KENYA

Storm over State plan to tax insurance payouts

Insurance customers will start parting with 16 percent tax on the money paid to them by insurers as compensation for their losses, if the proposal whose interpretation has split tax experts and insurance firms, is adopted. The Finance Bill 2023 is proposing to introduce a new sub-section to section 17 of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act to allow for the owner of taxable supplies who is compensated for the loss of the goods to pay 16 percent VAT.

A 16 percent tax could mean that a person receiving Sh1 million compensation from an insurance cover will part with Sh160,000 as VAT, a move tax experts say is likely to hurt the attractiveness of insurance in a market where penetration is below three percent. Underwriters are asking Parliament to exclude insurance from the list of compensation income that is being targeted for 16 percent tax as the State eyes additional money to fund the budget for the 2023/2024 financial year.

(Source: Business Daily)

UGANDA

The wins in Museveni’s 5-point executive order

The Executive Order headlined as Number 3 of 2023, imposed a ban on charcoal burning and business in northern and northeastern Uganda, settlement of Balaalo in northern Uganda and stopped Turkana from Kenya entering into Uganda armed.

In comments on the ban on Turkana of Kenya from entering Uganda with guns, Moroto Municipality MP Francis Adome Lorika said the move would help restore peace and security in Karamoja.

(Source: The Monitor)

TANZANIA

Tanzania’s borders are safe, despite minor threats, says defence minister

Tanzania’s Minister of Defence, Mr. Innocent Bashungwa, said on Wednesday, May 24, that the country’s borders on both land and water are safe despite hostility and threats from some neighbouring countries. Mr. Bashungwa was speaking in Parliament while tabling his ministry’s budgetary estimates for the 2023–24 financial year, seeking an endorsement of Sh2.9 trillion for defence and security.

He said that despite stability at the borders, some areas face threats, such as the borders with Uganda and Kenya, which are threatened with illegal immigrants who commit crimes that threaten the country’s security.

(Source: The Citizen)

SUDAN

Communication problems in Darfur as clashes continue

Communication is difficult in many parts of Darfur as communication infrastructure has been damaged in clashes. A complete communication blackout has cut West Darfur capital El Geneina off from the world for four days now, but refugees report heavy fighting. In the West Darfur capital El Geneina, where heavy fighting took place last week, a complete communication blackout has been reported with none of the three networks (Zain, Sudani, MTN) working in the past three days.

People who fled to Adré in Chad, about 400 metres from the Sudan-Chad border, reported hearing heavy shooting and shelling yesterday. There are concerns that thousands could have died in and around El Geneina since the conflict erupted.

(Source: Dabanga)

RWANDA 

One of last four Rwanda genocide fugitives arrested in South Africa

Fulgence Kayishema, one of the last four fugitives sought for their role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, has been arrested in South Africa, UN investigators said on Thursday.

Kayishema is alleged to have orchestrated the killing of approximately 2,000 Tutsi refugees at the Nyange Catholic Church during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. A former judicial police inspector, he faces charges of genocide, complicity in and conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. He has been on the run since July 2001.

(Source: The East African)

SOMALIA

AfDB president praises Somalia’s progress in loan forgiveness programme

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akiwumi Adenisa, has commended the Federal Government of Somalia for the progress made in its loan forgiveness programme. Dr. Adenisa met with Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre at the sidelines of the ongoing AfDB summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where he expressed his satisfaction with the government’s dedication to the program’s successful implementation.

During the meeting, the Somali delegation and Dr. Adenisa discussed the enhancement of AfDB’s projects in Somalia and how the bank can contribute to the economic development program of the Somali government. The president stated that in recognition of the Somali government’s efforts, the African Development Bank will increase its support for the projects currently being executed by the government of Somalia.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)

ETHIOPIA

PM Abiy call on African leaders, people to realise dreams of great forefathers of Africa

Speaking at the event commemorating OAU-AU 60th Anniversary held at the Headquarters of AU Thursday, May 25, the premier said our continent and our AU, with 55 member states is strong and becoming a critical voice in the global arena. We come a long way in promoting and defending an African common position on issues of interests of our continent and our people, he said.

Yet much remains in the aspiration of our forefathers— in the founding chapter and that of our own Agenda 2063, he said. Currently, Africa is a continent of 1.4 billion people, he said, adding by 2050 more than half of the global population growth will occur in our continent.

(Source: ENA)