lundi 31 juillet 2023
dimanche 30 juillet 2023
Senegal's opposition leader Ousmane Sonko charged with conspiracy against state Sonko faces multiple counts including ‘calls for insurrection, endangering state security’, says public prosecutor James Tasamba | 30.07.2023 - Update : 30.07.2023 Senegal's opposition leader and presidential hopeful, Ousmane Sonko, who was arrested Friday, has been charged with multiple counts that include conspiracy against the state, according to the public prosecutor Saturday. Sonko was charged with “calls for insurrection, criminal association, endangering state security, conspiracy against the authority of the state, criminal association in connection with a terrorist enterprise and theft,” Abdou Karim Diop told state television. Sonko was arrested by the gendarmerie at his home in the nation’s capital of Dakar. Last month, a court sentenced Sonko to two years in prison for "corrupting youth," jeopardizing his presidential ambitions. Violent protests erupted in Dakar and other towns following his sentencing, leaving 16 dead and more than 350 injured. The 48-year-old has refused to accept the verdict, claiming that the trial was politically motivated to derail his 2024 presidential bid. Sonko was third in the 2019 election against incumbent President Macky Sall, who has ruled out running for a third term
samedi 29 juillet 2023
Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor dies aged 56 - BBC News. Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor dies aged 56 - BBC News BBC News 4,5 k J'aime 322 079 vues 26 juil. 2023 #SineadOConnor #BBCNews #PopeJohnPaulII Irish singer and activist Sinéad O'Connor has died at the age of 56. She was best known for her single Nothing Compares 2 U, released in 1990, which went on to hit number one around the world. Her later albums featured guest spots by her own children, and hymns to peace and community. Earlier this year, she won a classic album award in Ireland, and dedicated it to the country's refugee community
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Protests Erupt in Senegal as Government Stymies Opposition June 18, 2022 11:47 AM Annika Hammerschlag Protesters throw a dumpster on a fire in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) Protesters throw a dumpster on a fire in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) DAKAR, SENEGAL — Tensions in Senegal reached a tipping point Friday over the government’s decision to keep the opposition off the ballot in planned legislative elections. Thousands took to the streets to show support for opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and to demand President Macky Sall allow his opponents to run. Plumes of smoke billowed into the air throughout Dakar’s southern neighborhoods Friday as demonstrators set fire to tires and plastic bins. Tear gas canisters rained down from the sky, causing protesters to scatter. As they reemerged, they chanted: “Macky Sall is a dictator!” and hurled rocks at police officers. A protester hurls a rock at a police officer in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) A protester hurls a rock at a police officer in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) Graduate student Maimina Aidara was among them. “What Macky Sall is doing to Senegal is an injustice. What he's trying to do is not right,” he said. “We, the people here in Senegal, are suffering. We’re suffering. We’re really suffering. We want Macky Sall to leave office. The protests will continue every day, God willing, until the elections. Macky Sall will step down.” Anger has mounted since Senegal’s constitutional council invalidated the opposition’s list of candidates for the July 31 legislative elections, preventing opposition leader Sonko and other opponents from running. The result of the elections will determine the makeup of Senegal’s 165-member National Assembly, currently dominated by the president’s coalition. On Friday, police were seen barricading Sonko’s house, preventing him from attending Friday prayers and from the demonstration. Protesters and passersby run from tear gas in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) Protesters and passersby run from tear gas in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) Sonko came in third in the 2019 presidential election and is a candidate for 2024. Sonko was arrested last year on what many believe were dubious accusations of rape. The incident ignited a week of rioting that led to the deaths of 14 people. Two deaths were reported at Friday’s demonstration, according to Agence France-Presse, and three opposition members were arrested. West Africa has suffered a string of coups in recent years and any indication of instability in Senegal could have ramifications for the entire region. Hawa Ba is head of the Senegal office at the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. “We are in a very volatile subregion. Democracy is at risk, and Senegal is supposed to be a beacon of democracy," said Ba. "It’s supposed to be a country that’s pulling the region and the continent upwards. And what we are witnessing is Senegal’s democracy sliding back since a few years now.” Ba called on international bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States and the African Union to pressure Senegal to abide by democratic norms. The African Union is led by Macky Sall. Protesters run from tear gas in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) Protesters run from tear gas in Dakar, Senegal Friday, June 17, 2022. (Annika Hammerschlag/VOA) Though many protesters at Friday’s demonstration said they attended in support of Sonko, others had more general motives. Seydina Halifa Ababacar said his main concern was inflation. The price of items such as rice and cattle have increased, he said, and with Eid al-Adha around the corner, he is worried the price of sheep will, too. “They’ve increased prices on everything. Our families are suffering,” he said. “I came here to fight for my future and for that of my children. I’m not here for Ousmane Sonko – all politicians are the same. If we don't [throw rocks at police officers] there will be no solution. Protesting is a right.” The protest took place despite a government ban. A June 8 protest had also been banned but was ultimately allowed to proceed. Protests are expected to continue throughout the weekend, with or without authorization. VOA
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Attah Ameh Oboni – the Nigerian King who Chose Suicide Instead of Bowing to the Queen of England This African King Refused To Bow To Queen Elizabeth...What happens Next was shocking. In the realm of African royalty, where age-old traditions and regal customs hold steadfast, there once lived a king who defied expectations and challenged the norms. This captivating tale takes us to a momentous encounter between an African king, whose name echoed with the weight of his ancestral legacy, and Queen Elizabeth II, the revered monarch of the United Kingdom. It was a meeting that would forever be etched in history, for this African king, undeterred by conventional protocol, dared to stand firm, refusing to bow in deference to her majesty. Embarking on a journey of cultural independence and unyielding pride, this remarkable king forged an indomitable path, leaving an indelible mark on the pages of time. This is the story of Attah Ameh Oboni – the Nigerian King who Chose Suicide Instead of Bowing to the Queen of England In the picturesque village of Ugwolawo, nestled near the verdant lands of Kogi State, Nigeria, a destined soul took its first breath in the year 1911. This blessed child, King Attah Ameh Oboni, would emerge as a beacon of hope and a symbol of leadership for his people, the Igala. From an early age, it was evident that he possessed the rare qualities of wisdom, charisma, and a deep connection to his ancestral roots. As the seasons turned and the years unfurled their tapestry, the young Attah Ameh Oboni gradually emerged as the heir apparent to the illustrious Ata throne. The weight of responsibility settled upon his shoulders, but he bore it with grace, dedicating himself to the pursuit of knowledge and understanding. Guided by the wisdom passed down through generations, he honed his intellect, imbibing the teachings of his forefathers, and imprinted their profound wisdom upon his very being. Under King Attah Ameh Oboni's reign, the Igala kingdom experienced a period of remarkable progress and prosperity. Fueled by his visionary leadership, the land witnessed an unprecedented economic boom, breathing life into its markets and instilling a renewed sense of hope within the hearts of its inhabitants. The king's unwavering dedication to his people manifested through various initiatives, one of which was the expansion of native schools. Recognizing the importance of education in empowering future generations, he invested in the growth and development of educational institutions, nurturing young minds and opening doors to a brighter future
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VOA Sonko Calls for Challenge to Sall Seeking Third Term 03 July 2023 10:16 Agence France-Presse FILE: Then-presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko gives a speech during a campaign rally in Pikine, outside Dakar, Senegal on Feb 21, 2019. FILE: Then-presidential candidate Ousmane Sonko gives a speech during a campaign rally in Pikine, outside Dakar, Senegal on Feb 21, 2019. See comments DAKAR — Popular Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko called on the public to "come out en masse" on the eve of a speech in which President Macky Sall is expected to announce on Monday whether he will seek a controversial third term. "We must come out to confront the Macky Sall regime and say that it is not up to him to choose the candidates that will face each other in the next presidential election," Sonko said on social media Sunday night. If the president announces his candidacy for a third mandate, he added, "I believe it's incumbent on all the Senegalese people to stand up, to face him." "If we have to put up a fight, it must be definitive... The days and weeks to come will be crucial," he added. Sonko was sentenced in early June to two years in prison for "corrupting" a young woman, sparking protests that left at least 16 people dead. The conviction makes him ineligible to stand in next year's presidential elections. Sonko has claimed that the court case was engineered to prevent him from running, a charge authorities deny. He has been blocked in by the authorities at his home - or "illegally held," according to him - since May 28. Sall, meanwhile, is expected to announce whether he will seek another mandate at 8:00 pm on Monday after holding the country in suspense over his intentions for months. Sall was first elected in 2012 and again in 2019, with the constitution stipulating that a president cannot serve more than two terms. His supporters, however, present him as their candidate for 2024 and argue that a constitutional revision in 2016 reset the counter to zero. Sonko said on Sunday that if he was arrested and not released within two hours, "I call on all the Senegalese people to stand up as one and come out en masse and this time put an end to this criminal regime." If the president announces his candidacy for a third mandate, he added, "I believe it's incumbent on all the Senegalese people to stand up, to face him." "If we have to put up a fight, it must be definitive... The days and weeks to come will be crucial," he added. He went on to urge the public to mobilise to demand the release of political prisoners and bring an end as soon as possible to his "administrative detention." Sonko also claimed a recent "national dialogue" initiated by Sall that restored the political trajectories of two other previously sidelined opposition figures was merely a "deal" aimed at further denying him a path to the presidency. While remaining vague about his intentions, Sall has argued that it would not be unconstitutional for him to run again, and that his decision to do so would be "free and sovereign." On Saturday, he attended a gathering of local officeholders who presented him with a petition of support. "My battle and my greatest pride is truly leading to victory and pursuing our economic policies to the benefit of our population," Sall said, adding that Senegal's path to becoming an emerging economy by 2035 had already been "marked out
dimanche 2 juillet 2023
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