Politics

‘We want democracy,’ thousands protest in Tunisia against President Saied

Published

2 years ago

May 15, 2022

Tunisians in their thousands trooped into the streets of the capital Tunis and other cities on Sunday in protest against President Kais Saied, demanding a return to the normal democratic orders following his dissolution of the parliament, and also rejecting his replacement of the country’s electoral commission with one he named and made himself the head.

Brandishing placards with inscriptions like “The people want democracy” and “Saied has led the country to starvation” the protesters chanted at the main rally in central Tunis, the biggest of such protests against Saied in months, just one week after a far smaller demonstration was staged in his support by his loyalists.

The Deputy Leader of the dissolved parliament, Samira Chaouachi who spoke on the protests, said it had “become clear that the street supports a return to the democratic path.”

Opposition politicians have accused Saied of staging a coup against democracy in the country amidst allegations of entrenching a one-man rule since seizing executive power last summer by dismissing the parliament and making moves to rule by decree.

Saied also announced earlier this month that he will replace the democratic constitution through a referendum.

However, Saied has denied staging a coup against the country’s democracy, but said his intervention was legal and necessary to save “Tunisia from years of political paralysis and economic stagnation at the hands of a corrupt, self-serving elite who had taken control of government.”

A leader of the protest, Tijani Tizaoui, who spoke with newsmen, said Saied’s moves have thrust Tunisia into its biggest political crisis since the ‘Arab Spring’ revolution of 2011.

“Our peaceful resistance will continue in the street until we restore our freedom and democracy,” Tizaoui said.

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Politics

Again, Rwanda denies it attacked displaced persons in DR Congo

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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.