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Voters in Djibouti are heading to the polls in a presidential election widely expected to extend the rule of long-serving leader Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, who is seeking a sixth term in office.

The 78-year-old incumbent faces a single challenger, Mohamed Farah Samatar of the Unified Democratic Centre (CDU), a party that currently holds no seats in parliament.

More than 256,000 registered voters are eligible to participate in Friday’s vote. However, early reports indicated low turnout in several areas, with only a small number of voters present at some polling stations when they opened. In parts of the capital, Djibouti City, voting also began later than scheduled.

The election follows a controversial decision by lawmakers last year to remove the presidential age limit, allowing Guelleh to run again despite previously being ineligible. The move has drawn criticism from observers who argue it weakens democratic processes in the country.

Human rights organisations have also accused authorities of restricting political freedoms and limiting opposition activity—claims the government has consistently denied. Notably, two major opposition parties have boycotted elections since 2016.

Polling stations are expected to close at 6:00 p.m. local time, with provisional results likely to be announced shortly afterward or by Saturday morning, according to electoral officials.

International observers, including the African Union, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States, are monitoring the process.

Guelleh has ruled Djibouti since 1999, when he succeeded the country’s founding president. He secured re-election in 2021 with an overwhelming majority, winning 98 percent of the vote.

Despite concerns over democratic standards, the government has emphasised stability as a key achievement. Djibouti occupies a strategic position in the Horn of Africa and hosts military bases belonging to several global powers, including the United States, France, and China.

The country also serves as a vital port for landlocked neighbours such as Ethiopia and has played a growing role in regional maritime activity, particularly amid ongoing tensions affecting shipping routes in the Red Sea.

Djibouti Votes As Incumbent President Seeks Sixth Term is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed sorrow over the bandit attack on Bagna and Erena communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, which claimed the lives of dozens of civilians and security personnel.

Atiku reacted to the incident in a statement shared via his official X handle on Friday.

“The tragic attacks on the Bagna and Erena communities, which claimed many lives including numerous security personnel, are profoundly heartbreaking.

“I extend my sincere condolences to the bereaved families, especially those of the fallen heroes, and urge the government to take more decisive action to protect civilians, facilitate swift relief efforts, and bolster support for frontline forces. May the departed rest in peace, and may enduring peace return to our land.”

It was reported that no fewer than 61 bodies of security operatives and civilians killed in the attack had been recovered.

Residents in the area stated that the corpses were retrieved from surrounding bushes days after the incident.

Atiku mourns victims of Niger bandit attack

Former Nigeria internationals Joy Jegede-Idakwo, and Aighewi Omodiaghe have been appointed assistant coaches for the Flamingos, DAILY POST reports.

Another Nigeria international, Kola Ige will take up the position of goalkeepers’ trainer.

The trio’s appointment was announced by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on Friday.

Jegede-Idakwo, Omodiaghe, and Ige will assist newly appointed head coach, Akeem Busari.

Busari takes over from former handler of the team, Bankole Olowoookere last week.

He has already invited 36 players for Flamingos’ 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup second round qualifying fixture against either Niger Republic or Guinea.

NFF appoints Jegede-Idakwo, Omodiaghe to Flamingos coaching crew

Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has attributed the growing wave of killings across Nigeria to what he describes as the government’s continued engagement with, and concessions to, criminal groups.

In a post shared on X on Friday, Shehu expressed concern over what he sees as a sharp rise in violent incidents nationwide, noting that the trend has become more pronounced in recent months.

“Since November 2025, and more significantly from February 2026 to date, there appears to be a geometric increase in the number of Nigerians killed daily across the country,” he said.

He noted that the attacks cut across both civilian and security populations, warning that the situation shows no clear signs of easing.

“These killings are deliberate and systematic, affecting both civilians and security personnel, with no end in sight,” he added.

According to him, the country’s security architecture is currently under immense pressure and lacks the capacity to respond effectively.

“All security agencies are overstretched, insufficient in number, and poorly equipped compared to the weaponry in the hands of criminal gangs,” he stated.

Shehu argued that the persistence of violence is being fuelled by policies that, in his view, reward criminality, particularly through negotiations and amnesty programmes.

“These senseless and orchestrated killings will only be curtailed when governments at all levels stop engaging in what amounts to appeasement and begin to treat criminal elements as such,” he said.

He also called for an end to granting amnesty and official recognition to individuals involved in criminal activities.

“When authorities stop offering amnesty to vandals, bandits, and murderers, and when traditional institutions and governments cease conferring titles and public roles on known criminals, both locally and internationally, meaningful progress can begin,” he added.

The commentator further criticised what he described as a broader culture of rewarding wrongdoing through honours and appointments.

“When governments stop bestowing national honours, political appointments, and recognition on individuals with records of criminality, including arson, drug abuse, and financial misconduct, the system can begin to correct itself,” he said.

Shehu also linked the worsening insecurity to structural weaknesses within the political system, including electoral malpractice and institutional failures.

“When political actors stop deploying thugs to manipulate elections, when votes truly count in real time, and when the judiciary refrains from legitimising outcomes that do not reflect the will of the people, we can begin to address the root causes,” he stated.

He emphasised the need for justice, fairness and equality before the law, warning against selective enforcement.

“When governments abandon selective prosecution and ensure visible, measurable justice, equity, and fairness for all regardless of status, gender, ethnicity, or belief, then real progress can be achieved,” he said.

Shehu also urged citizens to become more engaged and accountable in governance.

“When Nigerians move beyond apathy, fear, and complacency, and take an active role in shaping governance, meaningful change will follow,” he noted.

He concluded by stressing that genuine progress depends on a functioning democratic system grounded in clear rules and accountability.

“True progress will only come when democracy operates as it should, not as a private enterprise, authoritarian structure, or transactional system, but as one rooted in justice, equity, and fairness for all. Anything short of this will remain a futile exercise,” he said.

“Anything less will amount to a wild goose chase.”

Negotiating with criminals fuels violence – Mahdi Shehu

 The Nigerian Army 72 hours after the alleged murder of a General has neither denied or confirmed it

By Florencemary Nwabueze

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 31 suspected internet fraudsters during a raid on an alleged cybercrime training facility in the Federal Capital Territory.

The operation, carried out on Thursday, April 9, 2026, targeted a building located in Becki Estate, Karu, within Abuja. According to the anti-graft agency, the facility was being used as a so-called “Yahoo Academy,” where individuals were trained in internet fraud.

The suspects, said to include two alleged ringleaders and several trainees, were apprehended during an ongoing tutorial session.

Items recovered at the scene include multiple mobile phones, 18 laptop computers, and other electronic devices believed to have been used for fraudulent activities.

Preliminary investigations by the EFCC revealed that some of the trainees had been lured from Benue State with promises of legitimate employment.

However, upon arrival, they were reportedly provided with digital tools and software and enrolled in cybercrime training programs.

The agency further disclosed that the recruits were confined within the premises, with their movements strictly restricted. Their mobile phones were allegedly confiscated, effectively isolating them from the outside world.

In addition, authorities reported that strict disciplinary measures were enforced, including physical punishment for those who failed to comply with instructions or showed reluctance during training.

The EFCC stated that the suspects will be formally charged in court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.

The post EFCC busts ‘Yahoo Academy’ in Abuja, arrests 31 suspects appeared first on Vanguard News.

Inflation in the United States rose sharply in March, government data showed Wednesday, as higher energy prices due to the war in the Middle East hit Americans hard.

The nationwide sticker shock put pressure on President Donald Trump, who has ordered peace talks with Iran and faces mid-term elections in November.

The rate of inflation rose to 3.3 percent year-on-year in March, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). By comparison, this same consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.4 percent year-on-year a month earlier.

Gasoline prices surged by 21.2 percent between February and March — the largest monthly increase since the government began publishing a related index in 1967, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said.

Excluding volatile energy and food prices, the inflation rate rose 2.6 percent compared to 2.5 a month earlier.

Markets had anticipated the surge, according to the consensus published by MarketWatch.

The United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28 and Tehran retaliated by blocking traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway used to carry a fifth of the world’s oil and gas deliveries.

Despite being the world’s top producer of crude oil, the United States also felt the pain, as prices at the gas pump shot up.

A gallon (3.78 liters) of regular gasoline currently costs an average of $4.15 in the United States, compared to approximately $3 just before the war.

– More price pain ahead –

The Trump administration — elected in part on a promise to quash inflation — maintains that the war’s economic disruptions will be temporary.

US Vice President JD Vance said Friday he hoped for a “positive” outcome as he departed Washington for US-Iran peace talks being held in Pakistan this weekend.

But experts predicted more economic pain ahead due to the war in Iran, especially for middle and lower-income households in the United States already squeezed by rising energy and airfare prices.

Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said that inflation soared in March to the highest level in almost two years.

“This is only the beginning. Food prices, travel and shipping costs are all going up in April and will exacerbate the pain,” she said.

“March CPI was as expected, so no surprises. But there is a huge increase in fuel prices, boosting inflation” Christopher Low of FHN Financial told AFP.

“And we got the news last night that the ceasefire is not being honored by either side, apparently,” he said. “There’s still very little traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.”

When Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, inflation was falling, compared to a peak in the spring of 2022.

The war in Ukraine, which had started a few months earlier, had driven prices at the pump even higher than they are today.

The CPI index was rising by 2.3 percent year-over-year in April 2025 — coinciding with the US president’s announcement of a sharp increase in tariffs on imported goods.

Inflation started to creep up, though Washington refused to acknowledge this as a consequence of the tariff war.

Price growth slowed again late last year, largely thanks to gasoline prices, relatively moderate at the time.

During the Federal Reserve’s most recent meeting in mid-March, Chairman Jerome Powell explained that the war risked delaying efforts to bring inflation under control in the United States.

The US central bank’s target for inflation is two percent — an objective it has not met in five years due to a succession of shocks to the economy: the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and tariffs.

myl-ksb/dw

The post US inflation surges 3.3% as Iran war impact bites appeared first on Vanguard News.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Spain of adopting a hostile stance toward Israel, escalating tensions between the two countries after Madrid was excluded from a US-backed coordination centre focused on post-war Gaza.

The Israeli government on Friday confirmed that Spain had been barred from participating in the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) located in Kiryat Gat, a facility established to oversee ceasefire arrangements and support humanitarian operations in Gaza.

Speaking in a video statement, Netanyahu said the decision was a direct response to what he described as Spain’s consistent opposition to Israel’s position.

“I have instructed today to remove Spain’s representatives from the coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel,” he said.

He added that countries critical of Israel while failing to confront what he termed “terrorist regimes” would not be considered partners in shaping the region’s future.

The CMCC, a U.S.-led initiative launched after the Gaza ceasefire took effect on October 10, brings together military officials and diplomats from several countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, to coordinate security efforts and facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Spain had previously been part of the arrangement before its removal.

The diplomatic fallout follows a steady deterioration in relations between Israel and Spain, particularly after Madrid formally recognised a Palestinian state in 2024. Both countries have since withdrawn their ambassadors, reflecting the depth of the rift.

Netanyahu defended the latest move, saying Israel would not remain passive in the face of international criticism.

“I am not prepared to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility,” he said. “I will not allow any country to conduct a diplomatic war against us without facing an immediate price.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been among the most outspoken European critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which followed the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.

He has also opposed broader regional military actions involving Israel, including recent tensions linked to Iran.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has previously criticised Spain’s stance, accusing its government of aligning with hostile actors and undermining Israel’s security efforts.

Diplomatic relations between the two nations date back to 1986, following Spain’s transition from dictatorship, but current tensions mark one of the lowest points in bilateral ties in decades.

Netanyahu Accuses Spain Of Hostility, Bars It From Gaza Centre is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

A new report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has warned that millions of workers worldwide remain exposed to economic and social risks due to significant gaps in social protection systems, calling for urgent and comprehensive reforms to address the growing vulnerabilities in an increasingly volatile global economy.

The report, titled Universal Social Protection in Changing Labour Markets: Protecting Workers in All Types of Employment, underscores the critical need to strengthen and expand social protection frameworks to ensure that all workers, regardless of employment status, are adequately protected throughout their working lives.

It highlights that inadequate coverage, insufficient benefits, and weak financing mechanisms continue to undermine the effectiveness of existing systems.

According to the ILO, social protection systems encompass a range of policies, programmes, and employer-provided benefits designed to safeguard workers against risks such as unemployment, illness, disability, and old age. These systems also play a vital role in reducing poverty, improving overall welfare, and promoting economic stability.

Speaking on the findings, Director of the ILO’s Universal Social Protection Department, Shahra Razavi, stressed that reform is no longer optional but essential.

She noted that countries must develop systems that are inclusive, provide adequate levels of support, and are financed in a fair and sustainable manner. Such systems, she said, are fundamental to building resilience, advancing social justice, and ensuring a fair transition in the evolving world of work.

The report places particular emphasis on the need to extend social protection coverage to workers who are often excluded from formal systems.

These include individuals in temporary and part-time roles, the self-employed, and workers in micro and small enterprises, agriculture, domestic work, and other informal or non-standard forms of employment. Expanding coverage to these groups, the ILO argues, would not only enhance social and economic outcomes but also facilitate the transition from informal to formal employment.

Beyond expanding access, the report stresses the importance of ensuring that benefits are both adequate and comprehensive. It calls for a shift away from fragmented and reactive measures toward more integrated systems that provide continuous support across the life course, from early childhood and entry into the workforce to parenthood, periods of unemployment or illness, and old age.

Financing remains a central challenge, the report notes. The ILO advocates for sustainable funding models based on domestic resource mobilisation, including social security contributions and progressive taxation. It also highlights the role of targeted public subsidies to support workers with limited capacity to contribute.

For countries with constrained fiscal space, the report emphasises the continued importance of international support in building resilient and inclusive social protection systems.

The findings come at a time of significant global transformation driven by climate change, technological advancements, and demographic shifts. In this context, the ILO stresses that robust social protection systems are essential to helping workers and businesses adapt to change, support transitions to more sustainable economic activities, and strengthen social cohesion.

Overall, the report calls for coordinated and decisive action by governments, employers, and international partners to close existing gaps and build universal social protection systems capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly changing labour market.

Gaps In Social Protection Leave Workers Vulnerable, Says ILO Report is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has called on the Lebanese government to avoid what he described as “free concessions” to Israel, as both countries prepare to enter negotiations in Washington next week.

In a written message aired on the group’s Al-Manar television network, Qassem said Lebanon must take a firm stance in the upcoming talks.

“We will not accept a return to the previous situation, and we call on officials to stop offering free concessions,” he stated.

Qassem also condemned recent Israeli military actions, referring to what he described as “bloody criminality” following strikes on Wednesday. Lebanese authorities said the attacks killed more than 300 people.

His remarks come a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel was ready to begin negotiations with Lebanon “as soon as possible.”

According to Netanyahu, the proposed talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and working toward a broader peace agreement between the two countries.

The planned negotiations mark a potentially significant diplomatic development, although tensions remain high following recent violence and longstanding hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah Chief Warns Lebanon Against Concessions Ahead Of Israel Talks is first published on The Whistler Newspaper