KENYA

Block These People From Polls, EACC Tells Chebukati

The anti-corruption watchdog Thursday put pressure on 241 aspirants facing integrity probes barred from contesting in the forthcoming General Election.

However, efforts by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) were opposed by the electoral commission, which insisted it cannot be directed by other agencies on who to clear or not to clear for political office.

During a seven-hour hearing at the High Court in Milimani, the EACC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and civil society groups united against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which was cast as the weak link in efforts to bar tainted individuals from the ballot.

(Source: Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

President Orders 500m/ – Loan to Water Authority

AS the Government seeks to increase water access to Tanzanians, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed the Ministry of Water to provide a TSh 500 million loan to Kyaka-Bunazi Water Authority to enable the utility to connect water to new customers on a credit basis.

President Samia issued the directive on Thursday in Misenyi District, Kagera region, during the launch of the Kyaka-Bunazi water project that was constructed at the cost of TSh 15.7 billion.

The state-of-the-art water project is the only source of the precious liquid directly from Kagera River and is expected to serve over 65,000 residents in 1,000 households in the district and surrounding areas.

“This project will be a relief to residents who have been facing water woes in this area. I call upon the ministry to provide a loan of 500m/- to the water authority of this project to enable it to connect water to customers on credit,” she directed.

Ms Samia quickly urged the residents to pay their water bills after the water had been connected to their households so that the funds could be used for the water project operation and maintenance.

(Source: Daily News) 

UGANDA

Museveni Unveils Plan to Stop Cattle Rustling

President Museveni has unveiled plans to curb cattle rustling in Karamoja and the neighbouring sub-regions of Teso and Sebei.

Addressing leaders from the three sub-regions at State Lodge Kapchorwa yesterday, Mr Museveni said the Government would sensitise locals to abandon cattle rustling.

Mr Museveni also castigated Karamoja leaders, saying some of them aided cattle rustlers. 

The President said without total disarmament that the sub-regions would continue to experience insecurity.

President Museveni also said the Government would form a kraal-based intelligence backed by a 24-hour reconnaissance. 

According to security agencies, there are about 500 illegal guns in the Karamoja sub-region. Security agencies have so far recovered 300 guns.

(Source: The Monitor)

RWANDA

Rising Gas Prices Threaten Adoption of Clean Energy in Schools

The use of gas for cooking in schools is being constrained by its increasing prices, making it difficult to adopt this clean energy, the Ministry of Education has implied.

Some school head teachers who spoke to The New Times also expressed concern that although the use of cooking gas has advantages, including hygiene in the kitchen and ease of work, its cost is prohibitive.  

Currently, a 12-kilogramme cooking gas cylinder costs at least Rwf 18,500, an increase of about a half, compared to Rwf 12,600 in 2020.

As per the Rwanda Household Survey 2019/2020 report produced by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), 77.7 per cent of Rwandan households used firewood as cooking fuel, and 17.5 per cent used charcoal, while 4.2 per cent used gas or biogas.

(Source: New Times) 

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia, Qatar Hold Talks on Protection of Rights of Ethiopian Citizens Residing in Qatar

Ethiopian Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Feisel Aliyi, held fruitful talks with various officials of the Ministry of Interior of Qatar.

The discussion focused on tightening bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries.

They have also exchanged views on protecting the rights of Ethiopian citizens residing in Qatar.

(Source: Ethiopian News Agency)

ERITREA

President Isaias Afwerki Encourages Biniam Ghirmay

President Isaias Afwerki received this morning, 9^th June, at his office in Adi-Halo iconic Eritrean Professional Cyclist Biniam Ghirmay.

On the occasion when Ambassador Zemede Tekle, Commissioner of Culture and Sports, and heads of the National Cycling Federation took part, President Isaias said that the victory Biniam registered at Giro d’Italia has significantly contributed to inspiring the youth sportspeople in the country.

President Isaias also called for putting sports facilities in all regions in place and working for more victories.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)

SOMALIA

Somalia President Mohamud pledges reconciliation as leaders witness his inauguration

On Thursday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took the mantle of power for the second time. He vowed to reconcile his country’s divided political groups and relations with neighbours following years of bickering.

Mr Mohamud, who took over from Mr Mohamed Farmaajo, said his country would remain neutral in the international space while befriending countries that will respect its sovereignty and seek to tackle common problems like al-Shabaab and poverty.

“The event that we are witnessing today [his inauguration] is a specimen of democracy being reinstituted in Somalia,” he said, stressing that except when the country was, for 21 years, under military rule (1969 – 1991), Somalis have always been pro-democracy.

Mr Mohamud indicated that reconciliation and peaceful coexistence are a priority for his Government, addressing a gathering that included his predecessors Sheikh Sharif Ahmed and Mr Farmaajo, with whom they raised hands to show unity.

(Source: The East African)

SUDAN 

El Burhan urges all parties in Sudan to embrace AU-IGAD-UN Trilateral Mechanism dialogue

The President of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, has called on all parties in Sudan to engage in the efforts of the AU-IGAD-UN Trilateral Mechanism* and international partners. In an address to the Sudanese nation on Tuesday evening, Gen El Burhan affirmed his commitment to work with all of the Sudanese people to ensure the realisation of their dreams and aspirations in building a democracy and dignity and a state of freedom, peace, and justice.

He said that in response to the demands of the stage, most national forces have responded to the call for dialogue facilitated by the AU-IGAD-UN Trilateral Mechanism, launched on 12^th May, which is due to start today.

In his address, Gen El Burhan pointed out that the country is going through a transitional phase. The Government is witnessing a lack of consensus, which threatens the security and safety of the homeland and the citizens. He added that this situation had prompted many of the country’s people and its various entities, sensing the imminent dangers, to present initiatives and propose treatments and solutions that restore the state’s cohesion and reassure the souls of its people.

Gen El Burhan stressed that the military component “has pledged since April 2019 to work with all components of the Sudanese people in order to ensure the realisation of their dreams and aspirations in building a state of democracy and dignity, a state of freedom, peace, and justice”.

(Source: Radio Dabanga)