Eye on Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia - President Farmajo once again pledged early elections in Somalia just hours after parliament approved the recently signed pre-election agreement, further assuring members of the public pledge to hold elections on time timely agreed at the historic meeting that was convened at Villa Somalia. In Villa Somalia, Farmajo attended a roundtable hosted by the Raas Institute for Policy Studies, highlighting the government's efforts to hold elections that reflect the country's progress and democracy. He…

A shootout broke out between Kenyan and Somali soldiers on Saturday (September 26) along their common border. A demonstration was under way to condemn the violence of the Kenyan forces against Somalis. Kenyan soldiers then opened fire to disperse the protesters. Sustained exchanges of fire lasted for several minutes between the two neighboring countries' armed forces, witnesses say. It takes place in the town of Bulo Hawo in western Somalia, located right on the Kenyan border. This Saturday, residents of this locality are…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The journey for eventual recognition of Somaliland, the breakaway region in northern Somalia, may take a little longer to come to fruition following President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo's final sentiment, which has cast doubt on the quest for l State for the nation, which has lasted for three decades. On Saturday evening, Farmajo, at a panel discussion hosted by the Raas Institute, covered a litany of questions when he was greeted by a panel, where he addressed a number of controversial issues,…

The Ivorian opposition "United Front" organized three joint meetings in Abidjan in the municipalities of Yopougon, Anono and Gonzagueville on Saturday 26 September. RFI visited the Anono field and noted that the crowd was not there this first day of mobilizing the opposition coalition. A fine fog is watering the land in Anonos' headquarters, where one of the opposition coalition meetings is being held. All opposition sensitivities, with the exception of the independent candidate Kouadio Konan Bertin, called for…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Journalists' freedom in Somalia may be far from achieved after all, even with the recent appointment of a special prosecutor, who will look into the atrocities suffered by journalists, and despite frequent assurances from President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo himself. During a roundtable on the country's upcoming elections on Saturday night, Farmajo fired warning shots at journalists accusing them of lacking journalism knowledge and experience, in a statement that secretly exposes the strained…

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia's parliament on Saturday approved the electoral deal ending months of wrangling that almost threatened to disintegrate the country, in another dramatic occasion that would definitively define the nation's future political realignments. Ahead of the historic bicameral chamber session, there were concerns that Parliament would sabotage the implementation of the deal, after months of disagreements between the Senate and the Lower House, who were heavily divided over the quest to resolve the…

"I got to break and get into theater writers." Author and director Souleymane Bah, 46, will receive the RFI Theater 2020 award for La Cargaison on Sunday 27 September at the Festival des Francophonies, Les Zébrures d'Automne, in Limoges. The text from the Guinean author, exiled in France for four years, invites us to a "macabre stroll" populated by ruined destinies, stranded somewhere. Relaxed and determined at the same time, equipped with an easy opportunity to choose words and speech, during our meeting with the winner,…

Interview with Gilles Olakounlé Yabi, economist and political analyst. He is the founder of the West African Citizen Think Tank, Wathi (www.wathi.org). Commentary on the future of democracy in French-speaking Africa. RFI: What is your assessment of the state of democracy in Africa in 2020?? Gilles Yabi: Difficult to answer this question without first remembering the diversity of the continent. This diversity has profound implications for the assessment that can be made of the state of democracy in Africa. Political…

NGO Human Rights Watch investigated the violence that shook the city of Nzérékoré in southern Guinea during the double vote on March 22. It takes stock of at least 32 dead, 90 wounded and extensive property damage and also involves the security forces in this tragedy. Polling stations were attacked, places of worship burned down and dozens of dead have done so Nzérékoré mourned in a double vote of March 22nd. HRW believes the defense and security forces "did not do enough" to stop the inter-municipal clashes that erupted…

Libyan talks in Bouznika, Morocco, resume this Sunday, September 27. Two opposing delegations, representing the State High Council in Tripoli and the parliament in Tobruk, are meeting for another round of negotiations after starting in early September. Delegations must define the mechanism for selecting the personalities who will take the head of state sovereign positions. They must also decide on the new restructuring of the Presidential Council and the next government of national unity. These new meetings in Bouznika…