Politics

Kenya’s Ruto wants financial autonomy for AU as mid-year summit ends

Published

1 year ago

July 16, 2023

Kenyan President, William Ruto has called for a financial reform of the African Union with a focus on the body’s fiscal autonomy.

Ruto, who has been vocal about Africa’s financial posture in the international community and multilateral bodies, made the call on Sunday at the AU’s fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM), currently in Gigiri, Nairobi County.

The MYCM, which replaced the June and July summits, was envisioned in 2017 as the main platform for the AU, RECs, RMs, and member states to align their activities and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda.

Also in attendance were the AU’s Chair, Azali Assoumani, President of Comoros, Bola Tinubu (Nigeria), Abdel Fattah (Egypt), Macky Sall (Senegal), Ismail Guelleh (Djibouti), and Ali Bongo (Gabon), among others.

The summit, which is aimed, among other things, at addressing critical issues of African integration and division of labour was led by the Kenyan President.

“The pan-African movement has always been about sovereignty and agency,” Ruto said.

“First and foremost, chronic dependence, even on well-meaning partners, is inconsistent with the aspiration of independence, sovereignty, and agency. And I therefore believe that we must take seriously the recommendations that have been made towards making our organization an organization that stands on its feet, and an organization that is funded by us.”

The AU is largely funded by its member states and international partners. The AU reports that less than 40% of member states pay their yearly contributions to the institution.

A document on its website shows that “38% is to be assessed on Member states, while 61% will be from partners. The operating budget will be fully funded by Member States, while the programme budget will be funded 41% by Member States and 59% by international partners.”

Related Topics:AU Featured president William Ruto

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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.