Peter Obi has expressed strong concern over the political situation in Guinea-Bissau, citing comments made by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who served as an election observer in the country.

“I listened closely to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s briefing. As a former President who was on ground as an election monitor, he noted that the so-called coup appeared suspicious,” Obi said. He added that Jonathan had described the incident as unusual, pointing out that “it was the president himself who announced the coup and relayed the details to the international community.”

‘ECOWAS was quick on Guinea-Bissau, silent elsewhere’

Obi noted that reports from Guinea-Bissau indicated the election process was peaceful, with only the formal announcement of results pending before events took a strange turn.

“ECOWAS was swift to sanction Guinea-Bissau, but what does ECOWAS do when democracy is subverted — not by soldiers, but by technology?” he asked.

‘Do we condemn only coups with guns?’

The former Anambra governor questioned whether the regional bloc would apply the same standards to countries where election outcomes are disrupted by conveniently timed ‘glitches.’

“Do we only condemn coups that are visible with guns and ignore those executed through deliberate technological failure?” he queried.

Obi warned that both technological manipulation and political interference pose serious threats to electoral integrity. “Whether technical or political, these issues can undermine democracy, stall progress, and deny African citizens their right to freely choose their leaders,” he said.

A call for transparency across West Africa

Obi stressed that democracy can only thrive when transparency, accountability, and the will of the people are upheld.

“By confronting these challenges honestly, we can move towards a New Nigeria and a more stable, democratic West Africa. Our goal must be to ensure that the people’s will prevails and our elections reflect the true desires of our citizens.”

He added that the Guinea-Bissau incident mirrors a broader regional crisis.

“The episodes in Guinea-Bissau highlight two faces of the same problem: one where ballots are overturned by force, and another where ballots are obstructed by convenient technical excuses,” he said.

“In both situations, the citizens lose, democracy is weakened, and the region sinks deeper into instability. The result is the same — the people are denied their mandate.”

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Nigeria’s government over the rising wave of killings and kidnappings across the country. Speaking during a Fox News discussion, Trump condemned the ongoing violence and accused Nigerian authorities of failing to act decisively despite receiving huge support from the United States.

Trump described the situation as “a disgrace,” saying terrorists continue to target villages, schools and churches while citizens live in fear. He expressed anger that the crisis has been ignored for too long, especially the attacks on Christian communities.

According to the broadcast, gunmen recently stormed a Catholic secondary school in Northwestern Nigeria, kidnapping an estimated 52 students in a single night. Days earlier, another Catholic church in the same region was attacked, leaving two people dead and 38 worshippers abducted.

A U.S. foreign policy expert on the panel noted that over 22 terrorist groups, including Boko Haram and factions linked to ISIS, are currently active in Nigeria. He described the attacks on schoolchildren as “horrific,” highlighting that many of the victims are young girls who end up trafficked or forced into slavery.

The discussion also addressed the growing concern that Nigeria’s security agencies are struggling to contain the violence. Analysts argue that the government’s response has not matched the seriousness of the threat, allowing insurgent groups to expand their operations.

Despite Nigeria’s denial of religious persecution, critics maintain that rural communities remain unprotected as kidnappings and mass killings increase each week. The situation has now drawn international attention, with many calling for stronger action from global partners.

Trump’s warning adds pressure on Nigeria to demonstrate real commitment to securing its citizens. Whether his comments will lead to policy changes or international intervention remains unclear, but the message has already sparked debate within diplomatic circles.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared Tuesday to unveil an updated Gaza war plan designed to destroy Hamas and secure the release of dozens of hostages, with Israeli media reporting he would order the total occupation of the Palestinian territory.

Netanyahu was expected to meet security chiefs in Jerusalem to issue new orders, even as Israel’s diplomats convened a UN Security Council meeting in New York to highlight the plight of Israelis held in Gaza.

The timing of the security meeting has not been officially confirmed. Netanyahu said Monday that it would be “in the coming days”.

Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 said Netanyahu would meet the army chief of staff and the defence and army ministers. Unnamed senior officials told Israeli media he intends to order the re-occupation of Gaza.

“Netanyahu wants the Israeli army to conquer the entire Gaza Strip,” said a report on public broadcaster Kan.

“Several cabinet members who spoke with the prime minister confirmed that he has decided to extend the fight to areas where hostages might be held.”

The private daily Maariv declared: “The die is cast. We’re en route to the total conquest of Gaza.”

While the reconquest plan has not been officially confirmed, it has already drawn an angry response from the Palestinian Authority and Gaza’s Hamas-run government, which insisted it will not shift its position on ceasefire talks.

“We want to reach an agreement that ends the war. The ball is now in the hands of Israel and the Americans, who support Israeli positions and delay the conclusion of an agreement,” senior Hamas official Husam Badran told broadcaster Al Jazeera.

– Desperate families –

After 22 months of combat sparked by the October 7, 2023, cross-border attacks by Hamas that killed 1,219 people and saw hundreds kidnapped, the Israeli army has devastated large parts of the Palestinian territory.

More than 60,933 Palestinians have been killed, according to figures from Hamas-run Gaza’s health ministry, and humanitarian agencies have warned that the territory’s 2.4 million people are slipping into a catastrophic famine.

But Netanyahu is under pressure on several fronts.

Domestically, the desperate and vocal families of the 49 remaining hostages are demanding a ceasefire to bring their loved ones home.

Around the world, humanitarians are pushing for a truce to allow food to the starving, and several European capitals have announced plans to recognise Palestinian statehood, despite fierce US and Israeli opposition.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s far-right allies in his ruling coalition want to seize the opportunity of the war to reoccupy Gaza and tighten control of the occupied West Bank.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was in New York, where Israel’s US ally was helping organise a Security Council meeting to focus world attention on the fate of the hostages rather than the looming famine — which Israeli spokespeople insist is an exaggerated threat.

The defence ministry civil affairs agency for the Palestinian territories, COGAT, said Tuesday that Israel will partially reopen private sector trade with Gaza to reduce its reliance on UN and aid agency convoys and international military airdrops.

“As part of formulating the mechanism, a limited number of local merchants were approved by the defence establishment, subject to several criteria and strict security screening,” COGAT said.

Israel has been fighting Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza for 22 months and imposed a total blockade on March 2, partially lifted in May to allow a US-backed private agency to open food distribution centres.

Aid convoys and airdrops by Arab and European militaries resumed last month, as UN-mandated expert reports warned famine was unfolding in the war-torn territory.

The COGAT statement said private sector deliveries would be paid for by monitored bank transfers and be subject to inspections by the Israeli military before entering Gaza, “to prevent the involvement of the Hamas terrorist organisation.”

– Staple foods –

Permitted goods under the new mechanism will include food staples, fruit, vegetables, baby formula, and hygiene products, COGAT said.

On Monday. Netanyahu insisted Israel’s war goals remained “the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel”.

His statement came after hundreds of retired Israeli security chiefs wrote to US President Donald Trump to urge him to convince Netanyahu to end the war, arguing that Israel has already scored a military victory and should seek to negotiate the hostages’ release

The families of the hostages are also horrified by talk of escalation, accusing the government of putting their relatives in renewed danger, even as Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad release propaganda videos showing emaciated captives.