Official assurances about the improving health of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, hospitalised in France in April, have failed to convince many Algerians, as analysts warn that hiding such details is harder than it was.
On Tuesday, France's defence ministry said Bouteflika was moved from the Val-de-Grace military hospital in Paris to a new facility in the French capital "to continue his convalescence".
But it gave few other details and no pictures have emerged of the 76-year-old president since he suffered a mini-stroke nearly four weeks ago, which has merely stoked speculation about his condition.
Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal had on Monday denounced the "false information carried by certain foreign media," insisting that Bouteflika's illness would soon be "no more than an unpleasant memory".
Sellal said he was "following up daily on the activities of the government".
But experts are wary of such pronouncements, with precedents in France and Algeria of the public being kept in the dark about their ailing leaders, which they say is harder in the internet age.
"Secrecy surrounding the illnesses of heads of state is not right in Algeria," said Brahim Brahimi, head of the Algiers school of journalism.
He referred to the case of former French president "Francois Mitterand, who came to power in 1981 with a cancer that was kept secret for years".
"It's not new. What is new is that with the internet, with social media, we can no longer hide anything," Brahimi added.
He said the Algerian authorities started well, when Bouteflika was flown to Paris for treatment on April 27 following his latest health scare, by responding to popular demand for information and admitting he was ill.
But since then, the occasional and reactive information has only encouraged rumours.
As with the seizure of two opposition newspapers on Saturday for reporting that Bouteflika had been flown back to Algeria last week after lapsing into a coma, which prompted strident official denials that his condition had worsened.
"The mistake by the authorities is the fact that for the past ten days the state institutions have not played their part," Brahimi said, pointing out that before Monday's announcement Sellal last broached the subject on May 11, to say the president was "well".
Kamel Daoud, columnist for French-language Quotidien d'Oran, suggested the authorities were "no longer managing the president's health, like in December 1978," an allusion to Bouteflika's mentor, former president Houari Boumediene.
Like Bouteflika, Algeria's post-independence strongman appeared increasingly rarely towards the end of his rule, and the illness from which he suffered prior to his death on December 27, 1978 was kept secret for months.
"They need to make a sincere and courageous effort," said Daoud, who described as a "humiliation" the fact that it was the French government "which informs us that Bouteflika is still in Paris".
Arabic daily Echorouk also lamented that the "French secret services are precisely informed about the president's health" while Algerians remain in the dark.
Two days after Bouteflika was transferred to France, his doctor in Algeria, Rachid Bougherbal, was quoted by Algerian daily Ennahar saying the president was on the mend and would return to Algeria in "not more than seven days."
But despite his departure from hospital, uncertainty looms over the president's health, in a country whose politics are typically shrouded in secrecy.
Algerian prosecutors have accused Hichem Aboud, the editor of the two newspapers seized last week, of "undermining state security" and ordered a criminal investigation.
"The ruling clan is managing a vacuum resulting from the head of state's illness. If the illness is not so bad as they suggest, they only have to show him on television," said one political expert, requesting anonymity.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/05/20135212093104796.html
Under-fire Gen David Sejusa is fighting to retain his seat in Parliament following reports that the army is planning to declare him a deserter and effectively unseat him, The Observer has learnt.
Sejusa’s lawyers say they have information to the effect that the army’s High Command, set to convene soon, is likely to make that move, among others. Gen Sejusa, aka Tinyefuza is holed up in Europe after a letter he wrote to the Director General of Internal Security Organisation (ISO) rattled the establishment.
In the letter, Sejusa asks Col Ronnie Balya to investigate allegations about a plot to assassinate government officials perceived to be opposed to a possible Brig Muhoozi Kainerugaba presidency. Brig Kainerugaba, head of the Special Forces Command, is President Museveni’s son.
Declaring him a deserter, experts say, would make Sejusa a fugitive wanted in Uganda for prosecution and thus unable to represent the army in Parliament anymore. His lawyer, Joseph Luzige, told The Observer on Monday that he has received instructions from Sejusa to fight such a move.
Luzige said he would write to the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, to remind her that she approved his client’s trip.
“Under the law, the Army Council can’t declare our client a deserter because he officially wrote to the speaker. To do this, he must be heard either in the same Army Council or courts of law and acquitted or convicted,” Luzige said.
Brig Henry Tumukunde, who was recently acquitted by the army’s General Court Martial over various charges, lost his seat in 2005 after the army demanded that he resign. However, the Supreme court later ruled that his removal had been unconstitutional.
Much as he couldn’t comment about Sejusa’s fate, UPDF Spokesperson Lt Col Paddy Ankunda confirmed to The Observer on Monday that the High Command would meet anytime this week to discuss the controversy stoked by Sejusa’s outburst.
However, it seems a negotiated end to the saga is still possible. The Observer has learnt that major generals Kahinda Otafiire, Jim Muhwezi, and former minister Matthew Rukikaire, have been asked to speak to Sejusa.
Our source says the trio’s mission is to persuade Sejusa to apologise and be pardoned.
Contacted on Monday, Otafiire said: “Even if the president has enlisted me to speak to Gen Sejusa, would discuss it with you? It is commonsense that I can’t discuss a matter of generals with you. My friend, leave the matter of the generals to the generals,” he said.
On his part, Rukikaire said on phone: “I have no comment, but I can’t deny anything.”
Muhwezi couldn’t be reached. We have further learnt that Sejusa wants to negotiate his safe return. There are plans for his lawyers to travel to Europe to discuss this matter further. According to our sources, Sejusa prefers that the army or police summon him for questioning rather than manhandle him at the airport or thereafter.
“If government is serious about negotiations for his safe return, our team is also in position to cancel a few things, like telling his supporters not to go to Entebbe International airport to meet him when he comes back,” said Luzige.
Sejusa also wants the state to stop harassing his staff and youth leaders. On Sunday, at least four people were arrested while pinning up posters welcoming Sejusa in different parts of Kampala.
Those arrested include Francis Matovu, alias Bbutto, Mohammed Sserunjogi, Dan Matovu and Allan Kitonsa. They were allegedly found with about 10,000 posters. Luzige told us that while Francis Matovu is held at Jinja Road police station, others were taken to other detention centres, including Kireka.
During a meeting at State House on Wednesday last week, President Museveni told youth allied to Sejusa that the embattled general would be arrested and prosecuted on his return if he didn’t apologise. He urged the youth to leave Sejusa issues to the army.
http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25426:updf-now-seeks-to-unseat-mp-sejusa&catid=34:news&Itemid=114
Mr Obama is expected to meet lawmakers as well as business and civil society leaders and youth on his trip.
The 26 June - 3 July visit will be Mr Obama's second to sub-Saharan Africa as president. He spent less than a day in Ghana in 2009.
Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush both visited Africa during their second terms in office.
Mr Clinton visited six countries while Mr Bush went to five.
"The president will reinforce the importance that the United States places on our deep and growing ties with countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including through expanding economic growth, investment, and trade; strengthening democratic institutions; and investing in the next generation of African leaders," the White House said in a statement.
"The trip will underscore the president's commitment to broadening and deepening cooperation between the United States and the people of sub-Saharan Africa to advance regional and global peace and prosperity."
Analysts say such trips are common for US presidents after they are relieved of the pressure of domestic campaigning.
Meanwhile, a developing threat of Islamist militants in the west African country of Mali has raised the region's profile in Washington.
First Lady Michelle Obama is due to accompany Mr Obama on his trip.
By Monitor Editors
A free press is an essential part of a democracy. It is not a luxury. A free press holds the powerful and the wealthy to account. It asks questions. It investigates. It defends the weak. The press is not perfect.
But better an imperfect media than a passive one, which does as it is told by those who have power and money. That is the route to dictatorship.Today the freedom of the press in Uganda is under threat.Armed police surrounded yesterday the offices of the Monitor. Detectives searched the building.
They shut down KFM and Dembe, the two radio stations which are owned by the Monitor’s parent company, Monitor Publications, which operate out of the same building.Red Pepper, the boisterous tabloid, was given the same treatment.The government has grown increasingly angry about the media’s coverage of what has become known as the General David Sejusa affair.The Monitor broke the story and has reported it objectively and accurately.
This newspaper does not know if the claims by Gen Sejusa, commonly known as Tinyefuza about sinister plots over the succession to the President are true. However, we have a duty to report what the general, as a senior figure in the establishment, is saying. We also have a duty to report what others, enemies and friends, say about him.By raiding the Monitor and Red Pepper Government has elevated a story about feuding within Uganda’s government and military into an international incident.
They have lost the chance to put across their side of the story.In today’s world, of instant, 24 hour news, transmitted in a myriad of ways, it is impossible to silence criticism by attacking radios and newspapers. The government should remember that.
Following the Monday afternoon police raid at the Monitor Publication head offices in Namwongo, the Managing Editor, Mr Alex Asimwe, issued a statement condemning the unwarranted development. Below is the statement in full.
FULL STATEMENT
The management of Monitor Publications Ltd strongly condemns the closure by Uganda Police today of its newspaper, The Monitor, and its Radio Stations, KFM and Dembe FM. About 50 armed men in Police Uniform stormed the company's premises at Namuwongo at noon with a Search warrant, blocked all exits and insisted they wanted to conduct a search.
They claimed to be looking for a document associated with a story that has been widely covered by all media quoting a letter from General David Tinyefuza to the head of the internal intelligence services on an alleged assassination plot.
Instead of carrying out the search, the armed men disabled the printing press, computer servers and radio transmission equipment.
The intention was to prevent the Monitor from operating broadcasting and printing its newspapers.
"We are horrified by this act, which is a gross disregard of Ugandan Law and a violation of The Monitor's constitutional right, said Mr. Alex Asiimwe, The MPL Managing Director. "This matter is in court and management has contested the demand by the police for us to disclose the source of the story, and the matter is yet to be decided."
He added: "It is particularly perturbing that the police ordered our operations shut down under the pretext of carrying out a search. It is unacceptable that our business should be crippled on a dispute which should be settled in court."
By this afternoon Police were still at the Monitor's premises as management sought to vacate the court order granted to them by a magistrate.
We thank our listeners and customers for their support and assure them that we are making every effort to resume our newspaper and broadcast operations.
In a statement, it said 14 enemy fighters had been killed and 20 apprehended since Saturday.
The army added that three of its soldiers had died in the fighting.
The BBC's Will Ross in the capital Abuja says it is not possible to verify any of this information.
Meanwhile, there are reports of many civilians crossing into Cameroon and Niger as they fear getting caught up in the offensive.
Efforts have been made to close the borders but they remain porous and the army is said to be having difficulty distinguishing between the Islamist militants of Boko Haram and civilians.
Nigeria is waging its biggest campaign to date against Boko Haram in three north-eastern states, having declared a state of emergency there on Tuesday.
Our correspondent says that a possible sign of how well resourced Boko Haram has become is the army's claim that the rebels are trying to move scores of vehicles from its camps, which have been targeted in the offensive.
Saturday saw a 24-hour curfew imposed in parts of the city of Maiduguri, an important base for Boko Haram.
Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states - Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe - after a series of deadly attacks by militant groups.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged the Nigerian army to show restraint and not violate human rights as it pursues the militants.
Mr Kerry said there were "credible allegations" of "gross human rights violations" by the Nigerian military.
Last November, Amnesty International accused Nigeria's security forces of carrying out widespread abuses in their campaign against Boko Haram, including extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.
More than 2,000 people have died in violence in Nigeria since 2010, most of which is blamed on Boko Haram.
The group, whose name means "Western education is forbidden", says its quest is to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state.
There has been growing concern that Boko Haram is receiving backing from al-Qaeda-linked militants in other countries.
President Museveni has said thumbprint machines will be imported for use during the 2016 general elections.
This is in a move mooted to identify genuine voters, eliminate stealing of votes and double voting.
“In future, all that [multiple voting] will stop. We are importing machines for thumb printing in 2016. We shall use thumbprints to know who this is and if you try to steal, the machine will throw you out,” Mr Museveni is quoted in a State House statement.
Mr Museveni’s announcement comes weeks after the Electoral Commission (EC) released a roadmap to guide political parties and voters ahead of the 2016 polls which did not feature the use of thumbprint machines.
The President, who made the announcement while flagging off the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer for Butebo County by-elections in Butebo Sub-county headquarters on Saturday, did not provide details on the importation of thumbprint machines.
Dr Patrick Lodoi Mutono, the NRM flag-bearer, is contesting against six other candidates for the polls set for June 6.
Opposition parties and activists contend that the adoption of a Biometric Voters Register (BVR) is the most credible shield against multiple registration of voters and unsuccessfully demanded that the BVR be included in the EC’s “The Strategic Plan 2013-2017”.
EC officials insist a BVR will be used come 2016, but have failed to provide an elaborate explanation on how it will work.
They say troops raided parts of a game reserve in Borno state where the Boko Haram group has established bases.
The raids came after states of emergency were declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa north-eastern states, where 2,000 people have died since Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in Adamawa to curb militant attacks.
A BBC reporter in Adamawa says that decision is surprising, as the security situation there is less serious than in Borno and Yobe.
On Thursday soldiers raided "terrorist camps" in the Sambisa Game Reserve, a remote 500 sq km (200 sq mile) savannah in Borno that is known to be a haven for Boko Haram militants, officials are quoted as saying.
Nigerian military spokesman Brig Gen Chris Olukolade said "every resource available" to the armed forces would be used against Boko Haram.
Correspondents say this means fighter jets and helicopter gunships are likely to be deployed.
When asked whether this would not put civilians in harm's way, Brig Gen Olukolade said the targeted bases were in unpopulated areas close to Nigeria's borders.
Our reporter says the hardest part of this campaign will be in urban areas like the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, where the Islamist militants are living among the civilian population.
Mobile phone networks were not functioning in many parts of north-east Nigeria on Thursday, but our reporter says it is not clear if this is related to the current military offensive.
Militants have previously attacked mobile phone masts in the area in an effort to disrupt communications.
The BBC's Abdullahi Tasiu Abubakar in Adamawa city says many there feel the curfew is unnecessary and will disrupt their lives.
Our reporter adds that there is no sign of a huge military build-up in the city since President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in the three states.
The president said the army would take "all necessary action" to "put an end to the impunity of insurgents and terrorists".
Boko Haram, whose name means "Western education is forbidden" in the local Hausa language, is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state in the north.
Although they often attack Christians and government targets, they have also killed many Muslim civilians.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22557727
The search and rescue mission has ended with no more people found trapped in the rubble, Rwandan police said in a statement on Wednesday.
Officials said 18 people were being treated in hospital. Twelve others were discharged earlier after receiving treatment.
The dead and injured were believed to be mainly construction workers.
The four-storey building in Nyagatare, about 100km (60 miles) north-east of the capital Kigali, was under construction when it came down on Tuesday.
"Six people working on the site died as the result of the building collapse," Rwanda's police said in a statement. "The search and rescue mission... has been completed and the site is clear."
Initial reports had said that as many as 100 people had been feared trapped, but as rescue efforts began officials scaled back the numbers of those involved.
Police said they would be conducting an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
French President Francois Hollande, co-chair of the Brussels conference, said rich country pledges had exceeded the $2.5bn anticipated.
Mali's president said the world had "unanimously moved in the direction of Mali".
The conference is the first since France sent troops to oust Islamist rebels from northern Mali in January.
Mali's government has a 4.3bn-euro plan for "a total relaunch of the country".
It includes rebuilding government institutions and the military, repairing damaged infrastructure, organising presidential elections, holding dialogue with rebel groups in the north and stimulating the economy.
"We need water, health, justice, jobs, fairness," said Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore.
Mr Hollande said: "Mali is on the road to recovery."
"It is recovering its territorial integrity, is actively preparing for the presidential elections in July and, with the international donor conference in Brussels, is making progress in its development."
The BBC's International development correspondent, Mark Doyle, says that not all of the pledges may actually be delivered.
He points out that all sorts of techniques will have been used to massage the figures. For example, donor countries often "double count" their aid, pledging it several times under different headings and at different meetings.
On Tuesday the European Union pledged 520m euros (£442m; $673m) to help the country. Mr Traore had described the donation as "a good start".
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the money would help the West African state become "stable, democratic and prosperous".
Mr Barroso said the aid would benefit Europe as well as Africa.
"The support of the international community is essential to establish a Mali that is stable, democratic and prosperous," he added. "But the principal actors in this transition are the Malians themselves and their government."
He said the EU welcomed the Transition Roadmap, aimed at establishing a full return to democracy and stability in the country, and the Plan for the Sustainable Recovery of Mali, which Malian officials presented at the conference on Wednesday.
Officials had said 103 international delegations, including 10 heads of state and government, would attend the meeting, which was organised by Mr Barroso, Mr Traore and Mr Hollande.
Since the French-led military intervention at the start of the year, the Islamist rebels have been pushed back from the main urban centres of northern Mali. However, some fighters have retreated to hideouts in the mountains and desert, from where they launch isolated attacks.
Tens of thousands of refugees also remain in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger.
France nevertheless began withdrawing the first of its 4,500 troops in the country last month. It hopes to have only 1,000 remaining by the end of the year.
They are due to work alongside peacekeepers from the United Nations' Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma).
Mr Traore told a news conference on Tuesday that Mali's presidential elections would take place on 28 July, after months of speculation about the date. He said neither he nor any member of the transitional government would stand in the poll.
The BBC's Mark Doyle says the Islamists were only able to occupy large parts of Mali in the first place because of because of a weak and corrupt central government.
Rebuilding state institutions is therefore a priority, but it is also an enormous task, our correspondent says.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22535265
The Inspector General of Government has reduced, to 10, the fraud and mismanagement allegations against the top leadership of National Social Security Fund.
In an interview with the Daily Monitor, Ms Irene Mulyagonja said everything has been put in place and the investigation will start on May 20 by a team of four top investigators.
“The allegations brought forward by the whistle-blower totalling up to 25 have been broken down into 10 bigger categories to ease the work, but I cannot tell the time frame for the investigations,” Ms Mulyagonja said.
The 10 broader categories, among others, include fraudulent transactions, mismanagement by the top managers and abuse of office.
“I am confident that the team will get to the bottom of everything,” she said.
A fortnight ago, a whistle-blower leaked a 24-point document to the Daily Monitor, accusing NSSF top management of mismanaging the workers’ savings by flouting laid down procedures and ignoring expert opinion for self aggrandisement.
One of the fraudulent transactions, the whistle-blower mentioned, is the sale of a plot of land in Namirembe, a city suburb, at Shs650 million to Malibu Holdings Limited yet the property valuer, Mr Denis Lutaalo, had put it at Shs1 billion.
Mr Lutalo had asked the NSSF leadership to either sell the land at the real market value or drop the idea of selling it because the Shs650 million was below the cost of the plot by Shs56 million in normal terms and Shs814 million in real terms.
However, in a communique to the Daily Monitor, the NSSF managing director, Mr Richard Byarugaba, said the Fund resolved to dispose of all the plots because they were idle assets tying up money that would otherwise be earning income.
“The land sale was authorised by PPDA, the Contracts Committee, the accounting officer and the Solicitor General. ,” his statement read, adding that the land in question had no access road.
“The Fund did not deem it necessary to apply for an access road because it was not intending to develop the land, and the prospective buyer owned all the surrounding land, reason why PPDA approved direct disposal to that bidder,” he said.
The Inspectorate’s spokesperson, Ms Ali Munira, acknowledged the existence of Mr Kasirye, who was also accused of hobnobbing with the top NSSF bosses to bury the rot from reaching the IGG’s office.
“The IGG is in the know of the circumstance in which Mr Kasirye met with the NSSF managing director and it will be investigated,” she said.
However, Mr Byarugaba, in his communique to this newspaper said the deputy managing director’s visit (to the accused IGG staff) “was official”.
Further, the dossier also says the NSSF leadership also committed Shs25 billion of workers’ savings to buy shares in Umeme Ltd without green light from the Solicitor General, who advised the Fund that the transaction was irregular.
A copy of a January 10 letter from the Solicitor general to the NSSF Corporation Secretary shows that NSSF Management jumped the gun and purchased the shared without approval and attempted to secure it retrospectively.
However, the Fund’s managing director said the investment in Umeme was undertaken in line with NSSF’s investment procedures and after a thorough due diligence.
“Currently, Umeme is trading at Shs315, up 14.5 per cent from the listing price. With all the Fund’s trades in the secondary market executed at Shs275, the Fund’s average purchase price, inclusive of trading fees, is only Shs276. The value of our investment has, therefore, appreciated by Shs5 billion in less than 6 months.”
However, Minute 77.8 of the 5th Extra-ordinary meeting of the December 18, 2012 ninth board meeting says members noted with concern that the board was not involved in approval of the transaction (buying of Umeme shares) amid reports of conflict of interest.
