KENYA

Junet writes to Speaker Wetang’ula on Azimio line-up

Suna East Junet Mohamed has listed Mr Opiyo Wandayi as the Majority Leader, Robert Mbui as his deputy, himself as the Majority Whip and nominated MP Sabina Chege as his deputy.

The move by Mr Mohamed ahead of the crisis meeting called by ODM leader Raila Odinga next week is meant to allay fears that there are wrangles in the House leadership. 

Nominated MP John Mbadi, however, said he is not aware of the letter. Although he pointed out that he has no problem with the whip writing the letter, he termed it as premature coming before next week’s meeting.

(Source: The Nation)

TANZANIA

Government abolishes levies on electronic transactions

Government on September 20, announced the abolition of the recently introduced levies on electronic transactions which took effect on August 15 following a public outcry.

The decision was announced by the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, in Parliament after the question and answer session.

He said that the government had reduced the scope of charges, stimulating the use of electronic transactions to reduce cash, simplifying charges and preventing double taxation on the same income.

Dr Mwigulu said that the new changes will come into effect on October 1, this year.

(Source: The Citizen)

UGANDA

Uganda confirms Ebola cases rise to 7

Uganda’s Ministry of Health has reported six new confirmed cases of Ebola, raising the total number of people infected to seven.

Addressing journalists in Kampala Thursday, Dr Henry Kyobe, the Ebola Incident Commander, said they forecast an increase in cases, but actions are underway to protect the population and health workers.

According to the Health Ministry, EVD is transmitted through contact with the blood, stool or fluids of an infected person and objects that have been contaminated with body fluids from an infected person.

(Source: The Monitor)

RWANDA

Macron meets Kagame and Tshisekedi over DRC war

French President Emmanuel Macron has met with the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, seeing progress in easing tensions that have flared in recent months.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Macron on Wednesday invited Rwandan President Paul Kagame to lunch with his DR Congo counterpart Felix Tshisekedi, who a day earlier had accused Kigali of backing rebel attacks in his country.

In his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Tshisekedi alleged that Rwanda has provided “massive support” to M23, which he blamed for the shooting down of a UN peacekeeping helicopter in March, in which eight people died.

Kagame called for calm in his own address on Wednesday.

(Source: The East African)

ETHIOPIA

Int’l Rights Commission report does not meet UN investigation system, standards: Task Force

The International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) report is agenda-driven and did not meet the UN investigation system and standards, according to the Inter-Ministerial Task Force to Oversee Human Rights Violations in Northern Ethiopia.

According to him, the report is not commensurate with the extent and magnitude of the damage that have occurred in all the three regions and it only shows a summary picture of the process.

He further noted that the report lacks impartiality and it was conducted in a way that questioned the neutrality of the organization, and it did not meet the UN investigation system and standards.

(Source: Ethiopian News Agency)

SUDAN

Sudan pensioners protest for improved pay

Demonstrators reportedly barricaded main roads in demand of a better pension pay arrangement, in accordance with the new salary structure and job grade.

They called on the authorities to stop deductions to their pensions, and to launch an investigation into the misappropriation of the pension fund.  

The protesters also demanded compensation for damages with a top-up salary of six months for each year of their dismissal, an improvement of the pension by 83 per cent, and a unification of a national pension age.

(Source: Dabanga)

SOMALIA 

Somali government requests urgent response from international donors

The Somali President’s envoy for humanitarian affairs, Abdirahman Abdishakur, who held a meeting with international donors, urged them to quickly respond to the drought that is feared to turn into a famine.

The envoy underlined that Somalia needs to be helped to utilize its resources, which can be a solution to the frequent droughts.

Finally, the delegation thanked the governments that offered donations, especially the United States government that donated $150 million in advance.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

ERITREA

President Isaias holds talks with China’s special envoy

President Isaias Afwerki met and held talks with the Special Envoy of the People’s Republic of China to the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Xue Bing, at Denden Guest House.

In their meeting, President Isaias and Ambassador Bing discussed modalities of deepening their bilateral cooperation in Eritrea’s priority areas of development. Both parties also further agreed that development cooperation must be pursued within the framework of its regional economic linkages.

Ambassador Xue Bing in his part stressed China’s readiness to contribute toward regional efforts of conflict resolution and for sustainable peace and partnership.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)