KENYA

Chebukati role: Lawyers disagree in petition row

Lawyers representing electoral agency chairman Wafula Chebukati yesterday defended his role as the presidential election returning officer, citing a 2017 Supreme Court ruling they said provided clarity on the matter.

Mr Chebukati’s role in the presidential election came up during the Supreme Court proceedings on Wednesday, with lawyer Paul Nyamodi, who is leading petitioner Youth Advocacy Africa’s legal team, saying, no such position exists.

According to Mr Nyamodi, the position of national returning officer is neither backed by the Constitution nor the Elections Act.

The lawyer accused Mr Chebukati of appointing himself to the position, contrary to the provisions of the law.

“There is no position like the national returning officer. He gazetted himself as the national returning officer. As a matter of good electoral practice, returning officers are gazetted with their deputies — the chairman gazetted himself with no deputy,” Mr Nyamodi said.

But lawyer Kamau Karori, appearing for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the ongoing presidential petition, yesterday dismissed the arguments against Mr Chebukati’s role.

Mr Karori insisted that the role exists, and no less than the Supreme Court had affirmed it.

(Source : Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

Tanzania hailed for maintaining security in southern border

Turkish Ambassador in Tanzania Mehmet Gulluoglu has commended the Tanzania People Defense Force (TPDF) and other security agencies for strengthening security at its southern border with Mozambique.

Insurgents linked to the Islamic State have staged attacks since October 2017 in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique’s coastal province rich in natural gas reserves and host to an estimated $60 billion worth of international investment in gas projects.

The violence has left at least 3,100 dead, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), which tracks political violence around much of the world.

Speaking during the event to commemorate the country’s 100th independence anniversary, Dr Gulluoglu commended TPDF and other security agencies for safeguarding and maintaining the country’s peace and stability in the region.

(Source: The Citizen) 

UGANDA

Minister warns judges against ‘siding’ with wetland encroachers

The Minister for Public Service, Mr Muruli Mukasa, has cautioned judges against awarding damages caused to individuals who erect developments in wetland areas, referring to them as irresponsible citizens.

Mr Mukasa, while giving his remarks at the launch of the retired professionals’ scheme for the water and environment sector in Uganda at the Ministry of Water and Environment headquarters in Luzira, Kampala on Tuesday, noted that the law should have a human face and be responsive of the various challenges the country is facing.

“Water services are under pressure because of the growing population. We need to enjoy the benefits of water without sacrificing too much. All these irresponsible people are having a negative impact and putting serious pressure on the water resources and on the people who are responsible for making sure we have the water at the time we need it for all purposes to have it sustainable. These challenges cannot be just addressed by the ministry or government alone but by everyone,” the minister added.

(Source: The Monitor) 

RWANDA

Rwanda-Uganda Joint Permanent Commission revived after ten years

Rwanda and Uganda have agreed to revive the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) that last met in 2012. The decision was reached during a meeting between Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeje Odongo with his Rwandan counterpart, Vincent Biruta on September 1.

Odongo is in the country for a two-day visit for diplomatic and political consultations.

“Our relations are very good and we decided on the next meeting of JPC that should be convened before March 2023. JPC had last convened in 2012. We also got into details of our relations and security issues in the region” said Biruta.

This will be the tenth such meeting between the two countries the upcoming meeting is expected to focus on critical areas taking into consideration the outcomes of the last meeting.

Meanwhile, Odongo said that part of the meeting was to advance means in which both countries can speak with one voice on security matters in the region.

“We also discussed regional matters and we have agreed that we need to be able to speak with one voice, in as far as regional matters, particularly security is concerned. Together, Rwanda and Uganda should now focus on those activities that will bring benefits to our people and the region. It is important that the region hears our collective voice,” said Odongo.

On relations between the two countries, both ministers said that they had turned a new chapter.

“We want to translate our relations into a voice that is in unison on matters that are in relation to our security plans and development. We want to look at that relations in terms of the strategic significance for our two countries and for the region,” said Odongo.

In June this year, regional leaders including Presidents of both Rwanda and Uganda met in Nairobi for the third EAC Heads of State Conclave on DR Congo.

Both ministers also discussed matters related to trade, investment, and strategic regional projects.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

Gov’t will continue upholding constitutional obligations to safeguard Ethiopians: DPM &FM

The federal government is committed to taking all the necessary steps to prevent TPLF from harming people in Amhara and Afar regions and meet its constitutional responsibilities, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said.

Briefing diplomats and representatives of international organizations in Addis Ababa about current developments in Ethiopia, the deputy premier focused on the conflict the TPLF re-ignited, the present humanitarian situation, and the government’s continued efforts to bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion.

TPLF’s latest wave of attacks which began on August 23, 2022 against the Amhara and Afar areas is not accepted, he stressed.

Unlike TPLF which continues to impose conditions and disparage the AU-led peace process and escalates hostilities, Demeke stated that the Ethiopian government is committed to achieving peace.

The Government of Ethiopia has been taking measures against the terrorist group with utmost care to avoid civilian casualties, alerting them to protect themselves by staying away from military installations, he explained.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister welcomed humanitarian partners and international organizations that honestly and impartially served the people.

(Source: Ethiopian News Agency)

ERITREA

Eritrea committed to maintain high immunization coverage

Eritrea continues to maintain the highest immunization coverage. According to a report by the UNICEF,  Eritrea registered significant increase in vaccine intake in 2020 as compared to 2019, which is an increase of 14% immunization coverage. The success is the result of the proactive efforts of Eritrea’s Ministry of Health (MoH) which is seen in its commitment to intensify community mobilization as well as enhance access to rural communities through its integrated mobile outreach services all over the country.

WHO report shows that Eritrea is one of the countries in Africa that has attained MDG 4 and one of the few countries on track for MDG 5. The reports by far indicate that the country is working in collaboration with partners to attain SDG related goals and targets. The reports by UNICIEF and WHO corroborate the country’s all-time commitment to ensure societal wellbeing despite challenges of any kind.

Before 1991, all social services, and particularly healthcare services, in the country were confined to narrow urban areas with below 10% of immunization coverage, where children under one year of age received lower vaccination shots that were limited to only 6 vaccine types.

Eritrea’s commitment to ensure the prevalence of social justice has been clear from the onset. In the immediate aftermath of the country’s independence, social services were evenly and strategically developed across the country. Hence, ensuring the wellbeing and health of women and children has been commendable with an ever-increasing immunization coverage as a driving force in guaranteeing healthy lifestyle.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)

SUDAN

Pro-democracy as well as pro-military groups working on proposals for new govt

The Sudanese Bar Association will announce its version of their proposed transitional constitution later this week. A new political coalition of pro-military groups is in the making, while the Sudanese resistance committees are working to create a large coalition in order to reach a democratic civilian rule. The ambassadors of the USA, the UK, and Saudi Arabia to Sudan met yesterday to discuss new ways of mediation to help resolve the current political impasse. Gen Hemeti has offered support as well.

US Ambassador John Godfrey, UK Ambassador Giles Leifer, and Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador Ali Bin Jaafar met in Khartoum on Tuesday to discuss the next steps of their efforts to mediate between the various components of Sudanese society to bridge the gaps between Sudanese actors to resolve the political crisis.

Gen Hemeti on Monday reiterated “the strict commitment of the military institution to leave the matter of governance to civilians,” the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported that day.

In a press statement, he said that the military is ready to hold consultative meetings with the parties, in order to launch a Sudanese dialogue and achieve a national consensus on the democratic transformation that will lead to general elections in the end.

Hemeti called on “all revolutionary and national forces” to expedite reaching a solution for the current political impasse, so that that a new transitional government can be formed.

(Source: Radio Dabanga)

SOMALIA

Interior minister meets with high-level representatives from the Norwegian Embassy

The Minister for Interior, Federal and Reconciliation, Mr. Ahmed Macalin Fiqi, met with high level representatives from the Norwegian Embassy in Somalia.

The representatives from the Norwegian Embassy in Somalia were led by the Head of the Embassy, ​​Mr Haakon Svane, discussed stabilization, reconciliation and development programs of the Norwegian Government in Somalia.

The minister praised the position taken by the Norwegian government in the matters of stability and reconciliation, the local government buildings and promised to work closely with the organisations that implement the projects carried out by the Norwegian government.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)