Trouble in Paradise: President Muizzu has passed a bill to muffle the media

In the Maldives, the government is pushing forward the Media Control Bill, legislation that threatens to dismantle the very foundations of press freedom. It proposes a presidentially appointed commission with sweeping powers to fine, censor, and shut down media outlets and individual journalists. No independent oversight. No public consultation. No protection for those who speak truth. And ironically the Maldives is a member of the Media Freedom Coalition founded by the UK and Canada! Journalists have been protesting peacefully. And for that, they’ve been detained, manhandled, silenced. The message is clear thar dissent will not be tolerated” (Farah Faizal, 16.09.2025).

The People’s National Congress (PNC) and President Dr Mohamed Muizzu have passed the Media Control Bill in Majlis today. That’s a sign of what’s ahead in Male and the whole of Maldives. While that is happening and been in the plans of the government.

The President wrote these words yesterday: “Today, as we mark the #InternationalDayofDemocracy, let us stay dedicated to our journey towards greater representation of women and youth, ensuring that all Maldivian voices are heard and valued at every level of decision-making” (Mohamed Muizzu, 15.09.2025).

Just to put it a bit poignant that the former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wrote this after the act was passed: “A sad day for democracy in the Maldives!

President Muizzu, using his party’s supermajority in parliament, has rushed through the so-called Media Control Bill—a law that signifies the end of press freedom in Maldives. The underhanded manner in which it was forced through parliament, despite protests by journalists, opposition parties, media organizations, civil society, and the public, lays bare the government’s disregard for Maldivians’ democratic rights” (Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, 16.09.2025).

We know there is mighty concern about it, as the Male City Mayor Adam Azim states this today: “Democracy weakens when voices are silenced.

By forcing through the Media Control Bill, this government has chosen secrecy over transparency, and power over the people. The cries of journalists, civil society, and citizens were ignored. But the struggle for a free press and accountable governance will continue, & Maldivians will not be silenced” (Adam Azim, 16.09.2025).

When we see these reactions, we can easily see the trouble in paradise. The President and the PNC are now working to stifle the media, silence critics and taking control of what is posted on social media. That’s what the President wants and he wants to have a say wherever. Meaning anyone cannot act or speak freely. The state can make a media house stop or silence a journalist. Therefore, this law is made to silence and unleash vast powers on the President. That’s the gist of things and they have pushed it through Majlis today.

We clearly see the views that are expressed by it, but I want to finish this by quoting Ahmed Faris Maumoon: “A free press and free speech are not privileges granted by government; they are fundamental rights of the people. Any MP who votes for the current Media Bill votes against the Constitution and against the Maldivian people” (Ahmed Faris Maumoon, 16.09.2025).

Peace.

Tchad: Front pour l’Alternance et la Concorde au Tchad (FACT) – Relatif a la modification de la constitution de la junte et le pillage massive des ressources minieres (15.09.2025)

South Sudan: The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) – Urgent Appeal for Intervention in South Sudan (13.09.2025)

South Sudan: “Al-Cardinal” becomes a General

“President Salva Kiir himself has promoted Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Dr. Benjamin Bol from the rank of Lieutenant General to General in the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service (ISB/NSS)” (South Sudan Global, 16.09.2025).

The anointed one, the one successor and the next in line, VP Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel have gotten another promotion. Now a full-fledged General and Military Commander. That’s the latest news.

That’s a further proof that the VP is the one who is built and prepared to takeover from President Salva Kiir Mayardit. This is preparing him for the takeover and becoming the next to rule. That’s what J-1 wants and how it is moving. That is just showing what they want to achieve. The VP is just the future and we are for the ride.

This is happening as this is reported about him:

“UN investigators accuse South Sudanese authorities of plundering their country’s wealth, including by paying 1.7 billion U.S. dollars to companies affiliated with Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel for road construction work that was never done” (CGTN Africa, 16.09.2025).

So, the shady and questionable acts of “Al-Cardinal” haven’t stopped after his gotten more influential. Instead, he has enlarged his empire and enriching himself on the public coffers. No one is shocked by this, but this is so blatant. As his spreading message of development, creating a better future, but becoming wealthy himself in office.

We are seeing someone who is becoming the next up. His the one who is forged to takeover. The VP is getting the space and the abilities to run after Kiir. That’s why his so swiftly getting such vast power and titles. This because J-1 and the President wants the Republic ready for Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel. That’s what we see, and we are just supposed to accept it.

This is hereditary politics at its finest. The lineage and the power of family. Nepotism and such are just so embedded in the system. The President and the VP is just showing it. They are not even trying to conceal it either. This is done in the open and we are just supposed to cheer it on.

It doesn’t matter if his a corrupt fella, that his easily negotiable or able to misuse his office. No, his the next one, because Kiir and his inner circle has handpicked him. That’s what we are seeing here. This is the only reason for him becoming a General. It is a sign, and we can read the tea leaves.

The whole rise of Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel is just buying time and mentally get people in line to accept him as the next one. That’s all that matters, and we can all see it coming. It is obvious and it’s done for everyone to see. Peace.

Tanzania: Lissu is showing the sinister side of CCM rule

“Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has refused to proceed with his treason trial at the High Court, demanding that his supporters, barred from attending, be allowed inside the courtroom. Speaking before presenting his legal objections, Lissu condemned what he described as police interference: “Under normal circumstances, I’m ready. But people have been removed on orders from the ZCO… This is not a military court, it’s a civilian court. Only judges have authority here.” Lissu claimed that police ordered his supporters out of the courtroom and blocked others outside, undermining the principle of open justice. He insisted that the public has a right to witness proceedings in a case of national interest” (Mwanzo TV, 16.09.2025).

Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu is revealing the grim side of the ruling regime in Tanzania. If the Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM) is bare-naked in public. The whole world and everyone watching is seeing how they rule and how they are retaining power. The ones believing in the upcoming elections and the results are naïve. This election is predetermined, and the victor can already celebrate right now.

That’s why CHADEMA and Tundu Lissu called for Electoral Reforms, but we know this has been dismissed by the CCM. They have acted like the CHADEMA party is out of line for asking that. However, when we see how the state and the authorities are acting in regard to the party and their leaders. Well, we see why CHADEMA asked for this, and we see how the CCM handles it.

It is just evident that the CCM and the President is forcing themselves on the public. They are using the state and the law enforcement to silence critics. Therefore, we are seeing the viciousness and the sinister plots of the state. That’s what the state does, and the citizens must pay the price for it.

Tundu Lissu and the CHADEMA party is the first line of assault from the state. They are targets as they are organized dissent through the opposition party. Alas, we know the state wants to control and have a say in the civic space. The state has an eye and obviously wants to steer the narrative. That’s what we know, and it is visible for everyone to see.

The President and CCM cannot run away from the fact. We see the state sponsored violence, the state sponsored attack on freedom and liberties of the opposition. We see it and there is nowhere to hide now. Peace.

Gambia: Africans Rising – Africans Rising condemns the arrest of Alieu Bah and Omar Saibo Camara – Calls for immediate release of all detained activists in The Gambia (15.09.2025)

Tanzania: Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) – Public Statement (15.09.2025)

Opinion: PFF’s early gamble

“UPDATE: The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) has announced that it will not field a presidential candidate in the upcoming elections. According to party spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju, the PFF is currently in talks with the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) to agree on a joint presidential candidate. The party says this decision is aimed at building a stronger, broader coalition for change” (Daily Monitor, 15.09.2025).

The People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) is risking a lot by not fielding a Presidential Candidate. Even if a Presidential Candidate is doing lacklustre or a person who does not electorally. The party could still say it went out and tried.

The new party coming out of the FDC Katonga Branch is now showing either transparency or the lack of proper timing. It is hard to say, but this is just healthy questioning of the party. They are showing credibility by not doing this too, but we can wonder why they are doing this now.

That’s why we wanted to read the Memorandum of Understanding between the PFF and ANT. This haven’t become public and neither does we know how deep this goes. The two parties that came out of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) showed maturity too by signing an agreement. However, we have no idea of the stipulations or how deep the MoU goes. Therefore, the decision today seems only to be self-serving for the PFF.

The PFF maybe lacks the leader and the one they deem fit for the Presidency. The party haven’t had the ability or the credibility to field a Presidential Candidate. That’s just the first question and we can wonder if that is the fact.

It is easy to see it’s a cheap trick to use the Presidential Candidate as a “broad based coalition”. Especially, when the PFF is a party of the vision of Dr. Kizza Besigye. A Besigye who only went on as the IPC candidate in 2011 but ditched out of the The Democratic Alliance in 2016. Therefore, we know the drill and it is questionable to do this now.

Why haven’t the PFF pushed for this for MPs, Mayors or Local Councillors? Why are you pushing this for one position only?

If the PFF wants a broader based coalition. Why aren’t you trying to forge this through a pattern and with a pact, which shares the positions and the elected offices across the Republic?

Instead, it seems like a dance and a way of getting cheap popularity, since the party doesn’t have the character or someone it deems fit to run as a Presidential Candidate. That’s when it is easier to join the NUP or ANT. This is how it looks, because we aren’t seeing the same energy regarding the “lower” or across other electoral positions in the Republic. PFF should ask for a proper coalition, which therein they field the best candidates across the nation. That’s what they should do, but instead they are just doing with the Presidential Candidate.

Me and others wants the PFF to succeed and be a sincere option for people. However, this right here is a political dance and a way of getting strength by unification. They aren’t doing this honestly. If they did… we know Besigye and the Youth ran out of the TDA. So, it’s really unique that this is happening now.

The PFF should be straight forward about it. Not try to package it is a unified opposition. When we know they don’t have the character or the leader to field for this office. That’s why they are doing this, because they don’t want a Nandala-Mafabi to run for Presidency. The PFF knows better than that. They need someone with a little self-awareness and knowledge of the populace. Peace.

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South Sudan: Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – In Opposition (SPLM-IO) – On the Illegal Indictment and Suspension of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny (FVP), and other Political Detainees (15.09.2025)