Mali political activist freed after monthlong abduction
BAMAKO, Mali — A leading political activist whose family said that he was abducted by Mali's military authorities has been released after a month in captivity, his relatives said Sunday.
Alassane Abba, one of the leaders of the former political party Codem, was dropped off along a road in Mali's capital, Bamako, on Thursday, Alhousseini Jannatta Alassane, his son, told The Associated Press.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
7 hours ago
- New York Times
U.S. rejects visas for Senegal women's national basketball team members, staff
The Senegal women's national basketball team cancelled a 10-day training camp in the U.S. from June 22 to July 3 after the U.S. rejected visas for five players, six staff members and a ministerial delegation, the Senegalese Basketball Federation announced in a statement Friday. The rejected visas come weeks after the Trump administration announced a travel ban on 12 countries and visa restrictions on another seven. That original group did not include Senegal, but The Washington Post and other outlets reported last week that the administration was considering expanding the ban to 36 more countries, including Senegal. The expanded ban has not yet taken effect. Advertisement The travel ban includes exemptions for the World Cup, Olympics and any 'other major sporting event,' though it's unclear what constitutes a 'major' event. 'Informed of the refusal to issue Visas to multiple members of the national women's basketball team of Senegal, I gave instruction to the Ministry of Sports to cancel, purely and simply, the ten-day preparation program initially set to be in the United States of America,' Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said in a statement on Facebook on Friday. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The training camp, which will now take place in Senegal, is in preparation for the Women's AfroBasket, Africa's continental championship. Senegal leads the medal table and has won 11 titles, the most in Women's AfroBasket history. Sonko also praised China in his statement on Friday. With the Trump administration pulling foreign assistance and restricting travel from many African countries, some foreign policy experts predict that China will strengthen its relationship with the continent and fill that gap. 'I would like to express my profound gratitude to the People's Republic of China, who have agreed to several tens of grants for the preparation of our athletes along with their supervisors, with the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar 2026 in mind,' Sonko said. The Athletic's Max Mathews contributed reporting.
News24
7 hours ago
- News24
‘Who is next?' Murdered Pretoria pupil's aunt urges action against school bullying
Supplied/GDE The aunt of a Grade 11 pupil, who was killed outside Lesedi Secondary School in Pretoria, has called for greater vigilance against bullying. Lethabo Mokonyane, 19, was stabbed on Tuesday, allegedly by two fellow pupils who had skipped school. Shelly Mokonyane urged pupils, parents, and the government to act decisively to ensure schools are safe. Shelly Mokonyane - whose nephew, Lethabo Mokonyane, 19, was killed allegedly by fellow pupils outside Lesedi Secondary School in Pretoria on Tuesday - has called on pupils to report bullying rather than remain silent. Speaking to the media outside the school on Friday, Mokonyane said: It is because of bullying that Lethabo is gone. Who is next? 'I am calling on our government to strengthen its stance against bullying because sending a child to school has now become a parent's worst fear. Schools are no longer safe. When a child leaves for school, they might not come back.' While the circumstances surrounding Lethabo's death are unclear, a report by the Department of Education stated that two pupils skipped school on the day and only returned after the school day ended. According to the department, they were wearing balaclavas when they allegedly attacked Lethabo. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said two 19-year-old pupils had been arrested and were expected to appear in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court soon. Mokonyane added that violence had no place in school. 'Schools should not be a place of hate. Children who cannot resolve their problems should take the matter to teachers so it can be resolved with love. 'When you send a child to school, you expect them to come home, not to receive a phone call telling you that they have been stabbed.' She encouraged parents to be involved in their children's well-being and collaborate with teachers. 'Parents should visit schools regularly to inquire about their children's wellbeing, especially when they notice a change in their behaviour. This can help parents and teachers work together to identify things that bother our children. 'These are our kids. We love them.' Mokonyane described Lethabo as a handsome, reserved teenager who loved technology and was a loner. Education MEC Matome Chiloane, who visited the school and the victim's family, said the department had requested police assistance at 75 hotspot schools to curb violence occurring outside school premises. Supplied/GDE Supplied/GDE Lesedi Secondary was one of those schools. Chiloane said the agreement was for the police to dispatch a vehicle to schools in the mornings and afternoons. He said: I do believe that if a police vehicle was present, as agreed, the incident might have been prevented. Things would have turned out differently. He urged bullied pupils to speak up.
News24
8 hours ago
- News24
Ramaphosa urges renewed commitment to constitutionalism at 30th anniversary of Constitutional Court
President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for continued recognition of the Constitutional Court's role in upholding democracy. He noted the gap between the Constitution's promises and the daily struggles of many South Africans, especially regarding basic service delivery. Ramaphosa confirmed steps to ensure judicial independence, including giving the judiciary control over its own budget and operations. As the country marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitutional Court, President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all sectors of South African society to recommit to the principles of constitutionalism. Speaking at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on Friday, Ramaphosa said the occasion was not only a celebration, but also an opportunity for reflection and renewed purpose. READ: Families of apartheid victims launch R167m constitutional legal action against government for justice failures 'The Constitutional Court was established as a bold response to a painful past, a past in which the law was used to exclude, repress and divide,' Ramaphosa said. 'Thirty years later, this institution continues to serve as a cornerstone of our democracy.' He paid tribute to the founding justices and legal professionals who had helped shape the court's jurisprudence in its formative years. Reflecting on the symbolism of the court's location on the site of an apartheid-era prison and military fort, Ramaphosa said the institution represented a transformation of justice in South Africa. This building, once a place of suffering, now houses a court that upholds dignity, equality and freedom. Cyril Ramaphosa Ramaphosa recalled his role as chair of the Constitutional Assembly when the Constitution was adopted in 1996. He likened the document to a birth certificate for the nation, affirming its identity, legitimacy and access to rights. Without it, he said, the country would be 'cast adrift and vulnerable to the excesses of unchecked power'. The president acknowledged the court's legacy in shaping democratic life and delivering key judgments on housing, healthcare and equality. He highlighted landmark rulings such as the abolition of the death penalty in S v Makwanyane, the right to housing in the Government of the Republic of South Africa v Grootboom, and access to HIV treatment in Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign. These were not just legal decisions; they changed lives and contributed to building a more inclusive society. Ramaphosa The president was candid about the continuing challenges facing constitutionalism in South Africa. He pointed to the gap between the rights promised in the Constitution and the lived reality of many citizens, citing persistent inequality, service delivery failures and delays in the implementation of court orders. 'The irony of praising judgments that affirm socioeconomic rights, while the state must be compelled to fulfil them, is not lost on us,' he said. 'People should not have to go to court to access basic services.' He noted that, while the judiciary had remained largely resilient in the face of political and societal pressures, systemic challenges continued to affect its ability to function effectively. The Constitutional Court, in particular, has faced mounting caseloads since its jurisdiction was expanded in 2013 to include matters of general public importance. In response, Ramaphosa announced progress in addressing judicial independence and institutional support. He confirmed that the judiciary would soon enjoy full independence, with control over its own budget and administration – a long-standing concern among legal stakeholders. 'This anomaly in our constitutional architecture is being resolved,' he said. The judiciary will now stand as an equal branch of the state, alongside the executive and the legislature. Ramaphosa Budget allocations for 2024/25 have included funding for court services and judicial training, and to fill vacancies. Ramaphosa reaffirmed government's commitment to supporting the judiciary through infrastructural, financial and administrative means. He also acknowledged the role of civil society, legal practitioners and the public in upholding the rule of law. 'The court derives its legitimacy from the public's confidence in the justice system.' Ramaphosa concluded by urging all South Africans to ensure that the values enshrined in the Constitution continued to define the country's national identity. 'As we look to the next 30 years, we must ensure that the Constitutional Court remains a living institution, principled, responsive and rooted in human dignity.' He paid tribute to former president Nelson Mandela, who inaugurated the court in 1995, saying: 'He would be proud that this institution continues to serve the people with strength and integrity.'
