Politics

Despite UN intervention, rival camps disagree over election framework in Libya

Published

2 years ago

July 1, 2022

Negotiation between Libyan officials and rival camps on a constitutional framework for national elections has broken.

The latest move by the United Nation to bridge the gaps between the factions has collapsed after two days of U.N.-mediated talks in Geneva.

Disagreement persists among the two senior Libyan officials, Fathi Bashagha and Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. from the country’s rival camps, on the eligibility requirements for the candidates in the first presidential elections.

Although the leaders couldn’t agree on the election’s framework, they however reached “unprecedented consensus” on issues such as the headquarters and distribution of seats for the two legislative chambers. Distribution of powers among different executive authorities, delineation of provinces and other matters.

With the strange case of one country, two parliaments, the controversy is further entrenched, The Tripoli-based council’s position bans military personnel as well as dual citizens from running for the country’s top post.

A move considered to be directed at the divisive Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter, a US citizen whose forces are loyal to the east-based administration.

The political rivalry has degenerated into presence of armed groups, fighting have involved two influential militias from Western Libya, according to local media, which identified armed groups as the Nawasi Brigade – a militia loyal to politician Fathi Bashagha – and the Stability Support Force, which backs interim premier Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

Since the NATO-backed uprising against longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plagued with conflict for years and split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by myriad militias and foreign governments.

Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

20 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

2 days 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.