KENYA

Inside the deal that saw Kalonzo rejoin Azimio coalition

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has secured Cabinet slots and a commitment of law change to create the post of Prime Minister, which he will hold, should Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga form the next government.

This was part of the deal Mr Musyoka brokered to seal his return to Azimio after initially protesting his being snubbed for the post of Mr Odinga’s running mate, which went to Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.

The Musyoka camp might also get the Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary post he once held during the Kanu regime.

Sources indicated other ministerial positions fronted by Mr Musyoka are those of Energy, Water, Health and Tourism.

(Source: The Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

Kenya’s plan to seize LPG logistics business from Tanzania

Kenya seeks to dominate in the supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by constructing the biggest import and storage gas facility in Mombasa and licensing more private companies to compete with Tanzania which has dominated the business for years in the region.

The announcement to construct a 25,000 tonnes storage facility by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) which will connect to the Kshs 42 billion new Kipevu Oil Terminal 2 (KOT) at the port of Mombasa comes few days after Kenya banned imports of gas from Tanzania through the Namanga border.

Early this month, Kenya started a crackdown on gas importers from Tanzania as the country’s revenue authority Deputy Commissioner for Revenue and Regional Coordination Joseph Kaguru disclosed that the traders have been paying Value Added Tax (VAT) of eight percent instead of 16 percent.

Mr Kaguru added that the traders are shipping in the commodity from the Middle East and using the Namanga border point to pay lower taxes under the pretext they are sourcing it from Tanzania.

(Source: The Citizen)

UGANDA

Security takes over Namugongo suburbs

Security agencies have beefed up security on roads leading to Namugongo and the surrounding suburbs ahead of Friday, June 3, Uganda Martyrs’ Day celebrations.

Criminals used to target pilgrims in the suburbs as they walked to the shrines and rob them of their phones and property.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman Luke Owoyesigyire said they have concentrated a big number of their covert and overt forces in the suburbs and on roads used by the pilgrims.

Hundreds of thousands of people convene at the Anglican and Catholic shrines in Namugongo every year on June 3 to commemorate the killing of 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic boys by Buganda King Mwanga between 1885 and 1887.

(Source: Monitor)

RWANDA

Officials Warn Against Hate Speech Amidst Rwanda-DR Congo Tensions

A Ugandan diplomat on Tuesday, May 31, backed Rwanda in condemning all manifestations of hate speech and genocide ideology in the region.

Amb. Adonia Ayebare, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, was speaking at the United Nations Security Council briefing on the situation concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He said: “We condemn hate speech in all its forms and manifestations, given the recent history of our region where over one million people perished in the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.”

Tensions escalated between Rwanda and the DR Congo, following the recent resurgence of the M23 rebellion in the latter’s restive east. The fighting between the Congolese army (FARDC) and the rebels near the common border is threatening to drag Rwanda into what is actually an intra-Congolese conflict.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

In Ethiopia, mass detention signals shrinking press freedom

At least a dozen of the arrests are linked to critical coverage of the breakout of fighting between the Ethiopian army and militias in the Amhara region. In addition, security forces in the region have detained more than 4,000 anti-government demonstrators and opposition politicians critical of plans to demobilise ethnic Amhara militias.

The arrests raised the total number of media employees arrested across Ethiopia this year to 22. The authorities have accused the detainees of worsening the bloodshed at a time when the country is torn apart by strife.

The pressure has made Ethiopian journalists contemplate quitting their jobs or fleeing to neighbouring countries. Some have toned down their reporting and are electing to write stories without bylines.

(Source: Aljazeera)

SOMALIA

President Hassan sends appeal to the International Community and people of Somalia

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, visited the IDP camps in Baidoa and observed the living conditions of the Somali people affected by drought, water shortages and effects of terrorism.

The President called on the people of Somalia and the world at large to come to the aid of those affected by the recurring natural disasters and the security situation in parts of the country, urging government agencies to speed up operations.

The President underlined that the Federal Government of Somalia will give priority to addressing the humanitarian situation in the country and supporting the people of Somalia affected by the drought, noting that the government has recently appointed a special envoy to work on coordination of drought relief issues.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

ERITREA

Nationals in Various Countries Celebrate Independence Day

Eritrean nationals across the world are celebrating the 31st Anniversary of Eritrea’s Independence Day with great enthusiasm under the theme “Independent Choice-Backbone of Our Pride”.

At the celebration organised on May 27 in Kuwait in which diplomats, friends of Eritrea as well as a number of nationals took part, Mr. Humed Yahya, Charge d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in Kuwait, indicated the heavy sacrifice the Eritrean people paid for their independence, and called on nationals residing in Kuwait to strengthen contribution and participation in the national affairs.

Likewise, Eritrean nationals in Kenya celebrated the 31st anniversary of Independence Day with patriotic zeal.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)