Politics

Congo DR: Days after foiled coup, parliament elects speaker

Published

7 months ago

May 23, 2024

The national assembly of the Democratic Republic of the Congo elected Vital Kamerhe, whose residence was severely attacked on Sunday, as speaker in a postponed vote, a crucial step towards establishing a government five months after a presidential election was taken.

As the country’s second-in-command, Kamerhe is a close supporter of President Felix Tshisekedi and holds the speaker position. A total of 371 members of parliament who participated in the polls on Monday supported Kamerhe’s bid for speaker. In addition, MPs scheduled six more lower house seats for voting.

The election makes it possible for Congo to form a cabinet, which hasn’t been done since Tshisekedi won a second term in the December 2023 presidential election although President Tshisekedi appointed Judith Suminwa as the first female prime minister of Congo in April.

Tshisekedi caused the vote to be postponed from May 18, which was the original date. Congolese security personnel claimed on May 19 that they had thwarted a coup attempt and stopped an attack on Kamerhe’s residence in the heart of the country’s capital, Kinshasa.

According to Michel Moto Muhima, a spokesman for Kamerhe, the attack claimed the lives of two guards.

With at least 90% of the 500 elected seats in parliament held by Tshisekedi’s alliance, the Sacred Union, holds a majority. In 2018, Kamerhe, 65, ran with Tshisekedi for president.

Kamerhe has previously held the positions of deputy prime minister of the economy and chief of staff to Tshisekedi. A graft investigation resulted in his incarceration in 2020.

Related Topics:#COUP Africa Congo DR Featured

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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.