Politics

Rwanda frees jailed opposition leader Ingabire

Published

6 years ago

September 15, 2018

Rwanda on Saturday freed Victoire Ingabire, an opposition leader who has served six years of a 15 year jail term, after President Paul Kagame exercised his power to grant a pardon.

Ingabire, who leads the unregistered FDU-Inkingi opposition party, was freed along with other prisoners, including singer Kizito Mihigo, jailed in 2015 for plotting to kill Kagame.

She emerged from prison in a red dress, green jacket and a broad smile. Flanked by her lawyer Gatera Gashabana, she told waiting reporters that her release, together with the election of two opposition parliamentarians earlier this month, were positive signs.

“There is hope for the opening of the political space,” Ingabire said, thanking the president for granting her mercy.

“I would also ask him to release other political prisoners who remain here.”

Government officials downplayed the political significance of her release.

“There is nothing political about her release, there is nothing political about her imprisonment,” Justice Minister Johnston Businge told Reuters by telephone.

“The president has granted mercy, and under the constitution, he is allowed to do that,” he said.

Eight officials of the FDU-Inkingi, including Ingabire’s deputy, still remain in detention, Gashabana said.

Another opposition figure, Diane Rwigara, who tried to run against Kagame in a 2017 presidential election, is also in detention.

Rwigara was arrested with her mother last year, accused of inciting an insurrection and using forged documents. The pair are due to appear in court on Sept. 24.

Kagame, who won a third term last year, is lauded for Rwanda’s economic recovery after the 1994 genocide but critics say he has muzzled free media and dissenting voices.

Ingabire was handed a 15-year sentence in 2012 for conspiring to form an armed group to undermine the government and for seeking to minimize the 1994 genocide.

She had returned from exile in the Netherlands to contest a presidential election in January 2010, but was barred from standing after being accused of genocide denial.

Her lawyer welcomed the decision to free her but said it came with certain conditions.

“This is a conditional release,” Gashabana said. He said that Ingabire must report her place of residence to the prosecutor and seek authorization before leaving the country.

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Politics

Kenya’s Supreme Court overturns 2023 finance law verdict. What this means

Published

14 hours ago

October 30, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following demonstrations that caused President William Ruto to rescind this year’s finance bill, the Supreme Court of Kenya has overturned an appeal court’s ruling declaring the 2023 financial law null and void.

The government primarily uses the finance bills to outline revenue-raising initiatives, and with the repeal of this year’s legislation, Ruto’s administration has been depending on the 2023 finance law to keep collecting taxes.

“We hereby set aside the Court of Appeal’s finding declaring the entire Finance Act 2023 unconstitutional,” the Supreme Court said in its ruling.

Following a spate of protests organised by the opposition last year, the 2023 law was challenged in court after Ruto’s government used it to hike the top personal income tax rate, implement a housing charge, and triple the value-added tax on fuel, among other measures.

After taking power in September 2022, Ruto’s administration attempted to enact a fresh round of tax increases this year, which infuriated many citizens and led to violent riots in June and July that claimed over 60 lives.

Shortly after the national legislature ratified this year’s version of the finance law, Ruto was obliged to withdraw it due to the disturbance, which also caused a delay in the approval of a fresh funding tranche from the International Monetary Fund.

Ruto has maintained that the tax hikes are required to pay off a significant amount of public debt and support development initiatives in Kenya, the largest economy in East Africa.

After Kenya met the goals established by the Fund in a review of its loan program, the executive board of the IMF is scheduled to convene on Wednesday to approve the new payout. The 2023 finance law was ruled unconstitutional by Kenya’s Court of Appeal in July, but the top court stayed the decision until it considered a government appeal.

Politics

President Masisi seeks 2nd- term as Diamond-rich Botswana set to vote

Published

2 days ago

October 28, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

On Wednesday, Botswana, a diamond-rich southern African state, will hold a general election in which President Mokgweetsi Masisi will face three opponents for a second term.

Although a divided opposition offers the advantage to Masisi’s Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has governed the nation of 2.3 million people since its independence from Britain in 1966, commentators predict the poll might be competitive.

Botswana has seen stability and relative prosperity thanks to its small population, which receives free healthcare and education, and its income from diamonds. On the basis of gem value, it is the world’s leading producer.

However, the government has struggled to diversify its economy in recent years due to a decline in the diamond market, which has squeezed income. Critics claim the BDP has been in power for too long and accuse it of corruption and poor economic management, both of which it disputes.

“Our diamonds have not been selling since April so yes, our revenues are down but the economic fundamentals remain intact,” said Masisi at a presidential debate last week.
“We are going to continue with the projects and policies we have come up with that are aimed at putting more money and wealth into the hands of the citizens of this country,” he said.

Negotiating a new deal with diamond tycoon De Beers that will increase Botswana’s portion of its rough diamonds was one of his first term’s accomplishments.

In order to support farmers, he also reinstated a ban on the import of certain product goods and lifted the ban on elephant hunting, which he claims aids rural areas.

Duma Boko of the opposition coalition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) is his principal opponent.

Supported by former President Ian Khama, who left the BDP following a dispute with Masisi over the removal of the hunting prohibition and other matters, the other contenders are Mephato Reatile of the Botswana Patriotic Front and Dumelang Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party.

Masisi’s economic record has come under fire from critics, who point to the country’s rising unemployment rate of about 28%.

“It is not acceptable that a country such as ours which is the fifth richest per capita in Africa still has so many people living in poverty,” said Boko at the debate.

Among sub-Saharan African nations, Botswana actually has the fourth-highest GDP per capita, according to World Bank data.

In order to raise social subsidies and more than double the minimum wage, Boko has promised to cut back on unnecessary spending.

Although the BDP’s popularity has been waning, it still holds a sizable majority in parliament after winning 38 of the 57 seats up for grabs in 2019. UDC took home 15 seats. In Botswana, the president is chosen by legislators, who are chosen by voters.