Japan Prime Minister visits Africa
Thursday, January 09, 2014
Prime Minister Abe will arrive in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in the afternoon of Friday 10th, where he will have a summit meeting with President Alassane Ouattara, followed by a joint press conference.
On the morning of Saturday 11th, the Prime Minister will visit a women’s job training centre (Centre Marie Eugenie), following which he will depart from the Ivory Coast, and arriving in the evening of the same day in Maputo, Mozambique.
While every citizen, including the Head of State, has the right to voice opinions, the tone and context of the President’s comments were regrettably dismissive and risk chilling free expression in our country. The remarks are not isolated. They form part of a disturbing pattern of public attacks on independent institutions pillars essential to the healthy functioning of our democracy. The Judiciary, the Legislature, and now the media have all...