Politics

Somalia PM bares fangs, orders AU Envoy out of country

Published

2 years ago

April 7, 2022

The Prime Minister of Somalia, Mohamed Hussein Roble, has given the African Union Chair’s Special Envoy for the country, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, 48 hours to leave the country after declaring him a persona non grata.

Roble who took the hard stance in a statement on Thursday, accused Madeira of “engaging in acts that are incompatible with his status,” and also requested that the AU Commission recall Madeira and “comply with this request.”

The move to expel Madeira came just days after the U.N. Security Council authorized a new AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to operate in the country until the end of 2024. ATMIS replaces the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

But the move by Roble could lead to another round of dispute between him and President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, who rejected the expulsion of Madeira.

African Union Chair’s Special Envoy for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira

In a counter statement, the President said that he had not authorized any action against Madeira, adding that he had not received any reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Madeira committing acts against the sovereignty of the country.

The President’s statement insinuated that the decision to expel Madeira was issued by an office that didn’t have sole responsibility for making such a crucial decision.

The Mozambique-born Madeira, who was appointed to the office in October 2015, is not the first foreign diplomat to be expelled from Somalia as his deputy, Simon Mulongo, was expelled in November 2021.

In January 2019, the Somalian government had declared former United Nations Envoy to the country, Nicholas Haysom, a persona non grata for “violating protocols” and interfering in Somalia’s affairs and subsequently expelled.

Haysom’s expulsion came after he had asked the government whether UN-supported forces were involved in the shooting of demonstrators in Baidoa in December 2018.

Related Topics:African Union Featured Somalia

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Politics

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

Published

1 hour 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

2 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.