Kenya  

PSC Chair Francis Meja Denies Wrongdoing in Contempt of Court Application  

The Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC), Francis Meja, has denied any wrongdoing in a contempt-of-court application filed against him and other senior officials over their handling of public participation in draft regulations to remove the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). 

In his response, Meja claims he became aware of a court order dated March 12, 2026, only after attending a scheduled stakeholder validation forum on March 23. He argues that the Commission immediately halted further action upon learning of the ruling, stressing there was no deliberate defiance of the court’s directives.  

(Source: Citizen Digital)  

Uganda  

NRM Legislators’ Retreat: Museveni Gives Lecture on Party Principles, Corruption  

“You are now not only followers of the NRM but leaders. A follower may support some aspects of the movement without delving into its beliefs, but a leader must understand the ideology, philosophy and strategy,” Museveni noted. 

President Yoweri Museveni has officially opened a week-long retreat for newly elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) Members of Parliament and party-leaning independents at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Kyankwanzi. He likened the retreat at Kyankwanzi to a “seminary,” where leaders receive deeper ideological grounding. On arrival at NALI, the President was received by the Vice President, Jessica Alupo; the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa; the NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong; and members of the Central Executive Committee. The retreat is being held under the theme: “Aligning the NRM leadership towards protecting the gains and making a bold, qualitative leap towards a higher middle-income status society”. The gathering is expected to equip legislators with ideological clarity and policy direction as they begin their term in the 12th Parliament.  

(Source: New Vision)  

Tanzania  

President Samia Orders Officials to Halt Unnecessary Travel Due to the Global Oil Crisis  

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed government officials to slash fuel consumption by curbing unnecessary travel and reducing the number of official vehicles, as the country grapples with rising global oil prices. Speaking at the State House in Dodoma on Wednesday during the swearing-in of newly appointed officials, the President said the surge in fuel prices is a worldwide challenge affecting many nations, not Tanzania alone. 

She, however, noted emerging signs of a slight drop in fuel prices in some countries, expressing optimism that costs could ease in the near future. Leading by example, the Head of State pledged to reduce her own motorcade during official tours and urged public officials to adopt shared transport, including buses, to minimise fuel expenses. According to the President, the aim is to reinforce discipline in the use of public resources and ease the government’s financial burden.  

(Source: Daily News)  

Rwanda  

Genocide Suspects Must Be Prosecuted, Ugirashebuja Tells UN  

Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, has called for renewed efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Speaking at the 32nd commemoration of the Genocide, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, April 7, Ugirashebuja noted that Rwandans still have unanswered questions about why evidence and reports on the planning of the massacres in Rwanda were ignored. 

“It is equally troubling that some countries continue to provide haven to genocide suspects,” the minister told UN officials, diplomats, and Genocide survivors gathered in the UN General Assembly Hall. “Rwanda’s position is clear: Those responsible must either be extradited to Rwanda or prosecuted wherever they are found. Genocide is a crime that transcends borders, and justice must follow suit.”  

(Source: The New Times)  

Ethiopia  

Member of European Parliament Describes Ethiopia’s Quest for Sea Access as Logical Right  

Ethiopia’s quest for access to the sea is a legitimate right, as the country is a rising state amid various challenges, noted Thierry Mariani, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Historical accounts show that the prominence of the Axumite civilisation and its strong engagement in international commerce were closely tied to direct access to sea outlets. 

This legacy endured for generations, with Ethiopia sustaining a naval capacity that contributed to stability in the Red Sea and the surrounding region. The loss of direct access to the Red Sea coast followed a convergence of internal and external pressures in the early 1990s, leaving the country landlocked. In an exclusive interview with ENA, the MEP said it is illogical that one of the region’s main states is a landlocked country with no access to the sea. Stating the significance of finding a lasting solution to the situation, Mariani said it is logical that the state has access to the sea.   

(Source: ENA)  

Sudan   

UN Agencies Warn of Life-Threatening Aid Cuts for Sudanese Refugees in Chad  

More than a million Sudanese refugees in Chad face immediate, life-threatening cuts to essential services as humanitarian funding dries up, two United Nations agencies warned on Thursday. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said that food, water, shelter, and healthcare will be drastically scaled back unless a $428 million funding gap is closed. The warning comes as the conflict in neighbouring Sudan approaches its third year, leaving Chad to host 1.3 million Sudanese refugees. Over 900,000 of those arrived after the war broke out in 2023. 

The UNHCR currently has enough resources to provide basic assistance to only four out of every ten refugees. Critical shortages have left 80,000 families without shelter, while some settlements receive less than half the minimum daily water requirements. Health centres and schools are also failing under the strain. In most locations, classrooms are overwhelmed, with more than 100 children per teacher, and protection services for survivors of gender-based violence are being reduced.  

(Source: Sudan Tribune)   

Somalia  

South West State Interim Leader Inaugurates New Minister of Internal Security  

The Interim Leader of the South West State, H.E. Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi, officially presided over the swearing-in of the newly appointed Minister of Internal Security, Hon. Mohamed Hussein Hassan John. The high-level inauguration was held at the state presidential palace in Baidoa and attended by federal ministers, members of the Federal Parliament, various councils of the South West State government, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and other distinguished state dignitaries. The incoming Minister took the oath of office, pledging his absolute commitment to serving the citizens and the administration of the South West State with uncompromising integrity. 

During his address, Interim Leader Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi formally congratulated the new Minister. He emphasised the necessity of fortifying regional security, neutralising any elements that threaten public stability, and significantly improving operational coordination among all active security agencies. This appointment aligns with the Federal Government’s mandate to strengthen state-level security architectures to ensure continuous regional stability.  

(Source: SONNA)