- The leader of Mauritania's military junta has assured his commitment to organise "free and transparent elections as soon as possible."
In his first radio and television broadcast on Sunday, General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said, "I commit myself before you and before God the almighty that I will organise free and transparent elections as soon as possible."
The general, who led renegade soldiers to overthrow the democratically elected regime of President Sidi Ould Cheikh Abdallahi on 6 August, failed to give a specific date for elections.
Mr. Aziz has been leading an 11-member military council. On Thursday, he appointed Mauritania's former ambassador to the European Union as Prime Minister to lead a transitional government.
The appointment of Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf might have been a calculated attempt by the junta to douse off international condemnation of the bloodless coup.
General Aziz had earlier promised to appoint a government before orgnising presidential polls, and has since invited political parties for talks on the formation of a new government.
The European Union and African Union condemned the coup in totality, and urged the junta to restore constitutional order.
However, majority of the West African country's senate and the lower house members supported the move. They said coup was effected "in the interest of the Mauritanian people" because it had nailed "an acute political and institutional crisis" caused the ousted leader.
General Aziz also blamed the ousted leader of tolerating a "climate of corruption" characterised by "miserable economic performance." He vowed to take tough action on terrorism and organised crimes in the country.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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