By Abba Anwar

As I flipped through the pages of the Daily Trust Newspaper on Monday, September 23, 2024, a paid advert caught my attention. The Consulate General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Nigeria rejoiced with King Salman Bin Abdul’Aziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad Bin Salman Al-Saud, and the people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of the Kingdom’s 94th National Day.

The historical account of Saudi Arabia’s National Day, which began under King Abdul’Aziz Bin Abdurrahman Al-Saud, fascinated me. However, what truly captured my interest was the Kingdom’s bold strides in socio-economic development, positioning itself as a key player in the global arena.

Saudi Arabia’s determination to become an active member of the G20 Industrial Growth and Digitization is commendable. The upcoming Saudi Infrastructure Summit aims to bring public and private stakeholders together to collaborate and discuss challenges in delivering infrastructure.

The Kingdom’s $1 trillion Saudi Vision 2030 is an audacious plan to propel Saudi communities into a brighter future. This visionary initiative seeks to integrate modern advancements in science, technology, industrialization, and innovation into the fabric of Saudi society.

Under Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman’s leadership, Saudi Arabia is transitioning from a stagnant entity to a robust and responsive political entity, actively engaging in global economic development. The Kingdom’s political economy is undergoing a remarkable transformation.

Saudi Arabia is no longer an entity without a future industrial plan. Instead, it is embracing global incorporation of modern advancements, shedding its conservative understanding of growth and development.

The Kingdom’s membership in the G20 and its interest in hosting the Saudi Infrastructure Summit demonstrate its commitment to reducing dependence on oil exports. Investments in renewable energy, tourism, and manufacturing are poised to drive economic growth.

Initiatives like the Saudi Industrial Development Fund will support local industries, making the Kingdom a rallying point for true industrialization.

Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman recognizes the importance of investing in education, research, and innovation. Partnerships with international institutions will develop human capital, essential for Saudi Arabia’s transformation.

The Kingdom’s participation in global forums, dialogues, and cooperations under Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman’s leadership has opened up new markets and opportunities. Its membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) is a testament to its commitment to global engagement.

Infrastructure development, social reforms, and economic empowerment are transforming Saudi Arabia into a hub for industrialization and global cooperation. The Crown Prince’s vision for a more liberal and diversified economy is unfolding.

Saudi Arabia’s bilateral relationship with Nigeria, established in 1961, is strengthening under Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman’s leadership. This partnership promises to foster economic growth, development, and global understanding.

As Saudi Arabia celebrates its 94th National Day, its remarkable progress under Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman is a beacon of hope for Muslims, Islamic nations, and the world at large. The Kingdom’s transformation is a testament to its dedication to global industrialization and cooperation.

Anwar writes from Kano State, Nigeria
Can be reached on
fatimanbaba1@gmail.com
Tuesday, September 24th, 2024

Footage broadcast by TV GloboNews showed a large area on fire and smoke appearing to billow from an apparent plane fuselage.

A passenger plane carrying 62 people has crashed in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Footage broadcast by TV GloboNews showed a large area on fire and smoke appearing to billow from an apparent plane fuselage.

The plane carrying 62 people, including crew members, has crashed in the city of Vinhedo, Brazil, according to the local firefighters Corps, Sky News reports.

The Voepass flight, an ATR-72 plane, was travelling from Cascavel in Parana state to Guarulhos in Sao Paolo state when it went down.

Voepass has confirmed the incident but has not yet released information on potential fatalities or injuries.

The cause of the crash is still unknown.

A Guinean court has sentenced ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in jail for crimes against humanity on Wednesday, after a landmark trial over a 2009 massacre at a political rally.

Seven other defendants were handed terms of up to life imprisonment at the end of the trial that played out over nearly two years, in a judgement welcomed by rights activists.

Security forces had been massively deployed for the hearing, in a case keenly awaited by victims’ families for nearly 15 years.

Just before sentencing, the court had announced the charges would be classified as crimes against humanity.

The court also ordered for compensation to be paid to the victims, running from 200 million to 1.5 billion Guinean francs ($23,000 to $174,000).

On September 28, 2009 and in the following days, members of Dadis Camara’s presidential guard, soldiers, police and militia brutally suppressed an opposition rally at a stadium in the suburbs of Conakry.

In one of the darkest chapters in the West African nation’s history, at least 156 people were killed, hundreds more wounded and 109 women raped, according to a UN-mandated commission of inquiry.

“This trial is of the utmost importance to me,” Kadiatou Sow, who was raped during the massacre and its aftermath, told AFP before the sentencing.

“I want these soldiers to pay a heavy price with sentences befitting their crimes,” added Sow, who also lost her husband in the violence.

Alfa Amadou DS Bah, lead lawyer for the plaintiffs in the case, underlined the importance of the judgement.

“It’s the first time a former head of state has been convicted for such serious crimes, and senior military officers too,” he said.

“I think that this decision must sound the toll against impunity in this country. It’s a great relief for the victims,” he added.

Human Rights Watch also welcomed the judgement.

“The Guinean court’s landmark verdict offers long-awaited justice for victims,” said Tamara Aburamadan, an international justice legal counsel for HRW.

It puts high-level perpetrators in Guinea and elsewhere on notice that justice can prevail.”

Ten of the 12 accused were present to hear the court’s judgement.

Former junta chief Dadis Camara, dressed in a traditional green and yellow boubou, remained motionless as the verdict was read by the court in the capital Conakry.

Along with 11 other government and military officials, Dadis Camara had been accused of murder, sexual violence, torture, abduction and kidnapping.

He always denied any responsibility, blaming his subordinates.

The trial — which began on September 28, 2022, the anniversary of the killings — gripped the West African nation, with the courtroom drama carried on television and radio.

Judges heard from 11 defendants — who blamed each other for the massacre during the trial — as well as a dozen witnesses. Around 100 victims provided chilling testimonies.

The chief prosecutor had called for Dadis Camara and other defendants to be sentenced to life in prison.

Defence lawyers had argued that reclassifying the charges as crimes against humanity on the day of the ruling would rob them of an opportunity to defend themselves and infringe their right to a fair trial.

Both the accused and the plaintiffs have 15 days to appeal the verdict. The prosecutor’s office will have two months.

The trial has taken place against a background of repression of both the opposition to Guinea’s military rulers and the media.

The day before the verdict, protests against the “forced disappearance” of pro-democracy activists Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah paralysed parts of Conakry, with several injured in clashes between demonstrators and the police.

Though the authorities deny holding the pair, civil society organisations say they are being held incommunicado. They have called for further demonstrations.

International organisations and human rights activists have highlighted the unprecedented nature of the trial in Guinea.

It is the first of its kind to challenge the impunity of the country’s security forces, which are seldom held to account, according to the UN probe.