Politics-News on African Updates

Haiti: Prime Minister Henry resigns amid gang violance increase

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Haiti’s PM Ariel Henry has tendered his resignation following an emergency meeting of regional nations and appealed for calm as the country descends into chaos.

Regional leaders of the Caribbean Community have held the emergency summit to discuss a framework for a political transition, which the US had urged to be “expedited” as armed gangs wreaked chaos amid repeatedly postponed elections.

Haiti is facing escalating turmoil as criminal gangs tighten their grip on Port-au-Prince, controlling up to 90% of the capital.

France: Filmmaker Polanski goes on trial in Paris on defamation charges

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Roman Polanski goes on trial in France on Tuesday over allegations he defamed a British actress who accused him of sexual abuse in the 1980s. A Veteran Franco-Polish filmmaker who is 90-year-old is wanted in the United States over raping 13-years-old in 1977 and faces several other accusations of alleged sexual assault dating back decades and past the statute of limitations though he has rejected all claims. Polanski who won Oscar-winning films “Rosemary’s Baby”, “Chinatown” and “The Pianist” fled to Europe in 1978.

Wamkele Mene has been reappointed for the second-term as Secretary General of the AfCFTA

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Mr Wamkele Mene has been reappointed as the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA)

Mr Mene got appointed for a second four-year term during the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mr Wamkele Mene is the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), His responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating implementation of the AfCFTA agreement among African states. His role are to promote the AfCFTA and undertake activities to enhance intra-African trade.

Senegal: Members of parliament are set to debate election delay

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Today Members of parliament in Senegal will meet to consider the postponement of presidential elections announced by President Macky Sall, a move that has plunged the country into crisis.

Opposition leaders have used the term “constitutional coup” to describe the current situation, which they say is an assault on democracy.

Protesters in Dakar decry Senegal’s Macky Sall for postponing presidential election, saying they will vote.

It is expected that deputies will vote on a proposal to postpone the presidential poll which was previously set on 25th February, 2024 for up to six months.

DR Congo: President Tshisekedi re-elected as opposition calls vote a ‘farce’

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi won reelection with more than 70% of the vote, the country’s election commission said Sunday.

The preliminary results of the 20th Dec 2023 election were announced in the capital, Kinshasa, amid demands from the opposition and some civil society groups for the vote to be rerun due to massive logistical problems that put the validity of the outcome into question.

Tshisekedi was followed by businessman Moise Katumbi, who received 18% of the vote, and Martin Fayulu, who received 5%. Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege, a physician renowned for treating women brutalized by sexual violence in eastern Congo, got less than 1%.

DR Congo elections: opposition allegs fraud, Voting marred by delays

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Voting in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s high-stakes presidential election has been marred by lengthy delays at polling stations.

Voters waited in long queues at many polling stations in the capital, Kinshasa, and other cities as they opened about two hours late.

Ballot papers were delivered at the last minute in an election that has proved to be a logistical nightmare.

In the eastern cities like Goma and Beni, some people struggled to find their names on voter lists, which were only made available at their polling stations on Wednesday morning, according to Reuters witnesses.

Climate: Commonwealth launches e-learning course to help countries access billions in climate finance

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A new Commonwealth e-learning course launched on Tuesday 11th December 2023 will improve the ability of small and other vulnerable states to access billions of dollars in climate finance.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, launched the ‘commonwealth climate finance Essential E-learning Course’at an event in Dubai during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

The course builds on the extensive experience of the commonwealth climate Finance Access Hub. The hub has helped 17 small and vulnerable states in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific to access more than US$322 million in climate finance for projects to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Intra-African Trade Fair 2023: Finding Packaging a big challenge to producers

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

While Rwanda is one of the seven countries that have started to implement the African free trade program, there are some producers who say that they are still facing challenges in finding packaging for their products, such that they find themselves using expensive packaging or not meeting the international standards.

These are what some of the participants of the intra Africa trade fair that was held in Egypt from 9-15 November 2023 had to say:

Convoy of aid trucks lines up at Egypt-Gaza border in preparation for truce

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A large convoy of aid trucks has lined up on the Egyptian side of the the Rafah border crossing between between Egypt and Gaza, on standby for when a truce between Israel and Hamas begins.

Today The Egyptian Government press said that it’s not yet clear what type of aid, or how much aid, will be allowed into the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, Egyptian Government press office director Ayman Walash said a total of 2,222 tons of medical aid had been delivered via the Rafah crossing since the war began, in addition to 6,063 tons of food, 4,625 tons of water, and 1,407 tons of other aid.

Israel says no ceasefire, hostage release before Friday

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The release of hostages under a temporary truce between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants will not happen before Friday, Israel’s national security adviser and the US said, dashing hopes of relatives that some would be freed on Thursday.

Israel and Hamas reached a deal for a four day pause in fighting and the release of at least 50 hostages held in Gaza – but none will be freed before Friday.

EGYPT: THE ANSWER TO AGRICULTURAL PROBLEMS ON AFRICA CONTINENT -

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

On Monday 13th Novermber 2023 in Cairo, the African project was launched, which will enable to begin the journey of Using vast arable land and water resources to feed africans while openning multibillion US dollar business opportunities in food and agribusiness on the continent.

It was a ceremony that was attended by the heads of states including the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and Malawi’s Lazarus Chakwera, H.E. Wamkele Mene Secretary General of AfCFTA Secretariat, Olusegun Obasanjo who once lead Nigeria and is currently an advisor on intra-Africa trade, and other representatives of their respective countries. Rwanda was represented by the Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze.

New partnership between U.S. and African companies

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

On 1st November 2023 The AfCFTA secretariat and Corporate Council for Africa has signed an MoU with the objective to promote partnerships between U.S. and African companies that build on provisions of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to achieve the shared goal of increasing private sector support for and involvement in realizing the goals of the AfCFTA.

The MoU signed is articulated around different sectors such as transportation and logistics, vaccine manufacturing, health sector productive capacity, trade and investment, the automotive sector, agriculture and agroprocessing and women and youth in Trade.

Portugal: Trans woman crowned ‘Miss Portugal’

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A transgender woman has won the Miss Portugal beauty pageant for the first time and will compete with another transgender woman for the Miss Universe title in El Salvador, Portuguese media reported.

Marina Machete, a 28-year-old trans woman has won the Miss Portugal beauty pageant in Évora and will now compete with another trans woman for the title Miss Universe, to be held in El Salvador in November.

“Proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the title of Miss Universe Portugal,” she wrote on social media before winning the title.

New Gabon President Visits Congo to get Support

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Gabon’s transitional president, received a show of support from Republic of Congo after he met his counterpart Sunday, aiming to improve relations and ease Gabon’s isolation.

General Brice Oligui Nguema transitional president of Gabon met President Denis Sassou Nguesso in a work visit on this Sunday which was aimed at improving the ties and easing Gabon’s international isolation following the coup.

“I have come to consult, to discuss, to exchange with (the president), who for us is a key in the region, who can relay to global authorities what we have done,” Oligui said after holding talks with Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

Egypt: President Sisi expected to win election in December

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Egypt’s presidential election will take place in December, rather than in the spring of 2024 as the Constitution allows, a deadline shortened by economic considerations in the country caught between inflation and devaluation, according to observers.

“Egyptian voters will cast their ballots throughout the country on December 10, 11 and 12,” announced the head of the Electoral Commission, Judge Walid Hassan Hamza, on Monday. And “the final results with the name of the elected president will be published in the official gazette on December 18”, he added.

Gabon suspended from the Commonwealth

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The 63rd Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group /CMAG met in New York this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss developments in member states.

Held on Monday 18 September 2023, the meeting was chaired by the Hon Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Tourism, of Samoa. Ministers from Barbados, Canada, Ghana, Mauritius, and Rwanda, and representatives of Belize, Malaysia and Malta, were in attendance.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit Russia

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi is set to visit Russia for talks on security

Today on 18th September 2023 Wang Yi will begin a four-day visit to Russia for security talks as the latest in a series of high-level visits and phone calls between the two countries.

This comes few weeks after President Putin said he is expecting president Xi Jiping but he did not say when.

Mr. Putin has not travelled abroad since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over war crimes in Ukraine.

Why Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina Resigned ?

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Andry Rajoelina, the president of Madagascar, has resigned from his post after being officially confirmed as one of the candidates in the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for November.

Madagascar’s constitution requires a sitting head of state who wants to contest a presidential election to first resign.

Rajoelina sent his resignation letter to the court on Saturday following confirmation of his candidature in the elections, the High Constitutional Court said in a statement late on Saturday.

Deposed President of Gabon Ali Bongo ‘free’ to travel abroad

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ali Bongo release comes after his cousin General Brice Nguema Oligui sworn in as interim leader later on Monday.

Gabon’s deposed president, Ali Bongo Ondimba, has been released from house arrest and is free to leave the country for medical treatment, the military which removed him from power last month has said.

Bongo, who had been held under house arrest since a military coup on August 30, was toppled from power shortly after he was declared the winner of much-criticised elections that would have seen him exended his 14 year as president

President Andry Rajoelina announces bid for re-election

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

President Andry Rajoelina Of Madagascar announced he will run for re-election in November.

Rajoelina made the announcement on this Wednesday at a grand ceremony held in the biggest stadium on the large Indian Ocean island, which is due to hold the presidential vote on November 9.

He first took power in 2009 on the back of a coup that ousted former president Marc Ravalomanana.

After not contesting in the 2013 election due to international pressure, Rajoelina was voted back into power in 2018.

EAC extends mandate of regional force in DR Congo

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

East African Community (EAC) Heads of State on Tuesday extended the mandate of its regional force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by a further three months to December 8 this year.

The decision arose after the leaders gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, for the 22nd Extra-ordinary Summit of the Community, agreeing that three extra months will bring certainty to the security situation as further discussions go on about the actual plan for the troubled eastern DRC.

Somali leader hopes to defeat al-Shabab 'in five months'

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has said a military offensive against al-Shabab aims to eliminate the al-Qaeda linked group in the next five months.

Correspondents say a promise to eliminate the group is hugely optimistic seeing as it has been around since the early 2000s, is deeply embedded in communities and has adapted its tactics in the face of international military pressure.

Yet thousands of government soldiers have been gathering in a town in central Somalia to take part in a new military campaign against the jihadists.