Egypt has officially waived visa requirements for Nigerian diplomats as part of a new partnership agreement, elevating the relationship between the two countries to a “Comprehensive Partnership.”

The announcement came as representatives from both nations convened in Cairo for a series of discussions aimed at expanding collaboration in various sectors.

The issue of security cooperation was also a key focus of the talks.

A statement from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the Nigerian delegation to Cairo for the third round of political consultations with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

The statement, signed by the Minister’s media aide, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed that both foreign ministers agreed to strengthen their bilateral relations through a “Comprehensive Partnership,” with an emphasis on mutual respect for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of both nations.

The Nigerian delegation included Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources, and Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.

The statement further highlighted that the two countries had agreed to intensify cooperation on regional and international issues, aiming to bolster the African Union’s role in addressing continental challenges and advancing Agenda 2063.

The talks also addressed the shared concern of terrorism and extremism, with Egypt and Nigeria agreeing to enhance their security collaboration.

This includes sharing best practices for implementing comprehensive counter-terrorism strategies.

Both countries expressed a commitment to supporting conflict resolution efforts in Africa, focusing on peacebuilding and sustainable development.

Additionally, the ministers acknowledged the potential for increased economic cooperation and agreed to encourage both government and private sector participation in key areas such as agriculture, energy, telecommunications, and infrastructure development.

Plans were also discussed to establish a Nigeria-Egypt Chamber of Commerce by 2025, with the official launch expected during the fourth round of ministerial-level consultations in Abuja in 2026.

As part of their ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, the ministers commended recent agreements on visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders and the revision of visa fees for citizens of both countries.

These changes aim to facilitate easier travel and promote stronger people-to-people connections between Nigeria and Egypt.

The next session of the Joint Committee at the ministerial level is scheduled for the final quarter of 2025, reflecting the commitment of both countries to continue deepening their partnership.

Thousands of mourners gathered in northern Liberia on Saturday to bid farewell to former warlord-turned-politician, Prince Johnson, whose role in the country’s brutal civil wars made him both a symbol of terror and political influence.

Johnson, who passed away in November at the age of 72, was never held accountable for his actions despite being implicated in some of the most horrific atrocities during Liberia’s years of conflict.

The country endured two devastating civil wars from 1989 to 2003, which claimed over 250,000 lives and left a trail of destruction, including massacres, mutilations, sexual violence, and the use of child soldiers.

Johnson, a former rebel leader, became infamous in 1990 after a chilling video surfaced showing him sipping beer as his forces tortured and killed President Samuel Doe.

His actions during the war led the 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to label him the highest violator of human rights among individual perpetrators.

Saturday’s ceremony marked the conclusion of a five-day state funeral, during which his body was displayed outside the parliament building in Monrovia before being transported to his home region of Nimba in the country’s north.

The burial, which took place in Ganta city, was attended by a large crowd of Johnson’s supporters, including President Joseph Boakai, along with government officials and local mourners.

Many of those present were dressed in traditional attire, with some sporting red clothing and white chalk markings on their faces, a reflection of local customs.

Supporters carried wooden replicas of guns, symbolizing Johnson’s wartime leadership in the defense of Nimba.

Despite his violent legacy, Johnson was a deeply influential figure in Liberian politics.

After the war, he became a senator and played a significant role in kingmaking during the last three presidential elections before his death.

He also founded the PYJ Polytechnic University, named in his honor, where he was laid to rest.

Johnson’s crimes, as outlined by the TRC, included murder, extortion, forced labor, and other grave violations.

Although the TRC recommended that he and other warlords be prosecuted for their actions, no action was taken to hold him accountable, and Johnson never faced trial.

Johnson’s life was marked by his return to Liberia in 2004 after years in exile, where he presented himself as a preacher and a proponent of peace.

He denied any criminal wrongdoing, justifying his actions during the war as necessary to protect his people from the previous government.

His death leaves behind a complex legacy: one of violence, power, and political maneuvering, coupled with his controversial rejection of a war crimes tribunal that many believed could have brought justice to the victims of Liberia’s brutal civil wars.

TikTok disconnected access to its US users late Saturday, just before a nationwide ban was set to take effect, with President-elect Donald Trump unable to intervene until he assumes office.

A message on the app read, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the US. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now.”

However, the message also indicated that Trump had expressed a willingness to work on a solution to reinstate the app once he is sworn into office, urging users to “stay tuned.”

The ban followed months of legal battles, with the US Supreme Court on Friday upholding a law that would block TikTok due to national security concerns.

This move will take effect unless the app’s Chinese owners, ByteDance, agree to sell it to non-Chinese buyers by Sunday.

TikTok, which has become immensely popular for its viral videos, has a dedicated user base ranging from teenagers to grandmothers, many of whom have become social media celebrities.

Trump, in particular, has credited TikTok with helping him connect with younger voters during his 2024 campaign.

Following discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump stated on Saturday that he may activate a 90-day delay after his inauguration to negotiate a potential resolution.

“I think that would be, certainly, an option that we look at,” Trump said, adding that an announcement could come on Monday.

The law grants a 90-day reprieve if progress toward a deal is demonstrated, but ByteDance has refused to sell the app.

The Biden administration has said it will leave the decision to the incoming Trump administration, while White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dismissed TikTok’s statements as a “stunt.”

TikTok CEO Shou Chew expressed gratitude to Trump for his commitment to find a solution and praised him for understanding the platform’s significance.

Chew is also set to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

The law mandates that Apple and Google remove TikTok from their app stores, prohibiting new downloads.

They could face penalties of up to $5,000 per user who can still access the app. Oracle, which hosts TikTok’s US servers, would also be required to enforce the ban.

In the midst of the shutdown, Perplexity AI, a high-profile startup backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, proposed a merger with TikTok’s US subsidiary.

The deal, which could value the combined entities at $50 billion, would allow ByteDance to retain control without fully selling off the app.

Meanwhile, Frank McCourt, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has also expressed interest in purchasing TikTok’s US operations, offering $20 billion for the platform.

However, there is uncertainty over whether an executive order by Trump to halt the ban could override the law.

With TikTok offline, its US rivals such as Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts stand to gain, while some TikTok users have flocked to Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media app similar to Instagram, which has seen a surge in downloads in the US.

The Presidency has dismissed as false reports suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari or any Nigerian citizen was coerced into testifying in a Paris arbitration proceeding concerning the $6bn Mambilla power contract dispute.

In a statement issued on Saturday night by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the government clarified that no one, including Buhari, was forced to testify.

While the statement did not deny the existence of the arbitration case, it emphasized that such matters are confidential until resolved by international arbitrators.

Onanuga further stated, “The Nigerian Government has not pressured anyone to testify for or against the country. All Nigerians involved in the case are doing so voluntarily out of patriotism and conviction, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is deeply appreciative of their contributions.”