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Niger, Mali, Burkina-Faso Dare ECOAS, Announce Plan To Form Confederation
The governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all led by military regimes, are moving forward with plans to establish a confederation, according to an announcement from the Malian foreign ministry on Thursday.
News ToGo reports that this move deepens ties among the three countries through an alliance that challenges broader West African integration efforts.
On January 28, the military administrations of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger declared their withdrawal from the West African bloc ECOWAS. They emphasized that this decision was a “sovereign” one and stated their intent to leave the Economic Community of West African States “without delay.”
Further solidifying their stance, the leader of Niger’s military junta, Abdourahamane Tchiani, reiterated on Monday that none of the three Sahel nations would seek to rejoin the regional bloc.
At a gathering in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, the ministers from the three countries confirmed their joint commitment to depart from ECOWAS promptly and continue their collaboration under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The Malian foreign ministry shared that they “reaffirmed their commitment to advancing resolutely in the process of implementing the AES and creating the Tri-State Confederation.”
Details regarding the functioning of the proposed confederation have not yet been disclosed, including plans for alignment in political, economic, and security matters. These countries are grappling with a decade-long battle against Islamist insurgents that has caused instability in the subregion.
In November, their finance ministers mentioned considering the establishment of a monetary union, and officials from all three nations have expressed varying levels of support for moving away from the West African CFA franc common currency.
These military-led governments have severed longstanding military ties with France, their former colonial ruler. This move has diminished France’s influence in the Sahel region and complicated international efforts to combat militants associated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
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BREAKING: Tension As Gunmen Kidnap Top Rivers Official, Fubara
Gunmen have kidnapped Aribibia John Fubara, a senior director with the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue Service, in Port Harcourt.
News ToGo reports that the abduction occurred at the Marine Base area of the city, where six armed men arrived by speedboat, fired several shots into the air, and forcibly took Fubara, who is also a Knight of Saint Christopher in the Anglican Communion, to an unknown location.
Emmanuel Fubara, the victim’s brother, confirmed the incident and stated that the family has reported it to the police. The Rivers State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, also confirmed the kidnapping.
As of now, details about the kidnappers’ demands or Fubara’s whereabouts remain unclear. The state’s Commissioner of Police has directed tactical units to ensure Fubara’s safe release and launched a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators. Iringe-Koko stated, “The command is aware of the incident, and the CP has directed tactical units to ensure the victim is released unhurt. A manhunt has been launched to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”
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BREAKING: Country’s Prime Minister Runs For Her Life As Angry Protesters Invade Her Palace
Protesters jubilantly stormed the residence of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday after she fled, capping over a month of violent anti-government demonstrations.
News ToGo gathered that crowds, waving flags and some dancing atop a tank, broke into Hasina’s official residence in Dhaka. Channel 24 in Bangladesh aired footage of the crowd entering the compound and waving to the cameras in celebration.
An insider revealed that Hasina, 76, had relocated to a “safer place.”
Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman was set to address the nation on Monday afternoon, according to a military spokesman.
Before the breach, Hasina’s son urged security forces to prevent any overthrow of her 15-year rule.
“Your duty is to protect our people, our country, and uphold the constitution. Do not allow any unelected government to seize power, not even for a minute,” said her US-based son, Sajeeb Joy, in a Facebook post.
Security forces had supported Hasina’s administration throughout the unrest, which initially began over civil service job quotas and escalated into broader demands for her resignation. However, protesters defied curfews and violent crackdowns.
On Sunday, the deadliest day of the unrest, at least 94 people were killed, including 14 police officers. Clashes between protesters and government supporters involved sticks and knives, and security forces opened fire.
Since the protests began in early July, at least 300 people have been killed, according to an AFP tally based on reports from police, government officials, and doctors.
Army chief Waker assured officers on Saturday that the military “always stood by the people,” according to an official statement.
The military had previously declared an emergency in January 2007 after widespread political unrest, leading to a military-backed caretaker government for two years.
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BREAKING: Ifeanyi Ubah Dies 48 Hours After His Condition Worsened
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the federal lawmaker representing Anambra South Senatorial District, has passed away at the age of 52.
News ToGo reports that after falling seriously ill a few weeks ago, Ubah traveled to the United Kingdom for treatment and died on Saturday morning in a London hospital. His condition had reportedly worsened in the past 48 hours, though the exact cause of death remains unclear.
Elected as Senator in 2019 on the platform of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Ubah was reelected in the 2023 elections. Earlier this year, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and expressed his intention to run for the governorship of Anambra State in the upcoming election.
Senator Ubah previously contested the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, where he finished fourth in a race won by Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
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