Politics

Tunisia bars opposition leader from travelling

Published

2 years ago

November 16, 2022

Tunisian authorities have placed a travel ban on Fadel Abdel Kefi, the head of the opposition Afek Tounes party, and a prominent opponent of President Kais Saied, the party announced on Wednesday.

The party in a statement, said Kefi was stopped from leaving the country on Wednesday morning, further “fuelling concerns over the right to dissent and democratic pluralism.”

“Our leader, Fadel Abdel Kefi, was stopped by the police at the Carthage International Airport on Wednesday morning and prevented him travelling, without any judicial warrant,” the party said.

Abdel Kefi also confirmed the travel ban when he spoke to journalists, saying he had not been made aware of any judicial decision against him.

“Is it reasonable for a decision to be issued without my knowledge? This is a violation of my basic right,” he said.

However, an Interior Ministry official told said a Tunis court had issued a judicial decision to prevent Abdel Kefi from travelling, adding that the ministry was not empowered to take such a step independently.

Abdel Kefi has emerged as a prominent critic of President Saied especially after arrogating powers to himself since becoming the North African country’s leader.

Since coming to power last year, Saied has seized broad powers, shutting down the elected parliament and holding a referendum to enshrine a near absolute presidential power buttressed by a weakened legislature in a new constitution, according to opposition figures.

The Afek Tounes leader has often accused Saied of “acting like a king who has not improved governance or saved the faltering economy.”

He has also called for most of Saied’s new constitution to be revoked and for a balance of power between different branches of government to be restored.

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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.