Politics

Sudan shuts down internet, imposes lockdown Khartoum on October 25 coup anniversary

Published

2 years ago

October 25, 2022

The Sudanese military authorities have shut down internet services as well as imposing a total lockdown on the capital, Khartoum, as the country marks the anniversary of the October 25 coup that toppled the transitional government of Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok.

The announcement which was contained in a government bulletin released on Tuesday, also declared a declared an official holiday in all government and private institutions while the authorities deployed reinforcements from the army and police in the central Khartoum area.

The measure was to forestall planned processions against military rule which the country has been facing every week since October 25 last year.

According to a human rights watchdog in the country, Net Blocks, most parts of the capital began experiencing internet disruption very early on Tuesday before the announcement was even made.

“Confirmed: Live metrics show a nation-scale internet disruption in Sudan.

“The incident comes amid planned pro-democracy protests on the first anniversary of the 25 Oct 2021 military coup that seized power from the transitional government,” the watchdog tweeted.

In a statement, the watchdog said the military authorities also closed all roads leading to the Presidential Palace and the General Command of the Army, the headquarters of the military.

“The authorities also announced the closure of all Nile bridges linking the central Khartoum area with the rest of the cities of the state, except for the Soba and Halfaya bridges,” it added.

In the statement published by state-owned news agency, the Khartoum State Security Committee, said it was keen “to protect the participants in peaceful processions and marches that express the will of the youth,” but noted that “the security services is working to save the lives and property of citizens.”

Sudan has been faced with a series of political crises since the coup as the country has not had a formal government with the current military junta led by Lt-Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, facing almost a daily dose of protests by youths and civil society groups opposed to the coup.

His bid to re-form a transitional government have fallen through as civilian movements reject any role for the military in the transitional government with only one demand which is for him to quit and the country returned to democratic rule.

In his first address after the coup, Al-Burhan had promised to “form a government of independent technocrats, achieve the requirements of justice and transition, and form a constitution-drafting commission.”

He also pledged to form an electoral commission, a council of the high judiciary, a constitutional court, and a parliament, and set the end of the month following the coup, last November.

But he has neither fulfilled nor kept to any of the promises he made, which had led to the political and economic situation in the country deteriorating while security has gone out of control in a number of states.

Click to comment

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 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.