KENYA

State tables Bill in Parliament to salvage housing tax

The government has tabled a Bill in Parliament that seeks to entrench the controversial housing levy in law in a bid to avert a possible revocation by the courts.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah on Thursday tabled the Affordable Housing Bill 2023, weeks after the High Court declared the levy charged at 1.5 percent of the gross salary of an employee unconstitutional.

A three-judge Bench last month declared the housing levy unconstitutional for being discriminatory and creating unequal principles, dealing a blow to President William Ruto’s housing programme.

(Source: Business Daily)

TANZANIA

Samia orders probe into Hanang disaster

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has called for an in-depth investigation into the Hanang mudslide disaster that claimed 76 lives last weekend.

Dr Samia directed authorities to investigate and lay bare the causes of the calamity.

She equally urged Tanzanians staying in flood-prone areas and other dangerous areas to move to safer places, insisting it was the best way to lessen the impact disasters have on people and property.

(Source: Daily News)

UGANDA

Ugandan minister criticizes the West for pushing ‘LGBTQ agenda’

Uganda on Wednesday accused the West of trying to pressure Africa into accepting homosexuality after the United States slapped its officials with visa restrictions for tough anti-gay laws.

The country adopted one of the world’s harshest laws against homosexuality in May, triggering criticism from rights groups, the United Nations and Western powers.

On Monday, Washington imposed visa bans on unnamed officials deemed responsible for “undermining the democratic process” in Uganda and abusing human rights, including those of the LGBTQ community.

(Source: The East African)

RWANDA

Rwanda: Phasing out fossil fuel in irrigation amid COP28 climate talks

As part of phasing out the use of fossil fuels [non-renewable energy with carbon emissions] in the agriculture sector and coping with drought, more than 1,050 hectares will be added to the small-scale irrigation scheme using solar power next year, Jerome Hitayezu, Head of the Irrigation Programme at Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), told The New Times.

Solar-powered irrigation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and helps agriculture adapt to drought effects. Energy transition is a key topic being negotiated at the current 28th UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, which commenced on November 30 and is scheduled to conclude on December 12.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia, EU agree to work together on issues of common interest

The Government of Ethiopia and the European Union (EU) have agreed to further enhance Ethiopia’s utilization of the Everything But Arms trade regime of the European Union.

The Government of Ethiopia and the European Union issued a joint statement following the Structured Dialogue held on 7 December 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Both parties exchanged views on domestic, regional, and international issues of mutual concern. 

They also agreed to work together on issues of common interest, it said, adding that they have agreed to work together to support national efforts to consolidate peace and accelerate economic reforms.

(Source: ENA)

SUDAN

US Sec Blinken: SAF-RSF both guilty of ‘horrific’ war crimes in Sudan

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken condemned the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for unleashing “horrific violence, death, and destruction across Sudan” since the outbreak of fighting on April 15, accusing both parties of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, in a statement issued yesterday.

He called on both sides of the conflict to stop the war immediately and comply with their obligations under international law, adding that “arms and funding flowing to the warring parties only prolong a conflict that has no acceptable military solution”.

(Source: Dabanga)

SOMALIA 

Somalia president’s son causes fatal accident in Turkey

An accident involving the son of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul, Turkey, has resulted in the death of a motorcycle rider.

Göçer, 38, was riding on Kennedy Avenue towards Zeytinburnu when he slowed down and tried to pull over to the side of the road.

Unfortunately, Mohamed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the son of Somalia’s president, who was driving a car with registration number 06 CD 4581, hit the motorcycle from behind.

(Source: The East African)