Politics

South Africa: Ramaphosa to battle Zweli Mkhize for ANC 2024 presidential ticket

Published

2 years ago

December 18, 2022

It’s a two-horse race for the presidential ticket of South Africa’s ruling party, African National Congress nominated just two candidates to run for its top job on Saturday.

The party’s nomination leaves President Cyril Ramaphosa to face the health minister he suspended over corruption allegations in a party vote.

President Ramaphosa removed Zweli Mkhize from the cabinet in June last year over allegations of corruption concerning COVID-19-related contracts to a communications company controlled by former associates.

The party’s five-day conference in Johannesburg has divided it between its two main rival power blocs, one coalescing around the incumbent Ramaphosa and the other around former President Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa recently escaped impeachment amidst the “Farmgate” scandal and is expected to win reelection as leader of his party this weekend.

The ANC faces the genuine prospect of losing its majority in parliament as Ramaphosa’s opponents want him to step down over a scandal involving the discovery of a stash of cash at his farm.

President Ramaphosa’s chances are mainly challenged by the re-emergence of loyalties supporters of former leader Zuma, who is himself being investigated for allegedly colluding with three Indian businessmen to siphon off state funds during his tenure between 2009 and 2018.

Related Topics:Featured RAMAPHOSA South Africa Zweli Mkhize

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

8 hours 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

1 day 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.