Africa
France ends aid to Mali
Mali is facing more woes, with the halt of development assistance from France becoming the latest.
French media reports and Foreign Ministry officials cited the presence of Wagner mercenaries from Russia as reason for the halt.
This is coming three months after French troops finalized its pullout due to Bamako’s alleged hiring of paramilitaries from the Russian group Wagner.
Despite the development, humanitarian aid to Mali and support for select non-governmental groups will be maintained.
Information on the website of the French Embassy in Bamako shows that France donated 310 billion CFA francs in aid to Mali through the French Development Agency between January 2013 and September 2017.
Mali, which has about 40% of its population of 20 million in need, occupies the 186th position on the UNs’ 2021 Human Development Index.
Since 2011, the country has been the target of terror organizations linked to al-Qaeda and Daesh and has had five military coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.
Recall that earlier this week, the UK announced plans to withdraw its 300 troops deployed in support of the UN peacekeeping mission there over the junta’s partnership with the Russian group Wagner. Also, Côte d’Ivoire declared the gradual withdrawal of its troops from the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali by August 2023.
Africa
Online Confrontation Erupts as Man Urges Internet Spiritualist Uzihben to Embrace Christianity, Met with Counterclaim
In a digitally-fueled confrontation that sparked intense debate across social media platforms, an unknown individual challenged prominent Internet Spiritualist Uzihben to embrace Christianity, only to receive a counterclaim from Uzihben urging him to reconnect with his ancestral roots. The fiery exchange of words unfolded on October 3, 2023, and has since become a hot topic of discussion in online communities.
The dispute, which originated on Uzihben’s social media channel, began when a man, a devout Christian, publicly implored Uzihben to accept Jesus Christ as his savior and renounce his spiritualist beliefs. The man argued that Christianity provided the path to salvation and spiritual enlightenment.
In response to the man’s call for conversion, Uzihben retorted with a message emphasizing the importance of ancestral reverence and heritage. Uzihben encouraged the to explore his own ancestral spirituality and traditions, arguing that connecting with one’s roots can be a profound and fulfilling spiritual journey.
The online exchange escalated as both parties defended their respective beliefs and perspectives. The man reiterated his conviction that Christianity offered the ultimate spiritual truth and salvation, while Uzihben emphasized the value of diverse spiritual paths and the need to respect individual choices.
As the debate raged on, observers on social media weighed in with a variety of opinions. Some supported the man’s efforts to share his faith, while others praised Uzihben for championing the idea of exploring one’s cultural and ancestral heritage as a source of spiritual fulfillment.
While the exchange remained largely civil, it underscored the ongoing tension between different belief systems and the challenges of religious and spiritual dialogue in the age of the internet. The encounter left both the man and Uzihben with firm convictions in their respective faiths and worldviews.
In the aftermath of this online confrontation, discussions on the role of religion, spirituality, and cultural heritage in personal belief systems continued to reverberate through online communities. It served as a reminder of the diversity of perspectives and the importance of respectful dialogue in an increasingly interconnected world.
As the digital age continues to foster global conversations about spirituality and belief, exchanges like this one remind us of the need for tolerance, empathy, and understanding in navigating the complex landscape of faith and spirituality in the modern era.
Watch the video below:
Africa
How much is Nigeria International Passport 2023
In the year 2023, the cost of the standard 32 pages passport is N70,000 and 64 pages cost N100,000.
Africa
Give us another G5 for APC to win in 2027, Akpabio tells Wike
The G5 is a group of five aggrieved politicians who opposed their party’s decision to elect a northerner and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its flag-bearer in the 2023 presidential election.
The members of the group consisting of Wike, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, former Governors of Benue, Abia, and Enugu States, Samuel Ortom, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi respectively, were believed to have contributed to the party’s failure in the February 25 poll.
Akpabio craves another G5 group ahead of 2027
Meanwhile, the Senate President said he wished for another aggrieved group to emerge within the PDP ahead of the next general elections to make things easier for his party.
He said this on Sunday, June 18, 2023, at a thanksgiving reception held at Wike’s private residence on Ada-George Road, in his hometown, Rumuepirikom in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the oil-rich South-South state.
Akpabio, a former Akwa Ibom State governor, also used the occasion to thank Wike for backing the return of power to Southern Nigeria and supporting All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“I want to thank you for all your efforts to bring justice to Nigeria,” the Senate President said.
“And I want to thank the G5 Governors.
“We are very delighted, we are proud to have G5. Please, ensure that in 2027, another G5 emerges so that APC will continue to do well in this country. And if you like, you can add two more, make it G7 and not only G5,” Akpabio added.
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