Malian political parties and civil society groups on Thursday jointly rejected the ruling junta’s order to suspend political activities and vowed to mount a legal challenge to what one opposition politician called the “dictatorial” move.

The West African country has been under military rule since a coup in 2020.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks, leading major parties and other organisations jointly to call out the junta on March 31 for not scheduling elections within the promised time frame.

The authorities issued a decree on Wednesday suspending until further notice all activities by political parties and groups on the grounds of maintaining public order.

Joining forces again, the parties and civil society groups said they were astonished by the decision and called it a “serious violation of democratic freedoms”.

The signatories to the declaration said they rejected the decree and would challenge it in court and refuse to participate in any government activity, including ongoing national talks.

They “will resist and will triumph”, the declaration said.

Earlier on Thursday, the authorities doubled-down on the decree, ordering television, print, and other media in Mali to stop broadcasting or publishing reports on the activities of political parties and groups.

“This decree has surprised and shocked all republicans”, said Boubacar Toure, vice-president of the Rally for Mali (RPM) party of ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Toure said he thought the Constitutional Court should rule on the issue, but others called for more direct action.

In an online post titled “DICTATORIAL DRIFT”, senior opposition politician Housseini Guindo said it was time for “our people to resist this ignominy and initiate civil disobedience until the fall of the illegal and illegitimate regime”.

Mali’s current junta seized power in a second coup in 2021 and later promised to restore civilian rule by March 2024 following elections in February of this year.

However, the authorities said last September they would indefinitely postpone the February elections for technical reasons, deepening concerns about democratic backsliding in West and Central Africa, where there have been eight coups over the past four years.

“We call on Mali’s transition government to honour its commitments to its citizens and hold free and fair elections”, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday, expressing deep concern about the suspension of political activities. (Reuters/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Fortune Abang

Mr Marco Fernandes, Research Fellow, Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, Brazil, has called for more innovations and production of Electronic Vehicles (EVs) to advance Chinese technology.

Fernandes made this submission on Tuesday at an international symposium organised by Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China (RDCY).

He spoke against backdrop of the West’s use of its media to often malign China.

“One of the things I have been reading and following recently is the fact that European countries and the U.S. are afraid of competition with Chinese EVs, because they are better and cheaper.

“The buzzword now is overcapacity.’’

He said that China was accused of overproducing some goods mainly new EVs and renewable energy equipment and facing low domestic demand.

Fernandes said it was also alleged that China was used such approach to seek more foreign markets to sell its products at low prices.

“Is it true the prices of Chinese EVs are only low because the state subsidises these companies, harming the market mechanism to beat the competition in global market?

“This accusation is based on half-truths; yes, the Chinese state subsidises many of its companies; so do the U.S., Europe and many other countries around the world.

“It is part of the game of global competition; also innovation and high-productivity helps to lower prices of Chinese products.’’

The research fellow said with high-quality craftsmanship, innovative designs, and competitive pricing, companies like BYD, NIO, Xpeng, Hongqi, and Lynk and Co were winning patronage in many countries.

“Today, China’s auto exports have surged, reaching record high of 4.91 million vehicles in 2023, as the country’s automakers expanded their presence overseas.

“The massive growth was propelled by a surge in the exports of New Energy Vehicles (NEV), which soared 77.6 percent to more than 1.2 million units in the past year.

“The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) predicts China’s NEV sales will reach 11.5 million in 2024, while total auto exports are expected to hit 5.5 million units.

“While the collective West deems China’s ‘overcapacity’ a threat, it can be an opportunity for the Global South.’’

He revealed that after substantial Chinese investments in infrastructure through BRI, recent developments indicated higher level of cooperation between China and developing countries, saying Mexico and Brazil also received Chinese NEV factories.

“Numerous partnerships between Chinese state-owned and private companies with Global South countries have been established and most are related to local processing of high-demand minerals or production of electric vehicles.

“There are high expectations that regional initiatives like the BRI, expanded BRICS-10, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation can leverage to strengthen this process, even though they face opposition from Western powers.

“We need to deepen this kind of cooperation,” Fernandes said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

By Mark Longyen

Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President and newly elected ECOWAS Parliament First Deputy Speaker, Sen. Barau Jibrin, has urged newly inaugurated members to collaborate towards achieving the bloc’s aims and objectives.

Jibrin, who is also the parliament’s Acting Speaker, made this known at the closing of the Inaugural Session of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, on Saturday evening in Abuja.

He charged them to work resolutely to produce concrete and valuable results for ECOWAS, having accepted the responsibility of becoming elected representatives of their respective countries’ parliaments, and inaugurated as ECOWAS legislators.

“As you well know, we have deliberately chosen to be on this front. So, let’s join forces beyond our differences to remain true to our commitments and make history with our term of office. Therefore, let us work resolutely to produce concrete and valuable results for ECOWAS.

“Our responsibilities are heavy, and we must be aware of them and remain totally faithful to our commitments. That’s why we need to work together with intelligence, rigour, and determination to meet the major challenges that lie ahead.

“As you can see, Honourable Members, the mission we have been assigned is enormous but very exciting because it involves putting ourselves at the service of the Community to ensure its prosperity and emergence,” Jibrin said.

According to the Nigerian Deputy Senate President, the 6th ECOWAS Legislature will be counting on the subregional bloc’s lawmakers’ efforts, contributions, and effective presence during parliament’s deliberations, going forward.

“Your passion, dedication, and commitment to achieving the objectives of the Parliament, will enable us to make ECOWAS an ECOWAS of peoples, where peace and prosperity reign for all.

“We are resolute in our mission to uphold peace and prosperity for the people of West Africa, and this Session has provided us with the platform to launch this noble endeavour,” Jibrin said.

The Acting ECOWAS Speaker noted that an integral part of the events that should have characterized the inaugural session of the Parliament was the election of a new Speaker.

He, however, expressed dismay that it did not happen due to the absence of Togolese lawmakers, who, by virtue of the Parliament’s Supplementary Act, should assume the speakership of the 6th Legislature.

Sen. Jibrin expressed solidarity with the Togo and pledged the Parliament’s full support in ensuring that the Togolese Representatives would be inaugurated soon to culminate in the election of a new Speaker.

While extolling the wisdom of the Sixth Legislature and the processes that led to the election of four Deputy Speakers, the lawmaker expressed satisfaction that the application of the Doctrine of Necessity was applied to restore order and uphold the sanctity of ECOWAS.

According to the Acting ECOWAS Parliament Speaker, the action taken by the Parliament marked the beginning of what would be a united Parliament that would be “speaking with one voice” in the interest of the Community.

He extended gratitude to the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Omar Toure, among others, for keeping ECOWAS’ ship afloat.

“My heartfelt tribute, particularly to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Republic of Nigeria. His unwavering leadership and profound interest in the ECOWAS Parliament were very instrumental in securing a smooth inaugural session of its sixth legislature.

“May I express my sincere thanks to the Acting Secretary General of the Parliament, Mr Bertin SOME, and to all the staff members of the Parliament, who have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of our work,” Sen. Jibrin added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the Parliament’s sitting on Saturday was the consideration and adoption of the report of an Ad-hoc Selection Committee, which established fourteen Standing Committees.(NAN)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Mark Longyen

President Bola Tinubu has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to consider electing its members directly through universal suffrage, instead of doing so through national parliaments.

The President made this known at the inauguration of the 6th Legislature of the ECOWAS parliament on Thursday in Abuja.

He explained that doing so would give citizens of member states a say in who represented them.

He said: “The practice of directly electing public officers aligns with democratic principles that Nigeria upholds. This principle is also in line with the spirit of the ECOWAS Protocol on democracy and good governance.

“We believe this will ensure that citizens will have a direct say in their representation and the legitimacy and credibility it will provide.

“As a one-time legislator myself, I look forward to reviewing the proposal regarding this matter. We stand to support the direct elections into ECOWAS Parliament.”

The President assured members of the Sixth ECOWAS Parliament that Nigeria, as host of the community, would continue to support the Parliament to achieve its objectives.

Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a goodwill message, called for collaboration among ECOWAS executive, judicial and legislative arms, stressing that it was critical for effective, responsive, and transparent governance.

He urged the new members of Parliament to ensure that their positions on key issues were harmonised with the decisions of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

Tuggar said Parliament was crucial in the face of various challenges confronting ECOWAS; hence, the balance between executive, judicial and legislative arms was critical to address sub-regional peace, stability, security, and unity.

He said: “It is, therefore, imperative that the Parliament continues to work in synergy with the ECOWAS Commission and other Institutions that serve as the executive and judicial arms of our organisation.

“Collaboration between the Commission, Court and Parliament is essential to ensure the smooth implementation of policies and programmes that benefit our citizens.

“I encourage you to maintain constructive dialogue with other bodies and to align your efforts with the broader objectives of ECOWAS.”

He explained that consistency in ECOWAS collective stance would strengthen its voice on the international stage and prevent any perception of disunity within the organisation.

Tuggar said the Council of Ministers looked forward to more robust engagement and collaboration with the Parliament to amplify ECOWAS values and increase its visibility through people-oriented programmes and projects.

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Toure, in his speech, warned that ECOWAS was currently facing the threat of disintegration, stressing that the subregion’s challenges were numerous and diverse.

He emphasised that disintegration would aggravate the subregion’s security challenges, culminate in political isolation, job cuts, as well as affect the movement of ECOWAS citizens under its protocols.

“ECOWAS is faced with the risk of integration following the threats by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on January 29, 2024, of their intentions to quit the bloc.

“Considering the perceived consequences of their decisions, ECOWAS opened a dialogue and initiated other immediate measures, which included representatives from these three countries to join the dialogue to resolve the issues.

“The Commission, therefore, stands to work with the Parliament and all other stakeholders towards achieving success in line with the objectives of ECOWAS,” Toure said.

President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in his remark, described the inauguration of the 6th ECOWAS Legislature as the dawn of a new era in West Africa.

He said that the event was an opportunity for ECOWAS “to build bridges of unity instead of building Berlin Walls of isolation.”

“We should ensure free movement of goods and services within the Community and remove obstacles facing us,” the Senate President said.

Also speaking, former Speaker of the 5th Parliament, Sidie Tunis, called for the election of Members into the ECOWAS Parliament by direct universal suffrage, saying that the Parliament under him had already initiated the move.

While noting that it was customary for each legislature to set its own agenda, he passionately appealed that, henceforth, election of Members into the ECOWAS Parliament by direct universal suffrage be made top priority by the 6th Legislature.

“The 5th Legislature raised a lot of awareness about the matter, and I can only hope that the 6th Legislature will strengthen the fight for direct election, as it is a requirement for representative governance.

“I am confident that with the quality of membership you have, faithfully serving the interest of the peoples of the Community, success will be achieved in these regards,” Tunis said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, officially inaugurated 97 members into the 6th ECOWAS parliament. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

The U.S. Armed Forces said on Thursday that they destroyed two drones and a missile launched by Iran-backed Houthi militants and targeting a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and destroyer USS Gravely on Wednesday morning successfully engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM).

Two Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) were launched by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists from Yemen towards USS Gravely in the Red Sea, the command said.

“There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition or commercial ships,” it said in a statement.

CENTCOM forces also destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi-controlled territory after determining they presented a threat to U.S., coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region, the command added.

The Islamist militia has vowed to attack ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel.

However, many of the vessels that have come under fire have no connection with the country.

The Houthis say they wanted to force an end to the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Because of the continuing Houthi attacks, major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe and sailing around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead.

Several Western countries, including the U.S. and Britain, have launched operations to protect ships in the region in response to Houthi attacks.

The European Union has also launched a military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea, one of the most important shipping routes for world trade. (dpa/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Ijeoma Popoola

By Mark Longyen

The United States Government through its Agency for International Development (USAID) has agreed to collaborate with the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), towards mitigating cases of lead poisoning in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy, Aisha Gambari, in Abuja.

Gambari said that USAID’s Nigeria Mission Director, Melissa Jones, made this known during a courtesy visit to SON’s  Director-General, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, in Abuja.

Gambari explained that the partnership included plans to enhance surveillance, regulation, and enforcement of standards related to consumer goods and paints in Nigeria.

“USAID is committed to leading the Government of Nigeria’s mitigation efforts to save Nigerian children from further risk of lead exposure.

“USAID will provide technical assistance to SON to raise awareness about the safe use of products that contain lead, support Nigeria in joining the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (Lead Paint Alliance).

“It will aid SON in enacting legislation to identify lead-containing products and its manufacturers, while SON will lead engagement with other federal agencies working on lead removal in high-risk communities,” the statement quoted Jones as saying.

She said Okeke explained that to limit lead in consumer goods and paints, SON had adopted global and regional standards prohibiting the production and importation of paint products with lead concentration beyond 90 parts per million.

He said that in April, 2024, SON would participate in a U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission meeting, to contribute to technical discussions on policy framework, regulation, and sensitization on lead mitigation in Nigeria.

“A 2011 survey by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that unsafe mining and ore processing are the leading causes of lead poisoning in Nigeria.

“USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help nations progress beyond assistance.

“In Nigeria, USAID supports health systems strengthening, transparent and accountable governance, basic education, and a more market-led, trade-friendly economy,” she further said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that lead can affect individuals of any age, but children are particularly vulnerable due to their behavioral patterns and susceptibility to toxicity at lower exposure levels.

Globally, an estimated one-third of children have blood lead concentrations that impair cognitive development and contribute to learning disabilities and attention deficits.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Dorcas Jonah
The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Germany has commended AFOS Foundation, a civil advocacy organisation, for its commitment to Agribusiness Projects in Nigeria.

The CEO and Country Representative of AFOS Nigeria, Oladipupo Akoni, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Akoni quoted a Senior Policy Officer of Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), Dr. Manuel Neumann, as making the commendation at a one-day meeting held with top officers of the Foundation in Lagos.

He said that the meeting was convened to appraise the AFOS projects and interventions in Nigeria and Africa and discuss opportunities for further collaboration with the BMZ, as well as to explore ways to enhance AFOS’ existing projects.

According to him, Neumann specifically lauded the foundation’s effort in capacity building across Nigeria’s agribusiness and entrepreneurial value chains, for the successes recorded so far on its ongoing projects in Nigeria.

Commenting on the meeting, Managing Director of AFOS Foundation, Bernhard Vester, also explained that the completion of the Agricultural Training Centre building and the commencement of in-class TVET, Agrifinance and Management training, marked a major milestone in the Foundation’s mission to empower agripreneurs to thrive, while fostering inclusive and resilient economic growth in Nigeria.

“Our projects have demonstrated success thus far.

“With confidence in our capabilities, we remain committed to delivering outstanding results and eagerly anticipate the ongoing support from the BMZ to foster entrepreneurial growth and development across Africa,” Vester said.

Speaking on the importance of the projects for Nigeria Akoni said: “AFOS’ projects in Nigeria are helping to address the issues of food insecurity, extreme poverty, unemployment and massive migration of the young population, through capacity building of the agricultural sector.

“This is to promote digital agriculture, enhance the efficiency of local agricultural value chains and the agribusiness industry and improve the performance and outreach of the microfinance subsector by offering micro insurance policies mainly also to farmers.

“AFOS is supporting entrepreneurs to thrive by developing new dual vocational training systems in the agricultural sector, and by conducting training and providing technical support for accelerated lending for agricultural purposes.”

Similarly, International Long-term Expert at AFOS Nigeria-INGO, Dietmar Speckmaier, clarified: “Our mission to promote sustainable agricultural growth in Nigeria has led to the development of an Agricultural Training Centre (ATC)- a physical training Centre which offers best practice technical and management programs across the agribusiness value chains towards meeting agricultural production needs.

“The ATC was first initiated in 2019 as a roadmap for sustainable capacity development within the agriculture industry.

“After five years of dedicated project engagement, the Agricultural Training Center (ATC) has been successfully established with the contribution of our partners in the agriculture industry.

“We are pleased to announce that the ATC is on track to receive accreditation from the Auslandshandelskammer (AHK), marking a significant milestone in our journey towards fostering agricultural development and empowerment,” Speckmaier stressed.(NAN)

DE/IAA

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola