KENYA

Gachagua’s six demands to Kanja after ‘life in danger’ claim

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has made six demands to Inspector General Douglas Kanja after he claimed that his life was in danger. In a detailed letter seen by The Star, Gachagua called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of individuals allegedly responsible for orchestrating acts of violence against him. He further demanded enhanced security at all public events he attends moving forward. Additionally, he asked to be accorded adequate personal security without delay. 

Gachagua also urged police officers to cease and desist from interfering with peaceful assemblies and stop National Intelligence Service officers from trailing him. The former Deputy President also asked for protection for his homes and property. The letter, which was also copied to President William Ruto, outlined several incidents that Gachagua described as threats to his safety.

(The Star)

UGANDA

Museveni calls for action against key bottlenecks undermining public service

President Yoweri Museveni has called on leaders to address persistent bottlenecks undermining government service delivery and social transformation. These bottlenecks according to him include sabotage of free education, the healthcare system, corruption and land grabbing.

The President identified a number of ‘irritants’ he said were eroding public trust in government. Among these was the illegal practice of charging learners in government-aided schools, which he described as a betrayal of the Universal Primary and Secondary Education (UPE and USE) policy. The meeting was also attended by Lucy Nakyobe, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, the Minister for Presidency, Hon. Victoria Rusoke Businge, the Minister of State for Local Government, and Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, among other officials.

(Chimp Reports)

TANZANIA

Tanzania’s top opposition party disqualified from polls, election commission says

Tanzania’s main opposition party CHADEMA has been disqualified from elections due later this year, a senior election commission official said on Saturday, days after the party’s leader was charged with treason for allegedly seeking to disrupt the vote.

Prosecutors accused Lissu on Thursday of calling on the public to launch a rebellion and prevent the election from taking place. He was not allowed to enter a plea on the treason charge, which carries a death penalty. CHADEMA had previously threatened to boycott the elections unless significant reforms are made to an electoral process it says favours the ruling party.

(Reuters)

RWANDA

Ethiopia military chief visits Rwanda to strengthen cooperation

Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, began a four-day working visit to Rwanda on Sunday, April 13, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries.

On Monday, the Ethiopian military chief and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Mubarakh Muganga held discussions at the RDF headquarters in Kimihurura. He also paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Defence, Juvenal Marizamunda. “The visit presents a key opportunity to deepen longstanding bilateral cooperation, with discussions between military leaders exploring new areas of collaboration in defence and other related sectors,” the RDF said in a statement.

The Ethiopian military chief’s visit follows that of Gen. Muganga to Ethiopia in mid-March, during which a Memorandum of Understanding on defense collaboration was signed.

(The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia, Belarus vow to deepening bilateral ties, expanding cooperation

Ethiopia and Belarus have reiterated their commitment to deepening their bilateral ties and expanding areas of cooperation. Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gedion Timothewos, held talks with his counterpart Foreign Minister of Belarus, Maxim Ryzhenkov.

The two sides noted that the meeting between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Belarusian President, Aleksandr Lukashenko, on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024, was a significant step in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined that Ethiopia is committed to further deepening the bilateral ties and expanding areas of cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of the two countries. He underscored that the ongoing macro-economic reform in Ethiopia provides ample opportunities for Belarusian investors, particularly in agriculture, agro-processing, mining, oil and gas, construction, trade and tourism sectors.

(Ethiopian News Agency)

SUDAN 

Millions displaced as Sudan war enters third year

As Sudan’s civil war enters its third year, the conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced approximately 13 million people, according to the United Nations. “The conflict has provoked the displacement of 13 million people, including 8.6 million internally displaced people and 3.8 million refugees,” said Abdourahouf Gnon-Konde of the UN Refugee Agency in an interview with the AFP.

Since the war erupted on April 15, 2023, tens of thousands have lost their lives. The war has also pushed parts of Sudan into famine, and fractured the country into territories controlled by rival factions. The war has divided Sudan, with the army holding the north and east, while the RSF controls much of Darfur and, with its allies, parts of the south.

(Aljazeera)

SOMALIA

Somalia to begin voter registration in Mogadishu ahead of historic local elections

Somali electoral authorities announced that voter registration in the capital, Mogadishu, will begin on April 15, ahead of long-awaited local council elections scheduled for June 30, 2025. This will be the first vote in the city in decades. The move marks a major step toward establishing democratic local governance in Mogadishu, a city that has not held municipal elections since the collapse of the central government in 1991.

The elections are part of a broader agreement reached in 2023 between the federal government and several regional states aimed at transitioning Somalia toward universal suffrage and decentralised governance. However, Puntland and Jubaland, two of Somalia’s federal member states, did not participate in the negotiations that led to the agreement, casting some doubt over its national reach. The voter registration process will cover all 17 districts of Mogadishu, home to an estimated population of over 2.5 million. Electoral officials said registration centres will be opened across the city and urged residents to participate.

(Shabelle Media Network)