17th February 2023 Political and Regulatory Round Up

  • 17 Feb 2023
  • 3 Mins Read
  • 〜 by Brian Otieno

Kenya

How Israeli hackers hit Ruto strategists, IEBC officials days to polls

A consortium of journalists across the world has been investigating how Israeli national Tal Hanan led a team of disinformation experts in manipulating dozens of elections across the world. The journalists posed as potential clients and held several meetings with the Israelis, some of which were secretly recorded.

Details of the investigation and findings of the international consortium of journalists have been revealed in a series of stories published by the UK-based media outlet, The Guardian.

(Source: The Daily Nation)

Tanzania

Lindi residents reap benefits of envisioned LNG project

Implementation of the long-awaited Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in Lindi Region is taking a new shape with Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) set to undertake various social and economic projects for residents who were relocated from the site of the envisaged project.

Some 674 residents in Likong’o village in the region have already been paid compensations amounting to 5.7bn/- to pave the way for the construction of the US 40 billion dollars (about 92tri/-) whose final Host Government Agreement (HGA) is expected to be signed in the near future.

According an official of TPDC, Engineer Koleta Selsi, the relocated residents will benefit from various development projects in agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, infrastructure and businesses development in areas, where they have been relocated.

(Source: The Daily News)

Uganda

Museveni appoints new advisors

President Museveni has released a list of newly appointed senior presidential advisors in which he among others retained the First Son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba and Gen Salim Saleh. By Article 172 (1) (a) of the Constitution, the president has reappointed GenIn the latest list, the president has retained but also promoted former Minister without Portfolio, Hajji Abdul Nadduli to a senior presidential advisor on Political/Mobilization where he will have terms and benefits of a cabinet minister.

The reappointment comes on the backdrop of Nadduli’s lashing out at the ruling NRM party which he said could be headed for disaster if it doesn’t check itself. Gen. Muhoozi has been appointed as the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations.

(Source: The Independent)

Rwanda

Gov’t to save Rwf6bn through harmonising presidential, MPs elections

The Government will save Rwf6 billion after the National Electoral Commission’s (NEC) announcement on Wednesday, February 15, to hold presidential and parliamentary elections during the same period.

The development, which is expected to be effective the next election cycle, was disclosed by Oda Gasinzigwa, the new NEC chairperson shortly after taking oath of office at the Supreme Court premises in Kigali on Wednesday.

(Source: The New Times)

Ethiopia

European ambassadors say peace agreement will help improve ties with Ethiopia

The peace agreement signed between the Ethiopian government and TPLF will help improve ties with Ethiopia even further, the Ambassadors of Germany, Sweden and Denmark to Ethiopia have said.

Speaking with ENA on the sidelines of the AU ministerial meeting, the ambassadors expressed readiness to strengthen their bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia. The Pretoria Peace Agreement will help improve the existing cooperation of the countries with Ethiopia, the ambassadors added.

(Source: ENA)

Eritrea

Interview with President Isaias Afwerki – Part I

In an exclusive interview with Shabait, President Afwerki has come clear on a number of issues including the TPLF and the Eritrea-Ethiopia Peace Agreement.

(Source: Shabait)

Sudan

Juba Peace Agreement signatories arrive in South Sudan for workshops

Today, the activities of the technical workshop for evaluating the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement (JPA) will start in Juba, capital of South Sudan. End January, the South Sudanese mediation team invited all the signatories of the JPA, including the Sudanese government, to a workshop on the implementation of the agreement in Juba.  Representatives of the signatories arrived yesterday. The delegation of the Sudanese government is headed by Lt Gen Yasir El Ata, member of the Sovereignty Council.

He is accompanied by the acting Minister of Defence, Lt Gen Yasin Ibrahim, the head of Sudan’s Peace Commission, Suleiman El Dabello, and a number of experts and academics.   They and representatives of the 14 rebel groups that signed the JPA under the umbrella of the Sudan Revolutionary Front in Juba on October 3, 2020, were received by the head of the South Sudanese mediation team, Tut Galuak and rapporteur Dhieu Matok yesterday.

(Source: Dabanga Sudan)

Somalia

IFAD seeks to strengthen its economic support to Somalia

As Somalia continues to experience a historic drought, pushing millions of Somalians into acute food insecurity the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), announced today (14 Feb) that it will substantially strengthen its support to Somalia and resume its direct investments after loan arrears resulted in a three-decade-long suspension.

Speaking during IFAD’s 46th session of the Governing Council, president Alvaro Lario said, “this comes at a critical time when Somalia is facing critical challenges to its food security. The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, welcomed the re-engagement but he also called on governments not just to invest in immediate aid for countries like Somalia.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)