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Abdalla Hamdok, a former UN official seen as the civilian face of Sudan's transitional government, had been reinstated as prime minister in November as part of an agreement with the military following the October coup.

 

Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation Sunday amid a political deadlock and widespread pro-democracy protests following a military coup that derailed the country's fragile transition to democratic rule.

Hamdok, a former UN official seen as the civilian face of Sudan's transitional government, had been reinstated as prime minister in November as part of an agreement with the military following the October coup. In that time he had failed to name a Cabinet and his resignation throws Sudan into political uncertainty amid uphill security and economic challenges.

In a televised national address Sunday, Hamdok called for a dialogue to agree on a “national charter” and to “draw a roadmap” to complete the transition to democracy in accordance with the 2019 constitutional document governing the transitional period.


“I decided to return the responsibility and declare my resignation as prime minister," he said, adding that his stepping down would allow a chance for another person to lead the nation and complete its transition to a “civilian, democratic country.” He did not name a successor.

The prime minister said his efforts to bridge the widening gap and settle disputes among the political forces have failed.

“I tried as much as I possibly could to prevent our country from sliding into a disaster. Now, our nation is going through a dangerous turning point that could threaten its survival unless it is urgently rectified,” he said.

The October coup had upended Sudan's plans to move to democracy after a popular uprising forced the military's overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019.

Four months after al-Bashir's ouster, the generals and the protesters reached a power-sharing deal to rule the country through elections in 2023. However, military-civilian ties have been frayed by the military takeover that has threatened to return Sudan to international isolation.

Hamdok's resignation comes amid a heavy security crackdown on protesters denouncing not only the takeover but the subsequent deal that reinstated him and sidelined the pro-democracy movement. He was returned to office in November amid international pressure in a deal that calls for an independent technocratic Cabinet under military oversight led by him.

“I have had the honour of serving my country people for more than two years. And during his period I have sometimes done well, and I have sometimes failed,” Hamdok said.

The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, an umbrella group of Sudanese political parties and pro-democracy organizations, has rejected the November deal and remains committed to ending military rule. The alliance accused Hamdok of allowing the military to dominate the government, and continued to organize anti-coup street protests which were met with heavy crackdown.

Over the past two weeks, there was increasing speculation that he would step down. National and international efforts have failed to convince him to stay in office.

The US State Department urged on Twitter Sudan's leaders to “set aside differences, find consensus, and ensure continued civilian rule” following Hamdok's resignation.

It also called for the appointment of the next premier and Cabinet to “in line with the (2019) constitutional declaration to meet the people's goals of freedom, peace, and justice.”

 Hours before Hamdok's resignation speech, Sudanese security forces violently dispersed pro-democracy protesters, killing at least three people, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee, which is part of the pro-democracy movement. The group said dozens of protesters were injured.

The protests came despite tightened security and blocked bridges and roads in Khartoum and Omdurman. Internet connections were also disrupted ahead of the protests, according to advocacy group NetBlocs. Authorities have used such tactics repeatedly since the October 25 coup.

Sunday's fatalities have brought the death toll among protesters since the coup to at least 57, according to the medical group. Hundreds have also been wounded.

Allegations surfaced last month of sexual violence, including rape and gang rape by security forces against female protesters, according to the United Nations.

The ruling sovereign council has vowed to investigate violence against the protesters.

On Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged security forces to “immediately cease the use of deadly force against protesters" and to hold those responsible for violence accountable.

“We do not want to return to the past, and are prepared to respond to those who seek to block the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a civilian-led, democratic government,” he added. Outlook/AP

By FREDDY MACHA 

Covid 19 has made travelling harder. So, when the red banner to travel to Tanzania was lifted in October it was like a massive gush of Oxygen. Living too long in the Western world is like donning multiple masks. For the mouth, nose, your eyes, ears, fingers and toes. We came here to work, study and see other cultures but it is stifling. 

First time you came to the developed world you wondered why cigarette smoking is so chic. Every smoker tells you it helps cope with stress. Instead of Oxygen you puff in black, smelly, disgusting soot. 

A life of permanent speed and rushing as in Bob Marley's 1976 song Rat Race. As soon as your plane touches down in East Africa you feel two big things. The heat and smell of earth.  A freshness anciently forgotten in London streets. Windows, doors, houses forever closed and replaced by phones, TV and the clock. 

Ticking Time is the Enemy. What is the second thing you notice? Everyone so laid back. Eyes and ears of airport officials are vigilant, yet mannerisms and general demeanour is relaxed. People seem easy. 

You will soon notice many problems, though. Speeding cars that do not stop to let folks pass through Zebra crossings. Food filled with too much salt, sugar and ketch up. Yet the intricacies of meals are different. The food is richer and healthier. Meat tastes better. Fruits and veggies are in large succulent portions. 

           

Fruits of life. Sweet Mangoes and Bananas, welcomes you home - Avocados seller in Upanga, Dar es Salaam

Many problems. 

Dalas Dalas minibuses are packed and women and children get thrust inside like sardines, yet people do not complain of headaches. They plod on and listen to the loud blaring music. In Zanzibar bus radios also blasts melodic Taarab and Islamic sermons about being a good person.

“You get punished for sin and bad behaviour when you are ill. The solution is simple. Pray to your God. Repent and promise to be a better person.” So preaches the Imam. 

In Mainland Tanzania some of the best Zouk rhythm music is from Christian bands. Makomando wa Yesu (Jesus' Commandos) for example:

“Pale akili yenu ilipoishia

Baba yangu ndipo anapoanzia...”

(Where your mind ceases operating; that’s where God starts working)

If you do not get the Kiswahili words you would think it was a South African -Zouk outfit from the 1990s. Imagine Brenda Fassie and Kassav. reincarnated. 

Instead of Uber (in developed nations), Bajajis and Boda Boda motorbikes across main Tanzanian towns , help with quick  travelling, alongside Dala Dala mini buses.

These are superficial impressions. 

Digging deeper, you find prices are high. The Dollar instead of Shilingi measures everything. Having changed your European money, to Shillings you realise prices are not far from Europe and USA. You ask.

How can Wananchi budget salaries of around 20 to 100 Dollars a month?

“Life is expensive.” says a mother of two. “ We live in God's grace.” 

God mentioned 24/7. Gratitude is massive. And therein lies the secret. The code missing in the developed world. Here folks earn five, six times more than back home. Oh yeah. Yet we chase ghosts all the time. Counting bills; dancing and belching bills. 

In debt and forever counting. No wonder mental health is such a big issue. Youngsters gape at pornography and sexual relationships are the lowest they have ever been. Back home, getting Pesa is on everyone's lips. Not Covid 19. 

Pesa and Malaria. 

Inspite all that respite, there is inner joy. The guys opening gates of the building you are staying at Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam or a Zanzibar hotel, always smiling. The joy of the couple you visited in Kibaha, is not shown through beautiful teeth. It is sincere.

“Karibu tuuu...Karibu jamani tuleee...”

So many vowels in words that are said in harmonic, short sentences. People on our continent do not know how expensive Joy is. Joy is abundant in Africa. Still some analysts and thinkers are critical.

“Africa is endless suffering.” Says an MA student planning to move to Canada. “Living in Africa is a death sentence...” 

Repeating in a tone of abject horror. Does he know where he is heading to? To the developed world where Google stats says life expectancy was 40 years in 1800 and above 82 in 2020. As you look at 2021, WHO suicide rates  across the planet  Lesotho leads by 72.4, followed by Guyana 40.3 , South Korea and Lithuania, Russia and South Africa.

What does this tell us? 

A good, perfect life; a better society does not exist. Every place has layers of good and bad; tough and easy, hard, and soft.  For example, you find most Tanzanians complaining about the intense 35 Centigrade plus degree heat while London mourns a cold below 10 degrees in December. 

Everyone, everywhere, has something they do not like. While we pay large sums of money to test Covid … Africans are wary of Malaria and dream of a day when the Malaria Vaccine will be available as much as Covid 19.  Malaria Nuisance. Everything is so relative. Just like the Bible reminds us in Proverbs 17 : 22

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crashed spirit dries up the bones.” 

 

Freddy Macha is a London based Tanzanian writer and musician. 

-Email: kalalautamu@gmail.com

-Web: www.makalazangu.blogspot.com

 

 

Charles Njonjo died aged 101 on Sunday, January 2, 2022. [File, Standard]

Kenya’s first native Attorney-General Charles Njonjo died of pneumonia on Sunday morning, his family has confirmed.

The ex-AG’s son-in-law, Carey Ngini, who is the husband of Njonjo’s second born daughter Mary Wambui Njonjo, in an exclusive interview with KTN News reporter Emmanuel Too, said the disease made Njonjo’s lungs to collapse. 

According to Ngini, the 101-year-old had been ailing for almost a year, starting 2020.

“Over the course of last year (2020) and this year (2021), he’d been battling one ailment or another, very well despite his age,” said Ngini, who gave KTN News an interview at the Kariokor Hindu Crematorium, where Njonjo was cremated at 10:30am on Sunday.

 

“As of this morning (Sunday, January 2), at around 5:15am, he breathed his last. It was actually as a result of a little bout of pneumonia, which he suffered. The pneumonia had compromised his lungs. His passing was peaceful. He was surrounded by his family members,” added the son-in-law.

Njonjo died at his Muthaiga home in Nairobi County.

Carey Ngini (pictured) gave an interview to KTN News on Sunday, January 2, at Kariokor Hindu Crematorium. [Screengrab] By Brian Okoth, The Standard

 

KAMPALA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Three family members were killed and six others injured in a New Year road accident in the central Uganda district of Buikwe, police said.

Uganda Traffic Police spokesperson Faridah Nampiima said in a statement issued here on Sunday that the Saturday accident happened after the car the family was travelling in crashed into a truck.

"Our police registered a fatal accident that claimed lives of three people including a juvenile, and injured other six seriously," Nampiima said, noting that the injured were rushed to a nearby health facility.

She said the cause of the accident had not been established but warned against speeding.

According to police data, some 20,000 road accidents occur nationwide annually, causing more than 2,000 deaths. - Xinhua

 

The Kenya Pension Fund Investment Consortium, whose members control about $2.63 billion in assets under management, says it has identified 17 infrastructure projects in the water, energy, affordable housing and roads sectors that are viable for investment. PHOTO | PSCU

Kenya pension funds recorded the biggest growth in lending to government in 2021, helped by the National Treasury’s consistent issuance of long-term bonds, which favour their investment preferences.

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) data shows that pension funds grew their holdings of government debt by $1.8 billion to $11.05 billion between January 1 and December 17, ahead of banks, whose holdings went up by $1.55 billion to $17.9 billion.

Total domestic public debt stood at $35.54 billion in December, up from $30.63 billion in January, with the share held by pension funds going up from 30.3 percent to 31.3 percent in the period. Banks in the meantime saw their share of domestic debt fall from 53.3 percent to 50.3 percent.

For pension funds, long-term bonds align more closely with their long-term investment outlook, unlike banks which prefer shorter dated paper due to their shifting liquidity needs and the short term nature of deposits.

Kenya's Treasury has largely floated longer dated bonds this year in an effort to lengthen the maturity profile of domestic debt and reduce refinancing risk for the exchequer. By CHARLES MWANIKI, The East African

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