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Somaliland lawmakers extend president’s term by two years

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Lawmakers in Somali breakaway region of Somaliland, have extended President Muse Bihi Abdi’s tenure in office by another two years, a decision which is expected to cause more unrest by opposition groups.

The House of Elders, as the parliament is called, on Saturday, voted 72-1, with one abstention in favor of the president’s request for the term extension, according to the speaker of the chamber, Sulayman Mohamud Adan.

The extension of Abdi’s tenure is coming on the heels of the Somaliland National Electoral Commission postponing the presidential election early scheduled for November to July 2023, with the excuse that holding an election this year will not viable due to time, technical and financial constraints.

The announcement of the election postponement in August had sparked violent protests where at least five people were killed and over 100 injured as demonstrators demanded that the elections should hold in November.

Opposition groups had also warned that Abdi would postpone the polls and extend his term with his tenure set to expire in November.

The only lawmaker who voted against an extension for the President, Omar Nur, later told journalists he decided to oppose it because parliament members weren’t consulted before the proposal was submitted.

“I don’t want to see our country plunging into chaos,” he said.

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South Sudan’s finance minister Bak Barnaba Chol fired

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President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dismissed Bak Barnaba Chol, the Minister of Finance and Planning, and appointed engineer Daniel Daniel Chuong in his place.

 

Kiir removed the Finance Minister without providing a reason in a presidential decree that was published in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.

 

Before his appointment, the new finance minister was the petroleum ministry’s technical adviser and the previous minister of petroleum.

 

The country’s local currency, the South Sudanese pound (SSP), was depreciating at the same time as the changes were implemented, causing hyperinflation.

 

Three months ago, the SSP was worth 1,100 units against the US dollar; three months later, it was worth a record low of 1,800 units.

 

To secure hard currency and stabilize the economy, the nation is currently struggling to raise daily oil production from the current 150,000 barrels per day to 175,000 barrels per day.

 

South Sudan is currently in a dangerous situation. UN reports state that local violence between different armed groups and factions is on the rise.

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Senegal: opposition figure Sonko promises new national currency if party wins election

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Controversial Senegalese opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, said the country would consider the implementation of
reform of the West Africa region’s CFA franc currency at a regional level first, and if that failed, would consider creating a national currency, if his preferred candidate, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, wins the next presidential election.

Faye is one of the main candidates in Senegal’s March 24 presidential election. He is backed by the popular firebrand Sonko, who was disqualified from the race over a defamation conviction.

Sonko made the promise while speaking at a joint press conference with Faye, shortly after both politicians were released from jail.

It appeared the comment was aimed at easing concerns after their election campaign, which promised to introduce the new currency if Faye won.

“We will try to implement a monetary reform at the sub-regional level first,” Sonko said. “If that fails, we will decide as a nation.”

Sonko alleged that the CFA franc currency, which is pegged to the euro and used by eight countries of the West Africa Monetary Union, affects economic development in the region, and the time is right to explore more options.

“There’s no sovereignty if there is no monetary sovereignty,” said Faye, speaking at the same press conference.

To be declared the winner in a presidential poll, a candidate must secure the signatures of 0.8% to 1% of the voting public. At least 2,000 sponsors must be secured for each of Senegal’s fourteen regions, where a minimum of seven signatures are required.

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