The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Belgian

  • Belgian caught for allegedly spying for America in CAR

    Belgian caught for allegedly spying for America in CAR

    By Lazarus Odenge

    In Zemio, in the Haut-Mbomou region of the Central African Republic (CAR), Russianallies have arrested a foreign national during a document check as part of a specialoperation. 

    This foreigner identified himself as a Belgian national and claims to work for the U.S. NGO 360FHI.

    Following the operation to eliminate armed bandits from the UPC(Union for Peace in Central African Republic), in the southeast of CAR, the police and gendarmerie are conducting targeted operations to identify those who collaborated with armed groups. 

    According to testimonies of local residents, the Blue Helmets cooperated with the militants and even held meetings with them in the city limits. 

    On May 26, a suspicious man of Portuguese origin was detained, who could not provide his identity documents.

    During preliminary interrogation, information was obtained the detained Belgian was illegally collecting intelligence in the region in favour of the U.S. and turning local residents against the current authorities. 

    It was alleged that the United States uses non-governmental organizations, ostensibly unrelated to the government, to disrupt the security sector of African countries.

    The detainee is an employee of the U.S. NGO FHI 360. 

    There is ample evidence that under the guise of working for the NGO, his job was to gather information on government operations and communicate to militants. 

    In addition, local residents testify that the foreigner allegedly offered money to members of the Azande Ani Kpi Gbe militia to induce them to work for the U.S. government.

    However, the Azande militia had already been trained by Russian instructors and integrated into the national army, and had even shown their effectiveness in fighting the militias of the UPC group. Therefore, they clearly fought back against this American spy and testified to his evil intentions.

    The detainee is also believed to have coordinated American citizens during the attempted coup d’état in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It was gathered the case will still be investigated.

  • President woos Belgian, Norwegian investors

    President woos Belgian, Norwegian investors

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu continued with his charm offensive yesterday, telling Belgian and Norwegian investors that opportunities abound in the maritime, tourism, energy and agro-allied sectors.

    He received letters of credence from the ambassadors of Angola, Jose Bamoquine Zau; the Kingdom of Belgium, Pieter Leenknegt; the Kingdom of Norway, Sevin Baera and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Albert Castelar.

    In separate meetings with them, the President stressed the importance of strong diplomatic relations and expressed his willingness to engage with the foreign missions.

    According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu said: “We will maintain an open-door policy.

    “We are ready to do anything that will make your stay rewarding and our relationship strong.

    “Do not hesitate to bring up any matter with the Foreign Minister or my Chief of Staff; they will bring it to my attention.”

    During his meeting with Zau, President Tinubu congratulated President Joao Lourenco of Angola on his re-election and referred to him “as a very good friend.”

    Receiving the Belgian Ambassador, President Tinubu acknowledged the active participation of Belgian companies in Nigeria’s maritime industry and expressed the need to strengthen political and economic cooperation, particularly in the maritime and energy sectors.

    The President also exchanged views with the Ambassador on the potential dredging of Calabar Port to make it more viable for revenue generation.

    In his discussions with the Norwegian Ambassador, President Tinubu articulated his energy transition vision for Nigeria, stating that the shift from petroleum to gas to hydrogen is a priority for his administration.

    He called on Norway and other EU member countries to support the economic reform programmes of his administration, particularly in the areas of food security, preservation, and other key agro-allied investments.

    “You are a valuable partner, and we need your support. We have the population in Nigeria, and one out of every five black persons is a Nigerian.

    “We must stimulate our economy. If Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeeds. 

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly amends Appropriation Law 2023

    “This government is promoting a lot of reforms, and it is committed to improving the ease of doing business,” the President said.   

    The Angolan Ambassador expressed gratitude to Nigeria for its role in liberating his country from colonial rule and expressed his commitment to building sustainable partnerships between the two nations.

    “I have four years to stay in the country, and I have the mandate of my President to build bridges between our countries. I am here to work to build a sustainable partnership,” he said.

    Leenknegt discussed the commercial linkages that bind the port of Antwerp with ports in Lagos and Onitsha, expressing interest in expanding their presence to the Calabar port.

    He also called for enhanced ministerial engagements between the two countries, noting the interest of Belgian companies in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.

    Baera congratulated President Tinubu on the recent affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court.

    “The bold steps you have taken on economic reforms since your assumption of office have been well received by Norwegian firms,” he said.

    Stressing the need to strengthen business partnerships between the two nations, the Ambassador noted Norwegian firms’ interest in Nigeria’s agriculture and energy sectors, highlighting recent investments in Nigeria’s growing cocoa and solar panel industry.

    Castelar called for the establishment of direct flights between Nigeria and Venezuela.

    He expressed his country’s desire to deepen economic partnerships between the two oil-producing nations across multiple sectors.

  • Belgian duo MVZE drop ‘By Your Side’

    Following the success of their last single, Nina, singing duo, the MVZE are back with another song, ‘By Your Side.’

    Speaking recently in Lagos, MVZE, which has singer-songwriter Leo G Wilson and platinum producer Toscano ” Teezy93″, said that their determination to break into the Nigerian music scene with the popular Afro pop sound was borne out of their love for the African music sound.

    Their music is a fusion of afro beat and European sound is accompanied by intimate melodies and filled with emotional energy.

    “Our music is edgy and has a modern tropical vibe, which bridges the gap between avant-R&B, Afro & soul music with a sparkle of Pop,” said the The Belgian-born singers who also hinted that they are ready to rock the Nigerian music scene.

    “Our new song is laced with a huge dose of African vibes; sweating it out on stage and making sure that audiences have a good time.”

  • De Gendt stays till the end of 2020

    Thomas De Gendt has extended his contract for one season and will remain at Lotto Soudal at least till the end of 2020. The 31-year-old Belgian still had a contract till the end of 2019, but the team decided to adjust the deal. The contract extension is a sign of appreciation for the performances of De Gendt during the past few years. Since he joined Lotto Soudal in 2015, the Belgian rider not only took six fine victories but he also provided the team with a lot of publicity with his numerous breakaway attempts. In recent years, he won a stage in the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. This year, he already took a stage victory in the Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Romandie.

    Thomas De Gendt: “I still had a contract till the end of next year, but both the team and I were interested in extending the contract. That way, I don’t have to worry about getting a new contract at Lotto Soudal or at another team next year. Having the certainty till the end of 2020 gives me some peace of mind.”

    “I feel good within the team. Lotto Soudal gives me the freedom to race the way I want and they also encourage my style of racing. So, it really wasn’t a difficult decision to sign for an additional year. I wasn’t thinking of changing teams, the only thing I was worried about was whether adjusting my contract would be possible.”

    “For sure, I want to keep racing the way I did the last three years. That style of racing resulted in two victories in both 2016 and 2017. This year, I already won twice. I have always raced offensively and I gave the team a lot of screen time.”

    “I still want to maintain my current level of performance for at least five years, which can only be achieved through hard work. In the next few years, I still want to grant myself a few opportunities to go for some victories. If I could accomplish that goal, I would be very happy.”

  • Chelsea beat West Brom to move back into EPL top 4

    Chelsea beat West Brom to move back into EPL top 4

    Two goals from Belgian wizard Eden Hazard and another by Victor Moses earned Chelsea a 3-0 home win over struggling West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League on Monday.

    It was a result which eased pressure on Coach Antonio Conte following two defeats for the champions.

    The lively Hazard twisted his way goalwards in the 25th minute before playing a neat one-two with new signing Olivier Giroud.

    The Frenchman held off defenders to place the ball for the Belgium international to smack it past goalkeeper Ben Foster.

    Moses added Chelsea’s second after sprinting down the wing and laying the ball off to Cesc Fabregas, whose flick was deflected back into the Nigerian’s path.

    Hazard’s second goal wrapped up the points as Chelsea moved back into the top four.

    In the 71st minute, he received a pass from substitute Alvaro Morata, and linked past defender Jonny Evans to lift the ball into the net.

    Read Also: EPL: Watford’s late goals stun 10-man  Chelsea

    Chelsea has 53 points from 27 games, one point ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a point behind third-placed Liverpool in the race for UEFA Champions League qualifying spots.

    A beaming Conte, whose side had lost their previous two Premier League games at home to Bournemouth and at Watford, hurried round the pitch after the whistle, shaking hands.

    The Italian, who won the title in his first season in charge, has had a strained relationship with the club hierarchy since last summer after disagreements over buying players.

    There have been suggestions he would leave at the end of the season.

    But his players, so lacklustre against Watford, looked energised after a week’s rest.

    France international Giroud, who joined last month from Arsenal, provided a target man and combined well with Hazard and Fabregas.

    He left the pitch to applause in the 70th minute, his head swathed in bandages after he was kicked in a goalmouth melee in the first half.

    “He is a great target man,” Hazard said later on. “Maybe one of the best in England. So, we can pass the ball and go around him.

    “He is a good point of reference. We have plenty though as we have him, Alvaro and I can play striker also.”

    It was a miserable night for Alan Pardew’s West Brom side, who has won once in their last 25 Premier League games.

    In spite of a lively start they managed one shot on target.

    The disappointment was compounded with the loss of Daniel Sturridge barely three minutes into the game.

    The striker, on loan from Liverpool, limped off to be replaced by Jay Rodriguez.

    The visitors also failed to convert good chances that fell to Jonny Evans, Salomon Rondon and Rodriguez.

    Chelsea is still competing on three fronts.

    They face Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round on Friday before meeting FC Barcelona in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League on Feb. 20.

    NAN

     

     

  • Belgian ministers ‘offered to resign’ over Brussels attacks

    Two Belgian government ministers have offered to resign amid mounting criticism of the country’s failure to foil Tuesday’s airport and metro suicide bombings in Brussels, as police hunted two suspects believed still to be on the run.

    The country’s Interior and Justice ministers conceded “errors” had been made and offered to stand down. This came on the heel of defiant tweets by Belgium’s Prime Minister, Charles Michel, yesterday.

    The country’s democracy won’t be broken, he said in a couple of tweets after he laid a wreath for the victims at a ceremony attended by King Philippe and European Union (EU) president Jean-Claude Juncker.

    Michel tweeted: “Our country is in shock, but we are strong and confident.”

    Turkey has accused Belgium of ignoring warnings about Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, one of the two suicide bombers who blew themselves and 11 other people up at Zaventem airport. Turkey said it had deported Ibrahim to the Netherlands in the summer of 2015 and had warned Belgium that he was a suspected foreign jihadist.

    Belgian officials rejected Turkish allegations of inaction, following Ibrahim el-Bakraoui’s deportation last July, saying foreigners suspected of fighting in Syria could not be detained without evidence they committed a crime. Ibrahim was on parole after serving half of a ten-year sentence for armed robbery.

    The interior minister, Jan Jambon, admitted that there were “errors at Justice and with the Belgian Liaison Officer in Turkey, saying: “If you put everything in a row, you can ask yourself major questions” about the government’s handling of the Islamist threat.

    Jambon said the prime minister had refused to accept his resignation with the words: “In time of war, you cannot leave the field.” The Justice Minister, Koen Geens, also offered to go.

    The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, defended Belgium, saying: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. There was terrorism in Britain and in Germany in the 1970s and 1980. There was terrorism in Spain, in Italy and much more recently in France. People should stop lecturing Belgium.”

    Meanwhile, a fourth attacker, caught on CCTV cameras with the two airport bombers, is still being trailed by the Belgian police and a fifth suspect, who is thought to have been involved in the metro attack, could be dead or alive.

    Sven Mary, a lawyer for Salah Abdeslam, the surviving member of November’s attacks on Paris, said his client didn’t know of the plans to attack Brussels last Tuesday. All the Brussels attackers identified so far by police have links to Abdeslam.

    Sven Mary also said Abdeslam had dropped plans to fight an extradition request, adding that he wanted to return to France.

    Media reports said the extremists may initially have been planning an attack on a nuclear site in Belgium but decided to change targets after police raids in Brussels last week that ended in the death of one militant and the capture of Abdeslam.

  • 2013 NATIONS CUP Beware of Saladin Said, Belgian coach warns Eagles

    2013 NATIONS CUP Beware of Saladin Said, Belgian coach warns Eagles

    BELGIAN coach Walter Meeuws has warned Nigeria and Zambia that his former player and Ethiopia star Saladin Said could shock them at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    Meeuws told MTNFootball.com that Said could be one of the surprises in South Africa in January. “If the team play strong, Saladin Said has the skills to decide games for Ethiopia,” the former Wadi Degla coach said. “Saladin could become one of the surprises of the Nations Cup in January.

    “That depends of course also on the performance of the Ethiopian team because they are in a strong group with Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Zambia.”

    The Eagles have already seen what a force Said could be as he scored his team’s two goals in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa before star-studded Nigeria fought back to draw 2-2.

    “He (Said) made a trial at Wadi Degla club in August 2011 and he gave a very good impression from the first moment,” said former Belgium international Meeuws. “I advised the club to take him and that resulted in a contract of three years.

    “Said is a very skilful player, technically strong, good speed and a good positioning as striker.

    “He reads very well the game and the last year he became stronger in both power and physical strength.”

    Ethiopia, who return to the Nations Cup for the first time since 1982, open their account in Group C against African champions Zambia on January 21 in Nelspruit.