Politics

Opposition coalition in Central Africa Republic calls for boycott of planned referendum

Published

1 year ago

July 28, 2023

Opposition parties in the Central African Republic are alleging that the country’s planned referendum scheduled for Sunday is a plot to enhance the continued stay in office of President Faustin-Archange Touadera.

The Republican Bloc for the Protection of the Constitution, an opposition alliance, has urged citizens to abstain from voting and remain home.

The opposition party, the Union for Central African Renewal, also issued a statement urging the entire populace to abstain from taking part in what they referred to as massive fraud, desist from voting, and freely go about their Sunday activities.

Vice President of the National Assembly and referendum campaign manager, Evariste Ngamana stated on Thursday that 80% of voters had been mobilized and urged them to vote “yes.”

The country’s current constitution came into force in late 2004. Under the 2004 law, the president is head of state and limited to two consecutive five-year terms. The constitution also provides for a prime minister, a council of ministers, and a 105-member National Assembly.

The government, two weeks ago, confirmed that troops of the Russian mercenary group, Wagner, were on the ground ahead of the constitutional referendum which could remove a two-term presidential limit, allowing President Touadera to seek a third term having been first elected in 2016, and be re-elected in 2020.

Since gaining independence in 1960, the nation of 5.5 million people, which is endowed with gold, diamonds, and timber, has struggled to establish stability. Touadera sought assistance from Russia to combat rebel groups that control major portions of the country.

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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.