Democrats are urging U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to recuse herself from any election-related cases because of President Donald Trump’s comments that he expects the justices to potentially decide the outcome, but there is no way to force her to do so.

Although U.S. law requires justices to step aside when there is a conflict of interest or genuine question of bias, it leaves the individual justice to decide whether such a conflict exists. Aside from direct financial and personal conflicts, they rarely do so.

Trump on Saturday nominated Barrett to the vacancy created by the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18. If confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, Barrett would give the court a 6-3 conservative majority.

On Wednesday Trump said he wanted the full complement of nine justices on the court as soon as possible in part because he believes the court will determine the outcome of the November 3 presidential election.

“I think this will end up in the Supreme Court, and I think it’s very important that we have nine justices,” he told reporters at a White House event.

The Supreme Court has determined the outcome of a U.S. presidential election only once, in 2000, leading President George W. Bush to the White House.

Trump indicated that the Supreme Court would rule in his favour with nine justices on board. He alleged they would respond to an unspecified “scam that the Democrats are pulling” in relation to increased use of mail-in ballots as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Read Also: Trump to quickly replace late US Supreme Court justice

Trump has repeatedly and without evidence attacked mail-in balloting, a longstanding feature of U.S. elections.

Senate Democrats said they will probe Barrett on the subject during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the hope she will pledge to step aside in election-related cases.

Democratic Senator Cory Booker, who serves on the committee, said yesterday he would ask Barrett about recusal when he meets her.

“If she does not recuse herself, I fear that the court will be further de-legitimised,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

There are no indications Republican senators share those concerns, with Republican Senator Mike Lee, speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” saying that recusal decisions would be up to Barrett.

During previous Senate hearings, Supreme Court nominees have routinely declined to commit on how they would approach cases that could come before them.

Federal law requires a justice to step aside from cases “in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” In a 2011 report, conservative Chief Justice John Roberts said he had “complete confidence in the capability of my colleagues to determine when recusal is warranted.”

Legal experts told Reuters that under the way the law has been interpreted up until now, the new justice need not recuse herself from any election issue.

Former Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane was named as Mali’s interim prime minister, state television said yesterday, a move likely to trigger the lifting of sanctions imposed by the West Africa regional bloc in the aftermath of the military coup last month.

A veteran diplomat, Ouane, 64, served as Mali’s ambassador to the United Nations in 1995-2002, and as foreign minister in 2004-2009. The bloc had demanded a civilian leader be installed as a condition for lifting the sanctions.

Read Also: Mali’s new president sworn in, pledges to hand over in 18 months

Ouane’s appointment comes two days after retired colonel Bah Ndaw was sworn in as the country’s president, and coup-leader Colonel Assimi Goita as vice president.

The men will be tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition back to civilian rule after the Aug. 18 overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged his administration’s support to the government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, in whatever capacity that would be useful.

Buhari, who spoke yesterday at Guinea-Bissau’s 47th Independence Anniversary, at the 24 de Setembro National Stadium, Bissau, also noted that the peace and prosperity would be of immense benefit to both West Africa and the entire African continent.

He attended the event along with the Heads of State and Government of Senegal, Mauritania and Burkina Faso, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

Speaking at the event, Buhari said he was proud of the support Nigeria provided to past electoral processes in the West African country’s commendable efforts to entrench democracy.

‘‘This support can only be increased under my tenure,’’ he said.

The President also placed on record Nigeria’s contribution of troops under the auspices of ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB), noting that they played an important role in maintaining peace and security.

Congratulating President Umaro Sissocco Embalo, the government and people of Guinea Bissau on the 47th Independence anniversary, the Nigerian leader said it was his sincere hope and prayer that Guinea-Bissau and its people will continue to grow in strength and prosperity.

He also expressed good wishes for greater achievements in the years ahead for the West African country.

President Buhari said:  ‘‘I feel delighted because this is my first official visit to Guinea Bissau since my assumption of office in 2015 and because I am here to join you , brotherly people of Guinea Bissau, as you celebrate this great day with renewed hope and aspiration.

‘‘I am truly grateful for the warm reception accorded me and my delegation, since our arrival in this city.

‘‘As you mark your freedom as a nation “free forever’, let me seize this opportunity to salute all Bissau Guineans both at home as well as in the Diaspora, for the strides you have made as a country. Permit me to say Parabens! Congratulations!’’

Buhari recounted that on September 10, 1974 Guinea Bissau declared its independence from Portugal, after a protracted struggle for freedom, which brought Portuguese colonisation to an end.

‘‘It is fitting on this august occasion to remember your forebears and to celebrate them for the sacrifices they made for you to be free.

‘‘The highest tribute we can pay them is to build on the gains of independence. It is my sincere prayer that your country will continue on the path of national cohesion, growth and unity,’’ he said.

On the return to democracy in the West African country, Buhari noted that in the aftermath of the peaceful presidential elections in 2019, which ushered in the present administration of President Embalo, Guinea Bissau had a great opportunity to unleash the great economic potential of this country.

Agency Reporter

Winners of the 2020 Nobel awards will receive more money than they received in 2019, the foundation that manages the prizes said yesterday, ahead of the upcoming award announcements.

“Each prize will be worth 10 million kronor (1.1 million dollars) this year, compared to 9 million kronor in recent years.

“It feels especially important this year to celebrate the laureates’ achievements in inspiring us and giving us hope for the future,” Lars Heikensten, executive director of the Nobel Foundation, said.

The foundation manages the assets of Swedish industrialist and dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel, who created the prizes, which are awarded in literature, medicine, physics, chemistry, peace and economics.

Read Also: Zulum wins 2019 Zik prize for leadership

Heikensten attributed the increase in the prize sum to “more stable” finances based on successful management of the assets and cost savings.

Since the beginning of 2012, the foundation said its investment capital has risen from just under 3 billion kronor to 4.6 billion kronor, close to a 9-per-cent increase each year.

The winners are to be announced in October.

The award ceremonies are held in Stockholm and Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s ceremonies have been scaled back.

President Alexander Lukashenko is not the legitimate president of Belarus, the European Union said yesterday.

EU said his abrupt swearing-in on Wednesday went directly against the will of the people.

“The so-called ‘inauguration’ and the new mandate claimed by Aleksander Lukashenko lack any democratic legitimacy.

Read Also: Buhari: we’ll keep backing Guinea-Bissau

“This `inauguration’ directly contradicts the will of large parts of the Belarusian population.

“It has been expressed in numerous, unprecedented and peaceful protests since the elections, and serves to only further deepen the political crisis in Belarus,” the EU’s 27 states said in a statement.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) might lift painful economic sanctions against Mali once an interim president is inaugurated on Friday, the bloc’s envoy Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday.

Jonathan said this after landing in Bamako for talks as head of a delegation from the bloc.

The military in Mali had staged a coup in the country on Aug. 18, a development which ousted President Boubacar Keita.

Comments suggest the 15-member ECOWAS could accept the candidates picked this week to lead the transition of power, although they do not have the fully civilian background the bloc had demanded.

The easing of sanctions would be a relief for Mali, whose imports have slumped 30 per cent since its neighbours closed borders and halted financial flows after the ouster of Keita.

“I am very happy with what is happening now in Mali.

Read Also: Somali President appoints new prime minister

“The young soldiers who have taken power are doing a job in line with what the (ECOWAS) leaders wanted,” said Jonathan.

It had not previously been clear if ECOWAS would agree with Monday’s nomination of former defence minister and Retired Col. Bah Ndaw as interim president, particularly as the leader of the junta that seized power, Col. Assimi Goita, is set to be vice president.

But Jonathan told reporters: “I hope that after the inauguration of the president on Friday, the sanctions will be lifted.”

International powers feared the coup could further destabilise the country and undermine a joint fight against insurgents there and in the wider Sahel region.

Underscoring the insecurity, three Malian soldiers were killed on Wednesday when militants ambushed their patrol in Mopti region near the border with Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said in a statement.

UNITED Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday asked that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should provide enhanced access to facilities and tools to countries impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Guterres said this during a Security Council meeting.

“We need the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to support member countries through enhanced access to facilities and tools,’’ Guterres said.

Read Also: COVID-19 and unsafe homes for women and girls

“Network multilateralism must extend beyond peace and security, encompassing the Bretton Woods institutions, development banks, trade alliances and more.’’

Guterres pointed out that the pandemic had highlighted multiple vulnerabilities worldwide, including increased humanitarian needs, and reversed decades of progress on sustainable development.

Meanwhile, the international community is not keeping pace with the world as it is, Guterres added.

The UN chief said countries around the world must unite in promoting multilateral institutions that are ready to react to the range of challenges the pandemic has put forth.

“We have no choice: either we come together in global institutions that are fit for purpose or we will be crushed by deviousness and chaos,’’ Guterres said.