Politics

South African lawmaker, Tsenoli condemns US supply of cluster bombs to Ukraine

Published

1 year ago

July 22, 2023

South Africa’s Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli has condemned the United States’ decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine.

The United States announced that it was granting Ukraine’s request for the controversial cluster munitions. Human rights organizations have criticized the decision because of the weapon ban in more than 100 nations.

Tsenoli said the “use of weapons, such as the United States is prepared to use, irrespective of objections to those who have oversight over them, is wrong. It’s not appropriate.

“You can’t act in a manner that threatens the entire community with all sorts of subsequent explosions in the country. That leads to even more harm than would have happened.”

Cluster munitions are a way to disperse numerous small bomblets over a vast area from a rocket, missile, or artillery shell that distributes them in mid-flight. They are designed to explode upon impact, but a sizeable percentage of them are “duds,” meaning they don’t burst at first. This seems to happen more frequently when they land on soft or damp terrain.

The lawmaker aligned with China’s political strategy to resolve the ongoing war between European neighbours, Russia and Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

“It’s amazing, President Ramaphosa and the rest of the leadership he was with, to address both countries to sue for peace, so to speak, is a crucial step in world politics and the African continent itself, because it is the one that suffers the most even though it is not itself in the war, because of the supply routes blocked by war-related questions.

“So, it is important that the peace initiative, in my opinion, led by China in the first place, the 12-point peace plan by China, and the one by the seven or so leaders from the African continent with our President being a part of it, are crucial steps that must be taken seriously.”

Tsenoli’s position appears in sync with South Africa’s relations with Russia. Recently, US accused South Africa of supplying arms to Russia in December.

A delegation of African leaders led by South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa last month visited the warring European neighbours for mediation, but very little, if any, positive came of it as both countries have remained adamant.

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Politics

Ghana’s Supreme Court reinstates ruling party’s majority

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The ruling New Patriotic Party regained its majority in the legislature ahead of the Dec. 7 election after Ghana’s Supreme Court declared on Tuesday that the speaker of parliament’s declaration of four seats as vacant was illegal.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the leader of the NPP caucus, petitioned the supreme court of the West African nation to reverse Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision.

Bagbin had said that one member of the National Democratic Congress and two members of the NPP had resigned their seats when they registered to run as independents.

Another lawmaker with an NPP leaning filed as an NPP candidate to run for office.

Due to Bagbin’s decision, the NDC now holds 136 members in parliament, compared to the 135 held by the NPP, the party of outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The approval of Supreme Court nominees, loans, and bill enactments, as well as the presentation of a provisional budget for the first quarter of 2025, were all delayed by the indefinite postponement of two further parliamentary sessions.

In a televised decision, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo declared that Afenyo-Markin’s appeal was successful by a majority vote of 5:2. She noted that the court will later submit the rationale for its ruling.

According to Afenyo-Markin, the decision permitted the parliament to return to its regular activities. Among other things, it is anticipated to approve a $250 million World Bank loan intended to support the financial industry and give corporations tax breaks.

A request for comment from Bagbin’s representative was not answered.

Although some observers predict a hotly contested election, opinion surveys suggest that primary opposition leader John Dramani Mahama will likely defeat NPP contender and incumbent Vice President Muhamudu Bawumia in next month’s election.

Politics

Senegal: PM Sonko urges followers to avenge campaign violence

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, has advised Pastef party followers to exact retribution for claimed violence against them during the Sunday parliamentary election campaign.

Before a presidential election in March in some of the greatest disturbances in Senegal’s history, supporters of the prime minister, also president of Pastef, battled with police. Since Sonko’s ally, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, won the vote, the nation has remained peaceful. He defeated then-president Macky Sall handily.

However, reports of periodic conflicts between various party supporters have surfaced recently as the nation gets ready for a legislative contest that will finally determine how much Faye and Sonko will be able to carry out their agenda.

Sonko claimed in a social media post attacks against Pastef supporters in the capital Dakar and other towns since campaigning began.

“May each patriot they have attacked and injured, be proportionally avenged. We will exercise our legitimate right to respond,” he wrote.

The text accompanied a photo of a young man showing a gashing wound on his forearm.

The first week of campaigning saw an increase in violence reported by a local civil society group involving conflicts between supporters in central Senegal and the burning of an opposition party headquarters in Dakar.

Calling for calm, the interior ministry said on Monday it had been notified of acts of violence and sabotage against party caravans and other campaign activity.

In order to stop damage, rights defender Alioune Tine asked politicians to exhibit “moderation and wisdom” in their speech and requested the interior ministry to invite various party representatives to meet.

“The verbal escalation has reached a critical threshold, we have the impression of going to war,” Tine posted on X.

Pastef is up against former ruling parties that have united ex-presidents Sall and Abdoulaye Wade into a coalition.

Dissolving the opposition-led national assembly in September, Faye accused legislators of not participating in substantive budget and other proposal debates.