Senate

Nigeria's Senate Moves to Tackle Escalating Kidnapping Crisis The Nigerian Senate is taking a bold step toward combating the country's rampant kidnapping crisis. In a significant legislative push, Senators have advanced amendments to the 2022 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act that would extend the death penalty to all individuals involved in kidnapping. This includes not only the kidnappers themselves but also financiers, informants, and those providing logistical support. The proposed Bill seeks to reclassify…

Somalia’s Upper House approves national human rights commissioners Somalia’s Upper House has approved the appointment of nine commissioners to the National Independent Human Rights Commission, a key step in formalizing the country’s human rights oversight architecture. The commissioners were sworn in immediately after the vote, completing the parliamentary endorsement process. Twenty-eight senators voted in favor during Wednesday’s session; one abstained. The House of the People approved the creation of the Commission on…

Senate ends longest US government shutdown with 60-40 vote, but many questions remain The US Senate on Monday approved a compromise measure to reopen the federal government, ending what lawmakers called the longest shutdown in American history but stopping short of resolving a host of lingering political and practical problems. The 60-40 vote — carried by nearly every Senate Republican and eight Democrats — restored funding for agencies whose budgets expired on Oct. 1 and pushed a final decision on health insurance…

When a partisan writer sits before the Senate: what a contested ambassadorial pick says about U.S.–South Africa ties Leo Brent Bozell III told senators this week he was "coming before you at a challenging moment for U.S.–South Africa relations." What followed in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was less a routine credentialing than a snapshot of how American domestic politics are reshaping diplomacy. The nominee — a conservative writer and activist with no previous diplomatic experience — found a largely friendly…

Somalia’s Senate: How the Upper House Lost Its Grip on Federalism MOGADISHU — Somalia’s experiment with federalism, long touted as a path out of decades of central rule and clan rivalry, now faces a painful test. The country’s Upper House — the Senate — was created to be the bulwark of regional interests and a mediator between Mogadishu and the federal member states. Instead, critics say, it has been reduced to a largely ceremonial body as the executive consolidates power and regional grievances harden into open…

Somalia’s Quiet Test of Federalism: A New State’s Speaker Knocks on Mogadishu’s Door In the thick summer heat of Mogadishu, a meeting that might have gone unnoticed told a larger story about where Somalia’s fragile federal experiment may be heading. On Tuesday, Abdullahi Ali Hirsi Timacadde, the Second Deputy Speaker of Somalia’s Upper House, hosted Dr. Adan Abdullahi Aw-Hassan, the Speaker of the North Eastern State Parliament, for talks that were part ceremony, part signal, and all politics. The official readout was…

PORTLAND, Oregon (AX) — In a historic turn of events, Senator Kayse Jama has ascended to the role of Majority Leader in the Oregon State Senate. This remarkable achievement marks the first time a Somali-American and Black Muslim has held such a position in the state. Representing the 24th District and chosen by fellow Democrats who dominate the legislative body, Jama’s appointment is a landmark in the ongoing push for inclusive representation for both immigrant communities and communities of color.Jama secured this…

In a decisive turn of events, Republicans have seized control of the US Senate, basking in victories across key states like Montana, Ohio, and West Virginia. This triumph ensures that Donald Trump’s party will maintain a foothold in at least one chamber of Congress for the upcoming year. With a majority now sitting at a minimum of 52-48 in the Senate, Republicans have also managed to bolster their House of Representatives presence by three seats, bringing their count to 220-212. However, the fate of 51 out of the 435 House…

On October 7, 2024, Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressed the press at his Karen residence in Nairobi, speaking before lawmakers cast their votes concerning his impeachment motion. The photo credit goes to REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File Photo, and remember: Purchase Licensing Rights if you need to reuse it. In a political bombshell, Kenya's senate has booted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from his office. They impeached him on five of eleven charges set against him this Thursday. This startling decision…

Kawu Sumaila has stepped into the role of Chairman for the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and is already raising crucial questions about Nigeria's level of transparency in the oil sector. Taking over this position after the untimely passing of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Sumaila shared his vision for combating the pervasive secrecy that seems to cloak the industry like a heavy fog. Historically, Nigeria’s oil industry has faced harsh scrutiny due to its lack of transparency. This sector is not just vital;…