African Union observers on daunting mission in Kenya, Senegal as the two countries go to polls
The African Union (AU) Election Observation Mission is in for a major month of work, with two teams dispatched to Senegal and Kenya where there are upcoming elections. Senegal held legislative elections on 31 July, while Kenya’s General Election is coming up on August 9. The polls, according to the...
Why China is a major talking point as Kenya holds elections on August 9 and President Kenyatta retires
As campaigning gears up for Kenya’s August 9 presidential elections, the two main candidates are both focused on one key talking point – the economy – and this inevitably means the country’s controversial relationship with China is coming under the spotlight. Deputy President William Ruto, a former chicken-seller who styles...
High number of youths expected to give Kenyan polls wide berth, terming them corrupt, pointless
As a familiar campaign jingle brings the Kenyan crowd to their feet, Hellen Atieno joins her compatriots and sways to the catchy tune at a political rally in the lakeside city of Kisumu. Just don’t expect the 23-year-old to vote; she is looking for money. “I have only come to...
Biden’s equivocation on abortion rights is snowballing into key campaign issue in 2024 US elections
The proclamation “I will aid and abet abortion” appeared across social media soon after Donald Trump’s Supreme Court justices did what they were appointed to do: overturn Roe v. Wade ruling on abortions rights. Leaving aside the question of whether it’s a great idea to advertise one’s intent to engage...
Ethiopia’s forgotten war: Oromo Liberation Army only responds to state terrorism, human rights abuse
In November 2020 an outbreak of violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray region captured worldwide attention. The conflict was between Tigrayan forces and the forces of the Ethiopian government and its allies. Since then, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been under increasing global pressure to negotiate with Tigrayan officials to stop the...
Outgoing Kenya president cut price of staple food to tip elections in favour of preferred successor – critics
The cost of maize flour, used to make Kenya’s staple food, has been cut in half less than three weeks before general elections. The measure aims to deal with the rising cost of living that has seen prices of basic commodities soar. A 2-kilogramme packet of maize flour will now...
Senegalese President and AU Chair Macky Fall in South Sudan to give impetus to wobbly peace process
The Senegalese President Macky Sall arrived in South Sudan capital, Juba, on Monday to support the country’s peace process. President Sall, the current chairperson of the African Union (AU), was received by his South Sudan counterpart, Salva Kiir at the Juba International Airport. “I have come to support the peace...
Waves of near-daily inter-ethnic killings in South Sudan threaten 2018 truce and planned elections
An explosion of violence in South Sudan is raising fears that the country’s fragile peace agreement will unravel before elections the international community hopes can be held next year. The wave of near-daily killings across this East African country is often blamed on marauding militias whose attacks threaten the 2018...
Kenyan sexist bullies running short of ammo as number of women seeking elective seats soar
Wavinya Ndeti has defied bullying, attempts to discredit her academic achievements and xenophobic slurs over her marriage to emerge as a front-runner for the powerful post of governor of a key county in Kenya’s forthcoming general election. The 54-year old mother of four says she has had to “toughen up”...
In some parts of Myanmar teachers and students regularly hide in the forest for days to attend school
The Myanmar military has since last May retaliated against rising armed resistance in Karenni state with airstrikes and artillery fire, repeatedly targeting civilians and their homes and at times bombing displacement camps. More than 170,000 people, or half of the state’s population, are now internally displaced, according to civil society...
