Politics

South Africa: Ex-President Zuma ousted by ruling ANC following election betrayal

Published

5 months ago

July 29, 2024

Jacob Zuma, the former president of South Africa, was kicked out of the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday for his support of a rival party during the May legislative election, the party has announced.

After declaring in January that he would back the newly formed uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) in the general election, Zuma faced suspension from his long-standing party. Later on, he emerged as MK’s face and commander.

There has been a legal tussle between the ANC and Zuma’s new party. The ANC claims that the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation) party failed to register in September, therefore calling for its disqualification. Using the name of the ANC’s now-disbanded military wing, which Nelson Mandela had formed, MK caused discord within the party.

MK performed better in the poll than anticipated, garnering almost 15% of the vote, which played a significant role in the ANC losing its majority for the first time since the apartheid era.

“Former President Jacob Zuma has actively impugned the integrity of the ANC and campaigned to dislodge the ANC from power while claiming that he had not severed his membership,” ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula told the media.

“This conduct is irreconcilable with the spirit of organisational discipline and letter of the ANC Constitution.”

The African National Congress (ANC) entered a coalition government for the first time since taking power at the end of white minority rule in 1994 after receiving 40.18% of the vote in the election, down from 57.50% in 2019. The formal opposition is currently MK.

In a statement released Monday, MK addressed media reports that Zuma had been ousted, denouncing “grave injustices” against Zuma and criticizing the ANC’s procedure.

“President Zuma will engage his legal team to determine the course of action urgently,” it said.

According to the ANC, Zuma has 21 days to file an appeal of the ruling.

Since he was forced to resign as party leader in 2018, Zuma, whose nine years in office starting in 2009 were characterized by corruption scandals and slow economic progress, has been at war with the ANC’s leadership.

He has frequently retaliated against President Cyril Ramaphosa, who succeeded him.

Related Topics:Ex-President Zuma Featured South Africa

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

6 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

7 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.