Politics

Chad’s ex-opposition figure, Saleh Kebzabo, named PM by military leader Idriss Deby

Published

2 years ago

October 13, 2022

Chad’s military leader, Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby has named a former opposition figure, Saleh Kebzabo as the new Prime Minister to head an interim administration of national union, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

Kebzabo who is 75, was a former journalist who ran for the presidency four times against Mahamat’s father, Idriss Deby Itno.

He will replace the outgoing premier, Albert Pahimi Padacke, who formally resigned along with his government on Tuesday after serving for 18 months under the 38-year-old Mahamat.

The 55-year-old political veteran
had also served prime minister under Deby Itno who was killed during an operation against rebels in April 2021, ending his over three decades in power.

Kebzabo who was a fierce opponent in the last years of the late Deby’s rule, had been swift to recognise his son as leader after his death after the young General named two leaders from Kebzabo’s UNDR party to take part in the first transition government named by the junta.

Speaking to journalists after his appointment, Kebzabo promised to “accompany the young Itno in a great endeavour… the next two years of political transition.”

On assumption of power after the death of his father, the younger Deby had declared his junta would restore civilian rule after 18 months in power, but as the deadline drew near, he announced a new 24-month timeframe for holding elections, with the Supreme Military Committee naming Deby the “transitional president” for the interim and declared he could be a candidate in the poll, an action which angered the African Union and other international bodies.

At his swearing in on Monday, the AU boycotted the ceremony while France and the European Union only sent few representatives.

On the African scene, apart from President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria who was in attendance, no other African countries sent their heads of state while neighbouring countries like Niger, the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo, were represented by their ministers.

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Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

4 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

1 day 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.