Tensions in West Africa

Hello and welcome to the program! I'm with Joche Rogers. The janitors of Burkina Faso and Mali have issued a joint statement warning against any military intervention in Niger Republic, saying it would be considered a declaration of war against their nations. Ecowas has imposed sanctions and threatened to authorize force to reinstate Niger's deposed president. The situation is causing tensions between Western allies and Russia in the region. Additionally, protests are escalating in Senegal, and Sudan is facing a deteriorating humanitarian situation due to conflict. In Nigeria, efforts are being made to curb the spread of diphtheria through vaccination campaigns. Meanwhile, an eight-year-old chess prodigy in Nigeria is using her skills to promote peace and empowerment among children

Burkina Faso and Mali have issued a joint statement warning that any military intervention against last week's School leaders in Niger Republic will be considered a declaration of war against their Nations The Joint statement was read out by Burkina Faso government spokesperson Jean Emmanuel warugo in a national broadcast the statement also partly reads any military intervention against Nigeria would entail a withdrawal of Burkina Faso and Mali from ecowas as well as the adoption of self-defense measures in support of the Armed Forces and the people of Niger it comes after Regional block Echo has imposed sanctions including a halt in all Financial transactions and the National Assets fees and said it could authorize Force to reinstate niger's deposed president Muhammad bazum who is still locked in his Palace meanwhile a United States officials said the coup had not been fully successful and that there was still an opportunity to reinstate president bazoom France and Germany echoed those comments well France has announced preparations to evacuated citizens from the West African nation of Niger because of anti-french sentiment Following last week's coup d'etat a message sent out by the French Embassy in Naomi said it will also help other European Nationals to leave it noted that amid the deteriorating security situation evacuations by air were being prepared and will take place very soon in a very limited span of space The Coop had prompted demonstrations against the former colonial power with the French Embassy coming under attack Niger the third country in the Sahel after Buccaneer faster Mali to experience a coup in less than three years the incidents have been accompanied by anti-french sentiment with the country's embracing ties with Russia meanwhile the European Union commission spokesperson has said that the EU is not planning to formally evacuate its staff from Niger although they are free to leave adding that they would keep the situation under review it comes after France announced that it would evacuate French and European citizens from Niger starting today foreign of course we take the safety of of the citizens and our Personnel very very seriously and we follow the situation um what I've I said is that for the moment at this stage we are making a decision that the people to form it not to formally evacuate but of course our team present in Yami has the possibility to leave the country and of course we are following the situation this means that the decision will be kept constantly under review I can confirm that there is no Supply risk as such when it comes to when it comes to the EU EU utilities have sufficient inventories of natural uranium to mitigate any short-term Supply risks and for the medium and long term there is in there there are enough deposits on the World Market to cover the EU needs that is something that we have ascertained yeah in the meantime the U.S security analyst has warned that the overthrow of niger's President Mohammed bazoom could make the country ripe for the Wagner group and jihadist groups as a crisis Pitts Nigeria's former Western allies against the likes of Russia and other Junta leaders in the region the African Union the U.N the European Union and other powers have condemned the overthrow of President Muhammad bazum the seventh military Takeover in less than three years in Western central Africa which is undermined democratic progress in one of the world's poorest regions I'm very invested in this country it'll be really challenging for not just the US's interest in the region but I think the continent in general for us to kind of walk back this notion that we put a lot of Investments and diplomatic um interest into a certain place and then it's within a day it can just be undone that quickly and there's a sense obviously within Washington that you know if Russia is present it's a very binary relationship there cannot be a presence of the United States there when the when Russia's there um I think that relationship becomes quite binary so I think that's also kind of the big concern and it gives them another opportunity to step in get paid for their services and make themselves relevant again because after what happened a few weeks ago in Russia obviously there's been a huge question mark about what is the relevance of the Wagner group who actually controls them and what is their role in participating and or influencing global politics it kind of was disrupted um I think if they were to step into the Niger scenario it potentially could maybe lend them more relevance although at the same time I'm not sure that's fully true because we look at what they've been doing in Mali and frankly their role in Mali has in lockstep with the Malian Armed Forces only actually made things worse um if anything what we've seen is that in areas that the Wagner group and the Fama the malignant forces have done what they call clearing operations which is ostensibly a counter-terrorism operation let's get more on this joining me now is African Affairs analysts thank you so much for joining us today on the program it's always my pleasure good afternoon right so it's quite a difficult situation where seeing play out there in Niger is the seventh crew the country has had uh what do you make of this well I think um it also confirms the fact that democracy is in recession in a West Africa in particular and the politicians have failed consistently to deliver on the promise of democracy um people are beginning to be non-challenged or respect to defending democracy across West Africa so it's a Pity because this is um I mean we are in we are talking about Burkina Faso and Mali and now you have nijay in addition to these other countries there is Need for politicians to work to confirm for the people that the democracy is what defending democracy is can deliver the most sarcastic can provide them with what they need what has happened that a group of politicians have appropriated powers to themselves and have not cared to the people for the welfare of the people and so and people are now becoming non-talent I mean in different whether democracy or not yes he's actually the military that that take that commit cues on our Dooku however if there is no if there is no um agitation if the people are fully persuaded about the governance policy they are getting in a democratic government then they will be invested and then they will have interest in defending that government and then there will be no room opportunity for the pledge list I saw this copies to to come in and disrupt Democratic process so I think it is is a Pity that at this time democracy is preceding receding democracy is not making any progress people are beginning to doubt whether democracy is really serves interest of the people or not and this is the symbol of what you are seeing in this anti-democratic forces that are taking they are taking over government and even where we don't have the queues we are having our detection we are having many plants so West Africa is becoming very unstable very unstable and there is need for the we have fun leaders to do something about the governance quality and leaders of West Africa and Nations you know as you have quite rightly say that the uh the region is becoming a little unstable uh the the leaders met to condemn the coup in Niger they gave a one-week ultimatum for the release of President bazoom how realistic do you think this is especially with the threats of military intervention what um to use military intervention are already warning that look they will interpret it as declaration of war against their government and against their country if any foreign power including West African leaders or France intervene militarily in the crisis in the general Republic there is a danger of turning the whole of West Africa into a theater of war so it is um it's dangerous I mean as the West African countries if they are really committed to meet them with Western support can actually push the government out there maybe yes they may have the military force to push them out however it's going to be very costly at the end of the day it will be a parrot Victory I would rather wish that the military government I mean the governments in West Africa should not just be reacting to cruise even before Q will happen let them speak to themselves it's not about just defending regimes but making sure that the regimes hack into the wishes of the people most of governments in West Africa are illegitimate even those who conduct elections read those elections vested interests have control so-called military government and people are wondering whether I mean whether they're in Syrian or they are in military are they really representing the people so the best way to make sure that Clues can't happen in West Africa is to make sure that there is governance quality and governments are legitimate elections are electrons are fair free and credible but when politicians using militias you are and also I mean using State capture to entrance themselves into the department of government and then diverse themselves from the wishes of the people then um those rhetorics against military you may not mean so much for those who feel that look if legitimate government whether they call themselves Democratic or not they don't have to pay allegiance to such government so the I think the priority of West Africa should be one to make sure that elections are and if any of them any president any head of state comes to power through it means that is not fair they should start dating that time not when people we're not when only when there is a military coup when there is a electoral crew they should agitate when even those who are properly elected begin to deviate and begin to pursue personal interest against the interest of the people they the West African government I mean ecowas government and even indeed Au government they should begin to do peer review and talk to themselves to just say oh to gather together only when there's a crew and even those who came in through Clues we now begin to Proclaim themselves Democrats and theirs and and begin to think of a way no no that it is not just a club of heads of state trying to protect their Tenors let them really work towards protecting the interest of the people and making sure that the voice of people actual and the wishes of the people actually holds well in their countries that's the best way anonymously by putting together armies that we push aware cookies because the basis the basis the main cause of skills West Africa is governments that are illegitimate government that are not uh talking into the wishes of the people and government that governance policy that is very important these are the fundamental problems that needs to be tackled program we're learning of a burst of gunfire that has been heard in the early hours of today the center of Burkina fasa's Capital near the Air Base According to reports the gunfire began around almost past midnight local time in the hearts of the capital before season around 40 minutes later as Security Source said this situation is now under control without giving more details the incident comes 10 months after a coup the second in less than a year in the country which has been battling an islamist Insurgency since 2015. elsewhere at least two people have been killed in the Senegalese town of zikwinko during the protests against the Detention of the main opposition leader Osmani sonko the protest comes after the government dissolved Mr sunco's party accusing it of rallying its supporters towards an Insurrection Mr Soko appeared in court yesterday and was remanded in custody charged with plotting and Insurrection criminal conspiracy and other offenses he denies the charges saying they are politically motivated however senegales Ontario Ministries calling for calm amid a wide widespread demonstrations added that measures are being taken to maintain stability in the country foreign and police have arrested several people including unnamed senior Military Officers for working to undermine the peace and Tranquility of the state in a statement police said those arrested were planning violent protests between the 7th and 10th of August it also accused unnamed individuals at home and abroad of plotting to undermine peace in the country they said that they were fully in control and urged Sierra leoneans to remain peaceful and go about their normal businesses on ease has whipped the West African countries since a controversial re-election of President Julia's mother bill on June the 24th on July the 5th Mr bio accused Western countries of creating confusion in the country after they expressed concerns over the conducts of the elections in June authorities say 41 people who are rescued from a doomsday cult in Kenya earlier this year are to be charged alongside the leader with murder and other offenses according to prosecutors the victims turned suspects where parents or grandparents of children who died or are missing and alleged that they were culpable for what happened to them the courts leader Paul McKenzie is accused of encouraging his followers to starve themselves to death to enter Heaven before the world ended police investigate in the apparent mass suicide as so far zoomed over 400 bodies from the shakaloho LA forest in South Eastern Kenya however more than 600 people are still believed to be missing [Music] and Central coverage in Sudan now where something is perhaps more real to Islam one of the refugees from the country now living as a refugee in a neighboring Church he's calling for Urgent Shelter From the Relentless Reign and went battery in her makeshift camp in Chad's rang Islam is one of the hundreds of Sudanese refugees in Chad facing elevator struggle with the extreme weather conditions and no resources all means to set up proper tents some refugees have been using makeshift shelters from a tarponing sheets While others bundle themselves up in blankets to stay warm meanwhile more Sudanese are arriving to the city's chadian border as the fighting continues to rage in West downfall hundreds of thousands of people have fled to Chad since the conflict started over 100 days ago meanwhile the United Nations agencies are warning that Sudan's humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly leaving many without sufficient food or medical supplies the U.N wealth program for instance said it's deeply concerned about Rising food insecurity in the country and an estimated 19 million people close to 40 percent of the entire population could soon face food shortages ongoing fighting has also pushed up the cost of seeds and fertilizers disrupting planting and production and worsening the country's food crisis according to un estimates in total 24.7 million people now need humanitarian assistance the medical situation is also worrying there's more than 80 percent of Sudan's hospitals have stopped functioning foreign [Music] issues a 1180 1800 vials of dupheria of vaccines for children between the ages of 2 to 14 years is expected in Nigeria to help curb the spread of the disease this was disclosed at a joint press briefing by representatives of the national Primary Health Care development agency authority of the ncdc UNICEF and the World Health Organization the meeting is to seek the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to support routine immunization against the disease which has so far claimed to 83 lives across three states in Nigeria it's a joint meeting of Representatives of the national Primary Health Care development agency the national Center for Disease Control UNICEF and the World Health Organization the essence of this meeting is to evaluate the response to the diphtheria outbreak in the country since December 2022 and Rob might on the way forward according to the director general of the national Primary Healthcare development agency one of the major causes of the disease is the poor uptake of routine immunization and adherence to proper hygiene he reels out steps to curb further spread response to the ongoing dictionary outbreak will be carried out in two phases this one the immediate response this will Encompass 25 lgas across four states bauchi casino yubi and kaduna this phase is scheduled to begin on the 7th of August 2023 and will continue until the 11th of August 2023. the phase two will cover outbreak response in 171 LGS across Six States these are jigawa that will have eight LGS Bruno four LGS ocean four LGS Lagos three LGS zamfara three LGS gombe three LGS plateau 1lj and nasarawa with also one LGA this phase is planned to be conducted in three rounds to rhyme with the three doses of the pentavalent vaccine for these development Partners emergency response to the disease is key to curbing the spread making access to vaccine critically important in kaduna we have been supporting more than 180 teams to do a response vaccination as well I'm happy to commit here publicly today based on the request from mpta from Friday as we are going to support the mph TD efforts with 20 million additional niras to ensure that the reactive vaccination is successful 1800s buyers of diphtheria antetoxin is expected to arrive in country on 2nd of August and erythromycin to follow in the next one or two weeks pending of course other normal government clearance according to data by the national Center for Disease Control ncdc so far there has been 836 confirmed cases of diphtheria in 33 local government areas across eight states in Nigeria Victoria longjun channels television news and we're always looking out for stories that encourages an impact on the lives of young ones and here in Nigeria and 80 year old gifted or eight-year-old gifted chess player is using her love for the board game to make the world better a better place as she pushes for more young ones to learn and play the game take a listen to her story in the bustling suburb of kubwa just outside Nigeria's capital Abuja an eight-year-old chess Prodigy is making a mark by using the ancient board game as a tool for Change and empowerment o has been conquering both local and online chess competitions with her skills and unwavering determination Uria to hopes to become a grand master by the time she turns 15 and believes that by sharing the knowledge of the game with other children across Nigeria where millions of children are out of school she will help steer them away from a life of crime I go around giving chess because I want people to learn how to play chess so that they will not be crime in the world the world can be a peaceful place and a better place these are the Bishops this is the queen first introduced to the game at just four years old by her father Clement urieto's aptitude for chess quickly became apparent helping to nurture a unique bond between father and daughter everything I know about Chess I taught her to the best of my knowledge so but but because I want her to take to the next level I have to give her a coach urieto's successes have also earned her recognition as an ambassador for the U.S based the gift of Chess Foundation there's a foundation in the U.S where she's an ambassador to the gift of chess what happened is that they sent her over 400 sets from U.S so what we do is we go to neighborhoods we go to schools we go to orphanage homes we give actual sets we teach them how to play chess set so that was basically what you do she's the chess player I do I'm the one that's taking her around because she's a minor so I have to be there for her efforts are already paying off helping to breathe with teachers acknowledging a surge in the interest from Young enthusiasts they cannot capture the king if you are black so you have to move only in your piece before her arrival we already have a chess club but are coming boosted many children join they are logging to belong to chess club and I think her coming improves our club a lot right on your phone despite the challenge of balancing school with her chess commitments urea to remains undeterred and has found a way around it she is becoming an example to her peers as well as to young parents and her community who are increasingly investing in helping their children discover their unique talents due to her influence according to the international Chess Federation rating Nigeria ranks number 88 in the world that's our show today thank you for watching I'm Jackie Rogers [Music] thank you