Politics

21, December 2017

South Africa to downgrade diplomatic status in Israel ⁰

South Africa says it will downgrade its diplomatic status in Israel in response to the United States’ decision to recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as the Israeli regime’s “capital.”

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) Party announced the decision at a conference in Johannesburg late on Wednesday.

“The ANC’s National Conference, the highest decision making body of our organization, has unanimously resolved to immediately and unconditionally downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel to a liaison office,” the ruling party said in a statement.

The ANC said the resolution aimed to “give practical expression to the oppressed people of Palestine,” and “will send a clear message to Israel that there is a price to pay for its human rights abuses and violations of international law.”

South Africa’s decision to downgrade its diplomatic status in Tel Aviv had been proposed in the ANC’s policy conference back in July.

Both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas had sent delegates to attend the opening of the ANC’s conference.

US President Donald Trump earlier this month declared that Washington was recognizing Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and that he had instructed his administration to begin the process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s policy on Jerusalem al-Quds drew fierce criticism from the international community, including Washington’s Western allies, and triggered protests against the US and Israel worldwide.

The United Nations General Assembly is to vote on a resolution to demand that Trump withdraw his decision in an “emergency meeting” on December 21. The US vetoed a vote on a similar resolution at the UN Security Council on Monday.

Israel lays claim to the whole Jerusalem al-Quds, but the international community views the ancient city’s eastern sector as occupied land and the Palestinians consider it their future capital.

Source: Presstv

20, December 2017

Biya press ban: CPDM intensifies its attack on press freedom ⁰

The National Communication Council has imposed sanctions on certain journalists and media houses, Cameroon Concord News has learned. The TV Channel Vision 4 and its promoter are among those targeted by the Biya regime.

Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga, head of the television was suspended for 2 months while Ernest Obama, Vision 4 star journalist and Sidoine Monkam received a two months suspension order respectively. Their colleague Parfait Ayissi was given a one month ban. To justify the decision, the so-called National Communication Council stated that the media organization breached Cameroon ethics.

We understand Vision 4 news desk has already denounced the decision taken by the NCC. Peter Essoka and his gang noted that the rising television channel is supporting the Southern Cameroons revolution.

The publisher of “Le Tribune de l’Est” was banned indefinitely from practicing the profession in Cameroon while Harrys Mintsa, of “Le Devoir” was suspended for a period of 6 months.

By Sama Ernest

20, December 2017

UK PM urges Trump to step forward with Mideast peace plan ⁰

British Prime Minister Theresa May has urged US President Donald Trump to bring forward proposals on achieving peace in the Middle East after he recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital.

“They discussed the different positions we took on the recognition of Jerusalem [al-Quds] as the Israeli capital, and agreed on the importance of the US bringing forward new proposals for peace and the international community supporting these efforts,” a spokesman for May said on Tuesday.

The conversation came for the first time since November when Trump re-tweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by a British far-right political organization.

May’s spokesman responded to Trump then saying “it is wrong” for the president to re-tweet the inflammatory videos.

Despite this, the British government sought to play down an extraordinary row with Trump. May’s spokesman emphasized that the US was “our closest, most trusted ally. We continue to work together on a huge range of very important issues.”

On December 6, Trump made the controversial announcement in a speech at the White House, saying his administration would also begin the process of moving the American embassy in Tel Aviv to the holy city, which is expected to take years.

His decision provoked mass protests worldwide, with many leaders of Islamic countries harshly denouncing the US president.

In response the prime minister joined a global outcry, saying the decision was “unhelpful” and she intends to speak to Trump about it.

“We continue to support a two-state solution. We recognize the importance of Jerusalem [al-Quds] and our position on that has not changed,” she said then.

Trump had vowed during his presidential campaign that he would relocate the US embassy in order to court pro-Israel voters.

Pope Francis joined a list of leaders warning of an historic misstep, saying new tension would further inflame world conflicts.

Source: Presstv

20, December 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Commonwealth Secretary General meets Biya ⁰

On the second day of her official visit to Cameroon, the Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland was received in audience by the French Cameroun dictator, Paul BIYA at the so-called Unity Palace on Tuesday, 19 December 2017.

Nothing has filtered from their conversation but some sources have said it was cordial. Mr. Biya and his guest reviewed cooperation between Cameroon and the Commonwealth that started in 1995. Patricia Scotland was elevated by the Paul Biya to the dignity of Grand Officer of the Order of Valor, the highest honor awarded to a foreign dignitary.

Biya reportedly discussed the socio-political and economic situation of the country marked notably by the war against the terrorist group Boko Haram, corporatist agitation in the North-West and South-West regions and blamed the killings of Cameroon defense forces on the Southern Cameroons Diaspora.

The 84-year-old enlisted all the measures taken by his government to appease the Anglophone community which Cameroon Concord News understands are not genuine. Biya also reiterated his willingness to dialogue, but observed that he was determine to “restore order and (to) punish the guilty of these murders”.

For her part, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth expressed “great sadness” in the face of the difficulties currently facing Cameroon, a country known as a haven of peace and stability. She urged Cameroonians to preserve peace and unity; to encourage in all circumstances genuine dialogue. According to Scotland, “a prosperous Cameroon is a prosperous Africa and a prosperous Commonwealth.”

By Rita Akana

19, December 2017

Scuffles in Uganda parliament over ‘life presidency’ ⁰

Scuffles erupted in Uganda’s parliament on Tuesday over the presence of unidentified soldiers in the building as lawmakers debate a bill that could extend the president’s time in office.

Amid the chaos, the speaker adjourned proceedings to investigate the alleged presence of soldiers in prayer sanctuaries inside the building.

The bill under debate seeks to remove a constitutional clause that prevents anyone over the age of 75 from being president.

Critics say the bill would allow President Yoweri Museveni, who is 73 and ineligible to run again, to extend his rule, possibly for life.

Museveni has ruled since 1986.

A vote is expected this week.

A number of opposition lawmakers were forcibly removed from parliament in September, allegedly by soldiers with the presidential guard, while discussing the bill.

(Source: AP)

19, December 2017

UK Labour Party leader says he will be Prime Minister next year ⁰

UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says he is likely to replace Theresa May as the country’s new prime minister sometime in the next 12 months.

In an interview with Grazia magazine published Monday, Corbyn said he expected another general election in 2018, projecting himself as the favorite.

“I will probably win. I’m ready to be prime minister tomorrow,” he asserted. The next general election will be held in 2022.

Latest YouGov popularity poll puts Corbyn slightly behind May 37 percent to 28 percent. However, the Labour leader proved earlier this year that he is well capable of turning the page on his Conservative rival.

When earlier this year May called for a snap general election in June, she was certain that Corbyn stood no chance against her as the two were split by double-digit numbers in almost all polls.

That did not hold the Labour leader back as his party made a huge comeback and won enough number of parliamentary seats to strip the Tories from their majority and forced May to strike an embarrassing deal with the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party to form her new government.

From there, it has all been downhill for May, who is facing a Tory rebellion over Brexit in the parliament. Her cabinet also seems divided over the issue.

Corbyn, who campaigned against Britain’s divorce from the European Union (EU) in last year’s referendum, said the vote that saw 52 percent of Britons favor Brexit “was the largest participation of people in an electoral process ever in Britain” and the outcome had to be respected.

Having held his own meetings with EU officials about Brexit, Corbyn said May’s government needed to secure a transition deal for the process to prevent a “mess” by the March 2019 deadline.

“I think we should continue putting pressure on the Government to allow a transition period to develop, because at the moment we’re in danger of getting into a complete mess in March 2019.”

Source: Presstv

19, December 2017

Albania: Opposition MPs throw smoke bombs in parliament ⁰

Opposition lawmakers in Albania have thrown smoke bombs inside parliament to disrupt a session for the appointment of an interim prosecutor general, which they said was unconstitutional.

Albanian opposition MPs on Monday threw smoke grenades into the parliament chamber to protest the election of Arta Marku with 69 votes out of 76 by the ruling Socialist Party.

The move to stop the election, however, was in vain as Marku was eventually sworn in as temporary prosecutor general.

Members of Albania’s parliament react as opposition MPs set off smoke bombs during a vote for a new, temporary general prosecutor on December 18, 2017 in Tirana. (Photo by AFP)

Opposition legislators claimed that parliament was not entitled to elect an interim prosecutor general and should wait for the creation of a permanent commission to do that.

They also argued that a prosecutor should be installed once some 800 judges and prosecutors are vetted and elected with three-fifths of votes in parliament.

Albania’s opposition lawmakers throw smoke bombs inside the Parliament during the election of the new prosecutor, in Albanian parliament in Tirana, on December 18, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Rightwing opposition leader Lulzim Basha censured socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama before the Monday parliament session for appointing a “puppet” to follow his commands.

Basha said Marku’s appointment “is a constitutional violation and can lead to the destabilization of the country.”

Albania’s opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha (C) speaks to his supporters during a protest against the election of the new prosecutor, in front of parliament in Tirana, Albania, on December 18, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

During his speech in parliament, Basha also warned the Albanian prime minister against a constitutional “putsch” in an effort to protect corrupt officials, including his former interior minister.

“You have decided to violate the Constitution to protect your wealth. This is the last moment that I ask you in the name of the Constitution to withdraw. This is the command of the people. Obey it or face the consequences,” the opposition leader said.

Albanian opposition demonstrators clash with police in front of the parliament building in Tirana on December 18, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

While the 41-year-old prosecutor general was taking oath of office in front of the Albanian lawmakers, several thousand activists and supporters of opposition parties Democratic Party (DP) and Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) were protesting outside the cordoned-off parliament building.

Albanian police clashed with opposition supporters trying to force their way into the building, with local media reporting that a number of people had been injured.

Albanian opposition protesters clash with police in front of the parliament building in Tirana on December 18, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Marku is due to fill the vacant position of prosecutor general for the next two or three months until a new prosecution high council has been created.

Marku’s appointment is supported by the European Union and the US, as the move paves the way for judicial reforms needed for the country’s bid to launch EU membership negotiations.

Albania was granted EU candidate status in 2014 and hopes to launch negotiations next year.

Source: Presstv

18, December 2017

Southern Cameroons Crisis: 10 Regional Governors to discuss the challenges of living together ⁰

The 10 regional governors will be meeting today Monday, December 18, 2017 in Yaoundé for their second semiannual conference for the year 2017. The session that will be chaired by the Minister of Territorial Administration is expected to last three days.

The Biya Francophone regime has chosen the theme of the governor’s meeting as “administrative authority, change in security threats, the challenge of living together and the prospect of sub-regional integration “. Cameroon Concord News learnt that the debates will be coordinated by René Emmanuel Sadi, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.

The theme is undoubtedly inspired by hotbeds of socio-politico-security tensions in Southern Cameroons and security issues in the Eastern and Far-North Regions. The ten Biya appointed governors of the Region will present a situation report of their respective administrative units. As usual, Minister René Emmanuel Sadi will communicate to the governors at the end of this conference, the directives of the government with a view to a better preservation of the social peace and the living together.

By Rita Akana in Yaounde

18, December 2017

South Africa: ANC votes to elect successor for party leader Zuma ⁰

Battle lines were drawn on Monday for South Africa’s ANC as voting began to elect a new leader to succeed President Jacob Zuma as head of a party that has ruled since the end of apartheid but faced scandals and corruption allegations.

The vote is perhaps the most pivotal moment for the ANC since it launched black-majority rule under Nelson Mandela’s leadership 23 years ago. With scandal and graft accusations having tainted Zuma’s presidency, the party is deeply divided.

Whoever emerges at the helm of the African National Congress, a 105-year-old liberation movement that dominates Africa’s most industrialized economy, is likely to become the country’s next president after elections in 2019.

A total of 4,776 delegates began casting their ballots in the early hours of Monday, the ANC said, to select between Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Zuma’s preferred candidate, his ex-wife and former cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa listen to delegates disputing votes at the NASREC Expo Centre during the 54th ANC national congress on December 17, 2017 in Johannesburg. (Photo by AFP)

Voting was still going on at 0530 GMT.

“Delegates are very exhausted,” an ANC source, who is a voting delegate, told Reuters. “I don’t know how they will run today’s sessions.”

Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma were the only candidates nominated for the ANC leadership at a conference in Johannesburg on Sunday night.

In a boost to Ramaphosa, courts ruled that officials from some provinces seen as supporting Dlamini-Zuma had been elected illegally and were barred from the conference.

A winner had been expected to be announced on Sunday, but long delays led to the vote being pushed back repeatedly.

ANC spokeswoman Khusela Sangoni said voting was expected to be completed by midday and results announced later on Monday.

On Saturday, Zuma announced plans to raise subsidies for tertiary colleges and universities, a move analysts said was timed to appeal to the party’s more populist members allied to Dlamini-Zuma, the first woman nominated as an ANC presidential candidate.

Zuma has faced allegations of corruption since he became head of state in 2009 but has denied any wrongdoing.

Ramaphosa, a former trade union leader who became a businessman and is now one of the richest people in South Africa, has vowed to fight corruption and revitalize the economy, a message hailed by foreign investors.

Dlamini-Zuma pledged during her campaign to tackle the racial inequality that has persisted since the end of white-minority rule.

Ramaphosa drew the majority of nominations from party branches scattered across the country. But the complexity of the leadership race makes it uncertain he will win the final count.

(Source: Reuters)

17, December 2017

South Africa: ANC to elect ZUMA’s successor ⁰

The African National Congress expects to announce the successor to President Jacob Zuma as party leader on Sunday (December 17) when ANC delegates elect a new figurehead for the movement that has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid.

The vote is crucial because whoever emerges at the helm of the 105-year-old liberation movement that has electoral dominance in Africa’s most industrialized economy is likely to become South Africa’s next president after elections in 2019.

After lengthy delays on the first day of the ANC conference on Saturday, the leadership contest was still too close to call, with most grassroots ANC members backing Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa or Zuma’s preferred candidate, his former wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 68.

Ramaphosa, 65, got the majority of nominations from party branches scattered across the country. But the complexity of the leadership race means it is far from certain he will win when the votes are finally counted.

Under ANC rules, a majority of nominations is not the same as the most votes at the conference and delegates are not bound to vote for a particular candidate.

How the roughly 6,000 delegates will vote may also be subject to vote-buying and intimidation – which are widely acknowledged to have swayed previous leadership contests.

South African newspaper headlines on Sunday were dominated with the ANC’s pivotal election, with the City Press calling it “The Day of Reckoning.”

(Source: Reuters)