Africa – 9 November 2014
Burkina Faso: African leaders meet to plot path to civilian govt
An AU delegation has begun talks with military leader Isaac Zida after he pledged to relinquish power to a civilian transitional government.
A delegation of West African presidents opened talks with Burkina Faso’s new military leader on Wednesday to plot a path to a civilian-led transition in the wake of the resignation of longtime ruler Blaise Compaoré last week.
Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida had pledged to hand over power to a civilian transitional government, an influential tribal ruler said on Tuesday, a day before three West African leaders were due in capital city Ouagadougou to press the army to relinquish power. Mail and Guardian
Al-Shabab locks Kenya into an endless circle of death
Kenya’s war with al-Shabab in neighbouring Somalia entered its fourth year this month, with successes on the battlefront, but increasingly painful and costly spin-offs back home.
Kenya celebrated Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) Day on October 14, marking the date three years ago when its troops entered Somalia.
As Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta led the nation in a sombre commemoration, he said defending the country and the rest of East Africa had never been more difficult. Mail and Guardian
Victory to the losers: Mozambique’s 2014 elections
Mozambique’s elections on 15 October were once again won by FRELIMO. When the results are put under scrutiny, however, they reveal the longstanding opposition party RENAMO to have been the real winners, bouncing back as Mozambiques strongest opposition party – a position which was seen by many to be under threat from the newer MDM.
Having just experienced its fifth general election since the establishment of a multiparty democratic system in 1992, Mozambique voted for a president and elected members to the national and provincial parliaments on 15 October 2014. Pambazuka.