Washington, United States | AFP | What happens if a candidate for the White House is forced to quit the race? Who steps up to fill their shoes? It’s a question suddenly in the spotlight Monday as Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton battles a case of pneumonia that left her feeling …
Read More »Hillary Clinton diagnosed with pneumonia
New York, United States | AFP | Hillary Clinton cancelled a California fundraising trip after being diagnosed with pneumonia and falling ill Sunday at a 9/11 ceremony, renewing speculation about the Democratic presidential candidate’s health barely eight weeks from Election Day. “Secretary Clinton will not be traveling to California tomorrow …
Read More »Tension as EU observers report ‘anomaly’ in Gabon vote
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Pressure mounted on President Ali Bongo of Gabon on Tuesday over a disputed election win after EU observers reported a “clear anomaly” in the vote and former colonial power France and his ex-justice minister urged a recount. Bongo claimed victory in the August 27 poll …
Read More »Electoral fraud in Africa getting trickier
Dakar, Senegal | AFP | As Gabon is rocked by violence following the contested re-election of President Ali Bongo, experts says electoral fraud in Africa is becoming harder, thanks to civil society vigilance and spread of mobile technology. Opposition leader Jean Ping on Friday declared himself the rightful president of …
Read More »Serere MP Bishop Okabe’s election nullified
Soroti High Court on Friday nullified the election of Serere County MP Bishop Patrick Okabe (NRM), blaming the Electoral Commission for organising elections without complying with Uganda’s electoral laws. The ruling followed a petition filed by Joseph Linos Opio against Okabe, Electoral Commission and National Council for Higher Education. Justice Billy Kainamura ruled that the …
Read More »Gabon parliament set ablaze after Bongo declared winner
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Angry protesters torched Gabon’s parliament Wednesday after President Ali Bongo was declared winner of what he claimed was a “peaceful and transparent” election, but which the opposition said was fraudulent. It only took a few minutes for the announcement to sink in before several of …
Read More »Gabon’s Ali Bongo vows to ‘calmly’ await election results
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon’s President Ali Bongo said Sunday that he is “calmly” waiting for the result of the country’s presidential election to be published, after his rival Jean Ping claimed victory following Saturday’s vote. “We respect the law… so we are waiting calmly for Cenap (the national …
Read More »Zimbabwe police fire tear gas, beat anti-Mugabe marchers
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Riot police in Zimbabwe fired tear gas, beat up protesters and blocked off the site of an opposition rally in Harare on Friday, the latest in a string of demonstrations to hit the country. The rally — which was authorised by a court — …
Read More »Kiggundu: No money for Uganda LC1 elections this year
The Electoral Commission (EC) has halted the process of organising Uganda’s Local Council (LC) 1 and 2 elections until they get full funding. The chairman of the commission Badru Kiggundu while meeting members on Parliament’s Legal Committee today, said that the commission has decided to halt the exercise due to lack of funds. …
Read More »Five things to know about Gabon ahead of elections
LIBREVILLE, Gabon | AFP | One of Africa’s largest oil producers and among the continent’s wealthier nations, small lush Gabon holds a presidential election Saturday at a time of rising social tension due to the global slump in oil prices. The vote sees one of the strongest challenges yet to …
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