Former Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari dies aged 82 in London
President Bola Tinubu's spokesperson said in a post on X: 'President Buhari died today in London at about 4.30pm [1530 GMT], following a prolonged illness.'
Buhari, 82, who first led the country as a military ruler after a coup in the 1980s, earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics.
He referred to himself as a 'converted democrat' and swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps.
'I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody' was a regular refrain Buhari told supporters and critics alike.
Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 in what was judged to be Nigeria's fairest election to date. Many hoped the retired major general would crack down on armed groups, just as he had as the country's military head of state.
Instead, violence that had mostly been confined to the north-east spread. That left swathes of Nigeria outside the control of the stretched security forces as gunmen in the north-west, armed separatists and gangs in the south-east roamed unchecked.
Much of Buhari's appeal lay in the anti-corruption ethos that was a central plank of his agenda as a military and civilian ruler. He said endemic corruption in Nigeria's political culture was holding people back.
But Buhari quickly disappointed after his 2015 win. He took six months to name his cabinet. During that time, the oil-dependent economy was hobbled by low crude prices, prompting people to call him 'Baba Go Slow'.
His second victory in 2019 came despite his first term being blighted by Nigeria's first recession in a generation, militant attacks on oilfields, and repeated hospital stays.
Buhari was born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, in the north-west state of Katsina, and enrolled in the army at 19. He would eventually rise to the rank of major general.
He seized power in 1983 as a military ruler, promising to revitalise a mismanaged country. Buhari took a tough line on everything from the conditions sought by the International Monetary Fund to unruliness in bus queues.
In 1984, his administration attempted to kidnap a former minister and vocal critic living in Britain. The plot failed when London airport officials opened a crate containing the abducted politician.
His first stint in power was short-lived. He was removed after only 18 months by another military officer, Ibrahim Babangida.
Buhari spent much of the following 30 years in fringe political parties and trying to run for president until his eventual victory over Jonathan in 2015.
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The Independent
16 minutes ago
- The Independent
Trump administration deported ‘monsters' to tiny African country in deal catching diplomats by surprise
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The men allegedly have criminal convictions on murder, sexual assault and robbery charges, among others, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Two men received 20-year prison sentences, and another received a prison sentence of 25 years, according to the agency. But the Eswatini government says the men 'will be repatriated to their respective countries' and that the United Nations International Organization for Migration is working with Eswatini to 'facilitate the transit of these inmates to their countries of origin.' It remains unclear whether those men will remain incarcerated in Eswatini despite their lengthy prison sentences, or if they will walk free once they are no longer in the government's custody or the custody of their home countries. Eswatini's acting government spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the men have been sent to correctional facilities within isolated units 'where similar offenders are kept.' 'As a responsible member of the global community, the Kingdom of Eswatini adheres to international agreements and diplomatic protocols regarding the repatriation of individuals, ensuring that due process and respect for human rights is followed,' Mdluli said. A representative from the Embassy of Eswatini in Washington, D.C., told The Independent that officials at the embassy had only learned about the removal flight from social media posts. The State Department and Homeland Security did not contact the embassy about the removal, a representative said. 'We didn't even know we were on the list' for third-country removals, she added. The embassy has requested information about the deportees from Eswatini's government. Homeland Security's social media posts included mug shots of the men and what officials said are their criminal records and sentences. The men were not named. 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BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
'E disappear without a word': Women wey UN peacekeepers give belle and abandon
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Dis policy recognises di power imbalance between UN personnel and vulnerable local populations, wey fit make any sexual relationships exploitative, even if dey appear consensual. Di resolution dey urge member states to provide justice for victims by holding perpetrators accountable once dem send dem back to dia home kontries. Wen ask about di whereabouts of Kamate boyfriend, MONUSCO spokesperson Ndeye Lo tell BBC Russian say dem no get contingent troops in di mission, say "only a few police officers and staff officers dey work for di headquarters". She say di mission no fit give access to di records of specific Russian officers wey bin serve in 2012 "for legal reasons". Di BBC bin attempt to track down Yuriy, including on Russian language social media, but no fit find am. Serious allegations Eastern DR Congo don experience decades of conflict as govment forces fight off rebel groups wey wan control di mineral rich region. In January, Goma bin fall to Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. About 7,000 pipo die in di fight as di militants take over di city, according to DR Congo prime minister. Di United Nations estimate say over eight million pipo dey currently displaced, wey make am one of di world largest internal displacement crises. Many pipo dey struggle wit extreme poverty and lack of access to basic needs such as food, water, and shelter, dey expose women and girls particularly vulnerable to exploitation. Wen di BBC bin tok to Maria Masika (no be her real name), she bin just arrive in Goma from di embattled town of Sake, north of di city. Di goment soldiers bin don dey battle rebel fighters but don eventually overrun. Maria dey visibly shake - still in shock from di intense gunfire wey she bin witness. 'E bin know say I be minor' Masika bin don travel to Goma to see her 8-year-old daughter Queen, wey dey live wit her grandmother in di city for safety. At just 17, Masika don involve wit a South African peacekeeper wey dey stationed near di Minugugi base. "E sabi say I be minor," she tok. "E bin rent one house near di base and visit me whenever d dey off duty." Afta Queen birth, di peacekeeper become unreachable, leave Masika to fend for herself. Desperate to provide for her daughter, she tok say she now dey risk her life to make a living as sex worker in Sake. Wen dem dey asked about relationships between UN peacekeepers and locals, di South African National Defence Force say dem take di allegations seriously. "On-site military court sessions bin hold in di mission area where credible evidence of sexual exploitation and abuse dey, including oda disciplinary infractions," di force tok-tok pesin Siphiwe Dlamini tok. For di Congolese Family for Joy, wey be safe house for abandoned and orphaned children, at least five children dey reported to don dey fathered by MONUSCO troops and later abandon by dia mothers. "Wit our partners, we dey provide support to around 200 women and young girls wey don suffer sexual exploitation by MONUSCO personnel," Nelly Kyeya, di centre director tok. "Many of dem dey face severe stigma from dia communities sake of dem settle for survival prostitution. Diis ostracization often dey drive dem to abandon dia children," she tok Sandrine Lusamaba, di national coordinator of Sofepadi, one women's rights group in di DRC, tell di BBC say di lack of direct authority by di UN to prosecute sexual exploitation perpetrators mean say many dey waka free. She tok say many member states no dey cooperate to prosecute dia soldiers. One UN report wey dey released in March 2024 indicate rise in allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation wey link to dia peacekeeping and special political missions. One hundred allegations dey reported in peacekeeping and special political missions in 2023, increase from di 79 wey dey reported in 2022. Dis incidents involve 143 victims, including115 adults and 28 children according to di United Nations. Notably, MONUSCO - including di former United Nations Organization Mission in di Democratic Republic of di Congo (MONUC) - account for 66 of di 100 allegations, wey highlight concerns about accountability within di mission. Zero-tolerance policy "Wen information about possible allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse dey received, di information dey assessed and concrete action dey taken," MONUSCO tok-tok pesin Ndeye Lo tok. "Any personnel against wey one allegation dey substantiated go dey red flagged in our system barred from further employment (civilian) or deployment (uniformed)." Di mission say dem dey empower alleged victims and dia children through di Victim Assistance Trust Fund by providing skills training and education. But many women and young girls like Kamate and Maria say dem no know about available support while odas remain too traumatised to seek justice.
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Duke of Sussex follows in his mother Princess Diana's footsteps as he walks across landmines in Angola
The Duke of Sussex has followed in his mother Princess Diana 's footsteps as he walked across landmines in Angola. Harry spoke to families who live near Africa's largest minefield as part of HALO's community outreach programme, which aims to keep people safe from landmines until they are cleared by trained experts. The Duke repeated simple phrases in Portuguese, including 'stop, go back and tell your elders' to prevent children from detonating lethal devices left behind from the civil war which ended in 2002. He said: 'Children should never have to live in fear of playing outside or walking to school. Here in Angola, over three decades later, the remnants of war still threaten lives every day.' He added: 'The Angolan government's continued commitment is a powerful testament to HALO's success in saving lives and reducing humanitarian risk. 'We thank President Lourenço for his leadership and partnership, as well as continued donor support as we work together towards completing the mission of a landmine-free country.'
