Category: Foreign

Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have signed agreements to establish formal relations, ending a decades-old taboo in Arab diplomacy as power and priorities shift in the Middle East.

“Today’s signing sets history on a new course,” Donald Trump told a crowd outside the White House where the deal was signed. “This is an incredible day for the world,” he said.

Long shunned because of its occupation of the Palestinian territories, Israel has always been considered a regional pariah. Yet as mostly autocratic Arab governments grow apathetic towards the Palestinian cause, and with Israel and the Gulf states sharing a common enemy in Iran, some relations have flourished discreetly in recent years.

After welcoming the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, earlier yesterday, Trump said “five or six” other countries were close to making similar deals with Israel, but did not name them. “I think Israel is not isolated anymore,” he said.

Both men have sought to capitalise on regional changes while facing domestic condemnation for their handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Only a few people among the dozens of attendees at yesterday’s ceremony wore face masks

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By signing “peace agreements”, the two embattled leaders can boast of significant foreign policy wins even as frustration festers at home.

As well as Netanyahu, Trump hosted the foreign ministers of the UAE and Bahrain, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, on the White House’s South Lawn – the same spot where Bill Clinton famously stood in 1993 as the then Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman, Yasser Arafat, shook hands.

In reference to the three monotheistic religions, Trump’s “Abraham accords” will establish open business, direct flights and diplomatic relations. However, they fall short of full peace deals as the three countries already maintain significant informal ties and have not been at war.

Regardless, Trump presented the deals as between “warring” nations. “Even Bibi gets tired of war,” he joked in a meeting with Netanyahu, using the Israeli leader’s nickname.

Trump is up for re-election on November 3 and is looking to gather support from pro-Israel, and often Christian evangelical, voters. Before yesterday’s ceremony, a jazz band played a version of the 1970s disco hit Love Is in the Air.

 

From Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja

 

 

Nigeria’s Consul-General in South Africa Ambassador Godwin Adama has admonished Nigerians in the country on a need to be law-abiding.

Adama urged them to also ensure peaceful coexistence among the Nigerian community.

The envoy spoke during an interactive session with Nigerians in the Western Cape organised by Nigerian Citizens Association, South Africa (NICASA).

Adama emphasised the importance of peaceful coexistence, adherence to the rule of law, unity within the Nigerian community and purposeful leadership.

He also discouraged criminality within the community and advised them to be good Nigerian ambassadors.

The envoy also encouraged them on the need to render necessary support to their families back in Nigeria, especially in this period of Covid-19 pandemic.

The host and the NICASA Second Vice President, Coach Oscar Emetui, highlighted the numerous difficulties experienced by the Nigerian citizens in the Western Cape in the application and renewal of passport.

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He appealed to the consul-general to look into it with a view of addressing it. He welcomed the CG to the mother city and wished him well.

NICASA National President Prince Benjamin Okoli stressed the need for unity and cooperation within the community. He encouraged the community to engage in meaningful profitable enterprise and industry. He bemoaned the involvement of Nigerians in cult-related and other criminal activities.

The town hall meeting was attended by a cross-section of Nigerians in Western Cape, South Africa

They include the leadership of the Nigerian students, the Nigerian professionals, business people and leadership of various social cultural organisations.

The citizens took turn to ask questions on matters that were of concern to them, especially issues relating to consular services, immigration matters and permits renewals.

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

 

OUTGOING United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has admonished the global body to renew commitment to its founders’ ideals and values.

In his address yesterday at the end of his tenure as the 74th President of the assembly, the Nigerian Permanent Representative to the UN said the global body must fashion more creative ways of better delivery for those it serve in its 75th year of establishment.

He said: “Many vulnerable individuals and groups look up to us. We must not waiver in our commitment to serve them. Seventy-Five years ago, skeptics doubted the resolve of the members of the new United Nations. Our founders did not allow cynicism to prevail then, and we will not allow it prevail now.

“To ensure this, we must continue to thoughtfully define our actions and uphold our pledge to leave no one behind, even in the face of disagreement. Indeed, in spite of disagreement, we must practice empathy and choose unity over discord.” Muhammad-Bande who thanked those who supported him when he was in the saddle, extended his gratitude to the General Assembly’s vice presidents, the chairmen of the six main committees, as well as the co-chairs, co-coordinators and the co-facilitators of the Assembly’s processes.

The envoy said: “I am grateful to the governments that have supported the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA) through contributions to the Trust Fund, and/or the secondment of staff. These proved critical to the success of the office.

“I am particularly grateful to the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, for nominating me and the African States for allowing me to represent them for this important work and for all of you for supporting me through the election till now.

“It was a pleasure to work in close coordination with the Presidents of the Security Council and ECOSOC, as well as the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General, who showed unprecedented support for the work of the Assembly.

“I extend my deepest appreciation to the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, the Department for Global Communications and the Department of Safety and Security for the dedication and selfless service of their personnel to the General Assembly. The General Assembly could not have functioned well without the dedication of the entire Secretariat staff, including those of the interpreters, protocol officers, and so on.

“In addition, I thank the staff of the OPGA – led by my Chef de Cabinet, Ambassador Mari Skaare for their enduring efforts throughout the extraordinary session.”

Muhammad-Bande said the assembly started the 74th session guided by the hopes and aspirations of the people it serves.

He said this was reflected in the High-level events the assembly had in the first days of the session, the statement of heads of delegations during the High-Level week and broad support for his priorities for the session.

“From the beginning, I entreated member states to give due attention to a number of critical issues. In particular, I urged them to tackle the root causes of conflict by galvanising multilateral efforts for poverty eradication and zero hunger, quality education, climate action and inclusion. As illustrated in the handover report, the General Assembly has made great strides in these and other areas.

“The first high-level meeting of the 74th session of the General Assembly focused on global health, when we did not even know that the session and the year 2020 would be defined by a pandemic.

“The emergence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has shown that we have to continue to deepen multilateral cooperation in the health sector, as in other areas, and implement the commitment of our Heads of State and Government to scaling up national and global efforts to build a healthier world for all.

“It is important that in achieving this, we must continue to deepen cooperation to ensure that despite the challenge posed by COVID-19, we will meet the goals and targets that we set for ourselves by 2030.”

According to him, this is a moment of reckoning for the shared planet and future.

“This is a time for action, ambition, equality, inclusion, and partnership. It is therefore important that in the work of the United Nations, we continue to engage and involve youths,” he said.

He wished the Assembly President, Volkan Bozkir, a successful and productive 75th Session and assured him of him solid support throughout his tenure.

 

Russians head to polls in regions throughout the country on Sunday to cast their votes in local elections set to test the dominance of United Russia, the party most closely associated with long-time President Vladimir Putin.

The elections will be conducted in the course of several days as a precaution to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The main and final day of voting comes up on Sunday, and will take place against the backdrop of months-long anti-Putin protests in the Far East and the near-fatal poisoning of dissident Alexei Navalny with the Soviet-developed nerve agent, Novichok.

A nationwide survey by Russia’s biggest independent pollster, Levada Centre, revealed last month that more than a quarter of Russians – 29 per cent – would participate in anti-government protests if held in their area.

Navalny’s team urged Russians to vote for candidates from any party other than United Russia, which currently dominates the federal parliament and many regional administrations.

Any other candidate – “a Communist, a Liberal Democratic Party member, a Just Russia party member” – would be “better than United Russia,” Navalny’s team said in a statement on Friday, referring to Russia’s four major political parties.

“Any of them will be a better representative for you than a thieving official who has been sitting for 20 years under a portrait of Putin and appearing in front of you every five years” to be re-elected, Team Navalny said.

While Putin maintains the loyalty of United Russia, he is not a current member of any political party and is thus able to distance himself from unpopular measures initiated by subordinate senior officials.

NIGERIA Union South Africa (NUSA) said on Sunday that it plans N6.8 million (about R300,000) relief package for Nigerians, whose businesses were affected by lockdown.

Its President, Mr. Adetola Olubajo, who stated this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone, said the decision was reached at the union’s 2020 National Congress with the theme: “Post-COVID-19 Survival of Small Business’’.

Olubajo said the theme of the congress held virtually was inspired by the need to assist people and small businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

He said the number of people, who would come forward for such assistance would determine how many would benefit within the available fund.

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Olubajo said NUSA had set up an Economic Team for the purpose, headed by Mr. Matthew Okafor, an IT Security Consultant with Concept254 Digital.

“We intend to raise N6.8 million (about R300,000) from private individuals within our community, mostly from our members of Board of Trustee.

“The mobilisation of fund has started and from next month we will be collecting applications from members of our community who are adversely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

“Petty traders are our main target as majority of them do not have access to government relief package. Some of them don’t even have bank accounts, so it’s impossible for them to get loans from financial institutions,’’ he told NAN.

He added that the relief programme would be spread across the nine provinces of South Africa but would be centrally coordinated by the National Secretariat of NUSA in Pretoria.

THE opposition coalition, which led mass protests in Mali ahead of last month’s coup, has rejected a transition charter.

On Saturday, the country’s military leadership agreed to establish an 18-month interim government until an election could take place.

It followed three days of talks with opposition and civil society groups.

But the M5-RFP group, which took part in the negotiations, said the resulting document was an attempt by military leaders to “grab and confiscate power”.

It also said the document did not take into account what it said was a majority vote for a civilian interim leader, and “did not reflect the views and decisions of the Malian people”.

West Africa’s regional bloc, ECOWAS, had also called for the interim president to be a civilian, but the military leadership says a civilian or a soldier can fill the role.

The interim charter announced by the military leaders also states that an interim legislative body is to be established comprising M5-RFP members.

Mali is struggling with intense Islamist and ethnic violence, as well as a faltering economy.

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The deep tensions between the military and the group which led enormous protests against ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta only threatens further instability.

The ousted former president left the country last week.

The 75-year-old former leader flew to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 5 for medical treatment, after suffering a minor stroke, military officials said.

His former chief of staff said he could be away for up to 15 days.

After the coup, West African leaders said they wanted a rapid return to civilian rule. Mali’s new military rulers had previously said they wanted the interim period to last for two years.

“We make a commitment before you to spare no effort in the implementation of all these resolutions in the exclusive interest of the Malian people,” Col. Assimi Goita, the head of Mali’s military junta, said.

By Halimah Balogun

The Togolese Diaspora in Nigeria and the Dynamique Monsiegneur Kpondzo (DMK) have called for an immediate transfer of power to the democratically-elected President of Togo, Dr. Gabriel Agbeyome Kodjo, by President Faure Gnassingbe.

Gnassingbe has ruled the country for 15 years.

The protesters, who commenced their demonstration from the French Consulate, Bourdillon, Ikoyi, sang and danced to revolutionary songs in native Togolese dialects.

Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “Faure must go”, “He is not our choice”, “Enough is enough”, “Faure must leave power” and “54 years is enough” among others.

They marched from the consulate to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s house on Bourdillon Road and headed to the Togo Embassy.

Togolese Ambassador to Nigeria Nestor Mbaki, who is also the spokesperson for the group, pleaded with the Nigerian government and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to put a stop to the totalitarian rule of President Faure.

Mbaki said: “Togo is considered to be one of the last dictatorship in Africa, where a state of terror has been raging for 54 years; a state of terror maintained by Gnassingbe regimes – the father, Eyadema, who died in 2005, was succeeded amidst the massacre of thousands of Togolese by the help of a military constitutional coup d’etat followed by a parody of election.

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“From father to son, the Togolese regime enjoyed the implicit support of France and international networks despite serious human rights abuse, extrajudicial executions regularly denounced by human right organisations. Total impunity continued to be guaranteed to perpetrators and sponsors of crime and massive human rights violations.”

The DMK warned against the temptation to validate an election clearly stolen by the outgoing government, “an option which will undoubtedly have the effect of plunging Togo into a situation similar to that of Mali with consequences that are easy to predict”.

The group ended the protest at the Togo Embassy on Victoria Island, Lagos.