Politics

Tunisia’s President Saied sacks 57 judges, accuses them of corruption

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2022

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has sacked 57 high court judges after publicly accusing them of corruption and protecting terrorists, in a move his opponents say is to pave the way for him to take control of the North African country’s judiciary.

In a televised address on Wednesday, Saied said he had “given opportunity after opportunity and warning after warning to the judiciary to purify itself” but that the judiciary failed to live up to what was expected of them.

Among those sacked according to an official government gazette, was Youssef Bouzaker, the former head of the Supreme Judicial Council whose members were replaced early this year as Saied moved to take control of the judiciary.

Before dissolving the Judicial Council, the body had acted as the main guarantor of Tunisia’s judicial independence since the 2011 revolution that introduced democracy and Saied’s changes prompted accusations he was interfering in the judicial process.

In sweeping moves meant to perpetuate himself in power since last year, President Saied has suspended the Tunisian parliament, fired the Prime Minister and seized control of the election body.

Late last year, Saied also dismissed the government and seized executive power in a move his opponents called a coup, before setting aside the 2014 constitution to rule by decree and dismissing the elected parliament.

He has continued to justify his actions by saying his moves were needed to save Tunisia from crisis and his intervention initially appeared to have widespread public support after years of economic stagnation, political paralysis and corruption.

Saied, who has also replaced the independent electoral Commission with members he personally picked with himself as the head of the Commission, has also said he will introduce a new constitution this month which will be put to a referendum in July.

However, almost all of Tunisia’s political parties have rejected the move along with the powerful UGTT labour union, saying that public sector workers would go on a nationwide strike on June 16, to protest against Saied’s political moves to entrench himself as a dictator amidst high cost of living and loss of jobs.

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Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to state broadcaster, ORTM.

A source close to Choguel Maiga told Reuters that the ruling generals were incensed by Maiga’s remarks over the weekend denouncing the junta’s inability to hold elections within the 24-month timeframe given for the return to democracy.

After promising to hold elections in February, the military authorities, who took control in two separate coups in 2020 and 2021, have put off the poll indefinitely, citing technological difficulties.

Choguel Maiga’s firing coincides with indications of growing discontent and disarray among Mali politicians, even those who first supported the coup and collaborated with the junta.

As the wait for elections continues, Choguel Maiga, a civilian prime minister who was installed by the military junta in 2021, is the most recent to lose support.

He was cited on Saturday as claiming he learnt of the junta’s decision via the media and that there had been no discussion regarding the delay of the elections inside the cabinet.

“It’s all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister’s knowledge,” Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before then, he had frequently stood up for Mali’s junta against criticism from foreign friends and neighbours in West Africa who denounced its repeated election delays and military collaboration with Russian mercenaries.

As government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, the new prime minister, has also made strong public remarks against France, the previous colonial master. One such speech was demanding French President Emmanuel Macron to stop his “neocolonial” and “condescending” behaviour.

Abdoulaye Maiga and Assimi Goita, the leaders of the junta, announced they had kept all of the important cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new administration in a statement that was broadcast on state television ORTM.

The announcement said that Abdoulaye Maiga will remain minister of territory administration.

Politics

Congo opposition mobilizes protests against constitution review

Published

24 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In response to President Felix Tshisekedi’s intentions to amend the constitution, opposition lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have called for national protests on Wednesday.

Tshisekedi, who was sworn in for his second and last term in January, said that a panel would be formed in October to recommend possible constitutional amendments.

According to critics, it may be a ploy to lift term restrictions and give him another chance to run.

Tshisekedi said the current constitution, ratified by a referendum in 2005, needed to change because it did not align with the country’s current realities.

Opposition politicians, including former president Joseph Kabila and past presidential candidates Martin Fayulu and Moise Katumbi, issued a unified statement on Wednesday urging rallies to “block” Tshisekedi.

A request for a response from the Congo’s presidency was not answered.

Patrick Muyaya, the minister of communications, stated on Monday that discussions surrounding the constitutional revision should be de-politicized and that no one should doubt the president’s intentions.

“We’re at the beginning of our mandate… The President of the Republic still has four years to go, and we must avoid attributing intentions to him,” Muyaya told reporters.