Kenya

President Ruto clips CS Mutua wings in foreign policy shift

President William Ruto’s government has announced a major shift in the country’s foreign policy by allowing other countries and their missions in Kenya to engage directly with ministries and state agencies, without going through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(Source: Daily Nation)

Tanzania

Mpango: TZ, Cuba bilateral ties intact

Vice -President Philip Mpango has vowed that Tanzania and Cuba will continue upholding their historical bilateral ties founded by the founding fathers of the nations-Julius Nyerere and Fidel Castro. Dr Mpango made the statement on Wednesday evening in Azerbaijan when he met for talks with Cuba’s Vice President  Salvado Valdés Mesa.

During the conversation, Dr Mpango stated that the historical relations between the two countries not only helped Tanzania by then, but also supported the liberation of southern African countries during the struggle for independence.

(Source: The Daily News)

Uganda

NSSF PROBE: Minister Amongi should resign in public interest

The Select Committee that investigated the alleged mismanagement of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has made 27 recommendations, including that the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Betty Amongi should resign with immediate effect.

This was contained in the committee report presented by the Chairperson, Mwine Mpaka, in a House chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. The committee recommends that Amongi resigns in public interest on account of abuse of office, following her Shs6 billion request from the fund for alleged expansion of the fund.

(Source: The Daily Monitor)

Rwanda

Situation in eastern DR Congo a major human rights challenge – Biruta

The situation in eastern DR Congo is a major human rights challenge for the international community, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Vincent Biruta, told a high-level segment of the Human Rights Council on March 2. The minister virtually delivered his statement during the 52nd Session at the United Nations Office in Geneva’s Palais des Nations.

(Source: The New Times)

Ethiopia

Abiy launches year-long tax, customs laws compliance national campaign

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a tax and customs laws compliance national compliance today. The campaign, launched under the theme: “Tax for honor of country,” aims at strengthening the contribution of citizens in the national development endeavors by enhancing their taxpaying culture.

During the occasion, he said Ethiopia needs to work hard to become self-sufficient in covering its expenditures and realize dignity and freedom.

(Source: ENA)

Eritrea

President Isaias holds talks in Riyadh with Crown Prince Salman

President Isaias Afwerki held extensive discussions today in Riyadh with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and other senior Saudi officials. At the meeting held on March 1, the two sides agreed on broad modalities of partnership for enhancement of current and future interests of both countries.

Saudi Minister of Defence Emir Khaled bin Salman bin Abdulaziz; Minister of Foreign Affairs Emir Faisal bin Farhan; National Security Adviser, Dr. Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban; Minister of Finance Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Jidaan; as well as the Saudi Ambassador to Eritrea Seqr bin Suleiman Al Qureshi, attended the meeting that also discussed regional and international issues of mutual importance.

(Source: Shabait)

Sudan

Sudan public: new policies fail to address ‘disastrous’ economic situation

Traders, vendors, consumers, and economists in Khartoum denounced the doubling of customs duties on more than 100 import commodities and the Ministry of Finance’s intention to lift subsidies on gas, warning of dire consequences. The amendments to several laws by the Ministry of Finance aim to give the military institution more power over the economy, a lawyer told Radio Dabanga.

Various people from Omdurman told Radio Dabanga that “the unjustified increase” in customs duties from 15 to 30 per cent “will worsen livelihoods even more.”

(Source: Radio Dabanga)

Somalia

New batch of personnel from Uganda’s police unit arrive In Somalia

Uganda has deployed a new contingent of police personnel to serve under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Some 144 officers arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday and were received by senior ATMIS police officers.

They joined an advance team of 16 other officers who arrived earlier in the mission. The total of 160 personnel who will serve under the ATMIS Police component’s Formed Police Unit (FPU), will work alongside other contingents and Individual Police Officers (IPOs) to provide operational support and capacity building to their counterparts in the Somali Police Force (SPF). This is the eleventh contingent to be deployed to Somalia by the Uganda Police in support of the ongoing African Union peace support operations.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

General

Who is Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President-Elect?

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 70, has come out victorious in Nigeria’s highly disputed presidential election. Who is this veteran politician and why is he widely regarded as a kingmaker and “godfather”?, writes Okeri Ngutjinazo for Deutsche Welle.

Sometimes referred to as the political “godfather”, Tinubu has been known for exerting power from behind the scenes and using his extensive network to back candidates for office. Tinubu has played major roles in party politics since 1992 when he was elected senator for Lagos West District. He was also governor of Lagos for eight years. Tinubu’s support also helped outgoing leader Muhammadu Buhari win two terms in office, in 2015 and 2019.

Despite lingering questions about his health, the president-elect has been accused of corruption, money laundering, and operating more than a dozen foreign bank accounts but was never charged and denies wrongdoing. Once he takes up his position as president in June, Tinubu is expected to deal with a long list of problems including security, a currency crisis, fuel, and power shortages, and deeply entrenched corruption, adds Ngutjinazo.

(Source: AllAfrica)