Kenya

Ruto, Raila headed for fresh battle over Parliament talks

President William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga are on a new collision course barely two days after calling a political ceasefire amid countrywide mass protests.

Mr Odinga yesterday spurned an offer by the Head of State to have the Opposition’s grievances addressed by a bi-partisan team in Parliament, instead calling for a process similar to the National Accord of 2008. 

Addressing a press conference in Kigali, Rwanda yesterday, Dr Ruto ruled out a “handshake” with Mr Odinga, referring to a pact the Opposition chief made with former President Uhuru Kenyatta in March 2018. 

(Daily Nation)

Tanzania

Tanoil management suspended over embezzlement

Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) board of directors has decided to suspend Tanzania National Oil (Tanoil) as an internal audit report unveils embezzlements at the office.

Tanoil is a TPDC subsidiary company that undertakes oil trading business, represents the government’s interests on behalf of cooperation in all oil-related mid and downstream activities and projects along the petroleum value chain.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Energy, the suspended officials were the general manager, Mr Kapuulya Musomba, and finance and administration manager, James Batamuzi

(Daily News)

Uganda

Govt seeks to introduce 140,000 e-bikes in Uganda in five years

Government has signed a five-year agreement in which it will seek to replace more than 140,000 combustion-engine motorbikes in Kampala with electric alternatives.

In a statement released on Monday, the government indicated the move seeks to reduce emissions from motorbike taxis, also known as “boda-boda” in Kampala, which account for one-third of Uganda’s official fleet. The agreement comes at a time when much of Africa is attracting an increase in e-mobility activity.

(The Daily Monitor)

Rwanda

Kenyan president visits Rwanda

Kenya President William Ruto, on Tuesday, April 4, began his two-day state visit to Rwanda, his first to the country since he was elected to head the East African country last year.

On his first day, Dr Ruto took part in several activities including a joint press briefing with President Paul Kagame following a bilateral meeting between the two heads of state. At the same ceremony, the two witnessed the signing of nine cooperation agreements in different areas. Both Rwanda and Kenya have for a long time enjoyed cordial bilateral ties across different sectors of development.

President Ruto also visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where he paid tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. Later in the evening, Kagame hosted President Ruto at a dinner gala

(The New Times)

Ethiopia

High-level Ethiopian delegation holds talks with Somali president

A high-level Ethiopian delegation held a fruitful discussion with the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, in Mogadishu.The high-level delegation led by vice president of the Prosperity Party, Adem Farah, along with the State Minister of Foreign affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, and other higher officials is in Mogadishu for a working visit.

As part of its visit, the delegation held a fruitful discussion with the President of Somalia focusing on bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest to Ethiopia and Somalia. During the occasion, the delegation conveyed a message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to President Sheikh Mohamoud.

 (ENA)

Eritrea

Senior Eritrean delegation on working visit to South Sudan

Senior Eritrean delegation comprising Mr. Osman Saleh, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Presidential Adviser, Mr. Yemane Gebreab, are on a working visit to South Sudan.

The delegation, Monday, April 3, delivered a message from President Isaias Afwerki to President Salva Kiir Mayardit. The message focused on the development in South Sudan as well as bilateral relations and regional developments.

President Salva Kiir highlighted the long-standing relations between the two countries forged in a common struggle for freedom and thanked President Isaias for his message and continued solidarity with the people of South Sudan, including in multilateral forums.

(Shabait)

Sudan

Signing of Sudan’s final agreement postponed over SAF-RSF differences

The signatories of the Framework Agreement decided to postpone the signing of the Final Agreement to April 6 instead of April 1, as originally planned, to give the military component of the government extra days to resolve differences over military integration and reform.

The signing of the Final Agreement between the ruling military junta and more than 40 political parties and groups who signed the Framework Agreement on December 5 last year would conclude the current political process and pave the way for civilian-led democratic governance. The Framework Agreement postponed five ‘thorny issues’ until the Final Agreement, including agreements on security and military reform.

The announcement of the postponement came after a meeting between civilian parties involved in the political process, Commander of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Chair of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, and Sovereignty Council Deputy Chair and Commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Dagalo, at the Republican Palace in Khartoum on Saturday.

(Dabanga)

Somalia

Somalia and Cuba re-establish diplomatic ties after over four decades

The governments of Somalia and Cuba have agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations after cutting ties over four decades ago. This comes as President Hassan Sheikh received the credentials of the ambassador from Cuba’s new ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Ibrahim Youssef in Mogadishu.

 “Having established diplomatic relations between 1972-1977, we welcome the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba governed by cooperation and mutual respect,” says Somalia’s Foreign Affairs minister Abshir Omar via Twitter. Speaking to VOA Somali Service Minister Awad said that it is very good for governments to be friends, and the current government always has to find strengthen the relations