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Jamal Khashoggi: The Story Behind the Stories

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By Eric Elezuo

On October 2, 2018, Saudi Arabia born critical journalist resident in Washington DC, United States of America, Jamal Khashoggi, had visited the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul Turkey, apparently to obtain promised papers to authenticate his divorce, but never came out. Turkish authories, which raised the alarm, claim that the journalist must have been murdered inside the consulate in what they describe as “premeditated murder”, and his body dismembered and disposed.

However, Saudi officials have rebuffed the theory, claiming that the journalist left the building before his disappearance

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “extremely worried” about the Saudi journalist’s disappearance.

“I am waiting for the truth and complete clarity to be established,” Macron said in an interview with France 24. “What’s being mentioned is serious, very serious […] France wants everything to be done so that we have all the truth on this case of which the first elements are extremely worrying.”

Macron said he will take a final stance once fact are established and would discuss the matter with leaders from Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Also, France’s foreign ministry said on Friday that it had asked Saudi Arabian authorities to provide detailed answers over the question of what happened to Khashoggi.

“The disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul … has raised serious questions about his fate. France asks that the facts be clearly established and that all those who can contribute to the truth fully contribute to it,” Agnes Von der Muhll, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said in a statement.

With the Saudi authority denying any complicity in the disappearance of Khashoggi, Turkey has maintained that it has incontrovertible evidence to prove that the journalist has been killed, alleging involving of the Saudi Crown Prince.

As an aftermath, foremost media outfits are beginning to stear clear of Saudi authorities. On Friday, CNN and The Financial Times dropped out of a Saudi investment conference.

A protester displays Khashoggi’s poster

They join journalists from The Economist, CNBC and The New York Times, who pulled out of the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh earlier amid growing concerns over Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Economist Editor-In-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes will not participate in the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh, spokeswoman Lauren Hackett said in an email.

Andrew Ross Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times business journalist, tweeted he was not attending the conference, saying he was “terribly distressed by the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and reports of his murder”.

The New York Times also decided to pull out of the event as a media sponsor, spokeswoman Eileen Murphy said.

The Financial Times said in a statement that it was reviewing its involvement as a media partner.

In the wake of the accusations and counter-accusations, a delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived in the Turkish capital, Ankara, for an investigation into the mysterious disappearance, according to two Turkish sources cited by the country’s Anadolu news agency, quoted Aljazeera.

The visit follows an announcement on Thursday that Turkey had accepted a Saudi proposal to launch joint investigations into Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Meanwhile, the US and Turkish officials have disclosed that there are audio and video recordings proving Khashoggi was tortured and murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. How they laid their hands on such classified information is still unknown.

It was revealed that video recordings show a Saudi assassination team seizing the journalist after he walked in on October 2. He was then killed and his body dismembered, the officials told the Washing Post – the newspaper that Khashoggi wrote for as a columnist.

Saudi Crown Prince accused of ordering the operation

The Source, who claimed that the audio was particularly gruesome, narrated:

“The voice recording from inside the embassy lays out what happened to Jamal after he entered.

“You can hear his voice and the voices of men speaking Arabic. You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured, and then murdered.”

Another unnamed official confirmed men could be heard beating Khashoggi on the recording.

From the way Turkey has been vocal against Saudi, it is clear that they have verifiable evidence relating to the disappearance. Security expert, David Katz, CEO of Global Security Group, told Al Jazeera the intelligence officials quoted by The Washington Post  likely have audio and video that clandestinely recorded Khashoggi’s killing.

“There is clearly tension between the Saudis and the Turkish government, so that suggests Turkey is going to be directing its very considerable intelligence apparatus at everything to do with the Saudi government in Turkey for sure,” said Katz.

“So it’s very possible that they do in fact have audio and video recordings of things that have gone on inside the consulate, whether that was bugs planted or electronic intercepts. So you wouldn’t really need full forensics if you have evidence of that nature. And if the report in The Washington Post is correct, that’s apparently what they have.”

Katz said spies have “robust electronic devices” that can allow them to listen to what’s going on inside buildings from outside.

“You’ll actually hear what happened, you’ll hear the voices. There was a suggestion there was an interrogation followed by a very brutal murder. If that’s the case – and if that’s on audio and/or videotape – you don’t need anything else. That’s the case right there.”

However, most people have reasoned that if Turkey has such incontrovertible evidence, what is keeping them from making it public so as to get the matter and done with in good time.

On the other hand, strong allegations point at the Saudi Crown Prince as the biggest suspect in the cruelty that befell Khashoggi.

Khaled bin Farhan al-Saud, a Saudi prince living in exile in Germany,  alleged Saudi officials plotted to abduct him days before he vanished, adding it’s part of plan by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to keep adversaries quiet.

“Over 30 times the Saudi authorities have told me to meet them in the Saudi embassy, but I have refused every time,” Saud told a UK newspaper.

“I know what can happen if I go into the embassy. Around 10 days before Jamal went missing they asked my family to bring me to Cairo to give me a cheque. I refused.”

He said at least five Saudi royals last week approached the leadership in Riyadh about Khashoggi’s disappearance, and they were detained.

“Just five days ago a group tried to visit King Salman saying they were afraid for the future of the al-Saud family. They mentioned Mr Khashoggi’s case. They were all put in jail,” said Saud.

Everyone is “scared”, he added.

More troubles remain in wait for Saudi as more governments are threatening diplomatic review should the news of the murder turns accurate. and in the private business enterprise, British billionaire, Richard Branson said his Virgin Group would suspend its discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund over a planned $1bn investment in the group’s space ventures.

“What has reportedly happened in Turkey around the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the West to do business with the Saudi government,” Branson said in a statement.

Branson also said he would suspend his directorship in two Saudi tourism projects around the Red Sea, citing Khashoggi’s disappearance.

Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi was a Saudi journalist and Washington Post opinion columnist, author and the former general manager and editor-in-chief of Al-Arab News Channel. He also served as editor for Saudi newspaper Al Watan. Born on October 13, 1958, in Medina, Khashoggi would have been 60 if he had lived 11 more days.

He was born into a very rich, powerful and well-known family in Saudi Arabia. His grandfather, Muhammad Khashoggi, who was from a family of Ottoman origin, married a Saudi woman and served as personal physician to King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the founder of the kingdom Saudi Arabia. Jamal Khashoggi is the nephew of late, high-profile Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, known for his part in the Iran-Contra scandal, estimated to have had a net worth of $4 bn in the 1980s. Jamal Khashoggi’s cousin, Dodi Fayed, was dating Britain’s Princess Diana when the two were killed in a car crash in Paris.

A vocal critic of the Saudi government, he received his elementary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia and obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana State University in the United States in 1982.

He is believed to have been killed and dismembered on October 2 or thereabout by the Saudi government after he walked into their consulate in Turkey.

 

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Africa

AfreximBank Inaugurates Kigali’s Office of Fund for Export Development in Africa

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By Dolapo Aina

On Wednesday, the 20th of March 2024, The African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank)’s Fund for Export Development in Africa inaugurated its’ Kigali office with a keen eye on addressing Africa’s $110 billion equity financing shortfall. The bank unveiled its Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) office in Kigali, capital of Rwanda.

While the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) became the Fund Manager of the US$1 billion AfCFTA Adjustment Fund in 2023, it is noteworthy to state that the Fund for Export Development in Africa is the impact investment subsidiary of Afreximbank set up to provide equity, quasi-equity, and debt capital to finance the multi-billion-dollar funding gap especially in equity which are needed to transform the trade sector on the African Continent.

According to an official statement by Afreximbank, FEDA pursues a multi-sector investment strategy along the intra-African trade, value-added export development, and manufacturing value chain which includes financial services, technology, consumer and retail goods, manufacturing, transport and logistics, agribusiness, as well as ancillary trade enabling infrastructure such as industrial parks.

The statement by Afreximbank further stated that FEDA was established to tackle Africa’s US$110 billion financing gap for intra-African trade, value-added export development, and industrialisation value chains, with Rwanda being the first among fifteen African nations to ratify its establishment agreement.

The event had in attendance Dr. Edouard Ngirente, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda’ President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah; Executive Vice Presidents of Afreximbank, members of the Board of Directors of FEDA including Ms. Marlene Ngoyi, who is the Chief Executive Officer of FEDA; officials from the Rwandan Government; representatives from the business and diplomatic communities in Rwanda; just to name a few.
Rwanda’s Prime Minister Dr. Ngirente stated: “The establishment of FEDA in Rwanda reflects Rwanda’s commitment to not only fostering economic development within our borders but also to playing a pivotal role in the economic transformation of our continent. This initiative is a step closer to the realisation of the goals outlined in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union which lays great emphasis on the transformation of African economies and acceleration of economic growth on the continent.” The Prime Minister of Rwanda highlighted the fact that despite Africa’s significant resource endowments and contiguous markets, the continent had the lowest level of intra-regional trade in the world, adding that the continent’s share of value created remained the lowest across many products and commodities due to sub-optimal value addition.

President of Afreximbank, Professor Benedict Oramah in his speech stated that: “FEDA adds to the pool of institutions helping Africa to create its own capital base for development. With a focus on providing long-term, patient capital targeting all segments, from SMEs to corporates, and cutting across dynamic sectors of value-addition, services, and technology, FEDA is positioned to drive Africa’s development under a new vision of de-commoditised, growth-oriented pathways underpinned by a dynamic private sector. We all share the view that the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) will be a mirage, and its benefits will accrue to others unless tangible steps are taken to create tradable goods and services for the continental market. We also do recognise that the benefits of the Free Trade Agreement will not be evenly shared among all Participating States if pragmatic steps are not taken to equip all economies, especially small and fragile economies, with the capacity to produce goods or provide essential services necessary for the conduct of trade within the continent.”

Professor Benedict Oramah went further: “Less than four years since the commencement of operations, the evidence of the strategic importance of this institution is beginning to show as it has started to leave impactful footprints across the continent. Funds Under Management under different strategies amount to about 800 million US dollars. FEDA is using some of these funds to create and mobilise additional funds and is currently a co-promoter of a 500 million US dollar Africa Credit Opportunity Fund (ACOF). With seed funding provided by Afreximbank, it is also creating a 100 million US dollar Venture Capital Fund to focus on start-ups and SMEs. In 2023, FEDA became the Fund Manager of the 1 billion US dollar AfCFTA Adjustment Fund. Thanks to the equity and supporting debt instruments offered by Afreximbank, industrial complexes are emerging across Africa. The Fund has supported the emergence of Special Economic Zones in Gabon, Benin, and Togo. These Industrial Zones have changed the profiles of the countries from commodity-exporting countries to exporters of value-added or manufactured goods, attracting multiple times the values gained from commodity exports, helping to achieve economic diversification, creating dynamic local economies with strong domestic supply chains and, above all, jobs and stable incomes for the people. Similar investments are spreading and are expected to reach at least twenty countries, including Rwanda, Malawi, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, Congo Democratic Republic, the Republic of Chad, and Zambia, by year-end.”

On Rwanda, Professor Benedict Oramah posited in his speech that “Rwanda is also poised to benefit significantly. On the heels of the various supports provided by Afreximbank to Rwandan public and private sector entities, FEDA has progressed a significant deal pipeline in Rwanda. A number of investments are being processed across many sectors and industries, ranging from transport and trade logistics, manufacturing, agro-processing, and power generation. These equity investments, amounting to about 50 million US dollars, when concluded, will complement the over 300 million US dollars disbursed to Rwandan entities by Afreximbank in the past 5 years, boost local industrial actives, create domestic value chains, and elevate Rwanda’s preparedness to harness the benefits of the AfCFTA.”

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Africa

President Hage Gottfried Geingob: A Nigerian’s Tribute to the Remarkable Pan-African Leader

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By Dolapo Aina

When great men and women pass away, you pretty much remember with clarity where you were when you heard the news. Same goes for monumental historical events. You would recollect and not forget where you were or what you were up to. Sunday, the 4th of February 2024 was one of those days for Namibians, friends of Namibia and Namibians, Africa and the entire world.
I commence this long piece with a question. Where were you when you heard about the death of President Hage G. Geingob of Namibia on February 4th, 2024?
I was getting ready and preparing to attend church service in Kigali, Rwanda.

Considering that I had been following President Geingob’s health status since the last week of January 2024 when the Presidency revealed the President’s condition and his subsequent trip to the United States of America; like everyone else, I was of the opinion that President Geingob would get better. Alas, the sudden news on that fateful Sunday. Like everyone else, I was so certain the President would pull through that I sent in a letter requesting for an interview (later on in 2024 to talk about his life after office et al) to the Office of the Presidency ahead of President Geingob’s recovery. Alas, the sudden news of President Geingob’s demise.

On Saturday, the 24th of February 2024, I spent the large part of my Saturday watching people line up the streets from Parliament Gardens to Robert Mugabe Avenue, Sam Nuyoma drive; as the casket carrying the late President of Namibia; Dr Hage G. Geingob made a vehicular procession to the independence stadium in Windhoek.

Namibians loved their President and you could see it from people who came out in their thousands to pay their last respects to their beloved President. He was truly the people’s President.

He regaled me with historical happenings which were not only stories to him because he knew the actors on a personal level. I knew I had met more than my match when it comes to Pan Africanism and stories when he told me of stories of Castro, Che Guevera etc. From the global perspective, America and Africa were the regions to be in the 1960s and he saw it all as he was in the thick of things in that era. I came out of the State House in Windhoek realising I had interacted with an African witness of historical events in Africa and America, Latin and Central Americas. A sincere man. An internationalist. A Pan Africanist. When you met and spoke with the President, the connection is always deep.

That day, I left State House in Windhoek, went back to the venue of the event I was to attend and, in the evening, I did a lot of research on some of the things he told me to research on which was about his Nigerian mentor of 40 years, Professor Adebayo Adedeji. Professor Adedeji was the Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 1975 to 1991. Speaking of Nigeria and President Geingob’s excellent memory, when I realised his strong connection to Nigeria, I remember during our conversation, I asked him if he knew some prominent diplomats whom I knew personally like Ambassador Olusegun Olusola who was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia in the 1980s. He remembered him. Same response to Professor Bolaji Akinyemi but a faint recollection of General Ike Nwachukwu. Both were Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministers in the 1980s and 1990s.
Liverpool FC defeated Chelseas FC to win the EPL Cup on the same day President Geingob was being buried. The President was a strong supporter of Liverpool as I got to know during my interview with him. Considering African countries like Rwanda have partnerships with some football clubs, I asked during our conversation before the interview why cannot Namibia do likewise since The Land of The Brave had vast array of tourism locations. President Geingob replied that President Paul Kagame was on a State Visit in August 2019 and had been seen the beautiful country. President Geingob’s response to my question of sports cum country branding was that there would be an uproar in Namibia by Namibians. This made me realise the myriad of complexities faced by African Presidents steering their citizens for the collective good of the country.

Sitting down with President Hage G. Geingob and discussing at length, I remember the joke he cracked when he walked in. He stated; “You are a very tall man and taller than me. I don’t grant interviews to people taller than me.” I wasn’t expecting that joke which got everyone in stitches. My response was that I was still getting taller. I remember I had to inform him about his impeccable dress sense complete with pocket square, President Geingob smiled and complimented me too. I remember what struck me when I came out of the State House was that leadership is not a tea party. Presidents of Governments go through a lot which they don’t usually divulge to the public and their citizens. They carry that burden and usually keep sealed lips. My circa two-hour interaction with President Hage Geingob, I came to see the responsibilities of being an African President from a different perspective thereafter. He was a Pan African storyteller and orator with receipts (as Generation Zs would say).

During my interview with President Geingob, my final question to him was; “What is the title of the book you are currently reading?” His response commenced with his trademark infectious laugh and he went on to inform me that he was writing a book on a collection of subject matters.

My hope is that his book would be published and the world would have more than a glimpse into the brilliant mind of President Hage Geingob of Namibia. A President whose untimely demise revealed Namibia’s democracy. A seamless transition of governance. A beacon of democracy.
Watching the ceremonial route procession entourage of military vehicles (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles aka Humvees) drive through the roads of Windhoek, and seeing the camera angle of the national broadcaster NBC which focused on the military vehicle towing the casket draped in the flag of Namibia, as an African who met Namibia’s President Geingob and who was welcomed into his office and felt welcomed, chatted, spoke and interviewed the President; at 1.04pm on that Saturday, I had to raise my hand for a 2 minute salute and thereafter looked for some tissue papers. The side view angle of the NBC camera of the military Humvee and the casket was very poignant and would remain embedded in my memory (not an image I would share).

Those who knew President Hage G. Geingob personally or met him during the time he spent on this earth and to those whom he decided to pour wisdom (Presidential, fatherly, diplomatic or Pan-African) into; they never remain the same. You are awakened with a lifelong responsibility and you know what it is. Like former First Lady Monica Geingos said, President Geingob left a clear road map for his family and nation. Those who met him and spoke with him extensively would know they were also given a road map.

To all those who would visit Namibia in the near future, I would implore you to pay your respects by visiting the Heroes’ Acre which is an official war memorial of the Republic of Namibia. Built into the uninhabited hills ten kilometres south of the city centre of Windhoek. This is the final resting place of Namibia’s President Hage Gottfried Geingob. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.

Dolapo Aina writes from Kigali, Rwanda

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Africa

ECOWAS Makes U-turn, Lifts Sanctions on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger Republic

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has resolved to lift some sanctions on Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger Republic.

The resolution was taken at the extraordinary summit on the peace, political, and security situation in the ECOWAS sub-region in Abuja on Saturday.

While the regional bloc said the political and targeted sanctions on the Niger Republic remain, it lifted some financial and economic sanctions on Guinea and other sanctions on Mali.

Following the military coup in Niger Republic on July 26, 2023, which toppled President Mohamed Bazoum, ECOWAS imposed several sanctions on the country.

But reading the communique after the emergency summit of the West African bloc on Saturday, ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Alieu Touray, reeled out some of the sanctions the Authority resolved to lift.

They include the closure of land and air borders between all ECOWAS countries and Niger Republic; no flight zone to all commercial flights to and from the Niger Republic, suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger Republic and freezing of all service transactions including utility services.

Other sanctions on Niger lifted are the freezing of assets of Niger Republic in all ECOWAS Central banks; freezing of assets of Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks; suspension of Niger Republic from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions lifted and travel bans on the military officials and their families involved in the coup attempt.

Touray said that the decision by ECOWAS is based on humanitarian considerations especially “as we are in the month of Lent and as we prepare for the holy month of Ramadan”.

He noted that the authority also resolved to lift the sanctions regarding the recruitment of Malian citizens in statutory and professional positions within ECOWAS as well as lifting financial and economic sanctions on the Republic of Guinea.

The ECOWAS President added that he has been instructed by the Commission to invite Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and Guinea to attend the technical and consultative meetings of ECOWAS as well as all security-related meetings.

ECOWAS directed all its institutions, member states, and other regional institutions to implement these decisions.

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