Nigeria Rejects Claims of Collusion with France to Destabilize Niger

By G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff

G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation

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Image Source : AFP

Nigeria has firmly denied accusations by Niger’s military leader, Brigadier General Abdourahmane Tchiani, of colluding with France to undermine Niger's stability. The allegations, made during a Christmas Day interview, have heightened tensions between the two West African nations, already strained following Niger's military coup in 2023.

In his statement, Gen Tchiani accused France of collaborating with militant groups in the Lake Chad region to destabilize Niger, claiming that Nigeria was complicit in these actions. "Nigerian authorities are not unaware of this underhanded move," he asserted, according to reports from AFP.

Responding to the claims, Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, categorically dismissed the allegations as "baseless" and "false." Ribadu reiterated Nigeria's commitment to regional stability, stating that the country would never sabotage Niger or condone any actions that might harm its neighbor.

Echoing these sentiments, Nigeria’s Information Minister, Mohammed Idris, described the accusations as unfounded and a diversionary tactic designed to obscure the failures of Niger’s current administration.

"These claims exist solely in the realm of imagination. Nigeria has never engaged in any alliance, overt or covert, with France—or any other country—to destabilize Niger Republic," Idris declared. He also refuted additional allegations of sabotaging Niger’s pipeline and agricultural sectors.

The accusations come amidst heightened diplomatic tensions following the coup that ousted Niger’s former president, Mohamed Bazoum. In response to the coup, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, as chair of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), led efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger. These efforts included imposing economic sanctions and threatening military intervention against the junta-led government.

Ecowas, in a statement, strongly defended Nigeria’s role in fostering regional peace and stability. "For years, Nigeria has supported peace and security in several countries, not only in the West African subregion but also across the African continent," the statement read. The regional bloc dismissed Gen Tchiani’s allegations, emphasizing that Nigeria, known for its generous contributions to regional security, would never engage in actions akin to state-sponsored terrorism.

Diplomatic relations between Niger and its neighbors have been deteriorating since the coup. In recent months, Niger has expelled French military bases and aligned itself with other junta-led nations, including Mali and Burkina Faso. The formation of this security alliance signals a pivot away from traditional partnerships with Western powers. Moreover, Ecowas recently approved the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from its ranks after their refusal to reinstate democratic governance.

Gen Tchiani’s claims, coupled with his government’s actions, have further isolated Niger on the international stage. The escalating tensions underscore the complexities of the region’s political landscape, where issues of sovereignty, security, and governance often collide.

Nigeria’s unequivocal rejection of the allegations reflects its ongoing commitment to stability in West Africa. As one of the region’s most influential nations, Nigeria continues to play a pivotal role in addressing challenges posed by military coups and fostering democratic principles across the continent. This latest dispute, however, highlights the delicate balance required to navigate relationships with neighboring nations in a period of heightened political instability.

Former WWE Champion Omos Returns to the Ring at Pro-Wrestling NOAH’s New Year 2025 Event

By G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff

G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation

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Image Source : WWE

Pro-Wrestling NOAH has officially confirmed the in-ring return of former WWE Tag Team Champion Omos at their much-anticipated New Year 2025 event on January 1. The announcement comes after weeks of speculation about Omos’s involvement in Japanese wrestling. The towering 7ft 4in star has been absent from action since his participation in the 2024 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, but his comeback is set to shake the wrestling world.

The promotion had teased the appearance of a mystery partner, referred to as "X," to team up with Jack Morris in a match against Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura for the GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. During a press conference held on December 27, Omos was revealed as the enigmatic contender, marking his debut with Pro-Wrestling NOAH. The former champion expressed his confidence, asserting that he would secure the championship even if his partner, Morris, failed to deliver on the day of the match.

Omos’s return to the ring in Japan is a major milestone for his career. Best known for his time in WWE, the Nigerian giant gained widespread recognition for his partnership with AJ Styles and his high-profile WrestleMania feud against Brock Lesnar. His imposing presence and dominant in-ring style make him a formidable contender, and fans are eager to witness his impact on the Japanese wrestling scene.

In addition to Omos’s match, the New Year 2025 event will feature several other thrilling bouts, including a clash between WWE United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura and Ulka Sasaki. Nakamura’s involvement highlights the growing collaboration between global wrestling promotions and underscores the event’s international appeal.

Omos’s return has also reignited conversations about his views on WWE’s current talent roster. During an appearance on The Undertaker’s Patreon, Omos shared his thoughts on Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker. He emphasized the importance of building Breakker’s character to a level comparable to Brock Lesnar’s legendary status. Reflecting on his own experiences facing Lesnar, Omos noted that Lesnar’s established dominance made their feud compelling and advised WWE to similarly elevate Breakker’s credibility before positioning him against top-tier opponents.

"My personal opinion, and maybe you can agree or disagree with me, I think [he might need] some more building him to that point because I just remember wrestling Brock last year," Omos explained. "I think before you put him with me, you want to give him a lot more equity first. That way, people feel like he’s on top of the world, like he’s gone through everybody, and he’s become the unstoppable machine that he is. Then they say, ‘What are you going to do with a giant?’ That makes for an even better story overall.”

As Omos prepares for his debut in Pro-Wrestling NOAH, fans are eagerly anticipating his performance and the potential new chapter in his wrestling career. With his unmatched size and undeniable charisma, his presence at The New Year 2025 event is set to be a game-changer, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most dominant forces in professional wrestling.

The Deception of "Responsible Mining"

Chethana Janith, Jadetimes Staff

C. Janith is a Jadetimes news reporter covering science and geopolitics.

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Major industry players are working together to create a voluntary global standard that can certify minerals as responsibly produced. But such a framework would consolidate the power and influence of these mining giants and allow them to act with impunity, while providing false assurances to investors, governments, and consumers.

Image Source: (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty)

In July, the Serbian government reinstated the permits for Rio Tinto’s lithium mining project, after canceling them in 2022 following public protests. The decision triggered demonstrations, with thousands of people taking to the streets of Belgrade over concerns that the mine would pose a threat to water sources and public health. After all, Rio Tinto had already demonstrated its willingness to circumvent the country’s environmental regulations.

Rio Tinto has a long history of alleged human-rights violations and water mismanagement and contamination at its mines around the world. But it is not just Rio Tinto: corruption and negligence are endemic in the mining industry. A US judge ordered Glencore to pay $700 million in fines for its decade-long scheme to bribe officials in several countries. Mining giant BHP and its Brazilian partner Vale are tied up in legal battles over the collapse of the Fundão tailings dam – Brazil’s worst environmental disaster.

As the European Union plans to increase domestic mining of materials that are essential to the green transition, as well as to numerous defense technologies and digital products, policymakers and populations are seeking reassurance that such efforts will be sustainable. To that end, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) – an association that Rio Tinto helped establish and includes Glencore, Vale, and BHP – and other major industry players are working to create a global standard, called the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI), to certify minerals as responsibly produced. Given their track record, can these mining giants be trusted to set their own rules and hold themselves accountable?

Voluntary standards and certifications are hardly new. They exist across a range of industries, from agriculture to construction, and many such initiatives already exist in the mining sector. In fact, the four associations leading the CMSI – the ICMM, the Mining Association of Canada, the World Gold Council, and the Copper Mark – each have their own assurance framework.

But evaluations of these voluntary schemes, conducted by Germanwatch, Mercedes-Benz, and others, have shown that most lack transparency, rigor, and oversight, and cannot ensure that their requirements are implemented. In short, they constitute a sophisticated form of greenwashing. In February, Lead the Charge published an assessment of third-party assurance and accreditation programs in the raw-materials sector, evaluating each one against a series of minimum criteria for credibility. Tellingly, the ICMM’s Performance Expectations Validation process met only 16% of the criteria.

These failing grades have real-world implications for indigenous peoples, workers, and local communities. According to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, ICMM member companies, whether through direct ownership or joint ventures, account for more than half of the 20 firms responsible for the majority of alleged human-rights violations in critical minerals mining.

Policymakers and financial institutions are channeling billions of dollars into mining projects around the world based on voluntary certifications like the proposed CMSI. For example, the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act uses these assurances as a proxy for determining whether companies are responsibly sourcing raw materials. And 78% of automakers evaluated in Lead the Charge’s assessment reported using them to inform sourcing decisions – especially as the uptake of electric vehicles increases.

In fact, a recent analysis of the proposed CMSI, conducted by indigenous groups, civil-society organizations, and policy experts, highlights several gaps in the framework that would harm communities and, crucially, pose risks for automakers. The standard is divided into three practice levels: foundational, good, and leading. But the requirements for the foundational level – which, it should be noted, companies are permitted to fall below during the assurance process – do not align with international laws, legal norms, or widely accepted standards, such as the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards. Mining firms will therefore not be forced to address serious human-rights abuses, which could lead to penalties for automakers down the line.

Moreover, the draft standard does not protect the right of indigenous peoples – who are disproportionately harmed by mining – to free, prior, and informed consent, which is derived from their right to govern their territories and resources and to self-determination. Protecting this right must be a minimum requirement for the foundational practice level. But the very notion that respect for fundamental rights can be broken down and parceled into varying levels of performance reflects the CMSI’s flawed design. This approach would cause even more harm to indigenous communities, given that more than half of critical minerals are on or near their lands.

Despite the efforts of the ICMM and its partners, including CMSI advisory group members like BMW and Tesla, to market the standard as a tool for responsible mining, it is nothing more than an attempt by the industry to present a clean, green face to the public. If successful, the CMSI will consolidate the power and influence of mining giants like Rio Tinto, Glencore, and BHP, and allow them to act with impunity while providing false assurances to all major stakeholders.

Instead of delivering a just energy transition, the CMSI would allow extractive industries to prioritize profit over clean air and water, human rights, and a livable planet, and expose automakers, governments, and investors to reputational risk. Given the increasing demand for minerals to fuel the energy transition, setting high expectations and establishing strong, enforceable rules for the mining sector is more important than ever.