Tag Archives: politics

Lome, Togo | AFP |  Opposition lawmakers in Togo forced the adjournment of parliament on Tuesday in protest at a constitutional reform bill being left off the day’s agenda, despite days of anti-government protests. The president of the National Assembly, Dama Dramani, agreed to suspend the extraordinary session as lawmakers …

Singapore, Singapore | AFP |  Singapore got its first female president Wednesday, but the milestone was overshadowed by criticism that her selection was undemocratic after she was handed the job without a vote. Halimah Yacob, a former speaker of parliament from the Muslim Malay minority, did not have to face …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Accused of glossing over flaws in Kenya’s election which later caused the result to be overturned, international observers are under a harsh spotlight ahead of a re-run next month. The August 8 poll, which saw President Uhuru Kenyatta reelected, was annulled by Kenya’s Supreme Court earlier …

Washington, United States | AFP | Republican lawmakers on Tuesday proposed making it easier to buy silencers for firearms, scandalizing Democrats. The proposed legislation aims mainly to benefit hunters or owners of firing ranges and contains several provisions, including the one on silencers. Since 1934, a government permit has been required …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Tanzania’s main opposition party claimed Tuesday that the government of President John Magufuli played a role in the gun attack last week that wounded an outspoken politician and shocked the country. The lawmaker, Tundu Lissu, has had a series of run-ins with the government and …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP |  Kenya’s opposition boycotted the opening session of parliament on Tuesday after the Supreme Court cancelled the result of last month’s presidential election and ordered a fresh vote. President Uhuru Kenyatta — who had his victory in the August 8 poll annulled on September 1 — …

Barcelona, Spain | AFP |  Hundreds of thousands of Catalans rallied on Monday to demand their region’s secession from Spain, in a show of strength three weeks ahead of an independence referendum which has been banned by Madrid. Draped in red, yellow and blue separatist flags — with one banner …

Lome, Togo | AFP |  Togo on Monday cancelled an upcoming Africa-Israel summit, citing lack of time to prepare, after days of anti-government protests targeting President Faure Gnassingbe. The summit was due to have been held in the capital, Lome, late next month and was billed as a chance for …

Lome, Togo | AFP | Togo opposition leaders on Sunday said they were not hopeful of political change, as parliament prepared to discuss potential constitutional reform after days of huge anti-government protests. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets this week calling for presidential term limits and denouncing President …

ANALYSIS: Long serving Angola President retires to a quiet sunset. Can it happen in Uganda? Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE |   Renowned Ugandan political researcher and analyst Frederick Golooba Mutebi (PhD) says there is no guarantee of a smooth transition from long-serving President Yoweri Museveni as happened recently in Angola where President José …