Politics

Opposition demonstrators, police clash in Mozambique after contentious election

Published

2 months ago

October 22, 2024

Police in Mozambique fired teargas and bullets at protesters in Maputo on Monday, following the shooting of two opposition party officials on Saturday on the back of a contentious election.

The director of Mozambique’s Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, Adriano Nuvunga, claimed two journalists and a security officer were shot but not seriously hurt.

This week will see the completion of Mozambique’s national election, which was held on October 9. Preliminary results indicate that Frelimo, the ruling party, is anticipated to win again. The poll, according to opposition candidates, was rigged.

Since taking power in 1975, the country in southern Africa has been ruled by Frelimo, which dismisses accusations of electoral fraud made by civil society, opposition leaders, and election monitors.

The Mozambique Electoral Commission has refrained from commenting on allegations of fraud. Observers stationed in the United States claimed that the poll did not adhere to international norms for democratic elections, citing allegations of voter fraud, intimidation, and other problems.

“The police are turning this into a violent protest because they are firing at us. We are here to demand that the truth about the election is upheld,” said protester Vladimir Manhique, a 32-year-old car mechanic.

“This is a way to demonstrate that enough is enough. This regime must fall,” he said.

A few hundred individuals participated in the demonstration, some of whom threw rocks and set fire to red Frelimo flags in the street.

In the past, particularly last year, Mozambican police have used live bullets during political protests, citing the need to use force to quell unrest.

After the altercations with police, independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane declared that Monday’s nationwide strike had been properly followed and instructed the demonstrators to return home.

Related Topics:Featured Mozambique Police in Mozambique

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

5 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

6 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.