Day: May 27, 2023

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SADC Parliamentary Forum: Parliamentarians meet in Seychelles to prepare upcoming plenary assembly

The executive committee of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) is meeting in Seychelles to discuss pressing issues in preparation for the 53rd Plenary Assembly.

Seychelles’ President Wavel Ramkalawan opened the meeting on Saturday with words of thanks and welcome to the executive committeemembers to the island state.

“I want to thank you for the honour for entrusting the presidency of the SADC PF to the Speaker of our National Assembly – my long-time colleague in politics – the Honourable Roger Mancienne. In placing your confidence in him, you have also honoured our National Assembly and our country. Although we are the smallest member country, we have always been ready to play our part in this very august organisation and indeed in all others of which we are part,” said Ramkalawan.

President Wavel Ramkalawan addressing the SADC PF meeting (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

He added that he participated in the SADC PF for many years as a parliamentarian and had been involved in its projects for the formulation of policies and resolutions, which are achievements for the organisation, such as work on democratic elections.

“I hope we can continue to ensure that our region delivers credible, just and fair elections… I know that the work that you do is profound,” said Ramkalawan.

The president of SADC PF, Roger Mancienne, said that the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a regional parliament is a topic to be tabled during the meeting being held from May 27 to May 28.

“We are obligated to continue the transformation of the Forum into a SADC Regional Parliament. We are obligated to continue our advocacy efforts with our respective governments so that this important process is taken to its completion in the most efficient manner, always keeping in mind the noble objectives for which we seek this transformation,” said Mancienne during his opening speech.

Also, on the agenda during the meeting are several issues that have been taken up by executive committee in previous meetings and new issues that come in relation to these, “such as agriculture, climate change, democratic rights, and so on,” said Mancienne.

Speaker of the Seychelles National Assembly, Roger Mancienne – president of the SADC PF (Seychelles National Assembly) Photo License: CC-BY

During the two days, the committee also considered the proposal for the creation of a world-class International Learning Centre and Library.

SADC PF was established in 1997 and brings together members of parliaments from Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The executive committee of the SADC PF (Seychelles National Assembly) Photo License: CC-BY

It provides a platform for parliaments and parliamentarians to promote and improve regional integration in the SADC region, through parliamentary involvement.

“As the management committee of our organisation, it is our duty to ensure that our institution operates with excellence as it continues to build the capacity of parliamentarians in our region while observing the obligations of human rights and good governance including transparency and accountability. This meeting is only one way in which we can deliver on this mandate through the oversight of the work being done by the secretariat and by providing guidance and decisions where necessary,” said Mancienne.

The Plenary Assembly – the highest policy-making and deliberative body of the SADC PF – will be held in Tanzania in July 2023.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Seychellois international footballer Michael Mancienne to retire in 2023 due to knee injury

Seychellois international footballer Michael Mancienne has announced his retirement from professional football after his current contract with Burton Albion in the UK’s League One expires this summer.

Mancienne, 35, told SNA that he took the decision to end his career because his body is telling him it is time.

“I have been having problems with my left knee, which has been causing a lot of pain, so I don’t want it to get worse, as I want to be able to run and play with my kids,” he said.

The Burton Albion defender has been suffering from knee problems since July last year and was absent for three months after suffering a knee injury that needed surgery.

Mancienne, a graduate of the famous Chelsea Academy in London, has a career that spanned over two decades, playing four times for Chelsea Football Club, before making his name out on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Football League Championship.

It was at Wolves that Mancienne earned a surprise call-up to the England national team for a match against Romania.

“That was a huge achievement for me as it was not normal for a championship player to get called into the England first team,” Mancienne told SNA.

Mancienne was however not involved in the match, which meant he was free to still represent Seychelles, which he did in 2022.

Aside from Chelsea and Wolves, he has played for Queens Park Rangers, Nottingham Forest and Burton Albion in England. Mancienne also played for Hamburg in Germany and New England Revolution in the United States.

“I have no regrets about my career. I have travelled the world and played against some great players,” he added.

Asked if he will remain in football, Mancienne said, “I don’t think I’ll be a coach as it is not something I want to do, but helping young players develop on and off the pitch… I like the sound of that.”

The 35-year-old owns a property company and he said he will continue to keep a healthy lifestyle and will be building some houses.

He will end his career after having played over 360 games in his career and was even named Chelsea’s Young Player of the Year in 2009.

Mancienne has played five times for Seychelles, scoring his one and only international goal from the penalty spot against Bangladesh in March 2023.

His current team, Burton Albion, finished the 2022/23 League One season in 15th place.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Somali Government Condemns Terrorist Attack at ATMIS Base in Buulo-mareer

The Federal Government of Somalia strongly condemns the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack that occurred at the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) Front Operating Base in Buulo-mareer area of Lower Shabelle Region. The Federal Government of Somalia conveys its deepest sympathies to the people and leadership of the Republic of Uganda, the African Union Transition in Somalia at large, as well as the Somali National Armed Forces. We condole with the victims’ families and wish the injured a speedy recovery. Our security forces have demonstrated strength and resilience in fighting terrorism through the years and will not relent in their efforts to rid Somalia and the region of the Al Shabaab menace. The Federal Government of Somalia sincerely appreciates the efforts of all its partners and the unity witnessed during this incident. This culture of cooperation and coordination between all stakeholders will yield the desired goal – a Somalia free from the scourge of terrorism. To our heroes who paid the ultimate price, your sacrifices will never be forgotten.

Source: Somali National News Agency

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Israeli settler kills Palestinian after alleged stabbing attack

A Palestinian man has been killed by an Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The ministry said 28-year-old Alaa Qaysiyeh was shot dead ‘by the occupation’ south of Hebron in the southern area of the West Bank on Friday. The Israeli military said the Palestinian man attempted to stab a resident in the Tene Omarim settlement and was shot by an armed civilian. Israeli settlements in the occupied territory are illegal under international law. The military said the assailant was ‘neutralized’ and there were no Israeli casualties. The incident occurred as people in the settlement were gathering for prayers for the Jewish Shavuot festival, Israeli media reported. Security camera footage from the site appears to show a Palestinian male crawling in under a gate and walking into the settlement while holding a knife. The video does not show the alleged stabbing attempt or the man being shot.

Source: Somali National News Agency

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Guatemala arrests former anti-corruption prosecutor

Guatemalan police arrested the country’s prosecutor for crimes against migrants Friday, accusing him of alleged abuse of authority. Stuardo Campos was formerly an anti-corruption prosecutor in the country during the administration of former President Jimmy Morales. It was not immediately clear whether the accusations pertain to his current position or the former. The complaint against Campos was made by the far-right Foundation Against Terrorism, a group that started out defending military officers accused of war crimes, but has also targeted members of the justice system who worked corruption cases. ‘This complaint is spurious,’ Campos said. ‘I know that my work as an anti-corruption prosecutor earned me animosity in a lot of sectors.’ Campos was known for an investigation related to a government highway project during the Morales administration. A number of officials from that administration were arrested when repeated landslides and other problems were blamed on poor construction. In recent years, a number of prosecutors and judges who handled anti-corruption cases have been investigated and charged. Many of them have fled the country to avoid prosecution by an Attorney General’s office the United States government and others have accused seeking revenge against members of the justice system. More recently, as the lead prosecutor of migrant crimes, Campos was credited with dismantling migrant smuggling rings and oversaw the first extradition of Guatemalans to the U.S. accused of migrant smuggling.

Source: Somali National News Agency

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