KENYA

IGAD mediation: Sudan rejects William Ruto’s lead role

Warring Sudan has rejected the appointment of Kenyan President William Ruto as head of a quartet to facilitate peace under the regional block, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Junta leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused Nairobi of having “harboured” sympathies for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose leader, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo Hemedti was once his deputy, but is now an arch-enemy. The latest statement on Thursday came as Sudan had also rejected the Igad mediation schedule, which would have seen Ruto arrange for a face-to-face meeting, for the first time, between the two warring generals.

(Nation)

TANZANIA

Flagship infrastructural projects take the lead in the national budget

The government has earmarked infrastructural development as among the top priorities to be implemented during the coming financial year 2023/24 as part of continued efforts to ease the transportation of people, goods and services. Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba said in the National Assembly on Thursday while tabling the government’s TSh44.39tri/- expenditure plan for the year 2023/24, mentioning the construction of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) roads and bridges as among areas where the government will put more focus going forward. These projects stand as continuations of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s bold efforts to further reopen the country through the infrastructural sector whose improvement creates a number of social and economic opportunities for national development.

(Daily News)

UGANDA

Uganda’s economy has remained resilient – Kasaija

Finance Minister Matia Kasaija said Thursday that the country’s economy is projected to have grown by 5.5 per cent compared to 4.6 per cent last year. According to him, Uganda’s economy has remained resilient and is on a steady recovery path.

“This year’s performance compares favourably with the average growth rate for Sub-Saharan Africa estimated at 3.6 per cent for the calendar year 2023. The size of the economy is estimated at Shs184.3 Trillion, compared to Shs. 162.9 Trillion last year. This is equivalent to US$ 49.4 billion compared to US$ 45.6 billion last year, Mr Kasaija said during the 2023/2024 national budget reading at Kololo ceremonial grounds in Kampala.

(Monitor)

RWANDA

RSSB pledges more social security coverage after ILO training

Rwandans should expect extended social security coverage, especially for workers in the informal economy, for improved welfare following knowledge and skills that the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) staff got from the International Labour Organization (ILO), officials have said.

The training for RSSB staff on social security administration and governance, ran for five days, from June 5 through June 9. It focused on strengthening the administration of the six schemes managed by RSSB and their sustainability. The schemes are pension; occupational hazards; medical scheme (consisting of medical insurance for formal employees of public and private sectors); maternity leave, community-based health insurance scheme (CBHI); and the long-term savings scheme (EjoHeza) which is mainly meant for retirement benefits for informal sector workers.

(The New Times)

ETHIOPIA

Dialogue Commissioner calls on stakeholders to work together for nurturing lasting peace 

National Dialogue Chief Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya urged all stakeholders to work together responsibly for Ethiopia’s long-lasting peace.

The National Dialogue Commission has started training in the Gambella region today for representatives who will be involved in agenda selection and recruiting participants in the national dialogue.

Opening the training, Chief Commissioner, Prof Mesfin said stakeholders are duty-bound to work for lasting peace and build a better Ethiopia 

(ENA) 

ERITREA

Eritrea participates in IGAD regular meeting

A senior Eritrean delegation composed of Foreign Minister Osman Saleh, and Presidential Advisor Mr. Yemane Gebreab participated at the 14th regular meeting of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that was held in Djibouti on 12 June.  At the meeting, the Eritrean delegation affirmed readiness to endeavour in conjunction with all member sales to the rejuvenation and effectiveness of IGAD as well as the advancement of peace, stability, development, and integration of the region.

(Shabait)

SUDAN

IGAD summit calls for El Burhan–Hemedti meeting to establish a new ceasefire in Sudan

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit, held on Monday in Djibouti, proposed a meeting between Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Lt Gen Mohamed ‘Hemedti’ Dagalo, in one of the IGAD countries, for a new ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Al-Arabiya reported from its sources that El Burhan rejected the proposal. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that it objected to a number of clauses in the final statement of the IGAD summit held in Djibouti. It demanded the deletion of any reference to the issue of IGAD mediation from the African House. However, Malek Agar, deputy chairman of the Sovereignty Council, welcomed the initiative, noting that the proposed meeting between El Burhan and Hemedti would focus on a ceasefire.

(Dabanga)

SOMALIA

No Visas required from Somalis with foreign passports: Somalia declares

The Somali Civil Aviation Authority’s (SCAA) Department of Immigration and Naturalization of the Federal Government has issued a policy that enables all Somalis with dual nationalities or holding foreign passports to travel to Somalia without the need for a visa.

All Somalis with different passports will receive visas upon arrival at all international airports throughout the nation.

This unfolds just days after many families were left inconvenienced when airlines asked them to show visas before travelling to Somalia in London, although the Somali embassy in London later on claimed that it did not initiate or require anyone travelling to Somalia to have a letter.

(Dalsan)