Kenya

Governors threaten to shut down counties over delayed funds

Governors have threatened to shut down operations in counties should the national government fail to release KSh94 billion meant for the devolved units. The county chiefs convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the matter and take a final decision on a possible move to stall operations in the 47 counties. The counties are demanding Sh94.4 billion in delayed disbursements for March to May.

(Daily Nation)

Tanzania

Govt to spend TSh26bn to strengthen plant health services

The government together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU) have launched a project to strengthen plant health services in the country worth TSh26 billion. The project aims to ensure plant health and food safety to enhance safe agricultural trade, both domestically and internationally.

Speaking on behalf of the FAO Resident Representative in Tanzania, Nyabenyi Tipo, during the first workshop on project implementation, the organisation’s Plant Health expert, Mushobozi Baitani, stated that the project has prioritised building strong inspection capacity. Baitani explained that inspections are carried out on traders who need to export their agricultural products, ensuring that they have proper documentation and that no harmful pests are introduced to the destination country.

(Daily News)

Uganda

Opposition MPs protest Museveni’s UgShs1m daily expenditure on clothing

Opposition Members of Parliament are against the UgShs350 million that has been proposed for bedding, clothes and footwear at State House.  The money has been allocated under the Annual Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

Led by the Shadow Minister of Finance, Mr Muwanga Kivumbi, and Kira Municipality legislator, Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, who presented the Minority Report together, the legislators rejected some of the proposals in the Majority Report presented on the Floor by the Budget Committee Chairperson, Mr Patrick Isiagi Opolot (Kachumbala County).

(Daily Monitor)

Rwanda

PM Ngirente, ILO officials discuss Africa’s untapped potential

Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Thursday held talks with Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Assistant Director-General for Africa at the International Labour Organization (ILO), along with André Bogui, Director of the Office of the Director-General. The visit of the ILO officials to Rwanda coincided with the 19th ILO Regional Seminar for Labour-based Practitioners, where key discussions centred around forging a partnership to enhance skills development and foster the creation of decent jobs.

During the meeting, the ILO representatives praised Rwanda for its unwavering commitment to social justice and its commendable efforts in lifting people out of poverty. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon specifically emphasized the ILO’s willingness to provide support to Rwanda, particularly in the aftermath of the recent devastating flood disasters that have affected the country.

(The New Times)

Ethiopia

Better performance registered in major macroeconomic indicators: Planning and Development Ministry

Ethiopia has registered better performance in the major macroeconomic indicators during the past nine months, according to the Ministry of Planning and Development. The performance registered in the major macroeconomic indicators during the stated period indicates that the 7.5 percent growth set for this Ethiopian fiscal year will be achieved, the ministry added.

The performance of this fiscal year is being evaluated in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.   Planning and Development Minister Fitsum Assefa presented the performance report for the past nine months. In her report, the minister pointed out that the performance in the months is better in many aspects. Better results are recorded in major macroeconomic performances by withstanding the instability of the global market and shocks, she pointed out. 

For instance, the minister said, Ethiopia obtained 2.6 billion US dollars from export during the past nine months. This achievement is 71 percent of the plan, and the agriculture sector takes the lion’s share of the exports. Fitsum stated that 897 million USD was obtained from coffee export in the period.

(Ena)

Eritrea

President Isaias met and held talks with officials of CCP

President Isaias Afwerki in the morning hours of today, 17 May, met and held talks with Mr. Wang Xiaohui, General Secretary of Chinese Communist Party of Sichuan Province, and Party Secretary of Chengdu, Mr. Huan Qiang.

At the meeting, Mr. Wang Xiaohui welcoming President Isaias Afwerki said that his visit to China and his profound discussion with President Xi Jinping will have a significant contribution in strengthening the historic relations between Eritrea and China.

(Shabait)

Sudan

El Burhan freezes RSF bank accounts amidst ongoing clashes in Sudan

Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Chairman of the Sovereignty Council Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan issued several decrees yesterday, for the first time since the outbreak of the war. One decree officially freezes the bank accounts of the SAF’s enemy in the current clashes, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). El Burhan sacked his acting interior affairs minister, who was also director general of the Sudanese police and appointed a new police chief.

Sudan has witnessed unrest and fierce battles since the outbreak of an armed conflict between the army and the RSF in mid-April. Little official decisions have been made since. A statement by El Burhan’s office said that the first decree freezes “the bank accounts of the Rapid Support Forces and its subsidiaries in all banks in Sudan and their branches abroad”.

The decision seeks to “prevent the disbursement of any entitlements or budgets allocated to it”.El Burhan directed the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Bank of Sudan to implement the decision. He also replaced the governor of the Central Bank of Sudan, Hussein Jangoul, with Bur’i El Siddig (one of Jangoul’s deputies).

(Dabanga)

Somalia

Somali mayors tour Nairobi to benchmark on development and leadership

A delegation of mayors from Somalia led by Governor Omar Abdullahi of Kismayo, Governor Abdullahi Watiin of Baidoa, Governor Nadar Tabah of Beledweyne, Governor Abdirahman Mohammed of Dhusamareeb, and the Deputy Mayor of Mogadishu visited Nairobi on May 17 to learn from the city’s development and leadership. The delegation was hosted by Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja, who expressed his willingness to support Somalia in its journey toward stability as a nation.

The visit was part of the Somali Urban Resilience Project, which is being implemented by the World Bank to build capacity and plan for the development of institutions in Somalia. Governor Sakaja assured the delegation of his support in setting up their institutions and expressed confidence that the lessons learned in Nairobi would go a long way in improving their home country.

During the visit, Governor Sakaja was accompanied by Nairobi’s Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri and Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan. The delegation also had an opportunity to share their experiences with the Nairobi officials, who in turn shared their journey as they all strive to serve their people better.

(Radio Dalsan)