UK sanctions Uganda parliament Speaker over graft allegations

LONDON, England 

The United Kingdom has imposed sanctions on the Speaker of Uganda's parliament, as well as two MPs, for alleged corruption.

A statement said they had stolen from the poorest communities in the country and would be subject to travel bans and asset freezes.

The British Foreign Office said the two former ministers, Mary Goretti Kitutu and Agnes Nandutu, had stolen thousands of metal roofing sheets which were meant for vulnerable communities in the Karamoja region.

It said the Speaker, Anita Among, was also involved. She has also been accused of corruption involving parliamentary funds.

Ms Among has described the allegations as rumours that were triggered by her support for Uganda's tough anti-LGBT legislation.

In response,  the parliament of Uganda on Tuesday dismissed the sanctions targeting speaker over alleged corruption saying the UK government should avoid trying to arm-twist Ugandan decision makers to align with their value system, especially on homosexuality.

The Uganda's director of communications and public affairs Chris Obore says the iron sheets have been used as a ruse to conceal the real, unstated but clearly obvious reason for the sanctions – which is the Speaker’s stance on the recently enacted Anti-Homosexuality Act.

“The truth is that the iron sheets were in fact distributed to public schools, and Mr Andrew Micthell – who was vocal in condemning Among for enacting the Anti-Homosexuality Act – did not, in his statement,  indicate how exactly the Speaker derived personal benefit from them”.Obore says in a statement.

Obore further appealed to foreign partners, including the United Kingdom, respect the sovereignty of Uganda, and avoid temptation to meddle into Uganda’s local politics.

French President urges Rwanda to 'halt support' for M23 rebels

PARIS, France 

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Rwanda to "halt its support" for the M23 rebels wreaking havoc in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a joint press conference with DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi, who is on a visit to Paris, Mr Macron said: "Rwanda must halt its support for M23 and withdraw its forces from Congolese territory."

The M23 first began operating in 2012 ostensibly to protect the Tutsi population in eastern DR Congo, which had long complained of persecution and discrimination.

The UN, EU and US have said that Rwanda, which is also led by Tutsis, is backing the M23. The government in Kigali has repeatedly denied this.

Last March, when asked to condemn Rwanda's reported support for the rebels, Mr Macron said he had been "very clear about the condemnation of the M23 and those who support it".

Bayern Munich Squares with Real Madrid in UEFA Champions League semi-final

MUNICH, Germany.

The UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid didn’t disappoint as the two European heavyweights played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Allianz Arena. 

Vinicius Junior gave the visitors the lead in the first half before Leroy Same and a Harry Kane penalty turned the game on its head. 

Vinicius Jr. responded with a penalty of his own to level things up.

Two goals from Vinicius Junior ensured Real Madrid came away from Bayern Munich with a draw after an engrossing UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg.

In a pulsating tie featuring two European heavyweights that swung both ways, it is arguably advantage Real heading into next week’s return leg in Spain, with a place in the final at Wembley on the line.

Bayern had nothing to show for their early pressure and were then punished midway through the first half when Toni Kroos’ pass sliced open their defence before Vinicius Jnr. applied the finishing touch.

Vinicius’ bow to praise Kroos said everything about the assist, and for the Brazilian it was a goal at the Champions League semi-final stage for a third straight season.

That came against the run of play, as did Bayern’s leveller after half-time, with Sane sneaking a fierce effort into the near post past Andriy Lunin.

And just four minutes later, Bayern completed the turnaround, with Lucas Vazquez fouling Jamal Musiala inside the area before Kane scored from the penalty spot with a cool stutter run-up and finish.

The drama was not over though, with Kim Min-jae fouling Rodrygo and allowing Vinicius Jr. to score his second of the night.

Mali forces kill senior figure in Islamic State affiliate

BAMAKO, Mali

A senior Islamic State group commander wanted in connection with the deaths of US forces in Niger was killed in an operation by Malian state forces, the country's military said.

Abu Huzeifa , known under the pseudonym Higgo , was a commander in the group known as the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara . The US State Department had announced a reward of up to $5 million for information concerning him.

Huzeifa is suspected of helping lead a 2017 attack on U.S. and Nigerien forces in Tongo Tongo , Niger , that resulted in the deaths of four Americans and four Nigerien soldiers. Following this attack, the American army reduced its operations with its local partners in the Sahel.

“The identification and evidence collected confirm the death of Abu Huzeifa known as Higgo, a renowned foreign terrorist ,” the Malian army said in a statement late Monday.

Moussa Ag Acharatoumane , leader of a Tuareg armed group allied with the state, said his forces participated in the operation and that it took place in northern Mali .

A photo of Huzeifa broadcast by state television shows him in military fatigues, with a long black beard and a machine gun in his hand.

Mali has experienced two coups since 2020 during a wave of political instability that has swept West and Central Africa. The country has been battling an increasingly serious insurgency led by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group for more than a decade .

The killing of the Islamic State group's commander over the weekend "could mean less violence against civilians in the region, but the threat remains high as there are certainly leaders with similar brutality ready to take control and to prove themselves," said Rida Lyammouri of the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based think tank.

Colonel Assimi Goita , who took power after the second coup of 2021, has promised to end the insurgency. 

The ruling junta cut military ties with France due to growing frustration at the lack of progress after a decade of assistance, and turned to Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group for support in security matters.

Mali has also formed a security alliance with Niger and Burkina Faso , which are also battling increasingly serious insurgencies and have also experienced coups in recent years. 

Although their armies promised to end insurgencies after deposing their respective elected governments, conflict analysts say violence has instead worsened under their regimes. 

The three countries share borders in the conflict-hit Sahel region, and their security forces are overwhelmed in the fight against jihadist violence.

UK plans to send 6,000 migrants to Rwanda in 2024

LONDON, England

The UK expects to deport nearly 6,000 migrants to Rwanda this year, a senior minister said Tuesday, after the government published new details on the controversial scheme.

The figures come days after the plan aimed at deterring migrant arrivals on small boats from northern Europe became law following months of parliamentary wrangling.

Rwanda has "in principle" agreed to accept 5,700 migrants already in the UK, the interior ministry revealed late Monday.

Of those, 2,143 "can be located for detention" before being flown there, according to the ministry.

Law enforcement agencies will find the remainder, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said Tuesday when asked about the 5,700 earmarked for deportation.

"The expectation is that we remove that group of people... by the end of the year," she told Sky News television.

"If somebody doesn't report as they should do... They will be found."

Migrants who arrived in the UK between January 2022 and June last year are liable to have their asylum claims deemed inadmissible and be removed to Rwanda, the interior ministry said.

More than 57,000 people arrived on small boats after trying to cross the Channel during this 18-month period, according to official statistics.

The figure underlines the scale of the challenge trying to stem irregular arrivals, and the limits of the government's contentious plan to send some of them to Rwanda.

Under the scheme—set to cost UK taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds—their asylum claims will be examined by Kigali.

If approved, they will be allowed to stay in Rwanda and not return to the UK.

Rwanda, home to 13 million people in Africa's Great Lakes region, lays claim to being one of the most stable countries on the continent and has drawn praise for its modern infrastructure.

But rights groups accuse veteran President Paul Kagame of ruling in a climate of fear, stifling dissent and free speech.

UK lawmakers last week passed the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which compels British judges to regard the nation as a safe third country.

It followed a UK Supreme Court ruling last year that said sending migrants on a one-way ticket there was illegal.

The new law also gives decision-makers on asylum applications the power to disregard sections of international and domestic human rights law.

UK opposition parties, UN agencies and various rights groups have criticised the flagship policy of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative government.

He said last week that deportation flights are expected to begin within 10-12 weeks.

Mali junta prepares for national 'dialogue' boycotted by the opposition

DAKAR, Senegal

The national phase of a months-long "inter-Malian dialogue" is set to begin in six days' time, with the country's military junta banking on the conclusions to bolster its increasingly contested legitimacy.

Weakened by security and economic crises and criticised for their failure to transfer power back to civilians, Mali's authorities have cracked down on mounting dissent, while still managing to retain support from a section of the population.

The West African nation has been ruled by juntas since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, with the military promising to hand back power through the ballot box in February under pressure from regional bloc ECOWAS.

But the colonels sparked domestic and international criticism after failing to uphold this commitment and postponing the election until an unspecified date -- citing a precarious security situation aggravated by jihadist groups which has not yet been stabilized.

After muzzling opponents, journalists and human rights activists, the military authorities suspended the activities of political parties in April and dissolved several civil society organisations calling for elections to be held.

But in the eyes of some Malians, the increasingly critical political class "suffers from a credibility deficit due to corruption and broken promises" under previous regimes, said Mahamadou Konate, a university professor in the capital Bamako.

He added that this view had been amplified by communications from the military government.

The junta is also counting on the inter-Malian dialogue, launched in December, to strengthen its peace efforts after ending a major 2015 deal with armed separatist groups in the north.

The talks' first recommendations, seen by AFP, unsurprisingly call for the extension of the so-called "transition" period and, in some regions, for junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita to stand as a candidate in the presidential election.

African heads of states meet in Nairobi for World Bank summit

By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI Kenya

African heads of state convened in Nairobi for the International Development Association (IDA) summit, with a focus on favorable lending terms and strategies to bolster sustainable development across the continent.

Established in 1960 as part of the World Bank, the IDA's mission is to combat poverty by providing grants and low-interest loans to support programs that foster economic growth, reduce inequalities, and enhance living standards for people in developing nations.

During the summit, Kenya's President William Ruto highlighted the significance of IDA's rapid and decisive action during crises, emphasizing its distinctive approach compared to other funding sources. Ruto praised IDA's demand-driven programs and concessional loans, which offer borrowing nations the opportunity to pursue long-term development strategies tailored to their specific needs.

With IDA disbursing a substantial $18 billion to African countries in the previous year alone, there's a clear recognition among African leaders of the pivotal role the organization plays in driving development across the continent.

Dirk Reinermann, IDA's Director of Resource Mobilization, underscored the organization's commitment to expanding its resource disbursement efforts. Looking ahead to IDA21, Reinermann expressed a desire for even greater ambition, recognizing the significant challenges but also the immense opportunities present in Africa and beyond.

Currently, IDA operates projects in 75 countries, with a substantial 39 of those located in African states. This widespread presence underscores the organization's dedication to addressing the diverse range of development needs across the continent.

The summit serves as a platform for African leaders to discuss strategies for maximizing the impact of IDA funding, ensuring that it is effectively utilized to drive sustainable economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve the lives of millions of people across Africa.

Over 50,000 health staff in Mozambique walk out on first day of strike – union

MAPUTO,  Mozambique 

More than 50,000 health professionals in Mozambique have joined the strike that began on Monday, the head of the Association of United and Solidarity Health Professionals (APSUSM) told Lusa, noting that talks with the government are underway.

‘Being the first day of the strike, we have almost a 70% adherence rate (…) around 50% of the professionals have joined in,’ said Anselmo Muchave.

According to the official, the strike is having ‘very good take up’ and it is expected that by Wednesday all 65,000 health professionals who are members of APSUSM will join the strike, while talks with the government, which started this morning, are ongoing.

‘Negotiations are continuing, but we are adamant that we will only return once everything has been resolved and organised, especially with regard to the difficulties that patients [face],’ Muchave said.

According to APSUSM, the health workers’ strike will last for 30 days, with workers demanding better working conditions, and the representative said that they will not give in to new government proposals to suspend it.

‘Going on strike is not a luxury, demands are not a favour. We are demanding care for the people themselves, but the people also have to stop and analyse what is happening,’ said the APSUSM president.

Mozambique’s ministry of health (MISAU said today that ‘there are no reasons’ for the strike to resume, and guaranteed that it will ‘ensure the continuity of the provision of health services toÌ the public’.

‘MISAU understands that there are no reasons for calling the aforementioned strike and reiterates that dialogue must continue to be the way to resolve the challenges in the health sector,’ reads a statement regarding the start of the strike.

The strike had been scheduled to resume on 28 March, but was suspended a day earlier following talks with the Mozambican government, which culminated in the fulfilment of some points of the demands, such as the training of health professionals, monitoring visits to hospital units and the resolution of irregularities in the payment of subsidies, APSUSM said at the time.

Almost 30 days after the suspension of the strike, Mozambican health workers have once again complained about the government’s failure to comply and the failure to carry out visits to monitor compliance with the agreements between the parties, saying that the hospitals ‘are worse off than they were at the start of the dialogue’.

‘When the strike was announced, we said loud and clear that our hospitals are seriously suffering from a lack of medical and surgical equipment and medicines. The government made a commitment to reverse this situation, but unfortunately our health facilities are worse off than they were at the start of our dialogue,’ reads the association’s document on this new strike.

At issue was a negotiation that was underway in 2023 between the Mozambican government and APSUSM, an association that covers around 65,000 professionals and which was on strike between August and November 2023 for better working conditions in the public sector.

They complain about the lack of medicines, beds and ambulances in hospitals, as well as non-disposable personal protective equipment, which is ‘forcing staff to buy out of their own pockets’.

Kenya government directs inspection of all dams ahead of compulsory evacuation

NAIROBI, Kenya

Kenya government has directed County Security and Intelligence Committees (CSICs) across the country to inspect all public and private dams and water reservoirs by 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Monday directed the committees to thereafter recommend cases where compulsory evacuation and temporary resettlement orders should be issued.

This is in the wake of Monday morning’s incident where a dam burst its banks in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, and wiped out homes and vehicles, killing over 45 people.

The floodwaters originated from a nearby river that broke its banks in after heavy rainfall, according to the Red Cross.

The interior minister directed counties to deploy enforcement teams at road spots prone to flooding and that water has breached the bridge to prevent motorists or pedestrians from dangerous crossing.

“… arrest and prosecute offenders for attempted suicide and/or attempted murder as the facts of the case may be,” Kindiki said.

Further, the enforcement teams will bar transportation of passengers across flooded rivers or storm water by canoes or boats deemed unsafe.

“Prevent the transportation of passengers across flooded rivers or storm water by unsafe canoes or boats and arrest inexperienced and unscrupulous persons taking advantage of the prevailing situation to cash in on persons in distress,” the minister added.

Police said over 100 people were rescued and treated at Mai Mahiu health centre after the 4 a.m. dam burst incident while 32 others were referred to Naivasha sub-county hospital.

The incident brought to over 100 the number of people who have died from flooding amid heavy rains experienced in most of Kenya since March.

Voting in Togo underway after new constitutional reforms

LOMÉ, Togo

Voting got under way in legislative elections in Togo on Monday following approval of constitutional reforms by the outgoing parliament that could extend the 19-year-old rule of President Faure Gnassingbe.

Under a new chapter adopted in March introducing a parliamentary system of government, the president will be elected by parliament instead of by universal suffrage.

Details about the assembly's election of the head of state remain unclear, although under the new constitution the parliament will appoint a position described as president of the council of ministers, who will have extensive authority to manage Togo’s government affairs.

In power for nearly 20 years, Togo’s incumbent president succeeded his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for almost four decades following a military coup.

Monday's vote had been pushed back twice because of a fierce backlash from some opposition parties who called the constitutional changes a political maneuver to allow Gnassingbe to extend his tenure for life.

Over four million people are registered to vote for 113 lawmakers among 2,352 candidates. Polls opened at 0700 GMT and provisional results are expected from Tuesday.

Regional elections are also taking place.

Observers say early turnout at polling stations in the capital, Lome, was scattered but the streets were calm.

Koffi Ohini, a 24-year-old farm technician who casted his ballot in Lome said he is a first-time voter.

"This is the first time I am voting, because I lived in a neighboring country before,” he said, adding, “I came out early to avoid crowds."

"I want to vote because these elections are important," Ohini said.

Monday's vote will elect 113 lawmakers and for the first time 179 regional deputies from the country's five districts who along with municipal councilors will elect a newly created Senate.

Opposition parties are contesting in the polls with hopes of gaining seats that will enable them to challenge Gnassingbe's UNIR party after they boycotted the last legislative poll and left it effectively in control of parliament.

Violent police crackdowns on political demonstrations have been routine under Gnassingbe - reelected in a 2020 landslide disputed by the opposition - as they were during his father's rule.

The 57-year-old leader has already won four elections, all contested by the opposition as flawed. He would have only been able to run one more time as president in 2025 under the previous constitution.

Several other African countries have pushed through constitutional and other legal changes in recent years allowing their presidents to extend their terms in office.

Monday's vote, initially set for April 20, was postponed twice to allow for consultations on the new constitution.

Amendments unanimously approved in a second parliamentary vote earlier this month shortened presidential terms to four years from five with a two-term limit.

This does not account for the time already spent in office, which could enable Gnassingbe to stay in power until 2033 if he is re-elected when his mandate expires in 2025. He has not yet stated his intentions.

Some opposition parties and civil society groups renewed calls for protests after the second vote, sparking small-scale demonstrations last week.

The outcome of Togo’s elections is expected to be known within the next six days.

Blinken arrives in Saudi Arabia to discuss post-war Gaza

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday, the first stop in a broader trip to the Middle East to discuss issues including the governance of Gaza once the war with Israel ends.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is welcomed by Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of Protocol Affairs Mohammed Al-Ghamdi as he visits Saudi Arabia in the latest Gaza diplomacy push, in Riyadh on April 29, 2024.

The top US diplomat heads to Israel later this week, where he is expected to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take the concrete and tangible steps US President Joe Biden demanded this month to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

In Riyadh, Blinken is expected to meet with senior Saudi leaders and hold a wider meeting with counterparts from five Arab states – Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan – to further the discussions on what governance of the Gaza Strip would look like after the war, according to a senior State Department official.

Blinken is also expected to bring together Arab countries with the European states and discuss how Europe can help the rebuilding effort of the tiny enclave, which has been reduced to a wasteland in the six-month long Israeli bombardment.

A group of European nations, including Norway, plan to recognise Palestinian statehood in conjunction with the presentation of an Arab state-backed peace plan to the United Nations.

“We can see by joining forces we can make this more meaningful. We really want to recognise the Palestinian state, but we know that is something you do once,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Reuters on the sidelines of a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh.

Blinkin's trip comes as Egypt was expected to host leaders of the Islamist group Hamas to discuss prospects for a ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Simba part ways with its coach after winning Union title

By Osoro Nyawangah, DAR ES SALAAM,  Tanzania 

Simba Sports club of Tanzania has officially announced the departure of its Algerian coach Abdelhak Benchikha and his two assistants Kamal Boujnane and Farid Zemit after only five months since they joined.

This development comes just one day after the Algerian won the Union Super Cup with a 1-0 win against Azam FC last night at the New Amaan Complex stadium, Zanzíbar.

According to the press release issued by the club today to the media, the coach is leaving on family reasons.

The football club reached reached a mutual agreement with the longtime  coach to terminate the contract due to family issues.

"Coach Abdelhak Benchikha has told the Simba management that his wife is ill, so he needs time to be close to her and nurse her," explains the club's statement.  

The statement stipulates that, during this transition period, the team will be managed by Coach Juma Mgunda assisted by Selemani Matola until the Board of Directors makes another decision.

Benchikha joined Simba at the end of November 2023 and signed a two-year contract on November 28 before enabling the team to reach the quarter final of the African Champions League where they were eliminated by the defending champions, Al Ahly of Egypt.

The football  giants were also eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Tanzania Football Federation Cup (TFF), a tournament now known as the CRDB Bank Federation Cup with a 6-5 penalty kick against the hosts, Mashujaa following a 1-1 draw at the Lake Tanganyika Stadium in Kigoma.

In the Premier League so far, Simba is in third place with 46 points from 21 matches, behind Azam FC with 54 points and the defending champions, Yanga with 62 points after all teams have played 24 matches.

Situation on frontline has worsened, Ukraine army chief says

KYIV, Ukraine 

Ukraine's commander-in-chief has said the situation on the frontline has worsened in the face of multiple Russian attacks.

Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from positions in the eastern Donetsk region.

Russia is trying to take advantage of its superiority in manpower and artillery before Ukrainian forces get much-needed supplies of new US weapons.

The US last week agreed a $61bn (£49bn) package of military aid for Ukraine.

But new US weapons are yet to make their way to the frontlines, where Ukrainian troops have been struggling for months with a shortage of ammunition, troops and air defences.

"The situation at the front has worsened," Gen Syrskyi said in a post on the Telegram messaging service on Sunday.

He confirmed Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from some of their positions in an area of Donetsk that had formed part of a defensive line, established after Russia captured Avdiivka in February.

Much of the fighting has been taking place around Chasiv Yar, a Kyiv-controlled stronghold which Russia has been trying to reach after seizing Avdiivka.

New defensive lines had been taken up further to the west in some areas, with Gen Syrskyi conceding the loss of territory to the advancing Russians.

Moscow had secured "tactical successes in some sectors," he said.

Gen Syrskyi added that rested Ukrainian brigades were being rotated in those areas to replace units that had suffered losses.

Russia's defence ministry earlier on Sunday reported its troops had captured the village of Novobakhmutivka, around 10 km (6 miles) north of Avdiivka.

Arsenal survive late Spurs surge to stay on course

TOTTENHAM , England 

Arsenal overcame the hurdle of a north London derby and an anxious finale to maintain momentum in the Premier League title pursuit with a vital victory 3-2 at Tottenham.

Mikel Arteta's side moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League, with second-place Manchester City, who have two games in hand, playing in the later kick-off at Nottingham Forest (16:30 BST).

The Gunners' meeting with their bitter rivals was seen as arguably the most treacherous of their remaining fixtures, but they took ruthless advantage of Spurs' defensive flaws to establish a three-goal lead by half-time.

Arsenal were then thrown off course when a dreadful clearance by goalkeeper David Raya presented Cristian Romero with a goal after 64 minutes, the nerves really jangling when Heung-min Son scored from the spot three minutes from the end of normal time after Declan Rice fouled Ben Davies.

It was all so different when Arsenal went ahead after 15 minutes as the recalled Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg glanced Bukayo Saka's corner into his own net, the England forward crowning a sweeping counter-attack with a smooth finish for the second after 27 minutes.

Spurs, who saw Micky van de Ven's goal ruled out for a marginal offside with the score 1-0, were infuriated as they claimed Leandro Trossard had fouled Dejan Kulusevski before Saka scored, and were even more frustrated when the unmarked Kai Havertz headed in Arsenal's third from another corner seven minutes before the break.

Arsenal were then content to see out the victory, only for Raya to give Spurs hope by sending a clearance straight to Romero.

An unlikely comeback seemed on when Son scored from the spot but Arteta's side were able to close out the game, denting their arch-rivals' hopes of a top-four finish.

Spurs remain in fifth place in the Premier League, seven points behind Aston Villa with two games in hand.

South Africa marks Freedom Day ahead of tough general election

PRETORIA,  South Africa 

South Africa marked Freedom Day on Saturday. The day on which, 30 years ago, millions of South Africans braved long queues to vote in the country’s first democratic elections, ending decades of white minority rule.

"The weight of centuries of oppression was no longer holding us down,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa in a speech marking the day, “On that day, as a united people, we stood tall as South Africans".

The election 30 years ago was won by his African National Congress (ANC) party which has been in power ever since.

But any sense of celebration on the momentous anniversary was set against a growing discontent with the government of the ruling party.

The party's image has been hurt by widespread accusations of corruption and its inability to effectively tackle pressing issues including crime, inequality, poor service delivery, and unemployment, which remain staggeringly high.

In his speech marking Freedom Day at the Union Buildings in South Africa’s administrative capital, Pretoria, Ramaphosa touted the country’s achievements under his party’s leadership.

"We have built houses, clinics, hospitals, roads, and constructed bridges, dams, and many other facilities. We have brought electricity, water, and sanitation to millions of South African homes," he said.

But polls suggest support for the ANC is at an all time low, falling to around 40 per cent compared to 62 per cent in 1994.

Analysts predict that the party is likely to see it lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in the elections due to take place on 29 May, forcing it into a coalition.

Esperance and Sundowns secure Club World Cup slots

CAIRO, Egypt 

Tunisian football giants, Esperance and South African club Mamelodi Sundowns secured their places at next year's FIFA Club World Cup (Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25™) after the semi-finals matches of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League were played on Friday.

Esperance and Sundowns completed the list of qualifiers from Africa to play at the inaugural Mundial de Clubes FIFA 25™ (FIFA Club World Cup 2025), becoming the third and fourth CAF teams to book their tickets.

The Tunisian side completed a 2-0 aggregate victory over Sundowns on Friday night to set up a mouthwatering two-legged final showdown with the all-conquering Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

Esperance's progress to the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final means they are guaranteed at least a place at the new 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States next June and July via the ranking pathway.

However, they still have the opportunity to qualify as African champions by defeating Al Ahly over the two legs on 18 and 25 May.

Sundowns may have fallen short in their bid to reach the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League final, but their performances over the past four years have ensured they too will participate at the inaugural edition of the revamped global club event.

The competition will feature four representatives from CAF, with Al Ahly and Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca having already booked their spots as winners of the Champions League in 2021, 2023 and 2022 respectively.

Even if Esperance fail to overcome Al Ahly in the final, the Tunisian side will still take up one of the two remaining CAF berths courtesy of their ranking over recent campaigns.

Sundowns, meanwhile, complete the African quartet despite their semi-final exit, gaining entry via the ranking pathway as one of the continent's most successful sides over the past four seasons.

The new-look FIFA Club World Cup aims to determine a legitimate world champion by featuring the elite teams from each confederation in a summer showpiece.

Four African sides at the Club World Cup

- Wydad (Morocco)

- Al Ahly (Egypt)

- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

- Esperance Tunis (Tunisia)

Simba majestically beats Azam FC to scoop Tanzania's union championship

By Osoro Nyawangah, Zanzibar Tanzania 

The Tanzania's football giants, Simba SC, has won the Union Cup after a 1-0 victory against Azam FC in the Final game this night at the New Amaan Complex stadium in Zanzíbar.

The union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar occurred on April 26, 1964 and became the beginning of the United Republic of Tanzania.    

Kudos to the lone goal scorer, the Simba's midfielder, Babacar Sarr, in the 77th minute finishing off a direct shootball shot by the twin midfielder, Fabrice Ngoma, after the Cameroonian striker, Willy Onana was brought down just outside the box.

It was a tough game where each team attacked its rival in turn while Azam seemed to own the game. 

The Simba who were playing with great caution,  had several chances to end the game in the first half but failed due to the dullness of their forward line.  

Onana had two open chances to score goals for Simba but he lacked focus while Azam's defenders aborted all Simba's traps.  

Azam, who holds second place in the Tanzanian premier league, has been tormenting Simba every time the two teams meet.  

However, luck was not on their side tonight, where they found themselves falling short while Simba were crowned champions of the union cup for the sixth time. 

Simba  reached the final stage of the tournament with a 2-0 victory against KVZ while Azam punished KMKM 5-2.

With the victory, Simba was presented with a trophy, fifty million shillings in cash while their players were presented with gold medals.  

Azam, who have emerged as the second winners, have been awarded thirty million shillings in cash and bronze medals.  

The official guest at the final was the President of Zanzibar, Hussein Mwinyi.

This is the second title for Simba SC this season after they started with the Community Shield title when they beat their hometown team, Yanga last August in Tanga City.

Pentagon to 'rush' Patriot missiles to Ukraine

WASHINGTON,  US

The Pentagon says it will "rush" Patriot air defence missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package.

The US will utilise $6bn (£4.8bn) for this purpose, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed on Friday.

However, Patriot systems for launching the missiles will not be sent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Patriots were "urgently" needed to face a growing Russian air threat and "can and should save lives right now".

A source confirmed to the BBC that the $6bn was part of a $60bn aid package signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, which also includes $1bn in more immediate aid.

Mr Austin told a news conference that the US was committing to its largest security assistance package to date and would "move immediately" to get the supplies to Ukraine.

These would include air defence munitions, counter-drone systems and artillery ammunition but not Patriot missile systems.

"It's not just Patriots that they [the Ukrainians] need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well," Mr Austin said. "I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet."

He added that he was confident that more of the missile systems would be made available for Kyiv soon. Conversations were ongoing with European partners, he said, to deliver additional capabilities.

The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, said the assistance should eliminate the Ukrainians' need to ration shells on the frontline.

Some of the latest funding would also go to building up Ukraine's own defence industry, so that it can start manufacturing more of the ammunition it desperately needs.

Mr Austin said Russia had already increased domestic production of artillery ammunition and other weapons - as well as being propped up by supplies from Iran and North Korea.

"Understand what's at stake for Ukraine, for Europe, and for the United States," he said. "If Putin prevails in Ukraine - Europe would face a security threat it hasn't seen in a lifetime. Russia will not stop in Ukraine."

Asked whether the US aid would protect Ukrainian forces, Mr Austin said that the commitment was "material, real, and substantial" although "not instantaneous".

"It's going to take some time to get it in there and distribute. The Ukrainians were able to hold - with this capability, they can do a lot better."

The defence secretary's words came as Ukraine warned on Friday that Russia was ramping up attacks on its railways ahead of a fresh offensive.

A Ukrainian security source told the AFP news agency that Moscow wanted to damage Ukrainian railway infrastructure to "paralyse deliveries and movement of military cargo".

Ukraine said Russia had carried out another massive air attack on Friday night. Authorities in Kharkiv said one person had been killed and a hospital damaged. Energy facilities in three regions were attacked, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said.

While across the border, a Ukrainian drone attack on an oil refinery in the Russian region of Krasnodar appeared to have caused a large explosion, though local authorities denied significant damage. Authorities said they had shot down some 68 Ukrainian drones over Russia.