NEWS - The African Mirror

Jan

07

2024

Senegal court deals blow to Sonko’s presidential hopes

NEWS

SENEGAL'S Supreme Court ruled against opposition politician Ousmane Sonko in his appeal of a libel conviction, dealing another blow to his hopes of competing in next month's presidential election, lawyers said. Sonko, 49, has been battling various court cases since 2021. These have hampered his plans to vie for the presidency in the February 25 vote and fuelled unrest that has damaged Senegal's reputation as one of West Africa's most stable democracies. After deliberations that extended from Thursday into the early hours of Friday, the court rejected Sonko's appeal against a May conviction that led to him receiving a six-month suspended sentence…

Jan

07

2024

By The African Mirror

Sudan’s Burhan says ‘no reconciliation’ with paramilitary RSF

NEWS

SUDAN'S army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed to continue a nine-month war between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rejecting the latest peace efforts. RSF head Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo agreed earlier this week to a ceasefire proposed by civilian groups, contingent on the military agreeing also. But observers responded sceptically in light of the paramilitary force's prior unfulfilled promises. The U.S. has accused both the army and RSF of war crimes, and it says the RSF is also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. "The whole world witnessed these rebel forces committing war crimes and…

Jan

05

2024

By CAMILLUS EBOH

Nigeria’s anti-graft body visits Dangote Group in forex probe

NEWS

NIGERIA'S economic and financial crimes agency inspected Dangote Group's books as part of investigations into possible past misuse of foreign currency sourced from the central bank, two sources at the agency said. The Dangote Group, which counts cement and fertiliser manufacturing and sugar refining among its businesses, is owned by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote. Dangote is also readying a 650,000 barrels per day oil refinery that cost $20 billion to build. Under former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele, the bank had multiple exchange rates and sold dollars cheaply to some businesses, including Dangote, to help them…

Jan

05

2024

By PHILIP PULLELLA

Vatican moves to calm bishops over same-sex blessings approval

NEWS

THE Vatican moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have baulked over last month's approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that the measure is not "heretical" or "blasphemous". In a five-page statement, the Vatican's doctrinal office also acknowledged that such blessings could be "imprudent" in some countries where people who receive them might become targets of violence, or risk prison or even death. Catholic bishops in some countries, particularly in Africa, have expressed various degrees of dissent over the December 18 declaration, known by its Latin title Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which was approved by Pope Francis.…

Jan

07

2024

By KRISHN KAUSHIK

India Navy rescues bulk carrier crew after Arabian Sea hijack attempt

NEWS

THE Indian Navy rescued the crew of a merchant vessel after its attempted hijack in the Arabian Sea and said it had not found any pirates on board. An Indian Navy warship intercepted the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk bulk carrier less than a day after it received a report that the vessel had been hijacked about 460 nautical miles off Somalia. About five to six armed people boarded the vessel on Thursday, according to a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, which said the ship's crew had gathered in the ship's citadel. The navy said all…

Jan

06

2024

By CAMILLUS EBOH

Nigeria’s top court says Shell’s appeal should be heard after oil spill claim

NEWS

NIGERIA'S Supreme Court ruled that Shell should be granted a hearing over an alleged oil spill in the Niger Delta after the Court of Appeal halted an asset sale and ordered a judgement claim to be paid prior to hearing its case. The case, one of several against Shell Plc locally and abroad, started with a High Court ruling in November 2020 that ordered Shell to pay 800 billion naira ($878 million) to communities of Egbalor Ebubu in Rivers state, who accused the firm of an oil spill that damaged waterways and farms. Shell denies causing the spill. Shell had appealed…

Jan

06

2024

By ANGE ADIHE KASONGO

Congo’s Catholic and Protestant churches demand inquiry into election issues

NEWS

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo's powerful Catholic bishops conference and Protestant churches demanded an independent inquiry be opened into irregularities and alleged legal violations observed during the December general elections. Congo's CENI election commission said on Sunday that President Felix Tshisekedi had secured more than 73% in the December 20 vote. But a large group of opposition candidates say the election was fraudulent and reject the provisional results. Hours-long delays, malfunctioning machines, and other issues led to an unscheduled extension of voting beyond Dec. 20 that independent observers said affected the credibility of the election In a joint statement the CENCO-ECC Catholic and Protestant churches,…

Jan

05

2024

By The African Mirror

Tunisian anti-terrorism unit arrests Al Jazeera reporter

NEWS

A Tunisian anti-terrorism unit arrested Al Jazeera reporter Samir Sassi, the Tunisian journalists' union said. The unit has searched his home and seized his computer and phone, as well as those of his family members, the union said in a statement on Thursday. The union denounced the arrest as "arbitrary" and alluded to the possibility of Sassi being investigated for a suspected terrorism charge since his lawyer is not allowed to talk to him for 48 hours. Al Jazeera's Tunis bureau chief, Lotfi Hajji, said on his Facebook account that security forces did not tell Sassi's family why he was…

Jan

04

2024

By The African Mirror

Sierra Leone charges ex-president’s guard, 11 others over failed coup

NEWS

SIERRA Leone authorities have charged 12 people with treason in connection with a failed coup in November, including a member of former President Ernest Bai Koroma's security detail, the government said. Gunmen attacked a military barracks, a prison and other locations in Sierra Leone on November 26, freeing about 2,200 inmates and killing more than 20 people in what the authorities said afterwards was an attempt to overthrow the government. The accused were arraigned before a magistrate in the capital Freetown on Tuesday, the information ministry said in a statement, adding that they included ex-police and correctional officers and former Koroma…

Nov

27

2025

By STAFF REPORTER

SA judge, on bail after arrest in R2-million bribery scandal, placed on special leave

NEWS

THE Chief Justice of South Africa Mandisa Maya has acted swiftly against a high court judge who was arrested for bribery and corruption involving R2-million and was released on bail. Maya has placed Judge Portia Dipuo Phahlane on special leave hours after her release. The Judge President said: “The unprecedented arrest of a Judge, while deeply disquieting, also demonstrates that the country’s law enforcement apparatus and mechanisms of accountability and are in motion. It signals that no individual, regardless of their position, is above the law or beyond its reach. The development aligns with the Judiciary’s long-standing call to anyone…