By Agencies Voters in Seychelles returned to the polls on Thursday for a run-off presidential election between incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan and opposition leader Patrick Herminie, head of the longtime ruling United Seychelles party. In the first round of voting, held on 27 September, neither candidate secured the 50 percent majority needed for an outright victory. Herminie narrowly led with about 48.8 percent of the vote, while Ramkalawan followed closely with 46.4 percent, prompting the decisive second round. The contest carries high stakes. Herminie’s party has already reclaimed a majority in parliament, setting the stage for a potential political sweep…
Author: Montage Africa
By Rédaction Africanews with AP Madagascar’s military coup leader said Wednesday that he is “taking the position of president” in an interview with The Associated Press at his barracks. Col. Michael Randrianirina, who led a rebellion by soldiers that ousted President Andry Rajoelina, said he expects to be sworn in as the Indian Ocean country’s new leader in the next few days. Randrianirina announced Tuesday that the armed forces were taking power in Madagascar, capping weeks of protests against Rajoelina and his government by mainly youth groups. He said he is taking the role as head of state after the…
By Dominic Wabwireh with other agencies Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi directly appealed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame to end his country’s support for the M23 rebel group, issuing a public plea for peace during an international forum in Brussels with his counterpart seated in the audience. Speaking at the European Union’s Global Gateway Forum, President Tshisekedi shifted from his prepared remarks to address the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC. “I have seen the President of Rwanda, that is who I am talking about,” Tshisekedi stated, looking toward Kagame. “I extend my hand and ask that we cease…
Ruta Sechaba Foundation learners seek end to GBV and poverty, and a move to green energy What does the future look like 25 years from now? Well, for a cohort of young girls there is an overwhelming belief that by 2050, leadership in society will be overwhelmingly female. And the key priority areas for these future leaders include addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and rampant crime, gender inequality, and rooting out corruption and ensuring greater accountability. These are some of the key findings of a survey conducted with 200 young female learners supported by the Ruta Sechaba Foundation (RSF). The Ruta…
The Burkina Faso Government has detained eight members of a Dutch-based humanitarian organisation, citing alleged security breaches. The detained include three Europeans, a Malian, and four Burkinabé staff members. Among them are the NGO’s country director and deputy. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said the organisation had “collected and passed on sensitive security information that could be detrimental to national security and the interests of Burkina Faso, to foreign powers.” The International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), which provides safety information to aid workers, has “categorically” denied the allegations. Anthony Neal, a representative of the said that its Burkina Faso country director…
Justice Edward Asante, the former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, has been elected to the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council. This was in a statement by Justice Asante’s office at the Community Court’s headquarters on Thursday in Abuja. The advisory committee is an 18-member think-tank of the United Nations agency. Membership of the advisory committee requires a candidate with an understanding of international human rights mechanisms, a proven track record of impartial decision-making, and the diplomatic acumen to transverse intricate terrains. “Justice Asante, who is currently a judge of Ghana’s Court of Appeal and…
By Agencies In a sudden move, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the current military chief after just three months in the role and reinstated his predecessor, Paul Nang Majok, who was removed in July. The announcement was made via the state broadcaster, without any public explanation. The former chief, Dau Aturjong, has been reassigned as a technical adviser to the defense ministry. This reshuffle is the latest in a pattern of frequent changes in the country’s military and government leadership. Analysts interpret President Kiir’s decision as a maneuver to maintain control over competing factions amid growing internal tensions and…
By Dominic Wabwireh with other agencies Mali’s transitional leader, General Assimi Goïta, has formally dismissed a dozen high-ranking military personnel for their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt in August, according to a presidential decree made public this Wednesday. The decree, dated October 7, names several senior officers dismissed from the armed and security forces as a disciplinary measure. Among them are two brigadier generals—Abass Dembélé and Nema Sagara—along with multiple lieutenant colonels and captains. The move confirms the severe internal challenges facing the military-led government as it consolidates power. Link to August coup attempt The dismissed individuals were…
By Rédaction Africanews and AP There were celebrations in the Gaza Strip on Thursday after Israel and Hamas announced they’d agreed to the first phase of a US-proposed peace plan. It is a major breakthrough in the war and comes just days after the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on southern Israel when militants killed some 1,200 people and kidnapped 251 others. Under the plan, Hamas will release all 20 living hostages in the coming days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza. Even before the deal has been…
Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced plans to include Swahili, the lingua franca of East Africa in the country’s national curriculum. This marks a major step towards strengthening regional integration. The President made the declaration at the ongoing East African Community (EAC) Summit in Mogadishu, where he emphasised the importance of adopting Swahili to foster unity and collaboration within the region. Currently, English serves as the primary medium of instruction across Somalia’s Secondary schools, while Arabic remains the only compulsory second language. However, under the new policy, Swahili will be introduced at both school and university levels. “The country’s…