Gelson Dala’s brace propelled Angola to a victory against Mauritania, positioning them close to securing a spot in the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Dala scored the opener by reacting quickly to a rebound from a corner, firing a shot into the roof of the net. Sidi Amar equalized for Mauritania with a dazzling run and finish just before half-time.
However, Dala and Gilberto added two more goals for Angola, making it 3-1. Aboubakary Koita scored a spectacular consolation goal for Mauritania.
With this win, Angola is on course to advance, needing just a point in their final group-stage match against Burkina Faso.
On Monday, the court said that Aziz did bad things with money and used his job to make himself richer in a wrong way.
The court said they can take away his things that he got illegally, but he doesn’t have to go to jail for the other things he was accused of.
Aziz, who is 66 years old, became the president in 2009 by taking down President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a coup. He led Mauritania until 2019.
He has been in court since January with 10 other important people, including two former leaders and ministers from his government.
They were accused of many crimes, like using their power unfairly, moving money illegally, getting rich in a dishonest way, and improperly using their influence for personal gain.
The court, which focuses on corruption and economic crimes, also gave lighter sentences to some of the other people involved on Monday, but the former prime ministers and two ex-ministers were found not guilty.
Aziz said he didn’t do anything wrong during the trial and thinks he was being targeted for political reasons.
He and the current President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani used to be close friends, but now they are not getting along. This was reported by the AFP news agency.
He is also accused of getting very rich during his ten years as ruler.
One of Aziz’s lawyers, Mohameden Ould Icheddou, said that the trial we went to was about politics. The decision made in the trial is also based on politics.
His legal team also stated they will try to overturn the decision.
The US has announced the reinstatement of Mauritania’s eligibility under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) program following a review of its eligibility status. This reinstatement will take effect in January of the next year.
The decision comes after Mauritania made significant strides in improving worker rights and eliminating forced labor, according to the US trade office. In 2019, the Agoa trade benefits were suspended due to concerns about labor rights violations in the country.
This development follows the recent decision by US President Joe Biden to terminate Agoa benefits for Gabon, Niger, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Gabon and Niger lost their Agoa eligibility due to recent coups, while Uganda and CAR saw their benefits terminated because of human rights violations. Previously, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea were also expelled from Agoa after military takeovers in their respective countries.
Mauritania’s economy heavily relies on extractive industries, particularly oil and minerals, which constitute more than three-quarters of its exports. Fisheries, animal husbandry, and agriculture also contribute significantly to the country’s government revenues.
The Agoa program, introduced in 2000, grants eligible sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the US for over 1,800 products, promoting trade between the US and Africa.
As we commemorate Ghana’s 66th Independence Anniversary, let us delve into the origins of the name Ghana.
The name “Ghana” has deep historical roots that date back to the powerful Gana Empire that once existed in West Africa. The term “Ghana” was the title given to the kings who ruled the empire, which spanned across present-dayMauritania and Mali.
Muslim historians and researchers who studied the empire have documented that it reached its pinnacle around the year 300 before it experienced a rapid decline and eventually disappeared by the year 1100.
The Sonike residents called the empire “Wagadou,” and its capital was situated in Koumbi Saleh on the edge of the Sahara Desert.
The Kingdom of Wagadou
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to discover Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast.
They gave it the name “La Mina,” meaning mine, due to its significant gold deposits and as a trading post. Although the name was not legally accepted and widely used until 1471, it eventually became the name used by the European powers.
In 1867, the British took control and established the British Gold Coast colony. After years of fighting for independence, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. J.B. Danquah successfully transformed Ghana from the Gold Coast to Ghana after the country gained its freedom in 1957.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (L) and Dr. J.B. Danquah (R)
It is widely believed that the name Ghana was chosen because several of the Gold Coast’s ethnic groups could trace their roots back to those who lived in the Gana Empire.
However, some people dispute this assertion and believe that G.H.A.N.A stands for “God Has Appointed Nkrumah Already” or “for Africa.”
In his speech officially launching the name Ghana, Dr. Nkrumah stated, “We take pride in the name Ghana, not out of romanticism, but as an inspiration for the future.” This illustrates the significance of the name Ghana as it represents the country’s rich cultural heritage and symbolizes a bright future for the people.
The big six
Today, Ghana is known for its diverse cultural history, kente, delicious cuisine, warm hospitality, pioneering citizens, and vast natural resources, including gold, cocoa, diamonds, timber, and more. The country is home to six significant ethnic groups that coexist peacefully, highlighting Ghana’s cultural diversity and inclusivity.
Ghana has a rich history that is deeply rooted in the country’s past. It symbolizes the country’s heritage, resilience, and future aspirations. As we celebrate Ghana’s 66th Independence Anniversary, let us take pride in our country’s name and strive towards building a better future for all Ghanaians.
The authorities in Mauritania say they have uncovered more than 30 illegal migration networks and repatriated around 4,000 people to various West African countries.
Interior Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug told local media that there had been an increase in the number of people trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands – an alternative route to the Mediterranean Sea where some migrants have been deterred by stricter controls and instability in Libya.
The UN has called for greater efforts to disrupt people-smuggling rings, after more than 140 people died off the coast of Senegal in October – the deadliest shipwreck of the year.
Crowds gathered to greet Limam Chafi on his return from exile in Qatar on Sunday.
Chaffi, a sharp critic of former president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz fled Mauritania after charges were pressed against him.
Chaffi’s return points to changing political dynamics in Nouakchott.
“We think it is a new page that is opening up in which all Mauritanians will have their place,” said Chaffi as he spoke to reporters at his home.
Under president Mohamed Ould Ghezouani, Mauritania has freed or dropped charges against critics of the former regime and allowed prominent exiled figures to return.
Former army general Ghezouani, became president in 2019, succeeding Abdel Aziz in the northwest African country’s first peaceful transfer of power.
Mauritania’s president has appointed a new government after some of his ministers were named in a report on the financial dealings of former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani made the changes and for the first time his office confirmed it was because of the report.
The president had on Thursday replaced his prime minister for undisclosed reasons.
The former prime minister and three ministers were mentioned in the report that looked into the sale of state properties and handling of oil revenue, according to a news report by AFP news agency.
The new cabinet was announced on Sunday and the presidency secretary general Adama Bocar Soko said excluding the named ministers would give them “the time they need to prove their innocence”.
Local media reports that the former President Aziz has been summoned in connection with the report.
An investigation is expected to begin before parliament votes on whether to proceed to trial.
The move comes after prosecutors received a key report investigating the activities of former head of state Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Mohamed Ould Bilal, a former political adviser and minister in the era before Abdel Aziz, replaces Sidiya. He has been tasked with forming a new govermment following the resignation of Sidiya’s entire administration.
Before his appointment as prime minister in August 2019, Sidiya had served between 2009 and 2014 as minister of housing and employment under Aziz.
Prosecutors in the capital Nouakchott had announced on Wednesday that they had received a report by a nine-member commission, tasked with investigating aspects of Aziz’s 2008-19 presidency.
Matters discussed in the parliamentary report include the handling of oil revenues, the sales of state-owned property in Nouakchott, the activities of Chinese fishing company Pully Hong Dong, and the liquidation of a state-owned firm that supplied food products.
Aziz, a former army general, ignored a summons from the committee last month to explain the issues at stake, according to a parliamentary official.
Mauritanian MPs adopted a law at the end of July establishing a High Court of Justice to try the head of state and ministers in cases of “high treason”. The court is due to be set up in the coming months.
President Ghazouani succeeded Aziz in August last year. He had previously served under him as Chief of Staff and Defence Minister.
Aziz first came to power in a military coup in 2008, deposing then-president Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi. Aziz went on to win elections in 2009 and 2014.
Mauritania has confirmed its first case of novel coronavirus, the country’s health minister said on Friday, adding to the growing number of cases in West Africa.
In a televised statement, Health Minister Mohamed Nedhirou Ould Hamed said the case involved a foreigner who tested positive on Friday.
“He was immediately isolated and the state has all the means at its disposal to take care of those suffering from the virus,” the minister said.
A statement from the health ministry, also released on Friday, said the man was an expatriate who had flown into Mauritania from Europe on Monday.
He isolated himself after a friend in Europe tested positive for the virus, the statement added.
Health officials discovered he was feverish on Friday morning and he was confirmed positive for coronavirus later in the evening.
The health minister also promised, in his televised address, that the government would stop charter flights coming to Mauritania from France.
The West African state of Guinea registered its first coronavirus case on Friday too.
And Senegal, which shares a border with Mauritania, registered 11 new coronavirus infections on Friday, bringing its total number to 19.
Ivory Coast, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Nigeria have all also recently registered coronavirus cases.
Gabon, which announced its first case earlier this week, said Friday it would close schools for two weeks and stop issuing tourist visas to areas hit by the pandemic.
