International pressure mounts for Tanzania opposition leader's release from jail

GENEVA,  Switzerland 

Lawyers for Tanzania’s jailed chief opposition leader Tundu Lissu filed a complaint on Friday to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in a bid to ramp up international pressure for his release.

Lissu, chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party and runner-up in the 2020 presidential election, was arrested last month and charged with treason, a capital offence, over comments he is alleged to have made calling on supporters to prevent national elections in October from going ahead.

While President Samia Hassan has won plaudits for easing political repression, she has faced questions about unexplained abductions of government critics in recent months.

Hassan, who will stand for re-election in October, has said her government respects human rights and ordered an investigation into the reported abductions.

Lissu’s international lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, said the confidential complaint to the U.N. working group, which issues opinions but has no enforcement power, was part of a wider pressure campaign.

The European Parliament this month adopted a resolution denouncing Lissu’s arrest as politically motivated, and Amsterdam said he would petition the U.S. State Department to impose sanctions.

“Right down to prosecutors, judges, police – all the people that are involved in this false show trial had better be aware that they should protect their U.S. assets,” Amsterdam told Reuters.

In response to the European Parliament resolution, Tanzania’s foreign ministry said outside criticisms about the case were based on “incomplete or partisan information”.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 attack for which no one has ever been charged, will appear in court on Monday.

Before he appeared in court last week, authorities detained a Kenyan and a Ugandan rights activist who had come to attend the hearing.

They were abandoned several days later near the borders of their home countries, and the Kenyan activist, Boniface Mwangi, said both were badly tortured while in custody.

Tanzanian officials have not responded to requests for comment about the allegation. Hassan has warned outsiders against “invading and interfering in our affairs”.

Kenyan President slams Sudan generals as war rages on

NAIROBI,  Kenya

Kenyan President, William Ruto has called for global efforts to stop the raging war in Sudan, and cautioned that it is escalating into human carnage.

The President said the combatants on both sides are digging in as innocent lives die in the conflict and a human catastrophe ensues.

"The war in Sudan is heading towards carnage and is already in the realm of human catastrophe," he said on Saturday at State House, Nairobi.

He made the remarks during a joint press briefing with Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, who is in the country for a three-day State Visit.

The conflict involves the Sudanese armed forces, led by General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.

President Ruto censured both generals for doing little to stop the war and end the suffering of their people.

"The two generals have no regard for human life. All levers need to be pulled, regionally and globally, to stop the carnage and the human suffering in the Sudan," President Ruto said.

On her part, President Musar said Slovenia would work with Kenya and other international partners to resolve conflicts in Africa and beyond.

"We must discuss, be open in dialogue, and strive to find solutions," she said.

She said she shares President Ruto's vision of a multilateral world order at a time when global institutions are being tested by new policies.

"Slovenia and Kenya have been working together and cooperating at the multilateral forum, especially the United Nations, the only one we have," she said.

This was President Musar's first visit to the continent. She was accompanied by Slovenia's Special Envoy for Africa Ambassador Frank Hoot and other senior officials.

The two Presidents witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations.

The two leaders also agreed to deepen cooperation across sectors, including agriculture, education, digital transformation, health, environment, trade, and climate action.

President Ruto welcomed the participation of a Slovenia business delegation and the hosting of the Kenya-Slovenia Business Forum.

"These engagements will strengthen business linkages and unlock new trade and investment opportunities in pharmaceuticals, ICT, clean energy, and agro-processing," he said.

In addition, the two countries have agreed to work together to maximise the benefits of the Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, which came into force in July 2024.

He welcomed President Musar to Sunday's Madaraka Day ceremony, which will be held in Homa Bay County.

Paris Saint-Germain beat Inter to win Champions League

By Srinivas Mazumdaru, MUNICH Germany 

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won the Champions League for the first time by thrashing Italian side Inter 5-0 on Saturday.

It's the most one-sided final in the tournament's history, eclipsing Inter's city rivals AC Milan's 4-0 win over Barcelona in 1994.

PSG gave their opponents no chance from the start of the match in Munich, Germany. 

The 19-year-old French forward Desire Doue scored twice for PSG and set up the opening goal for Achraf Hakimi in the stadium usually used by Bayern Munich before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made it four and substitute Senny Mayulu completed the scoring.

"I can't find the words. This is my biggest dream," Doue said. "We have written history."

Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, who was one of PSG's creative sparks, said: "This means everything. It's my dream, it's our dream. It's incredible. The result is not by magic. I'm happy we did it like this, we're now going to celebrate."

Qatari-owned PSG are just the second French club since Marseille in 1993 to win European football's top trophy.

The victory comes five years after they lost to Bayern Munich in their only previous final appearance.

US sends nuclear deal proposal to Iran

WASHINGTON,  United States 

United States has sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington, the White House confirmed on Saturday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he had been presented with "elements of a US deal" by his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi during a short visit to the Iranian capital.

It comes after a report by the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had further stepped up its production of enriched uranium, a key component in the making of nuclear weapons.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Saturday it was in Tehran's "best interest to accept" the deal, adding: "President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb".

Leavitt said a "detailed and acceptable" proposal had been sent to Iran by US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff.

The US proposal "will be appropriately responded to in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran", Araghchi wrote on X.

The precise details of the deal are not yet clear.

The proposal follows a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - seen by our reporter - which found Iran now possesses over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60% purity - close to the 90% purity required for weapons-grade uranium.

This is well above the level of purity sufficient for civilian nuclear power and research purposes.

It is enough for about 10 nuclear weapons if further refined, making Iran the only non nuclear-armed state producing uranium at this level.

The report paves the way for the US, Britain, France and Germany to push for the IAEA's board of governors to find Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations.

Iran insists its programme is peaceful. 

On Saturday, Iranian state media described the IAEA report as "politically motivated" containing "baseless accusations".

Iran has said it will "implement appropriate measures" in response to any effort to take action against Tehran at the IAEA governors' meeting.

The US has long sought to limit Iran's nuclear capacity. Talks between the two powers mediated by Oman have been under way since April.

Both sides have expressed optimism during the course of the talks but remain divided over key issues - chief among them, whether Iran can continue enrichment under any future agreement.

Despite the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington, the IAEA report offered no indication that Iran has slowed its nuclear enrichment efforts.

Iran has produced highly enriched uranium at a rate equivalent to roughly one nuclear weapon per month over the past three months, the IAEA report found.

US officials estimate that, if Iran chooses to make a weapon, it could produce weapons-grade material in less than two weeks and potentially build a bomb within months.

Iran has long denied it is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. However, the IAEA said it could not confirm whether this was still the case because Iran refuses to grant access to senior inspectors and has not answered longstanding questions about its nuclear history.

Trump is seeking a new nuclear agreement with Tehran after pulling the US out of a previous nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers in 2018.

This nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA, was signed in 2015 by Iran and the US, China, France, Russia, Germany and the UK.

The JCPOA sought to limit and monitor Iran's nuclear programme in return for lifting sanctions that had been placed on the regime in 2010 over suspicions that its nuclear programme was being used to develop a bomb.

Hamas makes hostage pledge but demands changes to US Gaza ceasefire plan

GAZA CITY,  Palestine

Hamas responded to a US ceasefire proposal by saying it is prepared to release 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 dead hostages in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners, while requesting some amendments to the plan.

The group repeated its demands for a permanent truce, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and guarantees for the continuous flow of humanitarian aid. None of these are in the deal on the table.

It was neither an explicit rejection nor a clear acceptance of the US terms, which Washington says Israel has accepted.

Hamas said it had submitted its response to the US draft proposed by Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East.

In a statement, Witkoff said: "I received the Hamas response to the United States' proposal. It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward. Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week.

"That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days."

A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said: "While Israel has agreed to the updated Witkoff outline for the release of our hostages, Hamas continues to adhere to its refusal."

Hamas, a proscribed terror group in the US, UK and EU, said it was insisting on a "permanent ceasefire" and "complete withdrawal" of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

The group demanded a sustained flow of aid for Palestinians living in the enclave, and said it would release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 dead hostages in exchange for "an agreed upon number" of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

But Hamas now finds itself in the most complex and difficult position it has faced since the war began.

Under intense pressure from 2.2 million people living in the worst conditions in their history and from the mediators, the movement is unable to accept an American proposal that is, by all accounts, less generous than previous offers it has rejected multiple times, the most recent being in March.

At that time, senior Hamas official and head negotiator Khalil al-Hayya stated unequivocally that the movement would not agree to partial deals that fail to secure a complete and permanent end to the war.

Yet, Hamas also finds itself unable to reject the latest US offer outright, fully aware that Israel is preparing to escalate its ground offensive in Gaza.

The movement lacks the military capacity to prevent or even seriously resist such an assault.

Caught between these two realities, Hamas, in effect, responded to the US proposal not with an answer - but with an entirely new counterproposal.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 01/06/2025

 

UN Security Council renews South Sudan arms embargo

NEW YORK,  United States 

The United Nations Security Council on Friday extended for one year an arms embargo and individual sanctions imposed on South Sudan, where recent violent clashes have raised fears of a new civil war.

The world’s newest nation, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, was engulfed in a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that killed about 400,000 people and displaced 4 million.

A fragile peace was established through a 2018 power-sharing agreement between rival factions.

However, clashes in recent months have erupted between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and supporters of his rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, who was placed under house arrest on March 26.

South Sudan’s government opposed the arms embargo, and six Security Council members abstained from the vote. The measure passed with nine votes in favor—the minimum required for adoption—extending the embargo until May 31, 2026.

The African members of the Security Council — Algeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia — abstained, along with China, Pakistan and Russia.

The resolution also extends the mandate of the Panel of Experts, which assists the work of the South Sudan Sanctions Committee, until July 1, 2026.

In its resolution, the Council expressed “concern over the continued intensification of violence” and stressed the need for both sides to “avoid a relapse into widespread conflict.”

Deputy U.S. Ambassador John Kelley said the embargo “remains necessary to stem the unfettered flow of weapons into a region that remains awash with guns.”

US Defense Secretary warns of 'imminent' China threat

By Dharvi Vaid, SHANGRI-LA,  Singapore 

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Saturday cautioned that China was "credibly preparing to potentially use military force" in a bid to reorder the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defence forum, being held in Singapore.

China's army is "rehearsing for the real deal," the Pentagon chief said, highlighting how the Indo-Pacific region was a priority for President Donald Trump's administration.

"We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent," he said.

Hegseth reassured Washington's allies in the Indo-Pacific region that they would not be abandoned to tackle the growing military and economic pressures from Beijing.

He called on the Asian allies to bolster their own defense spending, adding that "deterrence doesn't come on the cheap."

"It's hard to believe a little bit... that I'm saying this, but thanks to President Trump, Asian allies should look to countries in Europe for a newfound example," said Hegseth, pointing to pledges by NATO members including Germany to move toward Trump's spending target of 5% of GDP, which is a higher percentage of GDP than the US currently spends on defense.

Floods kill at least 110 people after heavy rain in Nigeria

By Azeezat Olaoluwa, LAGOS Nigeria

At least 110 people have died in floods caused by torrential rain in central Nigeria, officials have told reporters.

The downpours lasted for several hours, said the head of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (Nsema), Abullahi Baba-Arah.

He added that "surging flood water submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants" in the town of Mokwa.

The Nigerian government has expressed its "profound sorrow" over the floods, with the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, saying that security and emergency agencies have been directed to assist in the search and rescue operation.

According to Nsema, the Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa districts of Mokwa were worst affected.

Mokwa's District Head, Muhammad Shaba Aliyu, said it has been "60 years" since the community had suffered this kind of flooding.

"I beg the government to support us," Mr Aliyu said.

The search and rescue operation is still ongoing and many more people are still at risk, authorities say.

A local fisherman told the AFP news agency that he had been left homeless.

"I don't have a house to sleep in. My house has already collapsed," Danjuma Shaba said.

Nigeria often experiences flooding during the rainy season, which usually lasts from April to October.

The authorities have warned of heavy downpours in at least 15 of the country's 36 states.

Last year, many parts of northern Nigeria experienced heavy rainfall and flooding which caused deaths, displacement of people and destruction of houses and infrastructure.

The country also suffered severe flooding in 2022, which forced around 1.3 million people out of the homes and caused more than 600 deaths.

Kabila resurfaces in Goma amid conflict and controversy

GOMA, DR Congo 

Former Congolese president Joseph Kabila made his first public appearance in Goma on Thursday since arriving in the city last month, amid escalating tensions and ongoing violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kabila, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2019, met with local religious leaders in the rebel-held city. 

Though he did not speak publicly, the meeting underscored his growing involvement in the region’s search for peace—despite accusations from the government that he is backing the M23 rebel group.

Religious leaders have called on Kabila to step into a mediating role. “As religious leaders, we told him to play the role of arbiter so that peace would return,” said Bishop Joël Amurani. “For 18 years, he built so much that we cannot ignore. This same state still exists for him to get involved so that peace can return.”

Kabila’s reappearance has drawn mixed reactions among Goma residents.

Amani Safari, a gas seller, welcomed his presence. “His arrival in Goma is good because he's as Congolese as any of us,” Safari said. “For us to have peace, we must go through him because he has a very good grasp of the problems the Congolese face.”

Others expressed skepticism. "I don't think Kabila can end the war,” said Alexis Bauma. “He was president of this country a long time ago but he didn't succeed. I don't think that today, when the situation is getting worse, he's coming to end it.”

Kabila’s return to the spotlight comes as the Congolese Senate recently voted to lift his immunity, paving the way for potential prosecution on charges of treason and war crimes—accusations he has dismissed as politically motivated. 

In a statement last week, he accused the current government of turning into a dictatorship backed by parliament.

President Félix Tshisekedi’s government has repeatedly alleged that Kabila is supporting the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have taken control of key cities in the east. Kabila has denied any links to the group.

Despite a recent commitment to a truce between Congo’s army and the M23, clashes have continued in South Kivu province, further complicating peace efforts.

Kabila, who assumed the presidency after the assassination of his father Laurent Kabila in 2001, led the country through a turbulent period marked by delayed elections and allegations of authoritarianism. His political legacy remains divisive—and his latest moves may deepen the divide.

A South African woman is sentenced to life in prison for selling her young daughter

SALDANHA BAY,  South Africa 

A South African woman has been sentenced to life in prison for selling her 6-year-old daughter, in a case that shocked the nation.

Kelly Smith, whose full name is Racquel Chantel Smith, was sentenced alongside her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn. 

All three received life sentences for human trafficking and an additional 10 years each for kidnapping. The sentences were handed down by Judge Nathan Erasmus in Saldanha Bay, a town on South Africa’s west coast, where the trial was moved to a local sports center to allow the community to attend.

Joshlin, Smith’s daughter, went missing in February 2024, sparking a nationwide search. 

Initially, Smith was seen as a victim, with many community members rallying to help police search for the young girl near their poor neighborhood close to Saldanha Bay. 

A photograph of Joshlin, smiling with her hair in pigtails, was widely broadcast across South Africa during the hunt.

However, the case took a dark turn when Smith was arrested. During the trial, a witness testified that Smith admitted to selling her daughter, along with the two men, for about $1,000 to a traditional healer who sought the child for her body parts.

The judge’s verdict did not clarify who the child was sold to or what exactly happened to her but confirmed she was sold for slavery or practices akin to slavery. 

To this day, Joshlin remains missing.

EAST AFRICA NEWSPAPERS 31/05/2025

Cholera outbreak in Khartoum kills 70 in two days

KHARTOUM,  Sudan 

A cholera outbreak in Sudan’s war-torn capital has killed 70 people in two days, health officials said Thursday, as Khartoum faces a growing health crisis after more than two years of conflict.

The Khartoum state health ministry reported 942 new infections and 25 deaths on Wednesday, following 1,177 cases and 45 deaths on Tuesday.

The surge comes weeks after drone strikes, blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, knocked out water and electricity supplies across the capital. 

The city has been a battleground since fighting erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s military and the RSF.

The military-backed government announced last week that it had pushed RSF fighters from their last bases in Khartoum state, two months after retaking the city center.

But the capital remains in ruins, with health and sanitation systems barely functioning. Up to 90% of hospitals in the worst-hit areas have been forced to close.

The cholera outbreak has further strained Sudan’s collapsing health system.

The federal health ministry reported 172 deaths in the week ending Tuesday, with 90% in Khartoum state. 

Authorities say 89% of patients in isolation centers are recovering but warn that worsening sanitation is driving the spread of the disease.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman said cholera vaccinations have begun in Jebel Awlia, Khartoum’s hardest-hit district. 

The World Health Organization has delivered 22 metric tons of cholera treatment supplies and emergency medical aid, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.

The U.N. humanitarian agency, OCHA, noted “significant discrepancies” in official data, making it difficult to assess the outbreak’s true scale.

Cholera is endemic in Sudan, but outbreaks have grown more severe and frequent since the war began.

Since August 2024, health authorities have recorded over 65,000 cases and 1,700 deaths across 12 of Sudan’s 18 states.

Khartoum state alone has seen more than 7,700 cases, including over 1,000 in children under 5, and 185 deaths since January.

“Sudan is on the brink of a full-scale public health disaster,” said Eatizaz Yousif, the International Rescue Committee’s Sudan director. “The combination of conflict, displacement, destroyed infrastructure and limited clean water is fueling cholera and other deadly diseases.”

Aid agencies warn that without urgent action, the outbreak could worsen with the rainy season’s arrival next month, which often cuts off access for humanitarian workers.

The war has killed tens of thousands and displaced 13 million people since April 2023. 

Over 3 million fled Khartoum state, though 34,000 have returned since the military regained control in recent months, according to U.N. figures. 

Many find their homes destroyed, with no clean water or basic services.

UNICEF says more than 1 million children are at risk in cholera-affected areas of Khartoum.

Ukraine awaits Russia's truce terms, talks 'barely' alive

NEW YORK,  United States 

A senior UN official on Thursday said there was little hope that the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would produce a deal to halt fighting between the two sides.

"The massive wave of attacks over the weekend is a stark warning of how quickly this war can reach new destructive levels. Further escalation would not only aggravate the devastating toll on civilians but also endanger the already challenging peace efforts," UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council on Thursday.

"According to Ukrainian officials, with 355 drones, Monday's attack was the largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion," she said, adding: "This topped the previous record from the night before."

The UN official noted that the "cautious hope" she expressed a month ago has diminished in the face of recent developments."The hope that the parties will be able to sit down and negotiate is still alive, but just barely," she added.

But both sides failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire.

Moscow, which said it is impossible to achieve a truce before certain conditions are met, suggested a second round of direct talks take place on Monday.

The Kremlin said Thursday that it was awaiting Kyiv's response to its proposal for holding a fresh round of talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that Moscow had drafted a memorandum outlining its terms for settling the Ukraine war.

But Ukraine said Moscow has not yet shared its proposal.

After the May 16 talks, Kyiv accused Russia of outlining unrealistic demands, including calls to cede territory that is still under Ukrainian control.