标签： Africa

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu experienced a stumble during an official welcome ceremony in Ankara, Turkey, while being received by his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The incident occurred as the 73-year-old leader was walking past a line of soldiers and dignitaries, captured on the Turkish president’s official X account footage.

The video shows President Tinubu momentarily losing his balance and falling to the ground before the scene cuts to an aerial view. Within 45 seconds, attendants assisted the Nigerian leader, and he subsequently appeared unharmed alongside President Erdogan. According to presidential aide Sunday Dare, Tinubu proceeded with scheduled bilateral meetings without interruption following the incident.

This marks the second public stumble for President Tinubu within approximately 18 months, following a similar occurrence in June 2024. On that previous occasion, the president humorously addressed the incident by suggesting observers might have mistaken his fall for a popular dance move. His office had then characterized it as a “mild misstep.”

The current visit to Turkey represents a diplomatic effort to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations. In response to circulating social media clips of the stumble, Dare issued a statement on X emphasizing that “President Tinubu [is] in great shape as state visit proceeds smoothly” and confirming the continuation of all planned diplomatic engagements.

Tinubu, who assumed office in 2023 following electoral victory, has previously received sympathy from across the political spectrum for such incidents, with opposition figure Atiku Abubakar previously describing a similar event as “unfortunate” and senator Shehu Sani noting it demonstrated the president’s shared humanity.

The Rwandan government has formally commenced international legal proceedings against the United Kingdom through the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, seeking financial compensation for what it claims are unfulfilled commitments under a terminated migration agreement. This development marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic dispute between the two nations following the collapse of the controversial asylum partnership.

According to documents filed with the Netherlands-based arbitration body, Rwanda contends that the UK failed to honor its financial obligations under the treaty signed by the previous Conservative administration. The agreement, which envisioned relocating certain asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda, included substantial economic support packages for the African nation.

The legal challenge emerged after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government terminated the arrangement in 2024, declaring the scheme ‘dead and buried’ shortly after Labour’s electoral victory. The Home Office subsequently announced that £220 million in scheduled future payments would not be disbursed to Rwanda.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s office stated: ‘We will robustly defend our position to protect British taxpayers. The Rwanda scheme was a complete disaster that wasted £700 million of taxpayer money while resulting in the transfer of merely four volunteers.’

The original agreement, negotiated under Conservative leadership, involved total expenditures of approximately £700 million, including £290 million in direct payments to Rwanda. Additional provisions included £100 million scheduled for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, plus £120 million contingent upon the transfer of 300 individuals to Rwandan soil.

Michael Butera, Chief Technical Adviser to Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, explained the nation’s position: ‘Through arbitration, Rwanda seeks a legal determination of the parties’ respective rights and obligations under the treaty, in accordance with international law.’

The Permanent Court of Arbitration, an established forum for resolving interstate disputes, has acknowledged receipt of the case with its status listed as pending. Arbitration procedures typically involve extended timelines, often spanning multiple years, as parties present detailed arguments according to established timetables.

Conservative opposition figures have characterized the legal action as ‘yet another catastrophic consequence of Labour’s decision to scrap the Rwanda scheme,’ warning that British taxpayers now face substantial financial liability due to the government’s policy reversal.

The UK government had previously indicated efforts to recover funds following the agreement’s termination, though Rwandan authorities maintain they are under ‘no obligation’ to refund any payments already received.

In a significant diplomatic overture, French President Emmanuel Macron has formally invited Chadian President Mahamat Déby to Paris, signaling a potential reset of bilateral relations following recent military estrangement. The verbal invitation was conveyed by France’s Ambassador to Chad, Éric Gérard, during a Monday meeting at the presidential palace in N’Djamena.

This development comes against the backdrop of substantial geopolitical shifts. In November 2024, Chad abruptly terminated its longstanding defense agreement with France, declaring the colonial-era pact ‘obsolete’ for addressing contemporary security challenges. This decision triggered the withdrawal of approximately 1,000 French troops who had been providing intelligence and logistical support from bases across the central African nation.

The Chadian presidency confirmed Déby’s acceptance of the invitation while withholding specific timing details. Officials characterized the discussion as focusing on ‘renewal of bilateral cooperation’ through ‘dialogue and openness in a spirit of consultation and consideration of the interests of each party.’

Chad’s recent foreign policy reorientation represents broader regional realignments. Prior to severing military ties with France, N’Djamena had also ordered the departure of US forces, fueling speculation about shifting alliances. While Déby has publicly denied intentions to replace Western partners with alternative foreign powers, Chad recently signed a military cooperation memorandum with Belarus, a close Russian ally.

This diplomatic maneuvering occurs as France’s influence in the Sahel region continues to diminish following forced withdrawals from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso after successive military coups. Chad remains challenged by significant security threats while asserting what it terms ‘sovereign independence’ in defense matters after six decades of nationhood.