Politics

Tunisian court lets presidential candidate Mekki start his campaign

Published

4 months ago

August 27, 2024

Judicial and political sources cited by Reuters have confirmed that a Tunisian court on Tuesday upheld an appeal by well-known opposition leader, Abdellatif Mekki, thereby enabling him to begin his presidential campaign in an expected October 6 election.

Mekki was expelled from the race by the electoral commission because of what it claimed to be a lack of public support. According to Faycel Boguira, a judicial spokesman for Reuters, the court’s ruling was definitive and not subject to appeal.

This week, Tunisia’s administrative court will render other decisions on other lawmakers who have appealed following the commission’s rejection of their candidatures. They cover Mondher Zenaidi, Imed Daimi, and Abir Moussi.

The ruling of the court adds Mekki, head of the Action and Achievement Party, to a list of approved candidates comprising also the current President Kais Saied, lawmakers Ayachi Zammel and Zouhair Maghzaoui.

Prominent official Mekki of the Islamist Ennahda party left to start a competing party in 2022. Still, he is quite popular among Ennahda supporters, one of the biggest political parties in Tunisia.

“The court decision is fair and highlights the image of the administrative court, known for its integrity even in the darkest periods in Tunisia’s history,” Ahmed Nafati, Mekki’s campaign manager, told Reuters.

Politicians, human rights organisations, and Tunisian opposition parties have charged the government with implementing “arbitrary restrictions” and intimidation meant to guarantee Saied’s re-election.

According to them, the election commission is not objective and is working to eradicate all major rivals so opening Saied’s path of success. The commission brushes off the charges.

Saied stated last year after dissolving parliament and grabbing authority over all spheres in 2021, a move labelled by the opposition as a coup, “he would not hand over the country to non-patriots”.

The presidential election in Tunisia is set for October 6, 2024. Today is the first election for president since President Kais Saied tried to take power in 2021.

Related Topics:Featured President Kais Saied Tunisia

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 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

4 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.