Politics

Senegal: PM Ousmane Sonko forms govt of 30 ministers

Published

9 months ago

April 6, 2024

Following his appointment as Senegal’s Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko has revealed a new government with 25 ministers and five junior ministers in the cabinet.

President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, 44, accepted the cabinet. He was sworn in on Tuesday and named Sonko, a key supporter, as prime minister. Faye took over as president after 12 years of President Macky Sall’s rule, during which time there was growing public unhappiness.

Sonko, who is 49 years old, was in a two-year standoff with the government that led to deadly riots. He was well-liked by young people in Senegal, but he couldn’t run for president on March 24 because he was convicted of defamation. He chose Faye to replace him in the presidential vote. He said he did nothing wrong.

After Faye made radical campaign promises like getting rid of the CFA franc, which is West Africa’s common currency, a lot of eyes will be on the government. Even though he kind of went back on his word, the former tax inspector promised this week to look into the oil, gas, and mining industries.

Cheikh Diba was appointed as finance minister, which is a big deal. Diba used to be in charge of budget programming at the finance office. Abdourahmane Sarr was made minister of the economy.

She was vice president of Sonko and Faye’s now-defunct Pastef party and will be in charge of the oil and energy ministry. Two generals were chosen to be ministers of the interior and defence.

Related Topics:Featured Ousmane Sonko Senegal

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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.