KENYA

High praise for President Ruto speech from awed MPs

President William Ruto’s speech during a joint sitting of the Senate and National Assembly drew a standing ovation from both sides of the political divide, save for pockets of MPs from Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party.

The short speech, which lasted just 33 minutes, was hailed as elaborate for highlighting critical issues touching on the contentious Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and Senate Oversight Fund.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan lauded the President’s commitment to lead the reinstatement of CDF and creation of the oversight fund for the Senate as a major win for the 13th Parliament.

He added that Dr Ruto’s commitment to respect the doctrine of separation of powers and his plan to make Cabinet Secretaries more available for questioning in Parliament will greatly aid MPs in their oversight work.

(Source: Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

How plunging Pound, Euro is affecting Tanzania

Tanzania could enjoy cheaper imports and slightly lower loan repayments after the euro and British pound plunged to record lows against the US dollar following recession fears that sparked volatility in financial markets.

In Tanzania, the euro has dropped from the exchange rate of Sh2,690.89 in September 2021 to Sh2,223.04 yesterday, according to Bank of Tanzania (BoT) updates.

This drop is expected to cut the cost of goods Tanzania imports from Europe such as construction products, machinery and steel.

(Source: The Citizen)

UGANDA

Ebola survivors to forego sex for 90 days

Ebola survivors have to wait for at least three months before having sex again unless they use condoms as one the preventive ways to curb spread of the disease, the Ministry of Health has advised.

The executive director of Uganda Virus Research Institute, Prof Pontiano Kaleebu, said although Ebola is not considered a sexually transmitted infection, in some studies, experts have found the virus in sperms after recovery.

Scientists say studies done in Liberia indicate that a woman was infected with Ebola following sexual intercourse with a male Ebola survivor.

(Source: The Monitor)

RWANDA

Prosecutors pin Kabuga on key role in genocide as trial begins

The Hague-based UN court, on Thursday, September 29, commenced hearing the case of Félicien Kabuga, a key suspect of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

The 89-year-old who was a businessman before and during the genocide, is charged with seven counts including: genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide and conspiracy to commit genocide.

Other charges include persecution and extermination – both as crimes against humanity.

He is being tried by the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunal, which took over from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

During Thursday’s hearing, the prosecutors presented to court their opening statement in which they detailed how Kabuga provided weapons, financial and moral support towards the atrocious genocide against the Tutsi.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA 

President receives credentials, ambassadors vow to enhance bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia

President Sahle Work Zewde received credentials of 11 ambassadors and the newly appointed ambassadors have expressed their commitment to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Ethiopia.

The ambassadors who presented their credentials were from Austria, Norway, Iran, Belgium, Niger, Kuwait, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Singapore, and Dominican Republic.

President Sahle Work Zewde reaffirmed on the occasion that the Government of Ethiopia will provide all the necessary support for the ambassadors of the respective countries to boost bilateral cooperation.

(Source: Ethiopian News Agency)

SUDAN

El Burhan urges intl community to support political consensus in Sudan

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and leader of the October 2021 coup d’état, Abdelfattah El Burhan, called on the international community and Britain to urge the various political groups and parties in the country to achieve a political settlement and cooperate with all parties alike.

During his meeting with the British Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan, Robert Fairweather, in the presence of the British Ambassador to Sudan, Giles Lever, El Burhan stressed the need to achieve national consensus, expand the base of political participation, and return to the transitional path in light of the declared position of the military component to withdraw from the political process.

He expressed his aspiration to speed up the achievement of consensus, expressing his confidence in the AU-IGAD-UNITAMS Trilateral Mechanism as a mediating platform.

(Source: Radio Dabanga)

SOMALIA

Council of ministers hold meeting to plan liberation of areas captured by Al-Shabaab

The meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia, which discussed the operations to liberate the areas under the control of Al-Shabaab, was praised for the achievements of the armed forces and the local forces in the operations in many parts of them. regions of the country.

The meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the ministries of defense and security of the country listened to reports about the successful operation of Al-Shabaab in many areas, the plan to secure the security and stabilization of the liberated cities.

Prime Minister Hamse pointed out that the government’s plan is to liberate the entire country from Al-Shabaab, and every area that has been liberated should be handed over to the government and public services, and it should be quickly managed and sorted out.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

ERITREA

Eritrean delegation holds talks with UN General Secretary

The senior Eritrean Delegation led by Mr. Osman Saleh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, met and held talks with Mr. Antonio Guterres,  Secretary-General of the United Nations, focusing on bilateral relations and issues of interest of the two sides.

According to the office of the Permanent Representative of Eritrea at the UN, the Eritrean delegation also held similar meetings with Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, and Ms. Martha Pobi, Assistant Secretary General of the UN.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)