Dons Eze
- Foreign Affairs
- April 3, 2024
- 111 views
FAYE, SENEGAL’S NEW PRESIDENT: FROM PRISON TO PRESIDENCY
FAYE, SENEGAL’S NEW PRESIDENT: FROM PRISON TO PRESIDENCY Senegal’s new President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, was sitting in a prison cell just a few months ago, a relatively unknown figure outside his opposition party, Pastef. But, everything changed for him when the party’s firebrand leader, Ousmane Sonko, who was also detained, was charged with insurrection in July and barred from running in elections to succeed President Macky Sall. That cleared the way for Faye to emerge from the shadow of his former boss and eventually from prison, to become Senegalese new President the same day he celebrated his 44th birthday. It was an unlikely climb to the top for an unlikely national figurehead. Faye was a tax inspector before he became Sonko’s trusted lieutenant, and Pastef’s secretary general. Where Sonko is charismatic, with a verve that has attracted thousands of the country’s jobless youths to his anti-establishment movement, Faye cuts an austere figure. Sonko’s endorsement of his former deputy in the run-up to the delayed election was crucial, but a little short on rabble-rousing emotion. “My choice of Diomaye is not a choice from the heart, but from reason. I chose him because he meets the criteria that I have defined. He is competent and has attended the most prestigious school in Senegal,” Sonko said in a video message. “No one can say he is not honest. I would even say that he is more honest than me. I entrust the project into his hands,” Sonko said. According to Faye’s biography on his campaign website, he was often the top of his class growing up. He graduated from high school on Senegal’s southern coast in 2000, then studied law and got a master’s degree from Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University. In 2004, the devout Muslim passed the competitive entrance exam to Senegal’s National School of Administration, which trains the former French colony’s top civil servants, where he specialised as a tax inspector. He was arrested in April 2023, a few months before Sonko was also held, and charged with contempt of court and defaming magistrates, charges Faye had denied. Crucially, unlike Sonko, he was not barred from running in elections. Convinced that Sonko’s detention and the banning of Pastef were part of a ploy by Sall’s government to eliminate strong rivals from the election, all accusations rejected by the government, several party members, including Faye put their names forward. Faye eventually made the cut while still in prison, despite a late challenge from ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba to have his candidacy rejected by the Constitutional Council. A coalition of more than 100 parties, and some political heavyweights, including former Prime Minister Aminata Toure, joined Faye’s campaign under the banner “Doimaye mooy Sonko,” which in the local Wolof language, means ‘Diomaye is Sonko.’ Thanks to a general amnesty law passed shortly before the vote to ease political tensions, Sonko and Faye left their prison cells in Dakar earlier last month, accompanied by thousands of supporters, who danced and chanted through the night. Both hit the campaign trail, crisscrossing the country and drawing thousands to their rallies and caravans. A 36-year-old part-time driver, Sidy Lamine Badji, who voted for Faye, rejected criticism that the candidate who lost a municipal election in his home town in 2022 was inexperienced in government affairs. “This is false. He has dignity. I believe in his promise and that he will not betray us,” Badji said, his voice choking. Faye has declined to say what role Sonko might play in any future government, and has insisted he would be his own man. “Why do we want to focus on just one person in a government when I have a coalition that includes more than 120 people?” he said, brushing off…
- Foreign Affairs
- April 2, 2024
- 97 views
TRUMP WANTS BIDEN TO APOLOGIZE FOR DECLARING EASTER SUNDAY ‘TRANSGENDER OF VISIBILITY’
TRUMP WANTS BIDEN TO APOLOGIZE FOR DECLARING EASTER SUNDAY ‘TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY Former President Trump has called for an immediate apology from President Joe Biden to millions of Christians and Catholics for proclaiming Easter Sunday as Trans Visibility Day. Trump campaign said that the action is part of the Biden administration’s ‘years-long assault on the Christian faith.’ Trump’s demand for an apology from President Biden came after prominent politicians and conservative commentators declared outrage over the ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’ on the most solemn Christian holiday. House Speaker, Mike Johnson posted on X saying that “The Biden White House has betrayed the central tenet of Easter — which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Banning sacred truth and tradition—while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day’—is outrageous and abhorrent. The American people are taking note.” Biden sparked fury over the week by declaring March 31 “Transgender Day of Visibility,” which this year is also Easter Sunday. However, Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called it “appalling and insulting” that Biden “formally proclaimed Easter Sunday as ‘Trans Day of Visibility.’” Leavitt said Biden’s announcement is an example of his administration’s “years-long assault on the Christian faith.” “We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and the White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only — the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” she said.Leavitt also accused the Biden administration of banning religious egg designs in its Easter Art Event, which part of the White House’s Easter traditions that include the annual Easter Egg Roll.
- Foreign Affairs
- March 30, 2024
- 146 views
KING CHARLES HAS ONLY TWO YEARS TO LIVE, FUNERAL PLANS UNVEILED
KING CHARLES HAS ONLY TWO YEARS TO LIVE, FUNERAL PLANS UNVEILED King Charles III has only been Britain’s reigning monarch for 18 months, yet his funeral plans are already set amid his battle with pancreatic cancer. Named “Operation Menai Bridge,” the monarch’s funeral processions will look similar to Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremonies, dubbed “Operation London Bridge.” As his cancer progresses, royal insiders tell In Touch that Charles’ final resting plans are of timely prioritization. “It’s a fairly common thing to do among the British royalty, but in Charles’ case expediency is necessary,” says the source, who notes that “some courtiers believe Charles’ cancer is worse than they’re making it out to be.” “Operation Menai Bridge” is set to include familiar protocols. When the monarch dies, Charles’ body will be moved from the throne room at Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. He will lie in state, and his official funeral will take place nine days later. He will likely be buried in the royal vault at Windsor Castle. “It will have all the pomp and circumstance befitting a British monarch,” adds the source. The update comes shortly after a separate high ranking royal insider told In Touch that Charles is not only battling pancreatic cancer – a timely update given that he did not share what kind of cancer he was diagnosed with – but has a mere two years to live. “King Charles is much sicker than the palace lets on and simply isn’t up to the job of running his fractious family, the crown’s business interests and fulfilling the daily duties of the monarchy,” the member of the royal inner circle revealed in early March. “His cancer is eating him alive. He’s very frail. The situation is desperate.” Royal watchers have begun to witness his decline, too. Though he will be stepping out on Easter Sunday for a service at Windsor, the king is missing from the royal calendar for the foreseeable future, instead relying heavily on his sister, Princess Anne, to do the work of the royal family. While many would have assumed his heir, Prince William, would be stepping up to the plate, he too is missing from the royal schedule due to Princess Kate Middleton’s own cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, additional sources told In Touch that more could be at play between Charles and William outside of the family’s respective health crises, as the king is under the impression William is not ready to take the throne. “Charles knows the pressures of being the monarch, and he just isn’t sure William is ready to take his place,” the third insider revealed, noting that William is “currently facing a public relations disaster.” “It seems premature, and there could be consequences.” With such an update, the future of the monarchy seems shaky at best, and even Queen Camilla is said to be frustrated by Charles’ declining health and weakened status. “Behind the scenes, Camilla is disgusted by the king’s apparent weakness and is providing him little comfort as he battles his fatal cancer,” a palace courtier told In Touch in early March, highlighting her vacation from royal duties which started on March 4.“By going on holiday, she was thumbing her nose at stepson William, who is incapable of shouldering the monarchy’s burdens on his own.”
- Foreign Affairs
- March 26, 2024
- 148 views
INTERPOL GOES AFTER FLEEING BINANCE DIRECTOR – MINISTER
INTERPOL GOES AFTER FLEEING BINANCE DIRECTOR – MINISTER Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Monday said there is no hiding place for Nadeem Anjarwalla, a Director of Binance who escaped from custody and fled the country after he was detained by the Nigerian Government. The minister said the International Police (Interpol) were currently on Anjarwalla’s trail. Idris was reacting to the Binance executive’s escape from Nigeria. According to Idris, since Binance is an international firm, there is no way the culprit will evade arrest. His explanation came barely few hours after the Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed that Anjarwalla, a key suspect in the ongoing criminal investigation regarding Binance’s activities in Nigeria, managed to escape lawful custody on Friday, March 22nd, 2024. In an official statement released by the Head of Strategic Communication for the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, it was explained that collaborative efforts between the office, relevant security agencies, various government bodies and the international community are already underway to swiftly locate and detain the fugitive. The statement stressed that security agencies are working with Interpol for an international arrest warrant on the suspect as preliminary investigation shows that Anjarwalla fled Nigeria using a smuggled passport. The personnel responsible for the custody of the suspect have been arrested, and a thorough investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to his escape from lawful detention. It would be recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria, like other governments around the world, has been investigating money laundering and terrorism financing transactions perpetrated on the Binance currency exchange platform. Anjarwalla, who holds British and Kenyan nationalities and serves as Binance’s Africa regional manager, was being tried by Nigerian courts before he escaped while under a 14-day remand order issued by a court.He was scheduled to appear before the court again on 4 April 2024.