Politics

Tunisian President Saied celebrates constitution victory in referendum despite low turnout

Published

1 year ago

July 26, 2022

Tunisian President Kais Saied and his supporters on Monday, celebrated the likely victory of a favourable vote in the July 25 referendum on a new constitution amid protest from a majority of the country’s civil rights groups and opposition politicians.

The opposition came with the release of the draft constitution which gave more powers to the head of state with fears that the country could return to an authoritarian rule which gave rise to the 2011 Arab Spring riots.

The referendum which held exactly a year after Saied sacked the government and suspended parliament in what rivals termed a coup, witnessed only 27.5 per cent of Tunisia’s 9.3 million registered voters, according to the electoral commission after polls closed on Monday night.

The commission, however, said 93 per cent of those who voted supported the new constitution which relied on an exit poll taken by the Sigma Conseil institute, with the initial results scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Despite the low turn out of voters, the turnout at the polls was seen by a majority of political observers as a gauge of Saied’s popularity after a year of sweeping changes which included sacking of the parliament, dissolving the electoral commission, sacking of top judges as well as having a new constitution to replace the 2014 constitution which has tilted the regime into a one-man rule.

After the projected outcome of the referendum was announced on national television on Monday night, supporters of the president broke into wild jubilation as they took to the streets of the capital Tunis, waving flags and blaring horns from their cars, with some singing the national anthem or shouting:

“We would sacrifice our souls and our blood for you, Saied!”

While addressing the nation in a state broadcast, the President said:

“Tunisia has entered a new phase. There was a large crowd in the polling stations and the rate would have been higher if the vote took place over two days.”

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Politics

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

Published

15 hours 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

16 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.