Algerian presidential election marred by low turnout with less than half of voters casting ballots as Tebboune eyes reelection.

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 Algerians began casting ballots on Saturday in an early presidential election as polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0700GMT). Over 23.4 million people are registered to vote within Algeria, while more than 865,000 Algerians living abroad began casting their votes earlier. Voting will continue until 7 p.m. (1800GMT), with the possibility of an extension for one additional hour if deemed necessary by the election authority. Besides the incumbent President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Abdelaali Hassani Cherif from the Movement of Society for Peace and socialist Youcef Aouchiche are also competing. In June, President Tebboune announced the snap election, initially scheduled for December. Tebboune, 78, is widely expected to secure a second term in the North African country.

 Algerians will head to the polls Saturday for an early presidential election featuring three candidates from diverse political backgrounds. The election is overseen by the Independent National Election Authority, a constitutional body established in 2019 to replace public authorities in a bid to ensure electoral integrity. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune decided March 21 to advance the elections from their original date in December, citing “purely technical reasons.” Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. local time and close at 8 p.m. – 3 political streams Nearly 24.4 million voters will choose from three candidates representing different political streams. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, 78, running as an independent, claims to represent all Algerians, particularly the youth, middle class and disadvantaged. Tebboune, a graduate of the National School of Administration, has held high-level positions in the Interior Ministry and served as prime minister in 2017. He won the 2019 presidential election with 58% of the vote and is backed by numerous parties, including those in the parliamentary majority. Tebboune promises economic and social revitalization, aiming to achieve a GDP of $400 billion by 2027 and build 2 million housing units. Abdelaali Hassani Cherif, 58, is the leader of the Movement of Society for Peace — Algeria’s largest Islamic party, often associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Cherif, an engineer and former journalist, was elected party president in 2023. His platform emphasizes deep constitutional reforms, expanded parliamentary powers and making Algeria a “central state” in the coming years. He enjoys support from factions of the Islamic stream, such as the Renaissance Party. Youcef Aouchiche, 42, the First Secretary of the Socialist Forces Front, Algeria’s oldest opposition party that was founded in 1963, represents the leftist opposition. Aouchiche, a political science graduate and former journalist, was elected by his party to run in the election. His program includes constitutional reforms to enhance freedoms, decentralize power and promises to increase salaries and wages, dissolve parliament and organize legislative elections in early 2025. – Shared themes and challenges Despite their differing political affiliations, all the candidates have referenced the Nov. 1, 1954, Declaration as a foundational element in their campaigns. The declaration marks the start of the Algerian revolution against French colonial rule. They agree on continuing strong support for the Palestinian cause and global issues, aiming to strengthen Algeria’s international position. All three candidates have urged voters to actively participate in the election to ensure success. The election has been marked by strict judicial interventions against the illegal use of money by some candidates. Last month, the Algiers Court announced the detention of 68 individuals involved in a bribery scandal related to candidate endorsements, with three candidates placed under judicial supervision for violating election laws. During the election campaign, the candidates have maintained a calm tone, focusing on promises and commitments without significant incidents of verbal conflict or hate speech. Campaigns for Cherif and Aouchiche, however, have expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceive as media bias in favor of Tebboune and lodged complaints with the election authority. More than 865,000 Algerians living abroad began casting ballots Monday. Voting will also commence for nomadic voters in designated mobile polling stations, with 116,064 registered voters spread across 134 voting offices.

The city of Paris plans to honor the late Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei by naming a sports venue in her memory. Announced by Mayor Anne Hidalgo on Friday, the proposal will be reviewed by city officials in October. Cheptegei, 33, died on Thursday from severe burns inflicted by her partner in Kenya. She had recently competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics, finishing 44th. The Paris city hall expressed solidarity with Cheptegei’s family, highlighting the tragedy of femicide, noting that Cheptegei was a victim of such violence shortly after her Olympic participation. Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, reportedly attacked her with gasoline during a dispute. Both were receiving treatment at the same hospital. Hidalgo remarked, “Paris will remember Rebecca Cheptegei for her beauty, strength, and freedom. Naming a sports venue after her will ensure her memory endures.” UN Women and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime report that a woman or girl is killed by an intimate partner or family member every 11 minutes globally. In Kenya, about 41% of women have experienced such violence.

The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization have launched a comprehensive response plan to tackle the mpox outbreak across Africa. Announced on Friday, this joint initiative aims to enhance and expedite the continent’s efforts to control the virus, save lives, and protect public health. The plan, set to begin this month and continue through February next year, has an estimated budget of nearly $600 million. It follows the WHO’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern due to the new strain of mpox three weeks ago. According to Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya, 55% of the funding will be allocated to the 14 countries with confirmed cases and to improve readiness in 15 additional nations. The remaining 45% will be used for operational and technical support through various partners, though specific funding sources were not disclosed. WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, explained that countries are classified based on their risk levels, with targeted support for areas experiencing intense outbreaks, such as eastern DRC, and preparations in lower-risk regions like Guinea. The response plan will focus on enhancing surveillance, laboratory testing, and community engagement, emphasizing that vaccines alone are insufficient to combat the outbreak. Since the beginning of 2024, Africa has reported 5,549 confirmed mpox cases and 643 deaths, marking a significant rise in both infections and fatalities compared to previous years. The Democratic Republic of Congo alone accounts for 91% of these cases, with a high prevalence among children under 15.

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A devastating fire at Hillside Endarasha Academy, a boarding school in Nyeri, Kenya, claimed the lives of 17 boys in the early hours of Friday. The blaze ripped through a dormitory while the students were sleeping, police confirmed. Local broadcaster Citizen Television reported that the victims were burnt beyond recognition. The incident occurred at the primary school, located roughly 150 kilometers (93 miles) from Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. “We have lost 17 pupils in the fire incident while 14 are injured,” police spokesperson Resila Onyango stated. “Our team is at the scene at the moment.” According to government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, the boys were in grades 4 to 8, placing their ages between 9 and 13. The dormitory housed 156 students at the time of the fire. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki visited the school and assured the public of a thorough investigation. “All relevant government agencies have been deployed to seek the truth on what caused the fire leading to the loss and injury of so many young souls,” he said. Kindiki also vowed accountability for those responsible, adding that “the government assures full accountability for all whose action or inaction contributed to this tremendous loss.” His remarks were echoed by President William Ruto, who ordered authorities to fully investigate the “horrific incident” and hold the perpetrators accountable. Authorities have cordoned off the school, and crime scene investigators are working to determine the fire’s cause. Calls made to the school’s main phone line by Reuters went unanswered. Belio Kipsang, Principal Secretary at the Ministry of Education, confirmed the school has 824 students, including 422 girls. Of the girls, 160 are boarders while the rest attend as day scholars. Kenya has experienced similar tragedies in the past, many of which were later attributed to arson. In 2017, nine students died in a fire at a Nairobi school, and a 2001 dormitory fire at Kyanguli Secondary School outside Nairobi killed 58 boys. Another incident in 2012 saw eight students lose their lives in Homa Bay County. The government has pledged to find the truth behind this latest tragedy and prevent future occurrences.

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