Politics

Dozens arrested in Kenya as police, protesters clash over tax hike

Published

1 year ago

July 8, 2023

Kenyan police and anti-tax raise protesters clashed in the capital city, Nairobi on Friday following the recent wave of tax reforms by the government under President William Ruto.

Coalitions of human rights groups including Article 19 said about 27 people were arrested by police in Nairobi.

According to local accounts, the police used tear gas and engaged in combat with opposition supporters in key towns around the nation where people were protesting.

The rights groups said in a statement that “they witnessed protesters being dragged on the ground,” and called for an investigation into police conduct during the protests.

The World Bank recently commended Kenya’s new revenue drive and said it would bolster domestic revenue mobilisation when raising financing from external sources proved challenging.

Veteran opposition leader, Raila Odinga led a crowd of about 2,000 supporters and accused President Ruto of failing to tackle the high cost of living, poaching opposition lawmakers, and unilaterally moving to reconstitute the election commission.

“Members of parliament have betrayed the people,” he said, adding that Ruto had also contravened his own promises, justifying a movement for people to retake their authority.

Despite its financial strain, the World Bank predicts that Kenya’s economy will grow at a slightly higher rate than it did the year before as a result of recent advancements in the agricultural sector.

Related Topics:Featured Kenya Tax reforms

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Politics

Mozambique’s top court affirms governing party’s victory in recent election

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The highest court in Mozambique affirmed Monday that the incumbent Frelimo party won the October election, sparking widespread demonstrations from opposition parties who claim the vote was manipulated.

Fears of fresh bloodshed have been raised in the nation already shaken by weeks of fatal protests after Mozambique’s top electoral court mostly confirmed the results of the country’s contentious October elections, reinforcing the Frelimo party’s decades-long hold on power.

The final decision on the election process rests with the Constitutional Council. Mozambique, a nation of over 35 million people in Southern Africa that Frelimo has ruled since 1975, is expected to see more protests in response to its judgement.

Mozambique operates a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in a multi-party system. The president of Mozambique serves as both the head of state and the head of government.

The government exercises executive power. The administration and the Assembly of the Republic have the authority to enact laws.

Politics

Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

Published

2 days ago

December 26, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) withdrawal timeline has been rejected by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which is made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The AES claims that the ECOWAS is attempting to destabilise their newly formed organisation.

During a meeting last week in Abuja, Nigeria, the regional organisation announced a six-month withdrawal period to give the three nations time to change their minds after their official departure date at the end of January 2025.

However, this decision is “nothing more than yet another attempt by the French and its auxiliaries to continue planning and carrying out destabilising actions against the AES,” according to the heads of state of the AES.

“This unilateral decision is not binding on the ESA countries,” the statement continues. Before the conference, they stated that their choice to leave the organisation was “irreversible.”

According to the president of the Ecowas Commission, this will be a “transition period” that ends on “July 29, 2025” to “keep the doors of Ecowas open.”

The three nations accused the bloc of neglecting to assist them in resolving their domestic security challenges and of imposing “inhumane and irresponsible” sanctions related to the coup.

The three nations that were involved in the coup have mostly rejected ECOWAS’ attempts to undo their withdrawal. They are creating their alliance and have begun thinking about how to issue travel passports independently of ECOWAS.

It is anticipated that they will finish giving their one-year notice of departure in January.

Visa-free travel to other ECOWAS members is a significant perk of membership, and it is unclear how this would alter after the three nations exit the group.