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Chadian opposition politician, Yaya Dillo Djérou, has publicly requested an "inclusive dialogue" with the transitional military council towards peace.
\t On Friday, internet and international calls were cut off across the West African nation in anticipation of the election results, according to locals and international observers in the capital, Conakry.
\t This was the third time that Conde matched-up against Diallo. Before the election, observers raised concerns that an electoral dispute could reignite ethnic tensions between Guinea's largest ethnic groups.
Kenyan police have been involved in the killing of 15 people since the country put a nighttime curfew in place in March to combat the coronavirus, the policing oversight body said in a statement seen by AFP Friday.
The Independent Policing Oversight Body (IPOA) said it had received 87 complaints against police since the dusk to dawn curfew and heightened security measures were imposed on March 27.
The IPOA statement was released earlier this week as the United States was gripped by anger over racism and police brutality that has prompted protests in the country and around the world.
\"Although many killings by the police have been well documented by both state institutions and rights organisations, the security officers have rarely been held to account, including by the police oversight authority,\" said HRW.
On Thursday the IPOA announced six police officers would be arrested and prosecuted, one for the killing of Moyo, another for shooting dead a secondary school teacher while responding to a burglary at a market in western Siaya, and four others for seriously assaulting a man during an arrest.
By Friday last week, the gates had been thrown open wide for anyone who wanted to be vaccinated. Appointments were abolished in favour of walk-ins at the mass vaccination sites established to distribute the Sinopharm vaccine.
The response wasn't encouraging. At NAPA, 100 volunteers stood ready to guide and jab expected crowds, but rows of empty chairs stood testimony to the flagging response of the public.
By midday, the Paddock site at the nearby Queen's Park Savannah was a ghost town.
This was in the same week that saw the first case of the Brazil variant identified in Tobago and after the border reopening brought an influx of citizens into the country.
It's worth pausing here to note that the required tests and vaccinations for incoming passengers are a shield against importing covid19 cases, but they are not infallible.
The raging spread of the delta variant is now being referred to by the government's covid19 response team as inevitable, and the only real defence for the public is widespread vaccination.
Slowly, businesses are beginning to acknowledge the public health responsibilities that they face if they want to continue operating safely. Nigel R Khan bookstores and Peter George, who runs the Trotters Group, have joined Mario's Pizzeria in redefining terms of work for staff who are not vaccinated.
That's prompted trade unions, who have steadfastly refused to take a position on vaccination for workers, to call for meetings with local chambers of commerce.
But the country is fast approaching a time when talk will be moot.
The careful, tentative presence of the public at newly opened food establishments suggests an awareness of the country in the eye of the covid19 storm as the threat of variant infection looms.
Without more vaccination and greater attention to established hygiene protocols, the country faces significant challenges when variants of concern begin to spread.
Establishing control when more infectious covid19 variants begin to circulate will demand an increasingly hard line without higher vaccination rates.
There will be more stories like the unfortunate case of Alan Predy, who came to TT for his mother's interment, but who had a mix of vaccinations that were not approved locally. As a non-national, he was denied entry.
The government must become more proactive and persuasive in its efforts to address anti-vaccination misinformation.
A recent report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate suggests that 65 per cent of vaccine misinformation is generated by just 12 people. The so-called Disinformation Dozen thrive in an environment in which social-media algorithms cannot control the spread of false information.
The only possible response is an equally vigorous, appealing and effective local campaign to promote verifiable facts. Tedious and technical pronouncements at press-conference podiums aren't enough.
The post Worrisome decline in vaccinations appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.
Because much of the political news people consume is through the media, radio serves as the dominant source of political information.
To find out, I interviewed political editors and journalists from two private radio stations in Ghana in addition to (women) politicians and civil society experts.
If the quality of democracy in a country partly relies on the kind of political information that citizens get from the media, then attention must be paid to how political news is produced.
Apart from news values, other factors shaping political news production are media ownership and incentive-driven coverage leading to biased reporting.
While the National Media Commission and Ghana Journalist Association need more stringent measures to address this growing trend in political news production, citizens should also be more critical of the news they consume and demand higher standards of journalism.
The Colored Marines Employment Benevolent Association (CMEBA) was organization that united black maritime cooks and stewards who were seeking employment in Seattle. In the process it challenged the racism of the all-white, Maritime Cooks and Stewards Association of the Pacific (MCSAP). The CMEBA was founded in 1921 by labor recruiter James Roston. The goal of CMEBA was to “steer clear of labor or trade unions and their activities” and “to promote peaceful relations between employers and employees.”
When the CMEBA was founded in 1921 they allied themselves with the Seattle Shipowners and Operators Association to break a MCSAP-led strike. From then until1934 the CMEBA withheld support from unions, which created tension between the CMEBA and the MCSAP who competed directly for maritime jobs.
In the early 1930s the younger leaders of the CMEBA were concerned with the pay cuts and the deteriorating working conditions that were affecting their workplace. They felt that they should align themselves with workers of all races. Two of these young leaders stood out: Revels Cayton and Fred Sexias, who no longer wanted to follow the anti-union stance of the CMEBA. They instead felt it was time to join the MCSAP which was also moving from its previous position as an all-white union.
Revels Cayton, the younger son of Seattle newspaperman and civic activist Horace Cayton Sr, was committed, like his father, to the idea of black civil rights. While the older Cayton was a staunch Republican, Revels Cayton had become a key member of the Communist Party. That involvement led him to urge the end of the racial divide among maritime unions.
In 1934 the CMEBA and the MCSAP merged into one organization. Some three hundred CMEBA members joined the Seattle branch of the MCSAP. Revels Clayton and Fred Sexias became officers in the organization. The merger of the CMEBA and the MCSAP was a big breakthrough in race relations on the Seattle waterfront. The new merged union now championed racial justice as an important labor issue.
Uganda’s inter-religious council called off the eagerly awaited presidential candidates’ debate.
The council said the debate, that was due on Thursday 03 was cancelled due to limited resources.
Local media reported that a total of ten presidential candidates were expected to grace the occasion.
This comes amid numerous complaints majorly from the opposition who have constantly blamed the security apparatus for rights violations.
Uganda opposition have in most cases face wrath of the police especially the renowned musician-turned politician, Bobi Wine.
Two weeks ago, 54 people died in protests after Wines supporters called for his release following a brief arrest at campaign rally.
They have defended themselves by claiming that they were only implementing Covid-19 guidelines to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
Bobi Wine was later charged with violating pandemic restrictions on gathering of crowds and granted bail.
The embattled singer later met the electoral commission and asked them to ensure that there should be equitable campaigns and police should be stopped from intimidating the opposition leaders and their members.
On Friday, 21 May, dockworkers affiliated with SATAWU will boycott an Israeli ship while local Palestinian Solidarity Organisations protest in solidarity.
Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association vice-president Carol-Ann Birchwood-James is calling on the Government to formulate “a clear policy” on vaccinations in Trinidad and Tobago.
She made the call on Tuesday, four days after the Prime Minister announced that bars, casinos, gyms and in-house dining at restaurants will reopen to vaccinated patrons and employees at the end of September, provided there is an aggressive uptake in the rate of vaccinations.
At a news conference in Tobago on Friday, Dr Rowley lamented the relatively low vaccination level in Tobago, saying the island had the potential to be a safe zone. He said Tobago has been unco-operative in its response to the national fight to contain the spread of covid19.
Despite the availability of four brands of vaccine, Tobago still has a high level of vaccine hesitancy, particularly in east Tobago. THA Secretary of Health, Wellness and Family Development Tracy Davidson-Celestine revealed last week that 60 per cent of Tobago’s adult population is unvaccinated.
Giving her personal views on the Government’s plan to reopen bars, gyms, casinos and in-house dining for vaccinated people, Birchwood-James noted this was already happening in several parts of the world.
“So we are just following the science and what is happening all over the world. It is a pleasure for the vaccinated.”
But she believes the Government must establish a firm position on vaccinations.
Rowley has said repeatedly the Government is not considering legislation to make vaccinations mandatory at present. But he also said it may be forced to revisit that position if new and deadlier strains of covid19 emerge.
Birchwood-James believes the Government must lead the way.
“They have not led the way yet. They have to lead the way as to how this country looks at vaccinated and unvaccinated people. They have not made a clear statement besides saying go and vaccinate – 'vaccinate to operate.' What does that mean?”
Birchwood-James added: “It leaves the choice of whether people are vaccinated or not to them, when we should be following the State. The State has to make an official position as to how they see the vaccinated and unvaccinated.”
She referred to Republic Bank Ltd’s decision to impose a policy on its staff, which requires unvaccinated members to produce a negative PCR test on a fortnightly basis. Several trade unions, including the Joint Trade Union Movement, National Trade Union Centre and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, have condemned the move.
“Republic Bank is telling its workers that they must be vaccinated. They (Republic Bank) are doing it on their own but they need to take guidance.
\"The Government needs to formulate a policy,\" she repeated. \"They cannot continue to sit on the fence about vaccinated versus unvaccinated and whether they agree that only vaccinated people should be in the cinemas or even in the workplaces. Other than that, you are leaving it as a situation which can end up in the courts or where someone can be subjected to verbal attacks.”
M
Chad's newly re-elected President Idriss Deby Itno, in power for three decades, died on Tuesday of injuries while fighting rebels in the north of the Sahel country, the army said.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said total of 609 133 South Africans have been registered to vote in the by-elections on “Super Wednesday”
The U.N. refugee agency is appealing for $186 million to protect and assist hundreds of thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee from escalating, increasingly brutal attacks from multiple armed groups in the volatile central Sahel region.
The agency reports attacks by Islamist extremists and criminal gangs in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have crippled life in the border towns and areas, and forced people to flee their homes multiple times.
Baloch said money from the appeal is a critical lifeline for all these people on the run and for the communities hosting them.
“If we do not get enough support, the consequences on the ground for these people in terms of basic needs — food, water, shelter would be disastrous,” Baloch said.
Baloch said 3.1 million people in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Mauritania are in desperate need of humanitarian support.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA ZIMBABWE Electoral Commission (Zec) deputy chairperson Emmanuel Magade yesterday failed to give a specific date when by-elections would be
The post Zec dithers on by-elections appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.
[Monitor] High Court in Mbarara on Thursday declared Mr Derrick Kabuura as a duly elected Member of Parliament for Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc. by Dennis De Peiza Unemployment, income distribution and poverty are three of the economic challenges facing the world today. Along with these, trade unions are being called upon to address the […]
The post #BTColumn – Labour is in crisis appeared first on Barbados Today.
Recent arrests and alleged assaults against women by state agents in Zimbabwe have again brought international attention to the country's long history of violence against women. On July 31, award-winning Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga and [...]
[Egypt Online] The Emigration Ministry is keen on upgrading areas that export illegal immigrants and is working with state institutions concerned to achieve that, said Minister Nabila Makram Monday.
Malawi's parliament has endorsed June 23 as the date for the presidential election re-run after a court annulled last year's vote over irregularities, a lawmaker said.
The election had handed President Peter Mutharika a second term, but with just 38.5% of the vote.
Legally parliament had to validate the new polling date.
He said the court ruling \"clearly states that parliament must set a date for the elections\".
Meantime, a new electoral commission was sworn-in on Tuesday to organise the new vote, after the top court also ordered an investigation into the conduct of the previous one.
Benin was the seat of one of the great medieval African kingdoms called Dahomey. Europeans began arriving in the area in the 18th century, as the kingdom of Dahomey was expanding its territory. The Portuguese, the French, and the Dutch established trading posts along the coast (Porto-Novo, Ouidah, Cotonou), and traded weapons for slaves. Slave trade ended in 1848. Then, the French signed treaties with Kings of Abomey (Guézo, Toffa, Glèlè) to establish French protectorates in the main cities and ports.
However, King Behanzin fought the French influence, which cost him deportation to Martinique.
From a Colony of France to Independence:
In 1892 Dahomey became a French protectorate and part of French West Africa in 1904. Expansion continued to the North (kingdoms of Parakou, Nikki, Kandi), up to the border with former Upper Volta. On 4 December 1958, it became the République du Dahomey, self-governing within the French community, and on 1 August 1960, the Republic of Dahomey gained full independence from France. T he country was renamed Benin in 1975
Between 1960 and 1972, a succession of military coups brought about many changes of government. The last of these brought to power Major Mathieu Kérékou as the head of a regime professing strict Marxist-Leninist principles. The Parti de la Révolution Populaire Béninoise (Revolutionary Party of the People of Benin, PRPB) remained in complete power until the beginning of the 1990s.
Kérékou, encouraged by France and other democratic powers, convened a national conference that introduced a new democratic constitution and held presidential and legislative elections. Kérékous principal opponent at the presidential poll, and the ultimate victor, was Prime Minister Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo.
Supporters of Soglo also secured a majority in the National Assembly.
Benin was thus the first African country to effect successfully the transition from dictatorship to a pluralistic political system. In the second round of National Assembly elections held in March 1995, Soglos
Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga resigned in September 2008, citing health reasons. He was succeeded by Adolphe Muzito.
Presidential elections were held in November 2011. Incumbent Kabila faced opposition leader and former prime minister Étienne Tshisekedi. The International Crisis Group deemed the election unruly and chaotic and other international observers said the vote was irregular and flawed. Nearly 20 people were killed in election-related violence. Nevertheless, Congos election commission ruled in December that Kabila prevailed, 49% to 32%. In the run-up to the election, Kabila—perhaps sensing a threat from the opposition and popular dissatisfaction with his rule—amended the constitution to do away with a second round of voting and stacked the electoral commission.
In March 2012, Prime Minister Adolphe Muzito resigned. His resignation came a little over three months after the violent presidential elections. Deputy Prime Minister Louis Koyagialo was appointed to temporarily replace Muzito. On April 18, 2012, former Minister of Finance Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon was named prime minister.
Malawi’s electoral commission appealed for “peace and calm” on Wednesday as it counted ballots following a historic poll to re-elect a president after Peter Mutharika’s victory was overturned.
Voters in Malawi went to the polls on Tuesday for the second time in just over a year after the Constitutional Court dramatically ruled that last year’s polls were fraught with “grave and widespread” irregularities.
Results from the May 2019 election sparked countrywide protest that lasted months, a rare occurrence in the impoverished southern African country.
It took the top court six months to sift through the evidence before concluding that Mutharika was not duly elected and ordered fresh elections.
The chairman of the Malawi Electoral Commission, Chifundo Kachale, said tallying of the votes from 5,002 polling stations was underway.
“We appeal to Malawians to maintain peace and calm as the vote-counting continues,” Kachale told a news conference in Blantyre.
Mutharika has accused the opposition of inciting violence following isolated incidents which the police and electoral commission said had not affected the election.
“It’s obvious that the opposition is doing this,” he told reporters after voting in Blantyre, claiming some of his party monitors were “chased away, some were beaten”.
“It’s obviously people that are afraid of the will of the people that are engaging in these barbaric acts,” he alleged.
Mutharika, 79, did not take the decision of the constitutional court lightly when it overturned last year’s poll.
He accused judges of working with the opposition to steal the election through what he dubbed a “judicial coup d’etat”.
He had narrowly won the now-discredited election with 38.5 percent of the ballots, beating his closest rival Lazarus Chakwera, 65, by just 159,000 votes .
Victory in the rerun will be determined by whoever garners more than 50 percent of the votes — a new threshold set by the top court.
Some 6.8 million people were asked to vote between Mutharika, Chakwera and an underdog candidate, Peter Dominico Kuwani.
The electoral commission has until July 3 to unveil the results, although the announcement is widely thought likely to come this week.
Kachale says the commission will only announce results after dealing with all the complaints.
AFP
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Thursday asked UK citizens to be cautious and cited \"possible clashes throughout the country\" during the November 28 inauguration.
\"Political tensions are high and demonstrations and clashes are possible throughout the country, particularly in the western region; you should exercise caution and, where possible, avoid travelling around areas where demonstrations may take place,\" the FCO said in a statement.
The office is anticipating possible demonstrations and clashes during the inauguration and Britons planning to visit Kenya during this period have been asked to exercise caution and, where possible, avoid travelling around areas where demonstrations may take place.
The areas where FCO advises against all but essential travel does not include Kenya's safari destinations.
In April, when political parties were scheduled to hold their nominations ahead of the deadline by the electoral commission, UK advised its nationals against all but essential travel to north eastern counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera as well as Eastleigh in Nairobi.
[SAnews.gov.za] Only three political parties made declarations of qualifying donations received from donors, the Electoral Commission revealed on Thursday.
