The Commonwealth has confirmed the successful readmission of Gambia into the global bloc. The West African country becomes the 53rd nation but fourth to rejoin. The Gambia referred to as “smiling coast of West Africa” joins the likes of South Africa, Fiji and Pakistan who all left at a point and gained readmission.
The Gambia Rejoins Commonwealth After 5 Years
The Gambia is rejoining the Commonwealth, almost five years after it withdrew under the rule of ousted President Yahya Jammeh who branded it a "neo-colonial institution".
The BBC reports that the occasion will be marked at the Commonwealth's headquarters in London later today.
President Adama Barrow applied for The Gambia's readmission to the body soon after he took office last January.
Abducted Malian Mayor Found Dead
The mayor of Mali's north-eastern town of Tarkint, who was kidnapped by suspected militants last month has been found dead, the MaliJet news site reports.
Baba Ould Cheikh was abducted from his residence in Tarkint by armed men between 21 and 23 January.
MaliJet said that Ould Cheikh had been found "lifeless with his throat slit".
Somalia Special Court Sentences Man To Death Over Mogadishu Bombing
A military court in Somalia has sentenced a man to death for his involvement in the country’s deadliest-ever bombing last October. Hassan Adan Isaq, 23, has been accused of being a member of al-Shabab, specifically in charge of a unit that carried out bomb attacks. At least 500 people died when a truck bomb exploded in the capital Mogadishu.
ECOWAS Places Travel Ban, Asset Freeze On E-Guinean President’s Son, 19 Lawmakers
ECOWAS has sanctioned 19 legislators and the son of the president of Guinea, José Mario Vaz, son for the continuous failure to end a political stalemate.
The impoverished nation of West Africa has been immersed in a power struggle since August 2015, when Vaz dismissed the then prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira.
A faction of 15 legislators in the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) has split up in support of President Vaz while the majority backed Mr. Pereira.
Kenya Deports Opposition Lawyer, Miguna, To Canada
The Kenyan government on Tuesday deported opposition supporter and lawyer, Miguna Miguna to Canada, where he has dual nationality.
Miguna had appeared in court earlier that day and charged with "being present and consenting to the administration of an oath to commit a capital offence, namely treason".
The charge relates to his role in the mock swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga on 30 January.
Pirates Free Hijacked Ship Off The Gulf Of Guinea
A crew of 22 Indian nationals have been freed by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea off Benin in West Africa.
The crew was on board an oil tanker called the Marine Express, which went missing last Thursday and has also been released with its entire cargo of oil.
All crew members are safe, according to Anglo-Eastern Shipping, the Hong Kong firm that appointed them.