The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Qatari official shares peace plan with DR Congo, M23 rebels

    Qatari official shares peace plan with DR Congo, M23 rebels

    Qatar has shared a draft peace agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the M23 rebel group as part of the ongoing Doha peace process, the Congolese media reported yesterday, citing a Qatari official.

    “Although the timeline set in the Doha Declaration of Principles for the signing of the agreement was not met, both parties responded positively to the facilitator and expressed their willingness to continue negotiations,” a Qatari official engaged in the mediation efforts told the Actualite.cd news website.

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    The Qatari official expressed hope that on-the-ground challenges could be “quickly” addressed through dialogue and “sincere engagement” from both sides.

    The Congolese government and M23 rebels signed a declaration of principles on July 19 in Doha, Qatar, following the US-brokered peace deal between Congo and Rwanda in Washington, DC, on June 27.

  • Putin agrees NATO -style protections for Ukraine

    Putin agrees NATO -style protections for Ukraine

    Russia’s Vladimir Putin agreed at his summit with President Trump to allow the U.S. and its European allies to offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling NATO’s collective defence mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the 3 1/2-year war in Ukraine, special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said yesterday.

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    “We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union.” He added that it “was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that” and called them “game-changing.”

    Article 5, at the heart of the 32-member military alliance, states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all members.

  • Colonial reparations documentary premieres in Bamako

    Colonial reparations documentary premieres in Bamako

    A documentary advocating reparative justice for Africa’s colonial past has premiered in Bamako, Mali, drawing political leaders, academics, and cultural figures to its unveiling.

    The film, titled Reparations: The Colonial Debt, is directed by award-winning Malian filmmaker and researcher, Ibrahima Sow, under the Réveil d’Afrik initiative.

    It explores the injustices of colonial rule and examines the legal and political avenues through which African nations may hold former colonial powers accountable.

    The screening, held at a cultural centre in the Malian capital, was attended by senior government officials, legal practitioners, and scholars.

    Vice-President of the National Defence Commission, Dr. Fousseynou Ouattara, stressed that reparations remain a national imperative.

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    The documentary features contributions from leading intellectuals, including Professor Gnaka Lagoke of Côte d’Ivoire, Malian historian, Dr. Fode Moussa Sidibé, and distinguished writer and sociologist, Ms. Aminata Traoré.

    Dr. Sidibé observed that Mali continues to bear the enduring effects of colonial exploitation and maintained that seeking reparations is both a right and a responsibility owed to future generations.

    Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa represented by Director of the National Film Centre, Fousseyni Maiga, commended the production as a timely intervention.

    She announced that 2025 would be designated Mali’s “Year of Culture” and pledged government support to ensure the film is screened in universities nationwide to educate young people on the historical and legal foundation for reparations.

    Sow, in his remarks, underscored the urgency of the reparations debate, arguing that Africa’s future cannot be constructed upon an unresolved past.

    He stated that the struggle transcends financial compensation, representing instead a demand for dignity and sovereignty.

  • 200 participants expected at Nigerian – German investment expo in Berlin

    200 participants expected at Nigerian – German investment expo in Berlin

    No fewer than 200 participants are expected at the maiden Nigerian-German Investment and Cultural Expo in Berlin, Germany.

    The event put together by Sir Mike Okiro led group, Salute Nigeria Initiative, is slated for October 20-23.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, who previously served for six years as the country’s Ambassador to Germany, is expected to attend the event alongside other top government and business executives.

    The group, Salute Nigeria Initiative, disclosed this when a delegation visited the minister in his office yesterday.

    The event, according to Director General, Salute Nigeria Initiative and Nigerian-German Investment and Cultural Expo Coordinator, Amb. Chielo Ojirika, aimed at showcasing the country’s potential to the rest of the world in Germany through the Expo.

    Ojirika, who is a Nigerian music ambassador to Germany, said: “We intend to have up to 200 participants in terms of businessmen, industrialists, inventors, people in fashion, even people in the hospitality industry.

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     “The expo is designed to showcase the numerous investment and cultural potential in Nigeria to attract foreign direct investment and business partnership from the Federal Republic of Germany and the rest of the world.”

    “We want to showcase Nigerian food at the event. Don’t forget that the last night of the event will be the cultural exchange night where the Nigerian attire will be showcased and where you have German fashionistas, who dress in Nigerian attire on the walkway. That will be a very unique one.

    “Secondly, if you’re Nigerian and you have products that are made in Nigeria that you wish to exhibit over there and that provides you an opportunity to showcase that to the larger European market.”

    Tuggar, in his response, assured the group that the ministry through its mission in German will provide the needed support.

    “So, anything to do with Germany, I feel a natural inclination to be associated with it. So, I thank you for this. The idea of having a cultural investment event is one that is welcome.

    “Our mission also in Berlin would be informed so that they can provide the necessary support.”

    He also added: “When it comes to the issue of culture, Germany always has a listening voice, because in German, the word culture goes beyond just culture. They always talk about the essence of culture. It’s a country with a very rich cultural heritage. And there’s a lot within that cultural space that requires investment that requires collaboration as well, because we are going through a renaissance of Nigerian culture.

     “If you look at this generation of Nigerians, they don’t listen to any other music. They listen to Nigerian music. Our fashion industry is very, very active, very productive. So, there’s so much to look at.

    In his remarks, chairman of the expo, OKiro, said the event will help project the image of the country to the outside world.

    He said: “We believe that the Nigerian-German Investment and Cultural Expo would further launder Nigeria’s image and attract the much-needed foreign investment, especially in the areas of power, renewable energy, mining and solid minerals development, transportation infrastructure, oil and gas, agro-allies, ICT, automotive, marine and blue economy, as well as creative industry and housing development.”

  • Putin plans new nuclear deal with U.S. ahead of Trump talks

    Putin plans new nuclear deal with U.S. ahead of Trump talks

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated he wants to pursue a new nuclear weapons agreement with U.S. President Donald Trump, ahead of their anticipated summit in Alaska on Friday.

    The potential accord is framed by Putin as part of a wider initiative to bolster global peace, coming amid persistent pressure from Trump to de-escalate the three-and-a-half-year conflict in Ukraine.

    Moscow views the Ukrainian situation as integral to a complex web of security concerns that have elevated East-West tensions to their highest point since the Cold War.

    Despite Kyiv’s repeated calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, Putin has resisted, even as Russian forces continue their gradual advance in Ukraine.

    However, progress on a new arms control treaty at the summit could allow Putin to present himself as actively engaged in broader peace efforts.

    This, in turn, might help dissuade Trump from imposing new sanctions on Russia and its key exports, including oil, a measure the U.S. leader has previously threatened.

    Such a development could also signify a broader push to mend relations with Washington, particularly concerning trade and economic ties, areas the Kremlin believes hold significant untapped potential.

    Throughout the war, Putin has delivered veiled threats about using nuclear missiles and warned that entering a direct confrontation with Russia could lead to World War Three.

    They have included verbal statements, war games, and lowering Russia’s threshold for using nuclear weapons.

    The fact that Russia has more nuclear weapons than any other country gives it a stature in this domain that far exceeds its conventional military or economic power, allowing Putin to face Trump as an equal on the world stage when it comes to security.

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    According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia and the United States have estimated military stockpiles of 4,309 and 3,700 nuclear warheads respectively.

    Signed by then-U.S. president Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, the New START treaty caps the number of strategic nuclear warheads that the United States and Russia can deploy.

    Each is limited to no more than 1,550, and a maximum of 700 long-range missiles and bombers. Strategic weapons are those designed by each side to hit the enemy’s centres of military, economic and political power.

    The treaty came into force in 2011 and was extended in 2021 for five more years after US President Joe Biden took office. In 2023, Putin suspended Russia’s participation but Moscow said it would continue to observe the warhead limits.

    The treaty expires on 5 February 2026. Security analysts expect both sides to breach the limits if it is not extended or replaced.

    In a symptom of the underlying tensions, Trump this month said he had ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia because of what he called threatening comments by Medvedev about the possibility of war with the U.S.

    The Kremlin played down the move but said “everyone should be very, very careful” with nuclear rhetoric.

    Separately, an arms race looms over shorter- and intermediate-range missiles, which can also carry nuclear warheads.

    During Trump’s first presidency, in 2019, he pulled the U.S. out of a treaty that had abolished all ground-based weapons in this category. Moscow denied his accusations that it was cheating.

  • Israel set to expand in West Bank to ‘bury’ Palestinian State

    Israel set to expand in West Bank to ‘bury’ Palestinian State

    Israel plans to expand settlements into an area of the West Bank that would effectively bisect the enclave — a move its finance minister said “buries the idea of a Palestinian state.”

    The expansion into the 3,000 acres known as E1 that run between Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim — long excluded from settlement plans — would amount to a major rebuke of growing Western calls to recognise Palestinian statehood.

    It comes as the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised a large-scale increase in settlement building in the West Bank — widely considered a violation of international law — over the past year and plans to take over the Gaza Strip.

     “Anyone in the world who tries to recognise a Palestinian state will get our answer on the ground,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also oversees settlements within Israel’s Defence Ministry, according to a transcript of a speech he gave at E1. “They’ll talk about a Palestinian dream, and we’ll keep building a Jewish reality.”

    “After 20 years of hold-ups, pressure, election-eve promises and broken dreams — we stand here in Ma’ale Adumin and proclaim in a clear voice: the cork has been broken, the E1 project is under way,” said Smotrich, an ultranationalist settler, who in June was sanctioned by the UK for inciting violence against Palestinian communities. He said 3,401 homes would be built there.

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    The West Bank-based administration of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the announcement. Along with the devastation in Gaza and recurrent violence by some settlers against Palestinians, it “will only lead to further escalation, tension and instability,” said Abbas spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh.

    The U.S. in June imposed sanctions on members of the PA “for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace,” a counter-action to moves from European countries toward recognsing a Palestinian state.

    Alarmed by Israel’s prosecution of the war in Gaza, which has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, several longtime Israeli allies — including France, the UK and Canada — are poised to recognize a Palestinian state during next month’s United Nations General Assembly.

    Israel rules out Palestinian statehood and, backed by the US, has accused those countries of rewarding Hamas for the 7 October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the Gaza war.

    Palestinians say any Israeli development of E1 would not only divide the West Bank but disrupt economic activity in and between their hub cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem.

    But, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, visited the Qatari capital Doha yesterday for talks on resuming Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap negotiations with Hamas, Israeli media said.

    According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Barnea met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, without giving further details.

    U.S. news website Axios said the visit marked the highest-level contact between Israel and mediators since negotiations broke down in Doha three weeks ago.

    The outlet said Barnea told Qatari officials that Israel is prepared to launch a military operation in Gaza City if there is no progress in the hostage talks soon.

    The U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye are all involved in the mediation efforts to reach a comprehensive ceasefire and hostage release deal.

    Axios also noted that a Hamas delegation recently visited Istanbul for talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, before traveling to Cairo to meet Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad to discuss ways to resume the negotiations.

    The Israeli Channel 13 claimed that Hamas is likely to present a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire.

    There was no comment from Hamas or Qatari officials on the Israeli report.

    Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News channel, citing an Egyptian source, earlier said that Hamas was ready to “swiftly” return to the ceasefire negotiations with Israel.

    The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal war in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, killing more than 61,700 Palestinians.

    Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

    Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

    Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement group, described the development as a done deal, requiring only the approval of an Israeli planning committee next week.

    “In theory, Netanyahu could overturn this. But I doubt Smotrich would have made the announcement without knowing Netanyahu was on-side,” said Peace Now’s Hagit Ofran. “So the bulldozers may be starting work within days.”

    There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu, a conservative who in 2009 approved negotiations over a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. Those US-sponsored talks stalled in 2014 and Netanyahu now opposes statehood — a position endorsed by the Israeli parliament last year.

    Last month, parliament called for the Netanyahu government to annex West Bank settlement blocks. Supporters of annexation say Israelis have a right to remain permanently in the West Bank, which they

  • Africa joins global fight against erectile dysfunction

    Africa joins global fight against erectile dysfunction

    To confront the stigma surrounding erectile dysfunction (ED) and encourage men across Africa to seek professional medical help, Global healthcare company, Viatris, has launched a continent-wide campaign, EmpowerED for Life.

    The initiative aims to shift the conversation on ED from embarrassment to empathy by promoting accurate information, encouraging early diagnosis, and advocating safe, evidence-based treatment.

    According to the firm, ED is not only a sexual health concern but also a potential warning sign of serious underlying conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, depression and anxiety.

    At the campaign’s virtual launch attended by healthcare experts, policymakers, media, and men’s health advocates from across Africa, participants highlighted the alarming prevalence of ED on the continent.

    Studies show that between 43.8% and 58.9% of men in Nigeria community settings live with ED, just as higher rates are reported among men with chronic illnesses.

     In Ghana, the figure is estimated at 65.9%, while across Africa, 85% of men with ED never seek treatment, the experts said.

    Head of India and Access Markets for Viatris, Arvind Kanda, said stigma remains the biggest barrier to care. “The stigma surrounding erectile dysfunction often prevents men from seeking the medical attention they need and deserve.

    “Through EmpowerED for Life, we are promoting awareness, advocating for empathy, and normalizing open dialogue to ensure men have the information and healthcare they need to thrive,” he said.

    The campaign will run in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa, using a multi-channel strategy of digital media, community outreach, professional education, and partnerships with healthcare providers.

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    Its four pillars (Awareness, Education, Engagement, and Empowerment) are designed to break down cultural taboos, improve access to care, and strengthen the role of healthcare professionals in men’s sexual health.

    Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Nigeria, Dr. Nnabugwu Ikenna Ifeanyi, stressed that ED is often a symptom of more serious health issues.

    “It can severely impact self-esteem, relationships, and quality of life. Unfortunately, myths, taboos, and a lack of access to trained specialists delay diagnosis and treatment. Campaigns like EmpowerED for Life are vital to breaking these barriers,” he said.

    The programme also warns against the widespread use of unregulated ED treatments in Africa, which can endanger men’s health. Viatris says part of its mission is to promote safe, regulated, and medically approved interventions while expanding awareness of the links between ED and other chronic conditions.

    With projections from the British Journal of Urology International estimating that 322 million men globally will be affected by ED by 2025, Viatris says now is the time to move the issue out of the shadows. The company hopes the campaign will inspire more men and their partners to speak openly about ED and seek timely medical care.

    “Together, we can ensure no man suffers in silence. By breaking the stigma, we can pave the way for a healthier future for men across Africa.”

  • HFN, HBA partner on sustainable healthcare

    HFN, HBA partner on sustainable healthcare

    The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has signed a strategic partnership with the Health Business Academy of Africa (HBA) to strengthen institutionalisation and build capacity in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

    The agreement, sealed at HFN’s Executive Office in Ikoyi, Lagos, formalises HBA as HFN’s training and capacity-building partner, with a mandate to equip healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs and organisations with the skills to thrive in an evolving industry.

    HFN President Mrs. Njide Ndili said the collaboration would help healthcare professionals and business owners adapt to rapid sector changes, ensure sustainability, and drive succession planning.

    She noted that the initiative aligns with HFN’s mandate of integrating the private sector into strengthening Nigeria’s health system, adding that there are plans to expand the programme to Ghana and Senegal.

    HBA Executive Director, Mr. Wale Olajubu, said the partnership would drive transformation that not only builds capacity but also positions Nigerian healthcare enterprises as leaders across Africa.

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    HFN First Vice-President, Dr. Ayodele Benson-Cole, described the collaboration as critical in bridging the gap between clinical practice and business performance, while HFN Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Akingbade, assured that the initiative would deliver tangible results for members and the wider sector.

    Under the deal, HBA will operate as HFN’s learning arm, setting up co-branded training campuses in Lagos, Abuja, and beyond.

    The programme will feature executive training, certification courses, leadership series, and industry insights, including white papers and CEO roundtables among others.

    A pilot training session is expected to commence within 30 days.

    HFN explained that the partnership will also promote membership growth, policy advocacy, and continuous professional development, while equipping healthcare business owners, executives, and health-tech founders with tools to build sustainable enterprises.

    With the alliance, HFN said it is reinforcing its role as the leading private-sector voice in Nigerian healthcare, committed to

  • Victoria Adepoju: From Lagos traffic to UK clarity – how distance revealed Nigeria’s untapped tech potential

    Victoria Adepoju: From Lagos traffic to UK clarity – how distance revealed Nigeria’s untapped tech potential

    I still remember my friend Kemi crying after another failed job interview in Victoria Island. An IT graduate from Federal University of Technology Minna, she had searched for work for eighteen months. That same week, I read about a 19-year-old in Kaduna who joined Boko Haram because “they offered me ₦50,000 monthly when no legitimate job would take me.”

    Writing this from UK, where I relocated in 2023, these memories feel more vivid than ever. Distance has given me clarity about both Nigeria’s enormous potential and our tragic waste of it.

    The Reality Behind the Numbers

    While the National Bureau of Statistics reports youth unemployment at 7.2%, this masks a deeper crisis. When you include underemployment, around 33% of Nigeria’s youth are either jobless or stuck earning survival wages. With over 60% of our 220 million people under 30, we’re talking about 25-30 million young people with limited opportunities.

    Yet Nigeria’s tech sector tells a different story. When Stripe acquired Paystack for over $200 million in 2020, it created over 500 direct jobs and thousands more in the ecosystem. This proved Nigerian talent can compete globally when given the right platform.

    Living in the UK has shown me what’s possible when infrastructure works. Here, young developers don’t budget millions for diesel generators or plan their day around power outages. They just build great products, a luxury Nigerian entrepreneurs rarely have.

    The infrastructure crisis

    The numbers are stark. Nigeria generates 4,000-5,000 megawatts for 220 million people, less than 25 watts per person. The UK generates 75,000 megawatts for 67 million people over 1,100 watts per person. Before leaving Nigeria I knew companies spending ₦2 million monthly on generators, money that could hire six developers.

    Our 51.9% internet penetration often means expensive, slow mobile data costing more than unlimited fibre broadband costs here in UK. I pay £26 monthly for unlimited fibre and never think about electricity costs. The productivity difference is staggering.

    From unemployment to insecurity

    The correlation between youth unemployment and insecurity isn’t academic when you’re receiving WhatsApp videos of violence from home. The #EndSARS protests were fuelled by economic frustration, young people who should be building careers were confronting security forces instead.

    I’ve met former Nigerian classmates now working at tech companies in the UK. Their AI and cybersecurity expertise could transform Nigeria’s security apparatus. Instead, they’re optimizing ads for British companies while Nigeria struggles with basic digital infrastructure.

    The partnership opportunity

    This isn’t about aid, it’s about mutual benefit. Nigeria’s population will hit 400 million by 2050, creating the world’s third-largest consumer market. British companies investing in Nigeria’s tech infrastructure today are positioning themselves in tomorrow’s largest market worth $472 billion and growing.

    The UK needs data scientists and software engineers skills Nigeria produces abundantly but cannot absorb. British investment in Nigerian fintech already reached $500 million in 2023, proving what’s possible with genuine partnership.

    What must happen

    For Nigeria: The ₦23.4 trillion budget for capital expenditures should prioritize power and broadband alongside roads. Create special economic zones with guaranteed electricity and internet even if starting with just one per state.

    For the UK: Establish billion-dollar infrastructure funds and fast-track visas for Nigerian tech talent with incentives to return home and build local capacity.

    For Private Sector: Nigerian banks should dedicate percentages to tech lending. British companies should build African headquarters in Nigeria, creating jobs and knowledge transfer.

    The urgency of now

    Every month, I watch young British developers solve problems that Nigerian developers could tackle equally well if they had infrastructure support. Nigerian innovations should be represented at AI conferences, but our brightest minds either can’t afford to attend or have already emigrated.

    My friend Kemi eventually became a successful freelance graphic designer, earning more than peers in traditional jobs. But she overcame infrastructure barriers that shouldn’t exist in 2024.

    The choice is stark, invest in technology infrastructure and youth employment today, or continue managing the consequences of neglect. The statistics may show 7.2% youth unemployment, but millions of brilliant minds are wasting away or emigrating to places like UK where their talents flourish.

    Nigeria doesn’t need charity from the UK, it needs partnership. Our youth aren’t a burden to manage they’re an asset waiting to be unleashed. The question isn’t whether we can afford these investments, but whether we can afford to keep losing our brightest minds.

    From UK, the view is clear. Nigeria’s moment is now, but the window won’t stay open forever.

  • Putin, Trump to hold joint press conference following talks in Alaska

    Putin, Trump to hold joint press conference following talks in Alaska

    Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a joint press conference following the Aug. 15, talks in Alaska, Kremlin Aide Yuri Ushakov said on Thursday.

    “After the completion of the negotiations, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will hold a joint news conference at which they will sum up the results of the negotiations,” Ushakov told reporters.

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    At the same time, before the meeting each president will say a few words, the Kremlin aide added.

    (dpa/NAN)