Kenya

Edwin Sifuna: Rebel or Raila’s Puppet?

Veteran opposition figure and ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has launched a sharp critique of the political deal between his party leader, Raila Odinga, and President William Ruto, sending mixed signals to the public. On the one hand, the Nairobi Senator has positioned himself as a rebel; on the other, he is perceived as Raila’s Trojan Horse, facilitating a strategic exit from the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ODM and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Sifuna recently declared that the MoU is “dead,” a statement made just days after Raila Odinga reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to the deal with President Ruto.

(Source: Daily Nation)

 

Uganda

 NRM Polls: Candidates, Voters Criticise Lining-Up Voting Method

Candidates and supporters of Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) have voiced mixed reactions over the party’s use of the “lining-up” voting method during last Thursday’s primaries for the 2026 general elections.

In January 2023, the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) amended Articles 39(10)(e) and 44(3) of the party’s constitution to officially adopt lining up behind representatives, portraits, and symbols during internal elections. The strategy was intended to reduce election costs, commercialisation of the process, and the number of post-election petitions.

(Source: Daily Monitor)

 

Tanzania

INEC Chair Warns Staff on Data Leaks via WhatsApp

Justice Jacobs Mwambegele, Chairperson of Tanzania’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has cautioned election officials against the excessive use of informal WhatsApp groups, warning that such platforms could lead to inadvertent leaks of sensitive electoral information.

Justice Mwambegele issued the warning on July 23 during the closing ceremony of a three-day training for election officials from the Singida and Simiyu regions.

(Source: The Citizen)

 

Rwanda

Kagame Appoints Justin Nsengiyumva as New Prime Minister

President Paul Kagame on Wednesday, July 23, appointed Justin Nsengiyumva as the new Prime Minister, succeeding Édouard Ngirente, who had served in the position since 2017. The appointment is by Article 116 of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda. Until his appointment, Nsengiyumva served as the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR), a position he had held since February. A former Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Education, Nsengiyumva holds a PhD in Economics, obtained from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.

(Source: The New Times) 

 

Ethiopia

IMF Pushes Ethiopia to Remove FX Restrictions

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging the Ethiopian government to remove exchange rate restrictions on capital account transactions, restrictions it says increase the cost of using the formal market. The suggestion comes following the third review of Ethiopia’s USD 3.4 billion extended credit facility programme, whose launch a year ago coincided with a milestone decision to shift to a market-determined foreign exchange rate. While the Birr has depreciated significantly over the past 12 months, regulators at the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) have introduced restrictions on foreign exchange (FX) accounts, including increased limits for debit card withdrawals and a cap on bank fees for FX transactions.

(Source: The Reporter) 

Sudan

Sudan’s RSF-Led Alliance Narrows Down Choice for Prime Minister

An alliance led by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has narrowed its choice for prime minister down to two candidates as it pushes forward with plans to form a new government, two sources in the alliance told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday. The sources identified the final candidates as senior alliance figures Ibrahim Al-Mirghani and Mohamed Hassan al-Taishi. A previous offer for the post was declined by Nasredeen Abdelbari, who served as Justice Minister in Sudan’s post-revolutionary transitional government, the sources added.

(Source: Sudan Tribune)

Somalia

Somalia: Weapons on Ship Seized by Puntland Were Intended for Turkish Base in Mogadishu

Somalia’s federal government on Wednesday called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Sea World vessel, which was seized by Puntland regional forces last Friday while carrying advanced weaponry. Authorities in Mogadishu stated that the arms were intended for a Turkish military academy operating in the capital. In an official statement, the federal government asserted its constitutional authority to engage with foreign governments and to permit foreign vessels to enter Somali territorial waters. The interception of the ship, it said, was a “clear violation of Somalia’s sovereignty, constitution, and international law,” and described the act as tantamount to “hijacking and piracy.”

(Source: Somalia Guardian)