Kenya’s President Kenyatta and Gabon’s President Bongo top list of African leaders with stolen assets in offshore tax havens
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ali Bongo of Gabon top the list of African leaders named in the Pandora Papers investigation as hiding assets in offshore tax havens. Incidentally, the two are friends, with President having visited Nairobi in 2016 in a show of solidarity. Kenya’s President Kenyatta is known...
Pork barrel politics: It’s guaranteed Kenya’s deputy president will control national resources and wealth
A closer scrutiny of Kenya Deputy President William Ruto’s activities, says ruling Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju, reveals a pattern of corruption activities and politically-motivated scams amounting to billions of dollars. Mr Tuju alleged in a recent statement and press conference that Mr Ruto’s excesses threaten the East African...
Infighting in presidency offers rare peek into fiercely defended economic crimes by Kenya’s power barons
Kenya Deputy President William is increasingly coming under fire for his alleged involvement in corruption and related economic crimes that run into billions of dollars. After nearly two years of running a campaign that was premised on hoisting the poor and downtrodden to economic glory via “Hustler Nation” slogan he...
Islamic States militia taking advantage of ethnic hostilities to fan atrocities in Niger Delta – reports
Niger government officials have sought to downplay the ethnic colouration of recent massacres in Niger Delta. Although Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) has recruited mostly from Fulani groups, officials point out that ethnic Zarma and members of other communities have also joined them. Still, local analysts and residents...
As extremism deepens, Americans consider ‘ranked-choice reforms’ to make politics less toxic
It is arguably the most important single question in US politics today: How can the United States halt its downward spiral into extremism, gridlock and cross-partisan hatred? For many advocates, a critical piece of the answer is the electoral reform known as ranked-choice voting. “It reduces the incentive to be...
Niger Conflict: Poorly armed farmers left to defend themselves against well-equipped terrorist fighters
Editor’s note: A regional franchise of the so-called Islamic State is stepping up attacks against civilians in western Niger. This article is the first of two reports exploring what’s driving the crisis and the limitations of efforts to address it. When a regional franchise of the so-called Islamic State pushed...
Arsenal’s ‘identity crisis’ is reason for their slump and sloppiness in premier league – club legend
Arsenal’s recruitment has been singled out as the biggest reason for the club’s current malaise by Gunners legend and former academy director Liam Brady. The Republic of Ireland great and Serie A legend emerged from Arsenal’s academy after moving to England, becoming one of the club’s most impressive youth products....
Although Khartoum has agreed to hand over Bashir to ICC, competing domestic interests remain a hurdle
The Sudanese government is performing a delicate balancing act in the interests of advancing justice during a complex political transition. The question when, where and how ousted President Omar al Bashir will face criminal justice crimes against humanity. In August, Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi announced that...
Biafra secession: ‘A significant majority of the people in the southeast are fed up with Nigeria’
As disaffection mounts in southeast Nigeria, many Igbos, who waged the Biafra secessionist war in the 1960s after independence, say they still feel as if they are treated as second-class citizens more than 50 years on – a sentiment they say has been aggravated by an aloof and unsympathetic President...
Nigerian separatist Kanu, once arrested in Kenya, has rekindled Biafran secessionism in southeast states
When President Muhammadu Buhari flew into southeastern Imo State last week to commission a handful of development projects, he was greeted by deserted streets and shuttered businesses: Residents were demonstrating against his leadership by staying at home. Dressed in traditional Igbo attire, matching the outfit of his host, Governor Hope...