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Tag: niger

  • Niger govt reacts to violent language in video of school debate

    Niger govt reacts to violent language in video of school debate

    Niger State Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education has condemned the use of vulgar and violent language in a school debate by a pupil from a school in the State.

    This was contained in a statement by Malam Jibrin Kodo, Information Officer of the Ministry and made available to newsmen in Minna on Sunday.

    The viral video on social media showed a pupil using inappropriate language during a debate in one of the schools in the state.

    The statement said that “the disturbing content of the video, was evident that the student was coached to use violence and vulgar language in his presentation.

    “Such behavior is not only unacceptable by the Ministry, but also goes against the values, respect and decorum that should be upheld in an educational settings,” it said.

    The ministry, however, emphasised the importance of promoting a positive and respectful learning environment for students and pupils at their formative age.

    It noted that the use of vulgar and violent languages not only reflects poor orientation for the individual pupils, but also to the school and the educational system.

    It further disclosed that the Commissioner of the Ministry, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, has vowed to investigate the incident.

    It added that an appropriate disciplinary action would also be taken against those responsible for coaching the student to use such language.

    The Ministry urged all schools to reinforce the importance of good conduct among students both in and outside the classroom.

    It stressed the ministry’s commitment to upholding high standards of behavior and academic excellence in schools.

    It added that the ministry would not tolerate any form of ill behavior that undermines its principles.

  • France set to close embassy in Niger Republic

    France set to close embassy in Niger Republic

    The European nation of France has noted that it will close its embassy in Niger Republic over a frosty relationship with the West African nation.

    France also added that its embassy was attacked in the country.

    “After the attack on our embassy July 30, and the setting up of a blockade around our building by Niger forces, most of our diplomatic staff left in late September,” the sources said.

    “The French embassy in Niger is therefore no longer able to function normally or fulfil its missions. Taking note of this situation, we have decided to close our embassy.”

    Local staff members have been dismissed and compensated, the sources added.

    Relations between Niger and former colonial power France severed  after the Junta ousted elected leader Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on July 26.

    .The Sahel country’s new rulers scrapped defence deals with its traditional security partner, expelled the French ambassador and has forged closer ties with Russia.

    French troops based in Niger as part of an anti-jihadist mission are due to complete their withdrawal this month.

  • Niger junta agree to return country to democratic government

    Niger junta agree to return country to democratic government

    The military government in Niger Republic has agreed to return the country’s administration under democratic government at a later time.

    This was made known by the Togo Foreign Minister Robert Dussey on Friday in Niamey.

    According to Dussey who spoke on Niger’s national television, said he has reached an agreement “on the content and timing of the transition” with Niger’s junta-appointed prime minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine and foreign minister Bakary Yaou Sangare.

    “We are ready to present the plan… to the mediating heads of state and the ECOWAS Commission,” he said, referring to the Economic Community of West African States.

    After Niger became the latest country in the Sahel to experience a coup with July’s ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum, the regional grouping imposed tough sanctions and suspended trade, while also floating the option of military intervention.

    The sanctions and suspension of international finance and aid have left Niger, already one of the world’s poorest countries, economically hanging by a thread.

    In October, the military leaders announced a 40-percent cut in the 2023 budget due to the “heavy sanctions imposed by international and regional organisations”.

    On Sunday, ECOWAS leaders in Abuja said any easing of the punitive measures against Niger was contingent on a “short transition” period.

    The bloc also decided that a committee made up of the presidents of Benin, Togo and Sierra Leone would lead negotiations with the Nigerien military leaders on the commitments to be implemented.

    According to Niger’s broadcaster, Tele Sahel, mediator Dussey will return to Niamey in January with his counterpart from Sierra Leone, Timothy Kabba.

  • ECOWAS suspends Niger from regional bodies

    ECOWAS suspends Niger from regional bodies

    The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS/CEDEAO) has officially suspended the Republic of Niger by all sub-regional bodies, until constitutional order is restored in the country.

    This is contained in a statement by the regional organisation, following the decisions taken at the summit of heads of state and government held on Sunday in Abuja.

    “Until the 64th ordinary session held on Dec. 10, 2023, the Conference of Heads of State and Government considered the situation in Niger as a coup attempt and continued to consider Mohamed Bazoum the President of the Republic of Niger, Head of State,” the statement said.

    “Due to this position, Niger was not suspended from ECOWAS’ decision-making bodies and members of Bazoum’s government were authorized to represent Niger in ECOWAS’ statutory meetings.

    The Dec. 10 summit recognised that Mohamed Bazoum’s government had effectively been overthrown by a military coup.

    Consequently, beginning from Dec. 10, 2023, Niger is suspended from all decision-making bodies of ECOWAS, until constitutional order is restored in the country,” the statement said.

    On Sunday, the ECOWAS leaders’ meeting in Abuja, asked the military junta of Niger, which came to power in a coup on July 26, to release the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum in exchange for the lifting of the sanctions imposed on the country.

    The proposal was, however, rejected by the leader of the junta, Omar Abdourahmane Tchiani, who reiterated that Bazoum would not be released.

    After the summit, the bloc presented the proposal to lift the sanctions in exchange for the freedom of the deposed president, also asking the junta to shorten the duration of the transition period, currently set at three years.

    Tchiani agreed to this last request, without however specifying by how much.

    The sub-regional body also announced the maintenance of sanctions against Niger.

  • Coup: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso set to form an alliance in West Africa

    Coup: Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso set to form an alliance in West Africa

    Following a successful military takeover in three West African countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, insinuations are rife that their foreign ministries are planning to create a confederation as part of effort to unite the countries within a federation.

    The top diplomats of the Alliance of Sahel States met in Bamako for two days.

    Reports say that their discussions were aimed at forming new alliance, with the ministers emphasising the importance of diplomacy, defence and development “to consolidate political and economic integration”.

    Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said the recommendations will be submitted to each head of state, who are due to meet in Bamako at an unspecified date.

    The countries’ economy and finance ministers who met on late November advised creating a stabilisation fund, an investment bank and a committee that would study an economic and monetary union.

    In mid-September, the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger signed a mutual defence pact.

    The Liptako-Gourma Charter, named after the eponymous historical region, established the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

  • 17 killed as articulated vehicle crashes in Niger [Photo]

    17 killed as articulated vehicle crashes in Niger [Photo]

    No fewer than 17 persons were killed in an auto crash on Tuesday at Takalafia village on Yawuri Expressway in Magama Local Government Area of Niger.

    Corps Public Education Officer at the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Bisi Kazeem, a deputy corps marshal confirmed the accident in a statement he issued in Abuja.

    Kazeem stated that the accident occurred at about 3 a.m. and it involved 229 persons comprising 220 male adults, four female adults, and five male children.

    He said that the crash involved a DAF articulated vehicle engaged in speed violation resulting in loss of control.

    He added that 206 male adults, one female adult, and one male child were rescued, but had varying degrees of injuries.

    “A total of 17 persons were killed in the crash. The injured victims have been evacuated to Kontagora General Hospital, Niger, for immediate medical attention.

    “The dead were deposited in the mortuary of the same hospital,’’ Kazeem stated.

    See photo:

  • 10 die in boat mishap in Shiroro LG of Niger

    10 die in boat mishap in Shiroro LG of Niger

    No fewer than 10 persons have lost their lives in a boat mishap in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

    Alhaji Garba Salihu, Head of Relief and Rehabilitation in the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.

    He said the agency received report of a boat mishap in Shiroro council area that occurred on Nov. 16 around 2:00 pm.

    He said the boat left Zangoro Bassa/Kukoki ward terminal to Gijiwa/Kato ward terminal in Shiroro local government area where it capsized.

    Salihu said about 34 passengers were on the boat with 20 male and 14 female.

    He said 24 survivors have been rescued and one body recovered adding that search and rescue operation was ongoing to recover the remaining missing persons.

    He said those who lost their lives were Farida Muntari, Sharhabila Sagir, Abubakar Sadiq, Na’ima Ibrahim, Amina, Safaratu Ibrahim, Sadiq Ibrahim, Rafiya Yakubu with two bodies unidentified.

    He said the boat had six drivers which were Dahiru Yusuf, Sa’idu Shu’aibu, Ahmadu Garba, Sa’idu Garba, Abdulaziz Yahaya, and Lukuman Sani.

    He added that the boat mishap was caused by water hyacinth, strong waves, and a grafting tree.

    Salihu disclosed that the council Chairman of Shiroro alongside the agency desk officer had visited the scene of the incident.

  • Boat mishap claims lives of 2 children in Niger

    Boat mishap claims lives of 2 children in Niger

    Two children have been confirmed dead while two others sustained various degrees of injuries in a boat mishap that occurred in Katcha Local Government Area of Niger.

    The Overseeing Director-General of Niger Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Salihu Garba, disclosed this to NAN in Minna on Saturday.

    He said the incident occurred on Friday at about 6 p.m when the boat engine caught fire due to a machanical failure and inflamed a gallon of petrol stored inside the boat.

    He said that 145 passengers were in the boat, adding that they were from Danbo community in Kogi.

    Garba disclosed that the passengers were on their way back from Katcha market when the incident occurred.

    He said that the body of one of the deceased children had been recovered while the search for that of the second missing child was still ongoing.

  • How ousted Niger President tried to escape to Nigeria

    How ousted Niger President tried to escape to Nigeria

    Niger junta says it foiled on Thursday an attempt by ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to escape from his place of detention to Birni-Kebbi in Nigeria.

    In a statement, the military regime said President Bazoum was in the company of his his family, his two cooks and two security elements.

    According to the statement, the plan was for to first escape from his recovery point near the presidential palace, where it was said a trivialised vehicle was waiting for them.

    “This vehicle should lead them to a hide-in in the Tchangarey district on the northern outskirts of the city of Niamey.

    “From this hiding place, a trip would be planned using two helicopters belonging to a foreign power supposed to exfiltrate them in Birni-Kebbi, Nigeria,” the statement reads.

    The junta disclosed that it took the prompt reaction of the defence and security forces to thwart the escape, which they described as a plan to destabilise our country.

    “The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Fatherland and the government salute the professionalism and composure of our valiant Defence and security forces that have made it possible to preserve lives, despite the irresponsible attitude of the deposed president and his accomplices.

    “For the time being, the main perpetrators and some of their accomplices have been arrested. The public prosecutor seized of the case has already opened an investigation.

    “The NSC and the Government are keen to reassure national and international opinion of their firm determination to bring the transition to an end, in accordance with the aspirations of the dignified and sovereign Nigerien people,” the statement added.

  • After weeks of tension, France’s ambassador to Niger leaves country

    After weeks of tension, France’s ambassador to Niger leaves country

    France’s ambassador to Niger left the capital Niamey early Wednesday, after weeks of tensions between Paris and the post-coup regime in the West African country that demanded his expulsion.

    “The ambassador and six colleagues left Niamey around 4:00 am (0300 GMT),” a diplomatic source from the French embassy said.A source in the Niger interior ministry confirmed the departure and said the plane was headed towards Chad.It comes two months after a coup in Niger ousted its pro-Paris president and prompted a souring in relations between France and its former colony.

    On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in a TV interview that France’s ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, would leave “in the next hours” but gave no details.

    Niger’s military leaders — who overthrew the democratically elected president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 — welcomed the announcement but said they were waiting for it to be followed up by official actions.

    They had told Itte to leave the country after they overthrew Bazoum and took away the envoy’s diplomatic immunity and visa.

    But a 48-hour ultimatum for him to go, issued in August, passed with him still in place, as the French government refused to comply or recognise the military regime as legitimate.

    Paris had said that only Bazoum’s deposed government could order the envoy out.

    Born in the Malian capital Bamako in 1959, Itte has been in the post of ambassador to Niger for a year.

    His diplomatic career spans 35 years and he was previously ambassador to Uruguay and Angola.

    Military pullout

    Macron also announced in his Sunday TV interview that French troops would withdraw from Niger in “the months and weeks to come” with a full pullout “by the end of the year” — another demand of the Niger regime.

    The French president, who had sought to make a special ally of Niger, said military cooperation was “over.”

    France keeps about 1,500 soldiers in its former West African colony as part of an anti-jihadist deployment in the Sahel.

    The coup against Bazoum was the third such putsch in the region in as many years, following similar actions in fellow former French colonies Mali and Burkina Faso in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

    They too forced the pullouts of French troops.

    Macron said on Sunday that Niger’s post-coup authorities “no longer wanted to fight against terrorism.”

    He also reaffirmed France’s position that Bazoum was being held “hostage” and remained the “sole legitimate authority” in the country.

    The elected president has remained confined in the presidential palace with his wife and son.

    Niger welcomed Macron’s announcement on Sunday as “a new step towards sovereignty” but has said the timeframe for the pullout “must be set out in a negotiated framework and by mutual agreement.”

    Niger, like Burkina Faso and Mali, has been targeted by jihadist attacks for several years.

    In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have joined demonstrations and gatherings in Niamey calling for the withdrawal of the French troops from the country.

    The United States, which has some 1,100 military personnel in Niger, has said it will “evaluate” its future steps on the crisis following France’s announcement.