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Bolivia: Evo Morales accuses government of refusing talks

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Former Bolivian President Evo Morales said he is on a hunger strike until the government holds talks with him. His supporters have taken to the streets, blocking roads in the mountainous country.

 

Former Bolivian president Evo Morales on Sunday said he would go on a hunger strike until the government agreed for dialogue with him.

He was on the third day of his hunger strike, which he began to get “international organizations or friendly governments” facilitating talks with his political rival, President Luis Arce.

Morales was ousted from office five years ago. Tensions have risen in the past few days as his supporters have blocked highways in protest of the government trying to revive a 2016 rape case against Morales.

Case against Morales

Morales is being investigated for statutory rape, human trafficking and human smuggling over an alleged relationship with a 15-year-old girl in 2015.

The 65-year-old has denied any wrongdoing, and says the charges are being brought up to thwart his political comeback in the upcoming elections.

He said he is being targeted because he belongs to the ethnic Aymara community. In 2006, he became the first Indigenous person to rule the Latin American nation, staying in office until 2019, when he resigned under pressure from the military after elections marked by allegations of fraud.

Protests against the government

Morales is currently accusing Bolivia’s government of avoiding his requests for dialogue over protests against these charges. His supporters have started blocking roads since last month.

The Bolivian government accused those protesters on Friday of holding soldiers hostage.

Morales has been living in Chapare, Bolivia’s rural coca-growing region that serves as his stronghold.

“I asked for immediate dialogue… and the government’s response was to arrest… comrades and take them to La Paz,” he told the AFP news agency.

“Luis Arce’s response has been repression, an attempt on our lives, a judicial war and the taking of dozens of our comrades as hostages, transferring them to La Paz,” he said in a post on X.

https://twitter.com/evoespueblo/status/1852898167190139276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1852898167190139276%7Ctwgr%5E3b11514561fee88baab172944ee93e0c5acb1d5e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dw.com%2Fen%2Fbolivia-evo-morales-accuses-government-of-refusing-talks%2Fa-70677847

During a protest in La Paz, some 3,000 security forces quelled protests using tear gas. Morales has called for the release of 66 people detained by the police during the protests.

“It’s not that I, Evo, want to be president. The people have asked me to return. During my administration there was stability. When there is economic and political stability, there is happiness,” he told the AP news agency.

Morales has also claimed he survived an assassination attempt against him last month.

Road blocking is a common protest method to cut off access in the country, which has a mountainous terrain. Government estimates have estimated losses of up to $2.1 billion (€1.93 billion) after 21 days of protests.

Presidential aide Maria Nela Prada said the government has agreed to talk but only “to address issues that concern the executive branch and not other state bodies.”

Morales resigned in 2019 after accusations of fraud after the elections. He was barred from running again, but wants to compete against his former ally Arce in the 2025 elections.

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House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF

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House Approves 2025-2027 MTEF
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The House of Representatives has passed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2025 to 2027 as submitted by President Bola Tinubu.

This followed the consideration and approval of the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning which laid its report at Wednesday’s plenary.

The House adopted the projected oil benchmark prices pegged at 75 dollars per barrel for 2025, as well as 76.2 dollars and 75.3 dollars per barrel for 2026 and 2027.

Domestic Crude Oil Production Projections for 2025 is put at 2.06 million barrels per day representing a significant increase from 1.78 million barrels per day in the current year.

GDP growth rate is projected at 4.6, 4.4 and 5.5 percent for 2025 to 2027, respectively, while the projected exchange rate is pegged at 1,400 Naira to the US Dollar for years 2025, 2026 and 2027

The MTEF projections aim towards a realistic and sustainable foundation for Nigeria’s budget planning over the next three years.

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President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Paris on a state visit in honour of an invitation from President Emmanuel Macron.

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President Bola Tinubu has departed Abuja for Paris on a state visit in honour of an invitation from President Emmanuel Macron.
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The president is on the trip alongside first lady, Oluremi.

They were seen off by top government functionaries led by secretary to the government of the federation, George Akume, chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The presidential zero-one-one air plane took off at about twenty minutes past eleven this Wednesday morning.

A statement by the presidential adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga reveals that, the Nigerian leader’s three-day visit, which will focus on strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations and establishing more opportunities for partnership, promises significant benefits for Nigeria.

President Tinubu and his wife, are expected to be received on Thursday at the French military museum, Les Invalides and Palais de l’Élysée, by the host president, Macron and his spouse, Brigitte, for initial ceremonies that will dovetail into bilateral meetings.

The two presidents are also to harmonise positions on stimulating more interest in exchange programmes that focus on skill development for youths and improving their competencies in automation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.

Both leaders will witness a session by the France-Nigeria Business Council, which oversees private sector participation in economic development.

Wife of the host president, Brigitte and Nigeria’s First Lady are also scheduled to discuss the Renewed Hope Initiative and the interest for empowering women, children, and the most vulnerable in Nigeria.

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PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU APPOINTS JAMI’U ABIOLA AS SSA ON LINGUISTICS & FOREIGN MATTERS

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PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU APPOINTS JAMI’U ABIOLA AS SSA ON LINGUISTICS & FOREIGN MATTERS
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PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU APPOINTS JAMI’U ABIOLA AS SSA ON LINGUISTICS & FOREIGN MATTERS

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jami’u Abiola as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Linguistics and Foreign Matters.

A statement by Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations Office the
Secretary to the Government of
the Federation says the appointment takes effect from 14th of this month. It adds that the appointment is in line with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended.

It notes that until the appointment, Jami’u served as the Special Assistant to the President on Special Duties in the Office of the Vice President.

President Tinubu tasks the appointee to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.

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