SUDAN PROTESTORS DEMAND CIVILIAN RULE
By Donnelly McCleland Sudan’s main protest group on Sunday [14 April] demanded the immediate handover of power to a civilian transitional government, saying it would keep up the street demonstrations which ousted former President Omar al-Bashir last week to achieve its aims. (Reuters) Uncertainty and turmoil amid jubilation A sit-in in the Sudanese capital, which…
TV ENTERTAINER EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER IN UKRAINE ELECTIONS
By Donnelly McCleland (with contribution by Mike Burnard) Ukrainians awoke on April Fools’ Day to the reality of a comedian on the verge of taking over as commander in chief. The first-round victory for Volodymyr Zelensky, a 41-year-old entertainer who plays the president in a popular sitcom, served as a breath-taking rebuke by about 5…
ALGERIA’S ELECTIONS – A TEST FOR DEMOCRACY
By Hannes Bosman and Donnelly McCleland An emerging coalition of Algerian opposition figures Tuesday [19 March] rejected President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s plan to remain in office while overseeing a political transition from his 20-year rule, echoing the demands of street protesters that he step down next month. The group also urged the military to stay out…
ANC WAR HOAX
There is currently a video doing the rounds on social media containing unsubstantiated reports that the ANC (African National Congress) is preparing for war (https://youtu.be/bSWXcqEeHv4). The YouTube Channel, Loving Life, with its spokesperson, Scott Balson, warns the South African public to stock up with supplies as the nation is potentially facing a “STATE OF EMERGENCY”. …
GUAIDO RETURNS TO VENEZUELA AND A NEW PHASE IN CAMPAIGN
5 MARCH 2019 (SOURCE: AP) – Opposition leader Juan Guaido shrouded the route and timing of his return in secrecy amid concerns he might be detained by Venezuela’s government. Yet he breezed through airport immigration checks and brazenly called for the downfall of President Nicolas Maduro at a rally where the presence of security forces was minimal….
ALGERIAN PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE PLANS AFTER MASS PROTESTS
4 MARCH 2019 (SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN) – Algeria’s ailing president has promised to step down after the next election and enact reforms, as the nation’s elite moved to consolidate its power in the face of historic mass protests. “I’ve heard the heartfelt cry of the protesters,” said Abdelaziz Bouteflika in a letter read out on national…
NIGERIA’S BUHARI WINS SECOND TERM AS PRESIDENT: ELECTORAL COMMISSION
27 FEBRUARY 2019 (SOURCE: REUTERS) – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari won a second term at the helm of Africa’s largest economy and top oil producer, the electoral commission chairman said on Wednesday, following an election marred by delays, logistical glitches and violence. He defeated his main opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar, a businessman and former vice president. Buhari…
ISRAEL AVOIDS EARLY ELECTIONS AFTER GAZA CEASEFIRE AND POLITICAL FALLOUT
By Donnelly McCleland, Chris Eden and Mike Burnard Israel avoided early elections after a key coalition partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said on Monday [19 November] that he would not withdraw his party, keeping the coalition intact despite a crisis triggered by a violent flare-up with Gaza militants. Education Minister Naftali Bennett said…
BRAZIL ELECTS FAR-RIGHT LEADER
By Cherolyn Amery Brazil’s far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro set about staffing his new administration on Wednesday [31 October], naming an astronaut as science minister while a top anti-corruption judge mulled a job offer. Mr Bolsonaro won the presidential race on Sunday [28 October], easily overcoming his leftist opponent with a vow to kneecap violent drug…
VENEZUELA’S POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC WOES CONTINUE
By Cherolyn Amery Venezuela’s foreign minister accused the United States of seeking an intervention and supporting military conspiracies, following a report that US officials had met with Venezuelan military officers to discuss a coup plot. The Trump administration held secret meetings with rebellious military officers over the last year to discuss their plans to overthrow…