Tag Archives: Sanctions

Regional

Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé leads African Union’s mediation efforts in DRC

Maravi Post Reporter

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé has been appointed as the African Union’s new mediator in the ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group.

This role marks a significant shift in the AU’s efforts to resolve the crisis, as Gnassingbé replaces Angolan President João Lourenço, who stepped down to focus on Angola’s presidency of the AU.

The conflict in eastern DRC has intensified since January 2025, when the M23 launched a rapid offensive, capturing key cities like Goma and Bukavu in North Kivu province.

Despite previous mediation efforts by Angola, progress has been limited. Talks scheduled in Luanda failed after the M23 withdrew following EU sanctions on some of its leaders.

As the new mediator, Gnassingbé will work towards achieving “sustainable peace, reconciliation, and stability” in the Great Lakes region.

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He faces the challenge of coordinating with other mediation efforts, notably those led by Qatar, which recently facilitated direct talks between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Doha.

Gnassingbé will also collaborate with a panel of five former African presidents appointed as facilitators by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC).

This team includes former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic, and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia.

The appointment of Gnassingbé signals a renewed push by the AU to resolve the conflict. However, the parallel mediation efforts by Qatar and the complex regional dynamics pose significant challenges. Gnassingbé’s diplomatic skills and Togo’s experience in regional mediation will be crucial in navigating these complexities and achieving lasting peace in the region.

Togo gets first ever female Prime Minister

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé leads African Union’s mediation efforts in DRC

Maravi Post Reporter

Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé has been appointed as the African Union’s new mediator in the ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group.

This role marks a significant shift in the AU’s efforts to resolve the crisis, as Gnassingbé replaces Angolan President João Lourenço, who stepped down to focus on Angola’s presidency of the AU.

The conflict in eastern DRC has intensified since January 2025, when the M23 launched a rapid offensive, capturing key cities like Goma and Bukavu in North Kivu province.

Despite previous mediation efforts by Angola, progress has been limited. Talks scheduled in Luanda failed after the M23 withdrew following EU sanctions on some of its leaders.

As the new mediator, Gnassingbé will work towards achieving “sustainable peace, reconciliation, and stability” in the Great Lakes region.

– Advertisement –

He faces the challenge of coordinating with other mediation efforts, notably those led by Qatar, which recently facilitated direct talks between the Congolese and Rwandan presidents in Doha.

Gnassingbé will also collaborate with a panel of five former African presidents appointed as facilitators by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC).

This team includes former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic, and Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia.

The appointment of Gnassingbé signals a renewed push by the AU to resolve the conflict. However, the parallel mediation efforts by Qatar and the complex regional dynamics pose significant challenges. Gnassingbé’s diplomatic skills and Togo’s experience in regional mediation will be crucial in navigating these complexities and achieving lasting peace in the region.

Togo gets first ever female Prime Minister

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Lifestyle

Intel Hearing On Group Chat, Return To Office Mandate, Black Sea Deal

Maravi Post Reporter

President Trump’s top intelligence officials face tough questions from lawmakers after a group chat security breach involving secret war plans and a journalist. Federal workers are being called back to the office, but some are finding chaotic conditions, including assignments to storage units. And, the U.S. brokers a deal to allow safe passage through the Black Sea, but Russia demands sanctions relief before it takes effect.

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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Anna Yukhananov, Brett Neely, Ryland Barton, Arezou Rezvani and Mohamad ElBardicy.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.
We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis, and our technical director is Carleigh Strange

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Lifestyle

Fentanyl Crackdown, Threats Of Hezbollah-Israel War, Cyber Sextortion

Maravi Post Reporter

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is expected to announce new financial sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in fentanyl trafficking. Amid heightened cross border attacks, the leader of Hezbollah threatens all out war if Israel conducts military operations in Lebanon. And a growing number of teens in America, especially young boys, are falling victim to sexual extortion online.

Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Catherine Laidlaw, Tara Neill, Hannah Block, Mohamad ElBardicy and Alice Woelfle.
It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Christopher Thomas, Claire Murashima and Taylor Haney.
Our technical director is Zac Coleman, with engineering support from Carleigh Strange.

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Lifestyle

Middle East Tensions, South Carolina Primary, Ohio Toxic Train Derailment

Maravi Post Reporter

President Biden sanctions Israelis for violence in the West Bank. What can turnout in today’s South Carolina Democratic primary tell us about the general election in November? One year after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine Ohio, some residents are still putting their lives back together.

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Regional

AU chairman calls for lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe

Maravi Post Reporter
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The African Union chairman and president of Senegal President Macky Sall has called for the lifting of sanctions placed on Zimbabwe.

Mr. Sall told the 77th UN General Assembly in New York that current sanctions against Zimbabwe were destructive and aggravating the suffering of citizens.

For over two decades Zimbabwe has struggled to rebuild its economy and sanctions have been blamed largely for this.

The US and the European Union (EU) have maintained sanctions on Zimbabwe. They both cite a lack of progress in democratic and human rights reforms as well as restrictions on press freedoms as reasons for maintaining the sanctions.

The sanctions have targeted specific individuals including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and some companies.

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Last year the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat also called for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans led by their president, Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019 embarked on a march to demand an end to foreign sanctions.

The government launched that campaign to make unpopular what it considered at the time foreign sanctions that have crippled the economy.

Government officials including the President insisted that sanctions particularly from the United States of America have made it impossible for any major progress to be achieved in growing and rebuilding the Zimbabwean economy.

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Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Mali’s coup leaders and Ecowas fail to reach a deal on poll date

Maravi Post Reporter
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Mali’s political crisis remains unresolved after the country’s coup leaders and those from the regional bloc, ECOWAS failed to agree on a new poll date.

The West African nation has been under harsher sanctions from ECOWAS and the European Union after interim President Assimi Goïta and his team prolonged the transitional period.

There were plans for elections this year but the coup leaders wanted at least four years in power which was rejected by ECOWAS leaders.

New sanctions on the country sparked protests from citizens after their leaders denounced the sanctions as Western-inspired.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan who is the mediator for the Mali political crisis this weekend ended a two-day visit to Mali.

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In a statement ECOWAS said its mediator left Mali without any agreement on a date for elections to return the country to civilian rule.

Mr. Jonathan was hoping to secure a date for free elections after rejecting the initial proposed five years from the coup leaders considered too long.

Mali’s military leaders carried out a coup in August 2020, deposing then President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

A transition team led by the military has been ruling the country since then and was given a deadline of February 2022 to hold fresh elections.

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But the military junta headed by current President Assimi Goita proposed holding elections only in five years, time.

The transitional government said the delay in holding elections is due to state of insecurity in Mali, making it impossible to hold elections this year.

A coalition of major political parties in Mali has already released a letter rejecting the earlier five-year plan by the soldiers.

ECOWAS leaders said they will only lift these latest sanctions once Mali’s military leaders agree on a better time table towards returning it to civilian rule.

Mali’s military leaders now want a four-year transition period

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Business, Regional

AU Commission calls for removal of sanctions on Zimbabwe

Maravi Post Reporter

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The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.

In a statement Mr. Mahamat said he was “concerned by the negative impact of continued sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe to the country’s socio-economic development and recovery efforts.”

Zimbabweans led by their president, Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019 embarked on a march to demand an end to foreign sanctions.

The government launched that campaign to make unpopular what it considered at the time foreign sanctions that have crippled the economy.

Government officials including the President insisted that sanctions particularly from the United States of America have made it impossible for any major progress to be achieved in growing and rebuilding the Zimbabwean economy.

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The Chairperson said the African Union demands “for the immediate and unconditional removal of sanctions imposed against the Republic of Zimbabwe.

For over two decades Zimbabwe has struggled to rebuild its economy and sanctions have been blamed largely for this.

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2019, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his government has made progress in spite “of the sanctions we continue to face.

Sanctions slowing down progress

Sanctions are slowing down our progress, inhibiting our economic recovery and punishing the most vulnerable.

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Zimbabwe deserves a new start. Sanctions are a lose-lose game. Co-operation is a win-win.”

The United States has said that sanctions alone cannot be blamed for the state of Zimbabwe.

The mantra of sanctions destroying Zimbabwe’s economy was trumpeted under the late Robert Mugabe who attacked the West of deliberately collapsing the economy.

In 2018, the U.S. government said it had no intentions of lifting sanctions against some key Zimbabwean leaders including President Mnangagwa.

Fresh elections were held after late Robert Mugabe resigned from power but that wasn’t enough for sanctions to be removed, according to the US government.

The US government said it will only lift sanctions when the new government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa demonstrates it is “changing its ways.”

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds