CONTINENTAL DRIFT
Nairobi-naivasha line opened
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened a new railway line linking Nairobi with the town of Naivasha on Wednesday, constructed at a cost of $1.5-billion by Chinese firms. This, the second phase of a flagship project, will one day connect the port of Mombasa to neighbouring Uganda. The first phase, between Mombasa and Nairobi, has been operational since 2017, but has been criticised for being too expensive and saddling the government with huge debts.
Deaths in Guinea protests
Guinea has been rocked by nationwide protests that have left at least seven people dead after allegedly being shot dead by police. Eight opposition leaders were charged in connection with the protests and now face prison sentences. The protests were sparked by President Alpha Conde’s efforts to force through a new Constitution allowing him a third term in office.
Rebel running for president
Former rebel leader Guillaume
Soro announced his candidacy for next year’s presidential election in Cote D’ivoire, raising fears of instability ahead of the poll. Soro led a failed rebellion against former President Laurent Gbagbo in 2002, before supporting current president Alassane Ouattara in the 2010-2011 civil war. The pair have subsequently fallen out. The incumbent is likely to endorse his prime minister as his successor if he does not run again.
Mozambique awaits results
Mozambique is in the process of counting the votes cast in Tuesday’s elections, with no official results expected before this weekend. However, initial projections suggest that ruling party Frelimo is on course for another victory, with the two leading opposition parties splitting the anti-frelimo vote. Analysts have raised red flags about serious electoral irregularities, including alleged ballot stuffing in Gaza, Cabo Delgado, Nampula and Tete. Police have arrested 73 people so far for electoral offences.
Moroccan journalist freed
Moroccan journalist Hajar Raissouni (28) was released from prison after receiving a royal pardon officially described as “an act of compassion and mercy” from King Mohammed VI. In September, Raissouni was sentenced to a year in prison after being convicted of having premarital sex and an abortion — both crimes in Morocco. Raissouni and activists criticised the verdict as an attack on independent media, given that she works for a newspaper known to be critical of the government. Her fiancé, convicted at the same time, has also been pardoned.
Jailed Ethiopians return home
About 400 Ethiopian migrants who were serving prison sentences in Saudi Arabia returned to Addis Ababa on Wednesday, after a deal between both governments. It is unclear what crimes they had committed, or whether they will continue serving their sentences at home. Most were likely to have been arrested for illegally entering Saudi Arabia. According to the BBC, 32890 Ethiopian migrants jailed in different countries have been returned home in the past three months.