Mali appeals for international intervention in Libya

2015-01-07 14:19
New York - Mali's foreign minister told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that an international force could help stabilise Libya and the entire Sahel region and check the threat from Islamist groups.

Mali is among five countries that launched an appeal to the United Nations and the African Union for foreign intervention to fight Libyan armed groups and to help build stable institutions.

"The heads of state of Sahel countries have clearly called for the deployment of an international force to contain the terrorist threat," Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told reporters after briefing the Security Council.

Northern Mali was overrun by Islamist groups in April 2012, many of whom were armed or trained in Libya, before France sent troops to drive them out.

Influential players
With Libya engulfed in fighting between rival militias, there are fears that Mali and other countries in the region will be dragged into more violence.

"Anything that is happening in Libya has consequences not only in Mali but on the entire Sahel and beyond. This is where we see the connexion between Mali, ISIS, all the Shebabs and Boko Haram, and I can go down the list," Diop said.

Islamist militias in Libya are said to have developed ties with Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria by offering training camps for their recruits.

The foreign minister also asked the Security Council to use its influence to bring key players to the table for upcoming talks hosted by Algeria on a peace accord for northern Mali.

Diop said the absence of influential players from the various armed groups, some of whom get support from countries in the region, had prevented the peace talks from making progress.

A recent surge in attacks is a bid by armed groups to derail the peace talks, scheduled to resume in February, said Diop.

On Monday, at least eight people were killed in a raid on a Malian army base close to the Mauritanian border, the deadliest since nine UN peacekeepers were killed in October.

A string of brazen attacks have left 33 peacekeepers dead in northern Mali since the UN force was deployed there in July 2013, with Niger and Chad suffering heavy losses.

- AFP

Psquare endorse Ruggedman’s clothing line

2015-01-07 14:19
Lagos - One half of the singing sensation Psquare, Peter Okoye has endorsed Ruggedman's TSW wear.

A week into the new year 2015 and Ruggedman’s Twentieth September Wears(TSW) has added Peter Okoye, and his manager/senior brother Jude Okoye to the list of celebrities who endorse his fashion  line.
Peter Okoye and his elder brother, Jude Okoye both posted pictures on Instagram posing in different shirts from the TSW line.


Ruggedman recently re-launched his clothing line in the last quarter of 2014 which has since gone on sale online.

Other celebrities who have endorsed the wears include, singers 2face Idibia, Tiwa Savage, Maheeda and ex-football star Daniel Amokachi.

Mikel wins award in England

2015-01-07 14:19
London - Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi has emerged the English Premier League African Footballer of the Month for December, SuperSport reports.
The monthly award is organised by the New Africa Soccer Magazine and is open for voting by fans.
Mikel beat competition from West Ham’s Camerounian midfielder Alex Song and Sadio Mane of Southampton to nick the award.

The former Lyn Oslo midfielder was colossal for Chelsea in the heart of the midfield alongside Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic as the London club topped the league during the period.

“Mikel has endured a difficult start to the season, falling down the pecking order in a star-studded Chelsea team that is riding high in the Premier League. After all, we all know that no one likes changing a winning team,”director of the Awards Tunde Adelakun said.

Read more at SuperSport.

Boko Haram: Military to investigate Baga takeover

2015-01-07 14:19
Lagos - The military said it will investigate the recent takeover of Baga town in Borno State by members of the Boko Haram sect, Thisday reports.

The town was taken over by the insurgents on Monday who also seize a military base outside Baga near Lake Chad after engaging troops in a fierce battle that lasted several hours.

The base is used by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which was established in 1998 and is made up of troops from Nigeria as well as Niger and Chad.

The investigation, according to military authorities, is to also determine the extent of internal and external sabotage to the ongoing operation against the terrorists in the North-east.

Read more at Thisday

Boko Haram: Military to investigate Baga takeover

2015-01-07 14:19
Lagos - The military said it will investigate the recent takeover of Baga town in Borno State by members of the Boko Haram sect, Thisday reports.

The town was taken over by the insurgents on Monday who also seize a military base outside Baga near Lake Chad after engaging troops in a fierce battle that lasted several hours.

The base is used by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) which was established in 1998 and is made up of troops from Nigeria as well as Niger and Chad.

The investigation, according to military authorities, is to also determine the extent of internal and external sabotage to the ongoing operation against the terrorists in the North-east.

Read more at Thisday

Zookeepers put their heads in crocodiles' mouths to impress tourists

2014-12-27 12:00
Cape Town - Fearless zoo workers in Thailand are putting their lives at risk for less than R120 to impress visitors to the Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo, just outside of Bangkok.

Watching the clip, one cannot help feel pity towards the crocodiles, who live in concrete enclosures and are being dragged around by their tails by the stuntmen.

In the 24 hectare zoo, tourists can also pose for photos with captive tigers or ride elephants. Elephants shows are also a highlight. In these shows, visitors can watch elephant re-enact ancient battle scenes in full regalia, or see the elephants ‘dance’ and play football.

Nigerian defence chief: Military base in hands of extremists

2015-01-07 08:48

Abuja - Nigeria's chief of defence staff acknowledged on Tuesday that the headquarters of a multinational military force on Nigeria's border with Chad has been seized by Islamic extremists.

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh told reporters that only Nigerian troops were at the key base at Baga, on the shores of Lake Chad, when insurgents attacked on Saturday because Niger and Chad had withdrawn their fighters from the base.

"Chad had people on their own side but I believe they have withdrawn. Niger had people with us. They too withdrew, and left Nigeria only at the Multinational Joint Task Force headquarters," Badeh said at a briefing after a security meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan.

A senior military officer in northeast Nigeria said troops from Niger, Chad and Cameroon withdrew from Nigeria months ago. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Growing terrorism arms
The countries are all part of the Multinational Joint Task Force that was created a year ago by countries bordering Lake Chad to combat growing terrorism arms trafficking and cross-border attacks.

Badeh denied rumors that Chad and Niger had also pulled out of the task force.
He refused to say what happened during the attack, admitting only that there was one.
Witnesses said troops fought valiantly for several hours before running out of ammunition, when they fled alongside civilians.

Asked if the military would retake the base, Badeh said "Why not?" but refused to say any more.
Thousands of people have been killed and about 1.6 million driven from their homes in the 5-year-old Islamic uprising in Africa's most populous nation and its biggest oil producer.
AP