Category: Africa

ABUJA, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 12, 2026 — Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Army’s commitment to strengthening military partnerships with friendly nations, particularly in advanced professional training to address evolving security threats. He made this known on Thursday while receiving the Egyptian Defence Attaché to Nigeria, Colonel Mohammed Ibrahim, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

Shaibu highlighted Nigeria’s longstanding military ties with Egypt, describing the collaboration as vital for enhancing operational capability and professional development. He stressed that sustained cooperation through advanced courses, training exchanges, and military education is critical to preparing personnel for contemporary challenges.

He noted that many Nigerian officers have benefited from specialised training in Egypt, boosting the Army’s competence, and expressed readiness to expand such opportunities. In a statement by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Appolonia Anele, Shaibu also underscored the importance of strengthening institutional linkages, including strategic-level training and participation in programmes at the Nigerian Army War College. He invited the Egyptian Army to join the forthcoming Nigerian Army Day Celebration in July 2026.

Colonel Ibrahim said his visit was to review the implementation of the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between both militaries. He reported significant progress, especially in training cooperation, and noted preparations for the next Military Committee Meeting in Cairo later this year. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to deepening collaboration with Nigeria, particularly in advanced training and intelligence sharing to tackle shared security challenges.

LAGOS, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 12, 2026 — Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has condemned what he described as ongoing political repression by the Ugandan Government and security agencies, particularly targeting his security team.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Wine alleged that during the 2021 election, police officers attached to his campaign were violently attacked and subjected to brutality. He further claimed that after the polls, several of them, including their head Afande Kato, were arrested and detained for an extended period.

He said the officers were interrogated about his party’s sources of funding, his meetings, and election strategies, as well as why they sought to shield him from violent attacks by other sections of the police and military. Wine added that similar harassment has continued into 2026, with campaign officers again being arrested and questioned.

The opposition leader stressed that these officers were targeted simply for performing their duties with professionalism and patriotism. He urged Ugandans to stand in solidarity with them and work toward securing their freedom.

The statement reads in part: “In the 2021 election, the police officers who were attached to our campaign were attacked violently and subjected to all manner of brutality. After the election, several of them including their head, Afande Kato were arrested and detained for a long period.”

“Now, in 2026, we have learnt that the officers who were attached to our campaign have also been arrested and are being interrogated. These officers are usually targeted for doing their job with professionalism and patriotism. May we all stand in solidarity with them, and work for their freedom.”

Wine, who has endured political harassment since 2017, now faces arrest and challenges to his party’s legitimacy—underscoring the broader struggle between Uganda’s opposition and President Museveni’s entrenched administration.

Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 11, 2026 — Nigerian politician and 2027 presidential aspirant under the All Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Peter Obi, has called for greater inclusion of women and youth in national development strategies. He made the appeal on Tuesday while addressing participants at the REFELA National Conference in Banjul, The Gambia, themed “Accelerating Representation, Safeguarding, and Strengthening Women’s Rights.”

Serving as both Guest Speaker and Chief Guest of the occasion, Obi aligned his remarks with this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain.” 

He stressed that the prosperity of nations is directly linked to how seriously they invest in their people, particularly women. “When women are given equal access to education, finance, and leadership opportunities, they become not just participants but critical drivers of national development,” he said.

In a statement issued Wednesday, Obi emphasised that for countries like Nigeria, The Gambia, and other African nations, sustainable prosperity requires deliberate investment in human capital. He highlighted education, healthcare, skills development, and economic inclusion for women and youth as the foundation for growth.

Obi, widely recognised as the leader of the Obidient Movement with strong youth support, noted that empowering women, fostering accountability, and prioritising education would enable Africa to transform potential into tangible progress. “This is development as freedom,” he declared, urging governments to embrace inclusive policies that build shared opportunities for all.