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Tag: France

Africa Mali West Africa World 

French is no longer Mali’s official language

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,
Mali has announced it has scrapped French as its official language, doing so more than six decades after it gained independence from France. A drafted constitution was voted for at a referendum last month. The constitutional court validated the 96.91% approval from voters as the final results. In the approved document was the proposal to remove French as official language.… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

France recalls ambassador to Burkina Faso ahead of pulling out troops

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , ,
Burkina Faso, is still battling an Islamist insurgency but said it wants to do it by itself. France has about 400 special forces based in Burkina Faso to help local forces battle the Islamist insurgency. For some time now there have been agitations over France’s military presence in Burkina Faso. Critics complain the presence of the troops has not improved security… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

Macron seeks clarity after Burkina Faso ordered French troops to leave

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,
French President Emmanuel Macron hopes to get more clarifications from Burkina Faso after it ordered its troops to leave the country. The military government on Saturday demanded the departure of the French troops but there has been very little details on the demand. According to local media, the military government has now suspended a 2018 military accord that allowed the… Read More
Africa East Africa Rwanda World 

French President hosts talks on Rwanda and DR Congo tensions

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , , ,
– – Amid increasing tensions, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a meeting between leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tensions have largely been related to the activities of an armed group called M23 in eastern DR Congo which shares borders with Rwanda. M23 had been dormant for years but resumed its attacks last November, making significant gains… Read More
Africa East Africa World 

Kenya deports French oil firm CEO over fuel shortages

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,
– – The Kenyan government has deported Christian Bergeron, the chief executive of Rubis Energy Kenya – a subsidiary of France-based Rubis Group. It follows the cancellation of the work permit of the CEO of one of the biggest oil marketers in Kenya over a fuel shortage. The energy regulator has accused some oil marketers of withholding the supply of… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

Why Mali’s ruling junta and France are engaged in a row

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,
– – French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week said Mali’s junta was “illegitimate” and “out of control”. That follows recent sanctions imposed on Mali by West African regional bloc, ECOWAS to force the soldiers to return the country to constitutional rule. But Mali believes there are external forces manipulating the actions of ECOWAS and distaste France’s posturing. A… Read More
Africa Central Africa Rwanda World 

France bears ‘heavy responsibilities’ in the Rwanda genocide

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , ,
At least 800,000 people died when ethnic Hutu extremists massacred minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Assassination of a president – – The massacres occurred after the assassination of the then Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994 in a plane crash. Mr Habyarimana – a Hutu backed by France – was on his way back to Rwanda when his… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

Mali: French aid worker, veteran politician freed by Jihadists

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , ,
– – Jihadists in Mali have freed a French aid worker, Sophie Pétronin who has been held hostage since 2016. Sophie Pétronin’s family have confirmed her release, and said the 75 year old aid worker – was on her way to the capital, Bamako. Ms Pétronin was abducted by al-Qaeda- linked gunmen in the northern city of Gao where she had… Read More
Africa Senegal West Africa World 

France returns 19th century sword to Senegal

Village Reporter, , , , , , ,
France has returned to Senegal a historical sword taken from the country many years ago. The sabre, is a type of backsword with a curved blade. It belonged to an Islamic ruler in Senegal. Owned by a 19th Century Islamic scholar and ruler the sword had been in a French museum until now. France said the return of the artifact… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

Francophone West Africa seeks ‘financial freedom’ from France

Village Reporter, , , , , , , ,
For decades Francophone nations in West Africa have had the management of their currency done in France. Their financial reserves have always been planned and controlled from France despite gaining independence many years ago. A model where these eight former colonies of France had their foreign-exchange accumulation kept at the French Treasury could soon change. Benin’s President Patrice Talon has… Read More