Category: Africa

BAMAKO, Mali (NPA) — Amnesty International has called on Malian authorities to urgently disclose the whereabouts and condition of prominent lawyer and opposition politician Mountaga Tall following his reported abduction by armed men in Bamako.

In a statement issued after Tall’s disappearance in the early hours of May 3, Amnesty International said the veteran pro-democracy figure was taken from his residence by hooded armed men travelling in unlicensed vehicles, with no official explanation provided regarding his detention or possible charges.

Reacting to the development, Ousmane Diallo, Senior Researcher on the Sahel at Amnesty International’s Regional Office for West and Central Africa, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“We are alarmed by the disappearance of Mountaga Tall who was taken from his home by armed men wearing hoods. To date, no one knows if or where he is being held, and if charges have been brought against him,” Diallo said.

The rights group urged the Malian authorities to immediately reveal Tall’s fate and whereabouts, release him if no charges exist, or ensure due legal process if he is being investigated for any offence.

Amnesty International also accused authorities of intensifying restrictions on civic space and targeting political dissent and human rights activities in the country.

Diallo noted that the organisation had documented what it described as a pattern of abductions allegedly carried out by operatives linked to Mali’s National Agency for State Security (ANSE), warning that such actions could amount to enforced disappearances under international law.

“If this abduction was conducted by, or with the support or acquiescence of state agents, it amounts to an enforced disappearance and places Mountaga Tall outside the protection of the law and at high risk of torture or other ill-treatment,” the organisation stated.

Tall, leader of the National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID), is regarded as one of the major figures in Mali’s democratic transition during the 1990s. In recent years, he has publicly challenged decisions by the military-led authorities, including the dissolution of political parties, while also representing detained political figures in court.

The incident comes amid rising political and security tensions in Mali following coordinated attacks carried out on April 25 by the Islamist armed group Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), alongside the Front for the Liberation of Azawad, across six cities in the country. The attacks reportedly resulted in multiple casualties, including the death of the country’s defence minister.

On May 1, a military court in Bamako announced that investigations into the attacks were ongoing and that several individuals, including politicians and military personnel, had already been arrested, with more arrests expected as authorities intensify security operations.

Amnesty International urged the Malian government to uphold its international human rights obligations and ensure the protection of political freedoms and due process amid the ongoing crackdown.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has raised concerns over renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-foreigner protests in South Africa, warning that the safety of Nigerian citizens and businesses in the country must not be endangered.

In a situation report on the protests, the minister said the Nigerian government was closely monitoring developments following recent demonstrations in parts of Pretoria and Johannesburg marked by anti-migrant rhetoric and hostility toward foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

According to the report, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had been briefed on the situation and expressed grave concern, calling for stronger intervention by South African security authorities to prevent escalation.

The ministry said disturbing images circulating on mainstream and social media platforms depicting violence, xenophobic rhetoric, and targeted attacks against foreign nationals had drawn widespread international condemnation.

However, Nigerian authorities acknowledged recent statements by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, and Police Minister Firoz Cachalia condemning extra-judicial killings, destruction of property, and anti-foreigner sentiments.

The anti-migration protests, reportedly organised by local groups between April 27 and April 29, 2026, were largely peaceful under heavy police presence, with officers occasionally deploying teargas to prevent violence.

The ministry said no Nigerian citizen was killed or had property destroyed during the protests. However, two Nigerian nationals were reported dead in separate incidents involving South African security personnel.

According to the report, Amamiro Chidiebere Emmanuel died on April 25 from injuries allegedly sustained after being beaten by members of the South African National Defence Force in Port Elizabeth on April 20.

Another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Matthew Andrew, reportedly died following an alleged encounter with officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, with his body later discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary on April 20.

The Nigerian government described both incidents as “utterly condemnable and unacceptable,” adding that the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa was monitoring investigations and demanding justice.

The ministry also disclosed that another round of demonstrations is expected between May 4 and May 8, prompting directives from President Tinubu for close monitoring of the situation.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria over the incidents and ongoing tensions.

According to the statement, the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa remain in constant contact with local authorities to minimise risks to Nigerian citizens amid ongoing consultations with senior South African officials.

The government further announced plans for voluntary repatriation for Nigerians willing to return home due to the rising tensions.

Officials said about 130 Nigerians had already registered with the country’s diplomatic mission in South Africa for possible evacuation flights, with the number expected to increase as consultations continue with Nigerian community associations in the country.

The ministry noted that Nigeria played a major role in supporting South Africa’s anti-apartheid liberation struggle and stressed that such historical ties should not be forgotten.

“It has become a repetitive wave, most especially prior to elections in South Africa, where anti-foreigner opposition parties leverage the situation to garner votes,” the statement said.

Nigeria also referenced a recent memorandum of understanding signed with South Africa on early warning mechanisms aimed at protecting citizens of both countries during periods of tension and instability.

INTERNATIONAL (NPA) —Two U.S. service members have been declared missing during the African Lion 2026 exercise near the Cap Draa Training Area close to Tan Tan, Morocco, on May 2, 2026. Search and rescue operations are currently underway following their disappearance in the course of the multinational military exercise.

According to a statement from United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), the personnel were participating in the multinational military exercise when they were reported missing, prompting an immediate coordinated response involving U.S., Moroccan, and partner forces.

Search efforts, which began shortly after the incident, involve ground, air, and maritime assets deployed across the training area and surrounding regions. Officials said the operation remains active and ongoing as authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.

“The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing,” AFRICOM said in a statement, adding that the focus remains on the missing personnel and their families.

Military officials have not released additional details regarding the identities of the service members or the specific conditions under which they went missing, citing the ongoing nature of the operation.

Authorities said further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.