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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
West Africa's security woes no longer France's concern, minister says
French Junior Minister for Francophonie and International Partnerships Thani Mohamed Soilihi arrives to attend a visit at the Visa Department of the Immigration office (Sous-direction des visas) in Nantes, France, January 10, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo JOHANNESBURG - The insecurity plaguing West Africa is no longer France's concern, its state minister for ties with Francophone countries and international partnerships said on Friday, a week after Paris handed over control of its last major military base in the region. Thani Mohamed-Soilihi was speaking to journalists in a phone briefing in South Africa, where he was attending the Group of 20 top economies' week of discussions on global development. "I'm sorry to say, but it no longer concerns us," Mohamed-Soilihi said, in answer to a Reuters question about the risk of insecurity posed by France's military absence. "That's a shame, because everyone can see the difference between (now and then)," he added. "But we are looking for other ways to maintain ties (that are) not necessarily military." In the past three years, France has gradually dismantled its once-substantial military presence in its African ex-colonies, where for decades it had beaten back jihadist militants, arrested armed criminals, rescued several presidents from armed rebellions - and, in earlier times, backed coups itself. Since 2022, France has pulled its soldiers out of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, after military coups brought in leaders hostile to the French presence. Chad - a linchpin of the West's war against jihadists in the Sahel - abruptly ended its security cooperation pact with its former colonial master in November. More than a decade of insurgencies in the Sahel have displaced millions and engendered economic collapse, with violence pushing further south towards West Africa's coast. The last two months have seen a surge in jihadist attacks, making them one of the deadliest periods of the Sahel's history. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly "We continue to deal with countries that so wish," Mohamed-Soilihi said. "But ... France won't be able to respond to the security problems of countries with which there is no longer a relationship." REUTERS
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Time of India
French Embassy Visa Scam: CBI charges law officer, 7 others
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against eight individuals, including a law officer in the Visa Department of the French Embassy in New Delhi, for visa fraud. They targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas, extorting large sums of money through a network of visa agents. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against eight accused in a visa fraud case including a law officer in the Visa Department of the Embassy of Shubham Shokeen , the law officer, the charge sheet has been filed against his father, brother and wife. Also, two visa agents and two middlemen have been charge-sheeted by the agency, in a press statement released on Wednesday, said that the International Operations Division of CBI, on the basis of inputs of a visa fraud in the Embassy of France, New Delhi, had registered a case."During investigation, it was established that during the period of January, 2021 to May, 2022, while working as local law officer in Visa Department of the Embassy of France, New Delhi, the accused targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas , through a network of visa agents and induced them to give huge amount of money for obtaining Schengen visas", the agency said in its press further said that a network of visa agents, mostly based in Punjab, allegedly received money ranging from ₹13 lakh to ₹45 lakhs from each visa applicant and in lieu of these large sums of money, visa applications were processed by the accused and after issuance of Schengen visas, the accused destroyed the visa documents and agency claims to have recovered large amounts of cash and multiple documents related to properties worth crores, acquired in India and abroad, from various locations in Punjab and Delhi. The CBI has alleged that two accused Visa agents were the key co-conspirators who funnelled the money through various bank accounts, which ultimately reached the accused local law officer, his kin through two accused order to trace the proceeds of crime abroad, the International Operations Division of CBI, in coordination with International Police Cooperation Unit of CBI were also successful in getting India's first Silver notice published in this case, the agency said. A silver notice is a new type of color-coded notice that focuses on tracing and recovering criminal assets globally.
New Indian Express
11-06-2025
- New Indian Express
CBI files charge sheet against eight accused in French Embassy visa fraud case
NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday said it has filed a charge sheet against eight accused in a case linked to the French Embassy Visa fraud syndicate. The accused include a Local Law Officer in the Visa Department of the Embassy of France, his father, brother and wife, two visa agents and two middlemen. The charge sheet was filed before a special court here, as the CBI's International Operations Division had registered a case in this connection after the agency received inputs of a visa fraud in the Embassy of France, New Delhi, it said. A spokesperson of the CBI said, 'In the investigation, it was established that during the period between January, 2021 and May, 2022, while working as Local Law Officer in Visa Department of the Embassy of France, New Delhi, the accused targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas, through a network of visa agents and induced them to give huge amount of money for obtaining Schengen visas.' Those who have been named in the charge sheet include Shubham Shokeen, the Local Law Officer, his brother Abhishek Shokeen, his father Samunder Singh, his wife Aarti Choudhary, visa agents Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh. The two middlemen are Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen, who are named in the charge sheet.
India Gazette
11-06-2025
- India Gazette
CBI files chargesheet against 8 accused in French Embassy Visa Fraud case
New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet in French Embassy Visa fraud case against 8 accused including Local Law Officer in Visa Department of the Embassy of France, his father, brother and wife, two visa agents and two middle men before the CBI Court in Delhi, said the agency in a press release. According to the CBI, the International Operations Division of CBI, on the basis of inputs of a visa fraud in the Embassy of France, New Delhi, registered a case. During investigation, it was established that during the period of January, 2021 to May, 2022, while working as Local Law Officer in Visa Department of the Embassy of France, New Delhi, the accused targeted applicants from Punjab seeking Schengen visas, through a network of visa agents and induced them to give huge amount of money for obtaining Schengen visas. A network of visa agents, mostly based in Punjab, received money ranging from Rs 13 Lakh to Rs 45 Lakh from each visa applicant and in lieu of these large sums of money, visa applications were processed by the accused, and after issuance of Schengen visas, the accused destroyed the visa documents and files. During the investigation, huge amounts of cash and multiple documents relating to properties worth crores, acquired in India and abroad, were found at various locations in Punjab and Delhi. Two accused Visa agents were the key co-conspirators who funnelled the money through various bank accounts, which ultimately reached the accused Local Law Officer and his family members- brother, Father and Wife through the two accused middlemen. In order to trace the proceeds of crime abroad, the International Operations Division of CBI, in coordination with the International Police Cooperation Unit of CBI, were also successful in getting India's first Silver notice published in this case. CBI successfully coordinated with multiple agencies, including international agencies, to secure evidence in the case, said the agency. (ANI)
Shafaq News
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Kurdistan dismisses 'baseless' visa rumors
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, the Kurdish Ministry of Interior denied social media claims suggesting changes to visa application procedures for visitors to the Iraqi Kurdistan. In an official statement, the Visa Department at the Ministry dismissed the rumors as 'baseless,' confirming that the existing application process remains unchanged. 'Visitors and tourists can continue to apply for entry visas through the official visit portal or by submitting a special request,' the department said. 'Citizens of countries from List A can still enjoy getting their visas upon arrival at airports and international border crossings.'
