🇸🇴🇺🇳 Puntland president meets with UN representative, discusses cutting ties with federal government

Puntland president Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland welcomed the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia, Catriona Laing, to his office, where they discussed political issues, development, and humanitarian aid.

The meeting was attended by top Puntland officials, including the Vice President, and ministers of interior, planning, health, fisheries, humanitarian affairs, and women and family affairs.

“We discussed how the international community could work closely with Puntland after the decision we announced on Sunday night to cut ties with the Federal Government,” said Deni.

Liang said that their talks covered development programs, promotion of humanitarian aid, issues like malnutrition and cholera, and the stalled process of completing the federal constitution.

Laing added that President Deni promised dialogue with the Federal Government would continue to find an inclusive process, unite the country, and define the powers of the Federal Government and member states.

#Somalia #UN

@africaintel

🇪🇹🇰🇪 Ethiopia mulls using Lamu port to import fertiliser

Ethiopia is exploring the possibility of using Lamu port to import fertiliser as part of an effort to expand its port destinations beyond Djibouti, which handles the bulk of its cargo.

Even though the idea to use Lamu was proposed years ago, it has not been used up to this point.

A delegation from Ethiopia has conducted a fact-finding mission on Lamu and Mombasa ports and is optimistic that they will be able to strike a deal with Kenya.

Ethiopian state Minister of Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Denge Boru stated, “The delegation has visited the port and road conditions up to Moyale, whether or not it is suitable for the operation.”

#Ethiopia #Kenya

@africaintel

🇨🇩 M23 rebels in DRC call for federal system of government

The M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called for a federal system of government, sparking angry reactions across the country.

The rebels made the announcement at a meeting that was attended by former members of a political party of former Congolese president Joseph Kabila in the eastern village of Kiwanja.

The meeting by the M23 rebels and a political movement known as the Congo River Alliance was held at a village under their control in the east of the DRC.

The rebels criticized the governance of the DRC and called for a federal system of government.

Their call has been condemned by many Congolese citizens who accuse the M23 rebels of being a proxy of neighboring Rwanda.

#DRC

@africaintel

🇷🇼 Kagame endorsed as presidential candidate by seven political parties in Rwanda

Rwanda's president Paul Kagame has been endorsed as candidate by two of the oldest and political parties.

Liberal Party (PL), and the Social Democratic Party (PSD), endorsed the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) candidate Paul Kagame in the July presidential race on Sunday, joining four smaller political parties, which are already in a coalition with the ruling RPF — in endorsing Kagame.

Allied to the ruling party, leaders of the PL and PSD have historically served in different government positions.

Kagame has ruled over Rwanda for decades. He won the presidency in elections in 2003, 2010 and 2017 – with more than 90 percent of the vote.

Rwanda will hold presidential and parliamentary polls on July 15.

#Rwanda

@africaintel

🇪🇹🇸🇦 Ethiopia to repatriate 70,000 nationals from Saudi Arabia

Ethiopia will repatriate some 70,000 of its nationals living in Saudi Arabia starting early April.

State Minister Birtukan Ayano said the repatriation, the third such programme since 2018, will target “Ethiopians who are in a difficult situation”.

During the announcement last week the minister didn't specify whether the returnees have been living in Saudi Arabia legally.

Regional administrations are expected to ensure the returnees resettle in their native home areas.

According to a government dispatch, repatriation expenses will include flight tickets, temporary holding at transition centres in Addis Ababa and some money to restart life.

Ethiopia currently hosts about 917,000 refugees from neighbouring countries such as Yemen.

#Ethiopia #SaudiArabia

@africaintel

🇹🇿 Power restored in Tanzania after nationwide blackout

Power has been restored in Tanzania after a massive nationwide blackout that affected several islands and most of the mainland on Monday.

The electricity outage struck shortly after 02:00 local time on Monday, privately owned newspaper Daily Citizen reported.

State-run power company Tanesco said the outage was caused by a technical fault at the Kidatu hydroelectric power plant in the east of the country.

Its water intake control equipment was affected.

The fault resulted in large volumes of water entering the systems, causing them to "suddenly shut down to protect themselves", and in turn impacting the national power grid, Tanesco added.

Energy Minister Doto Mashaka Biteko ordered power officials who were on their Easter break to return to work immediately in order to restore power supplies.

#Tanzania

@africaintel

🇨🇩 Tshisekedi appoints DR Congo's first female PM

The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, has appointed a former minister as the country's first ever female prime minister.

Judith Suminwa Tuluka, a former planning minister, replaces Sama Lukonde who resigned in February.

"I know that the task is great and the challenges are immense, but with the support of the president and that of everyone, we will get there," Tuluka said.

Her appointment follows a lengthy search for a majority coalition in the National Assembly - a key step before a prime minister could be named and a government formed.

The ruling Union for Democracy and Social Progress party secured the majority position beating the other 44 parties.

Tuluka is expected to name a new cabinet in the coming weeks.

#DRC

@africaintel

🇪🇬 Egypt's Sisi due to be sworn in for third term

Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi is due to be sworn in for a third consecutive six-year term as the country's leader.

He was re-elected in December with an astounding 89.6% of the vote, beating three other candidates

His swearing-in ceremony will be held on Tuesday at the new parliament buildings near the capital, Cairo, partly state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

Sisi, 69, first became president in 2014, a year after he had led the military's overthrow of his Islamist predecessor Mohammed Morsi.

He is credited with implementing several mega infrastructure projects during his tenure, but has also been criticised for a difficult economy marked by crippling debt and extreme inflation.

#Egypt

@africaintel

🌍🇸🇳 African leaders in Senegal for Faye's inauguration

Several African leaders have arrived in Senegal for the inauguration of President-elect Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

Faye won last month's delayed elections, securing 54% of the total votes ahead of his main challenger, ruling coalition candidate Amadou Ba.

On Friday, the country’s constitutional council confirmed him as the winner of the election.

Security has been beefed up around the presidential palace ahead of the swearing-in.

About 15 heads of state are expected to attend the event on Tuesday, including Nigerian President and chair of the heads of state of the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, Bola Tinubu.

African Union Commission Chair Moussa Faki and Ecowas commission President Omar Alieu Touray will also be present, local media report.

#Africa #Senegal

@africaintel

🇨🇳🌍 China could drive Africa's renewable energy revolution, report says

China has a unique opportunity to drive forward an energy revolution in Africa, but it must first reverse nearly two decades of neglect of green power investments there, research from Boston University showed on Tuesday.

Beijing has emerged as the continent's biggest bilateral trading partner since the start of the century and has financed billions of dollars worth of large-scale infrastructure projects.

Three years ago, China's President Xi Jinping said the country would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad, pledging to deal with climate change by supporting the development of green and low-carbon energy.

Although Africa's green energy potential is one of the highest in the world, Chinese lending and investment has so far provided relatively little support for the continent's energy transition, according to a report from Boston University's Global Development Policy Center and the African Economic Research Consortium.

#China #Africa

@africaintel

🇿🇼🇨🇩 Zimbabwean trucker detained in DRC

A Zimbabwean truck driver employed by SMI Bulk Transport of South Africa is reportedly detained by authorities following a tragic accident in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while en route to Mokambo.

The driver, Jeremiah Kamuterera hailing from Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province, is said to have been involved in a fatal crash that claimed 18 lives, leaving six others seriously injured.

Reports suggest that Kamuterera, since the incident, has been grappling with his situation alone in a foreign land, with alleged lack of assistance from his employers. Urgent financial support is being sought to secure his release.

#Zimbabwe #DRC

@africaintel

🇰🇪 Kenyan hospital to dispose unclaimed bodies of 475 babies

Kenya's largest public referral hospital has announced that it will dispose hundreds of unclaimed bodies currently at its morgue if family members will not collect them.

"Interested members of the public are therefore requested to identify and collect the bodies within seven days, failure to which the hospital will seek authority from the courts to dispose of them," the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) said.

The 541 bodies include 475 babies and 66 adults.

The hospital published the names of the deceased, but the identities of a few of the bodies are unknown.

KNH and other public hospitals and morgues in Kenya frequently issue notices for relatives to collect unclaimed bodies.

Bodies that remain uncollected after the grace period are often buried in mass graves.

#Kenya

@africaintel

🇹🇬 After public outcry, Togolese president Gnassingbé orders constitutional reform back to parliament

After nearly a week of growing public discontent, the Togolese presidency announced that the controversial constitutional reform bill will be tabled again in Parliament.

In a statement unveiled on March 29, the office of President Faure Gnassingbé invokes the "interest aroused" by the adoption of the bill and the "perfectible nature of the law" to justify the request for a "second reading".

The legislation, initially passed by parliament on March 25, has faced criticism from opposition parties who view it as a ploy to consolidate Gnassingbe's domination over the structure of power in Togo.

Gnassingbé has ruled the country since 2005. Before that, he's father was in charge.

The proposed Constitution grants parliament the power to choose the president, doing away with direct elections. This makes it likely that Gnassingbé would be re-elected when his mandate expires in 2025.

#Togo

@africaintel

🇬🇦 Parties debate democratic future for Gabon

Talks have begun in Gabon over the country's transition to civilian rule.

Representatives from more than 100 political parties are taking part in what's being called an Inclusive National Dialogue.

The process was initiated by the country's military leader Brigadier Gen Brice Oligui Nguema and will be chaired by the Archbishop of Libreville, Jean Patrick Iba-Ba.

The military forced out President,Ali Bongo in August last year after a general election beset by accusations of fraud.

It has since promised a transition to democratic rule.

#Gabon

@africaintel

🇲🇿 Desperate families dig for food in Mozambique drought

People are surviving by picking wild fruits and tubers after droughts destroyed crops in parts of central Mozambique.

Hunger has forced dozens of families from their homes in Sofala province and into neighbouring areas of Manica province, authorities say.

Because of its latitude and coastal location, much of Mozambique is vulnerable to the destructive El Niño weather phenomenon which has worsened with the climate crisis.

District official Candido Zeca, who is responsible for economic affairs in the badly-hit area of Chemba, admits not enough has been done to help people in need but says food aid and farming resources are on their way.

#Mozambique

@africaintel