Plateau recovers N2,7million through TSA

Abuja - Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau on Friday disclosed that the state government had recovered N2.7 billion through the implementation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the state.

Lalong made this known at the All Progressives Congress (APC) media roundtable in Abuja.

According to him, the money, which had hitherto been missing, was traced to some accounts in the state and have been recovered.

He said that the recovery had enabled him to pay workers in the state, who had been on strike for months, at a time. "Recently, we recovered about N2.7 billion in the state, money that was regarded as lost. We traced and recovered the money which was meant for teachers.

"Teachers, civil servants, the judiciary had gone on several months of strike; some nine, some 11 but now, since I came on board, we did our best. We now have arrears of salaries of only two months.

"For teachers, we paid all; they are back to work. The judiciary is also back to work. So, for the plateau, we are moving on well.

Also read: Kano State Govt spends N10m on recovered cattle

"In the area of corruption, we are putting pressure on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hasten their investigations so that they can begin prosecution and we can also gain recovery of looted funds,’’ Lalong said.

He said that several other cases had also been sent to the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), "which will yield results soon’’.

He disclosed that like the Federal Government, there was pressure to stop prosecution of some cases, while some people with concrete evidence refused to come out to testify.

He, however, said that such antics did not and would not deter the government from pushing for the recovery of stolen funds in the state. The governor said that he was unsure why other governors were finding it difficult to implement the TSA, disclosing that the merits of the system outweighed its demerits.

"I am not an accountant but immediately I became aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of TSA, I gave the instruction that it should be implemented.

"I organised a committee immediately and today, TSA is being implemented.

"I don't know why some governors are finding it difficult to implement TSA in their states but out of the TSA implementation in our state, we have gained some dividends.

"We are now tracing some accounts that were not known to us before and we are seeing some excesses in those accounts, especially in some of the ministries.

"So, I will advise other states that have not yet implemented TSA to do so,’’ he said.

Lalong assured that in spite of the reduction in monthly allocation to the state, there would be no downsizing of workers in the state. "It will be very difficult to downsize on the plateau; I don't intend to and I will not. All I want to do is to maintain what I have and also improve on it.

"That's why our concentration is on improving on the revenue so that we can, if possible, employ additional workforce.

"Downsizing in this present administration is going to be very difficult; the president has advised state governments and even corporate organisations not to downsize,’’ he said.

The governor said that although he was yet to pay all outstanding salaries, he would do so as soon as the Federal Government paid the bailout he applied for in full.

"Before the issue of bailout, we had already started paying workers in the state.

"When the issue of bailout came, we applied for N10 billion which was supposed to be for the arrears of salaries for about eight to nine months and so far, we have only received N5 billion.

"Plateau was supposed to get N10 billion for salaries and for infrastructure but all we have got so far from the Central Bank of Nigeria is N5 billion.

"Even with that, we have been able to clear most of the arrears of salaries; we only have an outstanding of two months salaries not paid in our state.

"We have paid all the outstanding salaries for all our local governments. If I am able to get my balance of N5 billion, within a week, all the remaining salaries would have been cleared.’’

TMG blasts Supreme Court over Rivers, Akwa Ibom judgements

Abuja - Leading election monitors in Nigeria, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has accused the Supreme Court of legalising electoral robberies with the judgments which validated the victories of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State in the 2015 general elections.

According to the group, the Supreme Court had by the verdicts refused to give judgments to the people of the two states whose will have been subverted by politicians.

The group in a statement by its  Chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said the court has decided to give judgments and not justice.

The apex court had about two weeks ago upturned the decision of the Appeal Court which nullified the election of Governor Wike.

The apex court also on Wednesday reversed the nullification of the electoral victory of Governor Udom by the Court of Appeal.

The apex court is yet to give reasons for the reversal of the judgments of the appellate court which was based on complaints of massive violence and electoral malpractices during the election.

The group statement reads: For us, it is absolutely shocking that the Supreme Court has decided to act as if it exists in another planet. The TMG is perturbed by the strange legal reasoning that has informed the blank cheque that the court has given to election riggers.

“We make bold to say that while the legal premise behind these judgments is best known to the apex court, the open reward for electoral impunity does not resonate with the Nigerian people.

“As the foremost election observation coalition in the country, we see the Supreme Court judgments as clear cut attempts at legalising electoral robberies. These judgments, particularly on Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, have merely given judicial imprimatur to the damaging mind set of rapacious politicians who would stop at nothing in their bid to subvert the will of the people.

“What these judgments what they have effectively done is to ridicule Nigeria in the eyes of the international community, while diminishing our country’s stature in the comity of lovers of democracy around the world.

“Painfully, the biggest losers are the ordinary people in the states who have been denied their democratic choices on account of the violence and impunity that characterised the polls in those states.

“In the end, what the Supreme Court has succeeded in doing is to spit on the graves of all those innocent Nigerians who lost their lives as a result of the activities of those hell bent on subverting the will of the people.”

“And in due course, those who wilfully killed and maimed in the desperate bid to capture power, would be held to account” .

“Even beyond the justice of the Supreme Court, there is the justice of the Almighty.”

What to watch for in Obama State of Union address

President Obama will deliver his seventh and final State of the Union on Tuesday.

The annual speech to Congress, which is broadcast on prime time television, is an opportunity for the president to update the nation on his policies and set out a plan for the year ahead.

With only months left in the White House, this is Mr Obama's last chance to shape his legacy.

Rajini Vaidyanathan looks back over President Obama's previous State of the Union addresses and considers what we might expect from this final one.

Latest..Buhari arrives House of Assembly for budget presentation

N396bn is voted for education, being largest sectoral allocation. The Health sector gets N296bn while Defence received N294bn, saying the administration’s actions will speak for him.

He then solicited support of Nigerians for the Nation’s economy

10.20am: Buhari addressing the joint session.

Buhari presents N6.08trn budget. He has directed the PPRA to sell petrol at N87 per litre for now. He apologises to Nigerians on fuel scarcity , saying government is working very hard to cushion the effect.

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10.15am: Senate President, Bukola Saraki, just finished addressing the joint session at the House of Representatives Chamber

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10.00am: Muhammadu Buhari arrives the House of representatives in a joint session of the House and Senate to present the 2016 budget.

WHY...Buhari sacks NDDC board, appoints Semenitari as acting MD

President Muhammadu Buhari has dissolved the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission and relieved the Managing Director of the commission, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, of his position.

In his replacement, President Muhammadu Buhari has named the immediate past Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, as the Acting Managing Director of the NDDC.

A statement signed by Bekee Anyalewechi, indicated that Semenitari would be functioning in an acting capacity pending when a substantive managing director would be appointed.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has named Mrs. Ibim Semenitari the new Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. However, Semenitari is to function in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive MD.  

“Semenitari, an award-winning journalist and media manager, had served in the Communications Directorate of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation during the 2015 presidential election.”

EFCC to question Bode George, PDP chiefs

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is concluding arrangements to invite some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party for questioning, a top source at the commission has said.

The plan is part of the ongoing investigations into the arms procurement scam and the party’s 2015 presidential campaign fund.

Our correspondent learnt that the commission had compiled a list of the PDP chieftains to be invited while the anti-graft agency was awaiting directives to summon them. The source added that the party’s chiefs might appear before the commission this week.

The top source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that it was the operational procedure of the EFCC to invite all those whose names were mentioned in the process of the investigation.

He explained that those whose names were mentioned, such as the former Board of Trustees Chairman of the party, Chief Tony Anenih; a former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, and others, who were alleged to have received part of the funds meant for arms procurement, would be questioned.

The source stated that inviting those mentioned did not necessarily mean an indictment but part of the process of investigation designed to unearth the truth.

He added, “You see, this is an investigation. In a situation like this, the commission has a thin chance of not inviting those whose names have been thrown up.

“They have to be invited to make clarifications; it does not necessarily mean that they have been indicted but it is only a standard procedure for them to appear to make clarifications where necessary.

“I think by now, Anenih, Bode George and all those who were mentioned during the investigation should have been invited but the commission has not been given the directive to pick them up.

“They know what they are doing. Anytime from now, possibly this week, they will be invited.”

The EFCC arraigned functionaries of the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, who had been mentioned as having a connection with the $2.2bn funds, said to have been meant to purchase arms to fight the Boko Haram terrorists during the past administration.

These include Dasuki, a former Minister of State for Finance, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda; and a former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa.

Others arraigned are Bafarawa’s son, Sagir; and the founding chairman, DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.

Yuguda was on November 14 reported to have said he gave N600m to six chairmen of the contact and mobilisation committees of the PDP in the 2015 elections.

He was reported to have listed George (South-West); Yerima Abdulahi (North-East); Peter Odili (South-South); Senator Jim Nwobodo (South-East), and Attahiru Bafarawa (North-West) as beneficiaries of the fund disbursement.

Nwobodo, a former governor of the old Anambra State, has said he received an equivalent of N100m (in dollars) from ex-National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mua’azu, and not from Yuguda.

On his part, George, in a statement on December 14, denied collecting N100m from Yuguda.

He said the former minister gave the PDP Contact and Mobilisation committee $30,000.

Meanwhile, the EFCC is still detaining the Managing Director of Stallion Group, Harprrie Singh, over an alleged N1.75bn gift to Yuguda.

Investigations revealed that the commission was still holding the Stallion Group MD as of the close of work on Friday.

It was gathered that the commission would invite heads of more conglomerates this week in connection with the arms probe scam.

A top operative of the commission confided in our correspondent on Sunday that the commission had not released the Stallion MD because investigation into the controversial gift was still ongoing.

The source said, “The man has not been released. He was still with the commission during the close of work on Friday. It would be very unlikely for them to release him at the weekend, especially when the investigation has not been concluded.”

The EFCC on Thursday arrested Singh for a N1.3bn gift to Yuguda. The money was said to have been given to the former minister through Dasuki.

Our correspondent could not get the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, to comment on the planned invitation of the PDP chiefs as calls to his mobile telephone did not connect.

Obama expected to move on Taiwan arms sales before year-end

The Obama administration is expected as soon as this week to authorize the sale of two guided missile frigates to Taiwan, U.S. congressional sources said on Monday, in spite of China's opposition to the deal.

"We're expecting an announcement as early as this week," a Republican congressional aide said. Another congressional aide said the notification from the administration was expected "any time now".

The sale would mark the first time in four years that the United States has shipped arms to Taiwan, the longest gap in such arms sales in nearly four decades.

It comes a year after Congress passed the Naval Transfer Act authorizing the sale of up to four Perry-class frigates to Taiwan in December 2014.

Taiwan has said it expects to pay about $176 million for the two vessels and that it would review its needs before making a decision on two more.

President Barack Obama signed the transfer act into law, but his administration still has to tell Congress its plans to move ahead with the sale, part of Washington's commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to ensure Taipei can maintain a credible defense.

The White House declined comment about the sale, which would come after increasingly intense pressure from Congress, including a unanimous vote last week by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on legislation calling on Obama to provide a timeline on when it would move forward.  

Past U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan have attracted strong condemnation in China, which considers Taiwan a renegade province.

Analysts and congressional sources believe the process has been held up by the administration's desire to maintain stable working relations with China, an increasingly powerful strategic rival but also a vital economic partner as the world's second-largest economy.

Most recently the Obama administration has been working with Beijing to forge a landmark global climate agreement that was sealed on Saturday after two weeks of intense negotiations, setting the course for a historic transformation of the world's fossil fuel-driven economy within decades.

Congressional sources said the White House was pushing to move ahead with the Taiwan deal before the end of 2015 - an important deadline because of Taipei's budget cycle.

"This is positive and helpful toward promoting regional peace and stability," Taiwan defense ministry spokesman Major General David Lo said Tuesday at a regular press briefing in Taipei, adding that the ministry has not received official notice about the authorization.

The frigates will come out of existing U.S. inventory and will not require new ships to be built.

CHINESE OPPOSITION

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy said on Friday that China "firmly opposes any arms sales from the United States to Taiwan."

"We urge the U.S. government to stop selling arms to Taiwan to avoid hurting China-U.S. relations and disturbing peaceful development of cross-strait relations."

Beijing expressed anger at last year's bill, although arms sales to date to Taiwan have not caused lasting damage to Beijing's relations with either Washington or Taipei.

The new sales would come at a period of heightened tensions between the United States and China over the South China Sea, where Washington has been critical of China's building of man-made islands to assert expansive territorial claims.

China was angered when the United States sent a guided-missile destroyer close to one of the islands in October and B-52 bombers nearby last month.

While Taiwan has been overshadowed recently as a U.S.-China issue by the South China Sea, it has the potential to flare up again, especially with Taiwanese elections coming up next month and a party which traditionally favors independence from China expected to win.

The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee last week unanimously passed the Taiwan Naval Support Act, which asked Obama to submit to Congress a timeframe for sending the ships.

Representative Eliot Engel, the ranking Democrat on the committee, called last week for more regular arms sales to Taiwan, despite China's political sensitivity on the subject.

"Our desire not to upset Beijing shouldn't come at the expense of Taiwan's security," Engel said.

In November, Republican Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations panel, wrote to Obama urging "more robust" U.S. security assistance and sales to Taiwan.

"We are troubled that it has now been over four years – the longest period since the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979 – since the administration has notified Congress of a new arms sale package," the senators wrote.

Arms Deal: Dokpesi Arraigned, Remanded In EFCC Custody

The former chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was yesterday ordered to be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending the determination of his bail application today.

Dokpesi, who is the owner of the African Independent Television (AIT) and Raypower Radio, was arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the federal high court in Abuja by the federal government over his alleged involvement in N2.1billion money laundering

But Dokpesi pleaded not guilty to the six-count criminal charges which also involved breach of public trust and procurement.

Dokpesi had been in the custody of the anti graft agency in the past eight days, facing interrogation from operatives of the EFCC on the huge sums he allegedly collected from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA).

In the charge sheet signed by Aliyu Yusuf, Deputy Director, Legal and Prosecution Department of EFCC, Dokpesi was alleged to have between October 2014 and March 2015 committed procurement fraud by fraudulently receiving N2.12billion into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the EFCC, the alleged offence is contrary to section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 and punishable under section 58 (6) and 7 of the same Act.

One of the six-count charge read thus: “that you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between October 2014 and 19 March, 2015 in Abuja, conducted procurement fraud by means of fraudulent and corrupt act, to wit: receipt of payment into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

of public funds in the sum of N2,120,000,000 from the account of the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential election campaign for the People Democratic Party (PDP) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) & (7) of the same Act”.

“That you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between October 2014 and 19 March, 2015 in Abuja, entered into a purported contract on presidential media initiative and received payment in the sum of N2,120,000,000 into the account of Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited with First Bank of Nigeria Plc. from the account of the office of National Security Adviser (NSA) with the Central Bank of Nigeria on account of the purported contract without a “Certificate of “No Objection to Contract Award” duly issued by Public Procurement Bureau and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 16 (1) (b), (4) & (5) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (6) of the same Act”.

“That you Dr. Raymond Dokpesi and Daar Investment and Holding Company Limited between 22 January and 19 March, 2015 in Abuja, knew that an aggregate sum of N2,120,000,000 directly represented the proceeds of criminal conduct of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Shuaibu Salisu who were National Security Adviser and the Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) respectively to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the said amount, used the said property and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 (b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004”.

Attempt by counsel to the accused, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), to move application for his bail yesterday was unsuccessful as the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), insisted that he had just been served with a copy of the bail application.

Jacobs told the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole that he needed time to study and react to the fundamental issues raised by the accused person in the bail application.

By consent of the two lawyers, Justice Kolawole fixed today for argument on whether to grant the bail to Dokpesi or not.

US envoy hails Buhari’s anti-corruption war

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, has commended the anti-corruption drive of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying it is a positive sign for Nigeria’s economic future.

The envoy challenged the nation to unite with the US to fight endemic corruption in Nigeria.

Speaking during the commemoration of the 2015 International Anti-Corruption Day on Tuesday in Abuja, Entwistle stated that corruption must be addressed by governments, civil society organisations and the private sector, through “top-down and bottom-up efforts.”

He said, “According to the recent Transparency International report on corruption in Africa, Nigerians were among the most likely to believe that corruption was getting worse in their country.

“President Buhari’s focus on addressing corruption is a positive indication for a secure and bright, economic future for this country. Corruption must be addressed by governments, civil society and the private sector, through both top-down and bottom-up efforts.

“The success of this fight depends on continuing efforts to ensure that citizens everywhere, as individuals, journalists, and as organised civil society, are able to expose corruption and participate in holding their governments accountable.”

FG asks court to revoke Dasuki’s bail

 Abuja - The Federal Government, on Monday asked the Abuja ‎Division of the Federal High Court to revoke the bail it granted the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, Premium Times reports.

The government, in an application it filed pursuant to section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, sought for an order ‎committing the former NSA to prison pending his trial.

‎‎It will be recalled that though Dasuki was on September 1, granted bail by the high court on self recognition, however, trial Justice Ademola Adeniyi, on November 13, while granting the defendant leave to travel abroad for medical treatment, varied his bail condition.

Justice Adeniyi ordered the erstwhile NSA to produce a surety that must be ready to face prosecution should he (Dasuki), go into hiding after his medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

The court further directed the release of his hitherto seized traveling documents, ‎ saying Dasuki should return same to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Litigation of the high court within 72 hours of his return from the three weeks medical trip.

INEC insists Audu remains APC candidate

 Abuja - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday affirmed that the Late Abubakar Audu remains the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Kogi State governorship election, reports Vanguard.

INEC’s position came after a meeting of senior INEC officials in Abuja called to ponder possible options on the issue was temporarily aborted after news emerged that Audu had ‘resurrected.

In taking the decision, the commission said it was ignorant of Audu’s death.

The commission said it will take a new position on the inconclusive election when the APC officially notifies the commission of Audu’s death.

The commission, through its Director of Voter Education, Publicity, Civil Society and Gender Liaison at the Commission, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, said it is meticulously studying the situation with a view to coming up with an appropriate position that would be fair, lawful and acceptable to all.

 

Obama places $5m bounty on head of key ISIS terrorist in charge of drafting recruits from the US and Europe.

Obama places $5m bounty on head of key ISIS terrorist in charge of drafting recruits from the US and Europe




President Obama

The US president has placed a $5million bounty on the head of a key Islamic State terrorist in charge of mobilizing foreign fighters in Syria. The man's name is Abu-Muhammad al-Shimali and last night, the US government announced the reward for information leading to the location or identification of the terrorist also known as Tirad al-Jarba.

He's a senior leader of ISIS and heads the moving of foreign fighters into Syria and processing the group’s new recruits there. He's said to be the leader of ISIS immigration and logistics committee, responsible for moving foreign terrorist fighters primarily through Gaziantep, Turkey to Jarabulus, Syria, a border town the group controls.

ISIS terrorist

Beijing vows justice as ISIS kills Chinese, Norwegian hostages

Beijing has vowed to bring ISIS to justice after the group said it had executed two hostages, a Chinese and a Norwegian.

ISIS said it had killed the two men, identified as Chinese national Fan Jinghui and Norwegian citizen Ole Johan Grimsgaard-Ofstad in its English-language online magazine Dabiq.

President Xi Jinping "strongly condemned" ISIS for the killing of Fan, the first known Chinese national to be killed by the group, and the country's foreign ministry said the Chinese government would "definitely hold the perpetrators accountable."

But how to respond to Fan's "cold-blooded and violent" death presents a dilemma for China, which has stayed on the sidelines in the fight against ISIS and has a long-held principle of noninterference in other countries' affairs.

To date, Beijing has been vague on the question of what it will contribute to the global fight against ISIS and has declined to explicitly offer its support for airstrikes being conducted against the group in Syria.

Norway also condemned the killings.

"We have no grounds to doubt the contents of the photos that have been published," Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said, according to Reuters.

The U.N. Security Council added their voice to the outrage on Friday, and called on all countries to cooperate with China and Norway to help bring those responsible for the killings to justice.

It's not known how Fan was captured by ISIS or whether he was abducted in Iraq, Syria or elsewhere. Fan doesn't appear to have a military background and worked as a high school teacher before switching to a career in advertising, according to Chinese state media.

In 2001, according to Chinese magazine Caijing, he told a Chinese radio program that he was a "drifter" but he hoped to win awards for his advertising work. When news of Fan's capture first spread in September, neighbors near his last known address told Reuters that he hadn't lived at the home in many years, and that they didn't know if he had any family.

"The Chinese government and people have been very concerned about Fan Jinghui's safety since he was kidnapped," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement Thursday.

He added the government had made "all-out" efforts to rescue him.

Rwandan senate votes to allow President Kagame a third term

Rwandan senate votes to allow President Kagame a third term

Nov 17 Rwanda's senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a draft constitution to allow President Paul Kagame to seek a third term in office, the head of the senate said, clearing the path for a referendum that is not expected to face much opposition.

Kagame, in power since 2000, won widespread praise for his role in ending a genocide in 1994 of some 800,000 people, most of them Tutsis and moderate Hutus, and for his rebuilding efforts after the conflict ceased.

But while praising Rwanda's economic and social development since then, rights groups say the government severely restricts freedom of expression and does not tolerate dissent, charges the government denies.

Kagame is the latest long-serving ruler in Africa to attempt to extend his hold on power. Similar moves have already sparked violence and instability in Burundi and Congo Republic. So far there has been no unrest in Rwanda.

"The change (of the constitution) was voted for by 26 senators. No one refused it," Bernard Makuza, senate president, said after the vote.

The draft amendments to the constitution have already been approved by the lower house. The amendments could see Kagame, who was first elected president in 2003, staying on until 2034.

The Democratic Green Party, Rwanda's only one genuine opposition party, which is tiny and has no seats in parliament, has tried to block the amendments through legal action, but the Supreme Court rejected its bid, saying it would depend on the will of the citizens.

Critics accuse Kagame, 57, of trampling on media and political freedoms, a charge officials deny. The government says it cannot be blamed if opponents fail to win at the ballot box.

A date for a referendum has yet to be decided.

In Burundi, President Pierre Nkurunziza's decision in April to run for a third term triggered months of protests and a failed coup. Opponents said the move violated the constitution and a deal that ended a civil war there. A court ruled he could run again.

In Congo Republic, voters backed a change to allow President Denis Sassou Nguesso to run for a third consecutive term. The opposition had called for a boycott of that vote and numerous protests have ended in violence.