🇲🇬 Curfew was imposed in Madagascar's capital ahead of poll
An overnight curfew has been imposed in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, ahead of Thursday's presidential election which most opposition candidates have described as a fraud and are boycotting.
The country has been extremely tense with numerous opposition protests being dispersed by the police.
Antananarivo's police chief said the curfew was necessary after what he called acts of sabotage including the burning of a polling station.
President Andry Rajoelina is running for re-election, but 10 of the 12 opposition candidates have urged supporters not to vote, raising concerns about the credibility of the poll.
#Madagascar
@africaintel
An overnight curfew has been imposed in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, ahead of Thursday's presidential election which most opposition candidates have described as a fraud and are boycotting.
The country has been extremely tense with numerous opposition protests being dispersed by the police.
Antananarivo's police chief said the curfew was necessary after what he called acts of sabotage including the burning of a polling station.
President Andry Rajoelina is running for re-election, but 10 of the 12 opposition candidates have urged supporters not to vote, raising concerns about the credibility of the poll.
#Madagascar
@africaintel
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Africa Intel
🇲🇱 In Bamako, Malians celebrate capture of rebel stronghold by army and Wagner PMC Mali's army and Wagner group has recaptured the strategic northern town of Kidal, a stronghold of Tuareg-dominated separatist groups. The capture of Kidal is a significant…
🇳🇪🇲🇱 Niger's military regime congratulates Mali on "liberation of Kidal"
Niger’s military regime on Wednesday congratulated the Malian junta on the “liberation of Kidal" the previous day.
"This martyred town had remained under the grip of terrorists and their sponsors, who are responsible for destabilising Mali and the Sahel as a whole," said Colonel Major Abdramane Amadou, a member of Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
He said the army's victory represents a turning point in the commitment of the Malian authorities to “liberate the entire country”.
#Niger #Mali
@africaintel
Niger’s military regime on Wednesday congratulated the Malian junta on the “liberation of Kidal" the previous day.
"This martyred town had remained under the grip of terrorists and their sponsors, who are responsible for destabilising Mali and the Sahel as a whole," said Colonel Major Abdramane Amadou, a member of Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
He said the army's victory represents a turning point in the commitment of the Malian authorities to “liberate the entire country”.
#Niger #Mali
@africaintel
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Africa Intel
🇬🇧🇺🇸🇺🇬 UK, US issue fresh security alert on Uganda The British High Commission in Uganda has warned of “a growing terror threat in Uganda, including targeting of foreigners”, hours after the US embassy issued a similar alert. Both diplomatic missions on…
🇺🇬🇬🇧🇺🇸 Uganda's President Museveni criticises US, UK for security advisories
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni denounced the United States and UK for issuing adverse security advisories to their citizens in Uganda, and accused both countries of creating and conserving insecurity in Africa.
The U.S. and UK both issued travel warnings urging their citizens not to travel to Jinja town in eastern Uganda to attend a cultural festival that was held over the weekend, with the UK citing the killing of tourists and the risk of threats against foreigners.
Museveni said the British and the Americans were panicking and making a mistake in issuing unwarranted advisories.
"These advisories by some of these actors is another form of interference in our internal affairs by these elements. Moreover, part of the terrorism in Africa is either created or conserved by some of the actors that try to be global policemen," Museveni said.
#Uganda #UK #USA
@africaintel
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni denounced the United States and UK for issuing adverse security advisories to their citizens in Uganda, and accused both countries of creating and conserving insecurity in Africa.
The U.S. and UK both issued travel warnings urging their citizens not to travel to Jinja town in eastern Uganda to attend a cultural festival that was held over the weekend, with the UK citing the killing of tourists and the risk of threats against foreigners.
Museveni said the British and the Americans were panicking and making a mistake in issuing unwarranted advisories.
"These advisories by some of these actors is another form of interference in our internal affairs by these elements. Moreover, part of the terrorism in Africa is either created or conserved by some of the actors that try to be global policemen," Museveni said.
#Uganda #UK #USA
@africaintel
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🇸🇸 South Sudan deploys first unified forces after peace deal
Hundreds of former rebels and government troops in South Sudan's unified forces were deployed at a ceremony, marking progress for the country's peace process.
The unification of forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, was a key condition of the 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year conflict in which nearly 400,000 people died.
Tens of thousands of former fighters were integrated into the country's army in August last year but none have been deployed until now.
The first battalion comprising nearly 1,000 soldiers will be deployed to Malakal in northern Upper Nile State, which has received huge numbers of South Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
At the ceremony the country's chief of defence forces, urged the battalion to remain united, saying: "Be a soldier and don't get involved in politics.
#SouthSudan
@africaintel
Hundreds of former rebels and government troops in South Sudan's unified forces were deployed at a ceremony, marking progress for the country's peace process.
The unification of forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice President Riek Machar, was a key condition of the 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year conflict in which nearly 400,000 people died.
Tens of thousands of former fighters were integrated into the country's army in August last year but none have been deployed until now.
The first battalion comprising nearly 1,000 soldiers will be deployed to Malakal in northern Upper Nile State, which has received huge numbers of South Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
At the ceremony the country's chief of defence forces, urged the battalion to remain united, saying: "Be a soldier and don't get involved in politics.
#SouthSudan
@africaintel
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🇨🇩 DR Congo opposition parties discuss joint election candidate, fair vote
Representatives of Congo's main opposition parties began talks this week in Pretoria on how to ensure the general election on December 20 will be fair and to decide on a potential joint candidate to challenge President Felix Tshisekedi.
A crowded opposition field of 25 candidates has been officially approved by the electoral commission in Democratic Republic of Congo to face Tshisekedi who is seeking a second term.
Campaigning for the election in Congo will start on November 20.
"The question of a joint candidacy will certainly be discussed in due course," said opposition candidate, adding that the main concern was to agree ground rules for holding peaceful elections.
A divided opposition field could be an advantage for Tshisekedi in a single round election that requires a simple majority of the vote to win.
#DRC
@africaintel
Representatives of Congo's main opposition parties began talks this week in Pretoria on how to ensure the general election on December 20 will be fair and to decide on a potential joint candidate to challenge President Felix Tshisekedi.
A crowded opposition field of 25 candidates has been officially approved by the electoral commission in Democratic Republic of Congo to face Tshisekedi who is seeking a second term.
Campaigning for the election in Congo will start on November 20.
"The question of a joint candidacy will certainly be discussed in due course," said opposition candidate, adding that the main concern was to agree ground rules for holding peaceful elections.
A divided opposition field could be an advantage for Tshisekedi in a single round election that requires a simple majority of the vote to win.
#DRC
@africaintel
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🇿🇲 Four Zambian opposition politicians were arrested
Four opposition politicians in Zambia - including a former justice minister - have been arrested by police over the last 24 hours for various offences.
Emmanuel Mwamba of the main opposition Patriotic Front (PF) was detained following a Facebook post in which he called for anti-government demonstrations.
A police statement said he was inciting hatred and violence.
Former Justice Minister Given Lubinda - also of the PF - is accused of refusing to surrender a diplomatic passport.
A third PF member, Raphael Nakachinda, has been charged with espionage, along with Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe, after they featured in a documentary broadcast by Zimbabwe's state broadcaster following that country's election in August.
All four deny the charges.
#Zambia
@africaintel
Four opposition politicians in Zambia - including a former justice minister - have been arrested by police over the last 24 hours for various offences.
Emmanuel Mwamba of the main opposition Patriotic Front (PF) was detained following a Facebook post in which he called for anti-government demonstrations.
A police statement said he was inciting hatred and violence.
Former Justice Minister Given Lubinda - also of the PF - is accused of refusing to surrender a diplomatic passport.
A third PF member, Raphael Nakachinda, has been charged with espionage, along with Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe, after they featured in a documentary broadcast by Zimbabwe's state broadcaster following that country's election in August.
All four deny the charges.
#Zambia
@africaintel
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🇲🇬 Madagascar heads to polls amid opposition boycott
Madagascar's voters headed to polls early on Thursday in a presidential election boycotted by 10 out of 12 opposition candidates and marred by weeks of violent protests.
Despite a night-time curfew imposed on Thursday, the security presence was scarce across the capital as polling stations opened.
Current president Andry Rajoelina, who is seeking a third term, is facing criticism as leading opposition figures, including two former presidents, declared him unfit to run and called on their supporters to abstain from voting.
Calls by the opposition to postpone the elections were echoed by the organisation grouping Madagascar's four biggest Christian churches, which declared on Wednesday that it would not observe the vote, citing an unsuitable political environment and lack of standards.
Provisional results are expected to be released on November 24.
#Madagascar
@africaintel
Madagascar's voters headed to polls early on Thursday in a presidential election boycotted by 10 out of 12 opposition candidates and marred by weeks of violent protests.
Despite a night-time curfew imposed on Thursday, the security presence was scarce across the capital as polling stations opened.
Current president Andry Rajoelina, who is seeking a third term, is facing criticism as leading opposition figures, including two former presidents, declared him unfit to run and called on their supporters to abstain from voting.
Calls by the opposition to postpone the elections were echoed by the organisation grouping Madagascar's four biggest Christian churches, which declared on Wednesday that it would not observe the vote, citing an unsuitable political environment and lack of standards.
Provisional results are expected to be released on November 24.
#Madagascar
@africaintel
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🇮🇱🇵🇸🇪🇬 Israeli attempts to displace Palestinians from Gaza a ‘war crime’ said Egypt Foreign Minister
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry criticised remarks made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for the “voluntary” displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, saying Israel’s actions in the strip are a war crime.
Shoukry said that Israeli policies forcing Palestinians from their homes constitute "a full-fledged war crime under the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.”
He denounced Smotrich’s claims on Tuesday that any displacement of Palestinians would be voluntary, affirming that people in Gaza are being compelled to leave their homes due to “deliberate military targeting of civilians in the strip and the intentional siege and starvation operations.”
The Egyptian FM also noted that Egypt and the international community rejects any attempts to justify or encourage the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
#Israel #Palestine #Egypt
@africaintel
Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry criticised remarks made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calling for the “voluntary” displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, saying Israel’s actions in the strip are a war crime.
Shoukry said that Israeli policies forcing Palestinians from their homes constitute "a full-fledged war crime under the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.”
He denounced Smotrich’s claims on Tuesday that any displacement of Palestinians would be voluntary, affirming that people in Gaza are being compelled to leave their homes due to “deliberate military targeting of civilians in the strip and the intentional siege and starvation operations.”
The Egyptian FM also noted that Egypt and the international community rejects any attempts to justify or encourage the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
#Israel #Palestine #Egypt
@africaintel
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Africa Intel
🇳🇬 Nigeria unions call for nationwide strike despite court order Nigeria's two largest labour unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have declared an indefinite nationwide strike starting Tuesday, defying a court order.…
🇳🇬 Nigeria labour unions suspend nationwide strike
Nigeria's two biggest workers' unions have suspended a nationwide strike after reaching a deal with the federal government.
The unions said in a joint statement that the government had apologised and promised to investigate the incident.
“Some of the perpetrators have been arrested, and we were given high assurances that all others will be fished out and prosecuted,” the statement read.
The two-day strike saw ports in Lagos state shut, school schedules disrupted and railway travel cancelled.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
Nigeria's two biggest workers' unions have suspended a nationwide strike after reaching a deal with the federal government.
The unions said in a joint statement that the government had apologised and promised to investigate the incident.
“Some of the perpetrators have been arrested, and we were given high assurances that all others will be fished out and prosecuted,” the statement read.
The two-day strike saw ports in Lagos state shut, school schedules disrupted and railway travel cancelled.
#Nigeria
@africaintel
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🇲🇼 Malawi suspends all government foreign trips
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has suspended all international travel involving himself and all government officials.
He also ordered all ministers currently outside the country to return home and announced restrictions on local travel and reduction by half of fuel allocation to cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The measures will be in place until the end of the financial year in March 2024.
The president asked the minister of finance to make provisions for a reasonable wage increase for all civil servants in the next budget review.
He also directed a reduction of income tax on individuals in the new budget so as to help workers whose incomes have lost value.
The president’s move comes as the IMF approved a four-year credit facility for Malawi worth $174m, just days after the country devalued its local currency by 44%.
#Malawi
@africaintel
Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera has suspended all international travel involving himself and all government officials.
He also ordered all ministers currently outside the country to return home and announced restrictions on local travel and reduction by half of fuel allocation to cabinet ministers and senior government officials.
The measures will be in place until the end of the financial year in March 2024.
The president asked the minister of finance to make provisions for a reasonable wage increase for all civil servants in the next budget review.
He also directed a reduction of income tax on individuals in the new budget so as to help workers whose incomes have lost value.
The president’s move comes as the IMF approved a four-year credit facility for Malawi worth $174m, just days after the country devalued its local currency by 44%.
#Malawi
@africaintel
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🇿🇦🇮🇱🇺🇳 South Africa has referred Israel to the International Criminal Court
South Africa has referred Israel’s government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its actions in the Gaza conflict, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.
“As South Africa we have accordingly, together with many other countries in the world, saw fit to refer this whole Israeli government action to the International Criminal Court. We have put through a referral because we believe that war crimes are being committed there,” he said.
He did not disclose the other countries involved in referring Israel to the ICC.
He added that they did not condone Hamas’s earlier attack on Israel but were opposed to Israel’s ongoing actions, which they “believe warrant investigations by the ICC”.
#SouthAfrica #Israel
@africaintel
South Africa has referred Israel’s government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over its actions in the Gaza conflict, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.
“As South Africa we have accordingly, together with many other countries in the world, saw fit to refer this whole Israeli government action to the International Criminal Court. We have put through a referral because we believe that war crimes are being committed there,” he said.
He did not disclose the other countries involved in referring Israel to the ICC.
He added that they did not condone Hamas’s earlier attack on Israel but were opposed to Israel’s ongoing actions, which they “believe warrant investigations by the ICC”.
#SouthAfrica #Israel
@africaintel
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🇺🇳🇨🇫 UN renews peacekeeping force's mandate in CAR
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate for another 12 months of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic - known as Minusca.
Fourteen of the 15 council members voted on Wednesday to renew the mission, asking it to continue advancing reconciliation and durable peace through political, security and institutional means.
Minusca was also urged to protect human rights and assist in preparations for local elections in 2024 and 2025.
Russia abstained from the vote, after its representative said the resolution to extend the mandate contained some elements which did not reflect the current situation in the country.
Moscow maintains close ties with the CAR, and the influence of people believed to be from the Wagner mercenary group, is perceptible in the government’s fight against local rebels.
#UN #CAR
@africaintel
The UN Security Council has extended the mandate for another 12 months of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic - known as Minusca.
Fourteen of the 15 council members voted on Wednesday to renew the mission, asking it to continue advancing reconciliation and durable peace through political, security and institutional means.
Minusca was also urged to protect human rights and assist in preparations for local elections in 2024 and 2025.
Russia abstained from the vote, after its representative said the resolution to extend the mandate contained some elements which did not reflect the current situation in the country.
Moscow maintains close ties with the CAR, and the influence of people believed to be from the Wagner mercenary group, is perceptible in the government’s fight against local rebels.
#UN #CAR
@africaintel
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🇩🇿🇨🇳 Algeria’s army chief of staff visits China, seeks to diversify sources of military supplies
The Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army, Lieutenant General Said Chengriha, arrived in the Chinese capital, Beijing, for an official visit at the head of a military delegation.
He was received by Army General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China. He also met with several companies representatives.
The visit of Chengriha to China came amid an Algerian army push for the diversification of its sources of armament in order to wean itself from dependence on Russia.
The West voiced strong reservations about Algeria proving Russia with a strong infusion of cash in exchange of weapons. Algeria is also opening up to new markets, as Moscow is increasingly unable to meet demand for arms supplies when the Algerian defence sector is expected to rise.
#Algeria #China
@africaintel
The Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army, Lieutenant General Said Chengriha, arrived in the Chinese capital, Beijing, for an official visit at the head of a military delegation.
He was received by Army General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China. He also met with several companies representatives.
The visit of Chengriha to China came amid an Algerian army push for the diversification of its sources of armament in order to wean itself from dependence on Russia.
The West voiced strong reservations about Algeria proving Russia with a strong infusion of cash in exchange of weapons. Algeria is also opening up to new markets, as Moscow is increasingly unable to meet demand for arms supplies when the Algerian defence sector is expected to rise.
#Algeria #China
@africaintel
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