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ECOWAS Court to Train Sierra Leone Lawyers, Law Students

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ECOWAS Court to Train Sierra Leone Lawyers, Law Students

By: Michael Mike

The ECOWAS Court will organize a training programme for lawyers and law students from Sierra Leone on the margins of its 2024 international conference to deepen their knowledge of the Court for improved practice, the President of the Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante has said.

The president said during a meeting with the executive of the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) in Freetown on Tuesday, that the resource persons for the training will be drawn from senior lawyers from the Court who will be attending the conference.

He said the training should hopefully close the lacuna in the knowledge of the Court among legal practitioners from the country based on the realisation that most of the lawyers appearing before the Court for cases from Sierra Leone were from outside the country.

Justice Asante urged the leadership of the SLBA to help with the process for the successful conduct of the training, working in collaboration with other relevant bodies in the country including the leadership of the law school to streamline the participation and other elements of the training.

He announced that the President of the SLBA, Eddinia Michaela Swallow Esq will deliver a goodwill message at the 2024 conference of the Court which will be historic, being the first time the President of a country’s bar association will be allowed to deliver such a message since the inaugural conference in 2004.
Earlier, the President of the SLBA had thanked the Court for the ‘amazing opportunity,’ granted the country to host the conference describing it as the fulfilment of a dream for her and members of the legal profession in the country.

She suggested that the Court work with the bar associations of Member States to sensitize lawyers on the specificities of the Court in order to improve their practice, particularly for those who might find themselves appearing before the Court.
Justice Asante is leading a 12-member delegation of the Court to discuss arrangements for the successful hosting of the 2024 international conference of the Court scheduled to take place between the 13th and 16th of May 2024.

The conference is on the theme Enhancing the role, relevance and effectiveness of the ECOWAS Court of Justice through the strengthening of synergies between the Court and national stakeholders.

The President said it will provide a forum to generate constructive discussions around the strengths and weaknesses of the Court’s relationship with various national stakeholders and propose practical solutions for the enhancement of the role, relevance and effectiveness of the Court.

ECOWAS Court to Train Sierra Leone Lawyers, Law Students

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Gombe Govt. prioritises economic growth, job creation in 2026 budget

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Gombe Govt. prioritises economic growth, job creation in 2026 budget

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, says his administration will prioritise economic growth, job creation and social welfare in 2026 budget.

Yahaya, who was represented by his deputy, Manassah Jatau, stated this on Thursday in Gombe, during the inauguration of a one-day citizens’ engagement on the 2026 budget.

He said the state government would increase investments in critical sectors and focus on consolidating ongoing reforms in 2026.

The governor said that his administration had made remarkable progress in areas such as fiscal responsibility, budget discipline, and public financial management reforms over the years.

According to Yahaya, the state is being ranked among the top states in Nigeria in transparency and ease of doing business in view of his administration’s progress.

“As we prepare the 2026 budget, our focus will remain on consolidating ongoing reforms and deepening investments in critical sectors that drive economic growth, job creation and social welfare.

“We are also committed to aligning our budget priorities with the State Development Plan and Nigeria’s National Fevelopment framework, as well as global commitments like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

On the citizens’ engagements, Yahaya said the forum was a demonstration of his administration’s firm belief that good governance must be participatory, inclusive, relevant and responsive to the desire and priorities of the people.

“As a government that values transparency and accountability, we recognise that an effective budget is not merely a financial document.

“It is the roadmap for delivering the aspirations of our people and a reflection of our collective priorities as a state,” he said.

Yahaya assured that his administration remained resolute in promoting fiscal prudence, expanding the revenue base, adding that, “every naira spent delivers maximum value to the people of Gombe State.”

Yahaya urged citizens to contribute meaningfully to the design of the 2026 fiscal plan, stressing that their inputs would help shape decisions on how scarce public resources would be utilised.

Mr Salihu Baba-Alkali, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, reiterated government’s commitment to foster transparency, inclusiveness and accountability in budgeting process.

Also, Muhammad Magaji, Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, said the engagement had given voice to the people in the state’s development process.

Magaji said the engagement played a major role in strengthening partnership between government and the people.

“When we work together, we can create budget that not only meets the immediate needs of the population but also lays a foundation for a prosperous and resilient Gombe State in years to come,” he said.

Gombe Govt. prioritises economic growth, job creation in 2026 budget

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The resurgence of coups and the uncertain future of democracy in Africa

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The resurgence of coups and the uncertain future of democracy in Africa

By: Zagazola Makama

The growing wave of political instability across Africa underscores the continent’s fragile democratic foundations and the deepening crisis of governance, legitimacy, and public trust. The recent developments in Madagascar and Cameroon illustrate how decades of poor governance, corruption, and military interference have converged to threaten democratic stability across the region.

On 11 October 2025, Madagascar descended once again into military rule following a coup led by Colonel Michael Randriannirina, commander of the elite Corps d’Administration des Personnel et des Services des Armées Terrestres (CAPSAT). The coup, staged in the capital city, Antananarivo, came after weeks of public protests and defections within the military, with demands for President Andry Rajoelina’s resignation.

As in previous interventions, the junta cited corruption, economic hardship, and poor service delivery particularly in electricity and water supply as justifications for their action. Rajoelina’s whereabouts remain uncertain amid reports that he fled aboard a French military plane. Despite the country’s top court directing the junta to organize elections within 60 days, Colonel Michael has declared a two-year transition period before elections are held.

The coup has drawn cautious reactions from the international community. The African Union, United Nations, and Western governments have called for restraint, while France suspended flights to Madagascar and the United States advised its citizens to shelter in place. The crisis signals the re-emergence of military dominance in Malagasy politics, reminiscent of the 2009 coup that first brought Rajoelina to power, raising fears that Colonel Michael’s youthful leadership could easily devolve into authoritarian rule.

Meanwhile, Cameroon’s 12 October 2025 presidential election has deepened tensions in an already volatile polity. President Paul Biya now seeking an unprecedented eighth term faces mounting opposition, with rival candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary declaring victory and urging Biya to concede. The ruling party, RDPC, has dismissed such declarations, emphasizing that only the Constitutional Council can certify results. Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, further warned that any parallel announcement of results would amount to high treason.

The polls were marred by widespread allegations of vote-buying, irregularities, and intimidation. The RDPC’s sweeping victory in earlier senatorial elections reflected its entrenched control over state institutions. Compounding this is the deepening Anglophone crisis, where fighting between government forces and separatist groups continues to displace thousands. Civil society restrictions, NGO suspensions, and arrests of human rights defenders have further undermined democratic space, raising questions about the credibility and transparency of the entire process.

The election’s outcome will significantly shape Cameroon’s political trajectory. With Biya’s advanced age and the regime’s dependence on coercive control, growing frustrations among the youth and opposition may lead to renewed protests or even attempts at military intervention.

These crises in Madagascar and Cameroon unfold within a broader continental pattern of democratic decline. The failure to dismantle existing juntas in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso combined with the unresolved war in Sudan has emboldened new actors to seize power through unconstitutional means. Eight military regimes now govern across Africa, signaling a regression to the pre-2000 era of chronic coups.

The underlying causes remain consistent: corruption, poverty, insecurity, and elite manipulation of institutions. Militaries across the region continue to view themselves as the ultimate guardians of national stability, stepping in where civilian administrations appear weak or compromised. The inconsistent and often selective responses of regional bodies and international partners have further undermined deterrence, emboldening coup plotters and deepening cynicism toward global democratic norms.

From Madagascar and Cameroon to the recent foiled coup plot in Nigeria, where the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) under the leadership of the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, successfully foiled a deadly violent coup plot aimed at toppling the federal government and democracy. Thanks to the military.

The pattern of instability reveals how corruption, weak institutions, and elite power struggles continue to erode democratic norms and threaten regional stability. Democratic governance and human rights across Africa are now at a crossroads. The continent’s modest gains over the last two decades are being rapidly reversed, with state fragility and authoritarian resurgence threatening regional peace and development.

To arrest this decline, African leaders must prioritize good governance, transparency, and inclusive economic reform to rebuild public trust. Regional organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS must adopt consistent, non-selective sanctions against unconstitutional regimes, while international partners should focus on strengthening democratic institutions rather than individual rulers.

The future of democracy in Madagascar and Cameroonian and indeed across sub-Saharan Africa depends on leaders’ willingness to uphold constitutional order, respect term limits, and deliver tangible socio-economic progress. Only through sustained political accountability and people-centered governance can Africa break the recurring cycle of coups and restore faith in democracy.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad
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JNIM claims first attack in Kwara, four months after announcing new brigade

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JNIM claims first attack in Kwara, four months after announcing new brigade

By: Zagazola Makama

Al-Qaeda–linked militant group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for an attack in Kwara State, its first in Nigeria, four months after announcing the establishment of a new brigade in the country.

According to intelligence sources, the attack reportedly occurred in the northern part of Kwara, along the border corridor linking Niger and Kogi States.

JNIM, which operates mainly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, announced in June the creation of a new brigade for Nigeria, raising concerns about a possible southward expansion of jihadist influence.

Zagazola said that the claim aligns with earlier intelligence warnings of cross-border infiltration through smuggling routes connecting Benin Republic and Niger.

“JNIM’s latest statement describes the attack as the debut operation of its Nigerian brigade. If verified, this would indicate a dangerous evolution of the regional threat landscape,” the source said.

Security operatives in Kwara, Niger, and Kogi States should intensify patrols and surveillance in response to the development, with reinforcements deployed to border communities.

Military and intelligence agencies should work to identify possible linkages between JNIM operatives and local extremist networks.

The incident comes amid heightened regional insecurity and the continued fragmentation of terror groups across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

JNIM claims first attack in Kwara, four months after announcing new brigade

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