged ECOWAS to put more pressure on the Niger Republic junta to ensure that Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s deposed president is reinstated.
Blinken commended the leadership of the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu, for the decisions taken to reinstate the toppled Nigerien leader.
Blinken’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said this in a statement on Monday even as the ECOWAS was insisting that Bazoum remained the legitimate President of Niger.
The bloc condemned the treason charges levelled against the deposed leader by the junta on Sunday night.
The allegation came 24 hours after the military leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, agreed to explore diplomatic dialogue to resolve the political crisis, raising fears that this new turn of events might threaten the budding rapprochement achieved by the Islamic clerics.
Miller in his statement explained that Blinken spoke with President Tinubu on Monday.
He said, “Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
“The Secretary commended President Tinubu’s leadership of the Economic Community of West African States Second Extraordinary Summit on the situation in the Republic of Niger.
“He noted the importance of maintaining pressure on the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland to restore constitutional order and to see President Mohamed Bazoum and his family released.”
The incident occurred between Zangiwa and Kangara in the state. Over 23 personnel of the Nigerian army have been killed following an ambush on a military convoy by gunmen suspected to be terrorists in Niger State.
A military source told SaharaReporters that the incident occurred on Monday morning around 5am.
The incident occurred between Zangiwa and Kangara in the state.
According to the source, an army major and two lieutenants with one identified as Y. Alkali were among the victims.
“Nigerian army this morning lost about 23 soldiers, they were ambushed by bandits. One major, two lieutenants were among the victims. In fact, they set some of them ablaze inside the Hilux vehicle,” a soldier told SaharaReporters.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach Onyema Nwachukwu, army spokesperson, for comment were unsuccessful as he didn’t respond to his messages sent to him.
Boko Haram terrorists staged one of the deadliest ambushes in recent times and killed several persons.
Travelers and goods worth millions fell into the ambush along Bama – Banki Road, leaving many dead or abducted.
Details of the attack, which took place Wednesday and lasted for nearly 5 hours, only began to emerge over the weekend.
Sources confirmed to YERWA EXPRESS NEWS (YEN) that 18 civilians were killed while several women and children were abducted.
'After shooting directly at them or slaughtering them, they burnt a total of 18 people,' our sources confirmed.
They also burnt down six trucks transporting cements, food items and other goods.
Similarly, one Volkswagen vehicle and a military gun truck, were burnt down.
'On the side of the military, three soldiers were missing, with their weapons, including an anti-aircraft machine gun.'
YEN also learnt that many families are still searching for their relatives.
Our security analyst believes that given the location of the incident, the kidnapped victims were taken into the Sambisa Forest or around the Mandara Mountain.
'Even though the convoy usually moves with security escorts, there is likelihood that they are over powered as a result of delayed re-enforcement.
As seen in the video, the terrorist had time to even move around to slaughter and burn down their victims.
'These incident is not the only one recently recorded in Borno. Almost on daily basis, the terrorists now attack, kill or abduct farmers.
'Banki is an extension of Sambisa Forest somehow. The kidnapped victims are likely in Sambisa or at most, Manadara Mountains which is unlikely though, especially as a result of the risk involved conveying them down unnoticed.
'Despite the fact that over 100, 000 have so far surrendered to the Nigerian authorities, just as we feared in our previous reports, the breathing space given to them by the military might give them the opportunity to recruit, regroup and continue causing havoc.
'There is no doubt that the massive surrender and joint clearance operations carried out by the military have degraded them.
'However, unless the Nigerian military continues to pursue the remnants of the terrorists in their enclaves, a more sophisticated group of Boko Haram terrorists might come up to consume us. Now that the chief of defense staff, Gen. CG Musa is among the commanders who saw to the degrading of these terrorists, we hope he would ensure they are not given any breathing space to regroup and emerge stronger.'
The Algerian regime has openly expressed its firm opposition to any military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against the putschists who toppled elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Algeria says it opposes any military operation in Niamey for security reasons due to the fragile and instable situation in the Sahel. But in reality, the ruling Algerian junta fears that such as military action will enhance the influence of neighboring Morocco.
According to a report by online “Maghreb Intelligence” magazine, ECOWAS includes many friends and allies of Morocco such as Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Benin …This makes the ruling Algerian junta extremely nervous over a military action that will bring in geopolitical changes consolidating Morocco’s regional power.
Algerian intelligence reports say Morocco can provide logistical support and valuable intelligence to facilitate ECOWAS military operation, sending shockwaves across the Algerian military establishment.
As the pressure is building from the US, France and the EU, the UN, African Union and ECOWAS, the military option is gaining steam, making the Algerian regime facing their worst nightmare.
Following the West African leaders meeting held Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria, President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire said the West African bloc has approved military intervention in Niger “as soon as possible” to remove its military rulers following last month’s coup. “We are determined to restore president Bazoum to his functions.”
Earlier, in Abuja, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray had announced the deployment of the bloc’s force.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for a non-violent solution to reverse the coup, praising the “determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.”
The West African bloc is “playing a key role in making clear the imperative of a return to constitutional order in Niger, and we very much support ECOWAS’ leadership and work on this,” said Secretary Blinken.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Secretary met in Washington with Algerian FM Ahmed Attaf to discuss bilateral relations and consult on shared efforts to de-escalate conflict and “advance regional stability, including in the Sahel,” according to a press release issued by the State Department.
The question now is whether the putschists back down and will the West leave the Sahel, allowing the Jihadists to take control over the sub-Saharan region.
The U.S. has 1,100 US troops at two military bases, including the massive drone base at Agades, while France has 2,500 soldiers who have re-deployed from Mali as the Nigerien army would not be able to stem the two jihadist advances. These are: from Nigeria’s Boko Haram in the southeast; and the Islamic State affiliated État islamique dans le Grand Sahara (EIGS) in the southwest’s ‘three borders’ Liptako-Gourma region. Both could fall into the hands of Islamist extremists.
Some experts say Niger could be fragmented along north-south lines, following a rebellion by the Agades region against the county’s new rulers.
Agades is Africa’s largest single administrative region and already enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy from Niamey which is around 1,000 kms away. Its predominantly Tuareg population, plus a few small Arab and Toubou-Teda tribes, is very supportive of President Mohamed Bazoum. Tension is always brewing between Agades and Niamey.
According to Western intelligence reports, if the Nigerien military putschists remain in power and if there is an increasing Russian presence as there has been in Mali and Burkina Faso, the scenario of civil war and Agades’ breakaway, like Azawad in neighboring Mali, is very likely. This means that Algeria has also to face Azawad rebels seeking their independence and lands taken during French colonial era.
The Nigerian Police has denied reports that some residents of Kano state staged a protest over ECOWAS plan to deploy troops to reinstate deposed President Mohammed Bazoum who was removed three weeks ago by some coupists.
ECOWAS has swiftly responded to the putsch, saying it’s prepared to use all available options, including the use of force to restore constitutional democracy in the land-locked country.
The 15-nation regional bloc had priotised dialogue, but reiterated its plan for military invasion, if the military junta led by Gen. Omar Tchiani, the former commander of Niger’s presidential guards failed to hand over power during its second meeting of heads of state and government, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
ECOWAS has therefore directed chiefs of Defense staff in its members states to put troops on standby, a development said not to have been well received among Nigerian leaders, particularly in the northern part of the country who insist that Nigeriens are their brothers.
The reported protest in Kano is believed to have been carried out to further drive home the argument that invasion of Niger is not acceptable to leaders from the region, analysts said.
But speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, the commissioner of Police in the state, Hussaini Gumel disclosed that no protest was held in the commercial city.
The police boss somehow described the reported protest as one existing in the imagination of those peddling it, noting that no group has been given a permit for such action.
According to him, “I am just hearing the report from you on the so-called demonstration by Kano residents because of the political situation in Niger Republic.
“You can see we are just coming back from the Passing-Out ceremony of graduands of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, where about 169 cadet officers were commissioned by President Tinubu.
“So, frankly speaking I have not given any person or group of residents permit to embark on demonstration because of the political happenings in our next-door neighbour, Niger Republic.
“You can see Kano is a peaceful State and we will continue to provide security to enable residents to move about their businesses without threats to lives and property.”
Not a few Nigerians have expressed opposition to the political crisis in the country, warning that any military invasion is likely to conflagrate the situation and destabilise peace in the region.
Why is the Western world with their institutions very quick to impose sanctions and hardship on African countries for enacting laws against LGBTIQA, but when countries in the middle east enact the same laws there are no sanctions against them, instead the West continue to do business with them.
The logic is twisting my mind, any valid answers will be appreciated.
Russia on Friday warned against a military intervention in Niger, a day after West African leaders said they would muster a "standby" force in their efforts to return the president toppled by a coup.
"We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country, and to a sharp destabilisation of the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole," the Russian foreign ministry said.
FreeStuffsNG: There will be no war in Niger. Niger is already decimated with stringent potent economic sanctions.
After Niger, Ecowas is coming for Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea to restore constitutional order. They gave ample time to Mali to return to democracy yet the Jihadists have not stopped gaining more ground and Wagner is not in the combat. They are combat trainers only unlike the French who sent in combatants. Mali is a stark reality of why Ecowas must not wait any longer. They wasted too much time with Mali coupists and they have nothing to show as gains
FreeStuffsNG: “What we are saying is that we are not going to allow West Africa to be an arena of proxy wars again. And that is our attitude to Wagner. It is not our option,” he said.
“We do not want private military companies interfering in the conflict environment in the region because we know the consequences of their action.”
Foreign Affairs › Re: Niger: Junta Leaders Evacuate Families To Dubai, Burkina Faso by IhateYouMan: 10:23am On Aug 18, 2023
