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

Zambian govt says no plan to remove Christian nation clause from constitution

Published

18 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Zambian Vice President Mutale Nalumango has maintained that the ruling party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), has adopted an inclusive approach to constitutional amendments.

Nalmango made the reiteration while answering questions before the National Assembly following concerns raised by Bwacha Member of Parliament, Sydney Mushanga, who questioned the government’s alleged intentions to tamper with constitutional provisions without engaging stakeholders.

Vice President Nalumango emphasised that the government’s guiding principles were firmly rooted in Christian values, and clarified that the government had no plans to remove clauses like the Christian nation clause.

She declared, “The government espouses Christian values, and we want to make that clear,” calling for an end to discussions based on false claims. “Christianity serves as the foundation for our values”.

She also confirmed her commitment to consultative decision-making. She stated, “Government has made it clear that it will first amend non-contentious clauses of the constitution in consultation with the stakeholders.”

In response to mounting pressures within the country following years as one- and later two-party states, the Zambian constitution was changed in 1991 to allow the reintroduction of a multiparty system.

Under the terms of the constitution, the president appoints the vice president, the chief justice, and members of the High Court on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission.

Politics

Uganda begins withdrawal of troops from eastern Congo DR

Published

18 hours ago

December 10, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Uganda has started the withdrawal of 1,000 troops deployed for a regional peacekeeping mission in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

According to a statement released by the military, Uganda’s decision not to extend the mandate of the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) past December 8 prompted the withdrawal.

At its meetings in Arusha, Tanzania, the CDF affirmed the DRC’s decision and advised the defence ministers of the East African Community (EAC) to formally terminate the EACRF’s operations in the country’s vast eastern region, effective December 8.

UPDF’s contingent spokesperson, Capt. Ahmad Hassan Kato, “UPDF will ensure to expedite the pull-out of its forces and equipment within the approved timelines as enshrined in the extraordinary meeting of EAC CDFS (Chief of Defense Forces) held on December 6.”

“The Uganda contingent urges all armed groups (in the Eastern DRC) to facilitate the withdrawal of the UPDF troops by observing a total ceasefire to allow the forces to exit the mission area safely,” said Kato.

Aside from EAC forces, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as (MONUSCO), has around 12,400 troops in the Congo, with a cost of over $1 billion per year.

Lately, there has been an upsurge in violence in Congo, DR. High rates of civilian casualties and displacement have been caused by hostilities with neighbouring countries, political violence, extrajudicial killings by security forces, and conflicts between militant groups over territory and natural resources.

According to the United Nations, more than 100 armed groups and local militias operate in the eastern DRC.