Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station

Tag: President Emmanuel Macron

  • Unrest Spreads in France over Police Killing of Teen

    At least 150 people have been arrested across France on a second night of mass unrest over Tuesday’s fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy by police near Paris during a traffic check.

    Town halls, Schools and Police stations were set on fire. President Emmanuel Macron said this was “unjustifiable”.

    The Police officer who opened fire is now under formal investigation for voluntary homicide.

    Nahel M was shot at point-blank range as he drove away from police.

    French prosecutors argue that the use of a firearm was not legally justified.

    On Wednesday morning, President Macron held a crisis cabinet meeting to discuss the escalating riots.

    Earlier, Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin said that France had witnessed “a night of unbearable violence”.

    Clashes were reported overnight across suburbs of Paris, but some of the most violent confrontations were in Nanterre, where the teenager was shot dead.

    Local authorities were forced to partially withdraw, Le Monde reported.

    Videos shared on social media showed cars being set alight and shops being ransacked on Wednesday across the Paris region.

    A prison in Fresnes, south of the capital, was also attacked with fireworks by rioters overnight, AFP reported.

    The news agency said videos showed about 20 young men attacking the entrance to the prison with fireworks and projectiles. Videos shared to social media showed an alarm sounding during the attack.

    Following Tuesday’s shooting, prominent French actor Omar Sy posted a photo of Nahel, saying his “thoughts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones” of the teenager.

    BBC / Titilayo Kupoliyi

    Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

  • Macron Loses Majority as French Vote Fragments

    Less than two months after he was re-elected President, Emmanuel Macron has lost control of the French National Assembly following a strong performance by a left alliance and the far right.

    He had called on voters to deliver a solid majority.

    But his centrist coalition lost dozens of seats in an election that has left French politics fragmented.

    The Prime Minister he had only recently appointed, Elisabeth Borne, said the situation was unprecedented.

    A storm broke over Paris as she returned to her Matignon residence from a long meeting at the presidential Élysée palace to say that modern France had never seen a National Assembly like this one.

    “This situation represents a risk for our country, given the risks we’re facing nationally and internationally,” she said. “We will work as of tomorrow to build a working majority.”

    That seems a stretch when the two other biggest groups in the Assembly are not remotely interested in collaboration. Economy Minister, Bruno Le Maire was adamant that France was not ungovernable, but said it was going to require a lot of imagination.

    Bbc/Adebukola Aluko

  • Idriss Déby: Macron’s Tribute to Chad President Killed By Rebels

    The state funeral of Chad’s long-serving President Idriss Déby is being held after he was killed earlier this week during a clash with rebels.

    Among the foreign leaders is France’s President Emmanuel Macron, for whom Chad is a key ally in the fight against jihadists in region.

    He addressed his words to the casket, saying “you lived as a soldier, you died as a soldier with weapons in hand.

    “You gave your life for Chad in defence of its citizens.”

    Friday’s ceremony also saw a military march-past and a speech by Déby’s son, Gen Mahamat “Kaka” Déby Itno, who the army has named as the country’s new leader.

    He vowed to “stay loyal to the memory” of his father and pledged to continue the legacy of “dialogue, forgiveness, peace, unity” that the late president was “admired for”.

    After the ceremony in N’Djamena, Déby will be buried in his native region.

    The army says President Déby died in a battle with a dissident army rebel group, called Fact, in the country’s north on Tuesday.

    Other visiting heads of state include the leaders of Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Nigeria – who have all ignored warnings from the rebels that they should not attend for security reasons.

    After the military honours and various speeches, a prayer will be said at the Grand Mosque of N’Djamena.

    Then, in the early afternoon, Mr Déby’s remains will be flown to Amdjarass, a small village next to his hometown of Berdoba, more than 1,000 km (600 miles) from the capital, near the Sudanese border.

    News of his shock death on Tuesday was met with tributes from numerous presidents – France’s Emmanuel Macron called him a “brave friend”, Cameroon’s Paul Biya said he served “tirelessly”, DR Congo’s Felix Tshisikedi called it a “a great loss for Chad and for all of Africa”, Mali’s President Bah Ndaw lamented his “brutal” death and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa called it “disturbing”.

    President Déby was a key player in security strategy in the Sahel region – and Chad is reputed for having one of the best-trained and best-equipped armies in West Africa, which is battling militants link to both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

    A military council led by his son, Gen Mahamat Déby Itno took power after his death.

    The BBC’s Lalla Sy says he only has partial support of the army, however he is backed by former colonial ruler France, which has a large military base in N’Djamena.

    On Thursday French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian appeared to back the military takeover, by saying the immediate priority in Chad was to ensure the country’s stability amid “exceptional circumstances”.

    Gen Déby, 37, has said the army will hold democratic elections in 18 months, but opposition leaders have condemned his succession as a “coup” and an army general said many officers were opposed to the transition. A general strike has been called in protest.

    Fact rebels also reject it but have called a temporary ceasefire while Friday’s funeral takes place.

    In a statement on Friday, the rebels said their command centre had been bombed two days earlier in an attempt to kill their leader. Its location, and details of any casualties, were not specified.BBC