What’s Going On: Terrorist attack in Somalia, Rwanda clamps down on indecent dressing & More

notable headlines from around the continent

Written by Tela Wangeci - 22.Aug.2022

“What’s Going On” Tallies Notable News Headlines From Across The Continent — The Good, The Bad, And The Horrible — As A Way Of Ensuring That We All Become A More Sagacious African Generation. With This Column, We’re Hoping To Disseminate The Latest Happenings In Our Socio-Political Climate From Across The Continent, Whilst Starting A Conversation About What’s Important For Us To All Discuss. From Political Affairs To Socio-Economic Issues, ‘What’s Going On’ Will Discuss Just That.

MORE THAN 20 DIE IN THE AL-SHABAB ATTACK IN MOGADISHU

According to reports from the BBC, 21 people have been confirmed dead after the Al-Shabab terrorist group invaded Hayat Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia. On Friday evening, Al-Shabab militants made their way into the hotel and detonated two car bombs, sending vast plumes of smoke and destruction over the area. Once they were inside the hotel, the attackers then opened fire on guests and staff. Police spokesperson Abdifatah Adan Hassan confirmed the cause of the initial blast was a suicide bomber who attacked with at least three other shooters.

Reports also state that the attack lasted for 30 hours, leaving at least 21 people dead and 40 wounded before the Somali authorities gained control of the hotel. On Saturday night, police commander Abdi Hassan Mohammed Hijra confirmed police officers rescued 106 people trapped in the building and successfully killed the terrorists. After the initial attack, a website affiliated with al-Shabab said a group of militants was carrying out random shootings after forcibly entering the hotel, described as a popular location for federal government employees to meet.

Security forces struggled to access the hotel’s upper floors for hours as the gunmen, holding an unknown number of people hostage, reportedly bombed the stairs.  This attack comes less than a month after the Somalian Prime Minister appointed Al-Shabaab co-founder and former spokesperson Muktar Robow as a member of the country’s new cabinet.  

RWANDAN WOMAN FACES 2 YEARS IN JAIL OVER INDECENT DRESSING

Over the weekend, people from all over Africa were filled with rage after reports circulated that the Rwandan authorities had arrested a young Rwandan woman over alleged indecent dressing. The news of her arrest and jail term arrived after a photo of her in a fish-net attire at a music concert appeared on social media. On Thursday, a judge at Kigali-based Kicukiro Primary court declined to grant her bail, with the prosecution requesting that she be detained for 30 days as the investigation continues.

The Law Determining Offences and Penalties in Rwanda, Article 143, stipulates that “any person who performs an indecent act in public, commits an offense. Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than six months and not more than two years.” As such, Liliane Mugabekazi, 24, was arrested on August 7 after the photo from a concert by renowned French musician Tayc on July 30 at BK Arena was circulated on social media. She appeared in Kicukiro Primary Court on Thursday, August 18, and was charged with public indecency.

The court case comes a few days after the Rwanda National Police Spokesperson stated on national TV that the country’s security forces are committed in taming such indecent behaviours. The police have since denied some women entry into public places and concerts in Kigali due to their “inappropriate dressing”. Rwanda National Police (RNP) says it will continue to enforce the law on public indecency, and even called on parents to educate their children so as to avoid breaking the law.

 

RAILA ODINGA CHALLENGES KENYA’S ELECTION RESULTS

Barely a week after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman, Mr. Chebukati declared William Ruto as the president-elect (NATIVE Link), the opposing presidential candidate: Mr. Odinga moved to the Supreme court on Monday challenging the eligibility of the results. Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja coalition claims it has enough evidence in the petition to prove misconduct by the electoral commission after the August 9th presidential election that resulted in a narrow win for Deputy President William Ruto. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s results said Ruto, 55, won with 50.49% of the vote against Odinga’s 48.85%.

This is Odinga’s fifth time running and third time challenging his loss in presidential elections. He filed a case through the Supreme Court after the last two elections in 2013 and 2017. In 2017, the Supreme Court ordered re-election, which Odinga boycotted after losing to incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta. The Supreme Court has 14 days from Monday to hear Odinga’s case and deliver a verdict. If the seven judges ruled in favour of 77-year-old Odinga, they could order a recount of votes, a fresh election, or award Odinga the presidency.

Preliminary findings by the Independent Policing and Oversight Authority, IPOA has revealed that the National Police Service were better organised and prepared towards management of the 2022 general election. IPOA in its report says it observed that the police largely carried out their mandate professionally and that police had sufficient logistical support in the course of their work. The report has also criticised a section of Police Commanders who were reported as non-cooperative for not sharing election related operational orders.

ALGERIAN FOREST FIRE DESTROYS 2,600 HECTARES OF LAND

According to recent reports, at least 36 people have died and several others injured in wildfires that have ravaged mountainous areas in the east of Algeria in the past week. Deadly forest fires have become an annual scourge in the north African country, where the climate crisis continues to wreck havoc and destruction on the country’s inhabitants. This latest scourge has claimed over 30 lives, and caused further destruction states the country’s Minister of Interior Kamal Beldjoudarly who told state television of the fires in El Tarf, near the border with Tunisia.

Firefighters and helicopters are trying to contain several blazes in the country’s east. Beldjoudarly added that overall, 2,600 hectares burned down due to the fires, along with nearly 1,800 hectares of brush and some 800 hectares of forest cover in El Tarf, Setif, Souk Ahras, Jijel, Skikda, and Tipasa.

Following the fire, the state deployed fire trucks, Air Force helicopters, and other capabilities to extinguish deadly fires. Over the past 24 hours, a total of 118 forest fires were registered in Algeria and 1,700 civil protection officers and 280 trucks were deployed to control the damage. On Thursday, Prime Minister Ayman bin Abd al-Rahman stated the government would offer compensation to all affected by the fire. Much of the northern hemisphere is battling extreme heat and below-average rainfall, or even drought, raising the risk of wildfires. One year ago, at least 65 were killed in wildfires in the mountainous region of Algeria.

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