Politics

Sudan’s RSF chief Dagalo makes first public wartime tour of Ethiopia

Published

11 months ago

December 28, 2023

The leader of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, visited Ethiopia on Thursday as talks for resolution of the ongoing crisis in the country continued.

During the second leg of a rare, publicly announced foreign tour, Dagalo discussed the need for a swift end to the war between the RSF and the Sudanese army.

The country has been at war since the Sudanese army and the RSF clashed in July. According to the WFP, the ongoing clash might add to the 15 million people already in dire need of food as a result of drought and famine in the country.

Dagalo, whose location since the start of the conflict was previously unknown, touched down in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on Wednesday after having a meeting with Yoweri Museveni, the President of Uganda, at his home.

Little apparent progress has been made in putting an end to the conflict in Sudan despite diplomatic efforts, including talks in Jeddah led by the US and Saudi Arabia. With the capture of Wad Madani, one of Sudan’s largest cities, and the strengthening of its hold on the western Darfur region, the RSF has recently achieved strategic military gains.

Images of Dagalo and his delegation gathered around a restaurant table were posted online, with Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, stating that he had met with them “for a discussion on securing peace and stability in Sudan.”

At Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport, Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, was earlier met by Demeke Mekonnen, the country’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister.

“We discussed the need to bring a swift end to this war, the historical crisis in Sudan, and how to best alleviate the hardships of the Sudanese people,” Hemedti said.

The fighting has forced over 6 million people to flee their homes, with roughly 1.2 million of them entering neighbouring countries, placing a heavy burden on Sudan and its neighbours’ resources.

Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to state broadcaster, ORTM.

A source close to Choguel Maiga told Reuters that the ruling generals were incensed by Maiga’s remarks over the weekend denouncing the junta’s inability to hold elections within the 24-month timeframe given for the return to democracy.

After promising to hold elections in February, the military authorities, who took control in two separate coups in 2020 and 2021, have put off the poll indefinitely, citing technological difficulties.

Choguel Maiga’s firing coincides with indications of growing discontent and disarray among Mali politicians, even those who first supported the coup and collaborated with the junta.

As the wait for elections continues, Choguel Maiga, a civilian prime minister who was installed by the military junta in 2021, is the most recent to lose support.

He was cited on Saturday as claiming he learnt of the junta’s decision via the media and that there had been no discussion regarding the delay of the elections inside the cabinet.

“It’s all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister’s knowledge,” Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before then, he had frequently stood up for Mali’s junta against criticism from foreign friends and neighbours in West Africa who denounced its repeated election delays and military collaboration with Russian mercenaries.

As government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, the new prime minister, has also made strong public remarks against France, the previous colonial master. One such speech was demanding French President Emmanuel Macron to stop his “neocolonial” and “condescending” behaviour.

Abdoulaye Maiga and Assimi Goita, the leaders of the junta, announced they had kept all of the important cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new administration in a statement that was broadcast on state television ORTM.

The announcement said that Abdoulaye Maiga will remain minister of territory administration.

Politics

Congo opposition mobilizes protests against constitution review

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In response to President Felix Tshisekedi’s intentions to amend the constitution, opposition lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have called for national protests on Wednesday.

Tshisekedi, who was sworn in for his second and last term in January, said that a panel would be formed in October to recommend possible constitutional amendments.

According to critics, it may be a ploy to lift term restrictions and give him another chance to run.

Tshisekedi said the current constitution, ratified by a referendum in 2005, needed to change because it did not align with the country’s current realities.

Opposition politicians, including former president Joseph Kabila and past presidential candidates Martin Fayulu and Moise Katumbi, issued a unified statement on Wednesday urging rallies to “block” Tshisekedi.

A request for a response from the Congo’s presidency was not answered.

Patrick Muyaya, the minister of communications, stated on Monday that discussions surrounding the constitutional revision should be de-politicized and that no one should doubt the president’s intentions.

“We’re at the beginning of our mandate… The President of the Republic still has four years to go, and we must avoid attributing intentions to him,” Muyaya told reporters.