Newscast - Africa

The Coalition of Northern Groups has kicked against the suspension of the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari following his indictment by a US Court.
Spokesman of the Coalition, Abdulazeez Sulaiman, noted that the Nigerian police authorities and the FBI breached Kyari ‘s fundamental rights by not allowing him to be heard before taking hasty actions against him.
They have, therefore, demanded an immediate review of the suspension and have also asked that the ongoing investigation with the FBI be transferred to the Nigerian Intelligence Agency.

Barcelona says Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will not sign a new deal with Barcelona, ending his two-decade stay at the Nou Camp.
The club says despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi has reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles.
The club added that FC Barcelona expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.

The White says the United States will provide safe haven to citizens of the Chinese territory for the next 18 months, allowing thousands to extend their stays in the US.
President Joe Biden says China has continued its assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy, undermining its remaining democratic processes and institutions, imposing limits on academic freedom, and cracking down on freedom of the press.
Biden says offering safe haven for Hong Kong residents who have been deprived of their guaranteed freedoms in Hong Kong furthers United States interests in the region.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the African Union has started the distribution of 400 million Covid vaccines to member states.
He says several countries will receive the first of the monthly shipments on Thursday and the AU's aim is to deliver 25 million vaccines a month by January.
He says it is a momentous step forward in Africa’s efforts to safeguard the health and well-being of its people.
He added that this will provide impetus to the fight against Covid-19 across the continent and will lay the basis for Africa’s social and economic recovery.
The AU says the 400 million vaccines should be enough to immunise a third of the continent's population and bring Africa halfway towards the goal of vaccinating at least 60% of the people.

Mozambique’s former President Joaquim Chissano has told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio that the motivation behind the Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique must be understood in order to pave the way towards a dialogue.
He says that while the priority would always be to protect the people, there is a need to engage with those causing the violence.
He says talking should not be ruled out because many groups using terrorism as a method of fighting have ended up with some dialogue with the authorities.
He says that it was sometimes impossible to insist that fighting should end before talking begins adding that it's better to find out how they can talk even if the fight continues.

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied says there was no turning back from his decision to freeze parliament and assume executive power, moves his opponents have branded a coup.
Saied also rejected calls for talks over the crisis, saying there is no dialogue except with the honest and that no dialogue was possible with cancer cells.
Saied has not named a new prime minister, announced any steps to end the emergency or declared his longer-term intentions.
The powerful labour union, as well as both the United States and France, have called on him to quickly appoint a new government. The union is preparing a roadmap to end the crisis that it says it will present to Saied.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his cabinet on Thursday with changes including the finance and health ministries.
Former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize resigned hours before Mr Ramaphosa was set to fire him after he was embroiled in a corruption scandal.
Enoch Gondongwana replaces Tito Mboweni who asked to be released from his post.
The president has decided to do away with the state security ministry altogether
Mr Ramaphosa also announced he will appoint an expert panel to review the country’s preparedness for future security responses.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, has announced that the Nigerian Navy would soon establish two additional operational bases in Cross River State.
Gambo, says one of the bases would be an outpost at Ikang, and the other, a naval security station at Dayspring Island.
Vice Admiral Gambo explained that the move has become necessary because they are aware of the security situation in the state.
He added that it has been part of their strategic plan that they can improve our security architecture in the state and of course, secure our borders and around the Republic of Cameroon.

The Lagos State House of Assembly has slashed pensions of former governors by 50%.
The assembly’s Committee on Establishment expunged the provision of houses in Abuja and Lagos for former governors as stipulated in an earlier law operated by the state.
The report further showed a reduction in the number of vehicles to be made available to former governors and their deputies.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, suggested that former governors should get two vehicles (a car and a van) instead of three as recommended by the committee.
Obasa also suggested that the amended bill should provide that the cars be changed every four years instead of the three years recommended by the report.

The Federal Government has asked striking resident doctors to resume work as most of the issues they have raised are state affairs.
Minister of Health Dr Osagie Ehanire says that seven of 12 matters that were raised by the National Association of Resident Doctors were the responsibility of state governments.
He expects the resident doctors to resume work on Friday and take up these issues with the state governments rather than embark on the nationwide strike as they had done.
Dr Ehanire told journalists that the industrial action was crippling the government’s efforts in tackling the resurgence of the pandemic.