Libya Claims $1bn Gaddafi-Linked Assets in South Africa
South African authorities have begun investigations into claims that some $1bn worth of assets belonging to the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family are hidden in the country.
Reports by Libyan investigators allege that the assets in form of diamonds, gold and cash were being held by four banks and security companies in South Africa.
Libyan officials now want their South African counterparts to help in repatriating the assets which are being considered by many Libyans as state-owned property -looted during his 41-year reign- that should be returned.
Col Gaddafi was captured and killed in his home town of Sirte in the height of the uprising in October 2011 after eight months of intense fighting.
Reports suggest that foreign assets held by the Gaddafi family could be worth as much as $80bn.
Libyan embassy official in South Africa Salah Marghani told the BBC news agency that investigators had been “appointed to investigate and secure [Gaddafi] assets in Africa on behalf of the people of Libya”. The Libyan agents are said to have met President Jacob Zuma and Country’s Finance Minister ravin Gordhan, to discuss locating and returning the assets.
"There was a group that approached Treasury claiming to represent the Libyan government and we are in the process of verifying their claims about assets that are in South Africa," a spokesman for Mr Gordhan was quoted as saying by South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper.
Elsewhere Libya has said it will appeal to reverse a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam in a move to have him tried localy.
On Friday The Hague-based court rejected Libya’s bid to halt its prosecution of al-Islam who is facing crimes against humanity charges committed while trying to put down the 2011 armed uprising.
Since end of the uprising, the interim authorities in Libya have faced several breakdowns with its major blow being that of security. The new government is still unable to assert its authority over the former rebels who fought in the revolution struggle.
Niamey, Niger
Several Terrorists Escape Niger Jail Following Raid
About 22 inmates, among them being several “terrorists” have escaped a prison in the Nigerien capital of Niamey, after armed men attacked the jail, government has said.
Justice Minister, Marou Amadou who is also acting as government spokesman said on Sunday that inmates facing terrorism charges had killed three prison guards and seriously injured the others during the Saturday gun battle.
"It has emerged from initial investigations at the site that the aggressors obviously benefitted from outside complicity regarding the weapon introduced into the prison," he said.
His statement comes a day after officials at the prison reported that the escape bid had failed.
The prison assault comes a few days after twin suicide bombings on an army base and a French-run uranium mine in northern Niger, claimed over 20 lives.
Two armed groups Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) and Signatories in Blood claimed responsibility for the May 23 attacks, saying they were in revenge for Niger sending troops to neighbouring Mali to participate in a French-led military operation against Islamist fighters there.
Among the said escapees is Cheibane Ould Hama, who was convicted for killing four Saudis and an American citizen. The Malian security officials have said the escaped prisoners are a danger for the region, were actively being sought after according to the Niger officials.
Niger has seen repeated kidnappings and attacks on its territory by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in recent years since it sent its troops to Mali.
Signatories in Blood, one of the groups that claimed the May 23 bombings, has threatened to carry out further attacks on Niger and other countries with troops in Mali.