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Tag: Military

  • Atiku extols supreme sacrifices of Nigerian military

    Atiku extols supreme sacrifices of Nigerian military

    Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar commends the remarkable, incredible, unflagging and patriotic sacrifices of our military personnel in the line of duty and in the defence of the country.

    The former Vice President made the statement shortly after his arrival from an overseas trip at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday.

    A statement released by his media office to mark this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, quotes the former Vice President as observing that since the end of the civil war in 1970, members of our armed forces have not faced greater challenges than today in the face of counterterrorism war against the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Atiku Abubakar says apart from sapping energy and resources, counterterrorism is one of the most stressful security duties, adding that the performance of our military personnel under these gruelling challenges “is admirable and praiseworthy.”

    According to Atiku Abubakar, laying down one’s life for the sake of others is the highest sacrifices, explaining these officers and men are driven by sheer patriotism and love of fellow citizens. He notes that any group of people who can overcome fear for the call of duty and love of one’s country deserve the greatest honour, respect and rewards from their societies.

    The Turakin Adamawa also states that he was impressed beyond words by the recent military successes against the Boko Haram insurgents, including the successful assault on the notorious terrorists den, the Sambisa Forest, which he says has sent a clear message that criminals, cannot defeat law and order permanently.

    He pays special tributes to the officers and men who lost their lives in the line of duty or battle field, and calls on the authorities to take adequate care of the families of fallen heroes. The former Vice President also says he is looking forward to the day members of our military personnel would join the list of military inventors and designers such as Mikhail Kalashnikov of Russia, the designer of the famous AK-47 assault rifles.

    He says that the Defence Industries Corporation Kaduna should one day showcase the inventiveness, and technical acumen of our military. The former Vice President while congratulating our gallant armed forces, advises the military leadership to create special units for research to help Nigeria produce its weapons, among others locally to reduce the pressure on the over dependence on foreign countries for weapons and equipment.

  • Cuba, Russia improve cooperation, sign new pacts

    Cuba, Russia improve cooperation, sign new pacts

    Cuba and Russia on Thursday has signed seven cooperation pacts covering technology, military, industry, aviation, medical equipment, and railroad transportation.

    The pacts were signed during a visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

    Cuba-Russia cooperation is in its best shape in over two decades thanks to both sides’ political willingness to deepen their ties, said Cuban Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas.

    Rogozin said Moscow and Havana are key allies in facing “external pressures” from Western powers.

    “Several Western countries like the United States try to put pressure on us by imposing sanctions, but Russia and Cuba share the same idea regarding independence and sovereignty,” he added.

    Russia is one of Cuba’s top trading partners and Havana seeks to deepen cooperation with Moscow. The Soviet Union was the island’s main ally until its disintegration in 1991.

    Rogozin travelled to Havana after visiting Venezuela, where he met with President Nicolas Maduro.

  • Rwanda opens investigations on 20 French officials over genocide

    Rwanda opens investigations on 20 French officials over genocide

    The government of Rwanda has opened criminal inquiry against 20 French officials for their role in the 1994 genocide, some of whom could be charged in court if proceedings show they have cases to answer, according to a statement released on Tuesday evening by the office of the Prosecutor General.

    “The Office of the Prosecutor General announces the start of a formal criminal inquiry into the role of certain French Government agents and/or officials in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda,” reads the statement signed by Richard Muhumuza, Rwanda Prosecutor General.

    Rwanda wants to conclusively bring to an end simmering tension with France by making those who took part in the massacre of over a million lives pay for their actions, reads part of the statement.

    The prosecution authority further said that as investigations continue, other French government agents and/or officials might be required to similarly assist the prosecution authority.

    Prosecution said that relevant French government authorities have been formally engaged.

    “The inquiry, for now, is focused on 20 individuals whom, according to information gathered so far, are required by the Prosecution Authority to explain or provide clarity on allegations against them, to enable the Authority to make conclusions whether the concerned individuals should be formally charged or not,” reads the statement.

    Early this month, Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda minister of foreign affairs told local and international reporters that the judicial process against French officials accused of committing genocide crimes will be in steps, starting by a thorough investigation.

    She stressed that France had political and military advisors to both the government and militia who perpetrated the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

    In October, the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG), released a list of 22 senior French military soldiers accused of deliberately aiding the planning of the genocide.

    France-Rwanda relations continues to sour following the announcement of plans of the reopening of investigations by France into the shooting down of a plane carrying ex-genocidal regime president Juvenal Habyarimana.

    Last month, Rwanda President Paul Kagame, while speaking at the Rwanda Judicial year event, warned revisiting the case of plane crash of former president Habyarimana would lead to diplomatic standoffs between Rwanda and France and it will be a “showdown”.

    Between 2006 and 2009, relations between Rwanda and France was completely broken off after a French judge claimed that top Rwandan officials were involved in the downing of the Habyarimana’s plane; an event widely seen as sparking the crisis.

    France’s role during the April-July 1994 genocide in Rwanda has for years been the subject of intense scrutiny and much controversy, with both Paris and Kigali trying to pin responsibility on the other for the genocide.

    While Rwanda has repeatedly accused France of backing the genocidal regime government, allegedly arming and training the Hutu ethnic group perpetrators responsible for the mass murder during genocide, France has denied the accusations of murder, insisting its forces worked to protect the civilians.