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Ivory Coast's government on Tuesday accused the opposition of "plotting" against the state after it vowed to set up a rival government following bruising presidential elections won in a landslide by the incumbent, Alassane Ouattara.
The standoff pitched the West African nation deeper into a three-month-old crisis that has claimed several dozen lives, triggering EU appeals for calm and dialogue.
Hours after 78-year-old Ouattara was declared victor with more than 94 percent of the vote, Justice Minister Sansan Kambile accused the opposition of "acts of assault and plotting against the authority of the state."
The Abidjan public prosecutor has been asked to investigate, Kambile said, warning that "all options are on the table."
Opposition leader Pascal Affi N'Guessan had told reporters late Monday that opposition parties and groups were forming a "council of national transition."
"This council's mission will be to... create a transitional government within the next few hours," N'Guessan said.
The goal, he said, was to "prepare the framework for a fair, transparent and inclusive presidential election."
Ouattara's landslide in Saturday's vote had been widely expected -- two opposition leaders had called for a boycott of the ballot and a civil disobedience campaign.
But the protests and bloody clashes have also stirred traumatic memories of a crisis a decade ago that tore the country apart and dealt it lasting economic damage.
Around 3,000 people died after then-president Laurent Gbagbo refused to accept defeat by Ouattara.
N'Guessan late Monday said the "transitional council" would be led by opposition veteran Henri Konan Bedie, 86, a former president and long-term adversary of Ouattara.
"Keeping Mr Ouattara as head of state could lead to civil war," he warned.
- Confrontation -
In Abidjan, the economic capital, security forces blocked off roads close to Bedie's villa.
They fired teargas to disperse small groups of supporters and journalists outside, preventing the staging of a press conference called to follow up Monday night's announcement.
In Daoukro, an opposition stronghold 235 kilometres (146 miles) north of Abidjan, anti-Ouattara protesters were manning barricades.
"These results are a farce, " said one, who gave his name as Firmin. "We are going to carry on with civil disobedience until Ouattara steps down."
In contrast, Ouattara supporters sang his praises, saying he had strived to end instability in the world's top cocoa producer and revive its battered economy.
"He has worked hard for the country. He has to carry on, not just for us, but for our children," said Hamed Dioma, a scrap-metal worker in a rundown district of Abidjan.
"We are going to party."
Anger sparked by Ouattara's quest for a third term has revived memories of past feuds left mostly unreconciled after a 2002 civil war split the country in two.
Thirty people died in clashes before Saturday's vote, often between local ethnic groups allied to the opposition and Dioula communities seen as close to Oua
\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.
The Virgin Islands, consisting of nine main islands and some 75 islets, were explored by Columbus in 1493. They were originally inhabited by the Carib Indians. Since 1666, England has held six of the main islands; the remaining three (St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John), as well as about 50 of the islets, were eventually acquired by Denmark, which named them the Danish West Indies. In 1917, these islands were purchased by the U.S. from Denmark for $25 million.
Congress granted U.S. citizenship to Virgin Islanders in 1927. Universal suffrage was given in 1936 to all persons who could read and write English. The governor was elected by popular vote for the first time in 1970; previously he had been appointed by the U.S. president. A unicameral 15-person legislature serves the Virgin Islands, and congressional legislation gave the islands a nonvoting representative in Congress. Residents of the islands substantially enjoy the same rights as those enjoyed by mainlanders, but they may not vote in presidential elections.
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for most of the GDP and 70% of employment. All goods made in the Virgin Islands qualify for duty-free entry into the United States.
Despite being looked upon unfavorably by the populace, Mugabe took 61% of the vote in presidential elections in July 2013, soundly defeating Tsvangirai. Mugabes Zanu-PF party also won 158 out of 210 seats in parliament. Tsvangirai alleged the vote was rigged, but decided against challenging the results, saying he would not get a fair hearing.
Tsvangirai was suspended from his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, in May 2014. His detractors in the party denounced him for failing to defeat Mugabe in 2013s election and accused him of being an undemocratic and incompetent leader.
There was no shortage of drama in Zimbabwe in late 2014, as conspiracy theories and accusations hinted at a succession battle. The state-run newspaper published accusations that Vice President Joice Mujuru had conspired to have Mugabe assassinated, and Mugabes wife, Grace, accused Mujuru of also trying to have her killed. Mujuru, a former guerrilla fighter in the countrys war against white rule, was widely considered the successor to Mugabe. She dismissed the allegations as ridiculous, and she professed her loyalty to Mugabe. Nevertheless, she was ousted from a seat on the governing partys central committee in early December. At the same time, Grace Mugabe was given a leadership position in the party, Zanu-PF. Then, Mugabe fired Mujuru and seven members of his cabinet. He replaced Mujuru with Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, an ally of Grace Mugabe. Observers speculated that Mugabe wants to ensure his loyalists remain in power after he dies.
Jovial commotion on the streets of Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire as supporters celebrated on Saturday the presidential candidate nomination inauguration of former head of state Henri Konan Bédié by his political party — and the main national opposition movement, Democratic Party of Cote d’Ivoire - African Democratic Rally (PDCI-RDA).
The 86 year old politician had already filed his candidacy bid for the upcoming October elections back in August. A controversial move as many within the nation speculated about his eligibility to run.
Several other candidates in the running have also been subjected to similar contestations by both the general public and the Independent Electoral Court, depending.
Namely the current Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, who has been in power since 2011, and is currently seeking a third term - a decision that some citizens see as unconstitutional.
Former president Laurent Gbagbo and rebel leader Guillaume Soro — both in exile in Europe with their presidential candidacy bids being filed on their behalf by way of their supporters within a loophole which grants others to do so in place of those not physically present and in spite of the ICC initially proclaiming that no person convicted of a crime stripping them of their civil rights could be in the running.
Pascal Affi N'Guessan - also in the race, will see a second go-around against Ouattara, losing to him after amassing only 9.29% of the votes in the 2015 presidential elections — which were marked by widespread violence and fraud.
And the former foreign minister, Marcel Amon Tanoh, a dissident presidential candidate of the ruling party.
The Constitutional Council must decide on the validity of the candidatures by 16 September.
With these potential candidates — and several others, all in the running to be the next President of Ivory Coast, the upcoming elections on October 31, promise to be a very intense event.
The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, announced a one-month extension of the state of emergency decreed at the end of March to combat the coronavirus, double the usual duration, adding that there would no longer be a curfew.
“The state of emergency has been extended but there will be no curfew,” President Embalo told reporters.
According to a presidential decree issued in the wake, the head of state believes that a period of 15 days, the duration so far of the six successive state of emergency measures taken, “is insufficient for an adequate and effective response” to the health situation.
The state of emergency has been extended but there will be no curfew.
According to the decree, the state of emergency, which expired on Thursday, is therefore extended “by 30 days” until 25 July.
President Nana Akufo-Addo said the country’s health minister, Kwaku Agyeman Manu is in a stable condition after contracting the new coronavirus.
“Let us wish our hardworking minister for health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, a speedy recovery from the virus, which he contracted in the line of duty,” Akufo-Addo said in an broadcast, giving an update on the pandemic situation in Ghana.
Let us wish our hardworking minister for health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu, a speedy recovery from the virus.
Ghana has recorded 11,964 positive coronavirus cases, one of the highest in the region, but has also carried out one of the highest number of tests in the continent at 254,331 and has one of lowest number of deaths from the virus.
With 54 deaths reported thus far in Ghana, the ratio of deaths to positive cases stands at 0.4%, compared to the global average of 5.5%, and the African average of 2.6%, Akufo-Addo said.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and growing tensions in the country, Burundi will, on Wednesday, hold general elections.
The small African country of the Great Lakes region and its 11 million inhabitants are trying to emerge from a deadly political crisis born of President Nkurunziza’s controversial candidacy for a third term in April 2015.
Unlike Ethiopia, which postponed its August elections because of the COVID-19, Burundi has decided to maintain them at all costs, like Mali, Benin, and Malawi.
The country, which could face a major health crisis, is preparing to turn the page on Nkurunziza, whose last years in power were marked by massive human rights violations that left at least 1,200 people dead, according to a UN report released in 2017, and pushed some 400,000 people into exile at the height of the crisis.
A man of the seraglio who is apparently not as tough as his mentor Nkurunziza, of whom he is presented as the “Heir”, Mr. Ndayishimiye is a favourite in Wednesday’s election in view of the omnipotence of the ruling party.
Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen, more commonly known as Al-Shabaab (meaning youth), is a clan-based jihadist terrorist group in East Africa. Originating as the militant youth wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Courts (ICU), which took over southern Somalia in June 2006, the group splintered off following the defeat of the Council in December 2006 to continue violent insurgency against the Somali Transitional Government and its allies in Ethiopia and Kenya.
It is the largest militant group, numbering around 7,000, fighting to overthrow the Somalian government and aims to control territory within Somalia in order to establish a society based upon rigid interpretations of Sharia Law. Al-Shabaab’s unity, however, has been affected by numerous internal conflicts due to the fractured nature of the organization, competing clan loyalties, and debates between nationalist goals and the goals of Gulf-based transnational terror.
Al-Shabaab’s goals include promoting local insurrection, establishment of a fundamentalist Muslim society, and eventual regional and global jihad under Wahhabism and Salafi Jihadism, extreme Sunni ideologies that count among its adherents other jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda. To highlight this relationship, Al-Shabaab was founded by Somali extremists educated in the Middle East with tutelage and support from Osama Bin Laden. In fact, many members of Al-Shabaab’s leadership got their start fighting along Bin Laden in Afghanistan during the 1990s.
Returning home to a Somalia which had no effective government, Al-Shabaab’s leaders such as Ahmed Abdi Godane, who held the top post of the terrorist organization until his death by U.S. drone strike in September 2014, sought to establish a local political and religious system in accordance with their Salafist beliefs.
The ICU briefly gained control of Mogadishu, the Somali capital, in December 2006 until they were driven out by a coalition of Somalian and Ethiopian troops. Following that defeat Al-Shabaab initiated guerilla assaults, suicide
It will be recalled that the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) Candidate, Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio, and the All Peoples Congress (APC) Candidate, Dr. Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara, emerged first and second respectively, during the first round of the fiercely contested presidential election held on 7 March 2018.
These are the people now at the helm of president Bio’s government, helping to steer his government into the ‘promised land’ of the New Direction:
Julius Maada Bio – President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh – Vice-President; Professor David J. Francis – Chief Minister; Nabeela F. Tunis – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Deputy Minister Solomon Jamiru; Jacob Jusu Saffa – Minister of Finance, Deputy Ministers: Dr. Patricia Nyanga Laverley, Shek Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura; Priscilla Schwartz – Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Deputy Minister: Umaru Napoleon Koroma; Dr. David Moinina Sengeh –
Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Deputy Minister: Vacant.
Mohamed Bangura – Minister of Youth Affairs, Deputy Minister Sports: Kai Lawrence Mbayo; Denis K. Vandi – Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Deputy Ministers: Samking Koihinah Braima, Dr Abu Bakarr Karim; Ambassador Foday Yumkella – Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Deputy Minister: Amara Kallon; Prof. Foday Jaward – Minister of the Environment, Deputy Minister: Steven Syril James Jusu.
Dr Francis Mustapha Kai-Kai – Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Deputy Minister: Dr. Robert Tamba Michael Chakanda; Prof. Aiah Gbakima – Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Deputy Minister: Dr. Turad Senesie; Peter Bayuku Konteh – Minister of Works and Public Assets, Deputy Minister: Philip Tetema Tondeneh; Foday Rado Yokie – Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Deputy Minister: Evelyn Daphne Blackie.
Tamba Lamina – Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Deputy Minister: Melrose Kargbo; Memunatu B. Pratt – Minister of Tourism and Culture, Deputy Minister: William Illawim Kongkatee Robinson; Mohamed K. Alie – Resident Minister, South; Andrew Fatorma – Resident Minister, East; Abu Abu Koroma – Resident Minister, North; Abu Abu Koroma – Resident Minister, North West; Francess Piagie Alghali – Minister of State, Vice President’s Office.
By ABDI GULED Associated Press/ BNC Contributor NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Somalias election body says it intends to delay the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for November by 13 months, citing the countrys security problems. Announcing that a new date for the elections in Aug. 2021, Halimo Ismail, chairwoman of the electoral commission, told lawmakers and journalists on Monday that elections were being postponed for more than a year because of significant technical and security challenges. The announcement by the electoral commission was welcomed by many in the international community including the United Nations, the African Union Mission in Somalia, []
The post Somalia to Delay Elections by 13 Months appeared first on Black News Channel.
OPPOSITION MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has psyched up hard-pressed Zimbabweans to liberate themselves from the heavy Zanu PF yoke which he claims has shrunk the democratic space and deprived citizens of the much-needed breath.
“It’s not about me or the MDC Alliance, it is about the people of Zimbabwe, the democratic space is being choked by Zanu PF and it is time we act, draw a line in the sand or we will be choked to death,” he said.
But Zanu PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa last week shot down reports of human rights abuses and dictatorship by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, saying there was no repression in the country to justify protests.
The clampdown on human rights defenders climaxed last week with the arrest of Chamisa’s lawyer Thabani Mpofu for allegedly falsifying the signature of a “non-existent” Simbarashe Zuze in a Constitutional Court challenge over the appointment of Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi.
Chamisa, who was accused of receiving advice and funding from former members of the vanquished G40 faction of Zanu PF in the run-up to the 2018 harmonised elections, said clueless leaders thrived on labelling opponents.
Lazarus Chakwera is the latest addition to the list of African opposition figures that have unseated incumbent presidents.
Chakwera running on the ticket of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party, MCP, came second in that vote.
Born on 5 April 1955, Lazarus as at May 2019 was the leader of opposition in the country’s parliament, and president of of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the then biggest opposition party in Malawi, since 2013.
Chakwera contested and lost the 2014 presidential elections, garnering 27.8% of the votes cast against president Mutharika’s 36.4%.
Saulos Chilima – Malawi’s vice-president – outgoing and incoming
\tChilima is a Malawian economist who made his grand entry into politics during the 2014 elections, when he was the running mate of president Peter Mutharika.
Zalengei — The Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) , on Friday, recaptured defense point from two rebel groups representing Sudan Liberation Army Movement led by Abdul Wahid Nur and the Revolutionary Sahwa Council, in Katroum Area, West Jebel Mara, Wali (governor) of Central Darfur announced.
Maj-General, Commander of Infantry Division, Suleiman Al-Amin affirmed that the Army and the RSF troops are in full control of Katroum area following the aggressive attack on the area by the rebels, describing it as a violation to the ease-fire announced by the transitional government as an initiative for completion of peace process.
\"The aggressors inflicted heavy losses in lives and equipment during the attack\" He stressed.
The RSF Commander, in Central Darfur, Brig. Ali Yagoup Jibri has affirmed the Army and the RSF control over Katroum area and the surrounding military check points, referring to their commitment to the cease-fire announced by the Transitional Government.
Babgui / the Hague — The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague has confirmed that former Darfur janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb, who has been indicted for crimes against humanity, is \"in ICC custody\".
The ICC statement says that on account of an ICC arrest warrant issued on 27 April 2007, Kushayb is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Darfur.
In today's statement, ICC Registrar Peter Lewis thanked the Minister of Justice Flavien M'Bata and the authorities of the Central African Republic, the French Republic, the Republic of Chad, as well as the leaders of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the authorities of the host State, the Netherlands, for their support to the Court and cooperation in the arrest, surrender and transfer of Kushayb to the Court.
Pre-Trial Chamber I considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that, (i) from about August 2002, an armed conflict took place between the Government of Sudan including combatants from the Sudan People's Armed Forces (the Sudanese Armed Forces) and the Popular Defence Force (PDF) along with the Janjaweed militia against organised rebel groups, including the Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Darfur, Sudan; (ii) in 2003 and 2004, that the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Janjaweed militia, acting together as part of the counter-insurgency campaign, carried out several attacks, of a systematic or widespread nature, on the towns of Kodoom, Bindisi, Mukjar, Arawala and surrounding areas.
The warrant of arrest delivered on 27 April 2007 against Ali Kushayb lists 50 counts on the basis of his individual criminal responsibility including:
- Twenty-two counts of crimes against humanity (murder; deportation or forcible transfer of population; imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law; torture ; persecution; rape; inhumane acts of inflicting serious bodily injury and suffering ); and
- Twenty-eight counts of war crimes (murder, violence to life and person; outrage upon personal dignity in particular humiliating and degrading treatment; intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population; pillaging; rape; destroying or seizing the property).
The Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against Covid-19 is a joint initiative between the People's Republic of China, the Republic of South Africa in its capacity as the Chair of the African Union (AU), and the Republic of Senegal in its capacity as the Co-Chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
We recognize the importance of public health issues to global peace and security and the well-being of people around the world, particularly the fact that Africa is extremely vulnerable to the ravages of this virus and needs solidarity and support, including resources from various parties to bolster its response to the pandemic and to support its economic and social development.
We welcome the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on Covid-19 response, which expresses deep concerns about the negative impacts and consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasizes the importance of global collaboration, and calls for intensified international cooperation, unity, solidarity and joint efforts to contain and mitigate the pandemic, and to pay particular attention to the needs of people in vulnerable situations.
China commends the solidarity and support extended by African countries, the AU and other regional organizations for China's Covid-19 response and appreciates the establishment of the AU Covid-19 Strategy and the appointment of Special Envoys to mobilize international support for Africa's efforts to address the economic challenges faced as a consequence of the pandemic, and further commends the resilience African countries have demonstrated and the positive results thus achieved in curbing the spread of the virus by adopting preventive measures.
We fully recognize the positive role of China-Africa investment and financing cooperation in promoting development and improving people's lives in Africa, and call on the international community to work in solidarity and collaboration, share best practices, and provide more material, technical, financial and humanitarian support to help African countries overcome the impact of Covid-19 and achieve independent and sustainable development.
South Africans Supreme Court reinstated corruption charges against Zuma in January 2009, saying that a lower court had overstepped its authority in dismissing the charges. However, the countrys prosecuting authority dropped all charges against Zuma in April, about two weeks before national elections, citing “intolerable abuse” by investigators who were loyal to former president Mbeki.
In Aprils general election, the ruling party, the African National Congress, won overwhelming support, taking 65.9% of the vote, just shy of a two-thirds majority, which is required to change the constitution. Parliament elected Zuma president in May.
In Dec. 2012, Zuma was again elected leader of the African National Congress, which stands him in good stead for the 2014 presidential elections. Many considered this a significant victory for Jacob Zuma, achieved in spite of criticism for his goverments handling of the wage protests in Marikana in which 34 people were brutally killed by police.
In the 21st century, there’s never been more focus on Africa than now. Thanks to the revolutions sweeping through North Africa and the Middle East, Africa has the world’s attention. But just because all eyes happen to be on Africa at the moment doesn’t mean myths about this part of the world have been dispelled. Despite the intense interest in Africa today, racial stereotypes about it persist. Do you have any misperceptions about Africa?
This list of common myths about Africa aims to clear them up.
What’s the No. 1 stereotype about Africa? Arguably, that Africa’s not a continent, but a country. Ever hear someone refer to African food or African art or even the African language? Such individuals have no idea that Africa’s the second largest continent in the world. Instead, they view it as a tiny country with no distinct traditions, cultures or ethnic groups. They fail to realize that referring to, say, African food sounds just as odd as referring to North American food or the North American language or the North American people.
Africa’s home to 53 countries, including island nations along the continent’s coast. These countries contain diverse groups of people who speak a variety of languages and practice a wide range of customs. Take Nigeria--Africa’s most populous country. Among the nation’s population of 152 million, more than 250 distinct ethnic groups live.
While English is the former British colonys official language, the dialects of ethnic groups indigenous to the West African nation, such as Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, are commonly spoken as well. To boot, Nigerians practice Christianity, Islam and indigenous religions. So much for the myth that all Africans are alike.
The most populated nation on the continent certainly proves otherwise.
If you turn to popular culture for images of people on the African continent, you’re likely to notice a pattern. Time and time again, Africans are depicted as if they’re one and the same. You’ll see Africans portrayed wearing face paint and animal print and all with
A series of military coups followed, and on June 4, 1979, Flight Lt. Jerry Rawlings overthrew Lt. Gen. Frederick Akuffos military rule. Rawlings permitted the election of a civilian president to go ahead as scheduled the following month, and Hilla Limann, candidate of the Peoples National Party, took office. Rawlingss three-month rule was one of Ghanas bloodiest periods, with executions of numerous government officials and business leaders. Two years later Rawlings staged another coup, charging the civilian government with corruption. As chairman of the Provisional National Defense Council, Rawlings scrapped the constitution, instituted an austerity program, and reduced budget deficits over the next decade. He then returned the country to civilian rule and won the presidency in multiparty elections in 1992 and again in 1996. Since then, Ghana has been widely viewed as one of Africas most stable democracies. In Jan. 2001, John Agyekum Kufuor was elected president. In 2002, he set up a National Reconciliation Commission to review human rights abuses during the countrys military rule. He was reelected in Dec. 2004.
In presidential elections in December 2008, Nana Akufo-Addo, of the governing New Patriotic Party, won just over 49% of the vote, and John Atta Mills, of the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress, took almost 48%. In the runoff election, necessary because neither candidate received 50% of the vote, Atta Mills eked out victory, with 50.23%. It was the closest election in Ghanas history.
President Atta died in July 2012. His four years in office were marked by stability and an increase in oil production. Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in shortly after Attas death. Mahama won the presidential election held in December, taking 50.7% of the vote. He prevailed over Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party.
See also Encyclopedia: Ghana .
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Ghana
Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital fired tear gas for a second straight day on Wednesday to break up violent protests outside parliament over proposed changes in the judiciary.
The proposals come from the Common Front for Congo (FCC), a coalition close to Kabila, who remains a behind-the-scenes force in national politics.
But Tshisekedi's party on Monday lambasted it as a ploy to \"undermine the independence of the judiciary and increase the power of the justice ministry\".
Separately, four influential grassroots organisations on Wednesday issued a joint statement warning that the country's next presidential elections in 2023 were at risk of \"manipulation\" because of moves to appoint a new head of the national electoral commission.
The joint statement warned against any attempt by the FCC-dominated parliament to push through Nangaa's successor, and called on the public to oppose \"any Machiavellian plan aimed at thrusting us into endless electoral crises.\"
Born in 1938 to a family in Monrovia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is the current President of Liberia. Before becoming actively involved in politics, especially that of her native country, Johnson travelled to the United States to acquire higher education after graduating from the College of West Africa.
Doing her Bachelors in Accounting from Madison Business College, Johnson received a degree in Economics from the University of Colorado followed by Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University. However, Johnson returned to Liberia after completing her education.
Upon entering the government service in Liberia, Johnson served as Assistant Minister of Finance under President William Tolbert’s administration from 1972 to 1973. She was then promoted to the position of Finance Minister during Samuel K. Doe’s military reign in 1980.
During the latter’s rule, however, Johnson faced various hurdles and was imprisoned twice, narrowly escaping execution on one of the occasions. By 1985, Johnson had established a financially stable and steadfast role for herself and decided to run for a seat in the Senate, leading herself to ten years in jail after she denounced Doe’s administration.
She was allowed to leave the country after a while and proceeded to serve financial institutions such as World Bank and Citibank as an economist. Returning to Africa for the third time, Johnson became the Director of Regional Bureau for Africa for the United Nations Development Programme for five years.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ran for Presidential elections in 1997 but lost the position to Charles Taylor who had previously rebelled against Doe and now charged Johnson with treason. Facing exile once again, Johnson started campaigns against President Taylor and took over as the leader of the Unity Party when he was sent into exile in the early 2000s. In 2005, Johnson successfully ran for elections again and assumed the role of President of Liberia. Known as the Iron Lady, Johnson was Africa’s first elected female Head of State.
Even though
At least 11 people died in intercommunal clashes in an Ivory Coast port town as tensions rise before an October election.
VIDEO
June 12: Tigray ‘rejects’ HoF mandate extension, vows to hold polls
\tTigray regional state has all but rejected the regional parliament’s mandate extension granted by the House of Federation earlier this week.
June 10: MPs back extending Abiy’s term amid election delay
\tEthiopia’s upper parliamentary chamber, House of Federation (HoF), has approved an extension to the mandate of the current parliament as well as regional parliaments and councils.
The CCI’s recommendations included that terms of office of the House of Peoples Representatives, HoPR, the HoF, state councils and the executive at federal and state levels be extended for as long as COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a threat to public health, and a current State of Emergency (SOE) remained in place.
If major opposition parties reject the recommendations from the Council of Constitutional Inquiry, “protests or election boycotts could become a reality, reducing the chances of successful competitive polls in 2021,” said William Davison of the International Crisis Group (ICG), a conflict-prevention organisation.
June 8: Abiy rejects talk of transitional govt amid delayed polls
\tEthiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday rejected the idea of forming a transitional government when his term of office expires in October, brushing aside fears of a constitutional crisis.
Vodafone and MTN’s Ghanaian units are allowed to share subscriber data with the government to help it track down the contacts of coronavirus cases, a high court in Accra ruled Tuesday.
It would go against citizens’ “overall wellbeing” for the court to stop telecommunications providers from sharing data with authorities amid a pandemic, Justice Stephen Oppong said in his decision.
“The purpose of the collection of the data is for the protection of the whole state of Ghana,” Oppong said.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo issued an executive order in March calling for providers to tighten their collaboration with the country which reported its first cases of the virus on March 12.
The West African nation had 14,568 cases, including 95 deaths, as of Tuesday, according to the Ghana Health Services website.
In April 2000, experts estimated some 150,000 people, or more than one-quarter of the population, needed food aid. The UN agreed to spend $2.7 million to increase the city of Djiboutis port facilities since it is a crucial regional grain terminus. In 2002, Djibouti became a key U.S. military base used to combat terrorism. In 2005, President Guelleh, running unopposed, was reelected.
In parliamentary elections in Feb. 2008, which were boycotted by the three main opposition parties, the ruling Union for the Presidential Majority won 94.1% of the vote, taking all 65 seats.
In 2010, Parliament approved a constitutional amendment that allowed the president to run for a third term. However, it reduced the term from six years to five. Presidential elections in 2011 saw incumbent Ismail Omar Guelleh win a third term with 80.6% of the vote and a turnout of 69.7%. The opposition participated in parliamentary elections in Feb. 2013, the first time since its boycott in 2003. However, the governing Union for the Presidential Majority won 49 out of 65 seats, and the opposition denounced the results.
See also Encyclopedia: Djibouti
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Djibouti
Ministry of the Economy, Finances, and Privitization Planning http://www.ministere-finances.dj/ (in French).
