Guinean President says security guards protected him in Paris from threats of violence
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Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló defended his security team on Tuesday, December 10, stating that they acted lawfully to protect him during a meeting with the Guinean community in Paris, which he claimed was marked by “threats of violence.”
“My security team has a duty to protect the President of the Republic. Even in the United States, if you raise your hand toward the President, you’re immediately neutralized,” Embaló said, justifying their actions.
The remarks followed allegations from a group of Guinean citizens living in Paris, who filed a complaint with French authorities accusing members of Embaló’s security detail of assault during the meeting. Videos circulating on social media show at least two Guinean citizens with visible bruises, which they claim resulted from beatings during the event.
The President had been in France on a state visit and attended the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday, December 9, following its restoration after the devastating 2019 fire. He returned to Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, addressing the controversy upon his arrival at Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau.
Embaló argued that his security guards acted appropriately if there were credible threats of aggression. “If someone poses a threat to the President of the Republic, then my security team has done well,” he stated, adding that any unlawful actions taken by his security personnel outside such situations would result in consequences.
“However, when it comes to protecting the President of the Republic, they did the right thing. This will remain our standard practice going forward,” he concluded.
Source:https://www.noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/2687215/pr-guineense-diz-que-segurancas-o-protegeram-em-paris-de-ameacas

National Bank of Angola makes available an additional 150 million dollars to finance rice imports
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The National Bank of Angola (BNA) has announced on December 10 the release of an additional $150 million (approximately €142 million) to support the market, with the majority allocated to financing rice imports and the remainder earmarked for private financial operations. This move underscores the central bank’s efforts to stabilize essential commodity supplies and address pending financial obligations.
In a statement published on its official website, the BNA indicated that the sale of foreign currency concluded on December 10. Out of the total amount, $88 million (€84 million) will specifically be used to facilitate the importation of rice. This aligns with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s earlier announcement in April that Angola plans to import 270,000 tons of rice by 2024 to meet domestic demand.
The remaining $60 million (€57 million) will address financial operations involving individuals whose settlements are pending with commercial banks, aiming to streamline outstanding transactions in the private sector.
An additional $2 million (€1.8 million) has been allocated, but its intended purpose was not disclosed in the bank’s statement.
This financial injection comes as Angola continues to manage its import needs for staple commodities while working to maintain liquidity and support private sector operations.
Source:https://novojornal.co.ao/economia/interior/bna-disponibiliza-150-milhoes-usd-para-importacao-de-arroz-e-operacoes-de-particulares-122525.html

Ghana: Who is Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, first woman Vice president-elect?
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In Ghana, outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo is meeting with President-elect John Dramani Mahama on December 11, 2024, to prepare for the transition of power set for January 7, 2025. This date will mark a historic milestone for Ghana as the country welcomes its first female Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. A former Minister of Education, she is serving as John Dramani Mahama’s running mate for the second time in a p
residential election.
“Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is a distinguished scholar, a conscientious public servant, and a role model,” said Mahama in 2020 when he first introduced her as his running mate. A prominent academic, Opoku-Agyemang served as Ghana’s Minister of Education during Mahama’s presidency from 2013 to 2017, a period marked by her dedicated efforts to promote girls’ education.
Born on November 22, 1951, in Cape Coast, Ghana, Opoku-Agyemang has achieved numerous firsts in her career. She became the first woman to co-direct a public university in Ghana after earning degrees in English and French from the University of Cape Coast, the University of Dakar in Senegal, and advanced degrees from York University in Canada, where she completed her master’s and doctorate.
Opoku-Agyemang’s career has extended beyond academia. She has represented Ghana at UNESCO and served as the chancellor of the University for Women in Africa, based in Zimbabwe. As vice president, she has pledged to focus on empowering women both politically and economically. “Our victory is a victory for everyone, but especially for our girls and for our women,” she declared after the Electoral Commission announced the results on November 9.
A proud mother of three children—Kweku, Kwabena, and Maame Adwoa Opoku-Agyemang—and grandmother to two, Opoku-Agyemang’s life and career reflect her dedication to education, inclusion, and gender equality.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/articles/c3e31xq852qo

Uganda: Trial of Opposition Leader Kizza Besigye adjourned to January 7
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The trial of Kizza Besigye, Uganda’s prominent opposition leader, has been postponed once again, now set for January 7, 2025. K. Besigye, who was controversially abducted in Kenya in November 2024 and later extradited to Uganda, briefly appeared before a military Court on Tuesday morning. However, the hearing was adjourned after his lead lawyer, Martha Karua, was denied authorization to represent him.
The Ugandan Bar Council refused to grant Karua the temporary certification required to practice law in Uganda, effectively barring her from defending Besigye. In response, Besigye stated that he could not proceed without her, a stance contested by the Council, which highlighted that his legal team already comprises more than 40 lawyers.
This development dealt a blow to Besigye’s defense team, which had pushed for a shorter delay of one week. The prosecution, however, argued for a longer postponement, citing the need for the defense team to reorganize following Karua’s exclusion. The Bar Council further questioned Karua’s involvement, suggesting that her participation might be driven by political motives.
The case has drawn widespread attention since November 16, when Besigye and his co-accused, Hajj Lutale, were arrested in Nairobi during the launch of Martha Karua’s book. The two were subsequently extradited to Uganda under circumstances that have fueled controversy.
Besigye faces multiple charges, including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The ongoing legal proceedings, coupled with the circumstances of his arrest and extradition, have added another layer of complexity to Uganda’s already fraught political landscape.
Source: https://www.enca.com/news/uganda-military-court-adjourns-trial-opposition-figure