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Nigerian coup.. ECOWAS approves military intervention plan and its date without excluding peaceful solution | news

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Nigerian coup.. ECOWAS approves military intervention plan and its date without excluding peaceful solution |  news

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The West African Community (ECOWAS) announced at the end of its chiefs of forces meetings in the Ghanaian capital Accra that it had agreed on a plan and date for a possible military intervention in Niger, but made it clear that it would not do so. Enter an avoidable battle.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdelfattah Moussa, said in a press conference this evening, Friday, following the meetings of the Chiefs of Staff, “The decision has been taken on the exact day of the military intervention in Niger, but we will not announce it.”

Moussa explained that the Chiefs of Staff have agreed on the need for military intervention in Niger, stressing that countries of the group are ready to act whenever the order is given.

“The military option is not our preferred option, but we are forced to do so because of the instability of the military group in Niger.”

Moussa insisted that ECOWAS “will not engage in an avoidable war” and could withdraw the military option, noting that the group had discussed the potential humanitarian problems of any military intervention in Niger.

The ECOWAS commissioner indicated that if the group intervenes militarily, it will not declare war on Niger, stressing that any intervention is short-term and aimed at restoring constitutional order.

For two days, military leaders discussed ways to return to power Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bassum, who was ousted in a July 26 coup.

The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security said in a previous report that all member states – except those under military rule (Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea) and Cape Verde State – were ready to participate in the military. Reserve force, which may be stationed in Niger.

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Western approval

The US State Department announced on Thursday that it supports ECOWAS’ efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger, including military intervention as a last resort.

The French foreign ministry announced that it is “coordinating closely with Washington, we share the goal of restoring constitutional and democratic order in Niger.”

Washington is looking for allies in the region if it is forced to withdraw its forces from Niger, the “Politico” news site reported today, citing a senior US military official.

While the US has about 1,100 soldiers fighting armed groups in Niger, France has about 1,500.

On the other hand, the EU and Nigeria on Friday warned of “severe consequences” if the health of President Muhammadu Bassum, who has been detained since the coup, worsens.

A spokesman for Council of Europe president Charles Michel cited a phone conversation with Nigeria’s President Paula Ahmed Tinubu – the rotating head of ECOWAS – saying: “The democratically elected president Bassum is still the legitimate president of Niger. His detention conditions are deteriorating and further deterioration of his health will lead to consequences.” Dangerous.

“The Nigerian President assured ECOWAS of its determination and political will to act together. ECOWAS will continue to impose its sanctions despite economic setbacks for some countries in the region,” the spokesman added.

Michel affirmed “the EU’s full support for the decisions of ECOWAS and its firm condemnation of the unacceptable military coup in Niger”.

He said the European Union would not recognize the authorities emerging from the coup in Niger and that Bassum was still the legitimate head of state.

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After the July 26 coup, Basoom has been detained in the official presidential residence with members of his family, and coup leaders have confirmed that he is doing well and that his doctor is visiting him, but they have announced that they want to examine him. Charges of treason and undermining national security.

International Review

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Dürk, said today Friday that the military junta in Niger has no legal basis to prosecute the ousted president on charges of treason.

“This decision is not only politically motivated against a democratically elected president, but has no legal basis as the normal functioning of democratic institutions is thrown out,” Turk said in a statement.

“The very idea of ​​freedom in Niger is at stake…Generals should not override the will of the people as a matter of course. Rule by arms has no place in today’s world,” he said.

Turk, who called for Bassum’s immediate release, was deeply concerned about the Nigerian coup. This is the sixth coup in the region in the past three years.

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Robert Kennedy Jr. decided to run as an independent in the US presidential election

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Robert Kennedy Jr. decided to run as an independent in the US presidential election

US presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. will announce his candidacy as an independent instead of continuing his long-running bid to defeat President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee, complicating next year’s presidential election.

Kennedy, an anti-vaccination activist and member of a famous American political family, posted a video on YouTube on Friday asking Americans to join him in a “major announcement” in Philadelphia on October 9.

He said he would talk about a radical change in American policy.

Kennedy is the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963, and the son of former U.S. Senator Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his 1968 presidential bid.

In April, Kennedy said he would challenge Biden to run for the Democratic nomination against the expected Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.

Since then, Kennedy has complained that the Democratic Party has “basically blended together” with the Biden campaign, which has cost him a fair chance in the nomination race.

Many polls have Biden ahead of Kennedy.

Kennedy’s plan to run as an independent was first reported on the political website Mediaite.

In response to an emailed question from Reuters about the report, the Kennedy campaign responded by sending out its own video.

Democrats worried that any effort by a third party could shift votes away from Biden.

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Only since the beginning of this year… has the UN been concerned about migrants trying to cross the “death trap”.

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Only since the beginning of this year… has the UN been concerned about migrants trying to cross the “death trap”.

More than 2,500 migrants have died or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe since the start of 2023, an official from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced on Thursday.

“As of September 24, more than 2,500 people are dead or missing,” said Rubin Menegtivela, director of the UNHCR office in New York, during a Security Council meeting dedicated to the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. That represents a nearly 50 percent increase compared to “1,680” people during the same period in 2022.

“Without public opinion, lives are being lost on the ground,” he asserted.

He pointed out that “the journey to West or East Africa and the Horn of Africa and Libya and the starting points on the coast is one of the most dangerous journeys in the world.”

He added, “Refugees and migrants traveling overland from sub-Saharan Africa face the risk of death and serious human rights violations at every step.”

According to statistics announced by Ruffin Minisdiola, between the beginning of the year and September 24, 2023, a total of 186,000 migrants arrived in Southern Europe (Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta), including 130,000 for Italy, “an increase of 83 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

In terms of countries of departure, between the beginning of the year and August 2023, more than 102,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Tunisia, and 45,000 from Libya.

Of this number, 31,000 were rescued at sea or intercepted and disembarked in Tunisia, and 10,600 are in Libya.

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Referring to the recent influx of large numbers of migrants to the Italian island of Lampedusa, the official stressed that “Italy cannot respond alone to the needs” of these migrants.

UN refugee agency to “establish a regional mechanism for the evacuation and redistribution” of migrants arriving by sea. Menaktivela reiterated the High Commissioner’s call, which raises disagreements among EU member states.

For his part, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia, who requested the meeting, denounced the EU for its role in the “death trap” in the Mediterranean.

The ambassador said: “We have the impression that the European Union is waging an undeclared war against migrants because they have no other, safe route.”

“The European Union only cares about the migration issue when it comes to Ukrainians,” Nebenzia added, expressing her regret that other migrants do not enjoy “the same level of solidarity”.

As for French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, referring to Russian contributions to UNHCR’s budget, he said, “Russia is not, as always, when it comes to responding decisively to humanitarian crises.”

He added, “Wagner’s presence in the Sahel region contributes to the instability of the region, which fuels terrorism and leads to the migration of residents.”

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US punishes former Sudanese foreign minister

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US punishes former Sudanese foreign minister

On Thursday, the United States imposed sanctions on former Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti, one of which was based in Russia, and accused him of exacerbating instability in Sudan, where fighting has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of civilians. ..

The move is the latest round of sanctions imposed by Washington since fighting broke out in Sudan in mid-April between the military and Rapid Support Forces..

Brian Nelson, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement that “the action will be held accountable for those who undermined efforts to find a peaceful and democratic solution in Sudan.”

He added: “We will continue to target those who work to perpetuate this conflict for personal gain.”

The Treasury Department said it targeted Karti, who was foreign minister under former President Omar al-Bashir, noting that Karti became head of the Sudanese Islamic Movement after al-Bashir was ousted in 2019..

Karti has been a prominent figure among the veterans and loyalists of Bashir’s regime since the Sudanese army seized power in 2021 and overthrew the civilian area..

The Treasury Department added: “(Karthi) and other Sudanese militants are actively obstructing efforts to reach a ceasefire to end the current war.”

Also sanctioned was Sudan-based GSK Advance, which the Treasury Department said was used as a procurement vehicle for Rapid Support Forces..

The company is said to be coordinating with Russia-based military supply company Avia Trade, which has been targeted by sanctions, to arrange for the purchase of spare parts and supplies for drones previously purchased by Rapid Support Forces. Training work..

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US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a separate statement that Washington moved this week to impose visa restrictions on people it considers part of efforts to undermine the democratic transition in Sudan..

The new sanctions come after actions taken against the deputy commander of the Rapid Support Forces this month and sanctions imposed by the US in June on companies accused of fueling the conflict..

The measure freezes the assets of targeted individuals in the U.S., generally prevents Americans from doing business with them, and also exposes those who engage in certain transactions with them to economic sanctions..

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