Gabon Soldiers Say Election Result Cancelled, Bongo 'Regime' Ended

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30 2023

Gabon's President Ali Bongo has been removed from office. Twelve Gabonese soldiers appeared on television on August 30, 2023 announcing they were cancelling the results of the country's recent election and dissolving "all the institutions of the republic".

A dozen Gabonese soldiers appeared on television Wednesday announcing they were "putting an end to the current regime" and the cancellation of an election that, according to official results, President Ali Bongo Ondimba won.

During the announcement, AFP journalists heard gunfire ring out in the Gabonese capital, Libreville.

While announcing the cancellation of the results, one of the soldiers said "all the institutions of the republic" had been dissolved.

"We have decided to defend peace by putting an end to the current regime", one of the soldiers said on TV channel Gabon 24, adding that he was speaking on behalf of the "Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions".

"To this end, the general elections of 26 August 2023 and the truncated results are cancelled," he added.

"All the institutions of the republic are dissolved: the government, the Senate, the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court," he added, announcing the closure of the country's borders "until further notice".

Among the soldiers were members of the Republican Guard as well as soldiers of the regular army and police officers.

The statement was also broadcast on Gabon 1 public television.

AFP journalists heard gunfire in several districts of Libreville during the statement.

The announcement came shortly after the national election authority said Bongo, who has been in power for 14 years, had won a third term in Saturday's election with 64.27 percent of the vote.

Bongo's main rival, Albert Ondo Ossa, won just 30.77 percent of the vote, according to the results.

Ondo Ossa had denounced "fraud orchestrated by the Bongo camp", claiming victory ahead of the closure of polls.

On Monday, Ondo Ossa's Campaign Manager Mike Jocktane called on Bongo to hand over power "without bloodshed", insisting a partial count had Ondo Ossa clearly ahead, without providing any proof.

Gabonese law forbids any publication of partial results pending the final result which only the Gabonese Elections Centre, the body that organises the polls, is legally allowed to publish.

The official election results were broadcast at 03:30 (02:30 GMT) on state television without any prior announcement of the event.

Before polls closed on Saturday, Bongo's government imposed a curfew and a nationwide internet shutdown to prevent the spread of "false news" and possible violence, according to Libreville.

Dialogue on Socio-cultural Barriers Against Ghana Women Farmers Held

By GNA 

August 29, 2023

A dialogue to enhance awareness of communities on norms, socio-cultural behaviour and practices preventing women farmers from accessing knowledge regarding modern agricultural best practices has been held at Njau, Tain District of Bono Region.

Some of the socio-cultural barriers like exclusion of women from land access and ownership hindered gender equitable access to agricultural advisory services and prevented communities from fully benefiting from improved agricultural productivity.

The Bono Regional Directorate of Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Accra-based Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International organised the one-day event on the theme “Bridging Gender Gaps in Agricultural Advisory Services for Increased Productivity and Better Livelihoods.”

Funded by CABI, the programme formed part of the Gender in Agriculture and Rural Advisory Services in Ghana Multi-stakeholder forum for dialogue and advocacy series of ten community-level multi-stakeholder durbars in the Tain and Banda Districts of the Bono Region.

It was attended by farmers, particularly females from different local women-farmer cooperatives, traditional leaders and agricultural extension agents.

Speaking to the media in an interview on the sidelines of the dialogue, Mr. Dennis Abugri Amenga, the Regional Director of MoFA emphasised the importance of women farmers in economic growth, food security, poverty reduction and community development.

Mr. Amenga however, indicated women farmers faced numerous challenges that impeded their productivity and access to agricultural advisory services.

He added besides the existing hardships in accessing production resources, women farmers also faced socio-cultural norms that limited their access to critical rural agricultural services.

Mr. Amenga thus stated the durbars sought to raise awareness about the importance of women contribution to agricultural development, address social barriers that affected women access to extension services, challenge societal perceptions about women involvement in agriculture and recognise women as legitimate contributors to and beneficiaries of agricultural services.

Ms. Birgitta Oppong-Mensah, a Scientist-Agricultural Advisory Services at CABI emphasised the importance of starting a discussion about those barriers to create more opportunities for women to access extension services.

Ms. Oppong-Mensah announced research conducted in 2021 in some selected regions revealed that gender roles and limited access to audio-visual materials hindered women participation in agricultural trainings.

Others hindrances she mentioned were issues of power and decision-making, explaining the women felt their voices were not heard because they had no access to power and other necessary resources as well as land access and ownership.

In a related interview, Madam Adwoa Fula, a member of the Power Women Farmer Group appealed to traditional leaders to find ways to enable farmers to cultivate throughout the week, as cultural practices and norms that prohibited farming on certain week days reduced productivity.

African Researchers Urge Investments to Spur Growth of Livestock Subsector

By Xinhua 

August 29, 2023

A group of African researchers and climate change experts on Monday called for targeted investments and adoption of innovation in order to spur the growth of the livestock subsector in arid regions.

Appolinaire Djikeng, director general of Nairobi-based International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), said the sector has the potential to transform livelihoods in the Horn of Africa and Sahel region, subject to robust investments.

“Through collaborative efforts, technological innovation, and responsible practices, we can chart a path toward a resilient and sustainable future, where livestock remains a cornerstone of both our heritage and our progress,” Djikeng said at a forum in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

Djikeng stressed that through scaled-up investments and innovation, the livestock sub-sector can help African nations feed their population.

He said the ILRI has developed innovative tools to help address challenges affecting the sub-sector and has worked with partners to deploy them at the grassroots.

George Wamukoya, a team leader of the African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES), said the latest drought in the Horn of Africa is devastating since it is affecting the majority of populations.

Wamukoya urged governments to increase domestic funding and introduce the use of technology with a focus on improving pasture quality and animal breeds to minimize environmental impact and reduce poverty.

He noted that leveraging climate finance emerges as a powerful tool in enabling investments in livestock for both adaptation and mitigation purposes and also enhancing resilience in regions vulnerable to droughts.

During the forum, researchers presented evidence and innovations that can help Africa’s livestock keepers adapt to climatic shocks and reduce losses while minimizing emissions, land degradation, and biodiversity loss.

Ocean Planning is Key for a Sustainable Blue Economy

TUESDAY AUGUST 29 2023

Seaweed Farming in Tanzania Picture _ Roshni Lodhia

Two girls doing seaweed farming in Tanzania. PHOTO | ROSHNI LODHIA

By NATURE CONSERVANCY

Coastal economies like Kenya and Tanzania often face difficult choices when it comes to utilising their marine resources. Balancing conflicting current and future needs requires proper planning to guide all economic activities and reap greater benefits.

This is the role that a Marine Spatial Plan plays by convening a broad array of stakeholders to determine together, guided by strong science, how resource use will be balanced and managed across the entire marine space. The driving goal is to ensure that communities around the ocean continue to benefit from it and industrial uses are sustainable and contribute to national economies, all while protecting the environment.

“A Marine Spatial Plan can help us to bypass the challenges that were faced by advanced economies as they grew, which led to conflicts, biodiversity loss, ecosystems and habitat destruction, and other outcomes that counter the very aspirations of economic growth,” says Lucy Magembe, the Tanzania Country Director at The Nature Conservancy.

Ms Magembe explains that now is a good time for African coastal nations to consider where and how to grow a blue economy, the trade-offs that are available and the respective implications.

“For example, should we clear mangroves - the natural storm barriers that protect our multimillion investments along the coast; the supermarkets of the sea that supply a myriad of foods - to create room for hotel development? Could the hotel be built elsewhere, allowing us to reap benefits of both tourism and the many services that healthy mangrove systems provide? Should we plant seaweed in areas considered tourist hotspots? What are the consequences of favouring one over the other or can both be undertaken and in what circumstances?” she argues.

Fortunately, two economies in the region that share the Indian Ocean are at different stages of developing a Marine Spatial Plan. Once complete, the plans will cover all activities in the ocean, including fishing (small scale and deep sea), aquaculture and marine products, seaweed farming, construction of strategic infrastructure for ports and sea transport, seafood and fish processing, oil and gas extraction, beach tourism and water sports.

The Marine Spatial Plan is expected to unlock economic and employment opportunities based on proper management of the environment and dealing with climate change.

Initial steps towards Marine Spatial Planning in Tanzania are at an advanced stage. A pre-feasibility study commissioned by The Nature Conservancy and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has been validated by ocean users, government officials, development partners, as well as local and international NGOs. The study reviewed the current status of Marine Spatial Planning in the country and the state of policy, legal and administrative frameworks and proposed a roadmap for developing the plan. The pre-feasibility study was funded by the German Government’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety through the International Climate Initiative, as part of a five-year (2021-2025) regional project entitled 'Strengthening the Blue Economy of the WIO through the integration of ecosystem services and effective biodiversity conservation’ covering Tanzania, Kenya, Seychelles, and Mauritius. The project aims to promote and strengthen the protection and resilience of natural marine resources in the Western Indian Ocean, and to strengthen the blue economy.

In 25 countries around the world, Marine Spatial Planning has proven to be a practical approach for engaging communities, stakeholders, and governments to meet conservation goals and improve sustainability of both economic and non-commercial activities.

The planning is a practical way to establish a rational and integrated organization of the marine space, where different uses are addressed to minimize and manage impacts on the system. In developing a sustainable blue economy, the increasing demand for marine space, along with the multiple pressures on marine and coastal resources, requires an integrated approach for utilization and management.

With a plan, it is possible to protect the most vulnerable and critical habitat within marine protected areas and other tools, and by managing commercial activities beyond those core protected areas in a way that allows for sustainable use of resources. Through planning and via improved fisheries management, coastal and offshore fisheries will be sustainable and critical ecosystems, such as coral reefs, mangroves and sea grasses, will be better protected, reducing the rate of degradation of these habitats and resources, mitigating climate change, enhancing local food security and sequestering carbon.

DRC President Tshisekedi Pegs Longer Stay of EACRF on M23 Respecting Ceasefire

TUESDAY AUGUST 29 2023

Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi addressing media. PHOTO | LUDOVIC MARIN | AFP

By PATRICK ILUNGA

The Democratic Republic of Congo has signaled it will be amenable for the longer stay of East African Community Regional Forces (EACRF) as long as they can force armed groups to respect the ceasefire.

The apparent climb-down emerged on Monday as President Felix Tshisekedi hosted his Burundian counterpart Evariste Ndiyishimiye, the current Chair of the East African Community.

And the meeting saw Tshisekedi, once a bitter critic of EACRF say there has been some positive engagements with regional leaders who now see the need for permanent ceasefire as a requirement for any peace talks with armed groups.

The Congolese leader did not expressly mention the end of the EACRF's mandate, which is supposed to expire at early September. But he did say that there is now a better response from the troop contributing countries.

“It's true that some days back, I expressed my certain annoyance at the behaviour of the East African regional force. But time has passed and the meetings have started being much tougher on the armed groups, just like the last one (on 24 August with the Defence ministers in Nairobi) in which our Deputy Prime Minister of Defence, Jean-Pierre Bemba, took part. “That meeting was much tougher on respecting the terms of the agreements reached through the Nairobi process, which is enriched by the Luanda roadmap".

Nairobi and Luanda processes are part of a regional project to force the parties involved in the Congolese conflict to observe a ceasefire, before embarking on the road to peace.

"Time will tell if those talks can be transformed into action because decisions have been taken and these decisions apply immediately. We need to commit the M23 to respecting the terms of these processes,” said Félix Tshisekedi.

Ndayishimiye said a Summit of the heads of state will be held soon to examine DRC’s demands.

The Congolese president said his country will use that meeting to express its views on the basis of the findings, namely whether the M23 would finally be allowed to go into cantonment. 

The Congolese government has always taken the view that since March this year, the M23 has not really withdrawn from the conquered areas, even though there has been no fighting with the Congolese army for nearly six months. In Kinshasa, in the final joint communiqué signed by the DRC and Burundi, the two heads of state say that they "note and deplore the fact that the M23 does not have the will to disengage and go to the cantonment centres.”

Ndayishimiye and Tshisekedi "appealed to the region to assume its responsibilities and force the M23 to go into cantonment".

Although the Congolese president was less vehement about the EACRF, he nevertheless continued to deplore the "laxity" he felt was being shown by the Eastern bloc contingents, with the exception of the Burundian troops, who he felt were more active in Kivu.  Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan are the other troop contributors to the EACRF.

“We are asking the EACRF to be more active, like the Burundian contingent, because in some places we continue to observe laxity on the part of the other contingents, who authorise the collection of taxes by the M23, which is totally illegal and unacceptable,” they said.

The two leaders said that, in addition to defence and security issues, on which they committed their two countries to work together more closely, the Burundian leader had visited Kinshasa to strengthen ties of cooperation.

They agreed to speed up an integration project, namely the construction of a bridge linking the Cibitoke  Province in Burundi with  South Kivu in the DRC. A railway is also to be built, linking Tanzania, Burundi and the DRC. Infrastructure projects should also include a road linking Bujumbura to Uvira and then Bukavu. In the commercial sphere, the two presidents have agreed to set up banking branches in Burundi and the DRC.

Sudan Army Chief Visits Egypt as Deadly Violence Grips Khartoum and Other Regions

TUESDAY AUGUST 29 2023

President of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (L) seated alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in El Alamein on Egypt's northern coast on August 29, 2023. PHOTO | AFP

Sudan's army chief travelled Tuesday to Egypt on his first trip abroad since the outbreak of war in April, with the latest violence killing dozens of civilians in battle-scarred Darfur.

As Abdel Fattah al-Burhan departed, medics and witnesses said 39 civilians were killed, most of them women and children, in shelling of Nyala, Sudan's second city in South Darfur state where fighting between the army and paramilitary forces has intensified.

The Sudanese general was to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a key ally, on the developments in war-ravaged Sudan and bilateral ties, Sudan's ruling Sovereign Council said.

Burhan, dressed in civilian clothes rather his trademark military fatigues, was seen boarding a plane in Port Sudan and later being greeted by Sisi on the tarmac at El Alamein airport in videos released by the council.

The war between Burhan and his former deputy turned rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has raged since April 15.

It has spread from Khartoum and the western region of Darfur to Kordofan and Jazira state, killing thousands and forcing millions to flee their homes.

For months, the RSF had besieged Burhan inside military headquarters in Khartoum, but last week the army chief made his first public foray outside the compound to review troops in parts of the war-scarred country.

On Monday he was in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan where he made a fiery address to troops, vowing to fight the RSF who he branded mercenaries to "end the rebellion".

"We are mobilising everywhere to defeat this rebellion, defeat this treason, by these mercenaries who come from all over the world," Burhan told cheering troops.

"There is no time for discussion now. We are concentrating all our efforts on the war, to put an end to the rebellion," he said.

His comments came a day after Daglo released a statement detailing a 10-point "vision" to end the war and build "a new state".

The plan calls for "civilian rule based on democratic norms" and "a single, professional, national military institution" -- the very sticking point which turned the former allies into rivals.

Fighting in Nyala on Tuesday killed at least 39 civilians when shelling hit their homes, witnesses and a medical source said.

"The entire members of five families were killed in a single day," said Gouja Ahmed, a human rights activist originally from Nyala.

Images posted online showed dozens of bodies on the ground covered in shrouds as well as men placing the dead in a large grave.

Darfur has long been the site of deadly fighting since a war that erupted in 2003 and saw the feared Janjaweed -- precursors of the RSF -- unleashed on ethnic minority rebels.

Since August 11, more than 50,000 people have fled Nyala due to the violence, the United Nations says.

Port Sudan, which has been spared the violence tearing apart Sudan, is where government officials and the UN have relocated operations. It is also the site of Sudan's only functioning airport.

Before they fell out, Burhan, backed by Daglo, became Sudan's de facto ruler in a 2021 coup that derailed a fragile transition to civilian rule.

The coup upended a transition painstakingly negotiated between military and civilian leaders following the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir.

Burhan's latest trip follows multiple diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the violence in Sudan, with a series of US- and Saudi-brokered ceasefires being systematically violated.

In July, Egypt, which shares borders with Sudan and has been flooded by refugees from its neighbour, hosted a crisis meeting attended by African leaders to seek a solution.

Conservative estimates from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project show that nearly 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

But the real figure is thought to be much higher, and the United Nations says more than 4.6 million people have been displaced by the fighting both inside and outside Sudan.

Several efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, mainly by Saudi Arabia and the United States, have failed.

In July, Egypt, which shares borders with Sudan and has been flooded by refugees from its neighbour, hosted a crisis meeting attended by African leaders to seek a solution.

Brazil's Lula Wants to Discuss Changes to UN Security Council with Biden

Tuesday, 29 August 2023 10:15 PM

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures, during a breakfast with foreign correspondents at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil on August 2, 2023. (Reuters photo)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday he wants to discuss the possibility of making changes to the United Nations Security Council with his US counterpart Joe Biden.

Lula, who has long campaigned for Brazil and other countries to be permanently included in the council, is expected to meet Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly next month in New York.

Last week, during a summit of the BRICS group of emerging nations in South Africa, the leftist leader called on fellow BRICS members China and Russia to support more countries entering the council as permanent members.

Lula says the council must reflect current global geopolitical conditions instead of those of the 1940s, suggesting that countries such as Brazil, India, Germany, Japan and South Africa should be made permanent members.

The Brazilian leader added in a live broadcast on social media that BRICS members have agreed to discuss until next year's summit the possibility of establishing a common currency for trade between them.

BRICS leaders to focus their attention on devising active mechanisms to end their dependancy to the US dollar.

He also said he hopes the Brazilian Congress will help his administration "protect the poorest, not the richest" in the country, after he signed an executive order to tax closed-end and offshore funds.

The measures, now pending congressional approval, are seen as essential for the government to boost public revenue and reach its commitment to zero primary deficit by next year, as they offset a revenue loss from expanded income tax exemptions for individuals.

Lula is widely expected to announce a cabinet reshuffle soon in order to secure more support for his administration in Congress, naming some members from centrist and center-right parties as ministers.

Creating a new ministry has been floated as a way to diversify his team without making major changes to the current cabinet, and Lula said on Tuesday he is now considering establishing a ministry of small- and medium-sized businesses.

Zimbabwe’s President Dismisses Allegations of Vote Fraud

Sunday, 27 August 2023 10:10 PM 

President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa looks on as he addresses a press conference at State House in Harare on August 27, 2023. (Photo by AFP)

Zimbabwe’s re-elected president Emmerson Mnangagwa has dismissed allegations of electoral fraud from the opposition after winning a second term in office.

Mnangagwa, who took over from longtime leader Robert Mugabe after a 2017 army coup, suggested on Sunday that anyone questioning the result of last week’s election take their case to court.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, whose members are chosen by the president, announced late Saturday that President Mnangagwa has won a second five-year term with more than 52 percent of the vote.

According to the commission’s results, opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa garnered just 44 percent.

Chamisa, who heads the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and his party reject the election results. “They stole your voice and vote but never your hope. It’s a blatant and gigantic fraud,” Chamisa wrote Sunday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Addressing the media later at a news conference, Chamisa said Zimbabwe was suffering through a “vicious cycle of disputed elections” and accused Mnangagwa, who first came to power following a military takeover in 2017, of staging a “coup” against the ballot.

In the meantime, the ZANU-PF denies it has an unfair advantage or seeks to influence the outcome of elections through rigging.

Mnangagwa, who heads the ZANU-PF, welcomed the results of the election which he said was peaceful and demonstrated the country's democracy was "mature".

However, an observer team from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said voting was peaceful but noted issues including voting delays, the banning of rallies, biased state media coverage and the failure of the electoral commission to give candidates access to the voters' roll.

Addressing a press conference in Harare, ZANU-PF spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa dismissed criticisms by the SADC and other international observers.

This is Mnangagwa’s second and possibly last term as the constitution limits presidential terms to two. Mnangagwa also narrowly defeated Chamisa in the last presidential election in 2018. The opposition alleged that the election was rigged, but the constitutional court upheld the result.

Algeria Partners China for Construction of 6,000km Railway Lines

Africa News

China and Algeria have joined forces in a significant partnership to construct an expansive 6,000 kilometers of railway lines within the North African nation, a move lauded by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune as pivotal in advancing his country's socio-economic progress.

Earlier this month, Tebboune said in a regular interview with representatives of the national media that strengthening the railway sector is the "best guarantee of development", stressing that "our Chinese friends have agreed to this project, which will cover a distance of around 6,000 km." The aim is to facilitate the exploitation of mines, promote trade and create economic vitality in Algeria.

The ambitious railway project is part of the two countries' broader cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the massive China-proposed project to boost global trade and commerce by improving infrastructure and connectivity.

A member of the Algerian parliament said the project, which is to be supported by Chinese technical know-how and construction expertise, will connect all cities and regions in Algeria, and also pave the way for economic development in several African countries.

"China views Algeria as a gateway to Africa. It's a win-win partnership for both sides. This is the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative and Algeria's development plan. Algeria views China as a trusted partner," said Said Hamsi, an Algerian MP, in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Saturday.

Algerian economist Karim Allam also said he believes that the mega railway project will provide significant opportunities for economic growth and job creation in the country.

"The Algerian President expressed his intention to entrust this mega project to the Chinese partners who have the experience and the expertise in this field. China is the second largest economic power in the world. Developing 6,000 kilometers of railway will allow Algeria to achieve a phenomenal economic growth," he said.

Algerians have welcomed the announcement made by President Tebboune.

"As an Algerian student, I'm very optimistic about this project that will create endless opportunities," said Riyadh, an Algerian student.

"This railway project between Algeria and the People's Republic of China will be very important for all Algerian citizens. It will make life easier for everyone," echoed Abdel Kader, another Algerian citizen.

President Tebboune's announcement came after his state visit to China last month. During his trip, the two countries signed more than a dozen cooperation agreements in various sectors including aerospace, agriculture, energy, railway transportation, science and technology.

Algeria Against Settling Niger Crisis by Force — Top Diplomat

"Any military intervention in Niger will have serious consequences both for Niger and the region," Ahmed Attaf stressed

RABAT, August 29. /TASS/. A military intervention in Niger will have serious consequences not only for the country but for the entire region, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf said on Tuesday.

"We oppose the use of force to settle the crisis in Niger and are ready to make our contribution to its political settlement," the Al Jazeera television channel quoted him as saying.

"Any military intervention in Niger will have serious consequences both for Niger and the region," he stressed.

Algeria has a 950-kilometer-long shared border with Niger.

In late July, a group of military rebels in Niger announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum. They then established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie, CNSP), headed by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, to run the country. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Niger’s membership in the organization and imposed tough sanctions on the country. Apart from that, ECOWAS leaders demanded the rebels set Bazoum free and warned about a military resolution of the situation if he is not released.

ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said after a meeting of the bloc’s military chiefs in Ghana on August 18 that the exact date for the intervention in Niger had been determined, but it is yet to be officially announced.

Russian Diplomat Highlights Lavrov’s Role in Admitting Ethiopia to BRICS

It will become a member of the association from January 1, 2024

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Petr Kovalev/TASS

© Petr Kovalev/TASS

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov played a colossal diplomatic role on the issue of Ethiopia’s accession to BRICS, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday.

"Yes, I can confirm this. This is true indeed. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov played a colossal diplomatic role on the matter of Ethiopia’s full-fledged membership in BRICS," she said in an interview with an evening program on the Rossiya-1 television channel.

The 15th BRICS summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 22 to 24, 2023 and was chaired by South Africa. With the leaders of 54 African nations invited, this was the biggest meeting of the heads of state and government of the Global South in recent years. Participants in the summit agreed that Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will join the association from January 1, 2024. A new list of possible members will be compiled by the next BRICS summit.

West Set to Intensify Recon, Intelligence Activity During CSTO Drills — Joint Staff Chief

According to Anatoly Sidorov, the West tries to obtain as much information as possible about troop composition, drill locations and the number of participants

© Petr Kovalev/TASS

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. Although the West traditionally intensifies its reconnaissance and intelligence activity during exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the alliance’s capabilities also expand during such periods, Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov, chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, told a news briefing on Monday.

"The adversary always intensifies recon activity during [CSTO] drills, that’s for sure. We can feel and monitor that," he answered in responding to a relevant question, mostly referring to electronic intelligence with the use of space surveillance systems. "In turn, we cannot conceal that if we conduct a training search mission, we will at least be able to monitor a wider area than the Brest Region," the general said.

According to Sidorov, the West tries to obtain as much information as possible about troop composition, drill locations and the number of participants.

Washington Hamstrung in Formulating Viable Security Guarantees for Ukraine — WSJ

It is noted that without credible packages of support, Russia is unlikely to be deterred from continuing the special military operation

© Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

NEW YORK, August 29. /TASS/. The Biden administration may be forced to give weaker-than-hoped-for or overly vague pledges in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, as Washington may not be able to ensure the required levels of military spending earmarked for Kiev in future years, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, Washington hopes to hold a second meeting with Kiev in the coming weeks, building on commitments made at a G7 meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius. However, there is no consensus in the White House on how detailed the pledges should be, given that a successor administration, should President Joe Biden not be re-elected in 2024, could easily rescind any pledges made, the WSJ said, citing anonymous officials.

Under US law, binding international agreements must be approved by a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate, which can later be revoked by another supermajority vote. Although the president can sign any international agreement, a future White House administration could terminate it on a unilateral basis. European capitals are concerned that ex-President Donald Trump could overturn any pledges Biden may make should his comeback bid to retake the White House succeed in the November 2024 US presidential election, the newspaper writes.

As a result, the Biden administration is considering a memorandum of understanding that would not require congressional approval for the United States and Ukraine to agree on. However, without credible packages of support, Russia is unlikely to be deterred from continuing the special military operation, the WSJ maintains.

Should Trump or any other future Republican president reduce US aid to Ukraine after the 2024 US presidential election, European countries would not be able to pick up the slack, according to the newspaper. Hence, concern is growing among European leaders, who are looking for ways to ensure allied defense industries can manufacture the promised military assistance to Ukraine.

Russian Forces Take Strategic Stronghold, Destroy Ukrainian Troop Company Near Kupyansk

Assault and army aviation crews delivered 13 strikes on concentrations of Ukrainian manpower and hardware

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. Assault units of Russia’s Battlegroup West (BW) captured a fortified stronghold while destroying nearly a company of Ukrainian troops during fierce fighting in the Kupyansk direction, BW Press Officer Yaroslav Yakimkin said on Monday.

"In the Kupyansk direction, Battlegroup West assault units continued their offensive. During one battle, they occupied a stronghold, destroyed a company of enemy troops, and eliminated two Kozak armored vehicles," Yakimkin said in a video posted on the Russian Defense Ministry’s Telegram channel. Also, he said, with support from tanks and artillery of the 68th Separate Jager Brigade, nine enemy counterattacks were repelled.

Assault and army aviation crews delivered 13 strikes on concentrations of Ukrainian manpower and hardware. "In all, artillery fire and heavy flamethrowers wiped out three Polish-made Krab artillery systems, two D-20 howitzers, two mortar crews, two Kozak armored vehicles, a logistics point and a Bukovel radar station near the localities of Chervony Stav, Lozovaya, Sinkovka, Sverdlovka and Kislovka in the past day," the press officer elaborated.

Russian forces hit back after Ukraine’s attack on Bryansk Region village

Alexander Bogomaz said earlier in the day that the village of Klimovo in the Bryansk Region had come under shelling from multiple launch rocket systems

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/. /TASS/. Russian forces delivered a retaliatory strike on Ukrainian positions following an attack on a village in Russia’s Bryansk Region, where two civilians were killed, Alexander Bogomaz, the region’s governor, said on Tuesday.

"In retaliation for the terrorist attack by Ukrainian nationalists on the village of Klimovo, the Russian defense ministry’s units delivered a strike on the places of temporary deployment of Ukrainian troops near the settlement of Semyonovka," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

Bogomaz said earlier in the day that the village of Klimovo in the Bryansk Region had come under shelling from multiple launch rocket systems. A man born in 2003 and a woman born in 1994 were killed, with one more man being wounded. Several homes and administrative buildings, as well as a school were damaged. Power supplies were disrupted.

Ukrainian forces lose more than 4,800 servicemen over week

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian army had been unsuccessfully trying to launch an offensive since June 4

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 4,855 servicemen over the week, with the most fighters - 1,490 - in the Donetsk area, according to TASS calculations based on the data of the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Ukrainian forces lost: 1,180 servicemen in the South Donetsk area, 820 in the Zaporozhye area, 665 in the Kupyansk area, 485 in the Krasny Liman area and 215 in the Kherson area.

Since the beginning of the special military operation, the Russian forces have destroyed a total of 466 Ukrainian aircraft, 247 helicopters, 6,152 unmanned aerial vehicles, 433 anti-aircraft missile systems, and 11,527 tanks and other armored combat vehicles.

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov reported on August 4 that the Ukrainian armed forces had lost more than 43,000 servicemen and about 5,000 units of various armaments, including 26 aircraft and 25 Leopard tanks, during the June-July counteroffensive.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Ukrainian army had been unsuccessfully trying to launch an offensive since June 4. Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out that the Ukrainian troops had no success in any area. On July 23, at a meeting with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, he said that Kiev's counteroffensive had failed.

Ex-employee of US Consulate Pleads Guilty to Collecting Data About Special Military Op

According to Robert Shonov, he was approached by US embassy employees "seeking information about the key developments in Russia"

Robert Shonov (left) Lefortovo District Court/AP

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. A former employee of the US consulate general in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East pleaded guilty to collecting data about the course of Russia’s special military operation for US diplomats, according to a video of the Russian citizen’s interrogation released by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

According to Shonov, he was approached by US embassy employees "seeking information about the key developments in Russia - the special military op, mobilization, the coming presidential election and the accession of new territories. I had to collect negative information about these events, find protest sentiment among the population and report those," he said.

In addition, the first secretary of the US embassy tasked him with revealing people from among reporters, businessmen, and politicians who were loyal to the United States and who could be used for collecting info, like Shonov.

The FSB said that Shonov had been charged with collecting information about the course of the Russian special military operation for the United States. According to the FSB, from last September until he was arrested, Shonov carried out tasks for two employees at the US embassy’s political department in Moscow. There are plans to interrogate the two diplomats who have already been summoned to give evidence, the FSB added.

Russia Wipes Out Ukrainian Aircraft Armament, Ammo Site in Overnight Precision Strike

Russian forces repulsed two Ukrainian army attacks in the Donetsk area, eliminating over 185 enemy troops in the past day, Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported

© Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/TASS

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/. The Russian Navy delivered a multiple-launch precision strike, wiping out a Ukrainian aircraft armament and ammunition site over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

"Last night, the Navy delivered a multiple-launch strike by seaborne long-range precision weapons against an aircraft armament and ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army," the spokesman said.

The goal of the strike was achieved. "The site was destroyed," the general stressed.

Russian forces repulse two Ukrainian attacks in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces repulsed two Ukrainian attacks in the Kupyansk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the western battlegroup repulsed in their active operations supported by aircraft and artillery two enemy attacks near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Novosyolovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed as many as 30 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles and a D-20 howitzer in the Kupyansk direction over the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces destroy 60 Ukrainian troops in Krasny Liman area over past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the Krasny Liman area, destroying roughly 60 enemy troops over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, two attacks by forces of the Ukrainian army’s 12th special operations brigade and 42nd mechanized brigade were repulsed by well-coordinated operations of units of the battlegroup Center, army aviation strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower fires near the settlement of Kuzmino in the Lugansk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses in the Krasny Liman area totaled as many as 60 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks, a Gvozdika motorized artillery system and a D-30 howitzer," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post in LPR over past day

Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian command post in the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Near the settlement of Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic, a command/observation post of the Ukrainian army’s 67th mechanized brigade was destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian forces repulse two Ukrainian attacks in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces repulsed two Ukrainian army attacks in the Donetsk area, eliminating over 185 enemy troops in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the southern battlegroup in interaction with aircraft and artillery repulsed two attacks by Ukrainian army assault groups in areas near the settlements of Kleshcheyevka and Krasnogorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses in the Donetsk direction totaled over 185 Ukrainian personnel," the spokesman said.

Russian forces also destroyed three Ukrainian armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery gun and a Grad multiple rocket launcher in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces destroy 100 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 100 Ukrainian troops in the south Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"The enemy’s losses in the south Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 100 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, two D-20 guns and a Msta-B howitzer," the spokesman said.

Russian forces also repulsed two enemy attacks in the south Donetsk area over the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces repel seven Ukrainian attacks in Zaporozhye area over past day

Russian forces repelled seven Ukrainian army attacks in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian battlegroup, aircraft and artillery repelled seven attacks by the Ukrainian army’s 82nd air assault brigade and 46th air mobile brigade in areas near the settlements of Rabotino and Verbovoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy 160 Ukrainian troops in Zaporozhye area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 160 Ukrainian troops, two US-made artillery systems and two British howitzers in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"As many as 160 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, four motor vehicles, two US-made M777 artillery systems, an AS90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system and an FH70 field gun of UK manufacture and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminate 35 Ukrainian troops in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces eliminated roughly 35 Ukrainian troops and a US-made artillery system in the Kherson area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kherson direction, as many as 35 Ukrainian personnel, three motor vehicles, a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed in the past 24 hours as a result of damage inflicted by firepower," the spokesman said.

Russian air defenses intercept three US-made JDAM smart bombs in Ukraine operation

Russian air defense forces intercepted three US-made JDAM guided bombs, one rocket of the US-manufactured HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and destroyed 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Air defense capabilities intercepted three JDAM guided bombs and a rocket of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, Russian air defense systems also destroyed 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Druzhelyubovka and Voskresenka in the Kherson Region, Lisichansk in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Mirnoye and Pologi in the Zaporozhye Region, Paraskoviyevka, Novoandreyevka, Lidiyevka and Soledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the general reported.

Russian forces strike Ukrainian troops, military hardware in 128 areas over past day

During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical and army aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces struck Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in 128 areas, the spokesman said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 466 Ukrainian warplanes, 247 combat helicopters, 6,179 unmanned aerial vehicles, 433 surface-to-air missile systems, 11,538 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,146 multiple rocket launchers, 6,095 field artillery guns and mortars and 12,480 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

Russia’s Missile Strike Wipes Out Ukrainian Army’s Ammo Train in DPR, Top Brass Reports

It is also reported that Russian forces destroyed about 80 Ukrainian troops in the Krasny Liman area over the past day

© Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/CC BY-SA 4.0

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/. Russian forces delivered a missile strike, wiping out a Ukrainian military train with ammunition in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday.

"A missile strike at an unloading station near the settlement of Dorozhnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic destroyed a Ukrainian army’s military train carrying artillery ammunition. In addition, an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army’s 93rd mechanized brigade was eliminated near the settlement of Druzhkovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces repulse six Ukrainian attacks in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces repulsed six Ukrainian army attacks in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the western battlegroup, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems repulsed six attacks by the Ukrainian army’s 43rd and 115th mechanized brigades and 25th air assault brigade near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours," it said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Kupyansk area over the past 24 hours amounted to 50 personnel, two armored combat vehicles and three motor vehicles, the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy 80 Ukrainian troops in Krasny Liman area over past day

Russian forces destroyed about 80 Ukrainian troops in the Krasny Liman area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, units of the [Russian] battlegroup Center in interaction with aircraft and artillery repulsed three attacks by the Ukrainian army’s 12th special operations brigade, 21st and 63rd mechanized brigades near the settlements of Kremennaya and Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Yampolovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," it said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Krasny Liman direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 80 personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armored combat vehicles and two pickup trucks, the ministry reported.

Russian forces improve forward edge positions in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces repulsed a Ukrainian army attack and improved their forward edge positions in the Donetsk area, killing and wounding more than 340 enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the southern battlegroup repulsed an attack by an assault group of the Ukrainian army’s 59th motorized infantry brigade near the settlement of Nevelskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic and improved their forward edge positions," the ministry said in a statement.

The enemy’s losses in the Donetsk area over the past 24 hours amounted to "over 340 Ukrainian personnel killed and wounded, six armored combat vehicles, 13 motor vehicles, a D-20 howitzer and an Msta-B howitzer," the ministry said.

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian ammo depot in DPR over past day

Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian ammunition depot in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Near the settlement of Novomikhailovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army’s 79th air assault brigade was destroyed," it said.

In the south Donetsk direction, units of Russia’s battlegroup East in interaction with army aircraft and artillery destroyed up to 100 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, an Akatsiya howitzer and a Giatsint-B howitzer over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

Russian forces wipe out two Ukrainian command posts in DPR over past day

Russian forces destroyed two Ukrainian command posts in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Near the settlement of Serebryanka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, two command/observation posts of units from the Ukrainian army’s 67th mechanized brigade were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces repel two Ukrainian attacks in Zaporozhye area over past day

Russian forces repelled two Ukrainian army attacks in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian battlegroup supported by aircraft and artillery repelled two attacks by the Ukrainian army’s 46th air mobile brigade near the settlement of Verbovoye in the Zaporozhye Region," it said.

Russian forces also destroyed as many as 90 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles, four motor vehicles, three US-made M777 artillery systems and two US-made M119 howitzers and a UK-made FH70 field gun in the Zaporozhye area over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported.

Russian forces eliminate 20 Ukrainian troops in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces eliminated roughly 20 Ukrainian troops in the Kherson area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"In the Kherson direction, as many as 20 Ukrainian personnel, three motor vehicles and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed as a result of damage inflicted by firepower," it said.

Russian air defenses intercept anti-ship missile, 27 Ukrainian drones over past day

Russian air defense forces intercepted a Neptune anti-ship missile and 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Air defense capabilities intercepted two rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, a Neptune anti-ship missile and two HARM anti-radiation missiles," the ministry said in a statement.

During the last 24-hour period, Russian air defense systems also destroyed 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular, in areas near the settlements of Shipilovka, Kremennaya, Sofiyevka, Zhitlovka and Zaliman in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Kirillovka and Zaitsevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic, Mirnoye and Nesteryanka in the Zaporozhye Region, it said.

During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical and army aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces struck Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in 132 areas, the ministry reported.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 466 Ukrainian warplanes, 247 combat helicopters, 6,206 unmanned aerial vehicles, 433 surface-to-air missile systems, 11,555 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,146 multiple rocket launchers, 6,107 field artillery guns and mortars and 12,508 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry reported.

Washington Hamstrung in Formulating Viable Security Guarantees for Ukraine — WSJ

It is noted that without credible packages of support, Russia is unlikely to be deterred from continuing the special military operation

© Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

NEW YORK, August 29. /TASS/. The Biden administration may be forced to give weaker-than-hoped-for or overly vague pledges in providing security guarantees for Ukraine, as Washington may not be able to ensure the required levels of military spending earmarked for Kiev in future years, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, Washington hopes to hold a second meeting with Kiev in the coming weeks, building on commitments made at a G7 meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius. However, there is no consensus in the White House on how detailed the pledges should be, given that a successor administration, should President Joe Biden not be re-elected in 2024, could easily rescind any pledges made, the WSJ said, citing anonymous officials.

Under US law, binding international agreements must be approved by a two-thirds supermajority in the Senate, which can later be revoked by another supermajority vote. Although the president can sign any international agreement, a future White House administration could terminate it on a unilateral basis. European capitals are concerned that ex-President Donald Trump could overturn any pledges Biden may make should his comeback bid to retake the White House succeed in the November 2024 US presidential election, the newspaper writes.

As a result, the Biden administration is considering a memorandum of understanding that would not require congressional approval for the United States and Ukraine to agree on. However, without credible packages of support, Russia is unlikely to be deterred from continuing the special military operation, the WSJ maintains.

Should Trump or any other future Republican president reduce US aid to Ukraine after the 2024 US presidential election, European countries would not be able to pick up the slack, according to the newspaper. Hence, concern is growing among European leaders, who are looking for ways to ensure allied defense industries can manufacture the promised military assistance to Ukraine.

Wagner Chief Prigozhin Laid to Rest at Porokhovskoye Cemetery in St. Petersburg

Yevgeny Prigozhin's press service confirmed that the ceremony took place

© EPA-EFE/ANATOLY MALTSEV

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/. A ceremony to bid farewell to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the private military company Wagner, has been held in the presence of his family and friends at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, a source told TASS.

"Only relatives and friends have been admitted to the farewell ceremony for Yevgeny Prigozhin, in accordance with the wishes of his family," the source said.

Prigozhin's press service confirmed that the ceremony took place.

"Those who wish to say goodbye can visit the Porokhovskoye cemetery," it said in a statement on Telegram.

Lavrov to Lead Russian Delegation at G20 at Request of President — MFA

Earlier, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Vladimir Putin would not travel to the G20 meeting in India

© EPA-EFE/RAJAT GUPTA

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will head the Russian delegation at the Group of 20 summit in India at the request of President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS.

"At the request of the Russian president, the delegation will be headed by Lavrov," the diplomat said.

Earlier, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin would not travel to the G20 meeting in India.

India has held the presidency of the G20 since December 1, 2022. The summit in New Delhi will be held from September 9-10 in an in-person format. Invitations were sent to all G20 leaders, as well as heads of nine other countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Spain, Mauritius, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the UAE, Oman and Singapore.