Politics

Congolese presidential hopeful, Kabund sentenced 7 years for ‘defaming’ President Tshisekedi

Published

3 weeks ago

September 13, 2023

Congolese presidential hopeful, Jean-Marc Kabund has been sentenced to seven years in jail on 12 counts, including spreading untrue rumours and defaming the head of state.

Lawyer to the former parliament vice president confirmed the sentence on Wednesday, adding that Kabund had been remanded at Kinshasa’s central prison where he had been held since his arrest in August 2022, after he called Tshisekedi a “danger” and lambasted his government in a speech.

The embattled politician was a close associate of President Felix Tshisekedi who launched his own political party last year after the two fell out.

“The court sentenced him to four months each for the first nine offences and 16 months each for the last three,” Kabund’s lawyer, Kadi Diko told Reuters, adding that the most serious offences were “spreading false rumours” and “contempt for head of state and parliament”.

“This is an extremely harsh decision, especially as there is no appeal,” the lawyer added.

The presidential election is scheduled to hold on December 20 in the East African country and the build-up has been tense. In July, an opposition spokesman was shot dead in the capital Kinshasa, while opposition parties have held violent demonstrations denouncing irregularities in voter registration.

Kabund, whose latest sentence makes him ineligible to run, had declared that he would lead his “Alliance for Change” party into the 2018 election and run for president.

Meanwhile, presidential spokesperson, Tina Salama, has maintained that “The presidency is in no way concerned by court decisions,” and “it is neither a plaintiff nor a civil party in this case and therefore cannot comment on it.”

Related Topics:Democratic Republic of Congo Featured Jean-Marc Kabund

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Politics

Tunisian opposition leader, Ghannouchi to begin hunger strike in prison

Published

2 days ago

September 30, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Embattled Tunisian opposition leader, Rached Ghannouchi, who has been a political prisoner since April, has threatened to begin a hunger strike in captivity.

Ghannouchi’s party, Ennahda made the announcement in a statement on Friday, stating that the 82-year-old fierce critic of President Kais Saied, has now decided to stay without food.

Ghannouchi was convicted in absentia in May after his refusal to appear before judges on the grounds that the accusations were false and the prosecution was politically motivated.

Along with other jailed opposition figures, who accuse Saied of a coup for closing the elected parliament and implementing rule by decree, he is also accused of planning against state security.

Since coming into power, President Saied has been firm on dissenting voices in the country. More than 20 political personalities, including Ghannouchi, have been detained by the police this year on suspicion of attempting to undermine state security.

Politics

Rwanda President, Kagame announces major cabinet shuffle

Published

4 days ago

September 28, 2023

Ifeoluwa Dada

Barely a week after he confirmed his intention to seek his country’s presidency for a fourth time, Rwandan President, Paul Kagame has announced a major cabinet shuffle.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Wednesday on behalf of the President.

In place of Ms. Clare Akamanzi, who had held the position for a long time, Kagame named Gen. James Kabarebe, a recently retired former minister of defence, as the new State Minister of Foreign Affairs. Gen. Kabarebe replaced the long-serving Ms. Akamanzi.

Francis Gatare, an economist who most recently served as the Senior Economic Advisor in the President’s Office since 2021, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer of RDB.

Gatare previously held the position of CEO of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board, gaining extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Shortly after being appointed, Mr Gatare declared that the key to Rwanda’s economic growth would be to advance public-private partnerships.

“I am humbled by the trust and confidence, thank you HE @PaulKagame for the new assignment. Honoured to join the super talented and committed team at @RDBrwanda and pledge to give it my all, to listen and learn. The Vision: Advance Public-Private partnership as the engine of Rwanda’s Economic growth.” said Gatare in a tweet posted on Thursday shortly after his appointment.

The Prime Minister, Ministers, Ministers of State, and additional members selected by the President make up Rwanda’s Cabinet. Members of the Cabinet are chosen from political organizations based on the number of seats they hold in the Chamber of Deputies, but they are not permitted to be members of the Chamber themselves.