NEWS - The African Mirror

Dec

15

2023

Senegal court orders opposition leader Sonko to be reinstated on electoral list

NEWS

A Senegal court has ordered jailed opposition leader Ousmane Sonko to be reinstated on the electoral register, a ruling that could pave the way for him to run in a February presidential election, Sonko's lawyer Cire Cledor Ly said. Sonko has faced a flurry of court cases over the past two years for charges including libel and rape, which he denies. The cases against him have triggered deadly violence in the West African nation. Sonko, 49, was cleared of rape in June, but sentenced to a two-year jail term after a court found him guilty of an offence described in the penal…

Dec

14

2023

By The African Mirror

Mozambique signs $5 billion hydro-project accord with EDF-led consortium

NEWS

MOZAMBIQUE has signed an accord with a consortium led by French power giant EDF to build the new $5 billion Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower project, the government said, as it seeks to harness energy from one of Africa's largest rivers. The dam and hydropower plant will be built along the Zambezi River in Tete province to the north of Mozambique and will generate 1,500 megawatts of power in the first phase. "This is the first concrete step for Mozambique to capitalise on the immense hydropower potential of the Zambezi River and the country's other energy resources," Mozambique Energy Minister Carlos Zacarias…

Dec

14

2023

By The African Mirror

Sierra Leone court orders opposition leader’s arrest for suspected graft

NEWS

SIERRA Leone's Court of Appeal has ordered the arrest of the opposition candidate who was runner-up in presidential elections this year for suspected corruption linked to the sale of government shares in a mining company, it said in a statement. Samuel Kamara was the candidate for the opposition All People's Congress Party (APC) in 2018 and in June. He was indicted in 2021 for alleged graft involving a separate matter when he was foreign minister. The trial is ongoing and he denies wrongdoing. The Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered Kamara to be arrested and handed over to the anti-corruption commission for…

Dec

14

2023

By The African Mirror

Kenya to scrap visas for all visitors, president says

NEWS

VISITORS to Kenya from across the world will no longer require a visa from January, President William Ruto said. Ruto said his government had developed a digital platform to ensure all visitors would receive an electronic travel authorisation in advance, instead of needing to apply for a visa. "It shall no longer be necessary for any person from any corner of the globe to carry the burden of applying for a visa to come to Kenya," he said in a speech in the capital Nairobi at an event to mark 60 years of independence from Britain. Ruto has long advocated…

Dec

14

2023

By AIDAN LEWIS and AMINA ISMAIL

Egypt’s Sisi cruises towards victory in subdued election

NEWS

EGYPTIANS cast their ballots on the third and final day of a presidential election expected to give President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi a sweeping victory and a new six-year term in the absence of real competition. Many Egyptians have shown little interest in the election, saying they believe that voting will make little difference, although authorities and commentators on tightly controlled local media continued urging them to cast ballots out of national duty until polls closed at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT). "I will not vote because I am sick of this country," said 27-year-old taxi driver Hossam, who said his quality…

Dec

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Turkey queries Somalia over role of president’s son in fatal accident

NEWS

TURKEY is seeking an explanation from Somalia after the son of its president, Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, left the country following a fatal traffic accident involving his use of a diplomatic car, according to a Turkish official. The son, Mohamed Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, was driving a vehicle belonging to the Somali consulate on November 30, when he hit a motorcycle courier in central Istanbul, seriously injuring him, Turkish media have said. He was using a car carrying a diplomatic licence plate at the time of the accident, said the Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation is…

Dec

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Ethiopia peace minister critical of PM Abiy held for suspected coup plot

NEWS

ETHIOPIA'S state minister of peace has been fired and arrested on accusations he conspired with rebel groups to overthrow the government, state media reported on Tuesday. The move against Taye Dendea, a senior member of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party, follows a series of social media posts he has made in the past week criticising the government for failing to maintain peace in the country. Sintayew Alemayew, Taye's wife, said her husband was arrested by dozens of uniformed and plainclothed police on Monday night, and said authorities gave her three days to leave her house or face eviction. Last week…

Dec

13

2023

By ABBEY MAKOE

“China ready to share its 1.4 billion people market with SA as relations soar”

NEWS

THE close ties between China and South Africa are set to continue to flourish as the two nations seek to cement ties that have entered “the golden era”. A mega-reception to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between SA and China was hosted by the Embassy of China in SA at its HQ in Acardia, Pretoria, today (Tuesday). Former President Kgalema Motlanthe and his wife Gugu led a list of high-level public figures that included Dr Naledi Pandor, Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Other cabinet ministers included Dr Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister…

Dec

13

2023

By WENDELL ROELF

South Africa to seek bids for new nuclear power station

NEWS

SOUTH Africa will launch a bidding process for an extra 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power by March, as the country attempts to tackle its worst power outages on record. Businesses and households have been left without power for up to 10 hours on some days this year, hitting South Africa's economic output and prompting plans to boost generation. However, officials said on Tuesday that the new nuclear power procurement is not a short-term fix, as the first units are only expected to start operating in a decade. "We are excited about the prospects and we are confident about our…

Dec

13

2023

By DANIEL TROTTA

Spike in Asia, Africa migrants turns Amazon jungle outpost into crossroads

NEWS

A recent crackdown on migrant smuggling and human trafficking throughout the Americas turned up migrants from 69 countries, an indicator of the steep growth in Asians and Africans who are crossing oceans and continents to reach the United States. Coordinated by the international police organization Interpol, the fifth annual Operation Turquesa united immigration enforcement officers from throughout the Americas from Nov. 27 to Dec. 1 in an attempt to dismantle international crime syndicates. Among the victories officials claimed were stopping a Portuguese national who was buying newborn babies from impoverished Brazilian women for sale in Europe, arresting three suspects linked…