Kenya.

US censures Kenya government over human rights violations during protests

President Joe Biden’s administration has censured the Kenyan government’s handling of anti-government protests and demanded immediate action against human rights violations. The visiting US Department of State Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya expressed her country’s deep concern with police brutality, saying it is in breach of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution. At the end of her two-day inaugural visit to Kenya, Ms Zeya affirmed her country’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and respect for human rights, in the wake of cases of forced disappearance, abductions and arbitrary arrests.

(The Citizen)

Uganda.

Uganda arraigns opposition lawmakers, supporters over protest

Police arrested 14 Ugandan opposition officials and supporters on Monday as they marched through their capital towards the Kenyan embassy to protest against Nairobi’s decision to detain and deport a group of their col-leagues, local media said. The arrests and last month’s deportations come as both Kenya and neigh-bouring Uganda have been rocked by anti-government demonstrations by youth and opposition activists – though the streets of Uganda’s capital were otherwise quiet on Monday. Kenyan authorities on July 23 detained 36 members of Uganda’s opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who had travelled there for a training course, lawyers for the group said.

(Business Daily)

Somalia

Somalia’s Cabinet approves Bill for universal suffrage

Somalia’s Cabinet approved a Bill on Thursday that, if confirmed by Parliament, will revert the country’s election system to universal suffrage for the first time in decades, ending a process of indirect voting, the government’s spokesperson said.

Amid widespread insecurity caused by an Islamist insurgency and weak state structures, in recent years lawmakers voted for the president, while clan heads and elders elected lawmakers in both the federal government and regional states..

The country had initially been scheduled to move to direct voting in 2020, but protracted squabbles among politicians and persisting insecurity across the country forced the government to retain the indirect ballot.

(Business Daily)