Politics

Opposition kicks as new Tunisian constitution wins landslide in referendum vote

Published

2 years ago

July 27, 2022

Despite a low turnout of voters, Tunisia’s constitutional referendum conducted by President Kais Saied in July 25 recorded a landslide ‘yes’ votes put at 94.6 percent with the country’s opposition and critics questioning the support the constitution received.

The low turnout was as a result of an intense boycott campaign from the Tunisian opposition, which says the new constitution will potentially lead Tunisia back to one-man rule, with the potential of changing the country from a parliamentary system to a hyper-presidential one, and removes a number of checks and balances.

Results released on Wednesday by the Independent Higher Election Authority (ISIE) show that Tunisians voted to approve the new constitution proposed by Saied, but the country’s opposition says the low turnout of only about 30 percent only highlighted the president’s weakness and the “illegitimacy” of the referendum process.

A leading member of the opposition National Salvation Front, Nejib Chebbi, who addressed a press conference after the result of the referendum was released, said the low turnout “de-legitimises the overall process.”

Also echoing Chebbi’s sentiments, Radwan Masmoudi, founder of the US-based Center for Research of Islam and Democracy said questions have abounded about how accurate the results and the official turnout are, particularly as few election observers have been present

“You can’t approve or adopt a new constitution with less than 30 percent of the voters. In reality, the numbers are far smaller, but the ISIE was under his (Saied’s) control, especially in the interior of the country, and rigged the results in his favour as was expected,” Masmoudi said in a separate interview.

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Politics

Again, Rwanda denies it attacked displaced persons in DR Congo

Published

15 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

For the sixteenth time, Rwanda refuted US charges on Saturday that its troops attacked a camp for internally displaced persons in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), placing the blame instead on militants it claimed were backed by the military of the Congo.

The US State Department released a statement in which it vehemently denounced the incident that claimed at least nine lives on Friday.

There have been persistent accusations against Rwanda of providing support to the armed organizations, which has resulted in diplomatic tensions between the neighbours in East Africa.

Citing the threat that Rwanda’s surface-to-air missile systems posed to civilians, U.N. and other regional peacekeepers, aid workers, and commercial aircraft operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the US demanded in February that Rwanda remove its systems and all of its armed forces from the DRC immediately. Rwanda denies providing any assistance to the rebels.

According to the U.S. statement, the M23 rebel group, which Rwanda supports, and the Rwandan Defense Forces (RDF) held the positions from which the attack was launched. The United States is “gravely concerned about the recent RDF and M23 expansion” in eastern Congo.

Speaking on behalf of the Rwandan government, Yolande Makolo refuted claims that the RDF was responsible for the attack, blaming instead rebels backed by the Congolese military.

“The RDF, a professional army, would never attack an IDP (displaced persons). Look to the lawless FDLR and Wazalendo supported by the FARDC (Congolese military) for this kind of atrocity,” she said in a post on X.

Wazalendo is a Christian sect, while the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) is a Hutu organization that was founded by Hutu officials who left Rwanda after planning the 1994 genocide.

Thousands of people from the surrounding areas have fled to Goma in eastern Congo as a result of the M23 rebels’ two-year offensive, which has advanced toward the city in recent months.

Politics

Liberia: President Boakai signs order to create war crimes court

Published

16 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

To provide long-overdue justice to those who suffered grave injustices during the two civil wars that raged in Liberia, President Joseph Boakai has signed an executive order to establish a war crimes court. Boakai granted his final approval and congratulated the lawmakers for their effort in the legislation.

Many atrocities, such as rape, massacres, and the use of child soldiers, occurred during the wars that lasted from 1989 to 2003. A special court was eventually ordered to be established to try those who were deemed to be at fault by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

President Boakai proposed a resolution to create a special court, which was later backed by Liberia’s lower house and senate.

“The conviction that brings us here today is that, for peace and harmony to have a chance to prevail, justice and healing must perfect the groundwork,” Boakai said in a special address.

Activists and civil society organizations that have demanded greater justice for crimes committed during the conflicts that claimed the lives of almost 250,000 people have praised the initiative.

With support from global organizations like the UN, the court would function in Liberia under international norms once it was operational. Economic offences will also be handled by it.

Meanwhile, some in Liberia are against its development, arguing that it could weaken the amnesty law that was already in place and cause old grievances to resurface. This helped put a stop to the violence.