Author: Tiffany Bright

In Cape Verde, former Prime Minister Pedro Pires has dismissed as “unfounded” a request from Celso Ribeiro, leader of the parliamentary group of the MpD (Movement for Democracy), calling for the PAICV (African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde) to apologize for alleged abuses, arbitrary arrests, and torture during the country’s one-party regime.

Pires, who served as Prime Minister from 1975 to 1991, during the period of single-party rule, downplayed the demand for an apology, calling it politically motivated and lacking logic. Speaking at an event in Mindelo to commemorate Cape Verde’s National Heroes Day, Pires stated that such remarks were part of political gamesmanship aimed at gaining electoral advantage rather than contributing to historical understanding. He emphasized that he did not attach much importance to the issue.

Ribeiro’s call for an apology, made on January 13, came during celebrations marking 34 years of Cape Verde’s first free elections, citing specific instances of repression, arbitrary imprisonment, and deaths during the single-party era.

Source: Radio France Internationale (RFI)

Nigeria has been admitted as a partner country of the BRICS bloc, a coalition of emerging market economies formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The move marks a significant step in Nigeria’s growing global influence, aligning one of Africa’s largest economies with the bloc’s objectives of fostering South-South cooperation and reforming global governance.

BRICS, which now represents over half the world’s population and 45% of global GDP, added Nigeria as its ninth partner, alongside countries like Belarus, Bolivia, and Iran. While Nigeria’s partnership status, granted in October 2024, allows participation in BRICS meetings, it does not provide voting rights. Nigeria, as a major oil producer, strengthens BRICS’s economic clout and adds to the group’s push for alternatives to the US dollar in global trade.

In Niger, the Minister of Communication, Sidi Mohamed Raliou, reversed the suspension of the private TV channel Canal 3 and released its editor-in-chief, Seyni Amadou, who had been detained since Saturday. The suspension and Amadou’s detention were widely criticized by press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and local media groups.

The suspension, initially imposed on January 17, was a response to Canal 3’s airing of an annual performance ranking of government ministers. This ranking, which the channel had broadcast without issue in previous years, angered Minister Raliou, leading to the punitive measures. In addition to suspending the channel for a month, Raliou suspended Amadou for three months and had him placed in custody.

In response, RSF called for Amadou’s immediate release and condemned the suspensions as illegal. Local press organizations also described the sanctions as unjustified and defended the media’s right to criticize government actions.

A statement read on national television announced that the sanctions had been lifted. Amadou was released shortly after, with Canal 3’s director expressing relief. Ali Idrissa Zabeïrou Souley, the president of the Association of Independent Press Publishers, praised the government’s decision, noting that “wisdom had prevailed.”

Source: Radio France Internationale (RFI)

Tanker Explosion in Nigeria Kills 86 Amid Economic Crisis

A petrol tanker explosion in Niger state, Nigeria, has resulted in the deaths of 86 people, most of whom were local residents who rushed to collect the spilled fuel. The tragic incident occurred when the truck, carrying 60,000 liters of petrol, overturned and exploded at the Dikko junction, a key road linking Abuja to Kaduna. The explosion, which happened on Saturday, 18^th January 2025 also left 52 people with severe burns.

The death toll was revised from 70 to 86 after emergency teams, struggling with limited resources, manually buried the bodies over a 14-hour period. Despite efforts to prevent people from scooping the fuel, a large crowd gathered at the site of the crash.

This accident is one in a series of fuel-related tragedies in Nigeria, where the cost of living has surged. Since President Bola Tinubu removed long-standing fuel subsidies in May 2023, the price of petrol has risen by over 400%. The incident underscores the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians, leading to protests and an increase in such dangerous practices. President Tinubu has ordered a national campaign to raise awareness about the risks of collecting fuel from fallen tankers. Similar accidents in recent months, including one in Jigawa state that killed 147 people in October, highlight the ongoing safety and economic challenges in the country.