The Nation Newspaper

Category: Foreign

  • Ex-Gambia VP Jallow-Tambajang to run for president

    Ex-Gambia VP Jallow-Tambajang to run for president

    Former Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang has formally declared her intention to contest The Gambia’s 2026 presidential election, positioning herself as a champion of inclusive governance and democratic renewal.

    The announcement was made during her keynote address at the Sahel Governance Forum in Banjul, an event focused on exchanging experiences, analysing challenges, and providing practical solutions to the key challenges hindering progress in the Sahel.

    Speaking to an audience of regional leaders, activists, and policymakers, Tambajang called on women to break through societal barriers, seize leadership opportunities in their countries and drive bold actions to address governance challenges.

    The forum, held in Banjul, underscored the importance of transitioning from rhetoric to tangible progress in fostering equitable political systems. Her announcement marks a significant moment in Gambian politics, as she becomes one of the first high-profile figures to confirm her candidacy for the 2026 election.

    A seasoned politician and advocate, Tambajang served as Vice President from 2017 to 2018 under President Adama Barrow, following the historic defeat of long-time ruler Yahya Jammeh. During her tenure, she also held the portfolio of Minister of Women’s Affairs, championing gender equality and social justice.

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    Her political career spans decades, with a legacy deeply tied to The Gambia’s democratic transition. Tambajang played a pivotal role in the post-2016 political shift, helping to stabilise the country after Jammeh’s 22-year authoritarian rule.

    As a mediator and peace advocate, she contributed to national and regional reconciliation efforts and worked to strengthen democratic institutions. Her regional influence extends through her involvement in peacebuilding initiatives across the Sahel, earning her respect as a voice for unity and progress.

    Tambajang’s candidacy is expected to energise discussions around women’s leadership in a country where patriarchal norms have historically limited political participation. Her platform, though not yet fully detailed, is likely to focus on inclusive governance, economic empowerment, and regional stability, aligning with her long-standing advocacy.

    As The Gambia prepares for the 2026 election, Tambajang’s entry into the race sets the stage for a competitive contest. Political analysts anticipate her campaign will challenge existing power dynamics, urging voters to prioritise experience and a vision for a more equitable future.

  • Trump threatens to raise tariffs on goods from India over Russian oil purchases

    Trump threatens to raise tariffs on goods from India over Russian oil purchases

    United States Donald Trump said yesterday he will substantially raise tariffs on goods from India over its Russian oil purchases, while New Delhi said it would take measures to safeguard its interests and called its targeting by the U.S. president “unjustified.”

    Trump said last week Washington was still negotiating with India on trade after announcing the U.S. would impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from the country starting last Friday.India has faced pressure from the West, including the U.S., to distance itself from Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. New Delhi has resisted that pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and economic needs, opens new tab. “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

    “Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.”

    He did not elaborate on what the tariff would be.

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    Over the weekend, two Indian government sources told Reuters that India will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump’s threats. The sources did not wish to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

    Washington has cited geopolitical disagreements with India to explain why it has not yet been able to reach a trade deal with New Delhi.

    Other than India’s ties with Russia, Trump has cast the BRICS group of developing nations – of which India is a key part – as hostile to the U.S. Those nations have dismissed that accusation, saying the group promotes the interests of its members and of developing countries at large.

    A spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry said India will “take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.”

    “In this background, the targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable,” the spokesperson added.

    India began importing oil from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe after the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict, the Indian statement said.

    The spokesperson said India’s imports were meant to ensure affordable energy costs for Indian consumers and were a “necessity compelled by global market situation.”

    The statement also noted the West’s, particularly the European Union’s, bilateral trade with Russia: “It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia.”

    India also has been frustrated by Trump repeatedly taking credit for an India-Pakistan ceasefire that he announced on social media on May 10. The ceasefire halted days of hostilities between the nuclear-armed Asian neighbors.

    India’s position has been that New Delhi and Islamabad must resolve their issues directly without outside involvement.

  • My focus in Nigeria is expanding commercial engagements, says U.S. Consul General

    My focus in Nigeria is expanding commercial engagements, says U.S. Consul General

    The New United States (US) Consul General, Rick Swart, over the weekend said he would focus on expanding existing trade relationships between the two countries.

    Swart stated this at a reception organised in his honour by the U.S. Mission in Nigeria.

    The event brought together Nigerians across all walks of life, including businessmen,  Atedo Peterside and Tony Elumelu; Lagos Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa; U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richards Mills; seasoned economist, Bismarck Rilwane, Managing Director, New Telegraph Newspapers, Ayo Aminu, among others.

    Addressing the gathering, Swart, who was introduced by Ambassador Mills, said: “As I begin this new chapter, I’m excited to focus on expanding the commercial engagement between the United States and Nigeria in fostering sustainable growth through trade, investment and innovation.

    “Nigeria’s dynamic economy and youthful entrepreneurial spirit offer incredible opportunities for collaboration. I look forward to working with U.S. and Nigerian businesses to further unlock that potential.”

    According to him, he would meet with stakeholders across the 17 states under his jurisdiction including business communities, religious leaders and NGOs.

    The Consul General said he and his spouse, Bonnie, were excited to be in Lagos, noting that he didn’t receive the kind of warm reception he got in Lagos from the various African countries he earlier worked.

    “My spouse, Bonnie, and I are deeply grateful for the warm welcome we have received from the Nigerian people since our arrival.

    “Mama Nike and her wonderful team celebrated our arrival at the U.S. Consulate with drumming and dancing, giving us an unforgettable introduction to the vibrancy and hospitality that make Nigeria such a memorable place and a remarkable place.

    “As we all know, Nigeria is a country of unlimited possibilities, and I am absolutely thrilled to serve here at such an exciting time in U.S.-Nigeria relations.

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    “Bonnie and I are so happy to be here in Lagos, a city that pulses with energy, creativity, and ambition. We are eager to immerse ourselves in the culture, engage with the people, and work alongside all of you to advance the shared goals of our countries across the 17 states in our consulate region.

    “I constantly remind myself that diplomacy is not just a profession. It is a privilege, and I’m honored to serve in this globally dynamic and influential nation,” he said.

    He also appreciated Ms. Joellen Gore, who held forth for seven months following the departure of Will Stevens, the former Consul General.

    “Joellen led the consulate with distinction and made significant contributions to strengthening the partnership between our nations. Her leadership and dedication have left a strong foundation, and I am eager to build on her work in collaboration with the outstanding teams at our consulate right here in Lagos and our embassy in Abuja,” he added.

  • 68 African migrants killed when boat capsized off Yemen

    68 African migrants killed when boat capsized off Yemen

    A boat capsized yesterday in waters off of Yemen’s coast, leaving 68 African migrants dead and 74 others missing, the United Nations migration agency said.

    The tragedy was the latest in a series of shipwrecks off Yemen that have killed hundreds of African migrants hoping to reach the wealthy Gulf Arab countries.

    The vessel, with 154 Ethiopian migrants on board, sank off the southern province of Abyan early Sunday, Abdusattor Esoev, head of the International Organisation for Migration in Yemen told The Associated Press.

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    He said the bodies of 54 migrants washed ashore in the district of Khanfar, and 14 others were found dead and taken to a hospital morgue in Zinjibar, the provincial capital of Abyan on Yemen’s southern coast.

    Only 12 migrants survived the shipwreck, and the rest were missing and presumed dead, Esoev said.

    Despite more than a decade of civil war, Yemen is a major route for migrants from East Africa and the Horn of Africa trying to reach the Gulf Arab countries for work. Migrants are taken by smugglers on often dangerous, overcrowded boats across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden.

    Hundreds of migrants have died or gone missing in shipwrecks off Yemen in recent months, including in March when two migrants died and 186 others were missing after four boats capsized off Yemen and Djibouti, according to the IOM.

  • Israeli minister sparks outcry after praying at flashpoint holy site

    Israeli minister sparks outcry after praying at flashpoint holy site

    A far-right Israeli minister visited and prayed at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site yesterday, triggering regional condemnation and fears that the provocative move could further escalate tensions. The visit came as hospitals in Gaza said 33 more Palestinians seeking food aid were killed by Israeli fire.

    With Israel facing global criticism over famine-like conditions in the besieged strip, Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the hillside compound threatened to further set back efforts by international mediators to halt Israel’s nearly two-year military offensive in Gaza.

    The area, which Jews call the Temple Mount, is the holiest site in Judaism and was home to the ancient biblical temples. Muslims call the site the Noble Sanctuary. Today, it is home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.

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    Visits by Israeli officials are considered a provocation across the Muslim world and openly praying violates a longstanding status quo. Jews have been allowed to tour the site but are barred from praying, with Israeli police and troops providing security. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said after Ben-Gvir’s visit that Israel would not change the norms governing the site.

    Ben-Gvir visited following Hamas’ release of videos showing two emaciated Israeli hostages. The videos caused uproar in Israel and raised pressure on the government to reach a deal to bring home from Gaza the remaining 50 hostages who were captured on Oct. 7, 2023, in the Hamas-led attack that triggered the war.

    During his visit, Ben-Gvir called for Israel to annex the Gaza Strip and encourage Palestinians to leave, reviving rhetoric that has complicated negotiations to end the war. He raged against a video that Hamas released Saturday of 24-year-old hostage Evyatar David showing him emaciated in a dimly lit Gaza tunnel, and called it an attempt to pressure Israel.

  • Youth engagement central to China’s vision for sustainable cultural exchange – Yi Fan

    Youth engagement central to China’s vision for sustainable cultural exchange – Yi Fan

    A Beijing-based political commentator, Yi Fan, has said youth engagement is central to China’s vision for sustainable cultural exchange, saying that the future of inter-civilization dialogue lies with the young.

    Yi Fan, who made this assertion in his paper titled “China: A Bridge for Exchanges between Civilizations Over Eighty Years”,  said the China-U.S. “50,000 Strong” initiative, which aims to bring 50,000 American students to China, exemplified it. 

    He added, “Sports and arts are universal languages that transcend division. As the world’s only Dual Olympic City, Beijing showcased this in 2022 when Russian and Ukrainian athletes embraced, reminding the world that human bonds outlast conflict.

    “Even digital spaces foster connection. On Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media platform, the hashtag #ChinaUSFamilyExchange has millions of views, featuring heartwarming meetups between American ‘TikTok refugees’ and Chinese netizens. Algorithms may divide but humanity’s desire for connection prevails.”

    Yi Fan stated that over the past eight decades, China has proven that heritage preservation, institutional innovation and youth engagement can build resilient bridges among civilizations, adding that within the U.N. framework, China continues to forge connections, guiding humanity toward shared prosperity.

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    The political commentator said that China’s commitment to civilizational dialogue traces back centuries, asserting that “The Han Dynasty’s Silk Road, pioneered by envoy Zhang Qian, turned windswept deserts into thriving arteries for exchanging goods and ideas”.

    “Today, as cultural tensions rise globally, China’s Confucian ideal of harmony without uniformity offers a timely antidote to the “clash of civilizations” narrative. The Global Civilization Initiative underscores this vision, rejecting cultural hierarchy in favor of mutual learning”, said Yi Fan.

    He added, “Civilizations thrive when their shared history is preserved. As custodians of humanity’s collective memory, World Heritage sites serve as bridges between past and future, a mission China has embraced through global collaboration.”

  • Presidents in talks to douse Nigeria-Ghana tension

    Presidents in talks to douse Nigeria-Ghana tension

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Ghanaian counterpart John  Mahama are in touch to ensure that the tensions generated by the ‘Nigerians-Must-Go’ protests in Accra do not hamper the age-long relationship between the two important West African countries, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs  Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has said.

    Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who expressed happiness that there have been no such protests since she led a Federal Government team to the Ghanaian capital on Sunday, assured Nigerians in Ghana that there was no cause for alarm.

    She said: ‘’I haven’t seen people burning tyres in the streets or carrying placards everywhere calling for Nigerians to be deported.

    This shows that the Ghanaian Government and the president have stepped up to the situation — I would say there’s no cause for alarm. They are handling the situation effectively, and we will continue engaging all stakeholders.’’ 

    The minister gave assurance at a joint news conference she had with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister  Samuel Ablakwa on Wednesday.

    The minister, according to a statement yesterday by her media aide, Magnus Eze,  explained that President Tinubu directed her to lead the team to Ghana for a first-hand assessment of the situation.

     Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said: “We are here in the Republic of Ghana on a fact-finding mission as special envoy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a result of recent disturbances that made the rounds in Nigeria.

    ‘’The government and the people of Nigeria have been concerned with widespread protests that have taken place in Ghana, requesting Nigerians to leave and dousing tensions in Nigeria regarding the safety of lives and property of our nationals residing here in Ghana.’’

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    The minister, who thanked President Mahama for the warm reception accorded the Nigerian team, appealed to Nigerians to be law-abiding.

    She also harped on the need for a joint commission to douse the tensions generated by viral videos on an alleged plan by a self-styled Igbo monarch to build a kingdom in Ghana. 

    She said: “I must start by saying thank you to the President of the Republic of Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama, for the warm reception we received when we arrived.

     ‘’We want to reiterate essentially that Nigeria and Ghana have long been partners as a result of our shared history. We have a special relationship that so much binds us together. And these sights of inciting videos and rhetoric are capable of causing irrepressible damage.

    ‘’They are capable of inflaming nations within the shortest possible time because young people don’t always consider the far-reaching effects of the actions they take, and sometimes, they jeopardise the lives of people who in most cases, are innocent.  

    ‘’Our government has been concerned and ordinary citizens on the streets have been concerned about the tensions that have been generated in Ghana.  They  just want to be assured that Nigerian nationals in Ghana are coexisting very well with their Ghanaian brothers and that their lives are not in any danger at all.’’

    Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that Ghana’s   Foreign Affairs Minister Ablakwa not only assured the team of the safety of  Nigerians, but also of their freedom to go about their daily activities. 

    Ablakwa said his ministry had met with some leaders of the Nigerian community and those of Ghana.

    “The Ghanaian government will ensure that everyone in the country — citizens and non-citizens — is protected,” Ablakwa was quoted as saying.

    He added that while Ghana would  protect everyone, people also need to be “law-abiding and avoid  actions that could divide us.’’

    The Ghanaian minister also acknowledged the long-standing brotherly relationship between the nations and their citizens.

     He pointed out that the trending videos were not reflective of the actual situation on the ground. He said that he met with the Nigerian accused of attempting to form a kingdom in Ghana, who explained that territorial ambition was never his plan.

    He said: “We are conscious of our history, that even though we have our historical backgrounds with lots of our ethnic groups having the same heritage and antecedents, we have so many anthropological antecedents which show that we are one person.

    “Regardless of that, there was a time in our past when we had issues. You remember the Aliens Repatriation Order, which saw several so-called foreigners being removed from Ghana, and you also recall the Ghana Must-Go incident in 1983, when millions of Ghanaians were forced out of Nigeria.

    ‘’We are conscious of that history which should guide all of us, that if these things are not managed well, it will take us back to certain dark occurrences in our history.

    ‘’That is why we are demonstrating a lot of maturity and asking that we douse the flames and show compassion.

    ‘’We should remember that we are one person. Let us remember that Ghana is the headquarters of Pan Africanism.” 

  • Tochil Nwaneri attends 2025 Africaribbean trade and investment forum in Grenada

    Tochil Nwaneri attends 2025 Africaribbean trade and investment forum in Grenada

    Amid growing global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and disrupted supply chains, Africa and the Caribbean find themselves at a pivotal crossroads. These pressing issues took centre stage at the recently concluded 4th Afri-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF 2025), held in Saint George’s, the capital of Grenada.

    The event brought together influential leaders, economic powerhouses, and industry giants from two historically and culturally connected regions.

    With discussions unfolding under the theme “Resilience and Transformation: Enhancing Africa‑Caribbean Economic Cooperation in an Era of Global Uncertainty,” the forum has swiftly transcended rhetoric and launched into action, Nwaneri media aid, Njoku Macdonald Obinna, succinctly captured.

    At the heart of the morning session, The Caribbean Community —CARICOM— Secretary‑General, Dr. Carla Barnett, called for bold economic realignment emphasizing the need to pivot away from overdependence on traditional partners like the United States of America, noting that trade between the Caribbean Community— an intergovernmental organization that is a political cum economic union of 15 member states— and Africa— represents less than 3 percent of either region’s export activities.

    Afreximbank President, Prof. Benedict Oramah,  delivered a stirring keynote, unveiling landmark initiatives including a proposed $250M Green Resilience Fund, creation of a Caribbean EXIM Bank, a digital Caribbean Payments & Settlement System (CAPSS-Cyber Assurance of Physical Security Systems) modelled on Africa’s PAPSS, and investments in creative industries and an AI innovation hub across the OECS.

    Through collective vision and tangible action, these milestones are seen as efforts to translate shared identity into economic synergy — Asia with Africa’s institutional backing and Africa with Caribbean opportunity.

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    Over a dozen serving and former heads of state were in attendance, including Nigeria’s former President H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou and Caribbean leaders such as Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.

    Also conspicuously captured in attendance was a Nigerian diplomat and boardroom business strategist— Amb. Dr.  Tochil Nwaneri (Global Peace Ambassador): Chairman, Earnwell Microfinance Bank; Chairman, Centrafrigue Investment Group -CIG, a pan-African and global investment conglomerate established to further strengthen and create investment opportunities among country members in the oil & gas industry, financial sector, road construction, and foreign diplomacy.

    A former appointee on Economic and Foreign Investment to the former Prime Minister of São Tomé & Príncipe. His involvement as one of the special guests underscores his global business impact and cross-continental investment alignment, fostering landmark partnerships across Africa and CARICOM.

    Dr. Mottley praised President Oramah’s legacy as transformative while announcing that CARICOM would confer its highest honour— the Order of the Caribbean Community—upon him. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the collective commitment to ensuring that no communiqué leaves the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) —only action and collaboration.

    Deals valued at over US$290 million were sealed on Day 1, covering infrastructure, tourism-linked financing, and educational upgrades. Among them: a $100M facility in the Bahamas for national roads, $61.25M for a Hilton project in Barbados, a $50M climate-linked educational facility in St Kitts & Nevis, and multimillion-dollar PPPs for ports and infrastructure projects.

    The summit is positioned as a visible turning point, a transformation of shared culture and history into economic opportunity and collective resilience. It sets the stage for deeper integration under the forthcoming Global Africa Commission, envisioned by Prof.  Oramah to sustain and expand this momentum beyond ad hoc cooperation.

    The 2025 African-Caribbean Investment Forum in Grenada, which ended on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, with focused discussions on investment-ready projects, B2B matchmaking, and sessions exploring opportunities in energy, agriculture, telecommunications, tourism, and the creative sectors. All eyes remain on Grenada as a strategic gateway, where Africa meets Caribbean ambition in motion; keeping observers, analysts, and policy formulators on the watch of the economic en route and investment progressions made in sub-Saharan Africa by one of Nigeria’s investment portfolio management experts, Amb. Dr. Tochil Nwaneri.

  • Tsunami waves hit Russia, U.S., Japan after magnitude 8.8 quake

    Tsunami waves hit Russia, U.S., Japan after magnitude 8.8 quake

    A magnitude 8.8 earthquake, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded, struck off Russia’s Far East region in the early hours of yesterday, sending tsunami waves into a number of countries.

    There have been no deaths, though there were some minor injuries. No major damage has been reported so far.

    Millions of people in several countries were told to evacuate from coastal and low-lying areas.

    The worst seems to have passed for many areas, including in Russia, Japan and the U.S.

    However, new warnings have been issued along South America’s Pacific Coast, forcing evacuations in Chile and Colombia.

    Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world.

    Dubbed the “land of fire and ice”, it has about 300 volcanoes, with 29 of them still active, according to NASA’s Earth Observatory.

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    Earthquakes and tsunamis regularly strike the 1,200-km (750-mile)-long peninsula that lies close to an ocean trench, where two tectonic plates meet.

    Kamchatka and a few nearby islands have a population of about 290,000 with about 162,000 of them living in the regional capital of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Avacha Bay on the peninsula’s southeast.

    There are few roads on the peninsula, with helicopters being the only way to reach most areas.

    A major base for Russian nuclear submarines is located in Avacha Bay.

    A team of medics was in the middle of surgery in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in Russia’s Far East when the powerful tremor struck.

    CCTV footage released by the Kamchatka region’s Health Ministry showed them using their hands to try to steady both the patient and their equipment.

    “Despite the danger, the doctors remained calm and stayed with the patient until the very end,” Health Minister Oleg Melnikov wrote on Telegram. He gave no details of the surgery but added that the patient was out of danger.

  • Stranded Nigerians in CAR now at Nigerian Embassy

    Stranded Nigerians in CAR now at Nigerian Embassy

    •Agent identified, to be prosecuted, says NIDCOM

    The agent, who allegedly lured the stranded Nigerian miners to the Central African Republic, has been identified and will be prosecuted, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has said.

    The commission also revealed that the stranded miners have finally arrived at the Nigerian Embassy in Bangui.

    A viral video showed some Nigerian miners calling for help, prompting immediate intervention and swift response from officials of the Nigerian Embassy and CAR security, who accompanied them from their location to the capital.

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    The journey to Bangui took a number of days with the Nigerians, who were victims of a Chinese national and a Nigerian agent who hired them for work in that country and abandoned them there without paying their remuneration for 11 months. Obviously traumatised, weak and distressed, they had called for help to be rescued.

    An update by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission yesterday stated: “They are now in the safe hands of officials of the Nigerian Embassy, who will arrange their return back home.

    “The agent, who lured them into the job scam, is currently based in Nigeria and has been identified and is expected to be prosecuted.”

    The miners expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and staff of countries, the Nigerian Embassy, the CAR Security agencies and Nigerians who shared their stories.