Pope Francis on Monday begged for God’s forgiveness for “the sins and failings of the Church and its members” implicated in the 1994 Rwanda genocide that killed around 800,000 people. The pontiff “conveyed his profound sadness, and that of the Holy See and of the Church, for the genocide against the Tutsi,” the Vatican said … Read more
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Wednesday that he will not hesitate to strike “terrorist sites” in neighbouring countries, after Baghdad carried out air raids in Syria last month. “I will not hesitate to strike terrorist sites in neighbouring countries, if they threaten the security of Iraq,” Abadi said in a speech in north Iraq, … Read more
Amnesty International on Tuesday renewed its call for a UN investigation into suspected chemical weapons attacks by Sudanese government forces in Darfur, saying it would be “shameful” if they were not probed. Amnesty said in a September report it had credible evidence of government forces repeatedly using chemical weapons in a mountainous area of Darfur … Read more
Between 12,000 and 15,000 Islamic State fighters remain in Iraq and Syria, a top US general said Wednesday, an indication of a significant dwindling of the jihadists’ forces. The US military only provides periodic updates on estimates of IS fighters but in 2015 and 2016, the Pentagon put the number at between 20,000 and 30,000 … Read more
Several hundred civilians fled through the desert on Tuesday to escape fighting against jihadists in the Mosul area, reaching an Iraqi position south of the embattled city. At least 16,000 people have been displaced since Iraqi forces launched a push to recapture west Mosul from the Islamic State group on February 19, according to the … Read more
The United Nations said Sunday as Iraqi forces launched their offensive to retake west Mosul that it was rushing to build more shelters ahead of an expected wave of displacement. “We are racing against the clock to prepare emergency sites south of Mosul to receive displaced families,” the UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, Lise Grande, … Read more
The head of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KIPKTC) Dr. Kwesi Aning has urged government to disclose the identity of the membership of the task force established to retrieve state assets from individuals. He said the task force must also have an identifiable office where individuals seeking to volunteer information can … Read more
Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on losers of last Wednesday’s presidential elections to concede defeat in order to allay uncertainties and apprehensions. “Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the five candidates who have already done so in light of the preliminary results and clear trends,” the ex-Ghanaian international diplomat said … Read more
Former Secretary General of UN, Kofi Annan has called on presidential candidates to remain calm until the announcement of the final results by the Electoral Commission. According to him, “there is no reason for incitement.” Kofi Annan in a statement also congratulated the Electoral Commission and its staff for “conducting a good election on 7 … Read more
Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has urged losers in Ghana’s elections to quickly concede defeat in order to reduce tension in the West African country. Mr. Annan in a post on his facebook page commended the Electoral Commission for conducting a “smooth election worthy of democratic tradition”. He however called on candidates and party … Read more
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged calm in Ghana as the West African country’s Electoral Commission collates results to declare the winner of the presidential election which took place on Wednesday. Mr Ban Ki-Moon in a statement called on all political actors and their supporters “to exercise patience while the ballots are being counted.” He … Read more
Any presidential candidate who loses in the December 7 elections must accept defeat without delay in order to calm tensions, former United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan has said. “In the spirit of democracy, I call on the losers to concede as quickly as possible to defuse tensions and allay uncertainties,” Mr Annan indicated … Read more
Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged Ghanaians to shun violence as they go about voting in the country’s general elections. “As Ghanaians, we all know that our country’s much-vaunted democratic reputation has been at risk before, but we have always pulled back from the brink in time to preserve peace, stability and prosperity. … Read more
Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has admonished Ghanaians to eschew violence of any form, during today’s polls. In a statement, Kofi Annan said “I call on all the people of Ghana to refuse to be provoked, to reject violence, and to vote on election day.” “Whichever candidate or party you choose, make sure you … Read more
Two weeks ago the United States and the United Kingdom issued separate statements that threatened to revoke the visas of Ghanaian politicians who would incite violence prior and in the aftermath of the December 7, 2016 general elections. Keen observers would agree that although these countries appeared and indeed were accused by a section of … Read more
The handcuffed men were received by Rwandan police officers at the Kigali airport Two Rwandan genocide suspects living in the Netherlands are now in the custody of Rwandan authorities in the capital Kigali after their extradition Saturday night. After several judicial proceedings to try Jean-Claude Iyamuremye and Jean-Baptiste Mugimba in the Hague, the suspects lost … Read more
Pascal Simbikangwa, the first person to be found guilty in France in connection with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, has returned to court to appeal his 25-year jail sentence, BBC Afrique reports. In 2014, a French court found Simbikangwa guilty of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity. The sentence came at a time that … Read more
ISIS in hot water as battle for Mosul begins The offensive to liberate Mosul from ISIS control has begun, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a televised statement early Monday. The fight is expected to last weeks, if not months, and if the battles to wrest Falluja and Ramadi from ISIS’ grip are indicators, … Read more
Islamic State militants may have fired a chemical rocket at American troops based in Iraq, the US military says. A rocket that landed within several hundred yards of US troops at Qayara air base near Mosul may have contained mustard agent, it said. No one was hurt in Tuesday’s attack on the base, which is … Read more
EDUCATION – Studied at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi; Bachelor’s degree in economics from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, 1961; undertook graduate studies in economics at the Institut Universitaire des Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva, Switzerland, 1961-1962; master of science degree in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1972. Sloan … Read more