Connect with us

Politics

After many proposals, sanctions, Guinea’s military junta announces 39 months civil transition period

Published

on

Having revealed that it has received “proposals” for a political transition in the country on Friday, Guinea’s military leader, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, has announced a 39 months transition period before the country returns to civilian rule.

The new announcement was made during a speech broadcast on television on Saturday.

Regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) revealed last 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.”

The military head added that the measure would be subject to the National Transitional Council acting as parliament.

“From all consultations at all levels since the beginning of the transition, with all groups of society, from all Guineans wherever they are, the median proposal that emerged is a transition of 39 months. The CNRD [National Rally and Development Committee, ed.] and the government will submit to the National Transition Council (CNT), acting like a parliament.

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, furthered revealed that it arrived at the decision after long and patient consultations”,

The announcement followed the creation of what the military leader described as an “inclusive consultation framework” in April.

The resulting conference culminated in a boycott by several prominent political groups.

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

Zimbabwe’s electoral commission, ZEC promises to publicise voters’ register

Published

on

The electoral commission in Zimbabwe said it would soon publish the voters’ register for the forthcoming general elections.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) also assured the public of a fair election and promised to rectify anomalies that were observed during the voters’ inspection exercise.

The head of ZEC, Utloile Silaigwana made the position known when he announced the end of the mop-up voter registration exercise on Friday.

Silaigwana further revealed that the Nomination court would sit on 21 June and thereafter the voters’ roll would be accessible to candidates.

There are contentions about the neutrality of the electoral commission. In March, a member of the opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Allan Markham filed a court application challenging ZEC for access to the electronic voters’ roll but had his request rejected because “it was too risky” and in the interest of data protection.

Meanwhile, the ruling party, Zanu PF sent text messages to registered voters during the period urging them to vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa. This move further fuelled the allegation that Zanu PF had access to the voters’ roll which is why it was able to send the messages.

President Mnangagwa is running for re-election to a second term after coming to power following a military coup that dislodged Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s president in 2017.

The country is struggling with deep poverty, recurring power outages, and crippling unemployment, all of which have fuelled widespread resentment.

The President of Zimbabwe is elected using a two-round system. The Zimbabwean legislature is made up of 270 members of the National Assembly, 210 members elected in single-member constituencies, and 60 women elected by proportional representation in ten six-seat constituencies based on the country’s provinces.

Continue Reading

Politics

Guinea-Bissau holds parliamentary elections after year-long break

Published

on

Elections into the parliament of Guinea-Bissau have been held on Sunday after over a year since President Umaro Sissoco Embalo dissolved the House over accusations of corruption.

Over 20 political parties and coalitions, including the former ruling PAIGC party and its rival MADEM G15 presented candidates for various constituencies across the country.

The country’s parliament, known as the National People’s Assembly, is made up of 102 members who are chosen in two ways: 100 by closed-list proportional representation from 27 multi-member constituencies and two by single-member constituencies representing expatriate citizens in Africa and Europe.

The majority party or coalition appoints the government under the current political system, but the president has the authority to dismiss it in certain circumstances. In the past, this has led to political gridlock and infighting.

The Prime Minister, Nuno Gomes Nabiam, while commenting on the strength of diversity of the country and the likely inclusive parliament that could follow the elections, noted that “there will be no winner with an absolute majority in these elections. It is impossible.”

“No party is ready to govern Guinea-Bissau alone, ” Nabiam said.

Guinea Bissau’s path to stability has been difficult, as it has been for many other countries in the West African sub-region. Since its independence from Portugal in 1974, the country has seen coups or attempted coups despite elections.

In February 2022, gunmen stormed a government compound where President Embalo was holding a cabinet meeting, attempting to stage a coup. The incident was later linked by the presidency to the country’s thriving drug trade.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Strictly Personal8 hours ago

Uganda’s expiration pandemic: Expired courses, drugs, brains…By Joachim Buwembo

I swear, Ugandans on Twitter will not go to Heaven! And it is not just on account of the cruel...

Politics8 hours ago

Zimbabwe’s electoral commission, ZEC promises to publicise voters’ register

The electoral commission in Zimbabwe said it would soon publish the voters’ register for the forthcoming general elections. The Zimbabwe...

VenturesNow9 hours ago

Court stops Facebook’s dismissal of content moderators in Kenya

The mass retrenchment by a subcontractor for Facebook’s parent company, Meta has been stopped by a court in Kenya. The...

Politics9 hours ago

Guinea-Bissau holds parliamentary elections after year-long break

Elections into the parliament of Guinea-Bissau have been held on Sunday after over a year since President Umaro Sissoco Embalo...

Politics11 hours ago

Sonko: Senegal’s presidency accuses opposition of ‘destabilizing the country’

The presidency in Senegal has accused the opposition of “destabilizing the country” after nationwide unrest which followed the recent conviction...

Behind the News12 hours ago

Behind the News: All the backstory to our major news this week

Over the past one week, there were lots of important stories from around the African continent and we served you...

Politics1 day ago

Push for East African confederation strengthens as Kenya digs in

The clamour for an East African confederation might be coming through soon as Kenya, a regional powerhouse, has reiterated its...

Metro1 day ago

Death toll in Senegal violence rises as police clash with protesters

The death toll in the violence that erupted following the sentencing of Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko has risen after...

Metro1 day ago

Cameroonian traditional ruler released by Ambazonia separatists after 18 months

A prominent Cameroonian traditional ruler who was kidnapped by Amazonian separatists in the country’s restive Northwest region has been released...

Sports1 day ago

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon shatters women’s 1500m world record at Diamond League

Kenyan long distance runner, Faith Kipyegon Friday broke the 1500m women’s world record after clocking 3:49.11 at the third leg...

Trending