Foreign News
Insecurity: Embrace Dialogue, Bakut Urges Bandits, Terrorists
Dr Bakut Bakut, the Director-General, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), has urged bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements in Nigeria to sheath their swords and embrace peace and dialogue.
Bakut, who made the call on Sunday in Abuja in a statement issued by IPCR’s spokesperson, Esther Ndukwe, said this was necessary to stem the tide of insecurity all over the country.
He noted that Nigeria was on edge owing to violent conflicts of various sorts that were being perpetrated by criminals, which has become a thing of concern to all well-meaning Nigerians.
“The criminal elements should sheath their swords and seek dialogue and peace, where their grievances would be heard.
“No conflict is settled outside the dialogue table; and violence in any form is negative and detrimental to sustainable development.
“The Institute frowns at, and condemns in the strongest terms, the prevailing dastardly acts of criminals, bandits and terrorists against our country men and women,” the statement read in part.
It said that the institute had painstakingly monitored and tracked resource based-conflicts, which includes the ‘farmers-herders’ conflict that has “assumed a gargantuan height and is almost snowballing into an ethnic dimension”.
It further noted that the ‘farmers-herders’ conflict had, alongside kidnapping, banditry and communal clashes, constituted a horrific security challenge and unimaginable hardship on the Nigerian populace.
The heightened situation, it also noted, had created mutual suspicion among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups that hitherto co-existed peacefully and tolerated one another.
“Worst still, these conflicts have led to the loss of numerous lives and properties worth billions of Naira, as well as huge financial implications in the name of ransom, and untold psychological pains and trauma on innocent citizens.
“Unfortunately, these horrendous situations are happening when our nation, like other countries in the world, is battling with the stress and drainages of the COVID-19 pandemic and its concomitant economic challenges.
“The Institute appreciates the efforts being made by the federal government, state governments, the selfless commitment of security agencies, civil society organisations, as well as individuals in stemming the tide of conflicts to ensure the safety of our citizens,” the statement further said.
While urging the media to be conflict-sensitive in their reportage so as to entrench peace, love, unity and tolerance, Bakut also sued for tolerance, peace and tranquility amongst the diverse ethno-cultural groups in the country.
“These are the ideals that would keep our national cohesion, and douse the climate of tension that has already beclouded the entire country.
“Nigeria is a great and beautiful country and the only country we can call our own, therefore, let us all coalesce our diversities to constructive channels of development for the good of all Nigerians,” the statement added.
He stressed that IPCR would remain focused in deploying its capacity to facilitate dialogues, mediations and reconciliation in order to sustain bridges of peace and harmony in Nigeria. (NAN)
Foreign News
No talk of Ceasefire Deal Between Turkey, US-backed SDF in Northern Syria – Turkish Official
There is no talk of a ceasefire deal between Turkey and the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria, contrary to a U.S. announcement on the issue, a Turkish defence ministry official said on Thursday.
The official was responding to comments from State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, who said a ceasefire between Turkey and the SDF around the northern Syrian city of Manbij has been extended until the end of this week.
“As Turkey, it is out of the question for us to have talks with any terrorist organisation.
“The (U.S.) statement must be a slip of the tongue,” the defence ministry official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters.
Washington brokered an initial ceasefire between Turkey-backed Syrian rebels and the SDF forces last week after fighting that broke out earlier this month as rebel groups advanced on Damascus and overthrew Bashar al-Assad.
The SDF is an ally in the U.S. coalition against Islamic State militants.
It is spearheaded by the YPG, a group that Ankara sees as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years.
Turkey regards the PKK, YPG and SDF as terrorist groups. The U.S. and Turkey’s Western allies list the PKK as terrorist, but not the YPG and the SDF.
When asked if Ankara was considering another ground operation into northern Syria, the official said that Turkey still sees a threat to its borders from north Syria.
“Our preparations and precautions as part of the fight against terrorism will continue until the PKK/YPG lays down its arms and its foreign fighters leave Syria,” the official said.
Since 2016, Turkey has mounted four military operations in northern Syria, citing national security threats.
Turkey believes that forces of the Syrian National Army paramilitary group which it backs will “liberate” YPG-controlled areas in northern Syria, the official said, signalling that Turkey does not plan an imminent operation into the region by its military.
The SDF have close ties with Western countries including the U.S. and France. Recently, France said the political transition in Syria needed to ensure that the SDF was represented. (Reuters/NAN)
Foreign News
President Yoon Banned from Leaving South Korea
The South Korean Government ordered an overseas travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol.The South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on Monday that the travel ban is due to the ongoing investigation into Yoon, which involves suspicion of high treason.Yoon unexpectedly imposed martial law on his country last Tuesday night, but hours later, after massive political resistance, he repealed the order.
On Saturday evening, a motion by the opposition to impeach the president in parliament failed. However, public pressure against the 63-year-old continues. (dpa/NAN)Foreign News
Israel Threatens to Expand War if Hezbollah Truce Collapses
Israel threatened on Tuesday to return to war in Lebanon if its truce with Hezbollah collapses and said this time its attacks would go deeper and target the Lebanese state itself, after the deadliest day since the ceasefire was agreed last week.
In its strongest threat since the truce was agreed to end 14 months of war with Hezbollah, Israel said it would hold Lebanon responsible for failing to disarm militants who violated the truce.
“If we return to war we will act strongly, we will go deeper, and the most important thing they need to know: that there will be no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
“If until now we separated the state of Lebanon from Hezbollah… it will no longer be (like this),” he said during a visit to the northern border area.
Despite last week’s truce, Israeli forces have continued strikes in southern Lebanon against what they say are Hezbollah fighters ignoring the agreement to halt attacks and withdraw beyond the Litani River, about 30 km (18 miles) from the frontier.
On Monday, Hezbollah shelled an Israeli military post, while Lebanese authorities said at least 12 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.
Katz called the Hezbollah attack “the first test” and described Israel’s strikes as a strong response.
The Beirut government must “authorise the Lebanese army to enforce their part, to keep Hezbollah away beyond the Litani, and to dismantle all the infrastructure,” Katz said.
“If they don’t do it and this whole agreement collapses then the reality will be very clear.”
Top Lebanese officials urged Washington and Paris to press Israel to uphold the ceasefire, after dozens of military operations on Lebanese soil that Beirut has deemed violations, two senior Lebanese political sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
The sources said caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, a close Hezbollah ally who negotiated the deal on behalf of Lebanon, spoke to officials at the White House and French presidency late on Monday.
Mikati, quoted by the Lebanese news agency, said that diplomatic communications had intensified since Monday to stop Israeli violations of the ceasefire.
He also said a recruitment drive was under way by the Lebanese army to strengthen its presence in the south.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters on Monday that the ceasefire “is holding” and that the U.S. had “anticipated that there might be violations”.
Neither the French presidency nor the foreign ministry were immediately available to comment.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke to his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Monday, saying both sides should adhere to the ceasefire.
The truce came into effect on Nov. 27 and prohibits Israel from conducting offensive military operations in Lebanon, while requiring Lebanon to prevent armed groups including Hezbollah from launching attacks on Israel.
It gives Israeli troops 60 days to withdraw from south Lebanon.
A mission chaired by the United States is tasked with monitoring, verifying, and helping enforce the truce, but it has yet to begin work.
Berri on Monday called on the mission to “urgently” ensure Israel halts its breaches, saying Beirut had logged at least 54 Israeli violations of the ceasefire so far.
Israel has said its continued activity in Lebanon is aimed at enforcing the ceasefire.
Lebanon’s Mikati met in Beirut on Monday with U.S. General Jasper Jeffers, who will chair the monitoring committee.
Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that France’s representative to the committee, General Guillaume Ponchin, would arrive in Beirut on Wednesday and that the committee would hold its first meeting on Thursday.
“There is an urgency to finalise the mechanism, otherwise it will be too late,” the source said, referring to Israel’s gradual intensification of strikes even with the truce in place. (Reuters/NAN)