Kenya

No pay for striking medics, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha now says

Striking health workers will not be paid for failing to show up at their workstations, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha has said.

CS Nakhumicha said the government has agreed to most of the doctors’ demands, with only a few issues yet to be tackled.

According to the Health CS, out of the 19 demands presented by the striking medics, the government has considered 18 so far.

“If someone does not work for 40 days, should they be paid? It is the person who has worked that deserves to be paid,” said CS Nakhumicha.

(Source: Nation)

Tanzania

CCM brags to continue lifting country to success

The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has boasted of having unquestionable experience in leadership to guide the country towards more success, calling for extended support from Tanzanians in the coming elections.

Likewise, the party says the opposition has equally enough experience to remain a strong opponent in the political field, saying that if Tanzanians allow them to perform an alternative job, they are likely to make them fail.

(Source: Daily News)

Uganda

Govt unveils guidelines to protect local innovations

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance has unveiled the intellectual property (IP) toolkit that provides guidelines for the effective creation, development, and protection of innovations in Uganda.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr Aminah Zawedde, together with partner agencies, unveiled the IP toolkit at the National Intellectual Property Conference in Kampala on Wednesday.

Intellectual property (IP) rights is where an innovator or creator is granted exclusive rights to exploit and benefit from his/her creation. IP rights include patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

(Source: Monitor)

Rwanda

Anyone supporting FDLR poses direct threat to Rwanda’s security, says envoy

Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations has said that anyone providing support to the eastern DR Congo-based FDLR militia, a genocidal group formed by remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, will be “considered belligerent to Rwanda.”

Ernest Rwamucyo, who addressed the UN Security Council on Wednesday, April 24, during a briefing on the Great Lakes Region, said the UN-sanctioned group linked to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi continues to pose “a security and existential threat to Rwanda” and spreads an ideology of genocide in the region.

“FDLR is also the master minder of ethnic cleansing of Congolese Tutsi and is responsible for heinous human rights violations in eastern [DR Congo],” Rwamucyo said.

(Source: The New Times)

Ethiopia

Ethiopia, Uganda keen to strengthen relationships

Ethiopia’s ambassador to Uganda, Burundi, Seychelles, Comoros and the Central African Republic, Etsegenet Bezabih, said various activities are carried out to strengthen the existing historical relationships between Ethiopia and Uganda.

According to the ambassador, activities have been underway to organise the “Ethio-Uganda Day” event with a view to strengthening people-to-people relations between the two countries.

She said that many Ethiopians live in Uganda, noting the people of the two countries have many shared values.

The ambassador further indicated efforts being made to enhance trade ties between the countries by using the potential of Ethiopian Airlines in this regard.

The two countries have been collaborating in peace and security and the promotion of Pan-Africanism.

In addition to Uganda, Ethiopia is keen to further strengthen its relations with other African countries including Burundi, Seychelles, Comoros and the Central African Republic, she added.

 (Source: ENA)

Sudan

Sudan timeline January-March 2024: Sudan becomes ‘the largest humanitarian crisis in the world’

Humanitarian conditions are rapidly deteriorating across Sudan, in particular in the war zones, as most people have depleted their reserves. International organisations warn that ‘every second person’ in Sudan needs aid. Washington calls Sudan ‘the largest humanitarian crisis in the world’.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) intensifies its offensive against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum state, North Kordofan, and North Darfur and books successes in Omdurman.

The airstrikes on RSF sites in the country lead to many more civilian casualties. An almost nationwide communications and Internet blackout blocks the receival of remittances and other funds for at least six weeks. The USA and EU impose sanctions on Sudanese Islamists and companies linked with the SAF and RSF.

The Sudanese Civil Democratic Forces alliance (Tagaddum) continues its diplomatic efforts to realise a lasting peace in the country. After a tour of the region, Tom Perriello, the newly appointed US Special Envoy to Sudan, says ‘he hopes’ that talks between the SAF and the RSF will resume in April.

(Source: Independent)