Politics

Uganda plans amoured escort vehicles for 456 lawmakers. Just how smart?

President Yoweri Museveni has reportedly approved sharpshooters and amoured escort vehicles for the country’s 456 lawmakers. This was soon after a ruling party lawmaker and his bodyguard were shot dead on June 8

Published

6 years ago

July 13, 2018

Africa News Watch

Critics have termed the planned spending as wasteful and failed to address security concerns of normal citizens who fear rampant crime in a country marked by unsolved murders, waves of kidnappings for ransom, burglaries and robberies.

In a letter to the finance minister seen by Reuters on Thursday, Museveni said the decision to boost security was taken after a meeting with members of parliament in which incidents of “criminality and terrorism” were discussed.

“Members of parliament … have been singled out for intimidation and possibly attack. I have, therefore, decided to protect the members of parliament … since they are being singled out,” he said.

If things go as planned, lawmakers would now be accompanied by military sharp-shooters as Museveni has ordered the finance ministry to purchase armoured pick-up trucks to use as escort vehicles.

Uganda’s civil societies have accused the government of wasteful spending and failing to reign in corruption.

“Ordinary Ugandans are being taxed heavily to meet wasteful expenditure of politicians,” said Cissy Kagaba, executive director of Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU).

“Security should be guaranteed for every Ugandan not for a few selected people … it’s pathetic and annoying,” she said.

Parliament spokesman Chris Obore denied the spending was wasteful, describing it as a “short term measure” to meet credible threats.

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Politics

Nigeria’s Tinubu to call for Gaza ceasefire in Riyadh

Published

3 days ago

November 10, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Nigeria’s presidency has announced that President Bola Tinubu will demand a truce and a peaceful settlement of the Israel-Palestinian dispute when he visits the next Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

“Nigeria will also advocate for renewed efforts to revive the two-state solution as a pathway for lasting peace in the region,” said presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

Nigeria, as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member was invited by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to an annual summit scheduled for November 11.

Along with the head of the security intelligence agency and his national security adviser, Tinubu will travel to Riyadh with a group of cabinet ministers, including those in charge of information and foreign affairs. Tinubu’s administration is currently engaged in combat with Islamist insurgents in the country’s northeast.

According to a United Nations estimate, 1.74 million more Palestinians will be forced into poverty throughout the State of Palestine as the conflict in Gaza approaches its seventh month.

Africa is a geopolitical interest for the Western powers, and its institutions, which are biased towards Israel in the conflict.

Politics

Equatorial Guinea bans sex in govt offices after tapes leak

Published

7 days ago

November 6, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following the release of private recordings on social media that seemed to show a senior finance ministry official having sex with multiple women in a variety of locations, including his office, Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday announced a crackdown on sex in government offices.

The administration claimed that because the recordings had damaged the reputation of the small Central African nation, it was taking action.

Since the videos first surfaced last week, the controversy has been rocking the government of Equatorial Guinea, which has had the same president for decades.

Hundreds of amateur films were discovered at the finance official’s residence during a raid related to a corruption inquiry, according to local media sources.

According to local media, the women in the films seemed to be family members and the spouses of other influential government officials.

According to a government statement, Vice President Nguema Obiang Mangue issued fresh directives on Tuesday to stop ministry and court workers from committing crimes at work.

These included increased security and the installation of security cameras in every workplace.

“The executive is taking this decision following the videos of a sexual nature that have gone viral on social media in recent days and that denigrate the country’s image,” the state information agency said in the statement.

According to the statement, the measures were decided upon in emergency sessions with the attorney general, the Supreme Court, and other parties.

It stated that individuals featured in the sex tapes would be suspended without being given their identities, and those in charge of guarding the buildings where the videos were purportedly shot would receive reprimands for their negligence.

The longest-serving president in history, Teodoro Obiang, has led Equatorial Guinea, a country of around 1.7 million inhabitants on the west coast of Central Africa, for 45 years.