Category: Politics

Leaders in Kwale and Kilifi counties have welcomed renewed efforts by the National Government to eradicate statelessness in the country.

According to the United Nations (UN), a stateless person, is an individual who is not considered to be a national by any state under the operation of its laws.

Led by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani, the leaders said they are in full support of all initiatives to end and prevent statelessness.

Governor Achani says stateless people are usually unable to participate fully in socio-economic spheres and are often relegated to the shadows.

‘This means that stateless persons often cannot go to school, secure a job or open a bank account, among other challenges,’ she said.

She went further: Now they would be able to access basic rights like education, health care, social protection, financial services and joining the formal labour market’.

The leader’s sentiments come hot on the heels of the Pemba community citizenship award ceremony in Kilifi County, presided over by President William Ruto.

The elaborate ceremony held at Karisa Maitha Stadium celebrated the recognition of the Pemba community as an ethnic group in Kenya.

This follows the recognition of the Pemba as an ethnic community in Kenya in a Special Gazette Notice issued on January 30, 2023, by the President.

Their recognition follows that of other previously stateless communities, including the Makonde from Tanzania and Mozambique in 2017 and the Shona from Zimbabwe in 2020.

It is believed that the Pemba people, who number more than 7,000, entered Kenya from Zanzibar archipelago before independence in 1963 and ventured into fishing as their main economic activity.

When Kenya became a republic in 1964 after decolonization, the Pembas were neither registered as an indigenous tribe nor recognised as Kenyan citizens.

Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Ambassador Julius Bitok, speaks during the Pemba community citizenship award ceremony in Kilifi County.

‘The Pemba community, which predominantly lives in Kwale and Kilifi counties, will no longer be stateless and will be able to access public services like regular Kenyans,’ said Achani.

Achani commended the move by the President to grant the Pemba community Kenyan citizenship and promised to support the National Government’s agenda for inclusivity in building the nation.

Kilifi Governor, Gideon Mung’aro, thanked the President for choosing his county as the venue for awarding citizenship to the members of the Pemba community.

Governor Mung’aro says the move by the National Government to end statelessness will go a long way in reducing the number of stateless people in the country, strengthening their protection and reducing the risk of discrimination.

‘Going forward, members of the Pemba community would have rights such as participating in the socio-economic and political system and having access to social benefits,’ said Mung’aro.

The leaders, who included Msambweni Legislator Feisal Bader and his Lunga Lunga counterpart Mangale Chiforomodo, said the decision to recognise the stateless Pemba community as Kenyans demonstrates the government’s unwavering commitment to ending statelessness in the country.

They said that the move will see the Pemba people issued with identification documents such as ID cards, birth certificates and passports that will enable them to enjoy their rights as Kenyan citizens.

‘We thank the President for his efforts to end statelessness in the country and ensure that all people are recognised,’ said Bader.

MP Chiforomodo says the Pembas have lived as stateless people since independence and trapped in legal limbo, which has caused them untold suffering.

The Principal Secretary (PS) for Immigration and Citizen Services, Ambassador Julius Bitok, says all Kenyans of Pemba heritage will now be issued with relevant identification documents in accordance with the Constitution.

Amb. Bitok says the move by the President ends the Pemba community’s statelessness and marginalisation that have lasted for close to 100 years.

The PS urged members of the Pemba community residing in the coastal region to come out in large numbers and acquire Kenyan nationality.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia, Abdullahi Mohamed Warfaa, welcomed his Czech counterpart, Miroslav Kosek, at the Somali embassy in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

The meeting, which was part of Ambassador Warfaa’s efforts to strengthen and promote cooperation between Somalia and the rest of the world, focused on enhancing relations between the two countries. Ambassador Kosek underlined the Czech government’s full support for Somalia and its commitment to working with the country on issues related to good governance.

The meeting is seen as a positive step towards strengthening ties between Somalia and the Czech Republic, as both countries seek to deepen their cooperation in various fields.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The Seychelles National Assembly, the island nation’s legislative body, will celebrate its 30th anniversary in the Third Republic on July 31. This will coincide with the return to multi-party democracy in 1993.

SNA looks at the five Speakers of the National Assembly since 1993.

Francis MacGregor

MacGregor, 73 years old, who was a Seychellois judge and politician from the then Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF) served as the first Speaker. He was appointed after the 1993 multiparty elections and was the Speaker of the National Assembly from 1993 to 2007.

Prior to being Speaker, he was elected as the chairman of the People’s Assembly after the 1987 elections.

McGregor, a lawyer by profession, also served as a judge in the judiciary of Seychelles. He was the president of the Seychelles Court of Appeal from 2007 to 2019.

(Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

Patrick Herminie

Herminie, 60 years old, is a Seychellois politician who served as a Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles from 2007 to 2016.

He was first elected to the Assembly in 1993 and served as Leader of Government Business from 1998 to 2003. He was elected as Speaker on May 29, 2007.

Herminie, who is a medical doctor by profession, was elected leader of the United Seychelles political party in 2021.

(Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Patrick Pillay

Pillay is a Seychellois politician who was the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Seychelles from 2016 to 2018. He previously served as Minister of External Affairs and Minister of Health. In 2010, he was appointed resident High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

He formed his own political party ? Lalyans Seselwa ? and contested the presidential election in 2015, coming out third in the first round with a score of 14.19 percent ? a record for a first-timer.

Pillay stood in the September 2016 parliamentary election as a candidate of the opposition Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) coalition in Anse Boileau and was elected for a seat in the National Assembly. The LDS won a majority of seats, and Pillay was elected as Speaker of the National Assembly on 27 September 2016.

He resigned on January 29, 2018, from both the position of Speaker and member of the national assembly.

(Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

Nicholas Prea

Prea, 58, was sworn in as the fourth speaker of the National Assembly in March 2018 after the resignation of Patrick Pillay. Prea who was the elected member for the district of Bel Ombre, was the speaker of the National Assembly until he resigned and stepped down on October 29, 2020.

An engineer by profession, Prea was secretary general of the Seychelles National Party until his resignation on 17 February 2020.

(Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

Roger Mancienne

Roger Mancienne, 66 years old, is the current Speaker of the National Assembly of Seychelles. He was sworn in on October 28, 2020, after his party, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) won 20 out of 26 constituencies.

Mancienne was a founding member of the Parti Seselwa formed after the return of multi-party in 1993.

In 2015, he was the Vice-Presidential nominee for the Seychelles National Party alongside Wavel Ramkalawan as the Presidential candidate. The party narrowly lost this election but went on to further consolidate the opposition with the formation of Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, (LDS), with Mancienne as Party Leader. He was formerly chief editor of the Regar newspaper.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

Prime Minister H.E Hamza Abdi Barre has on Monday departed for the Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit, which will open in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Tuesday.

Leading a large delegation from #Somalia, PM Barre is expected to present Somalia’s human capital growth priorities at the summit.

The overall theme of the Summit is linking investments in human capital to economic growth and harnessing the demographic dividend, by addressing learning poverty and the skills gap for youth and women.

Source: Somali National News Agency

The Federal Government of Somalia and the Government of the Russian Federation strengthened bilateral relations as well as identified opportunities for mutual growth and development.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E Abshir Omar Jama (Huruse) provided more details about the two sides’ cooperation in an interview yesterday on Saturday, commenting on recent developments. Mr. Haruse and Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov signed a bilateral agreement in May this year.

During the meeting, the Minister highlighted the significance of the partnership between the two nations, emphasizing the extensive cooperation and support Russia has provided to Somalia, particularly in bolstering the country’s security forces, including its Navy.

‘We had a fruitful discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs on mutual interests and ways to further strengthen cooperation, coordination, and joint efforts. Somalia and Russia have a longstanding relationship, and Russia has been a valuable ally in various aspects, notably in the development of our security forces, including the Navy,’ stated Minister Jama.

Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is prepared to provide military equipment to Somalia’s army in their fight against terrorism.

Both parties acknowledged the robust and longstanding diplomatic ties between Somalia and Russia, recognizing the potential for increased collaboration across multiple sectors. They expressed their commitment to fostering closer relations and exploring new avenues of cooperation to promote shared interests and regional stability.

The meeting in Moscow highlights the importance Somalia places on its relationship with Russia and signifies the desire to deepen diplomatic engagements and strategic partnerships. The discussions held are expected to lay the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, security, and cultural exchange.

As the Federal Government of Somalia continues to prioritize its engagement with the international community, this visit to Russia is seen as a crucial step in furthering diplomatic efforts and expanding the scope of cooperation between the two nations.

Both Somalia and Russia recognize the potential for extensive collaboration and are committed to building upon their existing relationship. The meeting between the Foreign Ministers is expected to pave the way for future exchanges and initiatives that will contribute to the progress and prosperity of both countries.

The visit of Minister Abshir Omar Jama to Moscow marks a significant milestone in the diplomatic ties between Somalia and Russia and underscores the commitment to strengthening relations for the benefit of both nations and the wider region.

Source: Somali National News Agency