0
It took nearly 90 minutes, but Uruguay finally got a goal and defeated a stubborn Egypt team, 1-0, in Ekaterinburg on Friday.
A header off a free kick by defender Jose Maria Giminez was the difference after Uruguay’s bigger stars, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, squandered several chances.
Egypt played without its own star, Mohamed Salah, who was nursing a shoulder injury yet had been expected to play.
Egypt has been ranked the safest country in Africa and higher than both the UK and US, according to a new global poll.
The annual Gallup Global Law and Order asked if people felt safe walking at night and whether they had been victims of crime.
The survey placed Egypt 16th out of 135 countries, while the UK was 21st and the US 35th.
Singapore was ranked the safest, with Venezuela was seen as the least.
Egypt got 88 out of 100, placing it on the same level as countries like Denmark, Slovenia and China. This was an improvement on 2016, when it got 82.
Gallup says it interviewed 148,000 adults in 142 countries and areas for its survey.
Its questions revolved around confidence in local police, safety at night, cases of theft and whether participants or a family member had been mugged or assaulted within the past 12 months.
In Afghanistan (46%), Uganda (49%) and South Sudan (50%) residents were more likely than lowest ranked Venezuelan to say they had been the victims of theft in the past year.
South Sudan was ranked the least safe country in Africa.
The East African nation is followed by Gabon, Liberia and South Africa, one of the continent’s most popular tourist destinations.
Across sub-Saharan Africa, just 60% of people polled told Gallup they were confident in the local police force, rising to 68% across North Africa and the Middle East.
Rwanda scored highest on the continent when it came to safety at night, with 88% of people saying they would be happy to walk about after dark.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah is “confident” of being fit for the World Cup despite suffering a shoulder injury in Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid.
Salah was forced off in tears during the first half of the 3-1 loss in Kiev on Saturday, sparking fears he wouldn’t make it to next month’s World Cup.
The 25-year-old sustained the problem when he was dragged awkwardly to the turf following a challenge with Sergio Ramos, leading some to claim the Madrid defender had deliberately tried to injure Liverpool’s star forward.
Speaking after the final, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had described the injury as “serious” amid fears Salah had suffered a dislocated shoulder.
That would have ruled him out of Egypt’s first appearance in the World Cup since 1990.
Salah was pictured with his shoulder in a sling when he got off Liverpool’s plane at John Lennon Airport on Sunday.
But it now appears there is a good chance Salah will be able to join his country for the tournament in Russia.
“It was a very tough night, but I’m a fighter. Despite the odds, I’m confident that I’ll be in Russia to make you all proud,” Salah wrote on his official Twitter account on Sunday.
“Your love and support will give me the strength I need.”
Egypt’s team doctor Mohamed Abou El-Ela said in a statement that, according to information from Liverpool’s medical staff, Salah has sustained only ligament damage.
And, just as Salah tweeted his fitness update, fresh reports in Egypt claimed he had only suffered a strain in the shoulder ligaments and is expected to be back in action in three weeks.
AFP
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday sent condolences to the government and people of Egypt over the attacks on a mosque in North Sinai that left many dead after Juma’at prayers.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President condemned the “dastardly act” on innocent worshippers.
The President said the attack further reinforced his position that terrorism has no relationship or respect for any religion, and should be visited with the full wrath of the law.
The statement read in part, “The President reiterates that the workable panacea to such mindless and irresponsible attacks on citizens would be a global joint action that continually shares intelligence, simulates scenarios and regularly updates on both local and international threats.
“President Buhari prays that the almighty God will receive the souls of the departed, and comfort the families of those directly affected.”
At least 85 people have been killed after a gun and bomb attack at a packed mosque in Egypt’s North Sinai province on Friday.
Another 75 people are reported to have been injured, state media confirmed.
The attack took place near the provincial capital of El-Arish during Friday prayers, police officials said, at the Al-Rawdah mosque in Bir al-Abed.
An improvised explosive device (IED) is believed to have been used to target the worshipers.
The bomb was followed-up by machine gunfire from multiple gunmen.
Police said militants in four off-road vehicles bombed the mosque and fired on worshipers during the sermon segment of Friday prayers.
President Abdel Fattah al Sisi convened an emergency security meeting soon after the attack, state television reported.
Egypt’s security forces are battling an Islamic State insurgency in north Sinai, where militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers since fighting there intensified over the last three years.
Militants have mostly targeted security forces in their attacks, but have also tried to expand beyond the peninsula by hitting Egyptian Christian churches and pilgrims.
Daily Mail
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has assured the Egyptian government of his country’s support in ensuring Ms. Moushira Khattab wins the position of Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural.
Osinbajo said this in Aso Rock, on Friday while receiving Ms. Khattab, a Special Envoy of Egyptian President, Abd El-Fattah El-Sisi.
Professor Osinbajo stated that it was important for African countries to remain united so that the continent would take its place in the international community.
His words: “We have seen the great importance of UNESCO…The world body’s role has become more imperative now that Nigeria faces the challenges in the Northeast, especially as it concerns the Education planning of hundreds of thousands of displaced children”.
The acting President assured Ms. Khattab that Nigeria would consider the request of her country, Egypt.
He thanked the envoy for the visit and extended President Muhammadu Buhari’s friendly greetings to the Egyptian President.
Ms. Khattab said that the African Union has pledged to support her candidacy in the forthcoming UNESCO election.
She requested for Nigeria’s support, considering its important role and the great respect in Africa and globally.
Special Envoy Khattab also conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the Egyptian President to President Buhari, for speedy recovery and safe return to Nigeria.
Friday in the Muslim world is a very sacrosanct day that affords the faithful opportunity to congregate and share thoughts.
As for the Friday 15th of July, 2016 it was indeed a dark one as some elements within the Turkish military forces planned to topple the democratically elected government in the country.
The reality was that the coup hit a brick wall courtesy of the masses resolve to move massively against the military forces who had announced a takeover of government on that faithful day. The fall out from the failed coup was massive as well with over 200 people reportedly killed while about 1,500 sustained injuries following confrontations between the forces and the defending masses.
On the other hand, there is currently a massive purge of military officials who have been involved in the purported usurpation of power while about 6,000 arrests have been made.
The judiciary is also not left out of the purge as over 2,000 judges have been removed apparently in a bid to institute a reform process in the judiciary which will block a reoccurrence of such senseless act against a democratically elected President in the country.
This is because Turkey does not have capital punishment laws against acts of treason by individuals against the state. That the constitution will be reviewed is certain when viewed from the outcome of this ugly incident.
Recall that the president some few days to the attempted coup through the judiciary gave more powers to the military apparently to secure the nation’s territory from wanton act of terrorism that had engulfed the country in recent past.
Let me stop there for now as my intention ab-initio was to dissect the reasons behind the successful Egypt coup of 2013 whereby the first Democratic government in the country led by Mohammed Morsi was toppled and why the Turkey’s version few days ago was unsuccessful even though the two Muslim countries share similar religious sentiment.
Mohammed Morsi was democratically elected in Egypt following the 2011 Arab Spring protest which saw the end of Egypt’s maximum ruler, Hosni Mubarak. Due to Morsi’s Pro Islamic tendencies, he was tagged as a threat to western secularism and democracy.
He was removed by General Abdulfatah Al Sisi after massive protests from the masses who were sceptical about Morsi’s posture which they believe was tilting towards a more religious Egypt. Thus, the masses rejected a government they had elected through the ballot just because of some uncertain sinister motive.
Once again the masses had their way and for me there are more angle go that. The believe that a new bloc that will challenge western hegemony had emerged hence their grip of the Middle East and by extension the Muslim world will slip away in no time is a factor to note. The west supported the military regime to topple the first democracy in Egypt a system they had always preached and even financed across the globe. It thus means that democracy is good for the people when it favours the west and it is bad when there are tendencies it won’t satisfy their selfish interest.
The social media as usual played a vital role in mobilising the masses against Morsi. While its use during the “Anti-Morsi” campaign was successful same could not be said of the failed coup in Turkey as it was a story of a different stroke for a different folk.
So what has changed between 2013 that Egypt’s Morsi was toppled and 2016 that Turkey’s Recep Erdogan was unable to be toppled?
A lot has changed. The Turkish are now more conscious of their freedom than being a stooge to some foreign conspiracies and this could be viewed from the Egypt scenario as nothing has changed since the unpopular government of Al Sisi took over. There have been growing insecurity and human right abuses with many opposition politicians and journalists now behind bars.
As for Turkey, the government of Erdogan had been accused of the aforementioned challenges in Egypt as well and had been tagged as having Pro Islamic tendencies like Morsi thereby bringing to disrepute Turkey’s secular leanings as championed by the father of modern Turkey, Kemal Atatürk. But the fact that the masses wanted him is an indication that the mandate of the people cannot be compromised.
The West should note this as more people are getting acquainted with their ploy day by day. Though they have distanced themselves from the sponsors of the coup in Turkey, the role they played in the toppling of the Morsi government leave many in doubt as to their resolve against Erdogan who shares similar sentiment with the latter.
The same social media that was used to rally support against Morsi was employed by Erdogan to reclaim his mandate from the invading marauders who had come in the form of military forces. The masses took to their feet having been mobilised by President Erdogan who urged them to picket the streets and airports to defend their mandate. No doubt the president is popular among them even after he had been accused of plans to destroy Turkey’s secular posture.
Turkish cleric and businessman, Fethulah Gulen was accused by the Turkish government of influencing the coup attempt following successive plots aimed at pitching his followers against the government of Erdogan while latest document obtained by Arab TV channel Al Jazeera showed names of 80 top government officials who would have taken power had it been the coup was successful.
For posterity sake those behind the coup attempt be it local or foreign should learn to respect the people’s mandate which is the core principle of democracy. The Turkish government has called for the extradition of Gulen who had been on exile in the US. Such a decision should be respected by the US if after investigation the man is found to be guilty.
Other leaders from across the world should learn from Turkey’s Erdogan because had it been he is not popular among the masses, he would have been left alone to carry his cross. Such popularity however do not come from an impoverished masses, it comes from an empowered ones.
Hakeem-Adebumiti writes from Ondo. Contact via Twitter @hakeemadebumiti
hijacker of the EgyptAir Boeing A320 plane has been identified.
He is 27 year old Ibrahim Samaha, an Egyptian.
Flight MS 181 from Alexandria to Cairo was diverted to Lanarca in Cyprus. There were 80 people on board, along with the crew.
The lone hijacker was said to be wearing a belt of explosives.
How he got on the plane remains a bid puzzle.
Almost all the passengers on the plane have now been released. The crew and four passengers, foreigners are still held on the plane.
Latest report from Cyprus is that Samaha wants to be granted political asylum.
There was even a twist in the tale, with Cypriot media reporting that the hijacker has requested that a letter be sent to a Greek Cypriot girl, said to be his ex-wife.
Lanarca Airport has been closed.
A spokesperson for the Egyptian government, Hossam al-Queish said the hijacker wanted to travel to Istanbul but decided on Cyprus when he was told there was not enough fuel for the journey.
Al-Queish told the private CBC TV network that authorities could not confirm that the hijacker had explosives on him.
The channel showed a photo appearing to show Samaha standing inside an aircraft.
Hossni Hassan, the director of Borg El Arab Airport, said there were 26 foreigners on board, including eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch, two Belgians, a French national, an Italian, two Greeks and one Syrian, with three other foreigners unidentified.
The nationalities of the four foreign hostages remaining on board were unclear.
In the difficult moments of our history, looking precisely at the period of Nigeria’s war of unity 1966-1971, Egypt proved to be a strategic partner from helping to train our military to support with equipment and aircraft maintenance.
This 24-hour visit to to the Red Sea resort of Sharm Al-Shaikh was not just a ‘trip to Egypt’ as it has been wrongly portrayed, as if it were primarily bilateral in nature or a ritual courtesy call on President Sisi. The purpose was to promote investment and job creation in Nigeria and throughout West, Central and East Africa, together with other African leaders
The Sharm el-Sheikh ‘Africa 2016’ conference aimed at tearing down trade barriers between North and sub-Saharan Africa – a partnership anchored by the continent’s biggest and third-biggest economies (i.e., Nigeria and Egypt) by the injection of life into a 26-nation free-trade pact signed by half the number of countries on the continent a year ago.
The organizers brought together more than 1200 delegates to Sharm el-Sheikh, included among these the eight Presidents and Prime Ministers, ministers of trade and investment, representatives of global financial institutions, businessmen and investment executives.
It is expected that this new pan-African initiative will directly benefit Nigeria in its efforts to expand and diversify jobs and exports beyond the oil industry – a core component of President Buhari’s economic vision for the country. Knocking down trade barriers within Africa will create new markets for Nigerian farmers, manufacturers and other businesses.
In his opening remarks, Egypt’s President El-Sisi said that the forum aimed at “pushing forward trade and investment in our continent to strengthen Africa’s place in the world economy.”
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari who touted an extensive economic agenda said that this is not without challenges.
“The new problem affecting investment is international terrorism…lots of resources that could be used for development are being diverted to address security issues.”
As he and many others noted, the only way this can be redressed is by widening the participation of the private sector in African economies, the very idea behind the conference in Egypt.
One shining example of how this could be done came from the African Development Bank, ADB which announced through its President, Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina that the bank would be investing 12 billion Dollars in the energy sector in the coming five years to provide access to electricity.
There are 645 million Africans without access to electricity.
President Buhari’s visit to Egypt wasn’t limited to the business of “Africa 2016” in its success, as it turned out to be one that is a remarkable watershed in bilateral ties between the two states.
While it was not surprising that El-Sisi rolled out the red carpet for President Buhari in line with what many say is a plan by Egypt to rebuild the country’s money-spinning tourism industry in tatters since the mid-air bombing in October of a Russian plane, killing all 223 tourists and crew, the truth is also that these two of Africa’s three biggest economies had been too far apart when it comes to trade. The two leaders also bonded well with each other at their first meeting in Addis Ababa early in the new year.
By the last count, bilateral trade between the two states amounts to a meagre USD 100 million, with Egypt drawing about 80 percent of the benefit.
Egyptian pharmaceutical companies are making good sales in Nigeria. Egypt is Nigerians’ preferred destination for medical tourism.
Linked to this is their successful airline business trade in Nigeria. Egypt Air makes seven weekly flights to Lagos, and six each to Abuja and Kano.
There is little or nothing to show from the Nigerian side and this one of the things President Buhari wants to change.
In welcoming our President to the bilateral discussion, the Egyptian leader did not hide his joy at the acceptance of the Nigerian leader to visit.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen ties between their two states, to re-establish that historical closeness which helped Nigeria remain a single country decades ago.
They talked about doing this through enhanced partnership and cooperation in the areas of trade, security and defense.
President Buhari welcomed Egypt’s decision to strengthen strategic cooperation and intelligence sharing with Nigeria and from this, a framework for dealing with terrorism would emerge. For this, he gave instructions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to follow up with a meeting. Further progress is expected to follow on security and trade issues. In addition, the President requested El-Sisi to promote Egyptian investment in education in Nigeria.
The two leaders also discussed a range of regional and global issues. As to be expected, terrorism topped them all.
They both expressed concern that the anarchy in Libya, a disturbing situation that had provided a great impetus to terrorism in areas far and around the failed state.
The leaders also emphasized their cooperation on climate change and energy issues.
Experts in the field of diplomacy say that personal bond between two leaders can help pave the way for better relations among states.
In Nigeria and Egypt relations, there is a good chance of this working to the benefit of the two states.
Former governor of Yobe state, Senator Buka Abba Ibrahim has disclosed that politics is not the cause of Boko Haram in Nigeria, rather, skewed religious ideology.
The former governor of Yobe State who is also serving senator informed newsmen that contrary to the belief that Boko Haram started in Nigeria about six or 10 years ago, the ideological movement to that effect had actually been in existence in the Northern part of the country since the 1970s after the killing of the sect’s spiritual leader in Egypt in 1970 by President Gammal Abdel Naseer.
Specifically according to the Senator, ideological movement against western education and some other western ideas including Democracy, popularly known as Boko Haram here in Nigeria, first landed in Minna, the capital of Niger State before moving to Kano, Yobe and finally settled in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State between 2001 and 2002 but not as a full blown militant cum terrorist group against the country.
He stressed that Boko haram militants are different from political thugs said to have been used by some politicians to form the group, saying Boko Haram itself is against Democracy being western idea and by extension, Politics.
He said: “The History of Boko haram dates back to 10, 15 and even 20 years or more ago. This thing didn’t start six years ago as largely claimed. It started much, much earlier than the six years. Boko Haram is a philosophy driving by warped religious ideology. It is strictly an ideology on ground in some parts of the world for quite sometimes now.
“It all started, we were told in Egypt during the reign of Gammal Abdel Naseer who died in 1970. Naseer beheaded the leader of the Boko Haram Islamic sect in Egypt in 1970, an action that made the followers to spread to other parts of Africa, most especially north and western parts of Africa including Nigeria.
“When they came to Nigeria, their spread started in Minna, now the capital of Niger State, up to Kano and some other areas before moving to Yobe, and Maiduguri where they permanently settled down and later turned out to be a full blown militant group because of the high handed ness of the Nigeria Police against them.
“Police in that part of the country started killing some of them even at the grave yard while carrying out burial of some of their dead ones which consequently made them to fully militant by first taken arms and ammunitions against the Police and men of other security agencies and by extension, the Nigerian state.
“Boko, meaning, western education, is haram, meaning, prohibited, forbidden or unacceptable. Is just an idea that later turned to be something else…
“It has nothing to do with being employed by politicians or being used as political thugs but the issue of youth unemployment worsened it further by the unemployed youths serving as large army of recruitment for the insurgents”.
He lamented the destructions Boko Haram insurgents have carried out in the affected areas of the North Eastern part of the country in recent years, saying it will take the people and places affected, not less than 20 years to bounce back.
According to him, not less than 6, 600 orphans were camped in one location alone in Yobe state being taken care off by government due to killings of their parents by Boko Haram insurgents, not to talk of over 200 primary schools burnt by the insurgents in Yobe state alone.
He lamented the destructions Boko Haram insurgents have carried out in the affected areas of the North Eastern part of the country in recent years, saying it will take the people and places affected, not less than 20 years to bounce back.
“So many government structures have been destroyed. More than 200 primary schools have been destroyed. 6,600 orphans in a camp alone.
“I’ve not seen my house in the village for 18 months now which I learnt have even bombed down by the military in their war against the insurgents who earlier seized the property and drove people away from the Village (Goneri), 217 of them are presently staying in my house in Damaturu among whom are 40 primary and 50 secondary school pupils that are now schooling in Damaturu”, he lamented.
The senator however said that like other similar happenings or phenomena in the past as historically recorded, Boko Haram will definitely become history even with its alleged working hand in hand with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). More than 200 primary schools have been destroyed. 6,600 orphans in a camp alone.
“I’ve not seen my house in the village for 18 months now which I learnt have even bombed down by the military in their war against the insurgents who earlier seized the property and drove people away from the Village (Goneri), 217 of them are presently staying in my house in Damaturu among whom are 40 primary and 50 secondary school pupils that are now schooling in Damaturu”, he lamented.
The senator however said that like other similar happenings or phenomena in the past as historically recorded, Boko Haram will definitely become history even with its alleged working hand in hand with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Reports from the media are indicating that the Egyptian coup leader, who used the machinery of a seized government and emerged as its president, through an unpopular sham they called election, General AbdelFatah El-Sisi, had sent a letter to the president-elect, Muhammadul Buhari, inviting him to Egypt.
It is even insulting that Sisi decided to invite our dear president on the day a kangaroo court in that country sentenced the elected president, Muhammad Mursi, whose mandate he terminated with a gun, to twenty years in prison on a trumped up charges of inciting protests while in government custody. Ironically, it was the same Sisi courts that exonerated and discharged Africa’s most brutal dictator alive, Husni Mubarak. For a military man who behaved so shamelessly, the rightful treatment is to be deserted by men of honour like President Muhammadu Buhari.
The people of the civilised world are daily watching, in consternation, the mass murder, and torture of men, women and children in Egypt for no other reason than protesting, peacefully, the termination of the mandate they gave to president Muhammad Mursi.
Notable, prominent and respectable citizens of Egypt are been sentenced to death, life imprisonment or dozens of years in prison on trumped up charges that are politically motivated, to the amazement and chagrin of all.
President Muhammadu Buhari will surely understand the situation better than any other person as his mandate was confiscated three times and his supporters harassed and even lost their lives for protesting that, a near replica of what is going on in Egypt now. For President Buhari to honour an invitation from such a dishonest and wicked regime, it will not only hurt the feelings millions of Nigerians who voted for him but will embolden the dastardly act and encourage some elements who harbour similar or worst intensions across our continent, just as it will justify, to the mind of perpetrators, the similar atrocities they meted him and his supporters.
Nigeria and Nigerians, unarguably, never have a better and shining status of leading the rest of Africa, since the time of late Murtala Muhammed, than this time of Buhari’s assumption of leadership. The country’s leadership status is back and Africa and the rest of the world will expect no less from president Buhari and Nigeria. Therefore, the president should practically show the world that we are against all forms of injustice under whatever garb it is hidden.
The coming of Buhari should usher in a new dawn in Africa, where it will be clear to the Sisi’s and his likes that respecting people’s mandate is sacrosanct and whoever trampled on it, under whatever excuse, is not welcome.
Muhammad Mahmud
No 17 Chiranchi qtrs.
Kano State.
