Mondey  Nov 03, 2025 {HMC} Tanzania’s main opposition party CHADEMA on Saturday rejected the results of the national election, calling the vote an “open coup” and refusing to recognize President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s rule.

“The announcement of results is an open coup against the will of Tanzanians who have been denied their democratic right to choose the leader they want,” the party said in a statement on the US social media company X.

The electoral commission declared Hassan the winner of Thursday’s election with 97.66% of the vote, securing more than 31.9 million of the 32.7 million ballots cast. The result extends her presidency for a second term.

CHADEMA was barred from participating in the election in April after missing the deadline to sign the electoral code of conduct. Its chairman, Tundu Lissu, was jailed the same month on treason charges he denies after leading a “no reforms, no election” campaign.

“These results have no validity whatsoever, because the truth is that no election took place in Tanzania. Citizens did not participate in the October 29 election due to the absence of free and fair conditions and the lack of a level political playing field,” the party said.

Hassan said her landslide win reflected the people’s mandate for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party to deliver on its promises, according to local media.

Congratulating her rivals for “conducting campaigns with civility,” she urged Tanzanians to unite and praised the electoral commission for what she called a “free, open, and fair” vote, The Citizen daily reported.

The polls were marred by reports of violence, opposition boycotts, and widespread internet disruptions.

The UN Human Rights Office said at least 10 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters after the results were announced, while CHADEMA claimed the toll was far higher.

Party spokesperson John Kitoka told reporters more than 700 people had been killed since the election period began, accusing authorities of targeting opposition supporters.

Hassan described protests in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Songwe as “neither civil nor patriotic.”

CHADEMA said the nationwide demonstrations were “clear proof that citizens did not participate in what is being called an election and that they do not accept anyone emerging from this flawed electoral process.”

According to the electoral commission, voter turnout was nearly 87%.

The party urged the international community not to recognize Hassan’s presidency, saying “she lacks legitimacy because she has not been elected by the citizens of Tanzania.”

This was Tanzania’s first full national poll under Hassan, 65, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli.

She has pledged unity and economic stability in her second term, but the scale of her victory and the reported crackdown on dissent have drawn criticism from domestic and international observers who warn of shrinking democratic space in the East African nation.

The African Union and East African Community have called for calm and respect for human rights, urging authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in handling post-election unrest.

Source Hiiraan Online

Mondey  Nov 03, 2025 {HMC}Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Giza on Saturday on the sidelines of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) inauguration.

The meeting focused on the arrangements for the deployment of Egyptian forces to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

According to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of securing adequate and sustainable international funding to enable AUSSOM to effectively carry out its mandate. He underscored that Egypt’s participation reflects its firm commitment to African-led peace and security initiatives.

Established in August 2024 to succeed the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), AUSSOM is tasked with supporting the Somali government in consolidating gains against Al-Shabaab and strengthening state institutions ahead of a full security handover.

Earlier this year, Egypt announced it would contribute troops and logistical support to AUSSOM — marking its first major peacekeeping deployment under the AU framework in over a decade. The move signals Cairo’s renewed engagement in regional stability and African-led solutions in the Horn of Africa.

In September 2025, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Egyptian troops deploying to Somalia will assume control of Sector Five in the Middle Shabelle region, replacing Burundian forces set to withdraw in the coming weeks.

President Mohamud confirmed the Egyptian contingent will be stationed between the districts of Balcad and Mahaday, rejecting media reports suggesting they would deploy to the Gedo region near the Ethiopian border, where Ethiopian forces are already based.

Source Hiiraan Online

Mondey  Nov 03, 2025 {HMC} The Somali Ministry of Youth and Sports has suspended the President and Secretary-General of the Somali Olympic Committee (SOC), Ahmed Abdi Hassan Wataac and Mohamed Abdow Haaji, over alleged misconduct.

In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the decision followed preliminary findings from an internal investigation, which indicated that the two officials had engaged in actions contrary to the rules, ethics, and governance principles of the national sports body.

According to the ministry, their conduct undermined trust between the ministry and the Olympic Committee’s sub-committees.

“This step is intended to strengthen the transparency, accountability, and independence of Somali sports organizations,” said Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Abdulqadir Ali.

Attempts to reach Chairman Wataac for comment were unsuccessful. However, he later said he would respond to the allegations at an appropriate time.

Wataac and Haaji were elected to their respective positions a year ago during the ninth Somali Olympic Committee elections, serving four-year terms.

The Somali Olympic Committee elects its leadership, which includes a president, a secretary-general, and vice presidents.

Source Hiiraan Online

According to an official letter signed by SCAA Director General Ahmed Moallim Hassan on Sunday, the authority said the incident violated Somalia’s immigration and aviation regulations and posed a potential threat to border and national security.

“The passenger brought by Flydubai to Hargeisa was found not to have the required Somali visa prior to travel, which is in direct violation of the country’s regulations,” the statement read.

The SCAA ordered the airline to immediately implement strict verification procedures to ensure all passengers traveling to Somalia, particularly to Hargeisa, obtain a valid Somali e-Visa before departure.

The agency warned that failure to comply could result in legal action, including financial penalties, suspension of Flydubai’s flights to Hargeisa, or a review of the airline’s operating permit within Somali airspace.

The authority emphasized that adherence to immigration laws is not only a legal requirement but also a demonstration of mutual respect for national sovereignty and international aviation standards.

In response, Somaliland’s Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Development issued a new order requiring all civil aircraft — scheduled, non-scheduled, and commercial — to apply for an overflight permit before entering, transiting, or flying over Somaliland’s airspace.

The directive, set to take effect on November 10, 2025, was announced to “reflect Somaliland’s full sovereignty over its land, airspace, and seas,” according to the ministry’s statement.

The e-Visa enforcement marks the latest flashpoint in the long-running sovereignty dispute between Mogadishu and Hargeisa, complicating travel, diplomacy, and regional cooperation. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not gained international recognition. Despite multiple rounds of talks since 2012 — held in London, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Djibouti — no political settlement has been reached.

Source Hiiraan Online