Daybreak Africa - VOA Africa

On Daybreak Africa: Former US President Donald Trump has been convicted by a New York jury on all 34 felony counts. Plus, the US sanctions Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament and six others for alleged corruption. The ANC takes the lead in early results from South Africa’s presidential and provincial elections. Kenyan MPs probe alleged British army crimes. Today is World No Tobacco Day. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

Vote counting continues in South Africa’s presidential and provincial elections. Early results posted on the website of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) showed the African National Congress (ANC) with 42.54 percent, followed by the Democratic Alliance with 23.97 percent; the uMkhonto we Sizwe, or MK party, with 9.83 percent, and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) with 9.37 percent. Only 9,314 out of 23,293 voting districts have been counted. Professor Sipho Seepe, a political analyst and former deputy Vice Chancellor for Institutional Support at the University of Zululand, tells VOA’s James Butty, the race is on for which parties will be part of a coalition government in the event the ANC does not win an absolute majority

Police in Zambia have arrested two opposition lawmakers, two opposition party leaders and an activist on espionage charges. This follows their earlier allegations via social media that the government was involved in the alleged abduction of independent lawmaker Jay Jay Banda last week. Kathy Short reports from Lusaka, Zambia

A Kenyan parliamentary committee is visiting central Kenya to hear from locals about the conduct of a British Army training unit that is accused of human rights violations, including the unresolved death of a woman more than ten years ago. The Kenya National Human Rights Commission prompted the inquiry by petitioning parliament to hold the British army accountable for alleged human rights abuses. Mohammed Yusuf reports

The US government has barred several current and former Ugandan officials from visiting the United States for alleged involvement in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights. A State Department statement said Thursday the US has also imposed visa restrictions on other Ugandan officials “for undermining the democratic process and repressing members of marginalized or vulnerable populations in Uganda.” For reaction VOA’s Douglas Mpuga reached Wilfred Niwagaba, a Ugandan opposition member of parliament and Shadow Attorney General.

On Daybreak Africa: Ballots are being counted in South Africa after a nationwide poll that's been described as the most important in thirty years. Plus, the East African Community halts its activities over a financial crisis. Ugandan University students petition Parliament over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project. We’ll take you to the Africa Development Bank’s annual meeting in Nairobi. An analyst says West African leaders should do more to prevent constitutional changes to stay in power. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

An analyst says leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) should do more to prevent constitutional changes by leaders to stay in power. Ngaka Lagoke is assistant professor of history and Pan-African studies at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He says he does not condone the recent wave of military coups in West Africa, whose leaders have cited constitutional changes as a motivation for their actions. This week, the party of Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said it will be asking him to seek another term. Ouattara has yet to say whether he will run for a fourth term. Lagoke tells VOA’s James Butty, if President Ouattara seeks another term, it could violate Ivory Coast’s constitution

Ugandan University students have petitioned Parliament over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. EACOP is an 897 miles crude export pipeline system that will be constructed to transport crude oil from Uganda to a maritime port facility in Tanzania. Douglas Mpuga reports

The East African Legislative Assembly on Wednesday announced that its activities have been suspended due to a lack of funds. The announcement comes after the East African Court of Justice canceled its June session due to delayed contributions from partner states. Moses Havyarimana reports.

On Daybreak Africa: South Africa votes Wednesday as some black voters in Western Cape keep quiet about support for the opposition. Plus, South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance accuses President Ramaphosa of violating the Electoral Act. Analysts urge a shift from military to economic solutions to counter terrorism in the Sahel. Liberia’s government rescinds major developmental decisions after a public outcry. Rights Groups and CSOs in Nigeria hold a National Day of Mourning for Victims of Mass Atrocities. Biden and Trump differ over U.S. military strength. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

The Sahel region has become the new epicenter of global terrorism, prompting nations worldwide to intensify efforts to counter the violence through military training such as the Flintlock 2024 drills in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Analysts, however, say that addressing economic deficiencies in the region would be a more effective deterrent. Senanu Tord reports from Tamale, Ghana

South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed a complaint with the electoral commission accusing President Ramaphosa of violating the Electoral Act by using a televised speech on Sunday to highlight his administration’s achievements. This, electorates voted Wednesday in presidential and provincial elections. President Cyril Ramaphosa of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is seeking his second and final five-year term. While the ANC is expected to win, some analysts say the party’s victory margin could fall below 50 percent for the first time in 30 years. Helen Zille, chairperson of the DA’s federal council, tells VOA’s James Butty, the DA has asked the Electoral Commission to take away one percent of the ANC’s total votes

On Daybreak Africa: South African voters voice their expectations as early voting begins for Wednesday’s presidential elections. Plus, we will tell you the results of Afrobarometer’s latest survey of South African voters. Zambian police say they have found a missing independent member of parliament. UN agencies warn of the deteriorating humanitarian situation for an estimated 800,000 people in city of El Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region. Thomas Sankara’s brother says Burkina Faso is not ready for elections in the current environment. Biden and Trump campaign for Black votes. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

The younger brother of Burkina Faso’s late head of state, Thomas Sankara, says the country is not ready for elections in the current environment. Paul Sankara’s comment comes after Burkina Faso’s current military ruler Captain Ibrahim Traore announced on Saturday that the military will stay in power for five more years following consultations with civil society and transitional lawmakers. Paul Sankara denies his position is favoring security over democracy. He tells VOA’s James Butty, that while the country has made some progress, it is not enough to hold elections at this time.

Zambian police say they have found missing independent member of parliament Jay Banda. The MP went missing on Saturday (May 25) when his abandoned vehicle was discovered and reported to police. Some social media accounts described the missing PM as a critic of President Hakainde Hichilema and his government and suspect foul play. Others speculate that the MP might have faked his own abduction. Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu said Sunday that the government had no hand in MP Banda’s disappearance. Police spokesman Rae Hamooga tells VOA’s James Butty, MP Banda was discovered Monday lying on the kitchen doorstep of a farmhouse with bruises on his back. He had since been moved from a private health facility to a military hospital.

United Nations agencies warn the humanitarian situation for an estimated 800,000 people in the Sudanese city of El Fasher and surrounding areas is rapidly deteriorating as fighting escalates between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva

Afrobarometer, the Pan-African research network, has just published its latest pre-election survey of South African voters. Jan Hofmeyr, Head of Research and Policy at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, the Southern African core partner of Afrobarometer, tells VOA’s James Butty, voters want the next government to address unemployment, the unreliable electricity supply, and corruption. This, as Special voting for South Africa’s national and provincial elections began Monday. The South African Mail & Guardian newspaper quotes the country’s electoral commission as saying the process got off to a good start.

On Daybreak Africa: Malian opposition politicians announce the formation of a transitional government in exile. Plus, South Africa’s leading parties held their final campaign rallies over the weekend ahead of Wednesday’s vote. Zambian police investigate the mysterious disappearance of an independent member of parliament. Meanwhile, Zambia’s High Court rules on the leadership of the main opposition party. The WHO urges countries to do more in reducing under-five years mortality rates. Former President Trump faced sharp skepticism while addressing Libertarians on Saturday. For this and more tune to Daybreak Africa!

The acting president of Zambia’s main opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party says the country’s High Court missed the point when it dismissed the case brought by six PF presidential candidates challenging the election of Miles Sampa as the party president. According to the Lusaka Times, the court said the plaintiffs failed to respond to Sampa’s application to dismiss their case. Patriotic Front acting president Given Lubinda tells VOA’s James Butty, the court did not address the petitioners’ complaint that they were denied their constitutional right to participate in the party leadership election by Miles Sampa.

Zambian police are investigating the mysterious disappearance of independent member of parliament Jay Banda. Some social media accounts described the missing PM as a critic of President Hakainde Hichilema and his government and suspect foul play. But Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu told the Lusaka Times Sunday that the government had no hand in MP Banda’s disappearance. Police spokesman Rae Hamooga tells VOA’s James Butty, the case is being investigated.