LISTEN TO THIS THE AFRICANA VOICE ARTICLE NOW
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
20 Dead, 9 Rescued After Boat Capsizes on Lake Victoria in Uganda
A boat carrying 34 people capsized in Ugandan waters on Lake Victoria on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people and leaving nine others missing. The boat was carrying bags of charcoal, fresh foods, and silver fish when it capsized in bad weather.
Rescue efforts by joint police, military, and local community teams were under way on Wednesday to locate the missing people. The police appealed to members of the public who travel on waters to always wear life jackets and not to overload their vessels.
Boat accidents are not uncommon in Uganda. In 2020, at least 26 people died on Lake Albert on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two years earlier, dozens of people died after a boat carrying about 100 party revelers capsized in Lake Victoria near the capital Kampala.
The cause of the latest accident is still being investigated, but the police have said that overloading and bad weather are likely factors. The boat was reportedly carrying more people than it was designed to carry, and the weather was rough at the time of the accident.
Moroccan Jailed for Criticizing King’s Decision to Normalize Ties with Israel
A Moroccan man, Said Boukioud, was Wednesday sentenced to 5 years in prison for criticizing the country’s king on social media. Boukioud was charged with “undermining the monarchy” for comments he posted on Facebook in 2020 criticizing Morocco’s normalization of ties with Israel.
Boukioud was living in Qatar at the time of the posts, but the Moroccan constitution stipulates that foreign affairs are the responsibility of King Mohammed VI and any comments that appear to question his authority are severely penalized.
Boukioud’s lawyer, El Hassan Essouni, described the sentence as “harsh and incomprehensible” and said his client would appeal.
The case has raised concerns about freedom of expression in Morocco, where the government has been accused of cracking down on dissent. In recent years, several people have been arrested and prosecuted for criticizing the king or the government on social media.
The Moroccan government defended the sentence, saying that it is necessary to protect the monarchy and the country’s stability. However, human rights groups have condemned the sentence, saying that it is a violation of freedom of expression.
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.