Politics

Al-Shabab terrorists claim responsibility in mortar attack on Somali Parliament

Published

2 years ago

April 19, 2022

A Monday mortar attack on the Somalian parliament which injured at least six people during a joint session has been claimed by the al-Shabab terrorists group.

The newly inaugurated lawmakers in one of Africa’s most troubled countries were meeting to approve procedures for the election of speakers, when the grounds of the parliament were hit by a mortar attack.

One of the presidential candidate and legislator, Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame, who later posted about the attack on Facebook, said several rounds were fired and six people wounded, including two of his bodyguards.

Later in the day, the militant group in various social media posts, claimed responsibility for the attack and promised to do more if their various demands are not met.

Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble condemned the assault, which he called a terrorist act.

In posts on social media, Roble said the attack was a cowardly attempt to intimidate parliament, which is in the process of finishing Somalia’s indirect election.

Before the Monday attack, the lawmakers unanimously agreed to elect the speaker of the Upper House on April 26 and the Speaker of the Lower House a day later after indirect elections were delayed for months because of political wrangling between the Roble and President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

Mohamed had sought to extend his term in office, but backed off under intense domestic and international pressure, a situation the al-Shabaab terrorists has taken advantage of by launching a series of deadly attacks on Somali security forces and politicians.

Related Topics:Al-Shabaab Attack Featured Somalia

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Politics

Sierra Leone imprisons 11 military, police officers over coup attempt

Published

3 days ago

July 24, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Sierra Leone’s high court has sentenced 11 soldiers and police officers to hefty prison terms for their alleged roles in an attempted military coup last year.

On November 26, gunmen in Sierra Leone freed 2,200 detainees and killed over 20 in military barracks, a jail, and other locations.

After the coup attempt failed, 12 individuals were charged with treason in January. On Monday night, a unanimous jury found 11 guilty of 20 counts, including treason, murder, and military uniform use.

Due to health difficulties, the APC’s Bai Mahmoud Bangura, the twelfth accused, is being tried separately.

Amadu Koita Makalo, a retired army major and former bodyguard of ex-president Ernest Bai Koroma, received consecutive 40-70-year sentences for multiple counts.

Two female police officers were sentenced. Ramatu Kamanda Conteh received 30 years of harbouring Koita.

The government attributed the coup attempt to Koroma’s bodyguards, who were ultimately charged with four offences. However, the government let him leave the country on medical grounds.

Ex-president, Ernest Bai Koroma was accused of participating in a botched military coup attempt in November, and on January 3, was charged with four offences. However, a high court decided on Wednesday that Koroma was free to leave the nation.

His lawyers labelled the coup attempt “trumped up” and a “political vendetta” while Koroma condemned it.

Two decades after a 1991-2002 civil conflict that killed over 50,000 Sierra Leoneans, tensions have risen again.

Politics

Tanzania’s president fires foreign, information ministers

Published

4 days ago

July 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Tanzania’s President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has announced the sack of two top officials, including the foreign minister, in a mini-cabinet reshuffle.

Hassan took steps to rebuild international trust in his economic and political reforms, including relaxing restrictions on opposition parties and media, which had been criticized for failing.

The presidency stated late Sunday that Hassan fired January Makamba, minister of foreign affairs and East Africa cooperation, and Nape Nnauye, minister of information, communication, and IT.

They are influential in Chama cha Mapinduzi, the ruling party.

No explanation was offered for their removal. Makamba and Nnauye responded slowly to calls for comment.

Nnauye was fired a week after a video showed him suggesting election results depended on who counts ballots and announces them.

Nnauye later apologized, saying it was a joke, but activists and social media users argued it harmed Hassan’s democracy efforts.

Muhammad Thabit Kombo became the foreign affairs minister and Jerry Silaa information, communication, and IT minister under Hassan.

While Silaa was minister of lands, housing, and human settlements development, Kombo was Tanzania’s ambassador to Italy. Two more ministers and deputy ministers were appointed, the presidency stated.

Since 2021, Hassan’s government has been lauded for rolling back her predecessor’s opposition and civil rights crackdowns. The arrests of a lawyer and an opposition leader last year have cast doubt on her government’s human rights record.