President Emmanuel Macron of France has announce the recall of the French ambassador from Niger, along with the withdrawal of French military troops in the coming months. This decision positively receive by Niger’s military leaders, who view it as a significant step toward achieving sovereignty. […]
News SocietyDestruction Flooding Event in Eastern Libya Emergency personnel in eastern Libya are recovering nearly 1,500 dead from Derna, a city that was hit hard by the water. However, flooding destroyed dams and washed away neighbourhoods, raising concerns that the death toll may reach 5,000. This […]
SocietyIn a significant move, United State Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine and declared a substantial aid package of $1 billion to strengthen the country’s capabilities in resisting Russia. A Billion-Dollar Commitment During a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Blinken […]
UncategorizedPresident Emmanuel Macron of France has announce the recall of the French ambassador from Niger, along with the withdrawal of French military troops in the coming months. This decision positively receive by Niger’s military leaders, who view it as a significant step toward achieving sovereignty. […]
News SocietyPresident Emmanuel Macron of France has announce the recall of the French ambassador from Niger, along with the withdrawal of French military troops in the coming months. This decision positively receive by Niger’s military leaders, who view it as a significant step toward achieving sovereignty. Macron’s announcement comes two months after a coup in the West African nation that led to the removal of a pro-French president.
In a televise interview, Macron state, “France has decided to recall our ambassador. In the coming hours, our ambassador and several diplomats return.” He went on to say that military cooperation had “come to an end,” and French forces gradually withdrawn “in the coming months and weeks,” with a full withdrawal expecting “by the end of this year.”
The military junta in Niger swiftly respond to Macron’s announcement through a statement broadcast on national television. The statement read, “This week, we celebrate a new step toward Niger’s sovereignty,” referring to the withdrawal of the French ambassador and troops. The junta had seize power by overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
Reports had emerge that the Nigerien military junta had ban “French aircraft” from flying over the country’s airspace, according to the African and Malagasy Air Navigation Security Agency (ASECNA). However, it remains unclear whether this ban affect the departure of the French ambassador.
Macron emphasize that, “in the coming weeks and months, we consult with the rebels, as we want this to be done peacefully.” He stres that the post-coup government “no longer wants to fight terrorism.”
France has maintain a military presence in Niger as part of its counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region. Approximately 1,500 French troops have been station in the country. Macron’s announcement represents a significant shift in France’s military presence in the Sahel region, which has been grappling with extremist violence and insurgencies.
Macron’s decision to recall the ambassador and withdraw troops underscores a notable change in France’s approach to its military involvements in the Sahel. It signals a departure from France’s historical role as a dominant influence in its former African colonies.
This move aligns with Macron’s earlier statements about reducing France’s military footprint in the Sahel. While the decision to withdraw troops could be seen as a response to the coup, Macron’s emphasis on peaceful consultations with “rebels” suggests a broader diplomatic strategy.
The international community closely monitor developments in Niger as it navigates political transitions and its evolving relationship with France. The country’s trajectory carry implications for regional stability and counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel, given its strategic location and the ongoing threat of extremist violence in the region.
Destruction Flooding Event in Eastern Libya Emergency personnel in eastern Libya are recovering nearly 1,500 dead from Derna, a city that was hit hard by the water. However, flooding destroyed dams and washed away neighbourhoods, raising concerns that the death toll may reach 5,000. This […]
SocietyEmergency personnel in eastern Libya are recovering nearly 1,500 dead from Derna, a city that was hit hard by the water. However, flooding destroyed dams and washed away neighbourhoods, raising concerns that the death toll may reach 5,000.
This unimaginable wreckage, caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel, highlights the storm’s severity and the nation’s vulnerability. Due to war between opposing administrations in the east and west, Libya has neglected key infrastructure in several places for over a decade.
More than 36 hours after the accident, outside help has started reaching Derna. The coastal city’s 89,000 inhabitants’ access roadways have been damaged by severe rains.
Images and videos from the scene show blanketed remains in hospital complexes and vast graves full of dead. According to the eastern Libyan health minister, approximately 1,500 remains have been rescued and half were buried by Tuesday evening, but the dismal reality reveals a greater death toll. Mohammed Abu-Lamousha, a spokesman for the east Libya interior ministry, claims over 5,300 people died in Derna, while the ambulance authority recorded 2,300.
At least 10,000 people are still missing, and over 40,000 have been forced to flee their homes, according to Tamer Ramadan, the ambassador for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Libya.
Tamer Ramadan has compared Libya’s predicament to Morocco’s earthquake, emphasising the necessity for quick humanitarian relief.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN is working with local, national, and international partners to quickly provide humanitarian relief to Libya.
Derna and other towns in eastern Libya wiped out by a severe storm. Wadi Derna, a river that runs from the highlands to the Mediterranean, saw flash floods. It happen when the dams outside the city broken by the relentless bombardment.
Local resident Ahmed Abdalla said that the water wall “erased everything in its way.” Whole communities on both sides of the river swept away in the mud and debris, as shown in YouTube videos posted by local residents. Backing up to the river, multi-story apartment buildings had their facades blown off and their concrete floors fractured. After the flood, cars began piling up.
The Libyan National Meteorological Centre said that 72 hours of prior notice given for the upcoming “extreme weather event” of Storm Daniel. Officials in the government were notified by email and the media to take safety measures. Bayda had a whopping 414.1 mm (16.3 inches) of rain on Sunday and Monday.
Volunteers, government employees, and civilians joined the local military in combing the rubble for bodies. The bodies dragged out of the sea by an inflatable boat. Othman Abduljaleel, the health minister for eastern Libya, says he fears many people swept away in the debris or drowned in the Mediterranean.
After years of neglect, Derna’s enormous damage raises concerns about how the rains broke two dams outside the city. Some analysts believe the dam collapsed due to poor maintenance and heavy rain.
London-based Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui said that Derna neglected for years due to postponed maintenance. He also note factionalism, since Derna was formerly control by Islamic terrorist groups and transferred to the eastern government in 2019 after lengthy urban battles.
Despite the continuing competition between the eastern administration in Benghazi and the western government in Tripoli, the immediate catastrophe response showed collaboration. The western Libyan government sent an aircraft with medical supplies and healthcare professionals to Benghazi and allocated funding for Derna and other eastern cities’ restoration. Egypt, Turkey, and the UAE sent rescue teams, while Germany, France, and Italy pledged help.
Ground conditions may hinder assistance and equipment movement to Derna. There are calls for a marine passage to distribute assistance.
After the accident, President Joe Biden said the US will send emergency cash to relief organisations and work with Libyan authorities and the U.N.
Storm Daniel also devastated eastern Libya, killing 50 in Bayda. Bayda’s major hospital, the Medical Centre, flooded, forcing patient evacuations. Susa, Marj, and Shahatt also hit, with hundreds of families fleeing to Benghazi and other eastern Libyan schools and government facilities. According to the World Bank, northeast Libya, particularly Jabal al-Akhdar, where numerous impacted communities situated, has one of the highest annual rainfall averages.
In a significant move, United State Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine and declared a substantial aid package of $1 billion to strengthen the country’s capabilities in resisting Russia. A Billion-Dollar Commitment During a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Blinken […]
UncategorizedIn a significant move, United State Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine and declared a substantial aid package of $1 billion to strengthen the country’s capabilities in resisting Russia.
During a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Blinken unveiled a commitment of over $1 billion in aid. He emphasized that this assistance includes both military and civilian security aid, amounting to $665.5 million.
This significant aid package arrives at a time when Ukraine faces criticism for what observers perceive as a slow response in countering Russia.
On the other hand, Ukraine has consistently sought assistance from Western nations, acknowledging that it would be overwhelmed confronting Russian forces without military equipment support.
The United States, along with several Western nations, has been increasing its support. This recent aid is not the first; the U.S. has already provided more than $40 billion in security assistance since Russia initiated its invasion last year.
As the U.S. once again extends its support, Ukraine emphasizes that it does not take this aid lightly.
“U.S. assistance is not charity. Thanks to our partners, Ukraine is deterring Russian aggression, and we are not endangering the lives of American citizens,” Kuleba expressed to Blinken.
Blinken, in turn, stated that this latest aid would assist Ukraine in devising a counteroffensive strategy and help “build the right momentum.”
Additionally, Kuleba expressed gratitude towards the United States for granting approval to other countries interested in providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.
Under the agreement, countries purchasing F-16 jets from the United States are required to seek prior approval if they intend to transfer the aircraft to another party.
Several countries had been hesitant to provide these jets for various reasons, including the need to obtain clearance from the U.S. government before transferring the fleet.
The assurance from the U.S. that it would allow the transfer of these fighter jets to Ukraine has been well-received, as it further strengthens Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the face of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The United States’ commitment of $1 billion in aid, encompassing military and civilian security support, underscores its continued commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. Ukraine’s acknowledgment of the assistance’s significance and the approval for F-16 fighter jets further solidify the collaborative efforts of Western nations in supporting Ukraine’s resilience against the ongoing conflict with Russia.