Kenya

President Ruto Appoints New IEBC Chair, Commissioners

President William Ruto has now appointed Erastus Edung Ethekon as the new Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). The Head of State, in a gazette notice dated June 10, 2025, also appointed six new commissioners, among them Registrar of Political Parties Ann Njeri Nderitu. The others are Moses Alutalala Mukhwana, Mary Karen Sorobit, Hassan Noor Hassan, Francis Odhiambo Aduol, and Fahima Araphat Abdallah. This comes after the new electoral body team, which President Ruto nominated on May 8, was formally approved by the National Assembly last week following a vetting process.

(Citizen Digital)

Uganda

Over 2,100 Pick NRM Nomination Forms In Five Days

At least 2,100 aspirants have so far picked nomination forms to contest for various positions within the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), just five days into the nomination exercise.

Figures released on Tuesday evening by the NRM Electoral Commission, chaired by Dr Tanga Odoi, show that 285 aspirants collected forms on the fifth day alone. These include 143 aspiring MPs, 56 district women MPs, and 67 LC5 chairpersons. The nomination forms are to be returned between June 17 and June 30, 2025. Tanga attributed the surge in numbers to increased interest from young people and former legislators returning to the fold. He said the party will hold consensus meetings to minimise internal divisions.

(The Observer)

Tanzania

Bunge Approves Bill To Boost NHC Efficiency

The National Assembly has passed the National Housing Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which, among other changes, imposes stricter penalties for the disclosure of confidential information and obstruction of NHC operations.

According to the amendments, any person found guilty of disclosing the corporation’s confidential information will be liable to a fine of TSh 500,000, up from the previous TSh 2,000. Individuals who provide false information will face a fine of not less than TSh 500,000 and not exceeding TSh 2 million. At the same time, companies will be subject to a fine ranging from TSh 1 million to TSh 10 million.

In addition, such offences may attract imprisonment of not less than six months and not exceeding 12 months or both a fine and imprisonment. The bill also introduces penalties for any individual who resists or obstructs a member or officer of the corporation, a police officer, or any authorised person in the execution of their duties.

(Daily News)

Rwanda

Rwanda Quits Central African Bloc In Dispute With DR Congo

Rwanda announced its intention to withdraw from the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) due to tensions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group seized large swaths of eastern Congo earlier this year, including its two biggest cities, with the offensive having led to a broader war between the two neighbours. The office of Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi said in a statement that ECCAS members had “acknowledged the aggression against the Democratic Republic of Congo by Rwanda and ordered the aggressor country to withdraw its troops from Congolese soil.”

Kigali was expecting to take over the leadership of the 11-member bloc at a meeting on Saturday in Equatorial Guinea. Instead, the bloc decided to let Equatorial Guinea continue with the role, which Rwanda’s foreign ministry decried as a violation of its rights.

(Deutsche Welle)

Ethiopia

‘No War of Words with Eritrea’: Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos states that the Ethiopian government will not adopt a combative stance against Eritrea, despite escalating tensions between the two countries.

“We have not entered into a war of words with Eritrea despite provocation from the other side,” Gedion said in a parliamentary appearance on Thursday. He was responding to questions from lawmakers while presenting a report on the Ministry’s performance. “There are countries that have become ill at ease at seeing Ethiopia creating and maintaining amicable relations with its neighbours,” Gedion told MPs.

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have soured over the past couple of years, growing especially tense in recent months in light of the federal government’s desire to secure maritime access. The administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) has stated that “all options” are being considered, prompting concerns about potential conflict with neighbouring countries, including Eritrea.

(The Reporter)

Sudan 

Sudan Army Pulls Back From Border Zone, Cites Threat From Libya

Sudan’s army said on Wednesday it had evacuated a strategic border zone shared with Libya and Egypt, calling it a defensive move against potential incursions by militia forces loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar.

The move follows an accusation by the Sudanese army on Tuesday that Haftar’s forces, fighting alongside Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), had attacked its border posts.

A group loyal to Haftar denied the charge, calling it a “blatant attempt to export Sudan’s internal crisis and create a virtual external enemy” and said one of its patrols had been attacked.

(Sudan Tribune)

Somalia

Somalia Lifts Taiwan Passport Ban after US Pressure

Somalia’s government has reversed a ban on Taiwanese passport holders entering the country, in a move widely seen as a response to mounting pressure from the United States. 

The ban, imposed in April, cited what Somali authorities called Taiwan’s interference in its domestic affairs and growing support for the self-declared Republic of Somaliland. This breakaway region declared independence in 1991. 

The US, a key ally of Somalia, criticised the decision, viewing it as a tilt towards Beijing. China considers Taiwan a renegade province and opposes any international recognition of its sovereignty.

(Somali Guardian)