Africa

We asked Africans to tell us their thoughts on the inauguration of US President Trump and how his presidency might effect Africa.

Strongly condemning all terrorist attacks in West Africa, particularly those carried out by Boko Haram militants in the Lake Chad Basin, the United Nations Security Council today stressed the need to combat terrorism in all its forms and to address the conditions conducive to its spread.

Police fire tear gas at pro-Biafra rally in Nigeria organised in support of new US President Donald Trump.

A selection of the best photos from across Africa this week.

Adenike Ogunlesi found an exciting market for kids' clothing through her fashion label Ruff 'n' Tumble.

Gambian army chief Ousman Badjie dances with supporters of internationally backed President Adama Barrow.

An eyewitness relives the horror of an erroneous bombing by Nigeria's military of a camp for displaced people.

“This is the day we’ve been waiting for,” Sanna told me as he and hundreds of Gambians gathered outside their country’s embassy in Dakar, Senegal to celebrate the inauguration today of President Adama Barrow. Barrow took the oath of office at the embassy, wary of returning to Gambia where his safety would be at risk. Expand

Gambians await the inauguration of President-elect Adama Barrow outside the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

© 2017 Amnesty International/Sabrina Mahtani   But Gambia’s political crisis remains unresolved – with now former president Yahya Jammeh clinging to power in the capital, Banjul, and an Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) force at the border, preparing to intervene. In stark contrast to the jubilant scenes in Dakar, Banjul remains eerily quiet and on lockdown, with people fearing a military intervention or a crackdown by Jammeh’s security forces.    Gambian activists in Banjul told me they were happy the crisis would soon be over, but feared the political standoff would not end peacefully. “We don’t want to be Jammeh’s last victims,” one told me.   Since coming to power in 1994, Jammeh and the Gambian security forces have used enforced disappearances, torture, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests to suppress dissent and preserve Jammeh’s grip on power.   Barrow’s taking office could be hugely significant for the advancement of human rights in Gambia. He has promised to dramatically improve the country’s rights record, including by releasing political prisoners and ending Jammeh's planned withdrawal from the International Criminal Court.   Since the December 1 election that he lost, Jammeh has arrested a number of opposition sympathizers and army officers deemed disloyal. He also closed several independent radio stations.   Many Gambians outside of the embassy were still hopeful Jammeh will agree to step down peacefully. “We’re close,” Salieu Taal, a founder member of the #Gambiahasdecided movement, told me today. “It will be a new dawn for human rights and civil society in Gambia.”    If Jammeh does not step down, it is vital that the Gambian security forces, wherever their loyalty may lie, respect human rights; that all Gambians resist reprisals; and that ECOWAS forces who may enter Gambia respect rights and do all they can to avoid civilian harm.

Human Rights Watch reviewed satellite imagery in the town of Rann, Kala Balge Borno State, recorded on the morning after the attack and identified two distinct areas of destruction in densely populated areas on the western side of the town that are consistent with the detonation of multiple air dropped munitions. At least 35 structures were destroyed in the attack, including shelters for displaced people.

 

January 19, 2017 (JUBA)- The newly appointed governor of Gogrial state, South Sudan, has issued an order relieving a security advisor previously appointed by his predecessor and appointed his own pick.

Women from a cattle camp walk near Gogrial (Photo Tim Freccia/Enough Project)

Governor Gregory Deng Kuac Adol, best known as Gregory Vasilli Dmitry, appointed former Gogrial east county commissioner, Akot Lual Akot as the new security advisor.

In another order, he appointed Anyuon Dhol Anyuon as Commissioner of Apuk East, replacing Anyuon Chan Ajuong.

Also, Joseph Atem Gal was named commissioner of Awan Riau County, replacing Lual Lual Mal and Simon Apet Deng Kon was appointed commissioner Awan Chan County, replacing Peter Atem Yak.

Gogrial State which is the home of President Salva Kiir is one of the 32 states of South Sudan. It is located in the Bahr el Ghazal region and it borders Twic to the north, Aweil East to the northwest, Aweil to the west, Wau to the southwest, Tonj to the southeast, and Northern Liech to the northeast.

(ST)

January 19, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has issued an order appointing three officials into the national legislative assembly.

Members of South Sudan's parliament sing the national anthem during the reopening of parliamentary sessions in the capital, Juba, on 11 June 2012 (Photo: Giulio Petrocco/AFP/Getty)

The presidential order read on the stated own South Sudan broadcasting Corporation, named Malong Lual Diing , son of the prominent SPLM official and a former presidential advisor on political affairs, Lual Diing Wol. The second is Mathiang Bellario Ahoy, another son of a veteran politician Bellario Ahoy Ngong, both of whom died in 2015 and 2016. They were serving members of parliament at the national legislative assembly when they passed away.

A third nominee into transitional legislative assembly is Oliver Majok Aleu. He replaced Garang Diing Akuong, whom President Salva Kiir appointed two ago years into foreign services and dispatched him to the United States where he is presently serving as the head of mission.

The basis of the appointment remains contentious. Presidential sources cite article 64 (1) (b) of the transitional legislative assembly which gives the president powers to appoint upon receiving notification from the speaker of the legislative assembly after the seat has fallen vacant.

Critics, however, argue that the speaker had to write first to the national elections commission to organize elections and only to the president when it is not possible to organize elections, particularly when it is remaining only three months period into the general elections.

“The Speaker of the appropriate House shall, in writing, notify the National elections commission Notwithstanding sub-Articles (1) and (2) above, if a vacancy occurs in respect of any seat in the National Legislative Assembly or the Council of States before the expiry of one year from the beginning of the Transitional Period: (a) the Speaker of the appropriate House shall, in writing, notify the President within ten days from the occurrence of that vacancy; (b) the President shall appoint the successor to the seat within sixty days.

Following the occurrence of the vacancy after consultation with the relevant constituencies, political parties and state legislatures concerned, as the case may be national Elections Commission within ten days from the occurrence of that vacancy”. A by-election to fill the vacancy shall be held by the National Elections Commission within sixty days following occurrence of the vacancy, a presidential source told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

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January 19, 2017 (JUBA) – The United States Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of African Affairs visited Juba on Wednesday but failed to meet President Salva Kiir or any government representative, local media reported on Thursday .

Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, testifies on Jan. 9, 2014, before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on situation in South Sudan. (Photo AP Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Linda Thomas-Greenfield arrived to Juba on Wednesday in a one-day visit before to travel to Ethiopia. The purpose of the visit was to discuss issues if mutual concern, to discuss humanitarian assistance with the international organisations working in the country.

She concluded her visit by meeting the U.S. Embassy staffs and a selected number of editors from South Sudanese newspapers and radio stations.

“I am disappointed that I cannot meet the President or other member of his government,” Linda told the journalists, according to the English language newspaper, The Juba Monitor.

The American diplomat, said her one day trip was meant to empathize Washington position on deployment of UN Security Council authorized Regional Protection Force and continued support to the full implementation of the shaky peace agreement.

Linda said the national dialogue announced by President Salva Kiir last month should be inclusive.

“It has to be one in which people feel confidence in the process,” she told editors from the US funded Eye Radio, UN's Radio Miraya and independent The Juba Monitor newspaper in a brief encounter in Juba on Wednesday.

“So it is not just the process that is being controlled by the government but is an open process that everyone who is participating makes some contribution to how it will be organized,” she said.

The National Dialogue announced by President Kiir will be headed by former political and religious leaders.

President Kiir appointed the steering committee of more than 50 members without consulting his rivals from the armed SPLM In Opposition or any other political parties, attracting criticism of attempting to negotiate with himself.

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By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

January 19,2017 (ADDIS ABABA) - Ethiopia and Sudan on Wednesday reaffirmed commitment to bolster existing bilateral cooperation to a higher level.

The two neighbours expressed their commitment here in Addis Ababa when Ethiopia's state minister for foreign affairs, Hirut Zemene, conferred with Gamal al-Sheikh Ahmed, Ambassador of Sudan to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the African Union(AU)

According to the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs, the two sides expressed determination to further enhance relations and to boost existing cooperation to attain shared strategic visions.

Hirut and Ahmed further discussed on ways how to solidify existing regional and global cooperation.

The state minister said the two countries are enjoying the "close and excellent cooperation" in political, social and economic frontiers.

She stressed that the partnership between Ethiopia and Sudan should further be pronounced.

The Sudanese Ambassador to his part emphasized that his country greatly values the age-old strong ties and strategic partnership with government and people of Ethiopia.

"Sudan's cooperation with Ethiopia at bilateral level and at the AU is a number one priority" Ahmed said.

Cooperation between the two neighbouring countries has increasing gained momentum within the framework of mutual benefits.

The Sudanese diplomat added that he would make sure that the momentum of cooperation between the two countries sustains during his tenure.

The two countries expressed commitment to jointly work for regional peace and security.

They also reaffirmed to working together on a wide range of continental and international issues of common interest.

Currently Ethiopia and Sudan have a number of joint projects on pipeline among others on road and railways to link their borders.

Other cooperation agreement include Security, trade as well as on rebel and criminals extradition deal.

Sudan has also linked its grid with Ethiopia to import Ethiopia's hydro power processed electricity.

The countries are also working on creating a free zone area along their shared border to facilitate movement of people and trade.

(ST)

At least 45,000 people &#8211 mostly women and children &#8211 have arrived in Senegal from The Gambia after former President Yahya Jammeh&#39s decided to not step down, United Nations agencies today said warning that more people may leave if the political situation is not resolved peacefully.

With conflict in South Sudan now entering its fourth year and its people facing dire humanitarian challenges, the United Nations refugee agency has revised upwards its funding requirements for 2017 to address new needs of those who have been displaced due to renewed fighting, increased violence and resulting food insecurity since July last year.

How will Donald Trump's election to the US presidency affect Washington's relations with Africa?

Around 100 bombs hit an Islamic State camp in Libya, authorised by President Barack Obama.

A United Nations human rights expert today welcomed the decision of President Barack Obama to lift most sanctions unilaterally imposed by the United States on Sudan.

Urging all Gambian parties to respect the outcome of the 1 December election recognizing Adama Barrow as the country’s President-elect, the United Nations Security Council today expressed its support for the commitment of West African States to “ensure, by political means first, respect of the will of the people.”

The Gambia's new leader calls on soldiers to show their loyalty to him to ensure a peaceful transition of power.