World

N'djamena, Jan 30 (IANS) Chad on Thursday announced a full withdrawal of French troops from the Central African country.

"The three bases of French elements in Chad have all been handed over to the Chadian national army," Chadian Army spokesman Chanane Issakha Acheikh said in a statement. "The very last one has just been handed over today."

"The handover of the Sergent Adji Kossei Base in N'djamena definitively closes the presence of French forces in Chad," the spokesman said.

In November 2024, Chad announced the end of the security and defence cooperation agreement with France. On December 10, some French troops began to leave Chad.

On December 31, 2024, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno announced the definitive withdrawal of French troops from the country by January 31, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I welcome the withdrawal of the first wave of French forces stationed in Chad. Other waves ... will follow until the complete withdrawal on January 31, 2025," Deby said in a televised address to the nation.

He said he was convinced that the decision was a response to a "common and legitimate aspiration" of the Chadian people.

"Any fight for independence or sovereignty has its sacrifices and we owe them for future generations, just as our elders made sacrifices, to bequeath us a standing country," the Chadian President said.

France had last month started the withdrawal of its troops from Chad, with some fighter jets taking off from a French base in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena, according to the Chadian army.

Chadian army had said that the public would be informed of each stage of the withdrawal until the final departure of all French forces.

Despite this change, Chad intends to maintain constructive relations with France in other areas of mutual interest.

France had deployed some 1,000 soldiers in Chad before the withdrawal, according to the French authorities.

--IANS

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Washington, Jan 30 (IANS) Democratic US lawmaker Ro Khanna on Wednesday announced that Republican colleague Rich McCormick will join him as the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India, replacing Mike Walz, who is now the National Security Adviser to President Donal Trump.

Representatives Andy Barr and Marc Veasey will continue serving as vice co-chairs and Brad Sherman, who formerly served as chair, will continue to serve as chair emeritus.

The India caucus is committed to strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and India. It grew to a record number of 145 members in the previous118th Congress, with the joining of 35 new members.

“A strong partnership with India is critical for our economy and national security. It is an honour to continue serving as co-chair of the India Caucus and to welcome Rep. Rich McCormick as the caucus’s new co-chair. Rep. McCormick has supported policies to strengthen the US-India relationship, and I look forward to working with him. I am grateful to Reps. Veasey and Barr for their continued leadership in the role of vice co-chairs,” said Khanna.

Representative McCormick said: “I am honoured to co-chair the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans with my good friend Rep. Ro Khanna. I have the great privilege of serving many hard-working Indian Americans in my district and will continue to strengthen our relationship with India. The dedication, innovation, and contributions of this diaspora enrich our community and strengthen the bonds between our two nations. Together, let's continue to champion the values of opportunity and collaboration that define both America and India.”

“I am honoured to continue serving as vice co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. The U.S.-India partnership is built on shared values of democracy, economic freedom, and security cooperation. Strengthening this relationship is critical to advancing our mutual interests in trade, technology, and defence. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to further deepen the ties between our two great nations and to support the vibrant Indian American community that contributes so much to our country,” said Representative Barr.

“As the proud representative of Texas' 33rd district, home to a vibrant and growing community of Indian and Indian American families, I am honoured to continue serving as vice co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India. I look forward to furthering the strong ties between the U.S. and India. The Indian American diaspora has made invaluable contributions to our nation, and I remain committed to fostering deeper partnerships that enhance both our economies and national security. Together, with our Chair, Rep. Ro Khanna, I know we will continue to build a strong relationship based on shared values,” said Veasey.

--IANS

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Cape Town, Jan 29 (IANS) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday called for intensified diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following the deaths of 13 South African peacekeepers.

The South African troops, part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), have been killed in escalating fighting involving the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group and the Armed Forces of the DRC since last week.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ramaphosa extended his condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, calling on the country to rally behind its soldiers "who have dedicated their lives to bringing peace on our continent."

The President reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to peace, urging all parties to respect the DRC's territorial integrity and engage in diplomatic processes to end the ongoing conflict.

"We call on all parties to this conflict to fully embrace the current diplomatic efforts that are aimed at finding a peaceful resolution," he said. "We must silence the guns on our continent for the attainment of inclusive development and prosperity."

Ramaphosa welcomed the United Nations Security Council's recent position on the situation in the DRC, which calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the reversal of territorial expansion by the M23, the withdrawal of external forces from the DRC, and the resumption of peace talks under the Nairobi Process.

He also emphasised that South Africa's military presence in the eastern DRC is "not a declaration of war against any country or state", Xinhua news agency reported.

"The members of the South African National Defense Force that are in the DRC are part of both SADC and United Nations efforts to bring peace and protect thousands of lives that are constantly threatened by the conflict in the DRC," said Ramaphosa.

"The presence of the SAMIDRC forces demonstrates a commitment of SADC member states to supporting the DRC in its efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability and, ultimately, create an enabling environment for sustainable development and prosperity," he added.

--IANS

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Kampala, Jan 29 (IANS) Uganda on Wednesday strongly condemned an attack on the country's embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), by rioters amid mass demonstrations.

John Mulimba, Uganda's Minister of State for foreign affairs in charge of regional cooperation, told the parliament that rioters had looted and burned embassy property, forcing the staff into hiding.

"The incident is a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and we condemn it in the strongest terms," Mulimba told lawmakers during a plenary.

He added that on Tuesday evening, the DRC government had assured Uganda that appropriate security measures had been taken and the situation in Kinshasa was under control.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is assessing practical means to provide consular or other emergency services to Ugandan nationals in the DRC, Xinhua news agency reported.

Violent protests targeting foreign embassies against the situation in Goma, the capital of the DRC's eastern province of North Kivu, and the perceived "inaction" of the international community erupted in Kinshasa on Tuesday.

Protesters were seen on the city's main arteries, disrupting traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tires, and chanting slogans in front of the embassies of the United States and several other countries and the headquarters of the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

--IANS

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Beirut, Jan 29 (IANS) Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa region, announced that the bank is finalising a rapid damage assessment to support Lebanon's reconstruction efforts.

Speaking after a meeting with President Michel Aoun, Dione said that the World Bank is expected to complete the assessment by the end of February and that emergency assistance will soon be submitted for approval by the bank's board.

"We are committed to standing by Lebanon during this critical transition to support its recovery and ensure the prosperity of all its people," Dione said.

During his meeting with President Aoun, Dione reiterated the World Bank's support for Lebanon and its willingness to organise an international conference to help the country overcome its economic challenges.

He stressed the importance of structural reforms to rebuild international confidence in Lebanon and encourage private-sector investment.

For his part, President Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to implementing necessary reforms, as outlined in his inauguration speech, noting that one of the new government's top priorities would be drafting legislation to advance reforms across various sectors.

He also outlined key objectives for the next phase, including reconstruction - particularly in areas devastated by Israeli attacks - enhancing public administration, improving citizen services, and modernizing government operations through digital technology.

Aoun thanked the World Bank for its ongoing support and pledged to expedite the approval of long-term loans in Parliament. He also welcomed the continued presence of the World Bank's office in Lebanon despite the country's challenges, Xinhua news agency reported.

The World Bank has approved 736 million US dollars in long-term loans for Lebanon, covering agriculture, energy, and water. The loans are awaiting parliamentary approval before implementation.

--IANS

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Nairobi, Jan 29 (IANS) Experts met in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Wednesday to promote peace in the Horn of Africa region.

The two-day Regional Validation Forum for the Horn of Africa Initiative's Peace and Social Cohesion White Paper brought together more than 100 delegates, including security officials from Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, as well as officials from international development agencies, to exchange knowledge and strategies for strengthening peacebuilding.

In his opening remarks, Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary in the Kenyan Ministry of Interior and National Administration, said the forum presents a significant opportunity to reinforce the collective commitment to peaceful and accelerated development as well as social cohesion in the Horn of Africa region.

He noted that the region has made a collective resolve to improve the lives of the communities in the borderlands through peace, investment, and development because it has long faced insecurity, marginalization, conflict, fragility, and underdevelopment.

Omollo also emphasized the need for active participation of local communities in shaping their future and the importance of regional cooperation in tackling transnational challenges such as cross-border crime, disasters, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, terrorism, and climate change.

Kenrick Ayot, the national focal point for Kenya at the Horn of African Initiative, said sustainable development in the borderlands can not be achieved without first addressing the underlying challenges of insecurity, conflict, and intercommunal violence.

Ayot observed that the Horn of Africa, with its rich cultural diversity and strategic geographic importance, continues to be central to regional peacebuilding efforts.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS) As the US State Department evaluates the "next steps" with regard to 26/11 attacks accused Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India, Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla emphasised on Tuesday that security and defence cooperation between both countries will witness an upward trajectory under Trump 2.0.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, has been declared a fugitive by India and faces multiple criminal charges related to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left 166 people dead, including six US citizens.

Last week, the US Supreme Court dismissed Rana's review petition against his extradition, thus clearing the way for him to finally face justice for his alleged role in the deadly attacks.

"We saw very good cooperation on counter-terrorism during Trump 1.0 as there was strong support for India's position and its right to self-defence after the Pulwama terrorist attacks. We also saw that the US stopped military assistance to Pakistan because of its support for terrorism. At the same time, the US worked very closely with us in the listing of terrorists wanted for heinous crimes such as Masood Azhar (Jaish-e-Mohammad chief)," Shringla told IANS in an exclusive interview.

"This (Rana's extradition) would be a reflection of the same approach of the Trump administration -- a very non-compromising approach when it comes to global terrorism. That's where again our interests go inside, our views go inside and I think we should expect much more of security and defence cooperation with the United States under Trump 2.0," adds the seasoned diplomat who was also the Chief Coordinator of India’s G20 Presidency.

Washington has been supportive of New Delhi's efforts to punish the perpetrators of one of the worst terror incidents in India's history, orchestrated by Pakistan-based banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Rana, currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles, is also a close associate of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistani American Lashkar terrorist who played a key role in planning the Mumbai terror attacks.

Headley, who turned approver in the case, is serving a 35-year prison sentence in the US for his involvement in the brutal terror attacks on Indian soil.

"In view of the recent Supreme Court decision, and consistent with applicable US law, the Department of State is currently evaluating next steps in this case," a spokesperson for the agency said in response to an IANS request for information on the next steps following the court order and when Rana is likely to be dispatched to India.

"We have long supported India's efforts to ensure the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attacks face justice," the spokesperson added on Tuesday.

--IANS

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Belgrade, Jan 28 (IANS) Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic announced his resignation on Tuesday at a press conference at the government building in Belgrade, citing "elevated tensions" sparked by a collapse at Novi Sad railway station in November last year.

Vucevic, along with other current ministers, will continue leading the government in technical mandate until the election of a new government, Xinhua news agency reported.

Serbia's PM resigned after weeks of massive anti-corruption protests sparked by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy in Novi Sad last November.

The canopy collapse, which killed 15 people in the northern city of Novi Sad, has become a flashpoint reflecting wider discontent with the increasingly autocratic rule of Serbia’s populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The incident intensified long-held anger over corruption and the lack of oversight in construction projects, amplifying criticism of Vucic's government, which has faced accusations of undermining democratic freedoms while pursuing European Union membership for Serbia.

The resignation of Prime Minister Vucevic is expected to trigger an early parliamentary election. Serbia's parliament has 30 days to either confirm the resignation and form a new government or call for snap elections.

On Monday, tens of thousands of protesters, including university students on strike, gathered for a 24-hour blockade of a major intersection in Belgrade. The students, who have been protesting for weeks, are demanding accountability for the canopy collapse, which they say is a result of government corruption.

Vucevic, who had served as Prime Minister for less than a year, previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence from 2022 to 2024.

He also served as the mayor of Novi Sad from 2012 to 2022.

During his tenure, he received several prestigious awards, including the Charter of Honourary Senator of the Senate of the Economy of Serbia in 2014. In that same year, he was honored with the "Captain Misa Anastasijevic" award for his leadership in promoting European values in Novi Sad. Under his leadership, the city was recognised as the European Youth Capital in 2019 and the European Capital of Culture in 2021.

--IANS

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Kinshasa, Jan 28 (IANS) Several embassies in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), were damaged, looted, and even set on fire amid mass demonstrations against the perceived inaction of the international community in addressing the ongoing violence in the eastern part of the country.

In Kinshasa, the city woke up in turmoil as civil society mobilised the local population to protest against the dire situation in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province, and the inaction of the international community.

Protesters were seen on the city's main arteries, disrupting traffic, blocking commercial activities, burning tires, and chanting slogans in front of the embassies of the U.S. and other Western countries, as well as the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping mission.

Part of the exterior of the French embassy was set on fire by protesters, while the nearby Ugandan embassy was looted. Sounds of detonation were heard in the neighbourhoods where the Rwandan embassy and the US consular service are located, Xinhua news agency reported.

Blaise Kilimbalimba, Kinshasa police commander, urged the demonstrators to remain calm and return home, warning that those sowing trouble would face serious consequences.

Hostilities resumed in Goma on Tuesday morning after a relatively calm night. March 23 Movement (M23) rebels have been attacking Goma since late Sunday.

Local sources told Xinhua that intense fighting has been going on since early Tuesday between the DRC army and the rebels near the airport, a strategic point once controlled by the M23.

Earlier on Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in eastern DRC and reiterated his strongest condemnation of the M23 armed group's ongoing offensive and its advances toward Goma.

Guterres called on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas. According to the UN, more than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in eastern DRC.

--IANS

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Tripoli, Jan 28 (IANS) Libyan officials and political factions offered a measured welcome this week to the appointment of Ghanaian diplomat Hanna Serwaa Tetteh as the United Nations' new special envoy to the conflict-stricken nation, though analysts and lawmakers cautioned that her tenure may face familiar hurdles in steering the country toward elections and stability.

Tetteh, who previously served as the UN secretary-general's envoy to the Horn of Africa, succeeds Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal, who stepped down as head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in May. Stephanie Koury, a senior UN official, had led the mission on an interim basis until Tetteh's selection.

The appointment comes amid stalled international efforts to broker a path to elections in Libya, which is fractured into rival eastern and western governments.

Mohamed Menfi, president of Libya's internationally recognised Presidency Council, called Tetteh's selection "critical," citing her "extensive diplomatic experience" in a social media post Sunday.

He expressed hope she could help break the political impasse and advance long-delayed elections, which Libyans view as vital to ending a decade of chaos following the 2011 ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya's eastern-based administration, aligned with military commander Khalifa Haftar, also pledged cooperation but stressed that solutions must emerge from "Libyan-Libyan dialogue." In a statement on Facebook, the eastern-based government urged Tetteh to ensure UNSMIL's role remains supportive rather than directive, Xinhua news agency reported.

Tetteh, a seasoned diplomat who previously led UN engagements with the African Union, assumes her role on Friday as Libya's political fissures deepen. The country has been deadlocked since the collapse of its 2020 ceasefire, with eastern forces refusing to recognise the Tripoli-based government and both sides accused of obstructing elections.

Some analysts said that Tetteh's ability to bridge these gaps -- and unify international stakeholders -- will likely determine whether her tenure marks a turning point or another chapter in Libya's unresolved crisis.

--IANS

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