- President Amani Abeid Karume of Tanzania's autonomous island Zanzibar was sworn in on Wednesday following his re-election in polls that were marred by violence and claims of fraud. "I will implement my duty towards the people of Zanzibar without bias," Mr Karume said during the ceremony aired live on national television.
Benjamin Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania - of which Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous offshore state - attended the ceremony in the Zanzibari capital, Stone Town.
On Tuesday, Zanzibar's Electoral Commission (ZEC) declared Mr Karume the winner of Sunday's election by 53.2 percent of the vote against 46.1 percent of his strongest rival, Seif Sharif Hamad of the Civic United Front (CUF).
However, CUF has claimed that according to its tally, Mr Hamad won the election with 50.63 percent against Mr Karume's 49.37 percent. Allegations of election fraud are common in Zanzibar, where the political polarisation on several occasions has led to violence.
Mr Hamad boycotted the swearing in ceremony. He had earlier called for a mass protest, leading to increased tension in Zanzibar and in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, where police have been on the alert since Sunday.
Sunday's elections were highly charged with reports of demonstrations by CUF supporters on the island of Pemba. The CUF's Directorate of Information and Policy Dissemination claimed on Tuesday that the Magereza (Prisons Brigade) was searching homes in Wete Pemba and "intimidating people".
"They have already killed one person, Dande Seif Haji, at his house in Bopwe Mtemani," the Directorate yesterday said in a statement. This information has not been verified.
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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