Jakaya Kikwete re-elected president
President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania has been re-elected for the second term in office following last weekend's elections. The Electoral Commission announced that President Kikwete won by about 61% of the votes. He has been credited with boosting the nation's economy, but his opponents say he has failed to tackle widespread poverty with over 50% of Tanzanians still living below the poverty line according to the IMF. Mr. Willibrod Slaa, the main opposition leader had called for a recount of the votes, but the Electoral Commission responded that there was no sufficient evidence of widespread irregularities to warrant the nullification of the final results.
Constitutional Council confirms presidential poll results in Ivory Coast
Constitutional Council in Ivory Coast has validated the results of last week's presidential election which will see President Laurent Gbagbo and opposition leader Alassane Ouattara square-off in a run-off scheduled for 28 November 2010. The Council confirmed preliminary results which gave President Gbagbo around 38% of the votes, short of the 50% needed to avoid a second round, followed by Mr. Ouattara, with 32%. Mr Ouattara and the coalition of four opposition parties had earlier called for a recount of the votes. According to a statement read by Alphonse Djedje Mady spokesman for the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP), "Serious irregularities" in the first round "led to the loss of hundreds of thousands of votes for RHDP candidates to the benefit" of Mr. Gbagbo.
Guinea votes in presidential run-off election
The people of Guinea went to the polls for a presidential run-off election on 7 November 2010.It had been hailed as the country's first democratic election since independence from France in 1958. The former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo, and Alpha Conde - come from Guinea's two largest ethnic groups. Their supporters have clashed many times since the first round in June, and the run-off had been delayed twice. Both presidential hopefuls came together on Friday night to issue a joint statement calling for calm during and after voting. Mr Diallo expressed their "commitment to strive for a peaceful, free and democratic election" throughout Guinea."We urgently appeal to all citizens of our country to carry out their civic duty in peace, tranquillity and serenity... and that they make election day on 7 November and the post-election period, a historic moment of rediscovered brotherhood," he said. Mr Conde added: "We call on the authorities to make every effort to ensure the safety of one and all across the country. We reiterate our commitment to putting the best interests of our nation above all."But it is remains a high risk of violence between the country’s to largest ethnic group-Peul and Manding-if the results are challenged.
On its part, the Electoral Commission said that it will publish the results from Sunday's election run-off as soon as they come in to allay fears of rigging which could spark violence. International observers have praised the peaceful nature of the presidential second round but warned the vote was just the beginning of the process. The African Union observer mission head Edem Kodjo urged the election commission to publish the results at each polling station to ensure transparency.
ECOWAS Court of Justice rules
A West African Regional Court – ECOWAS Court of Justice has ordered Niger's junta to release President Mamadou Tandja, whom they overthrew in February 2010 from house arrest. Delivering a judgement in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, the ECOWAS Court stated that M.r Tandja's detention was illegal. The Government lawyers said they would appeal against the judgement. Voters in Niger last month backed a new constitution designed to return the country to civilian rule. It provides for elections in January 2011 and a transfer of power in April 2011. It also reduces the powers of future presidents and limits them to two terms in office
US offers to remove Sudan from State terror list
On Sunday, US officials said that President Barack Obama had offered to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism as early as July 2011, and lift the related sanctions, if the north ensured the two parallel referendums took place as scheduled on 9 January 2011 and that it accepted the outcomes. Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, passed on the offer during a visit to Khartoum over the weekend. But the sanctions relating to Darfur - which Mr Obama extended for another year on 1 November 2010 - would reportedly remain until the government made progress in resolving the humanitarian situation there.