Politics

Kenyan VP Ruto in slight lead as presidential election results trickle in

Published

1 year ago

August 14, 2022

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto, is currently enjoying a slight lead over his main rival, Raila Odinga, in the country’s presidential election as partial results begin to trickle in.

As the citizens of the eastern African country await the final collation and announcement of results of the election held on Tuesday, August 9, initial released results on Sunday show that Ruto scored 51.25 percent of the vote, reversing the earlier lead by Odinga who had scored 48.09 percent as at Saturday.

The partial results coming from the electoral body, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), are from about 50 percent of constituencies, according to a statement on its website.

Official vote tallying has been proceeding slowly which has heightening public anxiety but IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has blamed the slow process on party agents, who are allowed to scrutinise results forms before they are added to the final tally.

Ruto and Odinga are the two frontline candidates in line to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, whose two-term has come to an end. Kenyatta has endorsed Odinga after falling out with Ruto following the last election, Ruto has largely enjoyed the support of the masses who feel Kenyatta is trying to impose Odinga on them.

The importance of the election in Kenya cannot be over-emphasised as it holds a break or mar potential for the East African region and its ability to run a smooth transition from one government to another.

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Politics

EU agrees sanctions framework for actors linked to Sudan war— Sources

Published

13 hours ago

October 3, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Sources close to developments in Sudan have revealed that European Union ambassadors on Monday agreed on a framework of sanctions against actors linked to the ongoing crisis in the country.

The proposal for sanctions was submitted in July, but it was not approved until Monday. Later this month, the EU’s foreign ministers will give their final approval before the bloc can begin adding people and organisations to the list.

The sanctions are likely to be in the form of asset seizures and travel bans, similar to measures already taken by the United States, Britain, Norway and Germany, who all plan to submit a motion to the United Nations Human Rights Council to set up an investigation into alleged atrocities in Sudan, including ethnically motivated killings, a draft motion showed on Friday.

Last week, The US continued its sanctions on persons of interest in the crisis as it imposed sanctions on two companies, including one based in Russia, and one person. The move is the latest in sanctions imposed by Washington following a conflict that erupted in mid-April between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over proposals for a political transition and the incorporation of the RSF into the military, four years after long-time ruler, Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in an uprising.

The United Kingdom has also penalised at least six commercial entities in relation to the conflict which has rendered more than 5 million people displaced and killed hundreds.

Politics

Tunisian opposition leader, Ghannouchi to begin hunger strike in prison

Published

4 days ago

September 30, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Embattled Tunisian opposition leader, Rached Ghannouchi, who has been a political prisoner since April, has threatened to begin a hunger strike in captivity.

Ghannouchi’s party, Ennahda made the announcement in a statement on Friday, stating that the 82-year-old fierce critic of President Kais Saied, has now decided to stay without food.

Ghannouchi was convicted in absentia in May after his refusal to appear before judges on the grounds that the accusations were false and the prosecution was politically motivated.

Along with other jailed opposition figures, who accuse Saied of a coup for closing the elected parliament and implementing rule by decree, he is also accused of planning against state security.

Since coming into power, President Saied has been firm on dissenting voices in the country. More than 20 political personalities, including Ghannouchi, have been detained by the police this year on suspicion of attempting to undermine state security.