President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Brigadier General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono as the interim Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA).
Brigadier General Tanye-Kulono, an accomplished military officer and legal practitioner, is currently the Deputy Commandant at the National College of Defence Studies (NCDS) at Burma Camp, Accra.
He possesses a Master of Laws (LLM) in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution from the George Washington School of Law, a Master’s degree in Management Studies from Osmania University in India, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Ghana. He became a member of the Ghana Bar in 2015.
His professional development includes military training from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the United States Army Command and Staff College, and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
Brigadier General Tanye-Kulono has held several high-ranking positions, including Chief Coordinator at NCDS, Assistant Commandant at the Training and Doctrine Command, and Deputy Director-General of Training at GHQ.
He has also contributed significantly to international peacekeeping efforts, serving as Deputy Force Provost Marshal and Special Investigations Officer at UNIFIL Headquarters.
With vast experience in counterterrorism, strategic defense planning, and operational command, he is expected to bring a wealth of knowledge and leadership to his new position at GHPA.
Letters from the Ministry of Defence detailing the dismissal of the third accused, Richard Jakpa, in the ongoing ambulance procurement trial, from the Ghana Armed Forces have been admitted into evidence by the court.
The documents outline the reasons for Jakpa’s sacking, shedding light on his history of misconduct and insubordination.
During the court proceedings on Tuesday, June 18, Jakpa openly acknowledged his dismissal from the Armed Forces, attributing it to allegations of insubordination and repeated failures in mandatory intelligence exams.
Jakpa, who was commissioned into the Armed Forces in 1998, was dismissed in 2007. He cited his failure to pass intelligence exams five times between 2000 and 2007 as the key reason for his dismissal.
“Jakpa confirmed that he was commissioned in the Armed Forces in 1998 and got dismissed in 2007 for misconduct/insubordination and failure to pass the required intelligence exams five times within seven years. He failed in 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007,” the prosecution revealed.
Jakpa defended himself, asserting that his dismissal was a result of victimization by senior officers who were envious of his exemplary performance as a soldier. He maintained that his dismissal was unjust and that he was targeted due to jealousy.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), conducted a thorough cross-examination, uncovering significant revelations about Jakpa’s past. The letters from the Ministry of Defence provided detailed accounts of the reasons for Jakpa’s dismissal, adding weight to the prosecution’s case.
Additionally, Jakpa admitted that the conversation between himself and the Attorney-General (AG), presented in court as Exhibit 10 by the defense, did not encompass the entire dialogue. He claimed that only portions favorable to their defense were included in the submission.
“Jakpa confirmed in open court that the conversation between him and the AG that is in circulation and which was tendered in court by the accused persons as Exhibit 10 is actually not the full conversation. They only presented the aspects of the conversation that will help their case,” the prosecution stated.
In Court on Thursday, June 27, the Ministry’s Letter of dismissal showed that Jakpa was dismissed from the Ghana Army in November 2007 for “unsatisfactory conduct marked by fraudulent conduct abrasiveness, general indiscipline” and that he belongs to a world incompatible with decent and gentlemanly composure.
The Ministry of Defence further stated that Jakpa “is a bad example by all standards and his continued retention in the Service is likely to cause more harm to the Service and to himself”.
The Ministry further noted that, per Jakpa’s records, he should have made the rank of Captain by August 2002 but consistently failed his promotion examinations and lagged far behind his mates in rank. Jakpa was therefore released for inefficiency.
The trial, which has attracted significant public interest, involves the current Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and businessman Richard Jakpa.
They face allegations of deliberately causing financial loss to the state amounting to 2.37 million euros through the procurement of ambulances. Both Dr. Ato Forson and Jakpa have pleaded not guilty and are currently standing trial.
A Ghanaian man, whose journey led him to the British Army due to height restrictions in his homeland’s military, has offered insights into Ghana’s current state and the obstacles confronting its youth.
In a widely circulated video, known as Achieve Doctor, revealed his aspirations to serve his country from a young age but found himself stationed in the United Kingdom (UK) as a soldier.
Achieve Doctor questioned why he would forsake his homeland when it possesses all the resources to thrive.
He lamented the current state of Ghana, attributing it to widespread corruption and dishonesty among its leaders, including pastors, chiefs, and politicians.
Highlighting the plight of Ghanaian youth, he underscored the scarcity of opportunities, inadequate support systems, and the detrimental impact of corruption.
He noted the trend of Ghanaians seeking opportunities abroad, rather than contributing to their homeland’s development.
“Most Ghanaian leaders are untruthful, from pastors, chief and politicians. The youth is suffering, if the leaders are truthful, who am I to travel to the UK to become a soldier. Of course being a soldier is not the best of jobs but looking back at Ghana this is the best,
Despite acknowledging the challenges of military service, he viewed it as a better option compared to the conditions in Ghana.
Emphasizing the importance of investing in youth, Achieve Doctor called for increased resources and opportunities, particularly in education, job creation, and mentorship programs.
He expressed optimism that with dedication and perseverance, Ghana can overcome its challenges and realize its full potential.
Watch video below:
A Ghanaian man, now serving as a soldier in the British army after unsuccessful attempts to join the Ghana army due to his height, reflects deeply on the reality and state of his beloved country, Ghana, focusing on the journey of life for every youth in Ghana. pic.twitter.com/PlzEFhE4hR
The US Army is starting a new training program in the Philippines to get better at fighting in tough conditions like jungles and islands. They want to make sure they have enough ammo and other supplies to be ready for anything. A US general talked about it.
The Biden government is building up military partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to be better prepared for any conflict with China, especially regarding Taiwan. The US is helping the Philippines strengthen its defenses and respond better to natural disasters, especially with China’s disputes in the South China Sea.
Around 2,000 soldiers from the US and the Philippines will have training exercises using helicopters and artillery in the jungle in the northern Philippines in June. This was announced by Major General Marcus Evans, who leads the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division.
Manila has asked for the combat training to take place in the Philippines for the first time. It’s not certain if the long-time treaty partners will choose to make the exercises happen every year, according to Evans.
The drills from June 1 to 10 will happen after two other big exercises between the allied forces – the Salaknib army exercises, which started on Monday, and the Balikatan, which will involve about 16,000 US and Philippine forces and will start later in April. Many countries, including Japan, will send people to watch and learn.
“We need to be ready to help with humanitarian and natural disaster situations, and this training gives us the chance to do that,” Evans said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “We are confident in our training, but we can’t be too relaxed about it. ”
The drill in June will help us improve our preparedness for battle, strengthen our partnerships, and enhance our skills by working together in a tough environment, according to Evans.
The training was set up to be watched live and show what supplies the US and Philippine forces would bring, like ammunition, batteries, and food, and how they would get more supplies in a faraway battlefield.
Evans said it is a way for soldiers, leaders, and units to see how they perform in a pretend battle.
The training in Hawaii has helped small and fast combat units share information better and improve how long they can fight. It helped us to survive in a jungle and island environment because we can’t rely on normal communication lines. We have to use planes or ships to bring supplies.
Last year, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became the President of the Philippines. He supported his choice to let the US military be in more Philippine military bases under a 2014 defense agreement, saying it was important for his country’s protection of its land.
China told the Philippines that having more American soldiers there would bring them into a lot of trouble with other countries.
The broadcast building is in Omdurman, a city across the River Nile from Khartoum. It is part of Sudan’s capital and has experienced a lot of fighting around military bases, bridges, and supply routes.
Fighting is still happening in Sudan, even though the United Nations said there should be a break in the fighting to bring help to people who need it during Ramadan. Ramadan started on Monday.
The RSF liked the truce call, but a high-ranking general in the army did not. The army has been getting stronger and winning battles in Omdurman recently.
Taking over the state broadcast building would give them control of the northern part of “old Omdurman. ” However, the RSF still has control of the southern and western areas of the city.
Onlookers saw the army using drones in Omdurman to fight against the RSF. The army usually relies on air power and heavy weapons to counter the RSF’s infantry advantage. They are trying to regain control of the area.
The RSF did not comment right away.
In mid-April 2023, the RSF took control of the state broadcast building and used it and other public buildings for military operations as fighting started.
TV and radio have been airing from Port Sudan, a city on the Red Sea coast. Officials connected to the army have been working from there since the RSF took control of parts of the capital at the start of the war. ‘Voice of the nation’ can be rewritten as “The nation’s voice. ”
The army posted a video on Tuesday that showed some of its troops near the radio and TV building. They were cheering after seizing vehicles and weapons. The location of the video was confirmed by Reuters.
On social media, people who support the army were happy that they were able to free what they thought of as the “voice of the nation. ”
“Today the army won a big battle, but what matters most is bringing back safety, healthcare, and schooling,” said Safaa Ali, a 39-year-old government worker from Omdurman who moved to Port Sudan in May.
She asked, “Who will pay us for the things that were stolen and the homes that were destroyed in the war. ” when she spoke to Reuters on the phone.
Fighting broke out in Sudan in April 2023 between the army and RSF because they couldn’t agree on a plan for civilian rule.
In 2021, two groups tried to take control of the government which caused problems after the 2019 overthrow of the former leader Omar al-Bashir. Then they started fighting with each other.
The war destroyed the capital city, caused a lot of people to be killed because of their ethnicity in Darfur, and made a lot of people have to leave their homes.
Over 8 million people have left their homes and there is more hunger.
The fight has involved neighboring countries. Experts say that the United Arab Emirates supports the RSF, while Egypt, Eritrea, and Iran support the army.
In a bid to enhance the capabilities of the Somali national army amidst persistent threats from extremist groups, the United States has announced plans to construct up to five military bases for Somalia.
The memorandum of understanding, signed by Somalia’s defense minister and the U.S. charge d’affaires in Mogadishu, marks a significant step towards strengthening Somalia’s defense infrastructure.
These military bases, to be associated with the Somali military’s Danab Brigade, were established in 2017 under a joint initiative between the U.S. and Somalia.
The Danab Brigade, comprising 3,000 men and women recruited, trained, equipped, and mentored from across Somalia, serves as a vital quick-reaction force in countering the extremist group al-Shabab.
While progress has been made in improving security, evidenced by the reduction of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, al-Shabab remains a persistent threat. The recent attack inside a military base in Mogadishu underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Somalia in combating extremism.
Sergeant Anthony Oxley, who was 40 years old, passed away at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus in June 2016.
Since he died, his wife has been working to make sure people know how it happened.
Sally Oxley said she was very sad after finding out last weekend from a report by a coroner that the police had suggested that the driver should be charged with a crime.
The BBC asked the US Air Force to share their thoughts.
Colour Sgt Oxley, from Ryhill, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was riding a motorbike and got into a crash with a Toyota Corolla driven by a US serviceman. He passed away at the hospital afterwards.
In 2018, a UK investigation found that the officer died from multiple head injuries.
Mrs Oxley said she wanted a new investigation because someone who works for the SBA Police approached her in a car park and asked for it. The SBA Police is the civilian police force for Akrotiri and Dhekelia, which are areas controlled by the British government.
The report showed the name of the US soldier who was in the crash for the first time. The SBA Police suggested criminal charges against him before the US Air Force started the investigation.
The coroner said that the leader of the British Bases in Akrotiri, Michalis Vasiliou, found enough proof in his report in 2017 to charge the American for causing death through reckless or dangerous behavior.
The report said that people who saw it said the driver of the car turned sharply to the right without using the turn signal.
The coroner said that no one was charged with a crime because the person involved was a soldier in the American Air Force, and the American authorities were handling the investigation.
“In his report, he showed that he disagrees with many of the findings in the American report. ”
The investigator said: “There is evidence that suggests other people’s actions or decisions might have caused the person to die. ”
Mrs Oxley, from Barnsley, said: “I haven’t slept much this weekend. ” “These are the things that we have not been told,” she said.
“It’s difficult to handle, but I just have to move forward. ”
Mrs Oxley’s lawyers have now sent a letter to the UK Attorney General asking for a new investigation because of what the coroner found.
She also wanted the top lawyer in Cyprus to start a new investigation into the crash.
Mrs Oxley said, “I feel hopeful and I don’t think I can change my mind now. ” They will have to take action to fix it.
Thomas Kwoyelo is accused of doing many bad things like killing people, hurting others, and making kids become soldiers.
He is the first LRA leader to be tried in a Ugandan court, which is a very important moment for the country’s legal system.
In 2011, when Mr. Kwoyelo went to court, he said he didn’t do the things he was accused of.
He has been in jail for 14 years before his trial because the crimes he is accused of are very serious and complicated, according to experts.
More than 20 years ago, Joseph Kony started the LRA in Uganda. He said he was fighting to create a government that follows the rules written in the Bible.
The group was well known for cutting off people’s arms and legs and taking children to be soldiers and for bad things. Hundreds of people had to leave their homes because of the fighting.
It started in northern Uganda, then moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo where Mr Kwoyelo was arrested in 2009, and later to the Central African Republic.
Mr Kwoyelo has been to court before for pre-trial hearings, but the case has been delayed many times.
Several people will tell the court what they saw happen.
Human Rights Watch said that there have been long delays in this case, and generally, not enough people have been held responsible for the bad things that happened during the 25-year war in Uganda, including bad things done by the Ugandan government.
In 2021, the ICC gave Dominic Ongwen a 25-year jail sentence because he was a commander in the LRA. They didn’t give him the harshest punishment because he had been kidnapped as a kid and trained by rebels who had killed his parents.
Mr Kwoyelo says he was kidnapped by LRA fighters when he was a young teenager, while he was on his way to school.
Many people who used to be part of the LRA have been forgiven and allowed to go free under a law in Uganda, after they left and said they didn’t want to be part of the rebel group anymore.
But Mr Kwoyelo was not allowed to choose that, leading to claims that the denial was based on politics.
As his court case continues, people are worried that the money to support it could run out. This would make the process even longer for the people who say they were hurt by him and want justice.
The founder and leader of God’s Crown Chapel, Eagle Prophet, has recently shared his vision for the 2024 general elections during an interview on Top Radio.
Eagle Prophet predicted a significant upheaval within the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces leading up to the 2024 polls. He foresaw a mass exodus of officers from both security services, with many choosing not to participate in the election.
In describing his vision, Eagle Prophet recounted, “I saw that a police car and a military vehicle were in one compound, and there was water oozing out from the ground, and there was water also from the heavens. The water entered the two cars, and all the people who were in these cars got down, and the water swept the car away.”
“As the policemen were coming out of their cars, they were all removing their uniforms and throwing them in the water, and they were all walking away naked. I asked that spirit of God what this meant, and that was when I saw a lot of the ballot boxes in the water being dragged away, as the police were walking off with their hands raised.”
Eagle Prophet conveyed the message he received from the spirit of God, stating, “A lot of military and police people would not vote this year. The voter turnout of their session is going to be very poor. There is going to be a very strong mass resignation in the military and the police.”
He further described seeing eagles lifting the two vehicles onto a mountaintop, where a policeman and a soldier blew horns to assemble a new set of officers. Eagle Prophet emphasized the need for prayers to avert this vision and urged President Akufo-Addo to address the situation with the people.
Mali’s Tuareg rebels have seized a UN base in Kidal, northern Mali, after UN peacekeepers hastily left the area.
The UN mission, Minusma, ended its presence in Kidal due to two explosive attacks on its peacekeepers’ convoy en route to Gao, another significant northern town.
The Tuareg coalition claimed victory on social media, asserting control of the Kidal base. Local sources reported that the rebels occupied the camp immediately after the UN mission’s departure.
This marks the third and final camp evacuated by the mission in the troubled Kidal region, plagued by jihadist and separatist violence.
Despite previous ceasefire agreements with authorities, separatist groups have recently resumed hostilities, opposing the handover of their camps to the Malian army.
Mali’s military government has also called for the UN force to leave the country by year-end, citing the mission’s failure in combating Islamist militants over the past decade.
The Army Recruits Training School (ARTS) conducted an induction religious parade on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Shai Hills, marking the commencement of training for 830 recruits in the Basic Infantry Training Course 2-2023 (BITC 2-23).
The recruits, consisting of 223 females and 607 males, are embarking on their journey to become professional soldiers in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
During the ceremony, Lieutenant (Lt) Benjamin Otuo Acheampong, the Chaplain for ARTS, delivered a message centered around the theme “Delight in Discipline.”
He emphasized the importance of embracing values such as discipline, respect, obedience, and loyalty as the recruits pursue their military careers. Lt. Acheampong encouraged them to strive for excellence, remain focused, and seek the grace of God throughout their training at ARTS.
Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Micheal Opoku, the Director General Human Resource at General Headquarters, recognized the recruits’ decision to pursue a military career as a calling. ]
He highlighted the demanding nature of military service, requiring the highest level of sacrifice, professionalism, integrity, and dedication. Brig Gen Opoku explained that the 24-week training program would equip the recruits with essential skills and character necessary for their chosen path.
He stressed the need for determination, commitment, and dedication to successfully complete the training, urging the recruits to take their courses seriously and strive for the excellence that the institution is known for.
Burkina Faso’s security forces have reportedly eliminated a wanted fugitive commander, Ismael Tohobougou, who was implicated in last month’s alleged coup attempt.
Tohobougou had evaded capture after being summoned for questioning by the military prosecutor. He was among several military officers accused of involvement in the failed coup against Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
The coup reports led to nationwide pro-junta protests.
Recently, the country’s defense ministry suspended multiple army officers connected to the coup attempt, and Lt Col Evrard Somda, the chief of staff of the national gendarmerie, was dismissed and replaced by Lt Col Kouagri Natama.
Burkina Faso has been embroiled in a political crisis since the military ousted elected President Roch Marc Kaboré in early 2022.
The army in Colombia said sorry for mistakenly killing many innocent people and lying by saying they were left-wing fighters. They did this to make it seem like they were doing better in the war that happened in the country.
A study discovered that the military wrongly killed 6,402 innocent people between 2002 and 2008 and pretended they were rebels. This was known as “false positives”.
At a meeting with mothers of the victims, the defense minister called the killings “disgraceful”.
“They weren’t rebels,” he said.
The leader of the Colombian army, Luis Ospina, said that some soldiers did very bad things that should never have happened.
The people who were hurt were mostly young men who lived in poor areas near the capital city, Bogotá.
They were tempted with offers of jobs to go to the countryside of Colombia, but soldiers killed them. Then, they put on clothes like guerrilla soldiers or held weapons in their hands.
The army wanted to make it seem like they were winning against the Farc guerrilla group.
Soldiers have said that their bosses forced them to increase the number of people they killed. They were promised promotions or extra time off as a reward.
For a long time, the family members of the victims tried hard to make sure that everyone knows the true story of what happened to their loved ones.
On Tuesday, Colombia’s Minister of Defence, Iván Velásquez, said sorry to them in a gathering held in Bogotá’s main square.
“We are apologizing to the victims, to the Colombian society, and to the international community,” Mr.
Gustavo Petro, the first left-wing president of Colombia and a former member of the M-19 rebel group, arrived late but also apologized for what he described as a “genocide”.
The family members of 19 young men who were killed near the Venezuelan border and mistaken as rebels were at the event.
Each person went up on the stage and said the name of someone they loved who had been killed.
Some people were sad that it took over 15 years for the apology to be given.
Some people said it should have come from the previous president Álvaro Uribe, who was in charge when most of the “false positives” happened, and his former defense minister, Juan Manuel Santos.
Florinda Hernández, whose son Elkin was killed in 2008, said that Juan Manuel Santos should have been there in person to apologize and ask for our forgiveness.
Lucero Carmona said that her family and she are not forgiving today, while Jackelin Castillo, who leads the group representing the mothers of the victims known as the “false positives,” said that their fight is not over. They will keep looking for the true culprits, the ones who ordered these crimes.
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) is a special court system created as part of a peace agreement between the Colombian government and Farc rebels. It is currently investigating the “false positives” issue.
Over 700 security forces members have provided information, and in August, General Mario Montoya, the former leader of the Colombian army, was accused of orchestrating 130 “false positives”.
A young female soldier is thought to have killed herself because her boss in the Army kept harassing her sexually, according to a military investigation.
Nineteen-year-old gunner Jaysley Beck from the Royal Artillery was discovered deceased at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire in December 2021.
A report that the BBC saw describes a time when there was a lot of bad behavior happening.
The report stated that it is highly likely this caused her death.
The report, scheduled to be released at noon on Wednesday, states that her boss consistently acted a certain way towards her for two months before she passed away.
Although this behavior stopped the week before her death, it seems that it still had a major negative impact on her mental strength and overall well-being, as mentioned in the report.
Many people send lots of messages.
In an interview with the BBC, Gunner Beck’s mother said her daughter had been feeling sad and upset because of ongoing bullying.
A date has not been set yet for the official investigation to find out how Gunner Beck died.
Description of the video or audio content.
‘I shouldn’t have been left alone with only these things. ‘
The Army investigation discovered that her boss, along with everyone else mentioned in the report, desired to have a romantic relationship with her. However, she already had a boyfriend and did not feel the same way towards her boss.
In October 2021, her boss sent her over 1,000 messages and voicemails on WhatsApp. The next month, it went up to over 3,500.
The messages were about controlling how someone behaves. He always wanted to make sure that she was alone and he made it very clear that he didn’t want her to be with anyone else.
Jaysley Beck used to see her boss as a friend and tried to understand him, but in the weeks before she died, she sent him a message saying she couldn’t handle the situation anymore. “It’s making me feel burdened. ”
The lawyer representing the family, Emma Norton, from a legal organization called the Centre for Military Justice, stated that it is important that the Army recognizes that the sexual harassment the young woman experienced before she passed away played a significant role in causing her death. I don’t know of any other situation where this has been accepted. This is obviously very worrying for the family.
Two years ago, a group of government officials discovered that women in the military who experience harassment and severe sexual assault, along with other crimes, are not receiving fair treatment from the military complaints system, which is poorly equipped to handle their cases.
The Army investigation into Gunner Beck’s death reveals that her boss was in charge of giving out tasks and making sure everyone was working together. She was worried that he was following her using her phone.
The week before she died, she decided to leave the hotel where they were both staying for a work trip because of his actions. She was upset and called her dad for help. Her friend found her shaking and trembling, as stated in the investigation.
She sent a message to her boss saying that she felt stuck because of what he did. Her family was concerned about her. She said she cried a lot and also mentioned that it is difficult for her to handle everything going on.
Gunner Beck joined the Army at 16 years old and was happy to be a soldier.
Her family from Oxen Park in Cumbria have seen her boss’s messages. They told the BBC that the teenager, who is kind and generous, didn’t mean to upset her boss.
Gunner Beck’s mom, Leighann McCready, says: “You might think it’s easiest to stop communication with him, but you can’t simply cut off contact with your boss. ”
Ms McCready, Jaysley’s dad, Anthony, and her older sister Emilli, were always talking to her and could see how her boss’s unwanted attention affected her.
“Ms McCready said that she was always sad. ” She was tired and annoyed by how he was acting. It began to mess up a job that she really liked doing.
‘Stop touching me, Sir’
Ms McCready told her daughter that she should tell someone about her boss’s actions, but her daughter didn’t want to because of how the Army handled her previous complaint of being sexually assaulted by another person in her senior position a few months ago. This happened at night in a bar at a military training center. The report explains that Gunner Beck left the bar and went to hide in the toilets.
Ms McCready vividly remembers when her daughter called the next morning and told her what had happened. She said that someone tried to touch her private parts and tried to choke her. She yelled: ‘Leave me alone, Sir’.
That night she slept inside her car. She was scared that if she went to bed, he would enter her room. She called her friend who was working overnight and asked them to stay on the phone with her until she fell asleep. She wanted them to listen and call for help if they heard anything concerning.
Gunner Beck chose not to tell people about what happened to her, but someone else did.
According to the report, the people in charge recognized the incident as important, but it seems like the proper way of reporting it was not followed. As a result, the advice on discipline was given based on a story that left out important details by mistake.
The man was punished slightly and told to write a letter saying sorry to the teenager. It recognizes that this “may have made her not report other things that happened after”.
Ms McCready wants to make it clear that this was true. She thought that no one was paying attention to what she was saying, so she wondered why she was even trying to speak up. She believed that people would label her as someone who causes problems because she is a woman.
The family saw the apology letter from the warrant officer. The man who had hurt her said to Ms. Beck: “If there’s anything you need, you can always come to me. ”
Ms McCready believes the offer is terrible and thinks it would have caused her daughter problems forever.
Meaning of “vile” and “degrading”: The word “vile” means something that is extremely unpleasant, disgusting, or morally bad. It is used to describe things or people that are considered very unpleasant or awful. The word “degrading” refers to something that lowers someone’s dignity or self-worth. It is used to describe actions, behaviors, or situations that make someone feel ashamed, embarrassed, or humiliated.
The report states that Gunner Beck passed away due to family problems, including the loss of a loved one. Her family is very confused and do not accept it. Ms McCready says that she believes they are burdening her family with many tasks.
“They have said that we are somewhat responsible for our daughter’s death. ”
According to the report, Gunner Beck did not have any known mental-health problems and did not ask for help from anyone in the Army regarding his well-being.
At the investigation about her death, people gave statements about male soldiers acting inappropriately towards female colleagues at Larkhill.
The report states that many soldiers at Larkhill Garrison often behaved in a certain way. One person who saw this happen would regularly receive offensive and disrespectful comments from male soldiers.
The report states that actions were taken to address this type of behavior. These actions were included in a new set of rules for the military in November 2022.
When asked if she feels bad about her daughter’s career choice, her mom quickly says “Yes”.
She says that the military people were not understanding and caring when the family wanted to be in her room while taking her things. She says they tried but couldn’t control how her funeral should be planned.
She says every day she talks to her daughter, who brings happiness wherever she goes.
She holds her daughter’s Army hat and pants and says, “These make me feel safe and calm. ” I have these things and they remind me of good times, but it wasn’t fair for me to only have these things. I wish my daughter had come back home.
A spokesperson for the Army said, “We are thinking of and feeling sorry for Gunner Jaysley-Louise Beck’s family and friends during this hard time. ” They also mentioned that it would not be right to say anything more until after the inquest.
So far this month, 12 people have died in gang violence in the country.
This is the highest number since December 2019, according to Dagens Nyheter newspaper. On Wednesday night alone, two young men were shot dead in Stockholm and a woman – who police said had no links to organized crime – was killed in an explosion at her home about 10 miles from the capital. 50 miles north.
The 24-year-old woman, named by local media as Soha Saad, was a newly qualified teacher and believed to be a neighbor of the blast target.
Kristersson made the announcement after crisis talks on Friday with Swedish army chief Micael Biden, police chief Anders Thornberg and Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer.
He added that the government would ask the military to support the police “in case the specialized skills of the armed forces could be useful”.
“It could be a few things: explosives and helicopter logistics support, analytical skills… Computer forensic analysis.
The Prime Minister added that the country’s current laws need to be changed to deal with “gray zone situations where it is unclear what type of threat Sweden faces”. Swedish media have linked the recent increase in deaths to a conflict involving a gang known as the Foxtrot network, which has been rocked by infighting and split into two rival factions. enemy.
On Thursday, Kristersson said Sweden had never seen anything like it before and “no other country in Europe” had encountered this situation.
Children and innocent bystanders are increasingly becoming victims of this violence, he emphasized.
Last year, more than 60 people died in shootings in Sweden – the highest number ever recorded – and this year the toll looks set to be even greater, if not worse. An official government report released in 2021 indicated that 4 people per million die in shootings in Sweden each year, compared with 1.6 people per million in Europe.
Police say the violence is linked to poor integration of immigrants, the growing gap between rich and poor and drug use.
Mr. Kristersson’s centre-right minority government, which came to power last year with the support of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, has so far failed to stop the violence.
He pledged to move towards stricter surveillance, tougher penalties for breaches of gun laws, stronger deportation powers and stop and search zones – with an emphasis on the fact that ” Everything has been considered.”
Some critics argue that these measures do not address underlying social problems such as child poverty and underfunding of community services.
More than 100 officers who carried weapons gave up their permits after an officer was accused of killing Chris Kaba.
A man named Mr. Kaba, who was 24 years old, was killed in Streatham Hill, which is in south-east London. This happened in September of last year when he was shot through the windscreen of an Audi car.
The person who is accused of murdering someone, and is known as NX121 to protect their identity, appeared in court for the first time this week.
The police have asked the military for assistance and the Metropolitan Police have confirmed it.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that soldiers would only help with certain jobs and would not do regular police work or have the ability to arrest people.
A person speaking on behalf of the police said: “The Ministry of Defence has agreed to help the Met with countering terrorism, if they need it. ”
This is a backup plan that would only be used in certain situations when there is no appropriate police response available. The military will not be used for regular police duties. We will constantly check if we still need to receive support.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Defense said that they agreed to help the Metropolitan Police if they need assistance with counterterrorism activities.
Scotland Yard said that some police officers have decided to stop doing armed duties while they think about what they want to do. The number of officers doing this has gone up in the last 48 hours.
Sir Mark Rowley, who leads the force, said that police officers who carry guns are understandably worried after the murder charge.
The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, wants to assess the situation and make sure that police officers don’t worry about being punished for doing their job.
Intense clashes persist in the vicinity of a strategically important army base in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, where the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are locked in fierce combat amidst an ongoing conflict.
In a statement issued on its official Facebook page on Tuesday night, the army reported successfully repelling yet another attack by RSF fighters on the Armoured Corps military base situated in the Al-Shajara area, located to the south of Khartoum. The army further stated that it dealt significant damage to the paramilitary force during the engagement.
In a counterclaim, the RSF asserted that it had gained control over sections of the base and seized substantial amounts of weaponry. This statement was disseminated on Tuesday night via the social media platform X, previously recognized as Twitter.
According to reports from the Saudi-funded Al Arabiya TV website, as of the third day of intense fighting, the army retained command of the base.
The confrontation between these two factions has escalated in recent days, extending from Khartoum into neighboring cities like Omdurman and Bahri, and even encompassing parts of the conflict-ridden western region of Darfur.
As indicated by the United Nations, the conflict that erupted in mid-April has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and has displaced over four million people, further exacerbating an already dire situation.
The army of Nigeria has stated that it has not received a directive “to begin military action against the military junta in Niger.”
The armed forces could not launch a mission on behalf of the regional organization, Ecowas, without the heads of state’s authorization, a spokesperson said in a statement in response to a news that Nigerian soldiers were mobilizing in anticipation.
According to Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, the military option in Niger was the last resort in the event that all other measures proved unsuccessful in changing the course of events.
In order to “submit their plans” to the leaders of the area, military leaders are currently gathering in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Army in Rwandan army, has said that it is “deeply saddened” by the death of one of its soldiers who was killed by “armed elements” while on patrol with UN forces in the Central African Republic (CAR).
According to a statement from the UN, the attack on the military took place on Monday in the Haute-Kotto region to the northeast of the CAR.
“Three armed elements were killed and one was captured,” the report reads.
The attack on the peacekeepers has been denounced as “outrageous” by Valentine Rugwabiza, the director of the UN mission in the Central African Republic.
Approximately 2,000 of the 17,000 UN forces in CAR are Rwandan.
The deputy head of Sudan’s ruling council, Malik Agar, has welcomed negotiations for a further ceasefire but said no truce can hold until all forces are withdrawn from the capital.
There’s been an alarming escalation of violence in Khartoum and in the western Darfur region since the negotiations in Saudi Arabia broke down last week.
Both the army and the rival paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), accused each other of violating the truce, but negotiators have remained in Jeddah.
Mr Agar said the talks there represented the best hope of ending the fighting.
Sudanese military leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan recently appointed Mr Agar, a former rebel leader, to replace his former deputy Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, who heads the RSF.
Most of the troops in Khartoum are RSF fighters, and the army appears to have resumed its attempts to blast them out of the positions they’re holding.
Nine extremely elderly riflemen who served France in Algeria and Indochina arrived in Senegal on Friday to gently end their lives after a protracted legal battle with the French government to get their “sacrifices” recognized.
When the first of them walked through the doors of the plane at Blaise Diagne airport, installed in his wheelchair, white beard, dressed in a traditional brown boubou, families and veterans have launched the first applause.
It was time for a reunion. Some smiled, others cried, all marked by the emotion of returning to their country of origin in the twilight of their lives.
This moment was made possible thanks to a derogatory measure decided by the French government, which allows them to live permanently in Senegal without losing their minimum old-age allowance of 950 euros per month.
“I am very happy to be back with my family, my brothers, my children,” said 91-year-old Oumar Diémé on his arrival.
A few minutes before, his brother Sidi introduced him to AFP as “the patriarch”, “the baobab of the family”, who was sorely missed. His relatives prepared a mafé, his favourite dish, for his return.
“The measure may have come a little late, but today the prevailing feeling is one of joy,” he said, saying his only regret is that his eldest child “will not be able to benefit from the same medical care as in France.
The nine soldiers were then received at the presidential palace by President Macky Sall, who decorated them.
– Injustice repaired” –
“Today we celebrate an injustice repaired. You can finally live at home, with your families and receive your full pensions,” said President Sall.
“This ceremony is an exercise in memory in recognition of the sacrifices. It is also a reminder of the long series of injustices against the infantrymen who have been in all the battles,” he added.
“All the Senegalese infantrymen have given their full satisfaction to France. It is a debt that France has paid us,” reacted Yoro Diao, their spokesman.
All elegant in impeccable suits or traditional tunics, wearing their military medals with poise, these Senegalese riflemen had left at dawn their 15-square-metre studios in a hostel in Bondy, near Paris, where they had lived for years.
“Long live our fathers!” and “Long live France and Senegal!” were the words heard during the moving moments of group photos and exchanges with the French Secretary of State for Veterans and Remembrance, Patricia Mirallès, before their departure. “We will miss you! but the family is waiting for you there…”, the Secretary of State told them, moved.
“I am very happy to return to Senegal and to continue to benefit from the rights I had in France; for the past 25 or 20 years, it was hard for our relatives to commute, and for our age too.
N’Dongo Dieng, 87, wearing his military medals on a mustard tunic, told AFP.
This comes “late”, because “many comrades died before benefiting from this measure…”, lamented the veteran.
Exceptional aid also finances their removal, their return flight and their resettlement.
– Relief” –
“I am extremely moved,” Aïssata Seck, president of the Association for the Memory and History of Senegalese Tirailleurs, told AFP before taking the plane.
The granddaughter of a rifleman, she was the linchpin who for 10 years worked for their recognition, until the decision of French President Emmanuel Macron in early 2023 to announce this derogatory measure for their allowance.
“The fact that they can finally return home is a real relief and the culmination of a very long struggle” for them to have “a dignified end to their lives”, according to Ms Seck, who believes that the French state “did what was necessary”.
For Claire Miot, a lecturer in history at the Institute of Political Studies in Aix-en-Provence (France), “it is a recognition of their sacrifices in the service of France that is extremely late because these are men who are 90 years old.
The French “Senegalese Riflemen” corps, created under the Second Empire (1852-1870) and disbanded in the 1960s, brought together soldiers from the former African colonies. The term came to designate all African soldiers who fought under the French flag.
After Friday’s departures, there are still 28 Tirailleurs in France – all of Senegalese origin -, many of whom are likely to return permanently soon.
Yoro Diao, 95, who volunteered for the French army as part of his family’s tradition, is wearing the Legion of Honour and wants to “rest” in Kaolack, in central Senegal.
“It’s a very important day for us, and memorable,” he told AFP before boarding the plane. “Our children and grandchildren will always remember… that grandpa came back from France that day very happy.
On Monday April 17, 2023 fierce fighting between the army and a potent opposition force known as the Rapid Support Force (RSF) entered its third day in Sudan’s beleaguered capital.
Both organizations seek to take over the nation. Numerous people have died as a result of the rivalry between the two generals, and countless more are now in fear.
Engineer Ahmed recounts: “I was asleep. Suddenly I heard a lot of big sounds like bullets, rockets. I don’t know what is it.” […] “I can’t leave the house. It’s very dangerous outside.”
Since the infighting between General al Burhan who heads the army and General Hamdane Daglo who leads the RSF, broke Saturday (Apr. 15), airstrikes and shelling intensified in parts of Khartoum and the adjoining city of Omdurman.
The RSF grew out of the Janjaweed militia, formerly active in the Darfur region of the country and was later labelled a regular force.
Allies turned enemies now accuse each other of starting the fighting, and both claim the upper hand by declaring control of key sites, including the airport and the presidential palace — none of which could be independently verified.
“You’ve got two highly armed forces who want to seize power. They’ve both paid lip service to the idea that they would respond to the Sudanese revolution by transferring power to civilians. But that has always proved elusive,” the former UK ambassador to Sudan William Patey, analyses.
“‘I suspect the we’re going to see more fighting until either both sides.”
The Arab League and the African Union on Sunday (Apr.16) held emergency meetings asking for the end of hostilities and a return to a political solution.
Speaking from Japan, the U.S Secretary of State called for a ceasefire.
“…….. We’ve also been in close touch with partners in the Arab world, in Africa, in international organizations,” Anthony Blinked said.
“There is a shared deep concern about the fighting, the violence that’s going on in Sudan. The threat that that poses to civilians, that it poses to the Sudanese nation and potentially poses even to the region. There’s also a very strongly shared view about the need for generals Burhan and Hemedti to ensure the protection of civilians and non-combatants, as well as people from third countries […]”.
Despite a humanitarian pause announced on Sunday afternoon, heavy gunfire was heard in central Khartoum and dense black smoke could be seen.
The World Health Organization warned that “several” of the capital’s nine hospitals receiving injured civilians “have run out of blood, transfusion equipment, intravenous fluids and other vital supplies”.
Doctors and humanitarian workers are sounding the alarm: under normal circumstances in Sudan, households are only supplied with electricity for a few hours a day. In some areas of Khartoum, it has been completely cut off since Saturday (Apr. 15), as has running water.
An aggressive power struggle inside the military leadership of the country is the root cause of the fighting that has broken out in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and other parts of the nation.
Members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and regular soldiers are fighting in critical strategic locations throughout the capital.
What’s the background to the fighting?
Since a coup in October 2021, Sudan has been run by a council of generals and there are two military men at the centre of the dispute.
Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who is the head of the armed forces and in effect the country’s president.
And his deputy and leader of the RSF, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti.
They have disagreed on the direction the country is going in and the proposed move towards civilian rule.
One of the main sticking points is over the plans to include the 100,000-strong RSF into the army and who would then lead the new force.
Why did it all kick off on Saturday?
The violence follows days of tension as members of the RSF were redeployed around the country in a move that the army saw as a threat.
There had been some hope that talks could resolve the situation but these never happened.
It is not clear who fired the first shot on Saturday morning but there are fears that this will worsen an already unstable situation.
Diplomats have urged the two sides to cease fire.
Who are the Rapid Support Forces?
The RSF was formed in 2013 and has its origins in the notorious Janjaweed militia that brutally fought off rebels in Darfur.
Since then, Gen Dagalo has built a powerful force that has intervened in conflicts in Yemen and Libya and controls some of Sudan’s gold mines.
Image caption,Rivalry between Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (pictured) and Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is at the heart of the problem
It has also been accused of human rights abuses, including the massacre of more than 120 protesters in June 2019.
Such a strong force outside the army has been seen as a source of instability in the country.
Why is the military in charge?
This fighting is the latest episode in bouts of tension that followed the ousting of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir in 2019.
There were huge street protests calling for an end to his near-three decade rule and the army mounted a coup to get rid of him.
But the civilians continued to demand a role in the plan to move towards democratic rule.
A joint military-civilian government was then established but that was overthrown in another coup in October 2021.
And since then the rivalry between Gen Burhan and Gen Dagalo has intensified.
A framework deal to put power back in the hands of civilians was agreed last December but talks to finalise the details have failed.
What could happen now?
If the fighting continues then it could further fragment the country and worsen political turbulence.
Diplomats, who have played a crucial role in trying to urge a return to civilian rule, will be desperate to find a way to get the two generals to talk.
In the meantime, it will be the ordinary Sudanese who will have to live through yet another period of uncertainty.
A number of people are believed to have been killed after two US Army helicopters crashed in Kentucky.
The state’s Governor, Andy Beshear, said it was “tough news” with “early reports of a helicopter crash and fatalities are expected”.
Local news reports say the incident happened at about 21:35 local time (01:35 GMT), and as many as nine people may have been killed.
Local military confirmed their helicopters were involved in the crash.
It happened in the Trigg County area, close to the large Fort Campbell military base.
In a statement to the BBC, a Fort Campbell spokesperson said two HH60 Blackhawk helicopters had crashed during “a routine training mission”.
“The status of the crew members are unknown at this time,” they said.
“The command is currently focused on caring for the service members and their families.”
They added the incident was under investigation and more information would be released as it becomes available.
The Fort Campbell military base is located a short distance from Trigg County.
The helicopters involved are from the 101st Airborne Division, which is the only air assault division in the US Army and has been sent to conflict zones internationally.
Hundreds of young Congolese volunteer to join the army to fight the M23 (“March 23 Movement”) rebels who are making increasing advances in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Army officials say more than 3,000 applicants aged between 18 and 30 are registered across the province, in part as a response to a message to the nation by President Felix Tshisekedi calling on young people to enlist in the army to fight the M23 rebels.
The Rwandan government, which has repeatedly denied supporting M23, meanwhile said that a Congolese fighter plane had “violated Rwandan airspace” by landing briefly at Rubavu airport.
“No military action was taken by Rwanda in response, and the jet returned to the DRC,” the Rwandan government said in a statement.
The M23 rebels rose to prominence more than a decade ago when they seized Goma, the largest city in Congo´s east that sits along the border with Rwanda. After a peace deal, many of M23´s fighters were integrated into the national military. But then a year ago, the group re-emerged saying the government had failed to live up to its decade-long promises.
Tensions have mounted as the M23 rebels have advanced in recent weeks, seizing several key towns including Kiwanja. Congo’s government has blamed Rwanda and expelled the Rwandan ambassador about a week ago.
Representatives from the two countries met over the weekend in Angola where they agreed to “maintain dialogue.” Other peace talks are expected to resume in Kenya next week. However, Congolese government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said representatives of M23 will not be allowed to take part unless conditions are met.
“The M23 must withdraw from occupied positions before being reintegrated into the process like other armed groups,” he told journalists over the weekend.
In Goma on Monday, North Kivu military spokesman Lt. Gen. Guillaume Djike Kaiko said more than 3,000 people had stepped forward to join the military’s efforts against M23.
Among them was Clarisse Mahamba, a 19-year-old who said she’s been interested in the military since childhood and wanted to serve her country.
“I see that things are not going well in our country,” she told The Associated Press. “I saw the Rwandans coming to invade us because I was in Rumangabo. I saw how our soldiers were suffering, I fled and that´s why I have also joined the military service.”
Edison Butsira, 27, has a college degree in economics but said he wants to follow the example set by young Ukrainians who took up arms to defend their country.
“Young people decided to abandon their activities – they left to enlist in their army to fight because Ukraine was invaded,” Butsira said. “Here I also gave up my job and I joined my friends to go fight.”
Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi also has called on his citizens to mobilize against “Rwandan aggression” in Rutshuru territory on Thursday.
“We must be aware that no one but ourselves will save our nation and that this requires from each of us a mobilization all around,” he said on RTNC radio.
A Palestinian rammed a car into Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Thursday before being shot dead, the Israeli army said.
“An assailant drove at a high speed towards (Israeli) soldiers adjacent to a military post near the community of Negohot, southwest of Hebron,” an army statement said.
One soldier was wounded while another opened fire on the driver, it added. A spokeswoman for the military confirmed the driver had been killed.
The Palestinian health ministry confirmed he was a Palestinian, and his family named him as Bahaa Al-Awawdeh.
The wounded soldier was taken to hospital for treatment, the army statement added.
The incident came a day after a 15-year-old Palestinian was killed in clashes with the Israeli army in the Fawwar refugee camp in Hebron.
On Tuesday an Israeli soldier was killed when a rock was thrown at him during a raid near Jenin in the northern West Bank.
Separately Thursday, hundreds of Israeli Arabs protested in the village of Arara against the killing of a man from the community outside a hospital in Tel Aviv.
The man, who Israeli media reported had psychiatric issues, stabbed a guard at the hospital on Wednesday before being shot, Israeli police said.
Tensions have been high as Israel prepares to swear in its first government in nearly 18 months on Sunday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supporting annexation of some parts of the West Bank.
10th Anniversary of Former PNDC Secretary of State for Defence and Navy Commander H.E Rear Admiral Chemogoh Kevin Dzang (RTD) has been held at Nandom in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
H.E Rear Admiral Chemogoh Kevin Dzang (27 July 1941 — 29 December 2009) was born at Nandom in the Upper West Region of Ghana. He is a retired Naval Officer and a Former Chief of Naval Staff of the Ghana Navy.
H.E Rear Admiral Chemogoh Kevin Dzang also served Ghana as a High Commissioner to Australia, Member of Supreme Military Council (SMC I) and an Ambassador to Japan with concurrent accreditations to the Commonwealth of Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei and Thailand.
On December, 29, 2009, a shock waves ran through the nation Ghana when the sad news broke that death has laid its icy hands on H.E Rear Admiral Chemogoh Kevin Dzang after which his remains were buried.
Speaking to Class FM after the anniversary, principal social work lecturer at UK Anglia Ruskin University – Cambridge, Child Protection Advisor to UK Immigration Ministry and daughter of the late H.E Rear Admiral Chemogoh Kevin Dzang, Dr. Prospera Tedam said: “the 10th Anniversary organised from 27th to 29th December, 2019 was graced by Ghana Navy Band, extending alms to Nandom Hospitals, feeding patients and wraps up with thanks giving service in honour of my Dad”.
As part of the 10th Anniversary, Muslim Prayers were observed in honour of the late PNDC Secretary of State H.E Rear Admiral Chemogoh Kevin Dzang during which medical books and thermometers were donated to the Nandom Hospital including distribution of 700 take away packs to patients in all the Nandom Hospital wards.
H.E Rear Admiral Chemogoh Kevin Dzang was born July, 27, 1941 at Nandom in the Upper West Region of Ghana but died on December 29, 2009 at the age of sixty-eight(68) and was a Member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC I).
President Akufo-Addo has in consultation with the Council of State appointed Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, currently Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, as the new Chief of Army Staff, effective Tuesday, February 18, 2020.
This follows the completion of the tour of duty and subsequent retirement from the Ghana Armed Forces of Major General William Ayamdo, the Chief of Army Staff.
Furthermore, on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Council, President Akufo-Addo has appointed Commodore Issah Adams Yakubu as the new Chief of Staff at General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces to succeed Major General Oppong-Peprah, effective Wednesday, February 19, 2020.
Commodore Yakubu is also promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on the same date.
Additionally, following the completion of the tour of duty and subsequent retirement from the Ghana Armed Forces of Major General Omane Agyekum, the Commandant of the Military Academy and Training Schools (MATS), the President has, on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Council, appointed Brigadier
General C.K. Awity as the new Commandant of MATS, effective Wednesday, 19th February, 2020.
He is also promoted to the rank of Major General on the same date.
A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin in announcing the appointments said President Akufo-Addo expressed his gratitude to Generals Ayamdo and Omane Agyekum for their dedicated and meritorious services to the Ghana Armed Forces and to the nation.
The death toll from Thursday’s attack by rebel fighters on a Niger army base has risen to at least 89, security sources said, surpassing a raid last month that killed 71 soldiers as the deadliest against Nigerien forces in years.
The government said on Thursday that 25 soldiers were killed, according to a provisional death toll, adding that it had successfully repelled the attack in the western town of Chinagodrar by assailants on motorcycles and other vehicles.
Four security sources told Reuters news agency that at least 89 members of Niger’s security forces killed in the attack were buried on Saturday in the capital, Niamey.
One of the sources said the actual death toll could be higher because a number of soldiers were buried immediately on Thursday in Chinagodrar.
Defence Minister Issoufou Katambe said an updated death toll would be announced after a national security council meeting on Sunday.
The Chinagodrar attack, coming a month after the raid in nearby Inates by fighters from an affiliate of the ISIL (ISIS) group that killed 71 soldiers, highlights the deteriorating security situation near Niger’s borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.
Attacks have risen fourfold over the past year in Niger, killing nearly 400 people, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a non-profit research organisation, despite efforts by international forces to stop fighters linked to ISIL and al-Qaeda.
French fighter jets were scrambled on Thursday to scare off the attackers, France’s regional taskforce said, possibly averting an even heavier casualty count.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, but Katambe said on Friday that the army would launch a new offensive against armed groups.
Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, reporting from the Nigerian capital Abuja, said the latest attack happened in an area that does not have a heavy security presence.
“The countries in the Sahel region are vast and largely unmanned. These armed groups are getting bolder. They are having a field day,” Idris said.
“According to sources, the attack was carried by attackers who came from Mali. Many people in the region believe these kinds of attacks will continue simply because the governments in the region do not have the manpower to deal with these fighters,” he added.
West Africa’s Sahel region, a semi-arid belt beneath the Sahara, has been in crisis since 2012, when ethnic Tuareg rebels and loosely aligned rebel fighters seized the northern two-thirds of Mali, forcing France to intervene to temporarily beat them back.
