Politics

Trade, security top on the agenda as South Africa’s Ramaphosa visits Congo DR

Published

1 year ago

July 6, 2023

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa is on a two-day official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he will hold talks with his host, President Felix Tshisekedi.

The presidents are expected to hold a working lunch and discuss ongoing initiatives to improve relations, particularly issues around security and trade.

They will also take part in the work of the DRC-South Africa Economic Forum, which brings together around a hundred businessmen from the two countries.

The two countries recently reactivated the DRC-South Africa Great Joint Commission, which is a bilateral body of line ministers from both sides to work on revising bilateral deals.

The Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula said the commission would strengthen ties between South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“South Africa has always been with the DRC. We are happy to recall the timeliness of these meetings, which will consolidate the cooperation between our two States, especially as in the recent past South Africa has been at the side of Malawi and other SADC countries to help the DRC get rid of the armed groups that were sowing terror on our territory,” he said, referring to the southern Africa development bloc to which both countries belong.

Relations between South Africa and the Congo DR date back to colonial times. With the DRC opposing apartheid in South Africa, it also hosted a conference entitled “Apartheid and Health,”, which discussed the health implications of racial discrimination and social inequality.

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Politics

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

Published

1 day 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

1 day 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.