ANGOLA FREEZES ASSETS OF THE RICHEST WOMAN IN AFRICA IN GRAFT PROBE

LISBON/JOHANNESBURG 

An Angolan court has ordered assets of Isabel dos Santos, daughter of the country’s former leader, to be frozen in the highest-profile move of an anti-corruption drive launched by President Joao Lourenço.

Since ending ex-President Jose Eduardo dos Santos’ nearly 40-year grip on power in 2017, Lourenço has been trying to reduce the influence of the former first family, recover lost assets and privatise state firms.

Africa’s wealthiest woman, Isabel dos Santos amassed a fortune widely estimated at more than $2 billion through stakes in Angolan companies including banks and telecoms firm Unitel, earning her the nickname “the Princess”.

She chaired state oil company Sonangol - the lynchpin of Angola’s flagging, oil-dependent economy - before being sacked by Lourenço months after he came to power.

A court order dated Dec. 23 which was seen by Reuters said the government believed Isabel dos Santos, her husband Sindika Dokolo and Mário Filipe Moreira Leite da Silva, chairman of Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA), had caused the state losses of more than $1 billion.

“The state through its companies (diamond marketing company) Sodiam and Sonangol transferred enormous quantities of foreign currency to companies abroad whose beneficiaries are the defendants, without receiving the agreed return,” the court said. “The defendants recognise the existence of the debt but allege that they do not have the means to pay.”

A Lisbon-based spokesman for Isabel dos Santos said the billionaire businesswoman had not yet issued an official statement on the court ruling.

Reuters was unable to reach Dokolo or da Silva, and BFA did not answer calls seeking comment.

Isabel dos Santos has previously denied wrongdoing during her father’s time in office.

She tweeted late on Monday: “I would like to leave a message of tranquillity and confidence to my teams ... We will continue, every day, in every business, doing our best and fighting for what I believe in for Angola. The road is long, the truth will prevail. United we stand stronger.”

The asset freeze applies to personal bank accounts of dos Santos, Dokolo and da Silva in Angola and stakes they hold in Angolan firms including Unitel, BFA and ZAP MIDIA.

The order said the central bank would ensure that no funds leave the personal bank accounts of the three accused.

The boards of each company affected by the asset freeze must ensure that the stakes affected are not sold on and that no profits from the shares are transferred to the accused.

The court said Isabel dos Santos had hidden “wealth obtained at the cost of the state” by trying to transfer some of her businesses to Russia. Portuguese police had blocked a transfer of 10 million euros ($11 million) from one of her business partners to Russia, it said.

GAMBIA PRESIDENT FORMS NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Banjul, GAMBIA
Gambian President Adama Barrow created a new political party on Tuesday, according to the country's electoral authority, in a move that would allow him to contest future elections unhindered.

The president has formally registered the National Peoples Party, with himself as its leader, Joe Colley, the communications director for The Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission, told AFP.

The announcement comes as the Barrow's relationship with his former political party - the country's largest - has deteriorated, and during mounting calls for him to step down

After a coalition of parties agreed to back him, Barrow defeated former autocrat Yahya Jammeh in elections in the tiny West African state in 2016.

Their agreement stipulated that Barrow quit his United Democratic Party to stand as an independent, and step down after three years of leading an interim government, an AFP journalist said.

But The Gambia has been increasingly divided over whether Barrow should step down or not.

Presidential terms last five years in the former British colony.

At the end of September, part of Barrow's original coalition agreed to support him completing a five-year term.

Two parties, including the UDP, have rejected the move, however.

Thousands of protesters also took to the streets this month demanding that Barrow honour his pledge and step down on January 19 - the three-year anniversary of his swearing-in.

Forming a new party would allow Barrow to contest elections without relying on parties such as the UDP, an AFP journalist said.

DETAINED TANZANIA INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST'S MOTHER DIES

Verdiana Mjwahuzi died on Tuesday at Amana
Hospital in the capital city of Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA

The mother of imprisoned Tanzanian investigative journalist, Erick Kabendera, has died at the age of 80, the family has confirmed.

Verdiana Mjwahuzi died on Tuesday at Amana Hospital in the capital city of Dar es Salaam, where she has been receiving treatment.

Two weeks ago, Mjwahuzi pleaded with the Tanzania President John Magufuli to pardon her son; who according to her, was her caretaker.

Kabendera, an international correspondent journalist was initially arrested in late July 2019 after police claimed his citizenship was in question.

They later changed tack and charged him with economic crimes including money laundering and tax evasion—accusations for which he cannot qualify for bail.

FILE: Erick Kabendera being escorted to a
Kisutu court-room in Dar es Salaam

The case has so far been adjourned six times, with Kabendera appearing in court limping on Sept. 12 amid reports that his health is deteriorating.

The detention of Kabendera is the latest in a string of years-long crackdown on the press in Tanzania under the this regime.

Popularly known as “The Bulldozer,” Magufuli strode into office in 2015 after a populist campaign promising to tackle corruption and introduce large-scale reforms.

At the time of his arrest, Kabendera’s ailing mother was living with him.

MOROCCO: OUTSPOKEN JOURNALIST JAILED OVER TWEET

Journalist Omar Radi in Casablanca, Morocco, 2018

Rabat, MOROCCO

Hundreds of people demonstrated last week outside Morocco’s parliament demanding unconditionally release and drop charges against a journalist jailed for a 9 months-old tweet criticizing a judge, Human Rights Watch said today.

Omar Radi, 33, is due to be tried on January 2, 2020 for allegedly insulting a judge who imposed heavy penalties on protesters from the Rif region.

He faces up to one year in prison if convicted.

On December 26, a judge in Casablanca rejected Radi’s request for pre-trial release, notably on medical grounds that he suffers a severe form of asthma and other ailments.

“Criticizing officials is protected speech and no one should face prison time for peacefully doing so,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

“Moroccan authorities should immediately free Omar Radi and drop their case against him, which reeks of political vengeance against his critical journalism and activism.”

Radi, an award-winning investigative journalist, published several articles about the corruption of officials, and collaborated with various international media as a local correspondent or stringer. He is also a social and economic rights activist who has been active in various nongovernmental organizations, notably defending freedom of the press and land rights.

He was vice president of Attac Maroc, the local branch of an anti-globalization organization that promotes civic action in response to perceived excesses of global capitalism. He recently described to the Committee to Protect Journalists the “climate of pervasive surveillance and harassment” faced by Moroccan journalists.

On April 6, Radi tweeted “Let us all remember Appeals Judge Lahcen Tolfi, the enforcer against our brothers. In many regimes, small-time henchmen like him come back begging, later, claiming they were only ‘carrying out orders.’ No forgetting or forgiveness with such undignified officials!”

Radi tweeted this minutes after an appeals court, presided by Tolfi, upheld the trial court’s verdicts against the leaders of largely peaceful protests in the Rif region, who were sentenced in June 2018 to up to 20 years in prison, largely based on statements that they said were made under police torture.

On April 16, police in Casablanca summoned Radi and interrogated him for four hours about a series of tweets he posted, criticizing a magazine feature profiling Judge Tolfi that Radi found overly favourable.

The police did not contact Radi again until December 25, when they sent him a new summons. When he reported the next morning at 9 a.m., the police transported him to the office of a prosecutor in the Ain Sebaa Court in Casablanca. At 1 p.m., the prosecutor began questioning Radi in the company of his four lawyers.

One of them, Omar Bendjelloun, told Human Rights Watch that the 30-minute session revolved solely around the single April 6 tweet about Judge Tolfi.

At around 2 p.m., the prosecutor charged Radi with “insulting a magistrate” under penal code article 263 and ordered his detention and immediate referral to trial. He was taken to a cell in the basement of the courthouse. His trial started at 6 p.m. Human Rights Watch attended the trial session.

The defence immediately requested a postponement of the case and Radi’s provisional release. The prosecutor argued that detention was necessary because of unspecified “exceptional circumstances” that he said surrounded Radi’s case.

The judge rejected the petition for provisional release and ordered Radi’s transfer to Oukacha prison in Casablanca. The next trial session is scheduled for January 2.

Article 263 of Morocco’s penal code punishes with one month to one year in prison and a fine to “whoever, with the intention of damaging their honor, their delicacy or the respect due to their authority, shows contempt to … a magistrate.”

AL QAEDA ALLY CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOMALIA BLAST THAT KILLED 90 PEOPLE

A Somali police officer walks past a wreckage at the scene of a car bomb explosion at a checkpoint in Mogadishu, Somalia December 28, 2019

By Abdi Sheikh, MOGADISHU Somalia

Islamist group al Shabaab on Monday claimed responsibility for a bomb blast in Mogadishu that killed at least 90 people over the weekend while Somalia said a foreign government that it did not identify helped plan the attack.

The bombing was the deadliest in more than two years in a country wrecked by nearly three decades of Islamist violence and clan warfare.

In an audio message, al Qaeda-allied al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the bombing at the busy Ex-Control checkpoint northwest of Mogadishu.

 “The blast targeted a convoy of Turkish and Somali forces and they suffered great loss,” Ali Mohamud Rage, al Shabaab’s spokesman said in the message.

The National Intelligence and Security Agency did not name the country that it said was involved in the blast. “A foreign country planned the massacre of the Somalis in Mogadishu on 28 Dec 2019,” it said in a tweet.

NISA also said it would use assistance from an unnamed foreign intelligence organization in its investigation.

Rage accused Turkey of “taking all resources of Somalia” and vowed to continue targeting their personnel in the country.

“We shall always fight...the Turkish who work with the apostate government of Turkey. We are not against innocent Turkish Muslim citizens,” he said.

Two of those killed were Turkish nationals. A small team of Turkish engineers was present at the time of the blast, constructing a road into the city.

In recent years, Somalia has become an arena for military and diplomatic rivalry between Turkey and Qatar on one side and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the other.

Al Shabaab frequently carries out bombings to try to undermine Somalia’s central government, which is backed by the United Nations and African Union peacekeeping troops.

The most deadly attack blamed on al Shabaab was in 2017 when a truck bomb exploded next to a fuel tanker in Mogadishu, killing nearly 600. - Reuters

KENYAN POLICE LAUNCH MANHUNT FOR AL-SHABAB MILITANTS IN BORDER REGION

By Halligan Agade

Kenyan security forces have launched a manhunt for al-Shabab militants behind the abduction of two Kenyans in Liboi area along the Kenya-Somalia border.

Garissa County police Commander Alfred Angengo said the two businessmen, Abdullahi Issack Harun and Abdi Hassan Ilkaase, who were kidnapped by about 20 al-Shabab militants on Dec. 26, were traced and taken to Liboi police station on Sunday.

He said only three militants boarded the vehicle in which the two businessmen were traveling in and proceeded with the captives to neighboring Somalia.

“Only three of the al-Shabab militia proceeded with the captives to Somalia at a place called Bagdad, 60 km from Hosingo, to the east where they have established a camp and hosted black flag,” Angengo said in a statement.

The two businessmen, who were freed on Dec. 27, appeared in good health though tired, he said.

The two were ferrying miraa (khat) to Liboi when they were ambushed by al-Shabab militants and taken to Somalia, Angengo said.

He said security forces will conduct operations along the border areas to flush out militants believed to be planning to stage attacks in the region.

The abduction came two weeks after militants ambushed a Garissa-bound commuter bus and killed 11 people, including eight police officers.

UGANDA PLANS TO BORROW NEARLY $2 BILLION TO FUND 2020/21 BUDGET

By Elias Biryabarema, KAMPALA Uganda

Uganda said it plans to borrow 6.9 trillion shillings ($1.89 billion) from external lenders in the 2020/2021 (July-June) fiscal year to partly finance its budget, which could come under pressure as veteran leader Yoweri Museveni (pictured) seeks re-election.

A finance ministry budget paper seen by our reporter on Monday showed the funds will be in “form of concessional and non-concessional” credit.

The paper did not indicate how much was borrowed in the previous financial year. It also did not indicate from whom the money would be borrowed, but in recent years China has become one of Uganda’s top external lenders.

Museveni, in power since 1986, is widely expected to seek re-election early in 2021. He is expected to face a formidable challenge from pop star-turned-lawmaker Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi.

Public spending typically surges in election periods in Uganda, which has some times triggered pressure on consumer prices and the local currency.

The paper said economic growth in 2020/2021 would be 6.2%, driven by higher productivity in manufacturing and agriculture and “public and private sector investment as well as regional and domestic trade.”

Uganda’s mounting public debt has been fuelling concern. The International Monetary Fund has urged authorities to rein in borrowing.

Some opposition critics have also accused government of front-loading debt before an expected windfall from oil sales. Uganda hopes to commence crude oil production in 2022.

This month, the government said it was planning to borrow 600 million euros ($661 million) from international banks to plug a hole in its 2019/2020 budget after domestic revenue collections fell short by 9%.

The shortfall was caused by delays in implementing some planned tax-generating measures, according to the finance ministry. - Reuters

SUDAN SENTENCES 27 TO DEATH FOR TORTURING, KILLING PROTESTER

Sudanese protesters march during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum, Sudan, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019

CAIRO, Egypt

A court in Sudan on Monday sentenced 27 members of the country's security forces to death for torturing and killing a detained protester during the uprising against Sudan's longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir earlier this year.

The death of protester Ahmed al-Khair, a school teacher, while in detention in February was a key point -- and a symbol -- in the uprising that eventually led to the military's ouster of al-Bashir. Monday's convictions and sentences, which can be appealed, were the first connected to the killings of protesters in the revolt.

Last December, the first rally was held in Sudan to protest the soaring cost of bread, marking the beginning of a pro-democracy movement that convulsed the large African country. That led, in April, to the toppling by the military of al-Bashir, and ultimately to the creation of a joint military-civilian Sovereign Council that has committed to rebuilding the country and promises elections in three years.

The anniversary of that protest this month drew teeming crowds to the streets in several cities and towns across the country, with people singing, dancing and carrying flags. A train packed with exuberant demonstrators, clapping and chanting, arrived in the northern city of Atbara, the birthplace of the uprising, from the capital, Khartoum.

Monday's verdict in the trial of the security forces took place in a court in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city, where dozens of protesters had gathered outside the courtroom, demanding justice for al-Khair.

Al-Khair was detained on Jan. 31 in the eastern province of Kassala and was reported dead two days later. His body was taken to a local hospital where his family said it was covered in bruises. At the time, police denied any police wrongdoing and blamed his death on an "illness," without providing any details.

The court, however, said on Monday that the teacher was beaten and tortured while in detention. The 27 sentenced were policemen who were working in the jail where al-Khair was held or intelligence agents in the region.

Also this month, a court in Khartoum convicted al-Bashir of money laundering and corruption, sentencing him to two years in a minimum security lockup. The image of the former dictator in a defendant's cage sent a strong message, on live TV for all of Sudan.

The deposed ruler is under indictment by the International Criminal Court on far more serious charges of war crimes and genocide linked to his brutal suppression of the insurgency in the western province of Darfur in the early 2000s. The military has refused to extradite him to stand trial in The Hague.

Amnesty International and other rights groups have called on the new government to hold security forces accountable for killing scores of people in their efforts to stifle protests against military rule, especially those behind a deadly crackdown on a huge sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum last June.

Since last December, nearly 200 protesters have been killed in Sudan. The government recently appointed independent judges to oversee investigations into the killings, a major achievement for the protest movement.

Sudan is under heavy international and regional pressure to reform. With the economy on the brink, the new government has made it a mission to get Sudan removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism so that it can attract badly needed foreign aid.

WINDS OF CHANGE: RWANDA, TANZANIA AND BURUNDI PRESIDENTS TO QUIT

From left to right: John Magufuli (Tanzania), Pierre Nkurunziza (Burundi) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda)

By Daniel Mumbere

Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, on Thursday reiterated his commitment to walk away from the presidency when the current term he is serving expires in 2024.

Similar commitments by Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza, Tanzania’s John Pombe Magufuli and Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta have ignited debate in the East African region on the politics of long-serving presidents.

Kagame and Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni are among the continent’s longest serving presidents, having been in office for 20 years and 34 years respectively.

Kagame, who was reportedly addressing the 17th Annual National Dialogue said he was not interested in seeking a fourth term, adding that he wished to be replaced by a female president.

‘‘My wish is that one day, a woman takes up this position that you gave me,’‘ Kagame told delegates.

The 62-year old had earlier told a summit in Doha, Qatar that he is not likely to run for office in 2024.

Earlier this month, Tanzania’s Magufuli pledged to respect the constitution that stipulates a two-five years-term limit for the office of president.

‘‘I have been insisting that I will respect the constitution and laws governing the country after completing my term in office,’‘ Magufuli said while launching a water project in the Geita region.

Magufuli said he is determined to discourage Tanzanians from harbouring such thoughts, arguing that all 55 million Tanzanians have the ability to lead the country, with the help of God.

Burundi’s Nkurunziza also restated his position on seeking another term in office, saying he will not contest next year’s elections.

The 55-year old told journalists he would hold another press conference “before handing power to our successor’‘, having also told security forces that it was the last time he would give them his holiday wishes as Burundi’s leader.

His insistence on running again in 2015 led to deadly political turmoil and allegations by human rights groups of widespread abuses.

'WORLD'S OLDEST RHINO' DIES IN TANZANIA AT 57

Records show that Fausta lived (longer) than any rhino in the world 

By Nuzulack Dausen, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

A rhino believed to the world’s oldest has died at the age of 57 in a Tanzanian conservation area, authorities said.

Fausta, a female black rhino, died of natural causes in captivity on Friday in the Ngorongoro Crater, the state conservation body said.

“Records show that Fausta lived (longer) than any rhino in the world and survived in the Ngorongoro, free-ranging, for more than 54 years before it was kept in a sanctuary for the last three years of its life in 2016,” the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority said in a statement.

Fausta was first located in 1965 at between three and four years’ old by a scientist. Her health deteriorated from 2016 after hyena attacks, when she was taken into refuge. 

"Fausta survived 57 years without bearing calves," the statement added.

Rhinos’ life expectancy is around 40 years in the wild but they can live an extra decade in captivity, according to the Ngorongoro authority.

Decimated by poaching, black rhinos now number around 5,500, according to charity Save The Rhino. The smaller of the two African species, they are found around south and east Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

UHURU KENYATTA: MOST ADMIRED PERSON IN KENYA

By Rahab Mbiriti, Nairobi KENYA

A new survey is under scrutiny after it placed President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, as the most admired person in Kenya.

The results in the survey released by Tifa Research, are in contrast to how most Kenyans feel about Uhuru’s presidency.

According to the survey, 20 percent of Kenyans chose Uhuru as their most admired leader, with his deputy William Ruto and Opposition leader Raila Odinga tying at position two with 10 percent each.

Uhuru’s presidency has been marred with corruption scandals and economic mismanagement and to, therefore, place him as the most admired president is a sort of disrespect to Kenyans.

The survey, however, points out that while this is not necessarily an approval of the president’s performance as head of state and government, it shows the extent to which he is likeable as a person.

In the most admired persons’ category, parents (father and mother) came in position four, as the most respected persons having clenched 7 percentage points in the poll.

Further in the poll, musician King Kaka, emerged the fifth most admired/respected person in 2019, with 4 percentage points, probably due to his recent hit song, ‘Wajinga Nyinyi’ which was a scolding for Kenyans hypocrisy and foolishness.

The musician and poet was rated higher than the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, the only minister to make the list  of the most admired persons garnering 3 percentage points in the poll.

Politicians such as ex-president Mwai Kibaki, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula, Machackos Governor Alfred Mutua and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko polled a marginal one percent in the Tifa Research poll.

DR CONGO EX-PREMIER CALLS FOR WAR ON RWANDA

DR Congo former PM Adolphe Muzito has asked the government to wage war on neighbouring Rwanda to end militia violence.

Kinshasa, DRC

A former DR Congo Prime Minister and opposition leader on Monday called for the government to wage war on neighbouring Rwanda to end militia violence.

The Democratic Republic of Congo was at the heart of two bitter regional wars between 1997-2003 involving its neighbours Rwanda and Uganda.

Kinshasa accused Rwanda and Uganda of trying to destabilise the DR Congo while its neighbours said militias opposed to their governments had used DR Congo as a rear base for attacks.

"We have to wage war on Rwanda to restore peace in our country. Rwanda influences our politics. So does Uganda," former Premier Adolphe Muzito said at a press conference in Kinshasa.

"We can only make peace by threatening Rwanda, by occupying its territory if possible by annexing it," he said.

Two other leaders of Lamuka, the country's main opposition, Moise Katumbi and Jean-Pierre Bemba, distanced themselves from Muzito, saying they were "surprised" by his comments.

AFP was unable to immediately reach the government for reaction.

For a quarter of a century, the eastern part of the DRC has been plagued by insecurity due to the presence of dozens of local and foreign armed groups.

Earlier this year five Great Lakes countries -- the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda -- decided to combine their military operations in the region.

On Saturday, hundreds of Rwandans linked to a militia in South Kivu province were handed back to Rwandan authorities weeks after they were captured.

The Congolese army has in recent months claimed several victories over the militia known as the CNRD -- a group created by refugees after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

Rwanda has welcomed the anti-militia operations in DR Congo. - AFP

GUINEAN OPPOSITION ANNOUNCES ELECTION BOYCOTT

Cellou Dalein Diallo

Conakry, GUINEA

The opposition in the West African state of Guinea vowed Monday to boycott legislative elections set for February 16 and “prevent” them from taking place, in a dispute focussed on the country’s electoral roll.

“We have decided we cannot take part,” opposition Chief Cellou Dalein Diallo said after meeting with the heads of around 20 opposition groups.

“It’s not just a question of boycotting the elections and standing idly by. We will prevent these elections from taking place,” he said.

Diallo charged that there had been “massive inclusion of minors” on the electoral lists, while people who had the right to vote had been blocked.

“We cannot accept having an election based on this electoral roll,” Diallo said.

Fellow opposition leader Etienne Soropogui, said: “We took an important decision today, which consists of no longer (running against President) Alpha Conde so long as we do not have the conditions for free and transparent elections.”

Guinea has been wracked by rolling demonstrations sparked by concerns that Conde, 81, plans to stay in office beyond the two legally mandated two terms.

Conde has not yet confirmed whether he plans to run again.

But his announcement last week of a new draft constitution sparked a fresh wave of accusations that he was scheming to extend his rule.

A nationwide protest is set for Friday.

About 20 people have died since the protests began in mid-October, according to an AFP tally, and one gendarme has also been killed.

Hundreds of people have been arrested. Civil rights campaigners say the police have used excessive force and carried out arbitrary arrests.

Guinea is one of the world’s poorest countries, despite owning huge mineral resources.

Conde, who was jailed and spent time in exile under Guinea’s previous authoritarian regimes, became the country’s first democratically elected president in 2010.

He was re-elected in 2015.

Despite initial hopes of a new political dawn in the country, critics say his rule has become increasingly authoritarian. - Africa