KENYA

MPs fight as Wetang’ula rules Kenya Kwanza has majority

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula yesterday found himself in murky waters as MPs protested his declaration of Kenya Kwanza as the majority side forced him to end the sitting of the House prematurely.

Mr Wetang’ula, in an apparent reprimand to the Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) for failing to furnish the House with certified copies of coalition agreements as required by the Standing Orders, ruled that with 179 MPs in the 349-member House, Kenya Kwanza was the majority and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya the minority with 157 MPs.

Irked by the decision, MPs Rosa Buyu (Kisumu Town West) and Raphael Wanjala (Budalang’i) attempted to grab the mace but were swiftly intercepted by the Serjeants-At-Arms.

The incident led to chaos in the House that had sat pensively listening to the ruling that took the Speaker one hour to read, as other members stood from their seats and others approached the dispatch box.

(Source: Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

Suluhu warns rivals as Cabinet shuffled again

Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday cautioned critics inside her government against overstepping their authority, after shuffling her Cabinet again and unexpectedly firing a respected Foreign minister.

Hassan, who has battled division within the ruling party since taking office, sounded the warning while swearing in three ministers after a surprise shake-up to her Cabinet late Sunday.

“Once we agree on something, you are part of it. You can’t go out and claim that the decision was just a directive, not your will,” said Hassan.

(Source: The Monitor)

UGANDA

Opposition leaders want Gen Muhoozi jailed, demoted

A section of Ugandan leaders and scholars yesterday reacted with consternation over President Museveni’s speedy apology to Kenya on behalf of his 48-year-old son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, whom he sacked as Commander of Land Forces (CLF) on Tuesday and simultaneously promoted him to a four-star general.

Three of them – the Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Shadow Attorney General Wilfred Niwagaba – variously called for Gen Muhoozi to instead be demoted and court-martialled for allegedly violating army rules barring serving officers from making divisive public commentary on political, military and foreign policy issues.

(Source: The Monitor)

RWANDA

Kabuga trial: Witness reveals how RTLM fuelled genocide in former Cyangugu

A witness testifying before judges at the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) revealed how Felicien Kabuga’s extremist radio station incited and fuelled the genocide against Tutsi in the former Cyangugu prefecture (current Rusizi District).

Kabuga was the chief financier of Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), an extremist radio that called on the public to hunt and kill Tutsis during the genocide.

The protected witness code-named ‘KAB005’ was appearing in court on the second day of his cross-examination as prosecution continued to present evidence pinning Kabuga on his role in the genocide.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

PM Abiy, President Ruto hold bilateral discussions

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his delegation held bilateral discussions with a delegation of the Republic of Kenya led by President William Ruto.

President William Ruto is in Addis Ababa for an official visit to Ethiopia.

PM Abiy and his delegation held bilateral discussions today with the delegation of the Republic of Kenya led by President William Ruto.

During the discussion, the two leaders expressed strengthening collaboration between Ethiopia and Kenya.

PM Abiy earlier said in his Twitter handle that the relation between Kenya and Ethiopia is established on strong foundations and cordial cooperation focused on matters of mutual interest.

(Source: ENA)

SUDAN

Resistance and coordination committees activate new charter

Sudan’s Resistance Committees and Coordination Committees announced yesterday that they are activating the Revolutionary Charter for the Establishment of the People’s Authority.

Last week, 55 resistance committees and revolutionary bodies signed the new Revolutionary Charter for the Establishment of the People’s Authority, a political vision for the resistance committees.

The resistance committees have been working for a while to unify two different charters presented by the resistance committees of Wad Madani and Khartoum.

The charter adopted a decentralised system of government in the transitional period.

The signatories also affirmed their rejection of any calls for direct or indirect negotiations with the coup plotters and called for the continuation of peaceful resistance.

(Source: Radio Dabanga)

SOMALIA

Prime Minister Barre appoints new official

Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Hamse Abdi Barre has appointed the Director-General of the Ministry of Interior, Federal and Reconciliation of the Government of Somalia.

In a circular issued by the office of the Prime Minister, he has temporarily appointed Aydarous Macalin Hassan Abdulle as the Director-General of the Ministry of Interior, replacing his predecessor.

The appointment of Macalin came after seeing the need to speed up the administration of the Ministry of Interior, Federal and Reconciliation of the Government of Somalia.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

ERITREA

Veteran freedom fighter Tekeste Baire passes away

Veteran freedom fighter Tekeste Baire, Secretary-General of the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers, passed away at the age of 69 after a short bout of illness.

Baire who joined the EPLF in 1976 served his country and people in various capacities of the Eritrean Workers Association in Europe and head of Public Administration in the Southern Europe Region.

After independence Baire served his country and people with utmost dedication since 1994 as Chairman of the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)