Politics

Guinea’s military Junta says it’s considering ‘proposals’ for political transition

Published

2 years ago

April 30, 2022

Having missed the April 25 deadline for transition into civil government by the regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Guinea’s military junta, announced that it has received “proposals” for a political transition in the country.

Guinea’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Mory Condé said the proposals range from 18 to 52 months.

Regional bloc, ECOWAS revealed during the week that “Guinea presented the recent developments in the transition process and also wished to have more time in relation to the 25 April deadline”, in order to “allow for further consultations.”

Condé also revealed that the junta had reached out to political parties, groups and coalitions as part of its plans for transition.

“On the question of openness, someone said to me, I think we are talking about openness when there is closedness. Since the decree of creation of this framework was issued, we have written several times to all coalitions of political parties in the country, we believe that to date it is those in the room who have agreed to respond. But we cannot force actors who feel that they should not come to the meeting”, said Condé.

General coordinator of COPAM and president of a political party, Elhadj Bouna Keïta, added “I say that if everyone has given its program, it is at this time the government has only to try to see finally to draw this conclusion provided that the Guinean will know we are going to, what are the deadlines that we political classes and the government have agreed to”.

West Africa has been rocked by two coups in Mali, one in Guinea and one in Burkina Faso since August 2020. The three countries were suspended from ECOWAS following military coups and hit by a raft of economic sanctions.

Politics

Morocco joins PPCA to phase out coal

Published

1 day ago

December 9, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco has joined an international campaign to phase out coal, Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), an effort to secure renewable energies in the next seven years.

With Morocco, PPCA has 60 national governments united by the desire to make a clean break with coal-fired power generation.

The United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Iceland, Kosovo, Malta, and Norway joined the global initiative earlier at the COP 28 climate summit, according to a statement from PPCA.

Without providing a timeline, the PPCA stated that Morocco “will work together with the PPCA to develop a plan for phasing (coal) out.”

Africa bears the least responsibility for climate change, yet it is already experiencing more severe effects than most other regions of the world.

The continent has the lowest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per capita of any region, contributing less than 3% of global energy-related CO2 emissions to date. Africa is home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s current population.

According to official figures, about 70% of Morocco’s electricity is generated from coal, with 20% coming from renewable sources thus far this year. By 2030, Morocco wants to increase the proportion of renewable energy in its energy mix to over 52%.

Politics

Seychelles declares emergency following explosion, flooding

Published

3 days ago

December 7, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Officials in the Seychelles have confirmed that a blast at an explosives store wrecked buildings and caused massive damage to an industrial zone.

The explosion has prompted the president, Wavel Ramkalawan, to declare a state of emergency on Thursday.

The president called for a minute of silence on Thursday after telling reporters that the blast rocked the island and caused flooding due to heavy rains. Three people died as a result.

National television footage showed streets strewn with uprooted trees buried in deep mud and covered in debris.

“Following an explosion at the CCCL explosives store that has caused massive damage to the Providence Industrial area and the surrounding areas and major destruction caused by flooding due to heavy rains, the President has declared a state of emergency for today, December 7th,” President Wavel Ramkalawan’s office said in a statement.

“Everyone is being asked to stay at home. All schools will be closed. Only workers in the essential services and persons travelling will be allowed free movement.”

Tourists can still use the international airport and the ferries that travel between the islands, according to the government’s official social media.

Comprising 115 islands, the Seychelles is the least populous country in Africa, home to only 100,000 people.