Kenya

Lawmakers want time for drawing constituency boundaries extended

MPs now want a constitutional amendment to extend the period of delimitation of boundaries by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) beyond the stipulated time. The National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs committee wants Article 89 amended to empower Parliament to extend the period of reviewing names and boundaries of constituencies. Under Article 89 (2), the IEBC is required to review the names and boundaries at intervals of not less than eight years and not more than 12 years, but any review must be completed at least 12 months before a General Election.

The committee, in its report on the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which is one of the pieces of legislation emanating from the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report, says the extension is meant to address unforeseen circumstances, including the current situation where the IEBC lacks commissioners who are supposed to undertake the process. 

(Daily Nation)

Tanzania

CJ urges adoption of AI in court proceedings

Chief Justice Professor Ibrahim Juma has urged Judges of the Court of Appeal to embrace modern technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in handling court proceedings and delivering judgments. He highlighted the success of the Geita High Court and its lower courts in utilising information technology as an example to follow. Speaking at the mid-annual meeting of the Court of Appeal in Arusha, Professor Juma emphasised that AI is transforming institutions globally, including the judiciary, by helping reduce or eliminate case backlogs.

(Daily News)

Uganda

Uganda Law Society expels Attorney General, Solicitor General

In a statement dated October 14, 2024, the Uganda Law Society (ULS), through its new president, Isaac Ssemakadde, announced the expulsion of the Solicitor General, the Attorney General, and their representatives. The statement emphasised that the action was taken in the “exercise of its constitutional and statutory mandate and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law.” The ULS statement further described the expulsion as “a bold and necessary step to restore public faith in the legal profession and to protect the independence of the Uganda Law Society.” It also highlighted the society’s duty to “act decisively to safeguard the influence of the legal profession and to restore public confidence in the justice system.” “Whereas the ULS has long recognised the inherent conflict of interest and the detrimental impact of the Attorney General and Solicitor General holding ex officio positions on the ULS Council, as highlighted in the Prof. Ssempebwa ULS Report (2012), and the recent campaign for the leadership of the ULS” reads the statement

(Monitor)

Rwanda

Kagame makes new appointments in RDF

President Paul Kagame this week made new appointments in the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). Major General Alex Kagame was appointed Reserve Force Chief of Staff, replacing Major General Frank Mugambage, who was acting in that capacity. Until August, Alex Kagame was the commander of the Rwanda Security Force (RSF) Joint Task Force in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado Province. 

(The New Times)

Ethiopia

Somalia defence minister warns Ethiopia: Somalia will defend its sovereignty

Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, has affirmed that Somalia will not be intimidated by recent threats from Ethiopia, stressing that the Somali government is fully prepared to defend its army and people from any potential aggression. This statement follows a series of escalating tensions between the two neighbouring nations, with Ethiopia’s military leadership making provocative remarks and engaging in controversial actions. “We want Somalia and Ethiopia to live in peace and neighbourliness, but if the weak administration of Abiy Ahmed and Field Marshal Birhanu Jula cannot maintain peace, those fuelling conflict will see who will face serious consequences,” Minister Nur said, speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu.

(Radio Dalsan)

Somalia

Somalia implements total ban on plastic bag imports to combat environmental threats

In a decisive move to address environmental concerns, the Federal Government of Somalia has issued a complete ban on the importation of plastic bags through its ports. This ban, announced by the Ministry of Ports and Maritime Transport, builds on earlier efforts by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags across the country. A formal letter, dated October 14, was sent to the Port of Mogadishu, Ports Police, and other government agencies, emphasising that no single-use plastic bags will be cleared for importation into Somalia starting from October 1.

(Radio Dalsan)