My dear ladies and women,

Gone were the days where women have their own trade and businesses, where they can operate at their own time. If I have my own shop, I can open it or close it on days I may have a piled work to attend too at home. But in this day and age, where almost 50% or more of us are also gainfully employed in someone’s company or institution, where you can’t choose the time to report and the time to close. Therefore, there is a formal demand on our time as well but the physical tasks of the home also still awaits you and you can’t use the workplace duties to excuse yourself from performing the home tasks. We got to be stronger and devise ways to go round it.

I am always against the extremities of our behaviors. We should be taken care of but we are not “exclusively entitled” to some of the demands we make. We are to help the man build not to break him down. In reality, we do most of the physically work at home most and are often at the mercy of tiredness than our husbands but consider this scenario. Upon all the tiredness, when our kids are sick we will still wake up in the night to attend to them. I remember situations where I will be sick as well but I have to throw mine over the bar and see to the child’s needs. So, always denying your husband his conjugal right over a long period as it becomes obvious you have predetermined that attitude and it is not tiredness per se, then we have an issue to deal with here.

When our kids say they are hungry we don’t beat them up and say why are you saying you are hungry. We are made to understand that our husbands’ conjugal right is a necessity to their living, it is a natural hunger for them like our children been hungry and as much as sometimes we don’t have food but find a way to provide for the kids, we have to find a way to sort our husbands out amidst the tiredness.

Per my own definition of irresponsibility or an irresponsible partner is that, a case where one is capable of helping the other partner both physically, financially or in any regard without anything hindering him or her and obviously refused to help that person or partner can be described as irresponsible partner. So if by any chance your husband could have assisted you and you can see he just obviously refused to provide the help, just maintain your dignity and keep still. The person is adamant in doing it and no amount of shouting will cause them to do it. You will rather stress yourself and have heartache. Just find your way around, do what you can and if the rest left undone won’t kill someone then leave it there like that. We too we are somebody’s children. If you ask more than twice and can see the person obviously refused to help in that case the person is capable of helping but refused, please keep still and do what your capacity can do. Please same applies to us we shouldn’t refuse to help them when we can obviously offer help.

In all these, I am against the extremities where some women are over demanding than their husband’s capacity, denying the men their rights or even financial support or any other over month because of a small offense or misunderstanding etcetera. The other man who is saying he can take better care of you and he will leave his wife for you, please draw the statistics and see where most of those relationships ended.

We are also much aware of our responsibilities as women before marrying; it wasn’t imposed on us in the marriage. Seeing our mothers do most of them when we were young painted a clear picture of what is expected of us before marriage. It wasn’t anything new being introduced to us. Let us be on guard. Marriage can be more beautiful than we have these days.

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The Republic of Mali is facing proceedings at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACtHPR) over alleged violations of citizens’ rights linked to the conduct of its armed forces and Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, civil rights groups announced Monday. Three organizations — TRIAL International, the Pan African Lawyers Union, and the International Federation for Human Rights — jointly filed the case before the AU’s human rights court in Arusha. The complaint centers on “serious human rights violations allegedly committed against civilians in Mali in 2022,” the groups said in a statement.

The applicants argue that Malian authorities bear responsibility not only for abuses allegedly carried out by state forces, but also for failing to investigate or sanction perpetrators, including foreign fighters operating alongside the military. The filing contends that this inaction constitutes a breach of Mali’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Following a deterioration of relations with France in 2021, Mali’s ruling junta enlisted Russian support to combat jihadist insurgents and Tuareg separatist groups. Wagner Group operatives deployed to the country and participated in operations that helped the army retake key northern strongholds. However, the intervention has not led to improved overall security, according to observers. Wagner forces have faced repeated accusations of abuses against civilians during joint operations.

United Nations human rights investigators have also documented incidents in which Malian troops and foreign forces — believed to be Wagner personnel — were implicated in violations against civilian populations. The case before the ACtHPR seeks accountability for the alleged 2022 violations and urges Malian authorities to comply with their duty to investigate abuses and protect civilians under international and regional human rights law. Mali’s government had not issued a public response to the filing at the time of publication.

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The United States Navy seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday after firing on its engine room when it tried to breach a U.S. naval blockade, President Donald Trump announced. The USS Spruance destroyer intercepted the nearly 900-foot vessel, described as “weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier,” following a 6-hour standoff in the north Arabian Sea. After the crew ignored repeated orders to stop, the Spruance fired its 5-inch MK 45 gun into the engine room to disable the ship, and U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded and took custody. “We have full custody of the ship, and are seeing what’s on board,” Trump said.

The White House said the Touska is under U.S. Treasury sanctions for “prior history of illegal activity” and was attempting to run the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing Iran war. This is the first known incident where U.S. forces used fire to stop a vessel — more than 20 previous Iranian ships were turned back without shots. The seizure came hours after Tehran rejected a second round of peace talks, with Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command accusing the U.S. of “armed piracy” and vowing retaliation. Iranian state media said the ship was en route from China.

The incident is part of a broader 2026 U.S. crackdown on sanctioned vessels. Since December 2025, the Navy has intercepted more than 10 tankers linked to Iran and Venezuela, including the Russian-flagged Marinera in January. With a two-week ceasefire set to expire Tuesday and U.S. envoys due in Islamabad Monday for talks, Trump warned Iran of further strikes on infrastructure if it refuses terms.

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On Friday, Mali declared it had rescinded its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a position announced during a joint media appearance between Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. In its official communiqué, Bamako stated the determination followed “a comprehensive assessment of this significant matter, which bears on peace and security in the sub-region.” The Malian government concluded that “authentic self-rule under Moroccan sovereignty constitutes the most pragmatic resolution” and affirmed its backing for Morocco’s autonomy proposal as “the sole serious and credible foundation” for settling the Western Sahara question.

Authorities further expressed continued support for United Nations-led initiatives, including the endeavors of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and pertinent Security Council measures, specifically citing Resolution 2797 enacted in October 2025. Bamako underscored its relationship with Rabat as “historic, robust, and deeply entrenched,” grounded in “fraternity, genuine friendship, mutual respect, and productive collaboration.” The declaration also stressed the commitment of Malian leadership, under Transitional President General Assimi Goïta, to safeguarding national cohesion and territorial integrity.

As part of measures to deepen bilateral ties, Mali welcomed the scheduling of the forthcoming session of the joint cooperation commission in Bamako before the close of 2026. The Western Sahara territory has been contested for decades by Morocco and the Algeria-supported Polisario Front, which seeks independence through the SADR. A growing number of states, including Kenya and Ghana, have recently aligned with Morocco’s autonomy framework, which Rabat advances as a political settlement to the dispute. Burkina Faso likewise ranks among nations that have manifested support for Moroccan sovereignty, including via the opening of consulates in the area.

Mali restated its dedication to advancing international peace and security, a stance consistent with an emerging regional shift toward the Moroccan position on Western Sahara.

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a contested territory in North Africa, with Morocco and the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi independence movement, laying claim to it. Spain colonized the area, known as Spanish Sahara, in the late 19th century. The Polisario Front emerged in the 1970s pushing for self-rule, and declared the SADR’s existence on February 27, 1976, after Morocco and Mauritania took control of the territory.

The SADR’s fate remains undecided, with Morocco in charge of most of Western Sahara and the Polisario Front holding onto about 20%. A 1991 truce has kept the peace, with the UN trying to broker a deal. Around 40 countries, mainly in Africa and Latin America, recognize the SADR, while the EU and others see Morocco as the territory’s de facto administrator without endorsing its claim.

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On Monday, the United States Navy instituted a comprehensive maritime interdiction covering all vessels transiting to or from Iranian harbors, while reaffirming its commitment to safeguard passage through the Strait of Hormuz for what it termed “neutral” commercial traffic. President Donald Trump declared that any Iranian fast-attack watercraft advancing toward the cordon would be “promptly neutralized,” drawing a parallel to existing U.S. rules of engagement employed against suspected narcotics-trafficking vessels.

Within hours, Iran’s Joint Military Command issued a countermeasure, announcing that it would proscribe navigation across the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Red Sea should the American embargo persist. Officials in Tehran characterized Washington’s action as a breach of the prevailing ceasefire and pledged to deploy naval mines, anti-ship missiles, and fast-attack craft to enforce their own prohibition.

Notwithstanding assertions of operational success by U.S. authorities, multiple sanctioned “shadow tankers” have traversed the strait since the embargo commenced, as Iran seeks to sustain crude-oil exports and associated fiscal inflows. Following the Pentagon’s announcement that seaborne commerce to and from Iran had been curtailed, benchmark crude benchmarks rebounded to approximately $96 per barrel.

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Benin’s Head of the Treasury, Romuald Wadagni, attained a decisive triumph in the West African state’s April 12 presidential poll, capturing more than 94% of ballots cast, according to preliminary tallies released by the electoral authority on Monday.

Sacca Lafia, chairperson of the nation’s autonomous election body, declared via state broadcast that the outcome reflects over 90% of votes tabulated, underscoring Wadagni’s unassailable advantage in the race for the presidency.

The electoral body further reported citizen participation in the presidential contest reached 58.78%.

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The US military is set to block all ships from entering or leaving Iran’s ports and coastal areas starting today Monday 13th April. This comes after talks between the US and Iran failed to reach an agreement to end the war. The negotiations, held in Islamabad, were the first direct talks between the two countries in over a decade.

The US Central Command stated that the blockade will affect all ships, regardless of their country, entering or leaving Iranian ports. However, ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian ports won’t be affected.

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Pakistan’s President has convened a reconciliation meeting for the US and Iran, aiming to ease tensions between the two nations. The meeting, taking place today April 11th in Islamabad, involves high-level delegations from both countries, with US Vice President JD Vance leading the American team and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf heading the Iranian delegation.

The talks, mediated by Pakistan, focus on stabilizing the ceasefire and negotiating a potential resolution to the conflict. Key issues on the agenda include Iran’s 10-point proposal over control of the Strait of Hormuz, withdrawal of US combat forces from the Middle East and the situation in Lebanon. The Americans are also demanding Iran’s surrender of their enriched uranium stockpile and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan’s role as a mediator is significant, given its relationships with both the US and Iran. The country’s efforts have been supported by regional partners, including China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

The outcome of the talks is uncertain, but analysts suggest that even a modest agreement to continue dialogue would be a positive step.

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One most common excuse for infidelity among men is that men have higher sex drives than women and their wives are unable to meet these desires. But in recent times, most often than not, most people are intimate during courtship time before marrying. Take a look at your fiancée’s libido level. Are you not aware she can’t match your drive? Is the solution getting an answer outside? What have you done to increase her desires for you? When you are in a hurry walking somewhere and you are holding a child’s hand. Do you leave the child on the way with complains that the child is not walking fast? I am sure on a normal note you will either carry the child in your arms or back him/her. When your wive’s libido cannot match your drive level, can you do something for her to come up or you leave her at the middle of the marriage and walk away from her???

Another factor is the lack of commitment by wives. Wives sometimes do not make their relationship romantic enough. Another excuse too is that the wives nag them too much, making the “side chick place,” a safe haven. Why would she be asking for one or two things for days and months and the man will insist he doesn’t have but will provide effortlessly for the side chick? If he fails and the side chick should threaten to tell his wife, you will see them go the breadth and length of the world to provide it for them but you will see that same man ignore necessities at home making the wife complain and turn into a nagger. In which case you will see them brand it that they want their peace of mind.
We must all be fully aware of the institution of marriage. The institution calls for one man one woman; it is not like the occult where you enter before getting to know the rules. In this case you know the ground rules especially the fact that you are to stick with one person. Even those suffering from any form of abuse, there are always a legal way out. Even our Muslim brothers, who have the liberty of marrying up to five wives, have a limit and guess what; some are even running away from it “mpo” because of the responsibilities attached.

Really it baffles me some reasons you will hear these days as the reasons for the cheating. We must take the institution of marriage with much attention and understand that both parties in the institution all have a critical and monumental role in the security and productive growth of the marriage.
Look out for my next article which will be focusing more on women.

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The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, effective immediately, with talks set to resume in Islamabad on April 10. US President Donald Trump announced the agreement, citing conversations with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, who requested a delay in military action.

The ceasefire is conditional on Iran’s agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil transport. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed the agreement, stating that it does not signify the end of the war.

Iran has proposed a 10-point peace plan, which Trump considers a “workable basis” for negotiations. The plan includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending attacks on Iran and its regional proxy forces, and lifting international sanctions.

The agreement has been welcomed by Pakistan, which has played a key role in mediating the talks. However, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon.

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