The Ghana Police Service has indicated that the December 7, 2024, polls will be held devoid of military intervention.
According to him, the Ghana Police Service, together with its sister institutions, including the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service, etc., is poised to spearhead the elections without employing the services of the military.
“It’s going to be only the police, the prisons, fire, and then immigration, they are going to conduct the elections. These institutions are going to support us.
“It is our baby. It is the baby of the police but we are bringing in our sister security to assist,” he said.
Additionally, he said political parties in the country have declared their willingness to cooperate with the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies in ensuring a violence free election in the upcoming 2024 polls.
Speaking in an interaction with JoyNews, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Prince Gabriel Waabu, revealed the Ghana Police service has held various engagements with the political parties who have pledged to play by the rules.
Asked about the relationship between the Ghana Police Service and political parties he said: “We have this rapport and we are engaging them one-on-one. We know with their assistance it would be a perfect thing.
“[We had a one-on-one kind of invitation. It was cordial. Very cooperative and they are going to play by the rules,” he said.
He, however, entreated political parties to talk to their followers and ensure that they eschew insults in their comments especially during the electioneering period.
He believes that if these are adhered to, “we would have a very beautiful election this year.”
Another military officer is said to have been killed near the Ashaiman Kuffour Station.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, February 15, 2024, has caused apprehension in the community as details of the brutal attack continue to emerge.
Initial reports suggest that the officer was robbed and killed while trying to withdraw money from an ATM in the early hours of the morning. Rumors in the town indicate that the officer’s pregnant wife was hospitalized, requiring urgent financial support for her treatment.
It is believed that the officer, seeking funds for his wife’s medical expenses, went to a nearby ATM belonging to his bank, where he was ambushed and attacked by unknown assailants, leading to his death.
Despite the incident happening recently, information about it has only started to spread in the town, causing widespread fear among residents.
The possibility of military intervention in response to the murder has further heightened tensions, leaving many residents anxious about potential further violence.
This reported unfortunate incident follows approximately 11 months ago, reports emerged of soldiers allegedly conducting a violent operation in Ashaiman, a suburb of Accra, since midnight.
This incident occurred shortly after their colleague, Imoro Sherrif, was stabbed to death by unknown assailants in the area in March 2023.
Videos circulating on social media showed a young man screaming amidst sounds of flogging, while a neighbor quietly filmed from a nearby window.
Soldiers besiege some parts of Ashaiman after one of their was allegedly killed! pic.twitter.com/fzNatEJCP8
On March 9, 2023, the funeral service for soldier Imoro Sherrif, who was allegedly stabbed to death in Taifa, a suburb of Ashaiman, took place. It was a poignant morning as military officers, unable to conceal their emotions, gave their 21-year-old colleague his final journey.
The body was prepared for burial at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, where Islamic rituals were performed before the National Chief Imam, Sheik Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, prayed for his soul.
Meanwhile, information reaching our news desk indicates that Ernest Henry Norgbey, the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, is en route to the constituency to curb any tension.
Additionally, the Deputy Minister of Defense plans to visit Michel Camp to meet with commanders and discuss the situation.
Imams in Ashaiman have advised male residents to stay indoors or seek refuge.
Information reaching our news desk indicates that Ernest Henry Norgbey, the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, is en route to the constituency following the murder of a military officer near the Ashaiman Kuffour Station on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Additionally, the Deputy Minister of Defense plans to visit Michel Camp to meet with commanders and discuss the situation.
Imams in Ashaiman have advised male residents to stay indoors or seek refuge, indicating a heightened sense of caution in the area. There is a possibility that stores will close within the next few hours, reflecting the community’s apprehension.
Shock and fear have gripped residents of Ashaiman following reports of the murder of a military officer near the Ashaiman Kuffour Station.
The tragic incident, which occurred yesterday, Thursday, February 15, 2024, has sent ripples of apprehension throughout the community as unconfirmed details surrounding the brutal attack continue to emerge.
According to initial reports, the military officer was allegedly robbed and killed while attempting to withdraw money from an ATM in the early hours of the morning.
Rumors circulating in the town suggest that the deceased officer’s pregnant wife had been admitted to a local hospital, necessitating urgent financial assistance for her treatment.
It is believed that the officer, in a desperate bid to obtain funds for his wife’s medical expenses, ventured to a nearby ATM belonging to his bank. However, tragedy struck when he was ambushed and attacked by unknown assailants, resulting in his untimely demise.
Despite the incident occurring yesterday, the information has only begun to spread throughout the town, sparking widespread fear and apprehension among residents.
The prospect of a potential military intervention in response to the murder has heightened tensions, leaving many residents on edge and fearful of further violence.
Lydia Wiafe, a 41-year-old hairdresser from Ejisu Apromase in the Ashanti Region, has expressed distress and fear after images of her in military attire went viral on social media.
She vehemently denies any connection to the photos and insists she has never served in the Ghana Armed Forces.
The widely shared images sparked outrage due to her age and alleged affiliation with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Lydia Wiafe stated that the incident has caused significant psychological impact and disrupted her livelihood. She called on the military and the police to help identify the person or persons responsible for the images.
“I suspect it was during one of our political rallies and events that this person took pictures of me and circulated them. A lot of people, including relatives, have been calling me and I am not able to work to even earn a living due to this despicable act.
“The person behind the creation and circulation of these pictures should be found and exposed. This obviously could have a negative impact on my life since I can be attacked by mistake. I am living in fear because the military could come after me. This is a clear case of falsehood against my person.
“The person behind this despicable act has dragged the name of the Ghana Armed Forces into the mud. I will appeal to the hierarchy of the military to ensure this person is brought to justice. I have been inundated with phone calls and I believe that when this person is found and punished, there will be finality to this matter so my name can rest too. I am comfortable living and working in this community. My children are also worried about this issue.”
Ignore this fake news that a certain NPP woman has been enlisted in the army. The said woman is 41 years from Ejisu and a hairdresser. She is called Aunite Lydia Wiafe, as I write she is preparing to go to work as a hairdresser in Ejisu. It is a photoshop. https://t.co/ASTKq1gLBQpic.twitter.com/3fAWX5Ibne
Her neighbors in Ejisu Apromase in the Ashanti Region, according to reports, have also confirmed her story and are joining her in calling for justice.
“She cannot be enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces and she is not a military officer. She has been a hairdresser since. She does not have the required educational background to even be enlisted in the military,” one resident said.
“The issue is a complex one. The leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces should investigate this matter and ensure that the people behind the circulated pictures are made to face the law. She has never been a military officer. Her highest education is Form 4, and that cannot qualify her,” another said.
The military took control from the regular government in a coup in February 2021.
However, in the past few months, it has lost in many fights against ethnic groups and people fighting against the government takeover.
The new rule says that men between 18 and 35, and women between 18 and 27, must serve in the military for at least two years.
No more information has been shared. However, the junta said in a statement that its defense ministry will “publish the required rules, procedures, announcements, orders, notifications and instructions”.
Last year, three rebel groups in Shan State, along with other armed groups, took control of border crossings and roads used for trade with China.
The Arakan Army (AA) took control of Paletwa in Chin State last month, including the last military post at Meewa hilltop base.
Myanmar’s president, Myint Swe, who is a former general, has said that the country could split up if the government doesn’t stop the fighting.
A law that requires people to join the military was made in Myanmar in 2010, but it hasn’t been used yet.
During a state of emergency, the rules about how long someone has to work can be made longer, up to five years. People who don’t show up for jury duty can be sent to jail for the same amount of time.
In 2021, the country’s leaders said there was a big problem and they need more time to solve it. They decided to keep the special rules for another six months.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has presided over a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a 33-unit housing complex intended for the military.
The initiative is a response to a Supreme Court ruling directing the transfer of portions of government land to the Golden Stool, affecting existing military accommodations.
In compliance with the Supreme Court directive to cede part of the government land in the Nyhiaeso, Danyame area to the Golden Stool, the Regional Minister explained, “so we are relocating our staff who are within the enclave. As a result of that, we have to relocate some military personnel, so we are coming to construct a 33-unit accommodation facility for the military”.
Under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the project is led by the Lands Commission in the Ashanti region.
Regional Lands Officer Peter Osei Owusu anticipates the completion of the housing complex by October 2024, as conveyed during the sod-cutting ceremony.
Brigadier General Charles Agyemang Prempeh, the General Officer Commanding the central command, expressed gratitude for the project, emphasizing its alignment with the Ghana Armed Forces expansion initiative.
“The Ghana Armed Forces has embarked on an expansion project where we need to expand to be able to take on the security challenges in the country. In so doing, the units in the central command, particularly those in 4 garrisons, are equally expanding. The corresponding effect is that we need to have accommodation to house these soldiers. Fortunately, it coincided with the ceding of portions of land to the Golden Stool, and that has necessitated the relocation of my officers from where the Golden Stool is taking over to this new site.”
“This is a special project because it takes into account the officers who are living in that area to have accommodation in the new area. By doing so, we will have more accommodation than before, and it is going to help us in our expansion drive to have accommodation for our officers.”
Member of Parliament for Wa East constituency, Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, has expressed his condemnation and disgust at the reported invasion and brutalization of innocent community members in Goripie and Manwe by military personnel on January 25, 2024.
The MP raised concerns about the military’s actions, questioning why the peaceful communities were targeted under the guise of addressing illegal mining activities. Dr Jasaw highlighted the fact that instead of targeting the mining sites, soldiers entered the communities, seizing motorbikes from innocent citizens and firing gunshots.
He particularly emphasized the seizure of motorbikes belonging to the Manwe assembly member-elect and a unit committee member, who were allegedly advocating restraint. The MP vehemently denounced the use of excessive force on civilians and the confiscation of property, citing instances where money allegedly exchanged hands for the release of seized properties.
Dr. Jasaw called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged the affected communities to exercise maximum restraint while engaging with security authorities for justice. Expressing concern about the conflicting statements from the regional minister and the DCE claiming innocence, he questioned who is in charge of the security of the people.
“We are not in a jungle, and our citizens must be treated with respect and dignity,” stated Dr. Jasaw. He called on the Minister for Justice and Defense to take an interest in the matter, emphasizing a shift from brutality at mining sites to the brutality of innocent community members.
The MP concluded by reaffirming his commitment to upholding the rights and welfare of all constituents, promising to advocate for justice and accountability in this matter.
The Committee on Defence and Interior in Ghana’s Parliament has recommended compensation for the residents of Ashaiman who were subjected to brutality by the military in March 2023, as reported by citinewsroom.com.
The unfortunate incident took place on March 7, 2023, following the death of a soldier in the region. The subsequent assault on Ashaiman civilians sparked widespread public outcry and condemnation.
In a report released on Friday, the committee examined the presented evidence and the legal context surrounding the incident. The committee strongly asserted that individuals who suffered injuries due to the military’s actions should be promptly and adequately compensated by the state. Furthermore, the proposed compensation is suggested to extend to cover individuals whose properties were damaged during the military operation.
The committee expressed firm disapproval of the use of excessive force against civilians, emphasizing its “hate for any form of torturous handling of civilians by the military and other security agencies.” Additionally, the committee urged the leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces to educate personnel on the legal requirements and consequences associated with such actions.
This proposed compensation seeks to address the grievances of the affected Ashaiman residents and bring a measure of justice to those who suffered during the incident. The recommendations underscore the importance of upholding human rights and ensuring accountability in the actions of security forces.
The UN’s highest court will decide if they should tell Israel to stop their actions in Gaza right away.
On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will have a meeting about a case. South Africa is saying that Israel is doing very bad things, like killing many people from a particular group.
Both countries spoke when the case started two weeks ago. Israel strongly said no to the accusation.
The court’s decision against Israel is not able to be enforced, but it would still be very important in politics.
Over 25,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed and many more hurt, according to the health ministry in Gaza. The violence started when the group Hamas attacked Israel.
The Hamas attack on October 7th killed around 1,300 people, mostly innocent people. The attackers also kidnapped about 250 people and took them back to Gaza.
South Africa is asking the court to stop Israel’s military actions towards Palestinians while they investigate claims of genocide. The decision on this is not going to happen for a long time, maybe even for years.
Israel was very upset when South Africa said they were committing genocide. They said South Africa was not telling the truth. It said it could protect itself and was only aiming at Hamas fighters, not people in Palestine.
It wanted the judges to reject South Africa’s request because it claimed the accusations of genocide were not true.
On Friday, 17 judges need to answer two questions before making a decision.
First, we need to see if South Africa’s claim against Israel fits the UN‘s rules for the 1948 Genocide Convention. The agreement, which Israel and South Africa have agreed to, explains what actions can be considered as genocide. At the beginning of the case, it is not very difficult to prove.
Furthermore, the judges can consider requests from other places besides South Africa. The panel should tell Israel to follow international law and make sure that it doesn’t stop food, water, or medicine from being delivered to people.
The ICJ can only give advice and opinions, but it doesn’t have the power to make decisions. Although its decisions are considered to have legal force, they cannot be enforced by the court. If Israel loses in court on Friday, they will probably just ignore the decision.
It would make Israel feel more pressure to stop fighting and make its allies work harder to help find a peaceful solution and get aid to the people who need it.
A farming community named Manwe in the Wa East District has reportedly been taken over by armed military personnel.
The incident is said to have unfolded on Thursday January 25, 2024, at around 1 pm within the township. Witnesses observed that several motorbikes belonging to civilians were seized during the takeover, accompanied by warning shots to intimidate onlookers.
It is unknown the reason for their alleged presence.
Some residents of the area who spoke to the media said, “I saw three men within the community today, I saw them going into a room ordinarily dressed but came out later with military uniforms.
They blocked the roads and took motorbikes from their owners. We are worried because we don’t have an ideas why they are here, they even took the bike of our Assembly Member..”
A former National Security advisor, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, has expressed concern that the ongoing civilian casualties inflicted by the military pose a growing security threat.
His remarks come in the wake of a military operation that the armed forces described as the neutralization of individuals engaged in a gun battle with them.
This operation resulted in the death of three residents of Bawku, where soldiers had been deployed to maintain peace amid a renewed chieftaincy conflict.
On January 19, 2024, reports surfaced that three residents were killed on the preceding night by soldiers, a claim denied by the military.
According to the military’s statement, the fatal encounter occurred during a night foot patrol around Hasania School in Sabongari, where four gunmen opened fire on the officers.
The military asserts that they returned fire, neutralizing three assailants, while the fourth managed to escape.
In response to these incidents, the Ministry of Interior has revised the curfew hours for the Bawku municipality, now in effect from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, in an exclusive interview with TV3’s Beatrice Adu, attributed the killings to indiscipline within the military, which he linked to the recruitment of personnel from what he termed a “rotten society.”
Addressing the security implications, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah warned that the recurrent civilian killings could lead to broader security challenges. He emphasized that the military’s actions reflected the societal issues from which recruits are drawn.
When asked if he considered the civilian deaths a security threat, he affirmed, stating that such incidents could provoke individuals, not necessarily from the military, to take matters into their own hands.
Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry’s statement urged stakeholders in Bawku to exercise restraint and seek peaceful resolutions to the challenges facing the region. Additionally, it emphasized a total ban on carrying arms or ammunition in the Bawku Municipality and its surroundings, with violators subject to arrest and prosecution.
Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, a former National Security advisor, has raised alarms, labeling the continuous killings of civilians by the military as a growing security threat.
His comments come in the wake of an incident the military has termed a “neutralization” operation involving individuals engaged in gunfire.
This encounter resulted in the deaths of three Bawku residents, escalating tensions in the area already dealing with renewed chieftaincy conflicts.
The incident, which took place on the night of January 18, 2024, led to the unfortunate demise of three individuals. The military, assigned to maintain peace amidst the chieftaincy conflict, asserted that the deaths occurred during an exchange of gunfire at Sabongari around 8:30 pm. According to the military, officers on night foot patrols near Hasania School were attacked by four gunmen, prompting a defensive response.
However, this version contradicts reports that emerged on January 19, 2024, suggesting that soldiers were responsible for the killing of three residents on the previous night. Despite these claims, the military has denied any involvement in the deaths, maintaining that their actions were in response to a direct threat. Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah’s statement underscores the need for a thorough investigation into the incidents and a reevaluation of the military’s approach to maintaining peace in the region.
“It is worth mentioning that at about 2030 hrs same day, own troops conducting night foot patrols around Hasania School at Sabongari were fired upon by 4 gunmen. The troops returned fire spontaneously neutralizing 3 of the assailants. The fourth suspect managed to escape,” the statement said.
The Armed Forces further stated in its release that “It is instructive to note that directly engaging the military is a development that could result in fatal consequences; as troops will spare no opportunity to defend themselves as well as protect residents of Bawku. Therefore, factions in the Bawku conflict are cautioned against drawing the military into direct armed confrontation while efforts are undertaken to resolve the current impasse.”
In an exclusive interview with TV3’s Beatrice Adu, Brigadier General Nunoo Mensah, a former Chief of Defence Staff, attributed the recent killings to indiscipline within the military. He expressed the view that such indiscipline stems from the fact that military personnel are recruited from what he termed as “a rotten society.”
“If Ghana is rotten, the military will be; that rot will also infect the military…. The individuals we are recruiting into the army come from the public. What do you expect?” he questioned.
When questioned about whether Ghana was moving closer to that scenario, the former security advisor commented that the signs are already evident within our communities.
A gathering of women in the Bawku township expressed their grievances on Friday, staging a protest against reported brutality by military personnel towards residents.
In a video capturing the protest, hundreds of women were seen chanting slogans like, “We don’t need them [the military], we want them out.”
The demonstration was triggered by alleged incidents on Thursday evening, where soldiers reportedly entered the Bawku township and discharged firearms indiscriminately, leading to casualties.
“We have not been able to verify the number of people that are injured. After the military fired, some of the people have dispersed, and some of them are still there protesting and the injured have been taken to the Vineyard Hospital,” shared one resident in an interview with Citi News.
Earlier in the week, unidentified gunmen reportedly fired into a crowd at the community center, resulting in the tragic death of two individuals and injuries to four others.
A group of women in the Bawku township staged a protest on Friday, alleging brutality by military personnel against residents.
In a video, hundreds of women were observed chanting, “We don’t need them [the military], we want them out.”
The protest was triggered by reported incidents on Thursday evening when soldiers allegedly entered the Bawku township and discharged firearms indiscriminately, leading to casualties.
“We have not been able to verify the number of people that are injured. After the military fired, some of the people have dispersed, and some of them are still there protesting and the injured have been taken to the Vineyard Hospital,” one resident told Citi News in an interview.
The reported incident states that unknown gunmen fired into a group of people at the community centre on Wednesday, leading to the death of two individuals, with four others sustaining injuries.
Women in Bawku demand justice for three persons allegedly killed by the military on Thursday night.
A group of women in the Bawku township staged a protest on Friday, January 19, 2024, accusing military personnel of brutality against residents.
In a video, hundreds of women were observed chanting, “We don’t need them [the military], we want them out.”
The protest was triggered by reported incidents on Thursday evening, where soldiers allegedly entered the Bawku township and discharged firearms indiscriminately, leading to casualties.
“We have not been able to verify the number of people that are injured. After the military fired, some of the people have dispersed, and some of them are still there protesting and the injured have been taken to the Vineyard Hospital,” one resident told Citi News in an interview.
It was reported that unknown gunmen fired into a group of people at the community centre on Wednesday, resulting in the death of two persons, while four others were injured.
People in a village in Nigeria‘s Katsina state are running away from their homes because some armed men attacked a nearby military camp, set vehicles on fire, and stole things.
Over 100 armed men attacked a military base in Batsari, Katsina state on Sunday night. The base houses soldiers, police, and other security forces.
An army official told the Premium Times news website that the attackers set fire to two army vehicles. No soldiers died, said the source.
A person who lives there told the news that the attackers, who came on bikes and a truck, defeated the soldiers after three hours of shooting.
After the attack on the army base, the armed men went to Nahuta and stole a lot of things from the shops and houses, including goods and animals worth a lot of money.
The attack has made a lot of people very scared. Many of them have run away to nearby villages to stay safe, according to reports.
Criminal gangs called bandits are causing a lot of trouble in Nigeria. They kidnap people and ask for money in exchange for their release. They have killed many people, even though the military has tried to stop them.
Niger’s Prime Minister appointed by the military government, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, is in Moscow, the capital of Russia, to talk about making the economic and military relationship between the two countries stronger.
He is with Defence Minister Salihou Mody and Niger’s ministers of petroleum and trade.
Mondafrique, a news website in Paris, said that Mr. Zeine would also travel to Turkey, Iran, and Serbia.
Niger’s National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) group, facing strict punishments from its neighboring countries in West Africa, wants to make new partnerships, according to Mondafrique.
The CNSP wants to become independent from Western influence. They are starting by cutting off military connections with France.
Chief of Army Staff, Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, has denied rumors suggesting that he rejected an offer to become the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
The senior army officer dismissed the unfounded speculations, expressing frustration over the unwarranted criticism he has faced as a result.
Addressing the issue on JoyNews, he remarked, “The name Oppong-Preprah is causing unease and anxiety, leading to baseless attacks on me. I fail to comprehend the reasons behind these attacks.”
“Even this morning just before I got here, a publication was sent to me where it is being indicated that I have refused to accept the appointment of CDS and as a result there is a stop in the military shakeup.”
His remarks come just two weeks after the presidential office issued a statement refuting rumors suggesting a politically-driven reorganization of the military hierarchy to favor the ruling party in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
Major General Oppong-Peprah clarified that following the spread of these rumors, certain individuals resorted to seeking supernatural intervention to eliminate him.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that those perceiving him as a problem were misguided.
“I have been taken to juju people and all that. We have pictures of it. In fact, it was one of the military police gentlemen who brought me pictures. But I am still standing here, I am not dead and I will not die. If you can’t cope up with what I do, just sit down and zip up. That is all,” he said on January 15, 2024.
Again, he added that people mistake him for an Akyem but he is Bono from Dormaa Ahenkro.
The high-profile army officer said people might look at his achievements in the security service for which reason they think he is a threat. However, he emphasised that he did not accomplish the successes on his own but it was a collective effort.
“For the past four years together, teamwork we have achieved so much and people are jealous of us. That is all. I did not do it, we did it as an army together with my staff officers and everyone. Commanding officers team going to Bundase and adding to whatever we are doing over there. It is teamwork, it is not me, Oppong-Preprah so don’t attack me” he added.
In a recent jailbreak in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, gunmen took former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara and three others.
Authorities confirmed at least nine fatalities, including suspected attackers, security personnel, and civilians.
Camara and two co-accused individuals were later returned to jail, where they are facing trial for their alleged involvement in the deaths of over 150 protesters at Conakry stadium 14 years ago.
The circumstances surrounding the release or kidnapping of Camara and the others remain unclear.
One of the many victims of the recent military incursions in Garu and Tempane in the Upper East Region, has been reported dead.
Subsequent to the incident, eight of the detained residents, who were transported to Accra, have been released, but some remain in critical condition.
The brutal military operations, which occurred on Sunday, October 29, 2023, were reportedly triggered by a retaliatory attack on National Security personnel by a local vigilante group in Garu.
Addressing the media, the Member of Parliament for Garu, Albert Alalzuulga, expressed profound dismay at the military’s actions, deeming them unacceptable.
He mourned the loss of life and called on the government to take appropriate measures, including providing compensation to the victims.
“It is sad to announce to you that one of the military brutality victims in Garu has died. It is a very sad development. The youth and everybody in the area are so saddened. We are so disappointed in the military and their actions. And we are disappointed in the government as well. What happened in Garu is most barbaric; it is most unfortunate. The residents who were arrested earlier were released on Friday. While some are home safely, others had to be taken to medical facilities due to their conditions.”
“We are already calling on the government to compensate the victims, and if possible, we may have to take legal action. I don’t think that the treatment of the people of Garu was fair. I think the government needs to address this. The military is taking Ghanaians for granted. It is our tax that has bought the uniforms they are wearing. It is our tax that has bought the vehicles and guns,” he said.
On Thursday, November 9, National Security Minister Albert Kan Dapaah is scheduled to make an appearance in Parliament to provide an update on the situation.
The Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Garu Constituency in the Upper East Region, Albert Alalzuuga Akuka, is calling for compensation for residents who claim to have suffered military brutality on Saturday, October 28, 2023.
In his comments to Citi News regarding the incident, the Garu MP has urged the government to not only conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter but also ensure that those who claim to be victims receive appropriate compensation.
“All these are things the government needs to investigate and come out with a good report on, and possibly compensate the victims for the injuries they have suffered. They should take care of their bills,” he said.
Reports suggest that a group of military personnel conducted a dawn raid on Garu, during which they allegedly assaulted residents.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has defended their actions and refuted claims of assault, alleging that irate youth in the area had initially attacked national security operatives, prompting the military response.
Nevertheless, various images shared on social media following the incident reveal evidence of whip marks on individuals, as well as bruised and swollen faces, among other injuries.
The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has strongly criticized the reported military abuses inflicted on Garu residents, denouncing the actions as “barbaric and unacceptable.”
He expressed his deep dismay and distress upon viewing the disturbing images of the victims who suffered from the military brutality.
Information from the Ministry of National Security indicates that on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, an irate youth group armed with AK 47 rifles, machetes and other weapons besieged a team of five counter-terrorism intelligence officers deployed by the Ministry of National Security to Garu, in the Upper East Region, on a critical, special operation.
Despite initial attempts to introduce themselves as National Security personnel, the irate youth group proceeded to attack the officers by firing multiple gunshots at a black Toyota Land Cruiser in which the officers were seated.
Following an escalation of the attacks on their vehicle, the officers drove to seek refuge at the Garu Police Station. The irate youth, subsequently, pursued the officers, encircled the police station and fired multiple shots at same with the intention of killing the officers.
The Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces, on Saturday, October 28, 2023, conducted a joint operation in Garu to seize weapons used by the perpetrators of the attack on the National Security personnel.
According to the ministry, a number of the perpetrators have also been arrested. Also, the Ministry of National Security has refuted claims that the deployment of soldiers to Garu, a town in the Upper East Region, was intended to mistreat its residents.
But Assembly Member for the Garu-Natinga Electoral Area, Bartolomeo Asore Azumbil, says anyone that the military personnel came across was attacked, including his six-year-old son.
“The military came in the early hours, around 2am [on Saturday], and attacked the heart of the town. Everybody they came across was attacked and rendered several people with various degrees of injuries. About fifty-three people have been hospitalized, and I went around the various hospitals and gathered information about fifty-three hospitalizations.”
Garu residents hospitalised
“Those who have been treated and discharged are undisclosed, and some did not even go to the hospital. Also, they came to my house three times, woke up my six-year-old son, beat him up, and went and broke my brother’s room, collecting some money and mobile phones before leaving,” he is quoted to have said by Citinews.
As such Mr Mahama Ayariga has announced his decision to join his fellow Members of Parliament from the Upper East Region to call for a full scale inquiry into what happened.
“I recall being involved in a discussion with the Minister for National Security a few days earlier about some national security operatives who had been stopped in Garu and handed over to the police. I saw media reports of alleged shooting of the vehicle used by the national security operatives by unknown persons in the Garu area.
“If the incident is a retaliation by the soldiers, this will be most unfortunate and unacceptable in today’s Ghana and he have to get to the bottom of the matter and hold the military personnel involved in this dastard act accountable,” he added in a statement.
Also, Members of Parliament for the Garu and Tempane constituencies have condemned the alleged military assault.
Albert Alalzuuga Akuka and Lydia Akanvariba Adakudugu, respectively, in a joint press statement condemned the alleged actions of the military and demanded “a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
Over 50 residents in Garu have been admitted to a health facility following an alleged assault by military personnel in the Upper East Region.
The National Security Ministry clarified that the soldiers were dispatched to the town for a special operation but encountered hostility from some agitated community members.
The operation, scheduled for October 24, 2023, faced strong resistance from the Garu youth when they confronted the security personnel, armed with AK-47 and rifle guns.
According to the Ministry of National Security, on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, an irate youth group armed with AK 47 rifles, machetes and other weapons besieged a team of five counter-terrorism intelligence officers deployed by the Ministry of National Security to Garu, in the Upper East Region, on a critical, special operation.
Despite initial attempts to introduce themselves as National Security personnel, the irate youth group proceeded to attack the officers by firing multiple gunshots at a black Toyota Land Cruiser in which the officers were seated.
Following an escalation of the attacks on their vehicle, the officers drove to seek refuge at the Garu Police Station. The irate youth, subsequently, pursued the officers, encircled the police station and fired multiple shots at same with the intention of killing the officers.
The Ministry of National Security and the Ghana Armed Forces, on Saturday, October 28, 2023, conducted a joint operation in Garu to seize weapons used by the perpetrators of the attack on the National Security personnel.
According to the ministry, a number of the perpetrators have also been arrested.
But Assembly Member for the Garu-Natinga Electoral Area, Bartolomeo Asore Azumbil, says anyone that the military personnel came across was attacked, including his six-year-old son.
“The military came in the early hours, around 2am [on Saturday], and attacked the heart of the town. Everybody they came across was attacked and rendered several people with various degrees of injuries. About fifty-three people have been hospitalized, and I went around the various hospitals and gathered information about fifty-three hospitalizations.”
“Those who have been treated and discharged are undisclosed, and some did not even go to the hospital. Also, they came to my house three times, woke up my six-year-old son, beat him up, and went and broke my brother’s room, collecting some money and mobile phones before leaving,” he is quoted to have said by Citinews.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has described the alleged assault as “barbaric.”
“If the incident is a retaliation by the soldiers, this will be most unfortunate and unacceptable in today’s Ghana and he have to get to the bottom of the matter and hold the military personnel involved in this dastard act accountable,” he stated in a press statement.
Also, Members of Parliament for the Garu and Tempane constituencies have condemned the alleged military assault.
Albert Alalzuuga Akuka and Lydia Akanvariba Adakudugu, respectively, in a joint press statement condemned the alleged actions of the military and demanded “a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
Reports indicate that officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) allegedly assaulted residents of Garu during a dawn raid on October 29.
Sources say this raid was a retaliation for an attack on some National Security operatives that occurred on October 24.
But the Ministry of National Security has denied the reports of assault in a statement and explained that the action of the military was “a joint operation in Garu to seize weapons used by the perpetrators of the attack on the National Security personnel.”
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament for the Garu and Tempane constituencies have condemned the alleged military assault on some residents of Garu in the Upper East Region.
The MPs for the two constituencies; Albert Alalzuuga Akuka and Lydia Akanvariba Adakudugu, in a joint press statement condemned the alleged actions of the military and demanded “a thorough investigation into the matter to ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
The two MPs warned that such actions have the tendency to worsen the Bawku conflict and are therefore, among other things demanding a total withdrawal of the military from the area and arresting the culprits and dealing with them accordingly.
It is reported that over 50 residents have been hospitalised as a result of the alleged assault.
Nigerian military jets have conducted airstrikes on a gathering of bandit militias in the country’s northwest, resulting in the reported death of approximately 100 gunmen, as stated by two army sources and local residents on Friday.
Nigeria’s air force confirmed conducting bombardments in northwestern Zamfara State on Tuesday; however, a spokesperson noted that specific casualty figures were not available at that time.
For years, the northwestern and central Nigerian states have grappled with armed groups that raid villages, targeting residents for ransom and engaging in violence in areas with limited state presence.
These criminal groups, known for large-scale kidnappings in recent years, operate from concealed camps within a vast forest spanning Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states.
“Fighter jets conducted air strikes on bandits, I’m sure more than 100 were killed and almost twice that number were badly injured,” one of the military officers involved in the operation said.
A similar amount was also confirmed by another military official. Because they were not authorized to talk about the operation, both talked anonymously.
Prior to the attacks, the military got information indicating that multiple gangs had gathered in a region along the borders of the states of Zamfara, Kebbi, and Niger with the intention of targeting local towns and a military post.
Since the military arrived in 2015 to combat the gangs, the air strike on Tuesday was the second most intensive aerial operation against bandits in Zamfara.
Niger’s military leaders have issued an ultimatum, requiring the head of the United Nations’ diplomatic mission in the country to depart within 72 hours.
In an official statement from the West African nation’s foreign ministry, the UN is accused of employing deceptive tactics, allegedly initiated by France, to hinder Niger’s complete participation in various international forums, including the recent UN General Assembly.
This military junta, which took power after ousting Niger’s democratically elected president in July, has additionally expelled French troops and the French ambassador.
The National Liberation Council Decree (NLCD) 177 of 1967 clearly states that the use of military uniforms, equipment, or related materials is restricted to members of the Armed Forces of Ghana.
In accordance with this legislation, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has repeatedly issued warnings and imposed a ban on civilians wearing military-style attire.
Despite the legal restrictions and GAF’s prohibitions, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of military-style accoutrements, particularly among protesters.
Notably, the last two major protests in Ghana, namely #OccupyJulorbiHouse and #OccupyBOGprotest, have seen participants don military-pattern uniforms, including berets adorned with GAF insignias, military jackets, jumpers, and green and black slacks.
Addressing the potential impact of civilians and protesters wearing military-style uniforms on national security, Anthony Acquaye, a Security Expert associated with the Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy, expressed concern.
“It is very dangerous to use military uniform or anything that links up to the military. The use of military accoutrements by civilians poses a lot of threats to all civilians in the sense that, most civilians with these uniforms tend to use them to impersonate and, in some cases, commit very heinous crimes. This does not only put the lives of general public at risk, but it is a serious dent on the military,” he stated.
He highlighted that this practice could lead to a surge in impersonation cases and crimes committed under the guise of GAF affiliation, posing a threat to public safety and tarnishing the reputation of the military.
To address the issue of civilians wearing military-pattern attire, Security Analyst Ibard Ibrahim suggested that the military high command should rigorously vet and oversee the production of military uniforms by contracted suppliers.
Additionally, he called for the apprehension and prosecution of individuals involved in the illegal printing and sale of military-style uniforms. According to Ibrahim, these measures would help curb the proliferation of such attire in civilian settings and prevent potential misuse.
New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearership aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has announced his intention to mandate a six-month military training program for national service personnel if he assumes the presidency
His plan stems from his assertion that there is no discipline in the country, hence, his concern to put things in order.
In a time of media engagement on September 24, the Assin Central MP stated, “I will put National Service personnel to good use. Because of indiscipline in Ghana, every National Service person, every university graduate will serve six months in the military,” he told host of the programme.
“You will serve six months in the military before completing your remaining six months National Service,” he stressed.
National Service is a program that requires students from tertiary institutions across the nation to dedicate a year to serving in public or private institutions.
Often, they are deployed to various regions to bolster the government workforce and receive a monthly stipend.
Agyapong, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Assin Central, has introduced a Presidential philosophy called ‘PHD’ for his bid, emphasizing Patriotism, Honesty, and Discipline. Over the past few months, he has conducted nationwide tours, engaging with delegates and presenting his political, economic, social, and leadership plans as the NPP’s November 4 presidential primaries draw near.
The four contenders in the race include Kennedy Agyapong, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, former Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and former MP Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The victor in the primaries will succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the party’s leader and lead the NPP into the 2024 General Elections.
The singer, Min Yoon-gi, is the third band member to join the army, after Jin and J-Hope.
“He said online that he will do his duty and come back reliably. ”
Because South Korea is still technically in a state of war with North Korea, all healthy men must join the army before they reach 28 years old.
For a while, there were rumors that the government might let the BTS group members skip their mandatory military service. This was because they had already contributed a lot to their country’s economy by earning billions of dollars. Some people believed that it would be better to let them continue working rather than interrupting their success.
But in October of last year, all seven members declared that they were all planning to join the military, starting with Jin, who is the oldest.
He started working in December 2022 and was sent to a training camp on the front line.
According to South Korea‘s Yonhap news agency, Suga has been declared unfit for regular combat duty and will instead work as a social service agent.
The news outlets said that the star’s different type of work was probably because he had to have surgery on his shoulder in 2020.
Suga wrote a message for his fans on WeVerse.
I made it this far because of you. “He said that the time has arrived,” he wrote.
“Make sure to be cautious of the cold autumn weather. ” Stay well and I look forward to seeing all of you in the year 2025. Renewing a contract
Suga is going to join the military soon, and we just found out that all seven members of BTS have agreed to stay with their music agency, Big Hit Music.
The company said earlier this week that they hope to have a time when BTS can promote together with everyone in 2025.
At the same time, fans who like the female group Blackpink are expecting similar information.
The group’s contract with YG Entertainment ended earlier this year and there has been no news of them signing a new contract with the company after their world tour ended on September 17th.
The value of YG stocks dropped by 13. 28% on Thursday because South Korean media said that three out of the four members of Blackpink (Jennie, Lisa, and Jisoo) plan to join other music companies, while still being part of Blackpink for six months every year.
YG responded to the reports by saying that Blackpink’s contract renewal has not been confirmed yet and they are talking about it.
An overnight military helicopter crash occurred in Kenya during a patrol mission in the coastal county of Lamu, resulting in the tragic loss of all crew members on board.
The crash took place within the Boni forest, an area that spans the border with Somalia and has been a location from which the Somali militant group al-Shabab has carried out deadly attacks.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has not disclosed the exact number of individuals aboard the helicopter at the time of the accident.
Nevertheless, some media reports suggest that at least eight people lost their lives in the incident.
According to the KDF statement, “The crew and other military personnel onboard were part of an air surveillance squadron intensifying day and night patrols and surveillance for the ongoing Operation Amani Boni.”
A board of inquiry has been dispatched to the Boni forest to investigate the cause of the crash.
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has spoken out against the recent wave of military coups across Africa.
The renowned monarch claims that coups are neither a solution to the current challenges the continent is experiencing nor a part of them.
Speaking at the St. Andrews Africa Summit in Scotland over the weekend, Otumfuo emphasized that using a gun was never a good idea, no matter what the situation.
“Let me make it categorically clear that regardless of the circumstances, I do not think that a military takeover offers the solution to the problems of our continent.
“There was a time when circumstances produced the notion that the gun was the solution, those times are over.
our people were killed in fights between protesters and security forces in Guinea on the day when the country remembered the second anniversary of a military takeover, according to activists.
The Forces Vives, which is a group of political parties, trade unions, and civil society groups that want civilian rule to come back quickly, stated on Facebook that four young men between the ages of 15 and 18 have died.
It was reported that two people died in the capital city, Conakry, when armed security forces attacked areas where political activists live. This happened on Monday, right before planned protests against the government.
The two other teenagers were murdered on Tuesday and at least twelve others got shot and hurt, according to Forces Vives.
The military government, who had told people not to join the protests, has not said anything about the most recent event.
Forces Vives is worried about the elections taking too long to happen.
Many people have protested against Mamady Doumbouya, a military officer who is currently the temporary president, and these protests have often become violent.
The junta suggested a plan to switch to democracy in two years last October, after the group Ecowas refused a plan that would have taken three years.
The government of Guinea is one of a few military governments in West and Central Africa that have taken control through a series of coup d’états since 2020. Many of them still need to have elections like they promised.
The recently inaugurated military leader of Gabon, who assumed power through a coup last week, has engaged in talks with a mediator dispatched by central African countries.
This development occurred a day after the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) suspended Gabon from its membership.
State television did not disclose specific details about the meeting between General Brice Oligui Nguema and Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the president of the Central African Republic.
During his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Gen Nguema pledged to conduct equitable elections and reinstate civilian governance, although he did not specify a timeline for these actions.
In a televised ceremony on Monday, Gen. Brice Nguema, the leader of Gabon’s military junta, was officially sworn in as the interim president by the country’s constitutional court.
Last week, General Nguema led a coup that resulted in the removal of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, marking the end of the Bongo family’s long-standing dominance in Gabonese politics. Ali Bongo had succeeded his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the nation for over four decades with an iron grip until his passing in 2009.
Prior to the coup, President Bongo, who had been in power for nearly 14 years, was declared the winner of a contested presidential election marred by voting delays, internet disruptions, and restrictions on foreign press coverage.
In the wake of the coup, the ousted leader, Ali Bongo, was placed under house arrest by the junta, which also invalidated the election results and imposed border closures, drawing widespread global condemnation.
The nation witnessed jubilant celebrations as thousands of supporters expressed solidarity with the military.
General Nguema, a former bodyguard of Omar Bongo, swiftly assumed the role of a transitional leader. He was inaugurated as interim president during Monday’s ceremony, accompanied by a military parade and enthusiastic cheers from his civilian supporters.
Before taking office, Nguema granted approval for the reopening of Gabon’s borders and engaged with political leaders to discuss reform and the potential transitional period, as reported by local media.
The duration of General Nguema’s tenure remains uncertain. He has previously emphasized the country’s cautious approach to a new election, aiming to avoid a repetition of past mistakes.
In response, a coalition of opposition parties in Gabon has called upon the junta to resume the electoral process and complete the vote count, potentially opening the path to victory for opposition leader Albert Ondo Ossa, the runner-up in the annulled election.
It is worth noting that several former French colonies, including Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Tunisia, and now Gabon, have experienced nine coups in the past three years, undermining democratic progress in these nations. Many Gabonese citizens view Ali Bongo’s removal as a significant victory in the oil-rich but economically challenged state.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former President and deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, announced that approximately 280,000 individuals have enlisted in Russia’s military as professional service members since the beginning of this year.
During his visit to Russia’s far east, Medvedev held meetings with local officials to discuss initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s armed forces.
Medvedev stated, “According to the Ministry of Defence, since January 1, about 280,000 people have been accepted into the ranks of the Armed Forces on a contract basis,” which also includes reservists. These figures were reported by the state news agency TASS.
The military coup in Zimbabwe in 2017 signalled the institutional return of military high commands to power. This was followed by the 2019 military coup in Sudan and the 2020 military coup in Mali. The military was active in assisting power takeovers in Tunisia and Algeria in 2020. The military strongman in Mali was not happy with the limited powers he was constrained to take in 2020 and he did another coup in 2021, giving himself full powers.
The coup in Gabon this week is most unlikely to be a regime change. General Brice Nguema, the head of the junta, is a relation of the Bongo family and had started his career as a body guard to Omar Bongo, the father of the deposed President, who had earlier ruled for 42 years. The coup occurred minutes after President Ali Bongo was declared as winner of a rigged presidential election. He has been incapacitated since suffering from a stroke in 2019 and the optics of a president without the capacity to govern has been an issue since his stroke. The symbolism of someone who is incapable of exercising power, rigging election after election, posed the question of how much longer the charade could last. When there was an attempted coup in January 2019, the army responded immediately, rounding up the culprits. As everyone knows, Gabon is too precious for France to allow a regime change there. In the coming days, it will become clearer who enable this coup to succeed.
Now all attention is on Cameroon, where, once again, it is clear that 90-year old Paul Biya is too old, weak and sick to govern. Immediately after the Gabon coup, significant changes were made to the military command structure in the country. With the grand return of military takeover in Africa, France might very well be engaged in cosmetic changes to its most beloved colonies that are rapidly falling out of its control. The shock of the coup in Niger was massive for France. Its lackey regime lost power in a country where the optics looked good with elections, power alternation, and the improved combat against violent extremism, but yet a coup to throw out France occurred. What does the future hold for President Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire?
When the military seized power in Burkina Faso last year, ousting the country’s democratically elected President, Roch Marc Kaboré, it was already public knowledge that it was coming. There were widespread conversations that the military had decided to seize power in the country and the only question was when, not if it would. The main issue was the government’s failure to stem jihadist attacks that have destabilised broad swathes of Burkina Faso, displaced 1.4 million people, and caused 2,000 deaths that year. The general feeling in the country was that the time had come to try an alternative form of government. The Burkinabe coup was therefore similar to the one in Egypt in 2013, when the coup was announced on national television months before it happened. The politics of Africa has been changing dramatically in recent years, propelled by the return of the military to power, and this would clearly occupy the terrain for some time.
The military coup in Zimbabwe in 2017 signalled the institutional return of military high commands to power. This was followed by the 2019 military coup in Sudan and the 2020 military coup in Mali. The military was active in assisting power takeovers in Tunisia and Algeria in 2020. The military strongman in Mali was not happy with the limited powers he was constrained to take in 2020 and he did another coup in 2021, giving himself full powers. The same thing happened in Sudan in 2021, as the military staged another coup to take on full powers and break the bonds with their civilian collaborators. In Chad, the 2021 coup was to keep power in the family, following the killing of strongman, Idris Deby.
Post-colonial Africa has seen over 200 coup attempts, with roughly half of these seeing the civilian leaders successfully removed. The democratic transitions of 1990 to 1994 led to a dramatic decline of unconstitutional seizure of state power. This trend is now being reversed, over the past three years, with the new wave of coups d’état on the continent. The current trend is however different from that of the 1970s and 1980s.
As was the case in the 1970s and 1980s, military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Niger and Gabon, have seen civilians demonstrate in favour of military rule and they have been ready to collaborate with the juntas. Clearly, there is a new generation in Africa that has no memory of the terrible impacts of military rule in the continent, and in its naivety this generation thinks military rule can be a political solution to the crisis generated by poor democratic practices.
Post-colonial Africa has seen over 200 coup attempts, with roughly half of these seeing the civilian leaders successfully removed. The democratic transitions of 1990 to 1994 led to a dramatic decline of unconstitutional seizure of state power. This trend is now being reversed, over the past three years, with the new wave of coups d’état on the continent. The current trend is however different from that of the 1970s and 1980s. Today, we are witnessing the grand entry of politics by the gun. In the Sahel, as well as other parts of Africa, numerous non-military groups have acquired guns and are engaged in armed struggle for power or sometimes just armed banditry. Generalised insecurity has become the political reality in many of our countries – from Nigeria to Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mozambique, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and so on. The military has completely failed to contain the armed combatants and reduce insecurity.
This situation has created two narratives in an emerging blame game. The military have been complaining in loud whispers that the corrupt democratic administrations have not been supplying them adequate weaponry to deal with insurgents, jihadists and armed bandits. The response is that deep corruption has also penetrated the military itself and they often misappropriate the funds given to them to execute the wars. A war economy has developed in which officers are massively enriching themselves from the war efforts and thereby sabotaging them. The winner, as it were, is corruption.
The time has come for Africans to reopen the debate on the best pathways of deepening democracy in our countries. The contemporary African must learn to read the tea leaves. Apparent democrats win elections with the promise of democratic consolidation and when they get the power, they work on dismantling the democratic system. We know from our past experience that the military cannot be the solution to our democratic and developmental needs.
The more profound narrative is that the African situation today is characterised by three types of coup d’état. The first is the constitutional coup in which serving presidents recklessly tear the normative framework they had themselves developed and engage in tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits, thereby destroying the legitimacy of the political system. The second coup is engaging in massive electoral fraud to change electoral outcomes. There have been at least thirteen African countries, where the leaders have used various legal devices and political manoeuvres to extend their tenures beyond two terms since 2012.
Often, it is the experience of these forms of coup d’état that creates the conditions for the third type, which is the military coup d’état. The result is that Africa’s robust normative frameworks for deterring unconstitutional changes of government and for advancing democracy, elections and governance have been considerably weakened. The norms codified in Article 30 of the African Union Constitutive Act, 2002 and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, 2012 have gradually lost their meanings.
It is for this reason that the condemnation of military coups by the African Union or by ECOWAS has very little resonance because people always ask what these institutions did when democratically elected leaders were messing up national constitutions and/or electoral systems. Democratic culture has therefore been weakened considerably through anti-democratic practices by ruling parties.
Repeatedly, ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations Security Council have strongly condemned coups and called on the military to reinstate the deposed leaders and restore constitutional rule with no effect. Even the imposition of sanctions has had very little effect on the emerging juntas.
The time has come for Africans to reopen the debate on the best pathways of deepening democracy in our countries. The contemporary African must learn to read the tea leaves. Apparent democrats win elections with the promise of democratic consolidation and when they get the power, they work on dismantling the democratic system. We know from our past experience that the military cannot be the solution to our democratic and developmental needs. What we need to reinforce in our political systems is early detection of democratic derailment so we can put the system back on course.
A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.
In the aftermath of the democratically elected president was overthrown in coups, Niger joined other African nations that currently have military administrations.
Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and other West African countries like Chad all have military governments.
Up until late in the evening, when 10 soldiers appeared on television and declared that president Mohamed Bazoum had been overthrown, there remained ambiguity after a group of Nigerian troops began what appeared to be a coup.
Later on Thursday, a general by the name of Omar Tchiani, also known as Abdourahmane Tchiani, was chosen to lead the new junta.
Here are five things we know about him – Courtesy the BBC
a. Gen Tchiani, 62, has been at the helm of the presidential guard since 2011
b. The 700-strong force was established by the ousted president’s predecessor Mahamadou Issoufou to guard against military takeovers
c. He was linked a 2015 coup attempt against Mr Issoufou. A subsequent court case in 2018 cleared him of involvement
d. He was promoted to the rank of general in 2018 by Mr Issoufou
e. Before the military takeover, President Bazoum had planned on removing the general as part of changes he had been making to the security forces, Niger’s private L’Enqueteur newspaper reports.
A source from the military the Moroccan navy has saved about 900 illegal migrants in recent days, the majority of whom were from sub-Saharan Africa, 400 of whom were found in Moroccan territorial waters. At the same time, there have been an increasing number of efforts to reach Spain.
One body was pulled from the ocean during the rescue efforts, the Moroccan source reported on Tuesday.
“During the period from 10 to 17 July, Royal Navy units rescued 845 would-be irregular migrants of various nationalities, the majority of whom were Sub-Saharan Africans. Nearly 400 people were rescued in waters under national jurisdiction in the south of the Kingdom,” the source said.
Those who were rescued received assistance on naval vessels before being brought ashore for identification.
Following stricter controls in the Mediterranean, there has been a significant surge in activity along the Canary Islands’ migratory route, which serves as the gateway to Europe in the Atlantic Ocean, with many migrants departing from the coasts of northwest Africa.
Similar perilous crossing attempts are also being made from the coasts of Morocco and the Western Sahara.
NGOs regularly report fatal shipwrecks, estimating that the death toll may reach dozens or even hundreds of people, occurring in Moroccan, Spanish, or international waters.
In a tweet on Tuesday, the Alarmphone aid network reported that 24 individuals lost their lives when their boat, carrying 61 people, capsized off Western Sahara two days prior. However, this information has not been officially confirmed by Moroccan authorities.
According to the Moroccan authorities, they have thwarted 26,000 attempts at illegal emigration during the first five months of 2023. In 2022, approximately 71,000 attempts were foiled, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
An unidentified man who had previously made threats of robbing the Bank of Ghana (BoG) with his gang and weapons, has now recanted his statements, asserting that it was only meant as a joke.
Earlier this week, a video that went viral on social media showed a man, thought to be in his mid-20s, stating his plans to rob the Bank of Ghana. In the video, he issued a warning to the Ghana Police and the Military to be vigilant as they prepare for their intended action.
However, just two days after the video went viral, the man, who remains unidentified, addressed the situation, claiming that his words were part of a broader conversation he had with a friend living in Qatar.
According to him, his friend had shared the video with malicious intent.
“Ghana Police and Ghana media, I am pleading with you. The video is not what it appears to be. The people who saw the video and perceived me as an armed robber, I am not one. Anybody who knows me can attest to the fact that I haven’t been robbed before.
“The only thing is that my mouth is trying to cause trouble for me if it hasn’t done that already. I am pleading with everybody who saw and broadcasted the first one, they should do the same to this one,” he said.
In his explanation, the man said that during the conversation, he disagreed with his friend, urging him to refrain from insulting the leaders of Ghana.
His friend reportedly replied saying that life in Qatar was difficult, they should return to Ghana.
He indicated that at the time of the reply from his friend, he had already deleted the portion of the video where he mentioned robbing the Bank of Ghana.
“In the video, I argued with him [reference to his friend] and I told him to stop peddling insults at the leaders of this country because Ghana belongs to all of us. Being it beautiful or not, it is for all of us. If you go to my page, you will find other videos I did advising him against insulting the leaders of this country.
“After, he replied to my message to say that, if Qatar is not a good country to live in, then he will let me return to Ghana. At the time of his reply, I had deleted that video that captured me saying I was going to rob the BoG,” he continued.
To him, his friend allegedly took advantage of the situation and edited the video, leaving the threatening part and sharing it without context.
The man insisted that he never had any intention of carrying out a robbery and that the edited video was misleading.
“But because of his mischief, he saved that one and cropped it to the part I indicated I was going to rob Bank of Ghana, he didn’t bring out the full video. So, I am pleading with you, Ghana Police that is not the full video,” he added.
A military woman has fallen victim to an alleged scam by a businessman who convinced her to pay an exorbitant sum of GHC 295,000 for services he purportedly promised to carry out on her behalf. However, it has come to light that the businessman never fulfilled these commitments, leaving the woman defrauded and distraught.
These actives include giving about GHC70,000 of the total amount to the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to make her [the military woman] a Municipal Chief Executive (MCE).
And also, he was given GHC70,000 to purchase two plots of land in Agyiriganor, in Accra.
This was contained in a Newspaper report by the Chronicle dated July 19, 2023.
According to the report, the Military woman whose name was given as Dorcas Owusuaa was allegedly lured by, Wisdom Kumordzi, 43, personnel to give him the said amount on January 16, 2023, at Burma Camp.
The suspect, Kumordzi, is said to have obtained a total of GHC295,000.00 from the military personnel.
He claimed that part of the funds would also be shared with several individuals, including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), heads of EOCO, CID, GRA, National Security, NIB, and the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, as well as his Secretary to release his locked-up funds at the Central Bank.
Kumordzi has been charged with 10 counts of defrauding by false pretenses, in an Accra High Court presided over by Judge Samuel Bright Acquah. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was remanded in police custody for two weeks.
Chief Inspector Daniel Danku, the prosecuting officer, in presenting the facts of the case to the court, indicated that the complainant reported the accused to the police on April 15, 2023.
The prosecutor to the court that between September 2022 and February 2023, Kumordzi had taken various sums of money totalling GH¢295,000.00 from Owusuaa, claiming that it was for purchasing a plot of land in Agyiriganor and to settle the aforementioned individuals to release his locked-up funds.
According to Chief Insp Danku, GH¢15,000 was to be given to the Commissioner-General of GRA (Ghana Revenue Authority), GH¢15,000 to the Secretary to the Governor of BoG (Bank of Ghana), GH$20,000 to the Director of the Economic Organised Crime Office (EOCO), GH¢20,000 to the Governor of BoG, and GH¢50,000 to the National Security boss.
The complainant also gave GH¢12,000 to be given to the IGP (Inspector General of Police), GH¢10,000 to the Director of CID (Criminal Investigation Department), and GH¢13,000 to the NIB (National Intelligence Bureau) boss.
The amounts were handed over to the accused on various dates: November 15 and 18, 2022; December 2 and 5, 2022; and February 1 and 9, 2023.
In summary, the court was informed that the accused spent six months collecting these sums of money from the complainant under false pretences.
The Prosecutor told the court that the accused, after collecting the said money, started playing hide and seek with the complainant till she lured him to the Cantonments Police Station, where he was arrested.
Although the accused admitted to receiving the funds from the complainant, he claimed that it was part of a business transaction with his supposed wife.
Chief Inspector Danku added that the accused requested time from the police to repay the money to the complainant.
So far, Kumordzi has repaid GH¢110,000.00 to the police, which has been returned to the complainant upon request.
The regional governor confirmed on Monday that gunmen had carried out an attack at a bustling intersection in the city of Bamenda, located in the troubled northwest region of Cameroon. The assailants killed 10 individuals and left two others injured.
According to a witness, the attackers arrived in vehicles late on Sunday and demanded that people lie on the ground, accusing them of failing to support local separatist causes. Some individuals complied with the orders, while others attempted to flee. The attackers then opened fire.
The Ambazonia Defense Forces (ADF), the primary separatist group in the English-speaking region, which has been engaged in a conflict since 2017 to protest perceived marginalization by the predominantly French-speaking government, denied any involvement in the attack.
North West region governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique told Reuters a manhunt had been launched for the “terrorists” behind the massacre. “Investigations are on, and we will issue a statement on this later today,” he added.
The witness said men in military uniforms arrived in two vehicles to storm Nacho Junction, where restaurants, bars and shops are located, at around 7:30 p.m. (1830 GMT).
They shot at people indiscriminately, the witness said, before taking off.
“There is possibility that it could be revenge killing,” ADF spokesperson Lucas Asu said, suggesting the attackers could have been disguised as separatist fighters.
More than 6,000 people have been killed in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions since conflict erupted in 2017 after protests were violently suppressed.
Earlier this month, human rights group Amnesty International slammed government troops, militias and separatists for killings, rapes, torture, burning of houses and other atrocities in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions.
It said those who speak out were being threatened and detained.
Reporting by Amindeh Blaise Atabong; Editing by Anait Miridzhanian, Elisha Bala-Gbogbo and Andrew Cawthorne.
Tuesday’s claim by Cuban authorities that the United States recently had a nuclear-powered submarine at its military installation at Guantanamo Bay was described as a “provocative escalation” of tensions after Washington claimed that the island was home to a Chinese spy station.
Cuba’s foreign ministry released a statement in which it stated that “the presence of a nuclear submarine there at this time makes it imperative to wonder what is the military reason behind this action in this peaceful region of the world.” That a submarine was stationed at the naval outpost was not confirmed by Washington.
The submarine may or may not have been armed, according to the ministry. It stated that from July 5 to July 8, it was at the base.
The American State Department refused to provide details regarding the movements of military equipment.
It claimed that Cuba was attempting to divert attention away from the two-year anniversary of the country’s largest public demonstrations since Fidel Castro’s revolution of 1959. Cuba has charged the United States with stirring up the turmoil on Monday.
Recent military operations conducted by joint Somali special forces, supported by foreign troops, have resulted in the reported deaths of at least 40 members of the al-Shabab militant group, which is affiliated with al-Qaeda.
These operations involved ground and air strikes in Somalia’s Lower Jubba region.
According to Somali state media, the operations occurred in Welmarow village near Afmadow town.
The Somali National News Agency, a state-run outlet, stated that the army successfully seized control of Welmarow village and Hagar town after eliminating al-Shabab hideouts and a weapons depot.
However, media outlets sympathetic to al-Shabab have reported that the group has subsequently regained control of Hagar town.
The operations involved the participation of Kenyan forces, as part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis), as reported by Kenya’s Star newspaper.
Al-Shabab currently holds significant territories in Lower Jubba and the entire Middle Jubba region in southern Somalia.
In August 2022, the Somali federal government announced a major offensive aimed at retaking control of territories from al-Shabab. These recent operations reflect the ongoing efforts to combat the presence of the militant group in the region.
A source from the military has revealed that an air base in eastern Libya, suspected to house mercenaries from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, was targeted by drone strikes of unknown origin on Thursday night. Fortunately, the attacks did not result in any casualties.
The source, who requested anonymity, told AFP that drones “of unknown origin struck the al-Kharrouba air base, located 150 km south-east of Benghazi (east), where elements of the Wagner group are believed to be based”.
“The strikes caused no casualties”, she added.
Libya has been in the grip of a major political crisis since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, undermined by divisions between east and west and foreign interference.
From April 2019 to June 2020, Khalifa Haftar, the strongman of eastern Libya, used Chadian, Sudanese, Nigerian and Syrian fighters, but above all mercenaries from Wagner, in his failed attempt to seize the capital Tripoli.
Since then, hundreds of Wagner members have remained active in the east, in the area of the oil terminals, and in the south of Libya after some of their troops left for Mali or Ukraine to fight alongside the Russian army.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has strongly advised the public to ignore a fraudulent document circulating on social media, falsely claiming that the military is currently conducting enlistment or recruitment activities.
The GAF has categorically stated that the document is entirely fabricated and holds no validity. This cautionary announcement aims to prevent misinformation and ensure that individuals do not fall victim to scams or false promises regarding military recruitment.
To ensure authenticity and avoid falling prey to scams, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has advised individuals interested in joining the military to exclusively rely on the official and authorized channels employed by GAF for announcing enlistment and recruitment activities. By adhering to these verified sources, prospective applicants can safely access accurate information and guidance regarding the military’s enlistment procedures.
A statement issued in Accra by Lieutenant Colonel A Marteye for the Director General Public Relations said the channels were the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times newspapers.
It said the fake press release on social media was directing interested applicants who wanted to join GAF to forward their summary report and contact information to a fraudulent email address: ghforces37@gmail.com.
Furthermore, the counterfeit document falsely referenced a supposed press release from the Finance Ministry to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) regarding the suspension of new officer recruitment across all sectors due to financial limitations faced by the government. However, it is important to note that this information is entirely fabricated and lacks any official confirmation.
The statement said GAF was not currently conducting any enlistment or recruitment thus, entreated the public to disregard the fraudulent press release.
“The public is urged to report such fake internet links and illicit activities to the nearest Military installation or police station,” it said.
It said the cooperation of the public was also solicited to help curb the menace of recruitment fraud across the country.
He has always reacted by using force, so you can be sure of that.
Internal liberties may be further restricted and the media, particularly significant Telegram channels, may be more strictly regulated.
Or Putin may conduct another set of military strikes on the territory of Ukraine.
Or maybe both.
One thing is clear – if Ukraine breaks Russian fortifications on the frontline next week, Moscow will definitely blame that on Wagner and its so-called betrayal.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has said that Ukraine will soon run out of its own military equipment and will be completely reliant on hardware supplied to them by Western countries.
He also claims that that Ukraine hasn’t made any progress in its counter offensive and says the country had “no chance” against Russia’s army.
President Putin made the comment at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg today.
Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia has already moved some warheads to Belarus.
Earlier this month, Russia said it would deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil from July.
Kyiv remains “absolutely calm” over the prospect, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov previously told the BBC.
According to Putin, nuclear weapons would only be used in the event of a threat to the existence of the Russian state.
But Russia has “no such need” to use them, he added.
But he refuses to be drawn further on the matter, asking the session host: “Do you want me to frighten the whole world? No, I don’t want to.”
Putin closed the discussion by saying Russia was using “all the power in our hands” against use of nuclear weapons.
Officials have reported that two Japanese soldiers were killed and another injured when an 18-year-old trainee opened fire at a military training range in central Japan.
The incident occurred during a shooting drill in Gifu on Wednesday, with the trainee allegedly firing eight shots at instructors.
One of the victims was a 25-year-old man, while details about the other victims, who were instructors at the facility, are not yet known.
The suspect was immediately detained and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stated that no civilians were involved, and live-fire and explosive training drills were suspended nationwide following the attack.
Gun violence remains rare in Japan, but a few notable incidents have occurred in recent years.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was gunned down at a political rally by a protester last July. Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and his death profoundly shocked the country.
Japan was again rattled in April when Prime Minister Fumio Kishida escaped unharmed after having a smoke bomb thrown at his campaign event.
And in May, a Japanese man killed four people, including two police officers, in an hours-long knife and shooting rampage in the Nagano region.
On Wednesday, pictures on Japanese media showed police and emergency vehicles blocking off roads around the training facility in Gifu city.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu said he was aware of the shooting, and said the incident was still under investigation.
Japan has strict gun ownership rules, and only allows civilians to own hunting rifles and airguns. People have to undergo a strict exam and mental health tests in order to buy a gun in Japan.
The incident is currently under investigation, according to Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has undertaken a significant reshuffle by appointing new military and intelligence chiefs in the country.
The reshuffle saw the appointment of Maj Gen Juvénal Marizamunda as the new defense minister, replacing Maj Gen Albert Murasira, who had held the position since 2018.
Additionally, Lt Gen Mubarakh Muganga has been appointed as the new army chief, taking over from Gen Jean Bosco Kazura, who had been leading the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) since November 2019.
It is noteworthy that the simultaneous dismissal of a defense minister and an army chief is an uncommon occurrence in Rwanda. However, no specific reasons have been provided for the reshuffle.
In previous instances of senior military personnel changes, President Kagame would occasionally provide hints publicly about the underlying motivations.
Alongside these key appointments, President Kagame also named new officials for positions such as the army chief of staff (land forces) and the head of military intelligence.
Furthermore, he made changes to the top commanders overseeing the Rwandan troops deployed in Mozambique, where they are assisting in the fight against militant Islamists.
President Paul Kagame’s recent reshuffle signifies a significant shift in the leadership of Rwanda’s military and intelligence sectors, although the specific reasons for these changes remain undisclosed.
