The United Nations has reported that devastating floods in South Sudan have impacted around 1.4 million people, displacing more than 379,000 individuals across the country.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that the floods have affected 1.4 million people in 43 counties, including the Abyei region, with mounting concerns over the spread of malaria in flood-hit areas.
OCHA highlighted South Sudan's acute vulnerability to climate change, noting that the country is experiencing its most severe flooding in decades, particularly in its northern regions. The humanitarian office warned that rising malaria cases in multiple states are straining an already fragile healthcare system, further exacerbating the crisis for flood-affected communities. Gulf Times
Human rights activists have demanded the immediate arrest of a Malindi politician for allegedly hiring goons to attack them during a public engagement in Kakoneni area of Malindi Sub County Thursday.
The activists on Friday asked Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja to arrest the politician and an aide for the attack on activists from various human rights organization, among them young women, who were carrying out a public awareness campaign in Kakoneni area Thursday.
Speaking to journalists in Malindi town Friday, the activists said the goons targeted a vehicle carrying female activists and even tried to drag them into some thickets with a view to molesting them sexually.
The activists, who were led by Mr. Hussein Khalid, the executive director of Africa Voice and Victor Kaudo of the Malindi Community Human Centre, said they would not relent in their resolve to educate the masses on their rights and expose wrongdoing among public officials, including politicians.
The called out the politician and area police officers and national government administrative officers, who they claimed, were unwilling to help them when they reported the matter to them.
The activists said they were attacked as they engaged members of the public on issues affecting them, including a shoddy job done on a building at Kakoneni Primary School that was constructed through funds from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).
They claimed that the politician’s hirelings confronted the convenors of the meeting and demanded that they dismantle the tents they had put up, leading to a verbal and physical confrontation.
Other activists were attacked at the Kakoneni junction along the Malindi-Sala Gate Road by goons who allegedly tried to drug female activists into a nearby thicket. The activists were however saved by their driver’s quick action that saw him drive at high speed to Malindi town.
Mr. Kaudo said it was disheartening that the politician’s goons had targeted young innocent female and called for thorough investigations into the matter and the arrest of those who would be found culpable.
He said the activists would now be cowed into submitting to the whims of politicians and vowed to re-convene the abortive public engagement on a date he did not specify.
Mr. Khalid on his part condemned the attack on the activists and politicians who he said thought they own the country and that they have the power to allow or stop public meetings.
“Kenya is a free country. Everyone has the right to hold a meeting, to hold discussions and deliberate on matters affecting the people and the nation in general,” he said.
Their sentiments were echoed by Naila Abdalla and Yasa Musa, who said politicians should not think that because they had been elected, they had the right to do anything they want against critics.
Naila said the politician’s theatrics would not stop them from doing what is right for the populace, including exposing scandals, adding that the politician’s action was outdated.
Malindi Member of Parliament Amina Laura Mnyazi has since distanced herself from the alleged attack on the activists.
“I would like to categorically deny any involvement. Such actions are unacceptable and they should be condemned. I urge the affected parties to report to incident to the relevant authorities for investigations,” she said.
In a statement posted on social media, the MP also said she was aware of the shoddy work on the building at Kakoneni that was constructed through CDF, and that she had summoned the NG-CDF board and the contractor awarded the tender to provide explanations.
Ms Mnyazi said her role as Member of Parliament was just to oversight the work done by the NG-CDF board and that she was not responsible for the day to day running of the fund at the constituency level.
“I have also actively engaged with relevant national government authorities to seek further assistance in the matter,” she said. KNA
Investigation into crash is ongoing, but so far no signs drone was shot down, says US African Command.
A US military drone crashed earlier this week in southern Somalia, the US African Command (AFRICOM) confirmed on Friday.
In a statement on X, Africom said that on Tuesday, a U.S. Army-operated MQ-1C crashed at approximately 12.40 pm local time (0940GMT) in southern Somalia.
It said an investigation is ongoing, although the crash does not appear to be the result of any attempt to shoot down the aircraft.
Somalia is known for a years-long series of terrorist attacks, especially by al-Shabaab, a group linked to al-Qaeda. By Mohamed Dhaysane, Anadolu Agency
President William Ruto during the Supreme Court @ 12 conference in Nairobi.[PCS]
President William Ruto has spoken with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, discussing several key issues.
Top of the agenda was the Kenya-led peacekeeping mission in Haiti, which Ruto has championed for months.
“I briefed President Trump on the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti and possible areas of cooperation with the US government on this important conflict-resolution initiative,” said Ruto.
The two leaders also explored ways to strengthen Kenya-US trade, investment, security, and bilateral relations. This call came shortly after Ruto spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the Haiti mission on Thursday evening.
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto on November 7 to thank him for Kenya’s continued leadership of the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti as it works with Haitian counterparts to restore peace and security for the Haitian people,” read a statement from Blinken’s office.
Ruto’s outreach is part of a concerted effort to gain more support for the peacekeeping mission in the Caribbean nation.
Last month, he urged the international community to honour their commitments to support the Haiti mission, saying there is an urgent need for personnel, logistics, and financial resources to sustain and expand the security mission.
The talks follow Trump’s election as the 47th president of the United States, raising questions about the future of Kenya-US relations.
The Palais de Justice Building which houses the Supreme Court. (Seychelles News Agency)
The Seychelles Supreme Court has sentenced a Brazilian national to 26 years in prison for the importation of a controlled drug, the police said on Friday.
According to the police, Tamires Souza Hurbath Dos Santos was intercepted at the Seychelles International Airport after his arrival on June 29. Following a search, the police seized in his possession 2,438.17 grammes of cocaine.
The Supreme Court judge ordered that the convict does not get remission on his sentence because the nature of the offence is very serious. The Court said that is becoming more common in Seychelles for foreigners to try to import drugs into the island nation.
"The judge reiterated that the fight against drugs remains a challenge and drugs are affecting the growing generation, creating health problems and social scourges in the community. Foreigners are using Seychelles as a kindergarten, for their personal benefit through illegal activities, and this must be stopped, and that this sentence will send a clear message to others, that Seychelles is not tolerating any such action in its jurisdiction," the police said in its communique.
The Supreme Court also sentenced a 44-year-old Ugandan national, Birungi Nanyondo, to eight years for the importation of a controlled drug.
Nanyondo was arrested at the Seychelles International Airport after he arrive on an Ethiopian Airline flight on May 18. The police seized 63.09 gammes of cocaine. By Victoria, Seychelles, Seychelles News Agency
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