Politics

Tunisia: Days after arrest of opposition leader, Ghannouchi, authorities shut party offices

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2023

The administration in Tunisia has shut offices of the opposition party, the Islamo-conservative movement, Ennahdha, throughout the country.

The action comes a day after the arrest of the party’s leader, Rached Ghannouchi.

One of the leaders of the party, Riadh Chaibi told journalists that, “a police force came to the party’s main headquarters (in Tunis) and ordered everyone inside to get out before closing it.”

“The police have also closed other party offices across the country and banned all meetings in these premises,” he added.

Meanwhile, the European Union, which is a key partner of the troubled North African country, said it was following “with great concern the latest developments” in the country, “in particular the arrest yesterday evening (Monday) of Mr. Rached Ghannouchi as well as information concerning the closure of the headquarters of the Ennahdha party in Tunis”.

Brussels recalled “the importance of respecting the rights of the defense as well as the right to a fair trial”. And regarding the closure of Ennahdha’s premises, the European Union underlined “the fundamental principle of political pluralism”, considering that all these elements were “essential for any democracy” and constituted “the basis of the European Union’s partnership with Tunisia”.

Tunisia has benefited from the EU’s designation as a favored partner, which has assisted it in the democratic transition process that started following the 2011 revolution by offering it several aids and facilitating access to the single European market.

More than 20 opponents and figures, including ex-ministers, businessmen, and the owner of the most well-known radio station in the nation, Mosaque FM, have been detained by the authorities since the start of February.

Since the beginning of his sit-tight reign when he dismissed the government of Hichem Mechichi, President Saied has sacked the government, suspended parliament, and seized a string of powers in July 2021. He also moved to rule by decree before writing a new constitution that he passed last year.

Related Topics:Featured President Saied Tunisia

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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.