New Post Africa

Category: Politics

  • Nigeria Ministry Of Education Urges Personnel To Honour Servicemen And Fallen Heroes

    Nigeria Ministry Of Education Urges Personnel To Honour Servicemen And Fallen Heroes

    The event, which pays tribute to Nigeria’s military personnel, past and present, formerly coincided with Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for World War 11 veterans in the British Commonwealth of Nations and was celebrated on November 11 of every year. Nigeria later changed the date to January 15 in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the federal troops on January 15, 1970.

    The Nigeria Ministry of Education has directed its personnel to be part of the events leading to the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day to honour the Nigerian Armed Forces, veterans, and fallen heroes. The ministry, in a statement, directed its agencies to join the celebration by wearing the AFRD emblem until January 15th, the day of the celebration, which usually witnesses military parades, wreath-laying ceremonies across the country, and special ceremonies at cenotaphs of the unknown soldiers.

    The event, which pays tribute to Nigeria’s military personnel, past and present, formerly coincided with Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for the World War 11 veterans in the British Commonwealth of Nations, and was celebrated on November 11 of every year. Nigeria later changed the date to January 15 in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the federal troops on January 15, 1970.

    The 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day coincides with sustained renewed agitations in Nigeria’s southeast and the social and economic instabilities in its trail.

  • Peter Mbah Hails Chidimma Onwe, Miss Universe Africa and Oceania

    Peter Mbah Hails Chidimma Onwe, Miss Universe Africa and Oceania

    The Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has congratulated Miss Chidimma Onwe Adetshina, a citizen of the Nigerian southeastern state, on her emergence as the 1st Runner-Up at the Miss Universe 2024 Pageant held in Mexico. The beauty queen, during the events leading to the announcement of the winners, wowed a global audience with her exceptional costuming and enchanting display of class, glamour, and charisma, which the competition required.

    According to the governor, her victory at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant competition, which featured 130 women worldwide, “reaffirmed her resilience, brilliance, and determination that define Ndi Enugu.”

    Recall that the governor earlier appointed the beauty queen, formerly based in South Africa, as a Brand Ambassador of the state. This followed the widely condemned bouts of attacks and rejections she suffered in the rainbow country, where she was born and denied the opportunity to achieve her dream of becoming a beauty queen, over unclarified identity falsification levelled against her mother. The prejudice re-ignited the xenophobia against Nigerians’ accusation against other Africans, winning Chidimma sympathy approval votes at home and globally.

    Chidimma, in a statement reflecting on her nightmares in South Africa and thanking the millions of Nigerians who stood by her during the ordeals, said: “Many wonder why I didn’t stop. Many asked, why not let it be for now? Your life might be at risk. Some questioned, why isn’t she giving up? Does she crave the clout? I sat back, overwhelmed with so many unanswered questions, as life moved faster than I could process. But do you know what? My dreams have kept me afloat.”

  • South Africa’s Rand Hit A Three-Month Low On Tuesday Over Uncertainties

    South Africa’s Rand Hit A Three-Month Low On Tuesday Over Uncertainties

    Investors have piled into trades seen as benefiting from the incoming U.S. administration, with markets anticipating Trump’s policies could mean higher economic growth in the short term but also potentially inflationary pressures.

    South Africa’s rand hit a three-month low on Tuesday, hurt by a stronger dollar and weaker gold prices, as markets grappled with what another Donald Trump presidency will mean for U.S. policy and trade relations.

    At 1533 GMT, the rand traded at 18.1325 against the dollar, down more than 1% on its previous close, its weakest level since mid-August.

    The risk-sensitive rand has been highly volatile since Trump’s U.S. election win last week and is on course for its third day of heavy losses.

    Investors have piled into trades seen as benefiting from the incoming U.S. administration, with markets anticipating Trump’s policies could mean higher economic growth in the short term but also potentially inflationary pressures.

    Potential policy changes include tariffs and tax cuts.

    ETM Analytics said in a research note that the rand “remains on the defensive while investors try to understand what (Trump’s win) means for the dollar and for currencies quoted against it”.

    The rand reacted little to positive local job data on Tuesday showing the unemployment rate fell for the first time in a year in the third quarter.

    The unemployment rate fell to 32.1% from 33.5% in the second quarter (ZAUNR=ECI), opens new tab.

    Another local factor that had little impact was manufacturing output for September (ZAMAN=ECI), opens new tab, which fell 0.8% year-on-year.

    On the Johannesburg stock market, the Top-40 index (JTOPI), opens new tab closed 0.7% down.

    The benchmark 2030 government bond was little changed, the yield at 9.23%.

  • Opposition Wins Landslide In Mauritius Parliament Election, PM Resigns

    Opposition Wins Landslide In Mauritius Parliament Election, PM Resigns

    Ramgoolam, 77, said that his first act in office would be to dismantle what he called the country’s spying system “so that Mauritians will be free to talk”.

    Mauritius’ opposition coalition led by Navin Ramgoolam secured a near clean sweep of seats in parliament on Tuesday as final election results were announced, securing him a fourth term as prime minister.

    Ramgoolam’s Alliance du Changement (ADC) coalition won 62.6% of votes in Sunday’s ballot, the election commission said, prompting incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth to resign.

    The ADC won 60 of the 62 national assembly seats, state broadcaster Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation reported.

    Ramgoolam, 77, said that his first act in office would be to dismantle what he called the country’s spying system “so that Mauritians will be free to talk”.

    “We will also work to put an end to the rising cost of living for the population by better monitoring the value of the rupee, lifting Value Added Tax on basic commodities, and vanquishing nepotism, corruption and repression,” Ramgoolam told reporters.

    Despite steering the Indian Ocean archipelago to 7.0% economic growth last year, Jugnauth’s popularity appeared to have been badly dented by a cost of living crisis and corruption allegations.

    Jugnauth conceded on Monday, saying he tried to do what he could for the country’s 1.3 million people, but that his Alliance Lepep coalition was heading for a huge defeat.

    President Prithvirajsing Roopun said on Tuesday he had accepted Jugnauth’s resignation, and that of his government.

    Last month Jugnauth, who has been in office since 2017, negotiated an agreement for Britain to cede the Chagos Islands while retaining the U.S.-UK Diego Garcia air base.

    Jugnauth’s Alliance Lepep won 27.8% of the vote, according to a tally of results released by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner (OEC).

    On the island of Rodrigues, which is allotted two seats in Mauritius’ parliament, the Organisation du Peuple de Rodrigues (OPR) won 50.0% of the vote, the OEC said.

    Earlier this month, Jugnauth’s government blocked social media platforms until a day after the election, citing national security concerns after conversations between public figures were leaked. It lifted the ban a day later.

    —By Reuters

  • Justin Welby, Head of UK’s Anglican Church Resigns Over Abuse Scandals

    Justin Welby, Head of UK’s Anglican Church Resigns Over Abuse Scandals

    Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, resigned as the head of the Church of England on Tuesday. The development followed months of protests from the church faithful and the Christian communities over his failure to justly investigate abuse that took place at the church’s summer camps decades ago. The church leader had been under fire for not stopping or holding accountable serial abusers in the Church who found sanctuary in it during the same period.

    Welby in his resignation letter and notification of his intent to King Charles III, accepted responsibility for the scandal that rocked the church between 2013 and 2024 and the urgent need to create “a safer church”.

    He also acknowledged the ineffectiveness of his introduced measures to stamp out the malaise in the church for nearly 12 years. A situation he said was shameful.

    In a show of empathy to victims of the abuse, he noted: “In the meantime, I will follow through on my commitment to meet victims. I will delegate all my other current responsibilities for safeguarding until the necessary risk assessment process is complete.”

    He further noted that his stepping aside “is in the best interests of the Church of England.”

  • Trump To Appoint Former ICE Director Tom Homan As US ‘Border Czar’

    Trump To Appoint Former ICE Director Tom Homan As US ‘Border Czar’

    Tom Homan, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming “border czar”, said on Monday he would prioritize deporting immigrants in the United States illegally who posed safety and security threats as well as those working at job sites.

    Trump, who takes office in January, said in a social media post overnight that the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from his first administration would be in charge of the country’s borders in his new administration starting Jan. 20.

    The president-elect made cracking down on illegal immigration the central element of his campaign, promising mass deportations. He is expected to mobilize agencies across the U.S. government to help him deport record numbers of immigrants in an operation that Vice President-elect JD Vance has said could remove an estimated 1 million people per year.

    “Public safety threats and national security threats will be the priority…they pose the most danger to this country,” Homan told Fox News in an interview, adding: “Worksite operations have to happen.”

    Trump, in a post, opens new tab on his Truth Social platform late on Sunday, said Homan will be “in charge of our nation’s borders (“The Border Czar”), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” including the deportation of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

    Immigrant advocates have warned that Trump’s deportation effort would be costly, divisive and inhumane, leading to family separations and devastating communities.

    REUTERS NEWS AGENCY

  • Obi Congratulates Trump, Says No Democratic Election Is Complete Unless The People’s Will Is Reflected Through The Ballots

    Obi Congratulates Trump, Says No Democratic Election Is Complete Unless The People’s Will Is Reflected Through The Ballots

    Peter Obi, prominent Nigerian politician and businessman, and the 2023 presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria has congratulated President Trump on his successful return as the 47th President of the United States in the election he won a landslide in a political comeback of the century.

    In a statement, Obi expressed his optimism that Trump’s victory will reinforce democracy worldwide and contribute to fostering much-needed global peace.

    The former Anambra State Governor from 2006 to 2014, Born on July 19, 1961, in Onitsha, with a strong following among Nigerian youths, and respected across the board for his political ideology focused on national development, education, and reducing poverty, described the peaceful conduct of the U.S. elections, “along with the efficient transmission and release of results” as an example and an inspiration for Nigeria.

    He described the development as a model and an urgent call to “abandon outdated practices such as electoral malpractice, vote-buying, election violence, and network disruptions that continue to hinder our democratic process”.

    The banker-turned-politician emphasised that “no democratic election is complete unless the people’s will is genuinely reflected through the ballots.” He urged Nigeria to work together “to restore the integrity of our electoral system and ensure that our process for choosing leaders is free, fair, and reflective of the people’s true desires”.

    Recall that Obi and the Obedient Movement, who believed that their mandate was stolen, challenged the result of the Nigeria 2023 presidential elections up to the Supreme Court. The court ultimately decided in favour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC). With the next presidential election beckoning, Obi’s political moves and realignments across six geopolitical zones of the country show his preparations to enter the 2027 political ring.

  • Peter Mbah Flags Off 300-Bed Healthcare Facility Project To Reverse Brain Drain

    Peter Mbah Flags Off 300-Bed Healthcare Facility Project To Reverse Brain Drain

    Another multiplier effect of the project is the reversing of brain drain in the country. The governor noted that the state is “actively engaging our sons and daughters in the diaspora, inviting them to bring their expertise back to Enugu. We’re giving them our word that Enugu is open and ready for business. We have derisked investment, offering incentives to make sure their returns are guaranteed.”

    ENUGU, NIGERIA (New Post Africa)—The Governor of Enugu State, Nigeria’s southeast, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has flagged off the construction of the ultramodern Enugu International Hospital in the state capital, Enugu. The mammoth project, a 300-bed healthcare facility, is touted to become the leading destination for medical tourism in the region.

    Speaking about the project, Mbah said: “It is a commitment to bring to an end, the need of seeking medical care overseas by our people. The facility will also serve as a training and research centre for students from our state’s major tertiary institutions, building a future of skilled healthcare professionals.”

    Another multiplier effect of the project is the reversing of brain drain in the country. The governor noted that the state is “actively engaging our sons and daughters in the diaspora, inviting them to bring their expertise back to Enugu. We’re giving them our word that Enugu is open and ready for business. We have derisked investment, offering incentives to make sure their returns are guaranteed.”

    Mbah, who during the 2023 elections campaigned on the theme ‘Tomorrow is here!’ has initiated several similar projects across the state. His well-articulated policies on road construction, industrialisation, security and job creation have entrenched his government in the hearts of the citizens of the state and received praises at the national level.

  • Israel’s Government Celebrates Trump Victory

    Israel’s Government Celebrates Trump Victory

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters celebrated the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House next year, hailing what a leader of the settler movement called an ally who would support them “unconditionally”.

    Congratulating Trump, Netanyahu said the former president was set for “history’s greatest comeback”.

    “Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” he said in a statement, which was echoed by the leaders of the hard-right nationalist religious parties in his coalition.

    The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has been fighting Israel for more than a year in Gaza, said the election was a matter for the American people, but it called for an end to the “blind support” for Israel from the United States.

    “We urge Trump to learn from (President Joe) Biden’s mistakes,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

    The outcome is a relief for Netanyahu’s coalition, which has clashed with Biden’s Democratic administration over the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon that have fuelled protests worldwide and left Israel increasingly isolated internationally.

    The first Trump administration delivered major wins to Netanyahu, when it went against most of the world in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and accepting Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.

    Israel’s settler leaders also welcomed the election results after Biden’s administration imposed sanctions and asset freezes on settler groups and individuals involved in violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

    “We expect to have an ally standing unconditionally beside us as we fight the battles that are a war on the entire West,” Israel Ganz, chairman of the main Yesha settler council, said in a statement to Reuters.

    Underscoring the tensions, around 10 rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel on Wednesday targeting locations including the coastal city of Tel Aviv with no injuries, the Israeli military said.

    Television footage showed part of a rocket that appeared to have been shot down by air defence systems smashing a car in the Israeli city of Raanana, close to Tel Aviv.

    Nearly two thirds of Israelis believe Trump would be better for Israel than his Democratic Party rival Kamala Harris, according to a survey from the Israel Democracy Institute.

    “I think it’s good for Israel,” said Jerusalem resident Nissim Attias. “He proved the last time he was the president, he moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and everything that he said, he did.”

    -REUTERS

  • Donald J. Trump Declares Victory, Reiterates Campaign Agendas

    Donald J. Trump Declares Victory, Reiterates Campaign Agendas

    Trump reiterated his campaign promises of cracking down on illegal immigration and running a prosperous booming economy to benefit all Americans. He acknowledged the support of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, to his victory, describing the tech giant as a “new star” and promised to repay his supporters for the victory.

    Donald J. Trump, the Republican Candidate for the US 2024 presidential election, has declared victory. In the early hours of Wednesday, he spoke to many of his supporters at his election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida. He described his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House as “the greatest political movement of all time” and his comeback heralding what he described as a “Golden Age of America.”

    Describing the high level of support for him and the Republican Party in the elections, he noted that the party has also won a majority in the US Senate and is optimistic it will also control the House of Representatives.

    Following the development, torrents of congratulatory messages to him have poured in from several world leaders, pledging to work with his administration. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu wrote: “Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship.”         

                                                                                                                                                            

    Also, the French President, Emmanual Macron, in his message expressed his readiness to “work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.”

    Trump reiterated his campaign promises of cracking down on illegal immigration and running a prosperous booming economy to benefit all Americans. He acknowledged the support of the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, to his victory, describing the tech giant as a “new star” and promised to repay his supporters for the victory.