US President-elect, Donald Trump reacted to the breaking news on Sunday morning that Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad had fled the country after rebels stormed the capital, Damascus.

Trump, expressing his thoughts on the development through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, declared: “Assad is gone. He has fled his country.”

In his statement, Trump continued to criticize Russia’s involvement in Syria, writing, “Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was no longer interested in protecting Assad.”

He suggested that Russia’s focus had shifted to the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the toll has been severe, with “close to 600,000 Russian soldiers wounded or dead.”

Trump emphasized the unnecessary nature of the war in Ukraine and called for a ceasefire and negotiations, arguing that the ongoing violence in both Ukraine and Syria had resulted in excessive loss of life.

“Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, and the other due to Israel’s success in its fighting efforts,” Trump continued.

“Zelenskyy and Ukraine are ready to make a deal and stop the madness. They’ve lost 400,000 soldiers and many civilians. A ceasefire and negotiations must begin immediately.”

As news of Assad’s escape spread, Syrian state television reported that the dictator had fled with his wife, Asma al-Assad, and their three children, but their exact whereabouts were unknown.

A group of men appeared in a video statement on Syrian state TV declaring that Assad had been overthrown and that all prisoners had been released.

The statement urged opposition fighters and citizens to preserve the institutions of a “free Syrian state” and called for unity among the country’s various ethnic and sectarian groups.

In his post, Trump reiterated the gravity of the situation: “Too many lives are being wasted, too many families destroyed,” adding that the situation could spiral into something far worse if not addressed.

He also called on Russia and China to take action to help end the ongoing violence.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, speaking earlier on Sunday, confirmed he did not know the location of Assad, deepening the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Syrian leader.

The situation in Syria remains tense as the country grapples with a new phase in its long-running conflict.

Several high-profile ministers and incumbents in Ghana have lost their parliamentary seats in the recent election, signaling a shift in political power.

Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who had held the Ablekuma West seat since 2012, was defeated by Reverend Kweku Addo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Owusu-Ekuful received 26,575 votes, while Addo triumphed with 31,866 votes.

The result was confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC), with a total of 58,441 valid votes cast.

Tourism Minister Andrew Egyapa Mercer, a key member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), also lost his seat in Sekondi to Blay Nyameke Armah of the NDC.

Mercer, who had represented Sekondi since 2016, secured 11,084 votes, while Armah won with 14,558 votes. Armah, in his victory speech, expressed his gratitude to his supporters, promising to work towards rebuilding the constituency.

Interior Minister Henry Quartey faced defeat in the Ayawaso Central constituency, losing to Abdul Rauf Tubazu of the NDC.

Quartey garnered 23,345 votes, while Tubazu secured 29,755 votes. Tubazu, in his statement, assured voters of his commitment to work for the people’s benefit.

In a surprising turn of events, independent candidate Ohene Kwame Frimpong emerged victorious in the Asante Akim North constituency.

Frimpong secured over 18,000 votes, beating the incumbent NPP candidate Andy Appiah Kubi, who received just 8,933 votes.

The election process saw some challenges, including power outages at two collation centers—Ayawaso North and Madina—leading to delays and heightened tension among supporters.

The Electoral Commission assured that efforts were being made to restore power to the affected centers.

Additionally, there were incidents of electoral misconduct, with one person arrested in the Western region for double voting at the Wassa Akropong-Appiahkrom polling station.

In Okaikwei South, another individual was detained for carrying a weapon at the St. Theresa school polling station.

The EC also confirmed the arrest of an official in the Bono East region.

Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the country, with opposition fighters claiming control of Damascus following a rapid two-week offensive. Senior Syrian military officials have confirmed Assad’s departure, though independent confirmation is still awaited.

The United Arab Emirates, where rumors suggest Assad may have sought refuge, declined to comment on the matter.

Rebels celebrated the collapse of Assad’s 24-year rule on Syrian state television, calling for national unity and the restoration of Syria’s sovereignty.

Celebrations broke out across Damascus as residents tore down posters of Assad and his late father, Hafez al-Assad, while also removing statues that symbolized the regime.

Prisoners, including those from the infamous Sednaya prison, were freed as the opposition forces took control.

Videos emerging from the capital showed Syrians joyfully destroying portraits of the Assad family and trampling on statues that had long been symbols of the regime.

Assad, who succeeded his father in 2000 after his father’s nearly 30-year reign, had ruled with an iron fist.

His brutal crackdown on the 2011 uprising led to a civil war that has claimed over 300,000 lives over the past decade.

The rebel offensive, primarily led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, successfully breached Assad’s defenses, with video footage showing government soldiers abandoning their posts as the opposition closed in on the capital from multiple directions.

While many Syrians hailed the fall of the regime as a historic moment akin to the fall of the Berlin Wall, a sense of mourning persisted for the thousands of people who disappeared under Assad’s rule.

Human rights activists are calling for justice and accountability for the disappeared, as the country enters a new chapter in its tumultuous history.

Babangida, 

Romania’s top court recently annulled its ongoing presidential election over alleged irregularities, following a trend of similar decisions in recent years.

Here are some notable instances from around the world:

1. Gabon: Military Coup
After Ali Bongo Ondimba was declared victorious in the August 30, 2023, presidential election, a military coup led by General Brice Oligui Nguema ousted him, accusing the election of being rigged.

The coup ended the Bongo family’s 55-year rule, with a new presidential election set for 2025 following a promised transition back to civilian leadership.

2. Malawi: Violent Protests
In 2020, Malawi’s constitutional court annulled the re-election of President Peter Mutharika, citing irregularities.

Following months of protests led by opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera, Chakwera won a fresh election in June 2020.

3. Bolivia: Political Crisis
In October 2019, Bolivia’s election results, which initially showed Evo Morales winning a fourth term, were delayed amid widespread protests.

Morales later resigned, and his challenger, Carlos Mesa, disputed the results. Morales was later exiled, and the interim government annulled the election results.

4. Kenya: Controversial Vote
Kenya’s 2017 presidential election, where President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner over Raila Odinga, was annulled by the Supreme Court on September 1, 2017, citing irregularities.

A rerun was ordered, but Odinga boycotted the new election, leaving Kenyatta to claim victory.

5. Austria: Lengthy Election Process
In 2016, Alexander Van der Bellen won Austria’s presidential election in a contentious race.

A May 2016 runoff against Norbert Hofer was annulled due to irregularities, and a re-run was delayed due to issues with postal votes.

Van der Bellen was ultimately elected in December 2016 after a prolonged process.

6. Haiti: Electoral Crisis
Jovenel Moise’s 2015 election victory in Haiti was annulled by the court due to fraud allegations.

A re-election in 2016 was marred by low turnout and a power vacuum, though Moise was eventually re-elected in November 2016.

7. Maldives: Electoral Disputes
The Maldives’ 2013 presidential election was annulled by the Supreme Court due to discrepancies in the voter roll.

Mohamed Nasheed, initially declared the winner, went on to contest a re-run of the first round in November 2013 but was defeated by Abdulla Yameen in the second round.

8. Ukraine: Orange Revolution
In 2004, the presidential election in Ukraine, which saw Viktor Yanukovych declared the winner, was annulled after allegations of election rigging.

The decision led to the “Orange Revolution,” and Viktor Yushchenko, despite being poisoned during the campaign, won the subsequent re-run.

9. Serbia: Invalid Elections
Between 2002 and 2003, Serbia saw three presidential elections ruled invalid due to voter turnout falling below the required 50%.

A fourth election in 2004 saw Boris Tadic, a reformist candidate, defeating ultra-nationalist Tomislav Nikolic.

10. Nigeria’s 1993 Presidential Election
Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as one of the fairest in the country’s history, was annulled by then-military leader General Ibrahim Babangida on June 23, 1993, just days after Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola was believed to have won.

The annulment sparked widespread protests and condemnation both domestically and internationally.

Ghana has begun tallying votes following a tightly contested presidential election on Saturday, where Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia faced off against former President John Mahama.

The election was heavily influenced by widespread voter frustration over economic difficulties.

Although the voting process was mostly peaceful, the police reported two deaths in separate incidents, casting a dark shadow over the proceedings.

The election was held to choose a successor to President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is stepping down after completing two terms.

Polls closed at 1700 GMT, with preliminary results expected by early Sunday, and the final official counts anticipated by Tuesday.

Economic issues were central to the election, as Ghana, once hailed as one of Africa’s most stable economies, has struggled with rising inflation, a weakened currency, and a $3 billion IMF bailout following a debt default.

Ballot counting is still in progress as election officials work to tally the votes in Accra.

Bawumia, a trained economist, campaigned on promises to stabilize the economy and further digitize services.

In contrast, Mahama focused on rebuilding the nation, including renegotiating the IMF deal and establishing a 24-hour economy.

Both candidates hail from northern Ghana, a crucial area that traditionally supports Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC). Mahama, who served as president from 2012 to 2017, is seeking a political comeback after losing twice to Akufo-Addo.

Despite some signs of economic improvement, many Ghanaians remain dissatisfied.

While inflation has decreased from over 50% to 23%, challenges such as the high cost of living, job scarcity, and illegal gold mining continue to fuel frustration.

The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is seeking an unprecedented third term, campaigning under the “Break the 8” slogan, but it faces mounting criticism over its handling of the economy.

Additionally, northern Ghana has seen increasing threats from conflict spillovers from neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, raising the stakes for this election.