Sierra Leone Protest: Government Imposes Curfew To Restore Order

Vice President of Sierra Leone Mohamed Jalloh, imposed a curfew on Wednesday from 3 p.m. local time (1500 GMT) in a bid to quell anti-government protests that resulted in the deaths of several persons and about eight police officers. According to officials and local media reports, hundreds of people took to the streets on Wednesday in a public display of frustration over inflation, rising cost of living, and general economic conditions in the country. It was gathered that the police officers, including six men and two women, were “brutalised” and killed in the area where the protests were held on Wednesday, youth minister Mohamed Bangura said. Bangura said he could not immediately confirm the number of civilians killed or injured in the violent demonstrations. “We are yet to know how many people were injured, but I can confirm that eight police officers were killed,” he said. Bangura also described the protests as an "act of terrorism."

Guinea Bissau President Elected As ECOWAS Chairman

The President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embalo, was unanimously elected on Sunday as the new chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He was elected at the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government 61st Ordinary Session in Accra, Ghana, to succeed Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo, who held the position for almost two years. The new chairman, elected for a year, will have the mandate to restore constitutional rule in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, which are currently under military governments.

UK, Nigeria Signs New Migration Agreement

The governments of the United Kingdom (UK) and Nigeria have signed a new migration agreement that would increase the deportation of dangerous Nigerian criminals and illegal immigrants back to their country of origin. In a Twitter post, the UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel wrote, “Our new landmark agreement with Nigeria will increase the deportation of dangerous foreign criminals to make our streets and country safer”.

SA Might Face Its Own Arab Springs - Mbeki Warns

Former President Thabo Mbeki has warned of anti-government protests similar to the 2010 Arab Spring. He said unemployment, poverty, corruption, and lawlessness could trigger the anger of South Africans. Mbeki was speaking at the memorial service for ANC Deputy Secretary-General, Jessie Duarte. According To Mbeki "One of my fears comrades is that one of these days..... we're going to have our own version of the 2010 Arab Springs. "You remember what happened in Tunisia, in Tunis when that Arab Spring started? A street vendor was abused and beaten up by the police and destroyed whatever he was selling and that made the country angry.

Nigeria, Germany Signs Deal For Return Of Looted Benin Artifacts

Nigeria and Germany signed a deal for the return of 1,130 Benin bronzes to Nigeria after they were taken away in 1897 during the Benin Expedition. The deal was signed on Friday by Nigeria’s Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and Foreign Affairs (State), Ambassador Zubariu Dada as well as their German counterparts. The event was witnessed by top Nigerian and German government officials including Yusuf Tuggar, the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, and Prof. Abba Tijani, the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

Buhari Departs Abuja For Kigali, Rwanda

President Muhammadu Buhari will be leaving Abuja today 22nd June 2022, for Kigali, Rwanda to be in attendance for the ongoing 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to run from 20th to 26th June 2022. This was revealed by the President's spokesman Mr. Femi Adesina in the nation's capital.