KENYA

Ruto’s Hustler Fund challenged in court

The government’s decision to establish the Sh50 billion Hustler Fund has been challenged in court by two civilians who claim that the kitty is illegal and an avenue to loot public coffers.

The petitioners, Mr Bernard Odero Okello and Mr Kevin Ndoho Macharia, want the court to suspend implementation of the Fund and disbursement of loans pending determination of the lawsuit filed at the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi. 

They claim that the ongoing disbursements are unlawful because the government is yet to appoint a board of directors to regulate the Hustler Fund and a Chief Executive Officer as required by the Public Finance Management (Financial Inclusion Fund) Regulations, 2022.

They add that the Fund was rolled out without any appropriation by the National Assembly as required in the Regulations and the Public Finance Management Act, 2012.

(Source: Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

Samia sole candidate for Chama cha Mapinduzi chairperson’s post

All eyes are now on Tanzania’s Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) secretariat as the country’s ruling party holds its general meeting, which will elect top leaders, followed by subsequent appointment of party executives.

Already, President Samia Suluhu Hassan is the only candidate for the post of chairperson, as the party’s central committee also approved Abdulrahman Kinana to retain his post as vice chairperson for Tanzania mainland.

Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi is also the only candidate for the chairperson’s post on the islands. He will replace former president Ali Mohammed Shein whose tenure has ended.

(Source: The East African)

UGANDA

Umeme confirms 2025 exit from Uganda

Power distribution company Umeme confirmed on Thursday that they will exit Uganda in 2025 after they received notice from government that their 20-year concession will not be renewed upon expiry.

Part of the reasons for the government to end the Umeme concession have been high electricity tariffs.

Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is the government entity on whose behalf Umeme Ltd runs the electricity distribution infrastructure.

(Source: Monitor)

RWANDA

Senate president resigns

Dr Augustin Iyamuremye has stepped down from his role as Senate president, Parliament has announced.

It added, “Tomorrow, December 9th, a special plenary sitting will convene to declare the Office of the President of the Senate vacant.”

A former Cabinet minister and senior member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Iyamuremye assumed office as Senate president in October 2019.

As head of the upper chamber of parliament, the 76-year-old has been the country’s number two after the President of the Republic.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

President reaffirms Ethiopia’s commitment to maintain int’l peace, security

President Sahle-Work Zewde has reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security.

She made the remark at the 24th Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) general meeting underway here in Addis Ababa.

Attended by 14 Eastern African countries, the meeting is being held under the theme “promoting best policing practices in the fight against terrorism and transnational organised crime in EAPCCO region and beyond.”

During the occasion, President Sahle-Work said Ethiopia has been working to maintain peace in the region and prevent transnational crimes in the region.

(Source: ENA)

SUDAN 

NUP hopes to convince non-signatories to join Sudan framework agreement

Mohamed El Mahdi Hasan, head of the Political Bureau of the National Umma Party (NUP), says that the framework agreement is open for necessary amendments proposed by current opponents. He told Radio Dabanga on Wednesday that they are contacting the main opponent groups to discuss their concerns. “The signatory and non-signatory parties agree on 95 per cent of the framework agreement articles,” he said. “It is never possible to achieve complete consensus.”

The signatories are drawing up plans and forming committees to make the necessary arrangements for the final agreement between the military and civilian groups about the upcoming transitional period, scheduled to be signed at the end of this month.

(Source: Radio Dabanga)

SOMALIA

IMF announces Somali government has exceeded all the conditions set

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued an evaluation report on the ECF (Extended Credit Facility) programme for Somalia’s financial reform and debt forgiveness process.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that the Federal Government of Somalia has exceeded all the conditions set to advance the process of reforming the Somali economy known as ECF which is also a process to guide Debt Forgiveness issues.

The Executive Committee of the IMF, which released this report, praised the Federal Government of Somalia for the implementation of the reform of the financial system in order to increase domestic revenue, and suggested that more efforts should be made in tax policy and administrative reform, including customs modernization and the new income tax law.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

ERITREA

Embassy of Eritrea to the US rejects allegations in recent Bloomberg article

The Embassy of the State of Eritrea to the US strongly con­demns and vehemently rejects the unfounded accusations made against the country in the ar­ticle, “Ethiopia Peace Process Undermined as Eritrean Forces Continue Attacking Civilians,” recently published by Bloomberg (30 November 2022).

It is deeply concerning that an outlet presum­ably dedicated to accurately and objectively informing the public has instead chosen to spread crass disinformation and falsehoods. Regrettably, this is not the first time that the outlet or the particu­lar authors have made allegations about Eritrea without a shred of evidence.

Around the world, people look to the mainstream media, includ­ing global outlets such as Bloom­berg, to maintain high standards of integrity, objectivity, and bal­ance. Unfortunately, in its latest article on Eritrea, the outlet has been cavalier with the truth and widely missed the mark. The Em­bassy of Eritrea implores Bloom­berg to cease spreading false­hoods and strongly encourages it to deal with Eritrea and the region in a truthful and objective manner moving forward.

(Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea)