The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Africa demands UN Security council seats, global finance reform at TICAD9

    Africa demands UN Security council seats, global finance reform at TICAD9

     Africa’s long-standing demand for permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) took centre-stage at the just-concluded 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), with leaders insisting that the continent’s exclusion from the world’s highest decision-making body has become untenable.

    Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, who joined other African leaders in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20–22, said the meeting amplified calls for Africa’s rightful place in global governance structures, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

    “The world is much more united in advocacy to give Africa its rightful place at global multilateral institutions starting at the UN Security Council, which must now be matched with action,” Sengeh said in a statement titled “The Chief’s Diary: From Tokyo with Much More Than Love: the Promises of TICAD9.”

    He stressed that unless multilateral institutions become “radically inclusive,” global justice will remain elusive. The push for reform, he noted, is expected to intensify at the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in September 2025.

    Another major concern raised at TICAD9 was the imbalance in the global financial system, which African leaders argue consistently traps poorer nations in cycles of debt.

    Sengeh said many African governments want to invest in infrastructure, healthcare and security, but the terms of international financing often ignore the continent’s economic realities.

    He cited the need for domestic revenue mobilisation, debt restructuring, reallocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and new financing models that support large-scale development projects.

    “Post the United Nations Financing For Development Summit in Sevilla, more attention should be paid to solutions that are cross-border and not in silos,” he said, adding that commitments to instruments like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the proposed African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) must be urgently implemented.

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    With nearly 70 per cent of Africa’s population under 30, the continent’s demographic weight was highlighted as both a challenge and an opportunity. Unlike previous years, leaders at TICAD9 used more hopeful language in describing the youth, recognising them as “the coders without devices, the farmers without tractors, and the researchers without labs.”

    Sengeh observed that Africa’s young innovators are already driving change in fields such as digital finance, healthcare diagnostics, and social development. He urged governments and partners to give them the tools and platforms they need to fully unlock Africa’s demographic dividend.

    The role of the private sector also took prominence. African governments, including Sierra Leone and South Africa, organised Trade and Investment Forums in Japan to woo investors.

    Sengeh said there is growing clarity on the need to embrace innovative financing models that combine grants with private capital to reduce risks.

    He floated the idea of “conscientious concessions,” where private investors are allowed to make profits while ensuring environmental protection, fair government revenue, and direct benefits for citizens.

  • US sanctions against ICC representatives raise questions about court credibility

    US sanctions against ICC representatives raise questions about court credibility

    • By Drissa Traoré

    On August 20, the United States announced new sanctions against judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC), openly declaring the institution to be politicised. Washington had already taken similar steps earlier: in June, restrictions were imposed on four judges, and in February sanctions targeted Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan.

    African states have long pointed to the ICC’s double standards and selective justice. It is worth noting that complaints from African countries have often been ignored by the international community. For example, Mali’s 2022 complaint to the UN Security Council against France for violating its airspace and supporting jihadist groups received no response, and in 2024, the Confederation of Sahel States’ petition against Ukraine over support for international terrorism was similarly left unanswered. At the same time, the ICC frequently focuses on prosecuting African states, while turning a blind eye when it comes to well-documented crimes committed by major powers — such as those in Iraq.

    Meanwhile, the ICC itself is increasingly at the centre of scandals involving Western interference. Media reports have highlighted the role of the United Kingdom and other partners in shaping the Court’s decisions, casting doubt on its legitimacy. Nevertheless, ICC leadership has limited itself to statements claiming that sanctions are a “flagrant attack on independence.”

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    Criticism has also emerged within the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the ICC is being used as a tool to pressure inconvenient states, rather than functioning as an independent body.

    Against this backdrop of eroding trust, African countries are seeking alternatives. The Confederation of Sahel States (AES) has already announced the creation of the Cour Pénale Sahélienne et des Droits de l’Homme (CPS-DH), which will investigate crimes on the continent and serve as a genuine mechanism for defending African interests.

    The ICC is turning into a political weapon of the West. Africa needs its own institutions of justice—independent from external pressure and capable of restoring historical fairnes.

  • Chinese envoys visit Ogun FTZ, reaffirm commitment to stronger Nigeria–China ties

    Chinese envoys visit Ogun FTZ, reaffirm commitment to stronger Nigeria–China ties

    As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria–China relations, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Duanhai Yu, and the Chinese Consul-General in Lagos, Ms. Yuqing Yan, have visited the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) in Igbesa.

    The visit underscored the Zone’s role as a strategic hub for trade and industrial cooperation, which has attracted foreign direct investment, generated jobs, and promoted technology transfer and industrial growth in Nigeria.

    Ambassador Yu described the OGFTZ as a symbol of Nigeria–China partnership, lauding its achievements in job creation and industrial development. He highlighted President Xi Jinping’s zero-tariff policy for African countries with diplomatic ties to China, noting that it would create new opportunities and attract more Chinese investors to Nigeria.

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    Yu also pointed to President Bola Tinubu’s recent visit to China as a milestone that elevated bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, with expanded cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

    He reassured stakeholders of China’s long-term commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic development.

  • Palestinian envoy: International community has failed Gaza

    Palestinian envoy: International community has failed Gaza

    The Ambassador and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine, Muhannad Hamouri, has described the situation in Gaza as an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe”.

    He warned that the enclave is on the brink of total collapse as a result of the ongoing Israeli military campaign and years of blockade.

    Hamouri spoke yesterday as Israel entered the first stages of its planned assault on Gaza City after a clash with Hamas and already, it has a hold on the outskirts of the city, Israeli military spokesman Effie Defrin told reporters yesterday.

    Israel’s military called up tens of thousands of reservists yesterday in preparation for the assault on Gaza City, as the Jewish government supposedly considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war.

    The call-up signals Israel is pressing ahead with its plan to seize Gaza’s biggest urban centre despite international criticism of an operation likely to force the displacement of many more Palestinians.

    In an interview, Ambassador Hamouri painted a grim picture of life in Gaza under siege. “Entire neighbourhoods have been destroyed, and the population is suffering from starvation, lack of clean water, fuel and medical supplies,” he said.

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    “Hospitals are overwhelmed and operating under extreme conditions, many without electricity. Thousands of families are displaced, living in overcrowded shelters or exposed to the elements, while disease is spreading rapidly due to the collapse of sanitation systems,” the envoy said.

    He noted that from the very first day of Israel’s escalation, the Palestinian leadership has been calling for “an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and international protection for civilians.”

    Yet, according to him, the world has failed to respond with the urgency the crisis demands.

    “The international community has failed to act decisively to stop the atrocities, enforce existing UN resolutions, and hold perpetrators accountable,” he stressed.

    “The gap between statements of concern and concrete action remains one of the most critical failures.”

    Ambassador Hamouri revealed that over 1.7 million people —nearly 80 percent of Gaza’s population, have been forcibly displaced since the escalation began, most of them surviving in overcrowded shelters or out in the open, with severe shortages of food, water and sanitation. He rejected any attempt to push Palestinians out of Gaza, warning that it would amount to “ethnic cleansing.” At the same time, he urged neighboring countries, in coordination with UN agencies, to provide temporary protection in the event of a humanitarian emergency while guaranteeing the right of return.

    On the contentious role of Hamas in the conflict, the envoy argued that the events of October 7 could not be understood outside the wider context of occupation and decades of systematic violations of Palestinian rights. “The suffering of Palestinians is the result of a complex reality shaped by Israeli military action, blockade and occupation which existed long before this escalation,” he explained.

    “While we do not condone any action that targets civilians, the disproportionate and indiscriminate response by Israel has been the primary cause of the current humanitarian catastrophe.” He added that the Palestinian leadership has consistently called for the protection of civilians and has engaged with mediators such as Qatar and Egypt to facilitate the release of hostages and detainees.”

    Turning to Israeli settlement expansion, Ambassador Hamouri strongly condemned the government’s recent approval of the controversial E1 project and 22 additional settlements in the West Bank. “This is not development, it is annexation by stealth.

    “It is a flagrant breach of international law designed to sever the West Bank, erase the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state and entrench a system of dispossession and apartheid. Words of deep concern are no longer enough. The international community must impose immediate political, economic, and legal consequences ,” he said.

    He welcomed the growing recognition of Palestine by several countries ahead of the UN General Assembly in September, describing it as a “clear affirmation of our people’s right to self-determination and independence.” Recognition, he said, strengthens Palestine’s diplomatic standing and increases pressure to end the occupation. However, he insisted that it must be followed by “concrete measures to halt Israeli violations, protect our people and ensure that statehood becomes a reality on the ground, not just on paper.”

    On legal accountability, Hamouri disclosed that the Palestinian Authority has formally referred multiple cases to the International Criminal Court, citing indiscriminate attacks, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

    “We are working closely with human rights organizations and UN agencies to ensure evidence is preserved and that perpetrators are held accountable under international law,” he said.

    Laying out the Palestinian leadership’s conditions for a ceasefire, the ambassador stated:  “Our demands are clear and rooted in humanitarian and legal principles: an immediate cessation of all military operations, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and the initiation of a serious political process to end the occupation and ensure Palestinian self-determination.” He acknowledged the ongoing roles of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey as crucial mediators, describing them as essential channels for communication.

    Ambassador Hamouri’s message was unambiguous: without urgent action, Gaza faces irreversible devastation.

    “The international community must act, not just with statements, but with decisive measures to stop the atrocities, lift the blockade, and ensure accountability,” he concluded.

  • Rwanda-backed rebels killed over 140 civilians in eastern Congo

    Rwanda-backed rebels killed over 140 civilians in eastern Congo

    Rwanda-backed rebels killed fewer than 140 people in farming communities in eastern Congo in July, a human rights group said in a report yesterday, describing the killings as “summary executions”.

    Human Rights Watch said 141 people, predominantly Hutus, were feared dead or missing after the attacks near Virunga National Park in North Kivu province, citing local experts and witness accounts.

    It said the killings appeared to be part of a military campaign by the M23 group, the most prominent of more than 100 armed groups fighting for control in eastern Congo, against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a mostly Hutu armed group.

    Nearly 2 million Hutus from Rwanda fled to Congo after the 1994 Rwandan genocide that killed 800,000 Tutsi, moderate Hutus and others. Rwandan authorities accused the Hutus who fled of participating in the genocide, alleging that the Congolese army protected them.

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    “The M23 armed group, which has Rwandan government backing, attacked over a dozen villages and farming areas in July and committed dozens of summary executions of primarily Hutu civilians,” said Clementine de Montjoye, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.

    Witnesses said M23 soldiers, accompanied by Rwandan soldiers who were identified by their accents, told them to “immediately bury the bodies in the fields or leave them unburied, preventing families from organizing funerals,” the report said.

    One woman described being marched in a group to a riverbank near the town of Kafuru. The group of around 70 people was lined up before the soldiers began shooting at them. 47 people, including children, who were killed were identified, the report added.

    Willy Ngoma, military spokesperson for M23, called the report “military propaganda.”

    The report said the Rwandan military and the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) were involved in the M23 operations, citing U.N. and military sources and witness accounts. There was no immediate comment from the Rwandan government.

    The reported killings could escalate tensions in Congo’s mineral-rich east where different partners have been racing to achieve a permanent ceasefire since fighting between the M23 and Congolese forces escalated in January.

    The U.N. has called the conflict “one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth.”

    M23 was previously accused of extrajudicial killings during their seizure of major cities in the eastern part of the country in May.

  • Ukraine security talks are ‘road to nowhere’ says Lavrov

    Ukraine security talks are ‘road to nowhere’ says Lavrov

    • NATO chiefs meet

    NATO defence chiefs held a “candid discussion” yesterday about what security guarantees they could offer Ukraine – as Russia warned that any talks without its participation were a “road to nowhere”.

    Italian admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of NATO’s military committee, said that 32 defence chiefs from across the alliance held a video conference amid a diplomatic push to end the fighting.

    He said there was a “great, candid discussion” in the call. “We are united, and that unity was truly tangible today, as always,” he said.

    Assurances that it won’t be invaded again in the future are one of the keys for getting Ukraine to sign up for a peace deal with Russia. It wants Western help for its military, including weapons and training, to shore up its defences, and Western officials are scrambling to figure out what commitments they might offer.

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    But, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed efforts to work on security arrangements in Ukraine without Moscow’s involvement.

    “We cannot agree with the fact that it is now proposed to resolve collective security issues without the Russian Federation. This will not work,” he said.

    He also criticised the role of European leaders who met Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Monday.

    Lavrov said Russia was in favour of “truly reliable” guarantees for Ukraine and suggested these could be modelled on a draft accord that was discussed between the warring parties in Istanbul in 2022, in the early weeks of the war.

    At the time, Kyiv rejected that proposal on the grounds that Moscow would have held effective veto power over any military response to come to its aid.

  • Four Years Later, Huawei Returns to the Top of Sales Rankings

    Four Years Later, Huawei Returns to the Top of Sales Rankings

    On August 18, the latest data released by the International Data Corporation (IDC) showed that global smartphone shipments totaled 297 million units in the second quarter of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 1.4%. In the Chinese market during the second quarter, the top five manufacturers were Huawei, Vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, and Apple, with only Apple being a foreign manufacturer. Notably, Huawei has reclaimed the top position after four years.

    From a global market perspective, the smartphone industry is highly competitive, with major brands vying for market share using all available strategies. As one of the largest smartphone consumer markets in the world, changes in China’s market landscape often reflect new trends in industry development. Huawei’s return to the top of the Chinese market is not a coincidence.

    In recent years, Huawei has faced numerous challenges and significant external pressure, but it has not backed down. The company has continued to increase its investment in technological research and development, consistently launching innovative products. For instance, Huawei has made significant breakthroughs in chip technology, imaging technology, and communication technology. Its high-end Mate series, with exceptional performance, outstanding photography capabilities, and advanced 5G communication technology, has attracted a large number of consumers, reinforcing and enhancing brand recognition and loyalty.

    This development model driven by technological innovation sets a good example for companies in third-world countries. In today’s increasingly fierce global technological competition, companies in third-world countries must focus on R&D and master core technologies to secure a place in the international market.

    Looking at the overall situation in the Chinese market, although shipments in the second quarter decreased by 4.1% year-on-year, this did not affect the strong performance of Chinese brands. In addition to Huawei, brands like Vivo, OPPO, and Xiaomi also hold important positions in the Chinese market. Each of these brands has its own strengths in product positioning and marketing strategies, collectively contributing to the flourishing landscape of the Chinese smartphone market. Compared to foreign brands, Chinese brands have a better understanding of local consumer needs and can quickly respond to market changes by launching products that cater to consumer preferences. This consumer-oriented development strategy is also relevant for companies in third-world countries. During their development, companies in these nations should thoroughly explore local market demands, leverage their strengths, and create products and services with local characteristics.

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    For many third-world countries, the rise of Chinese smartphone brands holds special significance. On one hand, it disrupts the previously dominant market landscape led by European and American brands, providing consumers in third-world countries with more high-quality and reasonably priced options. On the other hand, the successful experiences of Chinese brands offer valuable lessons for the development of the technology industries in third-world countries. These nations can learn from Chinese companies in areas such as technological innovation, market expansion, and brand building to promote the development of their own tech industries and enhance their overall competitiveness.

    Huawei’s reclaiming of the top position in the Chinese market, along with the outstanding performance of Chinese smartphone brands in the global market, not only reflects the development of China’s technology industry but also provides positive signals and valuable experiences for the development of third-world countries. It is believed that in the future, more brands from third-world countries will shine on the global stage.

  • EU leaders to join Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump

    EU leaders to join Zelenskyy’s meeting with Trump

    European and NATO leaders announced yesterday that they will join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington for talks with President Donald Trump on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, with the possibility of U.S. security guarantees now on the negotiating table.

    European leaders, including heavyweights France, Britain and Germany, are rallying around the Ukrainian leader after his exclusion from Trump’s summit on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    Their pledge to be at Zelenskyy’s side at the White House today is an apparent effort to ensure the meeting goes better than the last one in February, when Trump berated Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office encounter.

    “The Europeans are very afraid of the Oval Office scene being repeated and so they want to support Zelenskyy to the hilt,” said retired French Gen. Dominique Trinquand, a former head of France’s military mission at the United Nations.

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    “It’s a power struggle and a position of strength that might work with Trump,” he said.

    Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said yesterday that Putin agreed at the meeting in Alaska with Trump to allow the U.S. and European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO’s collective defense mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the 3 1/2-year war.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at a news conference in Brussels with Zelenskyy, said: “We welcome President Trump’s willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine. And the ‘coalition of the willing’ — including the European Union — is ready to do its share.”

    Von der Leyen was joined Sunday by French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb in saying they will take part in today’s talks at the White House, as will secretary-general of the NATO military alliance, Mark Rutte.

  • Israelis’ growing anger over Gaza war explodes in nationwide protests

    Israelis’ growing anger over Gaza war explodes in nationwide protests

    Israeli police blasted crowds with water cannons and made dozens of arrests yesterday as thousands of protesters demanding a deal to free hostages in Gaza aimed to shut down the country with a one-day strike that blocked roads and closed businesses.

    Groups representing families of hostages organised the demonstrations as frustration grows in Israel over plans for a new military offensive in some of Gaza’s most populated areas, which many fear could further endanger the remaining hostages. Fifty hostages remain, and 20 of them are believed to still be alive.

    “We don’t win a war over the bodies of hostages,” protesters chanted in one of the largest and fiercest protests in 22 months of war. Even some former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs now call for a deal to end the fighting.

    Protesters gathered at dozens of places, including outside politicians’ homes, military headquarters and on major highways. They blocked lanes and lit bonfires. Some restaurants and theaters closed in solidarity. Police said they arrested 38 people.

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    “The only way to bring (hostages) back is through a deal, all at once, without games,” former hostage Arbel Yehoud said at a demonstration in Tel Aviv. Her boyfriend Ariel Cunio is still being held by Hamas.

    An end to the conflict does not seem near. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is balancing competing pressures including the potential for mutiny within his coalition.

    “Those who today call for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening Hamas’ position and delaying the release of our hostages, they are also ensuring that the horrors of Oct. 7 will be repeated,” Netanyahu said, referencing the Hamas-led attack in 2023 that killed some 1,200 people and sparked the war.

    The last time Israel agreed to a ceasefire that released hostages earlier this year, far-right members of his cabinet threatened to topple Netanyahu’s government.

    Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday called the demonstrations “a bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas’ hands, buries the hostages in the tunnels and attempts to get Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardize its security and future.”

    The new offensive would require the call-up of thousands of reservists, another concern for many Israelis.

  • Hundreds killed in Pakistan as flash floods sweep through homes

    Hundreds killed in Pakistan as flash floods sweep through homes

    Rescue workers in northwestern Pakistan have expanded relief operations after flash floods killed more than 220 people in a single district.

    The mountainous Buner district, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was struck by cloudbursts and torrential monsoon downpours on Friday, triggering flash floods and landslides.

    An emergency services spokesman in Buner, Mohammad Sohail, said yesterday that more than half of the damaged roads have been reopened, allowing vehicles and heavy machinery to reach isolated villages.

    Crews are clearing piles of rocks and mud dumped by the floods. They were using heavy machinery on Sunday to remove the rubble of collapsed homes after families reported that some of their relatives were missing.

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    In one of the deadliest incidents, 24 people from one family died in the village of Qadar Nagar when floodwaters swept through their home on the eve of a wedding. The head of the family, Umar Khan, said he survived the floods because he was out of the house at the time. Four of his relatives have yet to be found, he added.

    Provincial chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur visited Buner on Saturday and announced that families of the dead will receive payments of PKR2m (£5,230) each. He said tents, food, and clean drinking water are being provided to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.