Latest news with #militaryjunta
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Mali political activist freed after monthlong abduction
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A leading political activist whose family said that he was abducted by Mali's military authorities has been released after a month in captivity, his relatives said Sunday. Alassane Abba, one of the leaders of the former political party Codem, was dropped off along a road in Mali's capital, Bamako, on Thursday, Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane, his son, told The Associated Press. 'No authority has confirmed their involvement, but we believe the intelligence services were behind the kidnapping,' he said. Intelligence services in Mali don't speak with the media about such cases, and other government authorities weren't immediately available to comment. Abba, who was the secretary-general of the Codem party, was seized and taken away on May 9 shortly after he spoke out against the crackdown on civic rights in the country and the ruling junta's failure to hold an election since a coup in 2021. His arrest came amid pro-democracy demonstrations in Bamako that criticized the growing dictatorship under the junta and called for the return of democracy. Several political figures are still detained after criticizing the military government's power. Mali, a landlocked nation in the semiarid region of Sahel, has been embroiled in political and security instability that swept across West and Central Africa over the last decade. The nation has seen two military coups since 2020 as an insurgency by jihadi groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group worsened. Arrests of pro-democracy activists have multiplied in response to demonstrations. In May, Gen. Assimi Goita, president of the country's transitional government, signed a decree dissolving political parties following a demonstration by several hundred pro-democracy activists.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Red Cross confirms office closures in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff
DAKAR: The International Committee of the Red Cross announced the closure of its offices in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff, four months after the ruling junta ordered the organization to leave the country. The ICRC confirmed the closure and departure in a statement on Thursday. 'We reiterate our willingness to maintain constructive dialogue with the authorities of Niger with a view to resuming our strictly humanitarian protection and assistance activities,' Patrick Youssef, the ICRC's regional director for Africa, said in the statement. In February, Niger's Foreign Affairs Ministry had ordered the ICRC to close its offices and leave the country. No official reason was given for the military junta's decision to shut down the organization's operations in the country at the time. The ICRC said it had been in dialogue with Niger's authorities since February to understand the reasons for their decision and provide any necessary clarification but that these efforts were unsuccessful. On May 31, Niger's junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, justified the ICRC expulsion on Nigerien state television, accusing the organization of having met with 'terrorist leaders' and funding armed groups. The ICRC refuted the accusations in its statement on Thursday, saying that dialogue with all sides in the conflict is necessary to carry out its humanitarian mandate and that it 'never provides financial, logistical, or any other form of support' to armed groups. The humanitarian organization had been active in the West African country since 1990, mainly helping people displaced by violence by Islamic extremists, food insecurity and natural disasters. According to the organization, it provided humanitarian aid to more than 2 million people in Niger. Niger's military rulers took power in a coup two years ago, the latest of several military takeovers in Africa's Sahel, the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hotspot for extremist violence by militant groups. Since the coup, Niger has pulled away from its Western partners, such as France and the United States, turning instead to Russia for security. Last November, the country's military junta banned the French aid group Acted from working in the country amid tensions with France.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Red Cross confirms office closures in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced the closure of its offices in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff, four months after the ruling junta ordered the organization to leave the country. The ICRC confirmed the closure and departure in a statement on Thursday. 'We reiterate our willingness to maintain constructive dialogue with the authorities of Niger with a view to resuming our strictly humanitarian protection and assistance activities," Patrick Youssef, the ICRC's regional director for Africa, said in the statement. In February, Niger's Foreign Affairs Ministry had ordered the ICRC to close its offices and leave the country. No official reason was given for the military junta's decision to shut down the organization's operations in the country at the time. The ICRC said it had been in dialogue with Niger's authorities since February to understand the reasons for their decision and provide any necessary clarification but that these efforts were unsuccessful. On May 31, Niger's junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, justified the ICRC expulsion on Nigerien state television, accusing the organization of having met with 'terrorist leaders' and funding armed groups. The ICRC refuted the accusations in its statement on Thursday, saying that dialogue with all sides in the conflict is necessary to carry out its humanitarian mandate and that it 'never provides financial, logistical, or any other form of support" to armed groups. The humanitarian organization had been active in the West African country since 1990, mainly helping people displaced by violence by Islamic extremists, food insecurity and natural disasters. According to the organization, it provided humanitarian aid to more than 2 million people in Niger. Niger's military rulers took power in a coup two years ago, the latest of several military takeovers in Africa's Sahel, the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hotspot for extremist violence by militant groups. Since the coup, Niger has pulled away from its Western partners, such as France and the United States, turning instead to Russia for security. Last November, the country's military junta banned the French aid group Acted from working in the country amid tensions with France.
NHK
28-05-2025
- General
- NHK
Myanmar: Fighting delays flow of vital aid for quake survivors
Many people in central Myanmar are struggling to survive following a devastating earthquake on March 28. Myanmar's military junta has put the death toll from the magnitude 7.7 quake at almost 3,800. But the United Nations says the real figure is likely much higher, and that the health risks for survivors have increased since the early arrival of monsoon season. The ongoing conflict between the military junta and pro-democracy forces has reduced the flow of vital aid to a mere trickle, as airstrikes continue despite the announcement of a ceasefire. International journalists seeking to get a clear picture of the situation on the ground are not allowed to enter the affected areas ― but NHK World is communicating regularly with residents. Myanmar's independent media reported that the military carried out an airstrike on a school on May 12, killing more than 20 children and two teachers. The attack took place in Sagaing Township, in the country's northwest. The school was managed by the National Unity Government, or NUG, which was formed by the ousted lawmakers in the military coup. The junta denies responsibility, claiming that "illegal anti-government media outlets have spread false news" through the state-run media outlets. A school in Sagaing Township lies in ruins after an airstrike by the junta. Picture supplied by an eyewitness. The assault came about despite a second truce announced by the junta between May 6 and 31, following a separate ceasefire announced in April. A statement from the military regime claims the latest period will make it possible "to continue implementing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in the earthquake-affected areas with momentum." The junta continues to suffer territorial losses, controlling a mere 32 percent of the country, according to a recent survey by the NUG. In the air, however, its power remains almost entirely unchallenged, an advantage it is exploiting with a campaign of airstrikes. One local independent media outlet, Democratic Voice of Burma, reports the military launched more than 700 attacks by air and artillery strikes from the day of the quake through May 22. Military strikes across the country after the earthquake: March 28 – May 20. Two videos supplied to NHK by a journalist in Mandalay Region after the earthquake show military aircraft bombing local villages. Weapons analyst Leone Hadavi from the international investigative organization Myanmar Witness has identified one as an FTC-2000 and the other a K-8 ― both Chinese-manufactured models, which have recently been refurbished by the Myanmar Air Force. Chinese-made military aircraft filmed by a local independent journalist in mid-April Living among the rubble The devastating earthquakes has left millions of people struggling to cope with the aftermath. NHK has been communicating with a male resident of Sagaing Township in the epicenter since the earthquake happened. The man, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal by the military, used to run a small business from his house, but that was all destroyed in the quake. "All my family members survived, but seven employees in a building near the house were buried," he recounted in mid-April. He said the smell of corpses was everywhere, but eventually disappeared two weeks after the earthquake. A male resident in Sagaing Township Videos and photos that he sent to NHK World show him and his neighbors living in tents with mosquito nets, surrounded by rubble. Residents buy water-tanks, sharing water with each other. Electricity supplies are unstable, so people plug their chargers into a generator to use smartphones, which is a lifeline. The man said, "People are sleeping outside because there are still tremors every day." People sleep on temporary beds covered by mosquito nets in the luggage space of the car. Residents shares water, using water tanks. "We've had massive destruction in our town, but only about 10 percent of the demolition has taken place. There are not enough people or supplies," he said. A local NGO provided mosquito nets, mats and tents, and the World Food Programme delivered enough rice, oil and beans for two weeks. However, as there were no tools for cooking, they needed to rely on funds donated by other overseas supporters to buy kitchenware and water pumps. Kitchenware is distributed to earthquake survivors. "We're being ignored," he said. "Pro-democracy forces appear to be in this region, so the military won't do anything for us. All the military does is launch airstrikes and kill people. I don't know what's going to happen ― or where to make a start." At the beginning of May, the man provided an update. He said that rice provided as food aid had already gone, and when it was available at market, its cost was up by 25 percent, compared with before the earthquake. Gasoline prices have doubled ― but with so few gas stations left open people must travel to Mandalay to fill up. Taken away and forced to fight At the end of April, a female resident in the same town reported her nephew in his 20s was taken away by soldiers to the military camp under its forcible conscription push. A so-called lottery system to sign up men aged 18 and older has Myanmar youths facing a quandary: give in to the junta, flee, or fight back. The military continues to recruit even after the quake. "A friend of my nephew confirmed to me by phone that he had been drafted," says the woman. "He was delivering gasoline by motorbike, but was suddenly taken by the military on a bridge." A female resident of Sagaing Township Continuing airstrikes With aid struggling to reach the areas most in need, already traumatized civilians are increasingly desperate for help. In mid-April, NHK reached out to a woman who lives a few hours' drive north of the epicenter in the Mandalay Region says military jets launched airstrikes on her area on April 13. A female resident in the Mandalay region "We heard a fighter jet while we listened online to sutras," she says. She took shelter with her husband and her elder sister, who has been suffering from the effects of a stroke for years. "I wrapped my sister in a thick quilt, and my husband and I got under the bed. We heard bombing to the north, and then a fighter overhead. A bomb hit the house. Another landed outside." The woman salvaging household items from a destroyed house. The woman is a tailor. One thing she salvaged is a sewing machine. But the foot pedal is broken. "I brought it because I thought I could make a living here if I could fix it," she says. However, it is obvious that she cannot have it her way. The woman showed NHK her broken sewing machine. The woman says she, her spouse and her sister now live with relatives in another village. Her husband used to work in construction, but is unable to continue because he lost his hearing in the airstrike. So his wife is the only one who can support the family. "I wish the international community would help us. It's not just us who are struggling. Everyone in this village is scared. We don't know when we might die." Humanitarian crisis deepens Two months have passed since the devastating earthquakes, leaving millions of people struggling to cope. Still, aftershocks continue. The NUG announced on May 17 that an earthquake with a Richter scale 5.7 magnitude shook the Mandalay Region, with further shakes expected. According to the UN, nearly 509,400 people were still urgently in need of food assistance as of May 17. People across Myanmar are still desperately in need of aid. Page 2
Jordan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Malaysia calls for Myanmar truce extension
Malaysia's Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamad Hasan attends a press conference ahead of the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 25, 2025 (AFP photo) KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia called Sunday for the extension and expansion of a post-earthquake ceasefire in Myanmar due to run out at the end of May, despite ongoing fighting calling into question its effectiveness. The ruling military junta initially declared a truce in the many-sided civil war after a huge quake late March killed nearly 3,800 and left tens of thousands truce has been extended before, although conflict monitors say fighting has continued, including regular junta a meeting of regional foreign ministers on Sunday, Malaysian foreign minister Mohamad Hasan "proposed the extension and expansion of ceasefires beyond the currently affected zones", a statement said."We call on the stakeholders in Myanmar to cease hostilities, and to extend and expand the ceasefire, to facilitate the long and difficult path towards recovery, and ease the suffering of the people of Myanmar," Mohamad said in his opening currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations [ASEAN].The bloc has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to end Myanmar's conflict since the junta staged a coup deposing civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February has struggled to implement a five-point peace plan agreed by all bloc leaders, including the junta, in April officials have been barred from ASEAN summits over lack of progress on a peace Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in Bangkok in April and urged him to respect the United Nations and independent conflict monitors say the junta has continued its campaign of aerial bombardment despite the mid-May witnesses said a junta airstrike hit a school near the quake's epicentre in Sagaing region, killing 22 people, including 20 anti-coup and ethnic armed groups have made their own pledges to pause some residents in eastern Myanmar said they have been displaced as anti-coup forces besieged junta-held towns on a lucrative trade route towards neighbouring junta has announced plans to hold an election around the end of the Myanmar's opposition "National Unity Government" has urged the public and political parties to boycott any poll organised by the military government. Anwar said after his April meeting with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing that ASEAN had expressed "concern" and wanted to slowly build consensus to ensure "fair and free elections" , something analysts have said will be difficult if not impossible to achieve.
