Politics

South Africa: Prominent leftist politician joins Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe

Published

4 months ago

August 15, 2024

In what political observers have described as a “party coup,” the deputy leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), South Africa’s radical opposition party, announced his resignation to join former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).

The departure of Shivambu is a setback for Julius Malema’s marxist EFF. In the national election held in May, the EFF’s vote share dropped to less than 10% while the newly established MK party soared to become the third-largest party in parliament.

A leftist opposition coalition led by the business-friendly Democratic Alliance and the long-ruling African National Congress (ANC) was created following the election, and EFF and MK are members of it.

However, Shivambu’s move highlights MK’s growing appeal, which mostly capitalises on Zuma’s standing in KwaZulu-Natal, his home province.
“This is a testing moment, … the EFF will have to pass this test or it will have to die,” Malema told reporters at a news conference.

This year, Zuma was kicked out of the ANC for leading MK, which performed better than anticipated in the election and was crucial in lowering the ANC’s vote share below 50%.

Similar policies are pursued by the EFF and MK, including as nationalising banks and mines and taking land for the benefit of Black farmers. Both of them argue that three decades after apartheid ended, “white monopoly capital” continues to control South Africa’s riches.

There has been a legal tussle between the ruling ANC and Zuma’s new party. The ANC claims that the newly formed 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.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

1 day 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

2 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.