🇳🇬🇬🇳🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 Nigeria president said his country is open to talks with Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger despite coups
President Bola Tinubu declared that Nigeria remains open to dialogue with Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, despite recent coups in the four countries and the decision of three of them to withdraw from the ECOWAS.
During the AU summit the President said disagreements over the unconstitutional changes of government "should not mean a permanent rupture of the abiding lines of regional affinity and cooperation."
“To all who care to listen, I declare that if you come to the table to discuss important matters in good faith, you will find Nigeria and ECOWAS already sitting there waiting to greet you as the brother that you are.”
#Nigeria #Guinea #Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
President Bola Tinubu declared that Nigeria remains open to dialogue with Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Niger Republic, despite recent coups in the four countries and the decision of three of them to withdraw from the ECOWAS.
During the AU summit the President said disagreements over the unconstitutional changes of government "should not mean a permanent rupture of the abiding lines of regional affinity and cooperation."
“To all who care to listen, I declare that if you come to the table to discuss important matters in good faith, you will find Nigeria and ECOWAS already sitting there waiting to greet you as the brother that you are.”
#Nigeria #Guinea #Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso suspends export permits for small-scale gold production
Burkina Faso's military government has suspended the issuance of export permits for artisanal and semi-mechanised gold and other precious commodities with immediate effect, it said.
"This suspension follows the need to clean up the sector and reflects the government's desire to better organise the marketing of gold and other precious substances," it said in a statement dated February 20.
It did not say how long the suspension would be in place.
Mining groups who have material to export are invited to reach out to the National Society for Precious Commodities (SONAP) for compensation, it added.
Gold is Burkina Faso's main export, accounting for 37% of total exports in 2020, and mining is a leading source of jobs.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
Burkina Faso's military government has suspended the issuance of export permits for artisanal and semi-mechanised gold and other precious commodities with immediate effect, it said.
"This suspension follows the need to clean up the sector and reflects the government's desire to better organise the marketing of gold and other precious substances," it said in a statement dated February 20.
It did not say how long the suspension would be in place.
Mining groups who have material to export are invited to reach out to the National Society for Precious Commodities (SONAP) for compensation, it added.
Gold is Burkina Faso's main export, accounting for 37% of total exports in 2020, and mining is a leading source of jobs.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🌍🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 West African ECOWAS bloc mulls new strategy towards junta states
The West African regional bloc should consider a change of strategy as it seeks to persuade junta-led countries "to restore democracy and remain in the alliance", its chairman said.
Leaders of the ECOWAS are meeting to address a political crisis in the coup-hit region which deepened in January with military-ruled Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali's decision to exit the 15-member union.
"I urge them to reconsider the decision of these three nations to exit and not to perceive our organisation as the enemy," said ECOWAS chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. "We must reexamine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order."
He did not give further details, but the comments will add to expectations that ECOWAS is readying to ease or lift sanctions on Niger.
#ECOWAS #Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
The West African regional bloc should consider a change of strategy as it seeks to persuade junta-led countries "to restore democracy and remain in the alliance", its chairman said.
Leaders of the ECOWAS are meeting to address a political crisis in the coup-hit region which deepened in January with military-ruled Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali's decision to exit the 15-member union.
"I urge them to reconsider the decision of these three nations to exit and not to perceive our organisation as the enemy," said ECOWAS chairman and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. "We must reexamine our current approach to the quest for constitutional order."
He did not give further details, but the comments will add to expectations that ECOWAS is readying to ease or lift sanctions on Niger.
#ECOWAS #Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🌍🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 West African ECOWAS bloc mulls new strategy towards junta states The West African regional bloc should consider a change of strategy as it seeks to persuade junta-led countries "to restore democracy and remain in the alliance", its chairman said.…
🇳🇬🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 ECOWAS lifts sanctions on junta-led Niger and Guinea
The West African regional bloc said on Saturday it would lift strict sanctions on Niger and Guinea.
After closed-door talks, ECOWAS said it had decided to lift Niger sanctions including border closures, the freezing of central bank and state assets, and the suspension of commercial transactions with immediate effect.
It said this was done for humanitarian reasons, but the move will be seen as a gesture of appeasement as ECOWAS tries to persuade the three junta states to remain in the alliance.
#Nigeria #ECOWAS #Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
The West African regional bloc said on Saturday it would lift strict sanctions on Niger and Guinea.
After closed-door talks, ECOWAS said it had decided to lift Niger sanctions including border closures, the freezing of central bank and state assets, and the suspension of commercial transactions with immediate effect.
It said this was done for humanitarian reasons, but the move will be seen as a gesture of appeasement as ECOWAS tries to persuade the three junta states to remain in the alliance.
#Nigeria #ECOWAS #Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇳🇬🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 ECOWAS lifts sanctions on junta-led Niger and Guinea The West African regional bloc said on Saturday it would lift strict sanctions on Niger and Guinea. After closed-door talks, ECOWAS said it had decided to lift Niger sanctions including border…
🇧🇫🇲🇱 ECOWAS also lifts sanctions on Burkina Faso and Mali
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday also lifted economic and travel sanctions on Mali and Burkina Faso with immediate effect, besides Niger and Guinea.
The ECOWAS Commission lifted travel, commercial, and economic sanctions imposed on all four countries.
The sanctions will be lifted with immediate effect, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said after a meeting of the bloc in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.
#ECOWAS #BurkinaFaso #Mali
@africaintel
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday also lifted economic and travel sanctions on Mali and Burkina Faso with immediate effect, besides Niger and Guinea.
The ECOWAS Commission lifted travel, commercial, and economic sanctions imposed on all four countries.
The sanctions will be lifted with immediate effect, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said after a meeting of the bloc in Nigeria's capital, Abuja.
#ECOWAS #BurkinaFaso #Mali
@africaintel
🇧🇫 At least 15 dead in Burkina Faso church attack
At least 15 people have been killed and two others injured following an attack on a Catholic church in north-eastern Burkina Faso on Sunday.
It took place during Sunday worship in Essakane village in Oudalan province - close to the border with Mali. A church official indicated the gunmen were suspected Islamist militants.
A statement by the head of the local diocese said 12 people were killed instantly, while three others died at the hospital.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
At least 15 people have been killed and two others injured following an attack on a Catholic church in north-eastern Burkina Faso on Sunday.
It took place during Sunday worship in Essakane village in Oudalan province - close to the border with Mali. A church official indicated the gunmen were suspected Islamist militants.
A statement by the head of the local diocese said 12 people were killed instantly, while three others died at the hospital.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso says 170 dead in village "executions"
Some 170 people including women and children have been "executed" in attacks on three villages in Burkina Faso, a public prosecutor has said.
Aly Benjamin Coulibaly appealed for witnesses to help find those who attacked Komsilga, Nordin and Soro.
Separately, army chiefs warned of the increased risk of attacks by militants, "including attacks on urban centres".
Coulibaly said he had launched an investigation into the village attacks in Yatenga province on 25 February.
It was not known which group was behind the attacks.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
Some 170 people including women and children have been "executed" in attacks on three villages in Burkina Faso, a public prosecutor has said.
Aly Benjamin Coulibaly appealed for witnesses to help find those who attacked Komsilga, Nordin and Soro.
Separately, army chiefs warned of the increased risk of attacks by militants, "including attacks on urban centres".
Coulibaly said he had launched an investigation into the village attacks in Yatenga province on 25 February.
It was not known which group was behind the attacks.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 Junta-led Sahel states to form joint force to fight insurgents
Junta-led Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have agreed to set up a joint force to tackle security threats across their territories, Niger's armed forces chief Moussa Salaou Barmou said on Wednesday after a meeting with his counterparts.
Barmou said the new task force would be "operational as soon as possible to meet the security challenges," but did not give further details on the size or remit of the force.
#Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
Junta-led Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have agreed to set up a joint force to tackle security threats across their territories, Niger's armed forces chief Moussa Salaou Barmou said on Wednesday after a meeting with his counterparts.
Barmou said the new task force would be "operational as soon as possible to meet the security challenges," but did not give further details on the size or remit of the force.
#Mali #BurkinaFaso #Niger
@africaintel
🇧🇫 Five killed in a private plane crash in eastern Burkina Faso
A private aircraft with seven people aboard crashed into a tree Wednesday after failing to take off successfully in Burkina Faso's eastern region, killing five people and injuring two, authorities said.
The plane was taking off from a local airport in the city of Diapaga en route to the city of Fada N'Gourma when it "ended up in a tree," the government news agency Agence d'Information du Burkina said.
The two injured people were rushed to a health facility, and authorities had begun an investigation into the crash, Burkina Faso's Transportation Ministry said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear why the aircraft could not take off successfully.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
A private aircraft with seven people aboard crashed into a tree Wednesday after failing to take off successfully in Burkina Faso's eastern region, killing five people and injuring two, authorities said.
The plane was taking off from a local airport in the city of Diapaga en route to the city of Fada N'Gourma when it "ended up in a tree," the government news agency Agence d'Information du Burkina said.
The two injured people were rushed to a health facility, and authorities had begun an investigation into the crash, Burkina Faso's Transportation Ministry said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear why the aircraft could not take off successfully.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🇧🇫 IS belatedly claims Burkina Faso church attack
The Islamic State group (IS) has belatedly said it carried out the 25 February attack on a Catholic church in north-eastern Burkina Faso, in which at least 15 people were killed.
Terrorists said that IS militants armed with guns attacked a church in the village of Essakane in Oudalan province, near the border with Mali, during Sunday service.
"As the mujahidin entered the church gate, they opened fire on the Christians, killing over 15 of them," the group said.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
The Islamic State group (IS) has belatedly said it carried out the 25 February attack on a Catholic church in north-eastern Burkina Faso, in which at least 15 people were killed.
Terrorists said that IS militants armed with guns attacked a church in the village of Essakane in Oudalan province, near the border with Mali, during Sunday service.
"As the mujahidin entered the church gate, they opened fire on the Christians, killing over 15 of them," the group said.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso reports bird flu outbreak in Ouagadougou, WOAH says
Burkina Faso reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu on a farm located in its capital Ouagadougou, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Monday.
The virus, also called avian influenza, killed 441 birds out of a flock of 641, the Paris-based WOAH said in a report, citing local authorities.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
Burkina Faso reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu on a farm located in its capital Ouagadougou, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Monday.
The virus, also called avian influenza, killed 441 birds out of a flock of 641, the Paris-based WOAH said in a report, citing local authorities.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso junta extends anti-jihadist emergency measures
The military rulers in Burkina Faso have decided to extend by a year a string of emergency measures aimed at combating jihadist violence.
The original decree stipulated that everyone over the age of 18 who was physically fit could be called up.
It also said people's rights and freedoms could be curbed and it legalised the setting up of local defence groups.
Correspondents say there have been cases where critics of Burkina Faso's military rulers have been abducted and forcefully recruited to help in the fight against the Islamist militants.
Since 2015 more than two million people have been displaced by the jihadist violence.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
The military rulers in Burkina Faso have decided to extend by a year a string of emergency measures aimed at combating jihadist violence.
The original decree stipulated that everyone over the age of 18 who was physically fit could be called up.
It also said people's rights and freedoms could be curbed and it legalised the setting up of local defence groups.
Correspondents say there have been cases where critics of Burkina Faso's military rulers have been abducted and forcefully recruited to help in the fight against the Islamist militants.
Since 2015 more than two million people have been displaced by the jihadist violence.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
⚡️🇧🇫🇫🇷 Burkina Faso expels three French diplomats for 'subversive activities'
Burkina Faso's military government has expelled three French diplomats for alleged subversive activities, the foreign ministry said in a letter on Thursday.
The three diplomats, two of whom were listed as political advisers, were declared persona non grata and given 48 hours to leave the country, according to the letter dated April 16, which was addressed to the French embassy.
It did not elaborate on what they were accused of.
#BurkinaFaso #France
@africaintel
Burkina Faso's military government has expelled three French diplomats for alleged subversive activities, the foreign ministry said in a letter on Thursday.
The three diplomats, two of whom were listed as political advisers, were declared persona non grata and given 48 hours to leave the country, according to the letter dated April 16, which was addressed to the French embassy.
It did not elaborate on what they were accused of.
#BurkinaFaso #France
@africaintel
🇧🇫🇨🇮 Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire defense ministers discuss security and cooperation
Burkina Faso's Minister of Defense, General Kassoum Coulibaly, and his Ivorian counterpart, Téné Birahima Ouattara, met yesterday (Friday). They discussed military cooperation. At the end of the meeting, both delegations expressed optimism that relations between their two countries would improve.
The issue of joint patrols along the border, suspended for several months, may well have been addressed. As has the issue of border crossings, which led to the arrest last September of two Ivorian gendarmes belonging to the Bouna squadron (after having strayed onto a clandestine gold-panning site on the Burkinabe side), and then, at the end of March, of a Burkinabe soldier and a civilian auxiliary soldier by Côte d'Ivoire.
" When this kind of event occurs, we find the necessary resources among ourselves to settle them ", said Amadou Coulibaly, Ivorian government spokesman, on Wednesday, suggesting a favorable outcome to these cases.
#BurkinaFaso #IvoryCoast
@africaintel
Burkina Faso's Minister of Defense, General Kassoum Coulibaly, and his Ivorian counterpart, Téné Birahima Ouattara, met yesterday (Friday). They discussed military cooperation. At the end of the meeting, both delegations expressed optimism that relations between their two countries would improve.
The issue of joint patrols along the border, suspended for several months, may well have been addressed. As has the issue of border crossings, which led to the arrest last September of two Ivorian gendarmes belonging to the Bouna squadron (after having strayed onto a clandestine gold-panning site on the Burkinabe side), and then, at the end of March, of a Burkinabe soldier and a civilian auxiliary soldier by Côte d'Ivoire.
" When this kind of event occurs, we find the necessary resources among ourselves to settle them ", said Amadou Coulibaly, Ivorian government spokesman, on Wednesday, suggesting a favorable outcome to these cases.
#BurkinaFaso #IvoryCoast
@africaintel
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso suspends BBC, VOA radio broadcasts over killings coverage
Burkina Faso has suspended the radio broadcasts of BBC Africa and the U.S-funded Voice of America (VOA) for two weeks over their coverage of a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accusing the army of extrajudicial killings.
HRW said the Burkinabe army has repeatedly committed mass atrocities against civilians in the name of fighting terrorism, and it called on authorities to investigate the massacres.
The country's communication council said HRW's report contained "peremptory and tendentious" declarations against the army likely to create public disorder and it would suspend the programmes of the broadcasters over their coverage of the story.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel
Burkina Faso has suspended the radio broadcasts of BBC Africa and the U.S-funded Voice of America (VOA) for two weeks over their coverage of a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accusing the army of extrajudicial killings.
HRW said the Burkinabe army has repeatedly committed mass atrocities against civilians in the name of fighting terrorism, and it called on authorities to investigate the massacres.
The country's communication council said HRW's report contained "peremptory and tendentious" declarations against the army likely to create public disorder and it would suspend the programmes of the broadcasters over their coverage of the story.
#BurkinaFaso
@africaintel