Chad rebel talks set for new postponement after mediator change

Chad’s ruling junta on Wednesday changed mediators in talks with the country’s armed rebels, a move that sources said pointed to a further postponement in the delicate process.

So-called precursor talks between the junta and some 20 rebel groups are due to open on Sunday in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

The meeting is a key step for coaxing armed groups into an “inclusive national dialogue” in May — the centrepiece of junta leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno’s declared aim of charting the way back to elected government.

Deby took the helm last April after his father, veteran iron-fisted president Idriss Deby Itno, died fighting rebels in the north of the country.

The Qatar talks have already been postponed from February 13 and may be delayed again after Deby ditched the mediation panel he himself had appointed, said sources familiar with the negotiations.

Under a decree issued Wednesday, a “special technical committee” chaired by former president Goukouni Weddeye is to be replaced by a body called the “special committee tasked with leading negotiations”.

Its head is Cherif Mahamat Zene, who was appointed foreign minister by the junta.

The 25-member body incorporates 10 members of the previous mediation panel.

The government refused a request to comment on the change.

Weddeye disclosed that  “I haven’t resigned, contrary to what has been said on social media, but we were surprised by the decree this morning.”

He made no further comment, but said his panel would meet “very shortly to look at all the aspects and adopt a clear position” with regard to the appointment of the new committee.

Chad has a long history of volatility since gaining independence from France in 1960.

It has a large and shifting constellation of rebel movements with varying ethnic affiliations and goals.

The elder Deby himself came to power in 1990 at the head of a rebel force which rolled into the capital.

In 2008 and again in 2016, columns of fighters came close to forcing him out, but each time were thwarted by French airstrikes.

His son Mahamat, a 38-year-old four-star general, has already stirred ructions within rebel groups by offering an amnesty to fighters who lay down their arms.

Several prominent figures have already returned to N’Djamena, stoking accusations of selling out or betrayal from former comrades-in-arms.

Happy International Women’s Day 2022

What’s the theme and when is it?

The world commemorates women today under the hashtag #BreakTheBias.

 

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Five in Nigeria die after being buried alive in sand

 

Five people have died in Nigeria’s northern Kano state after being buried alive in a trench while helping their friend build a house ahead of his wedding, local media report.

They were digging sand in Yanlami village when part of the trench collapsed.

The deceased are between the ages of 22 and 35, Kano state fire service spokesman saminu Yussif told Nigeria vanguard paper.

“All victims were rescued unconscious and confirmed dead,” Mr Yussif continued.

“The victims were handed over to the police officer, Aminu Idris of Becchi police division, and village head of Yanlami,” he said.

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Ex-president Zuma backs Putin in Ukraine conflict

 Former South Africa President Jacob Zuma has backed President Vladimir Putin in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, describing him as a man of peace.

Western nations have imposed punitive sanctions on Russia, including the freezing of Mr Putin’s foreign assets over his invasion of Ukraine.

But Mr Zuma said Mr Putin’s decision was “justifiable”, according to a statement released by his foundation.

“We all need peace in this world. Therefore we would like to urge those involved to bring peace as swiftly as possible so that lives can be saved,” the statement said.

Mr Zuma was forced out of office by his own party in 2018, the African National Congress (ANC), over corruption allegations. He denies any wrongdoing.

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Russia dangles prospect of safe corridors; Ukraine skeptical

 Safe corridors intended to let Ukrainian civilians escape the Russian onslaught could open Tuesday, Kremlin officials said, though Ukrainian leaders were skeptical since prior efforts to establish evacuation routes crumbled amid renewed attacks.

With the invasion well into its second week, Russian troops were making significant advances in southern Ukraine but stalled in some other regions. Soldiers and volunteers fortified the capital, Kyiv, with hundreds of checkpoints and barricades designed to thwart a takeover. A steady rain of shells and rockets fell on other population centers, including the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, where the mayor reported heavy artillery fire.

“We can’t even gather up the bodies because the shelling from heavy weapons doesn’t stop day or night,” Mayor Anatol Fedoruk said. “Dogs are pulling apart the bodies on the city streets. It’s a nightmare.”

In one of the most desperate cities, the encircled southern port of Mariupol, an estimated 200,000 people — nearly half the population of 430,000 — were hoping to flee, and Red Cross officials waited to hear when a corridor would be established.

Russia’s coordination center for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine said Russia will begin a cease-fire at 10 a.m. Moscow time (0700 GMT) to allow civilians to flee through special corridors agreed upon with Ukrainian authorities, according to Russian media. Most of those corridors would lead to Russia, either directly or through Belarus, though people in Kharkiv would be allowed to travel to western Ukraine, the center said.

But doubts abounded, fueled by the failure of previous attempts to lead civilians to safety amid the biggest ground war in Europe since World War II. The office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not comment on the latest Russian proposal, saying only that Moscow’s plans can be believed only if a safe evacuation begins.

Demands for effective passageways have surged amid intensifying shelling by Russian forces. The steady bombardments, including in some of Ukraine’s most populated regions, have yielded a humanitarian crisis of diminishing food, water and medical supplies.

Through it all, Zelenskky said Ukrainian forces were showing unprecedented courage.

“The problem is that for one soldier of Ukraine, we have 10 Russian soldiers, and for one Ukrainian tank, we have 50 Russian tanks,” Zelenskyy told ABC News in an interview that aired Monday night. But he noted that the gap in strength was closing and that even if Russian forces “come into all our cities,” they will be met with an insurgency.

A top U.S. official said multiple countries were discussing whether to provide the warplanes that Zelenskyy has been pleading for.

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Ukrainian doctor in Coventry urges more visa help for family

 

A doctor is urging the government to make it easier for more members of Ukrainian families to get visas to join relatives in the UK.

Tania Hebert, a doctor in Coventry, was born in Ukraine but relocated in 1993.

Several of her family are in Kyiv and have not been able to get a visa to leave since Russia invaded, Ms Hebert said.

“All these kind of restrictions and rules on visas are ridiculous,” she added.

Among her relatives in Ukraine is her cousin who has a baby and Ms Hebert said she has been told she cannot get a visa.

“I would have her in my spare room, her and her husband easily, we have space for them, they speak English,” she said.

The UK’s visa offer to refugees has faced criticism that it could be more generous and the government has steadily increased its offer.

The scheme has been extended to parents, grandparents and siblings as well as “immediate family”.

Ms Hebert said her grandmother had been successful in getting a visa before the war started and joined them in the UK the day before the invasion began.

But she said the process needed speeding up and expanding to help as many people in Ukraine as possible.

“If they have contact, any contact, a friend, a relative [in England] who is willing to help, they should be able to come,” she said.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was “doing everything possible” to speed up efforts to issue the travel permits.

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Malawi bishops label government ‘weak’ on corruption

 The Catholic Church in Malawi has criticised the country’s leadership describing it as “weak and indecisive” and not doing enough in the fight against corruption.

In a pastoral letter, which was signed by bishops, and read out across parishes on Sunday, the Church expressed sadness that decision-making at the highest level of government was slow when it comes to corruption, despite politicians having the necessary legal powers, authority and information to fight it.

“We believe that a President who campaigned on a platform of anti-corruption, and promised to deal with the vice, will not keep any of his ministers and aides when there is sufficient information about their involvement in corruption,” the bishops said.

Malawi’s government has said it “will look at the letter” and engage with the bishops on the issues raised.

The opposition and civil society groups have praised the clergy for raising issues they have said are a reflection of concerns members of the general public have.

In the past few months several groups have staged demonstrations across the country protesting against what they perceive as the government’s failure to deal with rising levels of corruption and lack of support for the popular head of the graft-busting body, Martha Chizuma, who has emerged as a stalwart in the anti-corruption fight.

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