KENYA

Ruto secures bag of goodies on US tour

President William Ruto has called on the US to review its economic partnership with Africa, saying the latter must be regarded as an investment destination rather than a market for finished goods, even as he sealed several deals with corporate executives and stakeholders in different sectors.

From the meeting, the parties agreed to work with Kenya to advance space technology and collaborate on the establishment of robust creative industries.

Kenya also secured commitments in the areas of climate innovations, carbon removal collaborations and carbon trading technologies, with the Rockefeller Foundation committing to making the country a clean energy destination.

Further, it was agreed that Kenya will host the Kauffman Fellow Africa Venture Capital Summit in September 2023, bringing 300 of the world’s top venture capitalists to Nairobi.

The President also secured commitment by Visa to support Kenya’s Financial Inclusion Fund (Hustler Fund), e-commerce growth, government digitisation and e-government initiative.

(Source: Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

Tanzania’s ambassador to Austria killed in car crash

Tanzania’s ambassador to Austria, Celestine Mushi, died in a car crash while on his way to the Kilimanjaro region.

The envoy’s death was confirmed by Tanga District Commissioner, Siriel Mchembe, on December 15. He said Mr Mushi, who was driving solo, died in Tanga en route to Moshi from Dar es Salaam.

Mushi was appointed Tanzania’s ambassador to Austria in January of this year. He presented his credentials to Austria’s president, Alexander van der Bellen, on May 5.

(Source: The Citizen)

UGANDA

Split NRM says Museveni will run in 2026 election

With splinter camps forming and facing the risk of a lame-duck presidency, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party yesterday declared President Museveni as its flag bearer in the 2026 elections, which will be his seventh term in office.

Coming before the halfway point of the current term, the declaration by Secretary-General Richard Todwong is unusually early and reflects how deeply concerned the party is about the emerging power centres.

The announcement potentially pits President Museveni against his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba who has, with the apparent encouragement of his allies, been openly hinting at a run for the presidency in 2026.

(Source: Monitor)

RWANDA

Kagame, Ndayishimiye attend regional talks on DR Congo

President Paul Kagame on Wednesday participated in a meeting convened by East Africa Community (EAC) Chair and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, to review and exchange views on the implementation of Luanda Roadmap and Nairobi Peace Process.

Both frameworks seek to find a lasting solution to the security situation in DR Congo, particularly in the restive eastern part of the country.

The talks took place in Washington D.C, United States on the sidelines of the US-Africa leaders summit.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

Activists file lawsuit against Meta over murdered Ethiopian professor

The son of an Ethiopian academic who was murdered during the country’s ongoing violence has filed a lawsuit against Facebook parent company Meta in Kenya’s High Court, alleging the social media giant is fueling violence and hate across eastern and southern Africa.

Abrham Meareg Amare claims in the lawsuit that his father, Meareg Amare Abrha, a Tigrayan professor, was gunned down in November 2021 after he was targeted on Facebook with hateful and inaccurate posts. He said he tried to get Facebook to remove some of the problematic content — including a post with a photo of his father — but he didn’t receive a response until after his father was killed.

The lawsuit alleges that Facebook’s algorithms are more likely to promote hateful and violent content because that attracts engagement on the platform. The legal filing also claims that Meta underinvests in content moderation in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Meareg is bringing the lawsuit along with another Ethiopian researcher and a Kenyan civil society group, the Katiba Institute.

(Source: The Washington Post)

SUDAN

Khartoum resistance committees protest as Darfuri society signs Sudanese Framework Agreement

Most of Sudan’s resistance committees have been against any form of collaboration with the military institution since the coup d’état in October 2021. Many families of martyrs and pro-democracy protesters killed by security forces also fear an agreement that might allow the military to escape accountability. 

Other civilian organisations are pushing for “all forces to sign the framework agreement in order to implement the Juba Peace Agreement, which will allow the displaced to return home.” Awatef Abdelrahman, head of the Sudanese Displaced Women Network, welcomed the agreement as a step in the right direction in an interview with Radio Dabanga last week.

According to Sudanese pro-democracy political scholar El Shafie Khader Sayed, there are three main positions on the agreement in Sudan: Those who reject the negotiation process in principle; those who accept negotiation but do not accept to be merely followers of what others decide; and those who deal with the mentality of being the only spearhead to bring Sudan to a peaceful agreement.

(Source: Dabanga)

SOMALIA

US strengthening support to Government of Somalia

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who participated in the African-American Cooperation Summit, held a meeting with the Secretaries of Defense and Foreign Affairs of the United States on the stability of the region and coordination of humanitarian aid issues.

The meeting was attended by the Presidents of Djibouti, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh and Mr. Mohamed Bazoum of Niger, and the Presidents strengthened the fight against Al-Shabaab and the stability of the continent, while praising the important achievements of the Somali forces in the liberation of the Middle Shabelle and Hiran.

Also, the leaders jointly strengthened the plans to analyze the African-American Cooperation Forum, especially to support the government of Somalia in its development vision and the forward steps it is taking based on good neighbourliness, cooperation , economic, security and political integration.

(Radio Dalsan)

ERITREA

Communique following official visit to the State of Eritrea

On December 9-10, 2022, Kenyan President William Ruto undertook an official visit to the State of Eritrea on the invitation of his host President Isaias Afwerki.

Following warm and cordial deliberations between the two Leaders, the following was agreed upon;

On bilateral issues  

The two agreed to bolster bilateral relations between Kenya and Eritrea as well as improving people-to-people ties with a view to enhancing and entrenching regional integration. To this end, the two countries shall abolish visa requirements for their respective citizens. The two countries will also cooperate in the African Union in the spirit of Pan-Africanism.

On regional and multilateral issues

The two leaders agreed to work together and consult on regional integration and to safeguard regional peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa. In this vein, the two Leaders noted the need for firm and inspired leadership in the region, with a view of ensuring and guaranteeing peace and stability in the countries of the region.

On matters of trade and regional cooperation

The two leaders underscored the importance of promoting regional trade and investment through developing regional land, sea and air transport. They noted the need for overcoming current challenges through regional initiatives that would benefit from economies of scale and pooling of resources.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)