Category: Foreign

Undocumented sub-Saharan African migrants in Tunisia received three billion dinars (about $1 billion) in remittances from their countries during the first half of 2023, an official from the national security council said in a meeting at the weekend.

President Kais Saied, who chaired the meeting, said, “This figure is shocking and indicates that Tunisia is being targeted.”

Saied denounced this year undocumented sub-Saharan African immigration to his country, saying, in comments criticised by rights groups, that it was aimed at changing Tunisia’s demographic make-up.

The amount of the announced transfers for undocumented migrants is higher than revenues of the vital tourism industry in Tunisia during the first half of the year, which amounted to 2.2 billion dinars.

Read Also: Tunisia to exhibit at FAB West Africa

Thousands of undocumented migrants have flocked to the coastal city of Sfax in recent months with the goal of setting off for Europe in boats run by human traffickers, leading to an unprecedented migration crisis for Tunisia.

Tunisia has removed hundreds of the migrants this month to a desolate area along the border, following days of violence in Sfax between residents and migrants.

Under pressure from international and local rights groups that accused the authorities of putting the lives of migrants in danger, the government moved them to shelters in two towns this week.  

• •Govt, RSF representatives arrive in Jeddah to resume

UNITED Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, says warring factions in Sudan should stop targeting aid workers and civilians.

“Humanitarians cannot work under the barrel of a gun,” Griffith said in a statement on Saturday, adding that the warring factions must respect international law as the conflict in the country reached three-month mark.

“For three months now, the people of Sudan have endured unspeakable suffering amid violence that is tearing their country apart.

“As the conflict enters its fourth month, the battle lines are hardening, making it ever more difficult to reach the millions of people who need urgent humanitarian assistance,” he said.

This is as Sudanese representatives arrived in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah to resume talks with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudanese government sources told Reuters on Saturday, after three months of fighting between the army and RSF.

Previous talks in Jeddah facilitated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Egypt were suspended by both countries in early June after numerous ceasefire violations.

Saudi Arabia and the U.S. have yet to confirm the resumption of talks between Sudan’s warring factions.

Separately, a mediation attempt launched by Egypt began on Thursday, an effort welcomed both by the Sudanese army, which has close ties to Egypt, and the RSF.

More than three million people have been displaced due to the conflict both within Sudan and across its borders.

The fighting, which broke out in mid-April has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 1,100 people and injured over 12,000, according to the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Health workers and facilities have also been attacked, severely limiting access for those in need.

With the onset of the rainy season, t

here is an increased risk of outbreaks of water- and vector-borne diseases, compounded by challenges in waste management and shortages of supplies.

Read Also: Sudan on the brink of ‘full-scale civil war’, says UN chief

Children are among the worst affected, with an estimated 13.6 million – roughly half the number remaining in Sudan – in urgent need of assistance.

Describing Sudan as “one of the world’s most difficult places for humanitarian workers to operate,” Griffiths emphasised the collaborative efforts of local organizations and international aid groups in delivering life-saving supplies.

However, he said the work couldn’t be carried out when relief workers themselves, are at risk.

“But we cannot work under the barrel of a gun. We cannot replenish stores of food, water and medicine if brazen looting of these stocks continues. We cannot deliver if our staff are prevented from reaching people in need.”

He underlined that ultimately, the suffering of Sudanese people will end only when the fighting stops, and called on the parties to the conflict to abide by the Declaration of Commitments  they signed in Jeddah to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.

Drawing attention to the recent discovery of mass graves in West Darfur, Griffiths highlighted the fear of resurgence of ethnic killings in the region.

El Niño’s influence on global food insecurity, by chief scientist Kapnick

 The Washington Foreign Press Center’s briefing on El Niño and its influence on global food insecurity reveals a number of salient facts. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) chief scientist Dr. Sarah Kapnick, United States Bureau Chief OLUKOREDE YISHAU reports, gives vital insights into the agency’s activities, especially regarding El Niño’s blows on global food insecurity. Excerpts:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

It is under the Department of Commerce. NOAA is the leading source of information for all aspects relating to El Niño, from issuing the official U.S. Government outlook of El Niño and forecasting and warning about the climate and weather extremes associated with it. We also monitor all of El Niño’s ongoing developments and do the cutting-edge research on the El Niño southern oscillation to help scientists understand how it works and how it may change in a warming world.

Today, I am here because we have provided the official U.S. Government outlook of El Niño. It is issued the second Thursday of every month, and it’s provided by NOAA’s National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. The most recent official ENSO outlook by the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center came out today. At this time, NOAA continued its El Niño advisory, which is the first issue – which we first issued in June, declaring an El Niño to be present. An El Niño adversary is issued when El Niño conditions are observed and they’re also expected to continue.

The July 2023 outlook

The July 2023 ENSO outlook gives over a 90 percent chance of El Niño persisting into the Northern Hemisphere winter. The range of possibilities towards the end of the year include an 81 percent chance of at least a moderate strength event. This is defined by a seasonal El Niño 3.4 index value of at least one degree Celsius of warmth with around a 50 percent chance of a strong El Niño, which is about 1.5 degrees Celsius. There’s also a 20 percent chance right now that this El Niño will reach the historically strong levels of the 1997-1998 and 2015-2016 events.

A historic El Niño event is defined at least five consecutive three-month periods with ocean temperatures of at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above average in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. There still remains a 3 to 7 percent chance that an El Niño will not reach this threshold.

The July outlook that we put out today is an extremely important one, because compared to outlooks made earlier in the year, June and July – June and then into July right now have the highest – higher prediction accuracy for the evolution of El Niño into the coming months. While El Niño’s influence on U.S. climate patterns is not as strong in summer and autumn, winter, it is still associated often with average precipitation increases in the Gulf Coast and below average precipitation across the northern tier – contiguous United States.

Global effect

Around the world, we also see above-average precipitation values often in central and eastern Pacific, the Greater Horn of Africa, coastal western South America, southern tiers of the U.S., central Asia, and southern Brazil and Uruguay. We often see in past events below average precipitation across the maritime continent in the western Pacific, Australia, parts of India with below average Indian monsoon levels, Africa Sahel, northern South America, Caribbean, and southern Central America, as well as southern Africa.

However, I want to make clear that that does not guarantee that that is what is going to happen. These are the averages that have happened in previous El Niños, but it’s really important that we are first forecasting the El Niño and then we are watching what the impacts will be.

In addition to the El Niño outlook that we put out, I also want to comment that we also put out our understanding of June. We reported today that June was the hottest on record, 0.13 degrees more than the previous record in June of 2020, at a temperature of 1.2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. This marks the 47th June in a row and the 532nd consecutive month above the 20th century average. For the rest of the year, we are looking at a likelihood that this will be one of the 10 warmest years, with 99 percent chance. It could be one of the five warmest years; there’s a 97 percent chance of that. And the likelihood of this being the warmest year on record, it’s a 20 percent chance at this point in time.

So when we have the El Niño developing, the warmth from the ocean, there are impacts around the world that we should be watching out for, in addition to this background of extreme warmth around the world that we are also seeing.

To fight El Niño or prevent it in Africa

We – in the region we have been developing with – working with USAID as well as the State Department around early warning systems and developing out the information for predicting the El Niño but also using that seasonal forecast in the region to have this weather and climate information in advance. And then we are providing that on the science side.

Climate services

So on climate services with the El Niño, this is an important case study of what to do in terms of early warning. El Niño is one of the most predictable things in terms of understanding extreme years and predicting them months in advance, and there is predictability of six months, nine months out, even longer in certain ways. And so we have advanced warning and knowledge that this is happening, that it is unfolding, that it’s forming. I gave you all the percentages for different scales of the El Niño that we may reach.

So it’s an important thing of we have the information, we’re producing this information, we have the scientific information and the different analyses of these seasonal forecasts that relate to it of precipitation and temperature, and that next step to actually take that and really realize the value of having these warnings about the physical science side is then translating that into all of the different impacts that we may see, and planning in advance food reactions to what those impacts could be from what we’ve seen historically but also what we’re starting to predict in the months and seasons to come.

And that is where this partnership with State and our discussions are so important, is making sure that we don’t hold the science and the science agencies to ourselves and that we are making sure that we’re having these discussions about what it can mean so he can also be prepared as these – as this event unfolds.

Extreme year

 So with an El Niño, El Niños are extreme years – naturally they happen in those extreme years. So in the past many decades, warmest years of each decade, typically an El Niño year. El Niños, as a result, also serve as an understanding of what is to come as we continue to have climate change. They are warmer years. In the next few years – they’re often the warmest years, so they also give us give us a look into what we have in store as the earth continues to warm.

As such, it reveals the vulnerabilities or it reveals some of the issues of society that we are – that we become aware of when these things happen. And so right now is a key time to be able to be collecting this information, watching what’s happening, understanding. And we will continue to advance the science to be able to have more knowledge of the physical information that we need. But then, critically, we are working together with our other groups to be able to understand what those impacts are, be – to try and be able to build some resilience and adaptation, both within this year but also the years to come.

Britain’s unemployment rate has risen above expectations while wages increased at the joint-highest rate on record.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the UK jobless rate jumped to 4 per cent for the three months to May, from 3.8 per cent in the previous three-month period.

Economists had predicted a reading of 3.8 per cent for the latest quarter.

Meanwhile, average regular wages, not including bonuses, were 7.3 per cent higher in the three months to May.

The same as during the previous three months and the joint highest since records began in 2001.

ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan has said.

“Total employment grew in the latest three months while the number of people actively looking for work also increased, both driven by men rejoining the labour market.

“Pay excluding bonuses has again risen at record levels in cash terms.

“Due to high inflation, however, the real values of weekly earnings are still falling, although now at its slowest rate since the end of 2021.

The United States claims it has killed an Isis leader, Usamah al-Muhajir, in a drone strike in eastern Syria.

 In a statement, U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for protecting America’s interests in the Middle East, said it carried out the strike on Friday using MQ-9 drones.

 It said the same drones had been harassed in Syria on Wednesday by Russian aircraft in an encounter that had lasted almost two hours.

 The statement said: “U.S. Central Command conducted a strike in Syria that resulted in the death of Usamah al-Muhajir, an Isis leader in eastern Syria.”

 It gave no further details about al-Muhajir’s death.

 Earlier on Sunday, the U.S.  Air Force released footage of the drones encountering Russian fighter jets over Syria and said the MQ-9 Reapers were forced to take evasive action.

 It claimed one of the Russian pilots moved their aircraft in front of a drone and engaged the SU-35’s afterburner, which reduced the drone operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft.

 US Air Forces Central said in a statement: “These events represent a new level of unprofessional and unsafe action by Russian air forces operating in Syria.”

 The U.S. has arrested or killed various leaders of the terrorist group who were living in Turkey-backed rebel-controlled areas after the group lost its last territory in Syria in 2019.

 In 2019 a U.S. led campaign killed former Isis head Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who had declared himself the “caliph of all Muslims”

 Since then it has targeted the group’s surviving leaders, many of whom are believed to have planned attacks abroad.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sudan was on the brink of a “full-scale civil war” as fierce clashes between rival generals continued unabated yesterday in the capital, Khartoum.

He warned on Saturday evening that the war between the Sudanese military and a powerful paramilitary force is likely to destabilise the entire region, according to Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the secretary-general.

 Sudan descended into chaos after months of tension between military chief Gen Abdel-Fattah Burhan and his rival Gen Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, exploded into open fighting in mid-April.

 Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim said in televised comments last month that the clashes have killed over 3,000 people and wounded over 6,000 others. But the death tally is likely to be much higher.

 The UN claims that nearly three million people have been forced to flee their homes.

 The comments from Guterres come after an air strike in the Dar es Salaam neighbourhood of Omdurman on Saturday killed at least 22 people, in one of the deadliest air attacks yet in three months of fighting.

 A brief statement by the country’s health ministry did not specify the number of people injured.

Pope Francis has announced his choice of 21 new cardinals, including a South African from Cape Town.

 They will be formally installed to the posts in September.

 “Where they come from expresses the universality of the church, which continues to proclaim the merciful love of God to all people of the earth,” the pope said of the cardinals-elect, according to the outlet Vatican News.

 Among the pope’s picks, which he announced in St. Peter’s Square during his weekly appearance, are other prelates from Jerusalem and Hong Kong, where Catholics are a minority.

 Also on the list are the archbishops of Bogota, Columbia; Cape Town, South Africa; Madrid, Spain; and, Poland, according to Vatican News.

 Cardinals serve as advisers to the pope on matters of teaching and administration, including finances, and they’re also tasked with electing the successor to the sitting pope.

 The cardinals-elect are set to be installed with a consistory on September 30, Pope Francis said in his announcement.

• By Oluwadara Akingbohungbe

The current unrest and rioting in France is a reaction of the people of France to the death of  a 17-year-old boy of Algerian descent Nahel Merzouk by France Police officer on Tuesday  27th June 2023.

As a matter of fact the death of Merzouk was so grievous to the vast majority of France citizens that it led to a protest by majorly fellow teenagers of the deceased.

2,000 protesters have been in detention and about 522 police officers and gendarmes were injured as a result of  France unrest on Tuesday.         

There have been series of questions about the killing of Merzouk by France Police. A co- passenger in the vehicle clarified:  “There are a lot of lies on social media”.

He and Nahel were driving around the Nanterre suburb in a borrowed vehicle with polish license plates when they were pulled over by police officers on motorbikes. Contrary to initial reports, the young men were not under the influence of any substances. It was a routine encounter, or so they thought.

As one of the officers approached Nahel’s window, a chilling threat was uttered: “Cut the engine or I’ll shoot you.” Without any warning, the officer struck Nahel in the face with his weapon,  followed by another officer joining in the assault.

The development brings to reality the current unrest in France is a result of the brutal display by France Police officer, who is expected to be a defender of truth and justice to the people he has been empowered by the government to secure. 

 A police officer is expected to appear with his or her uniform and the people will be excited not frightened. 

A Police officer is expected to be an Angel in human form.

But in a case whereby the weapon given to protect is being used by the Police officer in question to oppress the people then disciplinary actions needs to be taken.

Report have it that the France killer Police officer have been in detention and investigation is been carried out.

Imagine in the training of Law Adjudication 7 years is been spent most especially in my Country Nigeria whereas in the training of Law enforcement less than a year is been spent.

There needs to be proper training and retraining including mental examination of law enforcement agent expecially police officers.

There needs to be an educational curriculum for the law enforcement Profession, in this case those who are patient to undergo due process of formal training will be worthy of the Profession.

Not everyone is qualify or fit to be a Police officer.

France President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Germany between 2nd of July to 4th July but the Visit has been postponed due to the unrest in the country, the Visit which is expected to be the first within 27years by France President.

The Mayors of 220 Towns from accross the country which were attacked in 6 nights unrest at the aftermath of police brutality that resulted to the shooting of the 7 year old boy in suburban Paris has been visited by French President Emmanuel Macron.

The President stated that the peak of violence had passed and announced new laws to speed up the reconstruction of what was destroyed. Rather most mayors desire more.

President of the French Mayors’ Association, David Lisnard said: “The dealers are running things, installing their own order

“Unfortunately, that’s the sad reality, but it’s what we experience every time there’s an urban riot in our communities. And we know very well that in a few weeks, a few months, a few years, there will be urban riots again.

“And that requires immediate action to restore order, of course, and regal authority, which is what I’m telling you, and then, at the same time, a profound effort, totally different from what has been done for the last thirty years.”

Base on the figures release by French Government, the average age of the 3,354 people arrested in previous week was 17.

The riot was triggered by provocative statements about Muslims and Algerians in France by major media outlets and Political elites in the weeks leading up to the shooting of the boy.

Read Also: Macron cancels Germany visit as violent protests in France enter fourth night

There has been series of speculations about visit to France during this Holiday Season by Tourists.

As stated by Martin Luther king Jr “Protest is the language of the unheard”, with this, protesters should be well coordinated about their demonstration by making it a peaceful process of ventilating their vengeance to the Government because violent protest is a way of destroying their social amenities.

Akingbohungbe writes from Ogun State via oluwadaratemidayo@gmail.com.