#UGANDA: Bill Prioritizes East African Goods, Services

[world politics news]

Uganda's Parliament has considered President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s recommendation on prioritisation of procurement of goods, works and services from the East African region under the passed National Local Content Bill, 2022.

President Museveni returned the Bill, that was initially passed by parliament on 6th September, 2022 disagreeing with Clause 4 which provided that a local entity shall give preference to goods which are manufactured and services which are provided by Ugandan entities.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#DJIBOUTI: Nation Votes, But Opposition Boycotts

[world politics news]

Voters in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti were choosing a new parliament on Friday in an election boycotted by the main opposition parties.

The election is being held amid speculation over a potential successor to President Ismael Omar Guelleh, one of Africa's longest serving leaders, who has ruled the nation with an iron fist since 1999.

Guelleh's ruling Union for Presidential Majority (UMP) is one of only two parties taking part and is certain of victory.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UGANDA: Bill Would Allow In-Country Organ Transplants

[world politics news]

The Ugandan Parliament is considering a bill that would make it possible for the first time to perform organ transplants in this East African country. A small revolution that would transform the lives of thousands of people waiting for surgery.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Supreme Court Upholds Presidential Election Victory For Ruto

[world politics news]

Deputy President William Ruto's declaration as president-elect after the August 8th election, has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Kenya. Opponents had file petitions with the court alleging massive fraud throughout the country.

Ruto garnered 50.5% of the vote in the closely fought election against 48.8% for Raila Odinga.

The 55-year-old will be sworn in as the country's fifth president on September 13th.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Deputy Pres. Ruto Pulls Ahead In Long Vote Count

[world politics news]

Kenya's Deputy President William Ruto has edged ahead in a tight presidential race, according to official results reported by Kenyan media on Sunday, as more riot police were deployed inside the national election tallying centre after scuffles and accusations by party agents.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Economy, Political Permutations At Center of Kenyan Presidential Election

[world politics news] 

Tired of waiting for her daughter to return from voting, Betty Khamayo picked up her eleven-month-old grandson and got into a matatu, a commercial bus just outside her home in Kwanagware on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

The matatu took her to a primary school in Kibera, 8km (5 miles) away, the same polling unit that frontline presidential candidate Raila Odinga had voted earlier in the day.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Parliamentarians' Perks Cut

[world politics news]

Kenya has stopped giving Lawmakers sitting allowances and car grants.

Incoming Members of Parliament will now have to buy their own cars if they want.

Kenya will reportedly save $8.4 million yearly by doing this.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't To Start Shipping Illegal Immigrsnts To Rwanda

[world politics news]

The UK government's announcement that it plans to send migrants illegally entering the UK to the East African nation of Rwanda for processing has outraged many from politicians and charities to the Church of England.

The UK will reportedly pay Rwanda £120m and refugees could be sent to east Africa within weeks.

The government has defended the policy, with Foreign Minister Priti Patel stating in the House of Commons that the current dispersal system is "unfair" and overwhelmed, with local authorities sharing the burden "disproportionately". Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was the "morally right thing to do."

Little reported is the fact that for several days straight, migrant crossings in the English channel have completely stopped.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOMALIA: President Seeks Extended Term In Office Sparks Tensions

[world politics news]

Pres. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed's April attempt to extend his term by two years has ignited political tensions in Somalia.

The government of Somalia and a number of its federal states have been holding critical talks since May 22 to help resolve the country’s political crisis.

The African Union (AU), meanwhile, has been spearheading international efforts in Somalia. This is despite the fact that the Somali government has rejected the AU’s special envoy, former president John Dramani Mahama of Ghana.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Governor Stokes Controversy Putting Beer In Coronavirus Care Packages

[world politics news]

Recipients of Nairobi politician Mike Sonko's Covid-19 care packages can expect to receive the typical food staples except for one item -- alcohol.

Sonko, the governor of the Kenyan capital city, Nairobi, confirmed in a media briefing on Tuesday that his care packages include a few small bottles of the cognac, Hennessy.

The governor justified the inclusion of alcohol as "throat sanitizer."

"I think from the research conducted by the World Health Organization and various organizations, it has been believed that alcohol plays a major role in killing the coronavirus," Sonko said in a video.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#TANZANIA: Pres. Magufuli Cancels $10billion Chinese Loan

[world politics news]

Pres. John Magufuli has cancelled a Chinese loan worth $10 billion saying that the terms of the Chinese loan agreement could only be accepted by a drunken man.

The loan had been signed by his predecessor Jakaya Kikwete to construct a port at Mbegani creek in Bagamoyo. The move is indicative of original African rethink of loans from China which came with restrictive terms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ETHIOPIA: Legislators Approve Bill Banning Hate Speech And Disinformation

[world politics news]

Ethiopia’s House of Peoples  has approved draft legislation on hate speech and disinformation.

About 300 members of Parliament attended the session that approved the legislation. Twenty-three members of the Parliament opposed the bill, and there were two abstain voices – according to state media Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC).

The discussion in the Parliament highlighted that “Good values and relationship between Ethiopians are being eroded because of hate-speech and dissemination of false information. Hate-speech and disinformation are also posing a threat to the country.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: World Bank Warns Gov't Over Debt Ceiling Hikes

[world politics news]

A World Bank report released this week warns that Kenya is drifting towards debt distress, owing to the government’s huge appetite for expensive loans.

The Kenyan Parliament, on the same day when the World Bank report was released, approved the National Treasury’s push to raise the borrowing cap from about 50% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product to an absolute figure of 9 trillion Kenyan Shillings.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ETHIOPIA: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Wins Nobel Peace Prize

[world politics news]

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been crowned the winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for "his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation", beating 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg who was considered the favourite to win.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee credited the 43-year-old with ending the two-decade-long conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea as they announced the award in Oslo on Friday night.
[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#KENYA: Budget Office Warns Of Overspending By Gov't Departments

[world politics news]

A parliamentary office that advises lawmakers on financial, budgetary and economic matters has raised the red flag over a 78 billion shilling (US$770 million) increase in the budget for the financial year starting July above parliament-approved spending limits.

The Parliamentary Budget Office has warned that such an upward adjustment may widen the deficit in the budget resulting in increased borrowing or growth in pending bills and stalling of budgeted projects. The office noted that many government departments were overspending their allocated budget estimates.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOMALIA: Legislation To Require 30% Women In National Legislature Passes Lower House

[world politics news]

Somali women leaders attending a UN-sponsored conference have called on lawmakers to approve a pending electoral reform bill that would enshrine the principle of a 30% gender quota in future national legislatures. The bill has passed the lower house, and is now before the nation's Senate. After the 2016 election, female representation in the federal parliament rose from 14% in the outgoing legislature to 24%.


[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SUDAN: After Nearly 30 Years In Power, Pres. al-Bashir Steps Down As Party Leader; May Be Toppled

[world politics news]

Sudan's embattled President Omar al-Bashir has resigned his position as chairman of the ruling party after more than two months of protests against his nearly three-decade rule, the party said. Some speculated that his actual grip on power may be slipping, and that his next step may be to step down.

According to a party statement released on Friday, al-Bashir delegated his powers as chairman of the National Congress Party to its deputy chairman, Ahmed Harun, until the party's next general conference. Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes committed in Sudan's Darfur region.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ETHIOPIA: Sahle-Work Zewde Appointed First Female President By Parliament

[world politics news]

Career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde has been appointed Ethiopia’s first female president, and Africa's only female head of state. On the brink of retirement, she did not seem destined for a political career. Ethiopian parliamentarians unanimously appointed Sahle-Work Zewde as president after the surprise resignation of Mulatu Teshome, who had held the post since 2013. This may have been a case of lucky timing. The appointment of a joint government composed of an equal number of men and women may have set the tone.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ETHIOPIA: New Embassy In Eritrean Capitol Marks New Beginning In Ethiopian-Eritrean Relations

[world politics news]

Ethiopia reopened its embassy in Eritrea this week, in a sign of vastly improved relations between the neighbors, who signed a peace treaty in July. A brief ceremony in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Eritrea's president, Isaias Afwerki. Eritrea opened an embassy in Ethiopia in July. Eritrea formally seceded from Ethiopia in 1993 after a long battle for independence, but the two fought a border war in 1998 that left at least 80,000 dead. A peace deal was signed two years later, but Ethiopia refused to implement it, saying it wanted more talks.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#ETHIOPIA: Parliament Declares "State of Emergency" To Focus on "Masterminds of Conflict" In The Nation

[world politics news]

The House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR) in its first urgent meeting today has approved the state of emergency that was endorsed by the Council of Ministers on Feb. 16. After thoroughly debating on the matter, 395 of the 490 total attending members supported the approval and 88 opposed while 7 abstained. The state of emergency is declared to protect the constitution and constitutional order from threat and safeguard the well-being of citizens, which was unable with the regular law enforcement.

[FULL STORY HERE]