Politics

Embattled Tunisian President publishes amended proposed constitution

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2022

Tunisian President Kais Saied has bowed to pressure from the opposition by publishing an amended version of the controversial draft constitution in an attempt to stave off criticism after the original draft had come in for severe criticism over the unlimited powers the proposed constitution would give to his office.

The amended constitution draft which will be put to a referendum on July 25, and published in the government’s gazzete on Saturday, makes changes to only two articles but still retains a broad range of powers for the President.

Under the new constitution, Saied wants a presidential system to replace the country’s 2014 constitution which enshrined a mixed presidential-parliamentary system often beset by deadlock and marred by corruption.

In Saied’s proposal, “the president of the republic carries out executive functions with help from the government”, whose chief would be appointed by the president and not subject to confidence votes in parliament.

Before the publication of amended draft, Saied had announced in an official video that “clarifications needed to be added to avoid confusion and interpretation.”

A major change made to the draft is that which stated Tunisia “is part of the Islamic community” and that “the State must work to achieve the objectives of Islam”, which now adds “within a democratic system.”

The clause had been previously criticised for its ambiguity by advocates of a completely secular system, and international rights group, Amnesty International had warned it could “provide a mandate to discriminate against other religious groups”.

Another amendment is to an article about rights and freedoms which now clarifies that “no restriction may be placed on the rights and freedoms guaranteed in this Constitution except by law and necessity imposed by a democratic order”.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.