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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Togo groups say recent protests left 7 dead
At least seven people were killed and many others wounded during recent anti-government protests in the Togolese capital Lome, according to an initial count civic groups gave journalists Sunday. Campaigning groups and rights organisations denounced "abuses committed by members of the Togolese security forces and militias", and said seven bodies had been recovered from rivers in the capital. They also reported "dozens of wounded" and "more than 60 arrests during the three days of demonstrations held from Thursday to Saturday. The Togolese authorities, who have yet to provide an official toll from the recent protests, on Sunday denied the deaths were linked to the unrest. "Forensic analysis revealed that these deaths occurred as a result of drowning," the government said in a statement, without commenting on the number of bodies recovered. "I would like to congratulate our fellow citizens for their good behaviour and also the professionalism of our security forces, and above all, to reassure them that the government will take all necessary measures to protect Togolese citizens," Hodabalo Awate, minister of territorial administration, said on state television Sunday evening. - 'Unacceptable' - Earlier, David Dosseh of "Front Citoyen Togo Debout" told AFP that "we are in a country where citizens still have the right to go out, to express themselves." "They should not face this state-imposed brutality, it is unacceptable," he added. "We are not animals, we are sons of this country, and as sons and citizens of this country, the Constitution gives us the right to express ourselves and to demonstrate peacefully." Protests are rare in Togo, where President Faure Gnassingbe has maintained his grip on power since 2005, succeeding his father who ruled for nearly four decades. But on Thursday morning, small pockets of up to dozens of protesters blocked streets, burned tyres and wooden barricades in the capital, where many businesses remained closed. People have been protesting against a crackdown on critical voices, rising electricity prices and a constitutional reform that allowed Gnassingbe, now 59, to further consolidate his power. On June 5 and 6, police arrested about 50 protesters, mainly young people. Most have since been released but Amnesty International has denounced cases of alleged "torture". The government responded that it had not been officially informed of such abuses and condemned protesters' "clear will to sow disorder and chaos". In mid-June, Togo blocked France 24 television and Radio France Internationale for three months, accusing the outlets of having relayed "inaccurate and biased statements" following the early June protests. ek/gv/jj
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Uganda's President Museveni confirms bid to extend nearly 40-year rule
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed he will contest next year's presidential election, setting the stage for a potential extension of his nearly 40-year rule. The 80-year-old announced late on Saturday that he had expressed his interest 'in running for … the position of presidential flag bearer' for his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Museveni seized power in 1986 after a five-year civil war and has ruled ever since. The NRM has altered the constitution twice to remove term and age limits, clearing the way for Museveni to extend his tenure. Rights groups accused him of using security forces and state patronage to suppress dissent and entrench his power – claims he denies. Museveni said he seeks re-election to transform Uganda into a '$500bn economy in the next five years'. According to government data, the country's current gross domestic product stands at just under $66bn. Ugandans are due to vote in January to choose a president and members of parliament. Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a pop star-turned-politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has confirmed he will run again. Wine rejected the 2021 results, alleging widespread fraud, ballot tampering and intimidation by security forces. Tensions have risen in recent months after parliament passed a law allowing military courts to try civilians, a practice the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in January. The government insisted the change is necessary to tackle threats to national security, but rights organisations and opposition figures argued it is a tool to intimidate and silence critics. Uganda for years has used military courts to prosecute opposition politicians and government critics. In 2018, Wine was charged in a military court with illegal possession of firearms. The charges were later dropped. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticised Uganda's military courts for failing to meet international standards of judicial independence and fairness. Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at HRW, said this year: 'The Ugandan authorities have for years misused military courts to crack down on opponents and critics.'
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Algeria sentences French football journalist to seven years in jail
Algerian authorities have sentenced a French sports journalist, known for his coverage of African football, to seven years in prison on charges of "gloriying terrorism", according to media rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Christophe Gleizes, 36, a contributor to So Foot magazine, was ordered by a court in Tizi Ouzou to be taken into custody immediately. Algeria's authorities have sentenced a prominent French sports journalist specialised in African football to seven years in prison for "glorifying terrorism", media rights campaigners RSF said Sunday, denouncing the verdict as "nonsensical". Christophe Gleizes, 36, who contributes to the So Foot magazine, was ordered by the court in Tizi Ouzou to be immediately incarcerated and will appeal the ruling on Monday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said. "He has now been unjustly convicted and imprisoned for simply doing his job," said the group. Gleizes, who has co-authored a book about football in Africa, was arrested in May 2024 and then placed under judicial control and was unable to leave the country, RSF said. "Christophe Gleizes has been subjected to an absurd judicial control order for over a year," said Thibaut Bruttin, RSF's director general. "We are in shock," his family said in a statement shared by RSF. (FRANCE 24 with AFP) Read more on FRANCE 24 EnglishRead also:Algeria summons ambassador after France indicts consular official in dissident's abductionAlgeria issues arrest warrants for writer Daoud amid escalating tensions with France
