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Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai cuts salary by 40%

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Amidst the growing call for a significant cut in the cost of governance across the continent, Joseph Boakai, the President of Liberia, has declared a voluntary 40% cut to his pay.

This was revealed in a statement that was posted on the Liberian government’s website on Saturday and stated that the action was in line with Boakai’s dedication to national financial security and fiscal integrity.

This occurred a few days after a few lawmakers protested against the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for failing to provide them with the funds for their tricycles, or “Keke,” by riding them to the parliament.

According to Boakai, the declaration demonstrates his resolve to set an example for improving public accountability and displaying citizen solidarity.

The statement partly read, “In fulfilment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.. has announced a voluntary 40% reduction in his salary.

“According to the President, the announcement reflects his determination to lead by example in strengthening government accountability and demonstrating solidarity with the people of the nation.

“The Liberian leader said the move is aimed at setting a precedent for responsible governance and nation-building.”

Furthermore, Boakai “has pledged to empower the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to ensure that workers receive fair compensation for their contributions to the country and that public servants’ salaries are in line with the current state of the nation.”

Boakai formally introduced the Employee Status Regularization Programme earlier on Thursday to improve payroll and employment transparency and accountability within the government. The initiative is a critical step in building a civil service that is more effective, responsible, and transparent.

According to a statement from the president of Liberia, the recently established ESRP entails a thorough staff headcount as well as a physical verification operation to find and eliminate unfit individuals and ghost identities from the government’s payroll.

Along with raising the pay of lawful civil personnel, the program aims to give competent professionals more chances to provide effective and efficient services. Boakai is currently in Nigeria for the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS. Boakai succeeded previous President George Weah.

In a similar move, Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday suggested borrowing more money in approximately equal amounts and cutting spending to close a nearly $2.7 billion budget deficit left by his decision to back out of planned tax increases in the face of widespread opposition.

In reaction to widespread, youth-led protests that have precipitated the largest crisis of Ruto’s two-year government, the financial law including the tax increases was withdrawn by the president.

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Politics

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

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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.

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Alliance of Sahel States opposes ECOWAS disengagement schedule

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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.

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