标签： Africa

Cameroon’s Constitutional Council has rejected calls to annul the results of the highly contested presidential election held on 12 October, announcing that the final outcome will be declared on Monday. The decision has intensified political unrest, with opposition supporters staging widespread protests across major cities, alleging electoral fraud, including ballot-stuffing. The judges dismissed eight petitions, citing insufficient evidence of irregularities and jurisdictional limitations. Opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary, a former government spokesman who defected from President Paul Biya’s camp, has declared himself the winner, claiming to have secured 55% of the vote based on unofficial tallies. Biya, 92, who has ruled Cameroon for 43 years, is seeking another seven-year term. Bakary has refused to file formal complaints with the Constitutional Council, accusing it of bias due to its Biya-appointed judges. He warned of potential civil unrest if the official results do not reflect the electorate’s will. Biya’s ruling party has dismissed Bakary’s self-proclaimed victory as illegal, emphasizing that only the Constitutional Council can validate election results. The Catholic Church has urged the Council to ensure the verdict aligns with voters’ intentions. The escalating tensions have raised fears of post-election violence in a nation already grappling with separatist conflicts in Anglophone regions and Boko Haram insurgencies in the Far North.

In a significant legal ruling, the Pretoria High Court has mandated former South African President Jacob Zuma to reimburse the Office of the State Attorney 28.9 million rand (approximately $1.6 million) for legal fees accrued during his private litigations. The court, presided over by Judge Anthony Millar, has given Zuma a 60-day ultimatum to settle the debt, warning that failure to comply could result in the seizure of his assets, including his presidential pension. This decision underscores the judiciary’s firm stance on holding public officials accountable for misusing state resources. Zuma, who led South Africa from 2009 to 2018, has been entangled in numerous legal battles, primarily concerning corruption allegations and the misuse of public funds. Initially, the state covered his legal expenses, but subsequent rulings by the Gauteng High Court in December 2018 and the Supreme Court of Appeal in April 2021 clarified that such expenditures must be repaid by the individual. Court documents reveal that interest on approximately 18.9 million rand (about $1 million) will accrue from January 25, 2024, until the debt is settled. Zuma’s legal woes are compounded by his 2021 imprisonment for contempt of court and ongoing charges related to a controversial arms deal from 1999. Additionally, his expulsion from the African National Congress in 2024 and the formation of his new political party, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), have further complicated his political legacy. Following the court’s decision, the MKP announced that Zuma will address the nation on Thursday, though details remain scarce.

In a concerning development ahead of Tanzania’s general election on October 29, John Heche, the deputy chairperson of the main opposition party Chadema, has been detained twice within a week. The latest arrest occurred on Wednesday as Heche attempted to attend the treason trial of Chadema’s leader, Tundu Lissu, at the High Court in Dar es Salaam. Chadema has accused the government of orchestrating a plan to detain senior party leaders until after the elections, a claim the government has yet to address.

Heche’s arrest marks the second time he has been taken into custody in recent days. On Saturday, he was briefly held while attempting to cross into Kenya to attend the burial of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Tanzanian immigration authorities alleged Heche was attempting to cross the border illegally, a charge Chadema vehemently denies.

This crackdown on opposition figures comes amid growing concerns over the disappearance of former Tanzanian ambassador and government critic Humphrey Polepole, who was reportedly abducted from his Dar es Salaam home on October 6. His family discovered a broken door and significant bloodstains at the scene, raising fears for his safety.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, is seeking a second term in the upcoming election. Initially praised for fostering greater political freedom, her administration has faced increasing criticism for its repressive measures, including the disqualification of opposition candidates. Chadema has been barred from participating in the polls, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, has been detained since April. Similarly, Luhaga Mpina, the candidate of the second-largest opposition party ACT-Wazalendo, has also been disqualified, leaving only minor party candidates to challenge President Samia.

The situation has sparked widespread outcry, with many questioning the government’s commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law. As tensions escalate, the international community is closely monitoring developments in Tanzania, where the suppression of dissent threatens to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.