YOWERI MUSEVENI RETURNS FOR SIXTH DEMOCRATIC TERM
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has taken the oath to officially begin a sixth democratic term in office.
He won re-election in a disputed poll in January.
Security had been increased in the capital, Kampala, ahead of his inauguration.
Several heads of states from countries including Burundi, South Sudan and Somalia arrived for the ceremony on Tuesday.
On Monday, the police said more than 40 people had been arrested for planning to disrupt the ceremony.
AGAINST THE LAW
In Central Africa, two transgender Cameroonians have been sentenced to five years in prison and fined 200,000 francs each.
Njeukam Loic Midrel, an internet celebrity and Mouthe Roland, who goes by the name Patricia, were detained on February 8 for attempted homosexuality.
They have been refused bail and their trial, which has already been postponed several times, ended on Tuesday. They were convicted at the Bonanjo Douala Magistrate Court.
Their lawyer, Alice Kom, says the court has given the maximum sentence, which did not take into account the fact that they are first offenders. She plans to appeal the judgement.
Cameroon is one of 31 African countries that criminalize homosexuality.
NIGERIA INSECURITY
In West Africa, a coalition of governors in Nigeria’s southern states have urged the Federal Government to urgently convene a national dialogue to address rapidly spreading agitations in the country.
The call was contained in a 12-point communique by the forum’s Chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu after a meeting in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.
The meeting which lasted about four hours and had 15 members in attendance also called for the restructuring of the country, and the evolution of state police.
The governors urge President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians on the challenges and restore the confidence of the people.
TACKLING INSECURITY
Staying in Nigeria, the National Security Council has approved new strategy to tackle an escalating insecurity crisis in the country
According to the national security adviser, the meeting was chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari and has approved far reaching measures for the nation’s South East and South-South zones
Nigerians are also tasked to support the efforts of the various security agencies as they translate decisions made during the council meeting to operation on the ground.
INSECURITY IN NIGERIA
Pursuant to recent attacks on security agencies and their facilities in Abia state in the South-East of Nigeria, Abia state government has imposed curfew on four volatile towns, Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia and Arochukwu. Despite the curfew, gunmen still continue their onslaughts on police stations.
SOUTH AFRICA-PALESTINE RELATIONS
Hundreds of South Africans are rallying against Israeli attacks on Palestinians after at least 28 persons were killed following clashes over the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
South Africa openly supports the Palestinian cause with formal diplomatic relations established in 1995, a year after the end of apartheid.
Waving the Palestinian green, black, red and white flags, demonstrators marched through the streets of South Africa’s second largest city, Cape Town causing huge traffic jams.
Similar demonstrations were also held in Johannesburg’s rich business district of Sandton.
South Africa is among over 130 countries that recognises Palestine as a sovereign state.
COVID-19 MOROCCO
Morocco’s COVID-19 tally has risen to 514 thousand as 242 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours.
The Ministry of Health says the death toll rose to 9 thousand with six new fatalities in the last 24 hours, while 225 people are in intensive care units.
The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased to 501 thousand after 258 new ones were added.
The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.8 per cent while the recovery rate is 97.5 per cent.
In the meantime, over 5.9 million people have so far received the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in the country, and 4.4 million people people the second dose.
MADAGASCAR BATTLES SECOND COVID-19 WAVE
In Madagascar, at least 716 persons have died from coronavirus since March 23, 2020, while over 38,000 cases have been recorded.
While the number of deaths seems low compared to many countries around the world, the second wave in recent weeks has been particularly alarming.
In one month, Madagascar recorded more than 12 thousand cases of coronavirus and no less than 240 deaths.
In hospitals, the lack of oxygen and medical equipment has been felt, but with the arrival of the Covishield – Astrazeneca vaccine, locals are regaining hope.
At the moment, only one person per patient is allowed to enter into hospitals for visits in the Island country lying off the southeastern coast of Africa.
SPORTS
FOOTBALL KENYA FEDERATION
Uncertainty clouds the resumption of Football Kenya Federation Premier League that was set to begin on Wednesday. The government is yet to announce fresh Covid-19 protocols as directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 1, while FKF has tentatively postponed the restart of the league to Friday. Players from all the 17 clubs in the league took Covid-19 tests on Tuesday and the exercise will continue on Wednesday. The FKF Chief Executive Officer Barry Otieno, is optimistic that by virtue of the federation testing players for the virus, this shows their readiness to resume league matches which were suspended on March 26 due to the rise in Covid-19 infections in the country. However, he added that the matches would not go ahead without the greenlight from the Health and Sports ministries as instructed by the president.