Nigeria bids farewell to former leader Buhari with burial in home state
Buhari ruled Africa's most populous nation between 2015 and 2023 and died in a London hospital on Sunday after an undisclosed illness.
He was one of two former Nigerian military strongmen who returned to power via the ballot box.
In his hometown of Daura, supporters chanted "Sai Baba", an endearing name used by followers, while they attempted to catch a last glimpse of Buhari's casket as it was lowered into the ground.
The coffin, draped in Nigeria's white and green national colours, had arrived at the airport in Katsina earlier and was received by President Bola Tinubu, government officials and men and women in traditional Muslim attire.
The former president was given a military parade and a 21-gun salute at the airport before his body was transported to Daura, about 80km away.
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The South African
7 hours ago
- The South African
CAR Football Chief sentenced to 12 years for war crimes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has sentenced the Central African Republic's (CAR's) former football chief, Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona, to 12 years in prison for war crimes committed during the country's 2013-2014 civil war. The judges convicted Ngaïssona on 28 counts, including murder, torture, and persecution. He led and coordinated Anti-Balaka militias that targeted Muslim civilians after Seleka rebels seized control of the capital, Bangui. Notably, the court found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, relying on nearly 20 000 exhibits and testimony from 174 witnesses. The trial spanned almost four years, underscoring the court's extensive investigation and judicial diligence. The judges confirmed that Ngaïssona funded and directed attacks on Muslim communities in Bangui and western CAR. His militias subjected victims to murder, torture, and other inhumane acts as part of a coordinated campaign. According to the ICC, these crimes included forcible displacement, cruel treatment, and religious persecution. Moreover, the court concluded that Anti-Balaka fighters intentionally targeted civilians because of their religion, which qualifies as persecution under crimes against humanity. Previous proceedings mentioned charges of rape, conscription, and the use of child soldiers, but the court excluded them from the final conviction. The court's legal review of the available evidence and applicable international standards led to this exclusion. In the same judgment the ICC sentenced co-defendant Alfred Yekatom, known as 'Rambo,' to 15 years for 20 war crimes and crimes against humanity. Yekatom commanded Anti-Balaka fighters and directed military operations in Bangui and the Lobaye prefecture, including attacks on Muslim civilians in December 2013. His forces committed acts of extreme brutality, including mutilation. Several victims' bodies were never recovered. Both Yekatom and Ngaïssona pleaded not guilty and remained composed as the judges delivered the verdict in The Hague on 24 July 2025. Time served by Yekatom and Ngaïssona since their surrender to the ICC in 2018 will be credited towards their prison sentences, in accordance with ICC rules. The Central African Republic remains highly unstable, with sporadic clashes continuing between government forces and armed rebel groups, some of which receive foreign military support. This ruling marks the first international conviction of Anti-Balaka leadership since the onset of the civil war over a decade ago. The ICC's legal involvement in CAR remains active. A separate trial against Seleka commander Mahamat Said Abdel Kani is ongoing at the ICC. Meanwhile, domestic proceedings involving Edmond Beina and others are scheduled to commence this week in CAR. Although the ICC formally concluded its investigations in CAR in 2022, it continues to oversee active trials and jurisdictional disputes as new legal challenges emerge. This landmark ruling sends a clear signal that war crimes, regardless of the perpetrator's position, will not go unpunished. As CAR navigates a fragile peace, the ICC's verdict provides a measure of justice to victims and stands as a warning to future armed leaders. However, long-term stability in CAR will require coordinated efforts to strengthen the rule of law, rebuild intercommunal trust, and ensure accountability on all sides of the conflict. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
IOL News
9 hours ago
- IOL News
AV Mahomed resigns from KZN Inter-Religious Council over alleged silence on Palestine crisis
AV Mahomed Image: File Dr AV Mahomed, the chairperson of the Juma Musjid, announced his immediate resignation from the KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Religious Council over its alleged silence on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. The council, of which Mahomed was a founding member, was launched in October 2007. It is a provincial body that brings together various faith groups to address social issues and promote interfaith dialogue. The council includes representatives from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai, African Traditional, and Nazareth Baptist faiths. Mahomed, who resigned on Sunday, said the alleged dormant state of the council during the past four to six years had been laid bare by its inaction and indifference, particularly regarding the atrocities in Gaza. 'It is shameful that an institution claiming to represent religious leadership can remain silent in the face of such blatant inhumanity. How can we purport to uphold divine values, while ignoring the suffering of our fellow human beings? This is not just a failure of leadership but a betrayal of faith itself. 'After 69 years of humanitarian work, I refuse to associate with an organisation that has shown such profound disregard for justice and compassion. The council's paralysis, whether due to fear, indifference, or complicity, has rendered it irrelevant in the fight for humanity. Despite raising this issue directly, the only response was a cordial, yet empty engagement by (members) Brother Ian Booth and Sister Ela Gandhi, with no meaningful acknowledgment,' he said. Next Stay Close ✕ Mahomed added that his resignation was not a statement of religious discord, but was instead a profound moral stance. 'I am known around the world as a humanitarian, so I cannot associate myself with people who are afraid to make comments on such urgent humanitarian issues. The narrative surrounding Palestine transcends religion and politics. It's fundamentally about human rights and the duty we have to condemn the starvation of fellow human beings.' In response to Mahomed's resignation, the council, in a statement to the POST, expressed 'deep regret and gratitude' for Mahomed's many years of tireless service. 'As a founding member, his contribution to interfaith dialogue and social cohesion in the province have been invaluable.' The statement said while the council recognised Mahomed's 'frustrations and concerns', it remained committed to its founding mandate of promoting peace, unity, and the well-being of all in KwaZulu-Natal through collaboration among diverse faith communities. 'While Covid-19 slowed down activities, the council has engaged in multiple online or in-person activities in response to the various crises faced by our communities, including social unrest, floods and Covid-19. The council continues to function as a voluntary body, currently engaged in initiatives such as the forthcoming provincial interfaith summit. 'We affirm our collective concern for global humanitarian crises, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and advocate for peace, the protection of human life, release of those held in captivity and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid. Though our approaches may differ, our shared values compel us to stand for justice, compassion, and unity.' The council said it wished Mahomed well in his future endeavours. 'The council remains steadfast in its mission to build relationships, promote peace and serve our communities through interfaith cooperation and mutual respect.' THE POST
eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
ICC convicts pair over Central Africa war crimes
THE HAGUE - The International Criminal Court Thursday convicted a former top Central African Republic football official and a militiaman nicknamed Rambo for multiple war crimes committed during the country's civil war in 2013 and 2014. Ex-sports minister Patrice-Edouard Ngaissona was a senior leader of mainly Christian militias as the country slid into civil war, while Alfred Yekatom, a former MP, commanded them on the ground. The ICC sentenced Yekatom to 15 years behind bars for 20 war crimes and crimes against humanity including murder and torture. Ngaissona received a sentence of 12 years for 28 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their militia, known as anti-Balaka or "anti-machete", were formed as vigilante self-defence groups after mainly Muslim rebels called the Seleka stormed the capital Bangui and removed then-president Francois Bozize, a Christian. Presiding judge Bertram Schmitt read harrowing details of the violence committed by the militia against suspected Seleka Muslims. Yekatom's men tortured one suspect by cutting off his fingers, toes, and one ear. This man's body was never found. Others were killed and then mutilated. Appearing in court dressed in a light brown suit and waistcoat, white shirt, and dark tie, Yekatom listened impassively as the judge read out the verdict. Dressed in a bright blue jacket, Ngaissona nodded to the judge as his sentence was delivered. The court found Yekatom not guilty of conscripting child soldiers and acquitted Ngaissona of the charge of rape. Both men had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Yekatom was extradited to The Hague in late 2018, after being arrested in the CAR for firing his gun in parliament. Ngaissona was arrested in France in December 2018 and extradited to The Hague. At the time he was head of the CAR football association and a board member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The Central African Republic is among the poorest nations in the world and has endured a succession of civil wars and authoritarian governments since independence in 1960. Violence has subsided in recent years but fighting occasionally erupts in remote regions between rebels and the national army, which is backed by Russian mercenaries and Rwandan troops.
