Politics

Despite UN intervention, rival camps disagree over election framework in Libya

Published

2 years ago

July 1, 2022

Negotiation between Libyan officials and rival camps on a constitutional framework for national elections has broken.

The latest move by the United Nation to bridge the gaps between the factions has collapsed after two days of U.N.-mediated talks in Geneva.

Disagreement persists among the two senior Libyan officials, Fathi Bashagha and Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. from the country’s rival camps, on the eligibility requirements for the candidates in the first presidential elections.

Although the leaders couldn’t agree on the election’s framework, they however reached “unprecedented consensus” on issues such as the headquarters and distribution of seats for the two legislative chambers. Distribution of powers among different executive authorities, delineation of provinces and other matters.

With the strange case of one country, two parliaments, the controversy is further entrenched, The Tripoli-based council’s position bans military personnel as well as dual citizens from running for the country’s top post.

A move considered to be directed at the divisive Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter, a US citizen whose forces are loyal to the east-based administration.

The political rivalry has degenerated into presence of armed groups, fighting have involved two influential militias from Western Libya, according to local media, which identified armed groups as the Nawasi Brigade – a militia loyal to politician Fathi Bashagha – and the Stability Support Force, which backs interim premier Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.

Since the NATO-backed uprising against longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plagued with conflict for years and split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by myriad militias and foreign governments.

Politics

Mauritius’ Prime Minister to double as Finance Minister

Published

3 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In an effort to maintain a tight eye on the economy, Mauritius’ Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, who took office this month following a resounding election victory, said on Friday that he would retain the position of finance minister for himself.

“We are doing an audit of the economy to see to what extent the outgoing government has destroyed it,” Ramgoolam told reporters in the capital Port Louis after he presided over the swearing-in of other ministers.

Ten years after he stepped down as prime minister, the seasoned politician returned to the position when his Alliance du Changement (ADC) alliance won 60 of the 62 seats in the national legislature.

The 77-year-old Ramgoolam said earlier this week that he would be auditing governmental finances. Before this, he was prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.

Ramgoolam started a campaign in 2006 to streamline taxes and reduce bureaucracy to diversify the $10 billion economy beyond exports of sugar, textiles, and tourism.

Since then, the 1.3 million-person nation, which positions itself as a bridge between Africa and Asia, has developed into a major offshore financial hub and has been rated by the World Bank as the easiest location to do business in Africa regularly.

Politics

Mali’s junta names spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new Prime Minister

Published

23 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A day after dismissing Choguel Maiga for criticising the government, Mali’s governing junta named its spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to state broadcaster, ORTM.

A source close to Choguel Maiga told Reuters that the ruling generals were incensed by Maiga’s remarks over the weekend denouncing the junta’s inability to hold elections within the 24-month timeframe given for the return to democracy.

After promising to hold elections in February, the military authorities, who took control in two separate coups in 2020 and 2021, have put off the poll indefinitely, citing technological difficulties.

Choguel Maiga’s firing coincides with indications of growing discontent and disarray among Mali politicians, even those who first supported the coup and collaborated with the junta.

As the wait for elections continues, Choguel Maiga, a civilian prime minister who was installed by the military junta in 2021, is the most recent to lose support.

He was cited on Saturday as claiming he learnt of the junta’s decision via the media and that there had been no discussion regarding the delay of the elections inside the cabinet.

“It’s all happening in total secrecy, without the prime minister’s knowledge,” Choguel Maiga told reporters.

Before then, he had frequently stood up for Mali’s junta against criticism from foreign friends and neighbours in West Africa who denounced its repeated election delays and military collaboration with Russian mercenaries.

As government spokesperson, Abdoulaye Maiga, the new prime minister, has also made strong public remarks against France, the previous colonial master. One such speech was demanding French President Emmanuel Macron to stop his “neocolonial” and “condescending” behaviour.

Abdoulaye Maiga and Assimi Goita, the leaders of the junta, announced they had kept all of the important cabinet ministers in their portfolios in the new administration in a statement that was broadcast on state television ORTM.

The announcement said that Abdoulaye Maiga will remain minister of territory administration.