President Bola Tinubu has extended his congratulations to John Mahama, the President-elect of Ghana, following his victory in the country’s general election on Saturday, which came after his opponent conceded defeat.

In a telephone conversation with Mahama, President Tinubu expressed hope that Mahama’s second term in office would contribute to greater stability within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Tinubu praised the people of Ghana for their strong commitment to democracy, citing the peaceful and successful conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary elections, as noted in a statement from his spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

The Nigerian president commended Ghanaians for once again demonstrating to the world that democracy is the preferred route to achieving political stability, economic growth, social justice, and good governance across Africa.

He emphasized that Nigeria and the region take great pride in the fundamental principle of the people’s right to freely elect their leaders.

Tinubu also commended Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ghana’s Vice President, for conceding defeat even before the official declaration by the Electoral Commission.

He described Bawumia’s actions as a reinforcement of Ghana’s democratic values.

The president-elect’s return to the Jubilee House, after serving as president from 2012 to 2017, reflected the trust Ghanaians have in his leadership and his vision for the country’s progress, Tinubu said.

In his statement, Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthening the historic and cultural ties between Nigeria and Ghana, emphasizing their shared values of democracy, rule of law, economic integration, and Pan-African unity.

The Nigerian leader also expressed gratitude to outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo for his leadership and significant contributions to Ghana’s advancement and regional stability.

President Tinubu expressed eagerness to collaborate with Mahama’s incoming administration to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors and work towards a more prosperous future for the West African region.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left the country.

According to the statement, Assad “decided to step down from his presidential position and left Syria, issuing instructions for a peaceful transfer of power.”

The ministry emphasized that Russia had no involvement in the negotiations surrounding Assad’s departure, and reaffirmed that the Russian Federation is maintaining communication with various Syrian opposition groups.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jalali was reportedly captured by rebel forces in Damascus on Sunday and escorted to a hotel, where he was said to be preparing to hand over control of government institutions.

In a video circulating online, Jalali is seen surrounded by armed men as he descends steps and enters a black SUV, accompanied by another individual.

A voice in the video identifies the group as part of the 5th Corps from Hauran, claiming they were taking Jalali to the Four Seasons Hotel for a meeting to transfer authority to the Free Syrian Army.

Earlier, Jalali expressed his intention to ensure the continued operation of public institutions and state facilities while maintaining security for all citizens.

On December 3, 2024, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled in favor of Oluwatimilehin Adebayo, ordering the Nigerian government to pay N5 million as compensation for the violation of his right to be free from torture.

The case, titled Oluwatimilehin Adebayo vs Federal Republic of Nigeria (ECW/CCJ/APP/47/23), stemmed from Adebayo’s brutal treatment by police officers in Ogun State.

Adebayo was subjected to severe abuse, including being beaten with the handle of an axe and having his limbs bound with chains to a pole.

The torture caused physical injuries, including trauma to his scrotum, and left Adebayo with lasting psychological distress.

The Nigerian government contested the case, arguing that it was filed beyond the three-year limitation period and that the court lacked jurisdiction.

The government also claimed that the case involved issues already handled by a domestic court.

However, in her judgment, Justice Dupe Atoki, the judge rapporteur, stated that the actions of the police officers amounted to torture, violating Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory.

The court ruled that the torture was intentional and aimed at coercing Adebayo into signing a false statement.

As a result, the court ordered the Nigerian government to pay N5 million to Adebayo as compensation and mandated that an impartial investigation be conducted into the torture, with those responsible to be prosecuted.

The court, however, rejected the claim that Adebayo’s right to remedy had been violated, as there was no evidence to suggest that he had formally reported the incident to the appropriate authorities.

As President Bashar al-Assad’s grip on Syria begins to weaken, the three major external actors involved in the conflict—Turkey, Iran, and Russia—have failed to align on a unified approach to resolve the ongoing crisis.

In a meeting on the sidelines of the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday, the three nations called for renewed direct talks between Assad and opposition groups.

They also stressed that it was “inadmissible” to rely on terrorist groups to gain control of the country.

Russia, Turkey, and Iran urged the Syrian opposition to end the fighting and preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Syria.

However, the situation has become increasingly complicated, as reports emerged of Russian diplomats fleeing Damascus in the face of rapid opposition advances.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but emphasized that Russia was determined to prevent the victory of what it deemed as “terrorist” forces.

Lavrov also indicated that Russia would push Assad to normalize relations with Turkey, particularly over Ankara’s demands to address Kurdish forces using northern Syria to launch attacks into Turkey.

Despite Assad’s previous refusal to engage with Turkey while Turkish forces remained in Syria, the Syrian president may now have little choice but to make concessions, particularly on the Kurdish issue.

Turkey considers the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), aligned with the Kurdish YPG, to be an extension of the Kurdish PKK, which Ankara views as a terrorist organization.

However, there are growing concerns that Turkey may struggle to control the increasingly powerful Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist militant group that has made significant gains in recent weeks.

Lavrov has repeatedly stressed that HTS is classified as a terrorist organization by both the UN and the US. While HTS claims to have moderated, Russia and others question whether this is truly the case.

Lavrov also suggested that opposition groups were being used for geopolitical purposes, asserting that the offensive led by HTS was undermining diplomatic efforts.

He warned that if a political vacuum were to emerge, the result could be chaos similar to that seen in Iraq in 2003 and Libya in 2011.

While the US had initially hoped Assad would remain part of the political solution, the situation on the ground has shifted dramatically.

The rapid advances of opposition forces and Assad’s struggle to maintain control, particularly in Homs, have left international diplomats scrambling to adjust their strategies.

Syrian civil society at the Doha Forum also called for the dismantling of Assad’s intelligence apparatus and the establishment of a transitional government, ultimately leading to national elections—something Assad has long blocked.

The peace talks initiated by Turkey, Russia, and Iran through the Astana Process in 2017 have largely failed to yield significant results.

The country remains divided, with different factions controlling various regions.

While expectations for the Doha meeting were low, the divisions between Turkey, Russia, and Iran have only deepened.

Turkey has shown support for the advance of rebel, Islamist, and pro-Turkish groups toward Damascus, while Iran and Russia consider HTS to be a terrorist threat.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, has tried to convince Turkey that its actions are contributing to a dangerous power vacuum, but to no avail.

Iran also perceives the US and Israel’s involvement in Syria as part of an effort to undermine its influence, especially as the situation in the region becomes more volatile.

Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute stated that the rebranding of HTS away from jihadism has been ongoing for years, but the group still remains politically dictatorial.

Lister predicted that Assad’s downfall is inevitable, and if Homs were to fall, Damascus could be isolated from its coastal Alawite heartland, further weakening Assad’s position.

While Russia is trying to hold the line in Homs, both Iran and Hezbollah have struggled to maintain a significant presence on the ground.

The Syrian military, increasingly fragmented and weakened from within, is facing mounting pressure as opposition forces continue to make headway.

In the face of this growing crisis, Turkey is under pressure to clarify its strategy for Syria and its stance on HTS.

Turkey’s involvement in the Syrian conflict has largely been driven by its desire to prevent Kurdish forces from gaining more control in northern Syria, while also managing the 3 million Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey.

However, with Assad’s regime faltering, Turkey may be forced to navigate a much more complex political landscape in Syria.

The future of Syria remains uncertain, and the geopolitical divide between the key foreign powers involved only deepens.