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Awujale: Interregnum council members transition into Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council

Members of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council (AIAC) have resolved to step down from their existing positions and transition into the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council, as part of efforts to establish a traditional administrative structure for Ijebu-Ode pending the emergence of a new Awujale.

The decision was reached at a meeting involving the Ilamurem, Pampa, the Odi and other chiefs of Ijebu-Ode.

The resolution, contained in a letter sighted by Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, was signed by Olo’rgun, Dr Sonny Kuku, Chairman of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

The development followed deliberations on the administrative arrangements for Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum occasioned by the demise of the immediate past Awujale of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

In the resolution, the chiefs observed that the Ogun State Chiefs Law of 2021 does not expressly establish an Awujale Regency Council or stipulate a general procedure for the appointment of a Regent.

They, however, noted that the Chiefs Law and the 1957 Declaration provide an existing framework for customary declarations and recognition, including the traditional institution of the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

Consequently, a motion was moved and unanimously adopted for members of the AIAC to relinquish their existing positions and transition into the Adele Oba Awujale-in-Council.

Under the proposed arrangement, the council is expected to take responsibility for the administration of Ijebu-Ode during the interregnum, exercising, on an interim basis, such administrative powers and functions as may be necessary in the absence of the Awujale.

The resolution, however, states that the exercise of such powers would remain subject to applicable laws, customs and traditions.

The 14-member council is made up of Olo’rgun Dr Sonny Kuku, Ogbeni Oja; Chief Rasheed Adesanya, Olisa; Chief O. B. Okuboyejo, Obasewa; Chief Chris Funmilola Okunowo, Bobasuwa; and Chief Professor Jide Ajayi, Jagun Aso.

Others are Chief Oluwaranti Lekan Osifeso, Olootu Olowa; Chief Jimi Lawal, Olotu Ifore; Chief Kunle Ogunade, Apebi; Chief Mrs B. O. Osibogun, Iyalode; Chief Adegoke Balogun, Jaginrin; Chief Agboola Alausa, Balogun; Chief Abimbola Okenla, Kakanfo; Chief Adebisi Adaran, Ogbeni Odi Awujale; and Chief Ayotunde Ola Odulaja, Lapoekun.

The chiefs explained that the council would serve as the traditional administrative body responsible for managing the affairs of Ijebu-Ode in accordance with existing laws, customary practices and the established traditions of Ijebuland.

They added that the arrangement was designed to guarantee continuity, stability and an orderly traditional administrative system during the period preceding the emergence and installation of a substantive Awujale.

The resolution further maintained that the steps taken were consistent with the customs, culture and traditions of the Ijebu people, over whom the Awujale remains the paramount ruler.

Fake wildlife campaign exposes Botswana’s real Pangolin crisis

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism faces mounting public ridicule and allegations of deploying ‘scare tactics’ after issuing a misleading public communiqué claiming that all pangolins in Botswana had been fitted with electronic tracking devices.

The startling claim, which circulated widely on social media, has been dismissed by the ministry’s own wildlife officials as an embarrassing bureaucratic blunder, mirroring the hallmarks of an intentional misinformation campaign.

Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Director Moemi Batshabang told the Sunday Standard that tracking the country’s entire wild pangolin population is an impossibility.

‘It is not possible for all pangolins in Botswana to be tracked since they are not captive-bred,’ Batshabang stated. The director admitted he was completely unaware of the letter’s existence before being contacted by the press, subsequently referring investigators to the statement’s author.

Mokwaledi Mafa, a Wildlife Officer within the Ministry, openly admitted to the error, confirming that the wording of the official communique was deeply flawed.

‘Not all pangolins are tracked as the letter had mistakenly stated,’ Mafa said. ‘It was a mistake… Not all of them are tracked, and it is not possible to track all the pangolins-it is close to impossible.’

According to Mafa, the ministry had intended to state that satellite tracking devices are selectively deployed only on specific pangolins that have been intercepted and seized from illicit wildlife traffickers. These devices are used to monitor the highly sensitive mammals post-release to evaluate their survival rates and movement patterns in the wild.

‘Pangolins are very delicate animals, and most of them are unable to survive after they are released into the wild, hence we are tracking them,’ Mafa explained.

He disclosed that confiscated pangolins are frequently rescued from severe trauma and compromising environments, noting that traffickers routinely conceal them in bags or vehicle trunks. In some instances, poachers have even attempted to feed the strictly insectivorous mammals inappropriate diets like cabbages and soft porridge. Mafa emphasized that rescued pangolins must undergo rigorous health and stress assessments before they can be safely re-wilded.

Despite a 2016 decision by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to implement a total global ban on the commercial trade of all eight pangolin species, Botswana remains a critical node in the illicit network.

Professor Alexis Kriel, Chairperson of the African Pangolin Working Group (APWG), confirmed that the illegal trade continues to aggressively plague Southern Africa despite stringent international protections. Kriel revealed that syndicates are actively smuggling pangolins across borders into South Africa from neighboring nations, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Law enforcement records show that several Batswana nationals have been arrested both historically and recently in South Africa after being intercepted in possession of the contraband mammals.

At the time of press, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism had still not issued an official, corrected retraction to the public regarding the non-existent nationwide tracking program.

Stroke: OAUTHC radiologist raises alarm over poor CT scan access in Osun

A Consultant Radiologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Dr Adeniyi Aderibigbe, has raised concerns over limited access to CT scanners in Osun State, disclosing that only four were installed across the state as of the 2026 Stop Stroke Initiative Conference.

He urged the government to provide scanners in general hospitals, warning that inadequate access could delay diagnosis and life-saving treatment.

Aderibigbe spoke at the conference at OAUTHC, where he presented a paper titled ‘Understanding and Beating Stroke: Fast-Tracking Imaging for Early Treatment’, under the theme ‘Every Minute Counts.’

He estimated that a CT scanner could cost less than N250 million and said OAUTHC needed at least two, including one close to its Accident and Emergency Department.

Explaining that stroke occurs in two major forms – ischaemic, caused by blocked blood vessels, and haemorrhagic, resulting from ruptured vessels – he stressed that urgent CT imaging was essential to distinguish between them because their treatments differ.

He proposed that radiographers acquire CT images within five minutes, with radiologists providing preliminary findings immediately and written reports within 15 minutes.

Identifying late hospital presentation, poor public awareness and delays within healthcare facilities as major barriers, he urged Nigerians to recognise sudden facial drooping, weakness on one side of the body, speech difficulties and sudden collapse as warning signs requiring immediate medical attention.

He noted that eligible patients with ischaemic stroke could receive clot-busting treatment within 4.5 hours, while selected patients could benefit from mechanical clot removal within 24 hours, depending on clinical and imaging assessments.

Also speaking, a Senior Registrar in Neurology at OAUTHC, Dr Toyib Anifowose, identified hypertension as the leading stroke risk factor, alongside diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and physical inactivity.

He advised Nigerians to monitor their blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight, take prescribed medications, reduce salt intake, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and avoid tobacco.

Anifowose also urged the public to learn the ‘BE FAST’ warning signs: sudden balance problems, eye or vision changes, facial drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulties. He warned against waiting for symptoms to improve or giving suspected stroke patients food.

Expressing concern over delayed treatment, he said stroke patients presenting at OAUTHC took an average of two days to reach the hospital. He added that about five per cent of the more than 100 stroke patients admitted during the year had died.

He identified delayed presentation, limited CT scan access, inadequate stroke units and treatment costs as major challenges.

In her remarks, the Chairman of the Stop Stroke Initiative at OAUTHC, Professor Morenikeji Komolafe, called on the government to include stroke in Nigeria’s emergency healthcare policy and provide free initial treatment to reduce deaths and disabilities.

She urged the government to guarantee at least the first 24 hours of emergency stroke care without out-of-pocket payments, warning that delays caused by families searching for money could cost patients millions of brain cells.

Presenting Nigerian Stroke Registry figures, Komolafe disclosed that 1,972 new cases had been recorded across 32 participating centres since October 29, 2025. Of these, 56.1 per cent were male and 43.9 per cent female. Ischaemic stroke accounted for 52.2 per cent, while haemorrhagic stroke represented 28.5 per cent.

She said 45.4 per cent of patients arrived at hospitals more than 24 hours after symptoms began, while fewer than 1.5 per cent arrived within one hour.

Komolafe attributed the delays partly to inadequate ambulance services, particularly in rural communities, and called for improved emergency transportation, more CT scanners in general and teaching hospitals, and readily available stroke treatment drugs in tertiary centres.

She stressed that public awareness, prompt hospital presentation and better-equipped healthcare facilities were essential to reducing Nigeria’s stroke burden.

MURIC Demands Suspension Of Law School Exams Over Hijab Ban, Threatens Protest

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for the suspension of examinations at all Nigerian Law School campuses following alleged harassment, intimidation and exclusion of female Muslim students wearing hijab from examination halls.

The Islamic human rights organisation also demanded an investigation into the incidents, which reportedly occurred during the final examinations for candidates seeking admission to the Nigerian Bar on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

MURIC warned that it would mobilise parents, Muslim youths and other stakeholders for peaceful protests across Law School campuses nationwide if its demands were not met.

The Nigerian Law School had not responded to the allegations in the statement at the time of writing.

The organisation’s position was contained in a press statement issued on Sunday by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

According to Akintola, several hijab-wearing female candidates were allegedly prevented from entering examination halls in different parts of the country because of their religious attire.

He said some candidates were reportedly made to stand outside examination halls for about an hour and were only allowed to enter after removing their hijabs.

‘There was harassment and intimidation of hijab-wearing female Muslim students in some Law School examination halls across the country yesterday, Saturday, October 31, 2026,’ Akintola said.

‘Hijabites who came hoping to sit for their call-to-bar final examinations were disallowed from entering the examination halls. In some places, they were forced to remain standing outside for about one hour until they removed their hijabs before they were allowed to enter and start the examination.’

The MURIC director said the organisation received numerous telephone calls, text messages and online messages from distressed candidates, their parents and concerned Muslims during the incidents.

‘While this was going on, our office was inundated with telephone calls, text messages and chats. We heard the cries of traumatised candidates, the lamentations of distressed parents hundreds of kilometres away from the examination centres and the agitation of concerned Muslims around the country,’ he said.

Describing the alleged incidents as an infringement on the candidates’ rights, Akintola said the organisation strongly condemned what it considered an unjustifiable disruption of their educational and professional pursuits.

‘MURIC strongly condemns the wanton disruption of the lawful educational pursuit of innocent Muslim ladies. It is crude, irrational and sadistic,’ he said.

The organisation expressed particular concern that ‘it is the Law School, the bastion of law education and the centre of legal excellence, that is involved in the denigration of court pronouncements.’

He cited Section 38(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and propagate religious beliefs.

MURIC also referenced the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Lagos State Government and Ors v. Asiyat Abdulkareem, which it said affirmed that banning or restricting the hijab amounted to discrimination.

The organisation further argued that the alleged treatment of the candidates violated Section 42 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination.

Akintola also cited Section 34(1)(a), which protects the dignity of the human person and prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

‘The forceful undressing of our daughters at Law School examination centres in Nigeria is an open contravention of Section 34(a), which upholds the dignity of the human person by declaring authoritatively, unequivocally and emphatically that no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment,’ he said.

Teen investors double at NSE amid market rally, online financial content

The number of teenage investors holding shares at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has more than doubled in nine months, pointing to their growing participation as a rally in share prices and new listings revive interest in the stock market.

Data from the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) shows that junior equity investors-those aged below 18 years- rose to 497 in September from 236 at the end of December 2025, a 110.6 percent increase.

The number was also 2.4 times the 207 recorded in September last year and nearly three times the 175 reported in September 2023, reflecting a gradual expansion in the category that has gathered pace this year.

The teens own shares estimated at Sh120 million, accounting for 0.003 percent of the Sh4 trillion stock market.

The junior investors have also made an entry into the corporate bond market, with seven holding accounts in this category up from four in March. There were no such holdings in the prior six years.

Minors can invest at the NSE through junior Central Depository System (CDS) accounts opened and operated by parents or guardians until they reach adulthood, allowing them to own listed shares from an early age.

Experts say investing has become increasingly popular among young people, driven by the emergence of mobile apps that charge little to no commission and the abundance of financial content available online.

A survey by the World Economic Forum covering 13 countries, including the US, UK, Brazil, China and India, showed that nearly a third of Generation Z have started investing by the time they reach early adulthood, more than any other generation at the same age.

Thirty percent of Gen Z – those aged between 18 and 27 – began investing in capital markets at university age compared with 15 percent of millennials, and 5 percent of baby boomers, according to the poll, which surveyed 13,000 people.

In Kenya, the increase in junior accounts coincides with a strong performance, where NSE returns have averaged over 33 percent this year, making equities the best-performing investment class. Returns on bank deposits were averaging 6.94 percent at the end of September, while Treasury bills are fetching under 10 percent.

The rally has improved the appeal of equities at a time when the exchange is also attracting new listings and a wider pool of investors.

The broader investor base grew by 333,043 in the nine months to September, taking the number of NSE investors to 2.36 million. This was more than three times the 98,063 added in a similar period last year and almost double the 174,400 recorded in the whole of 2025.

The junior category, however, remains a small part of the market. Its shareholding accounted for just 0.003 percent of total equity holdings at the end of September, unchanged from the previous quarter.

The figures suggest that while more junior investors are opening accounts or entering the market, their collective financial exposure remains marginal compared with that of established investors.

Local corporate investors held 71.367 percent of equity investments at the end of September, while local individual investors accounted for 11.434 percent. Foreign corporate investors held 12.305 percent.

The rise in investor numbers came as the exchange recorded a rise in market value, with capitalisation crossing the Sh4 trillion mark for the first time during the quarter.

The market’s revival has coincided with the return of major listings after a prolonged drought, including the March initial public offering of Kenya Pipeline Company and the June listing of Family Bank.

The new listings and the entry of new investors at the bourse coincided with the period when the market capitalisation-the combined value of investor shares- climbed to Sh4.12 trillion in September, up from Sh2.94 trillion at the end of 2025.

The CMA attributed the quarter’s performance to growing confidence and resilience in the capital markets, noting that new investment products could broaden participation and deepen the market.

The NSE has been on a bullish run since 2024 after snapping a prolonged bear run that had drained investor confidence in the market.

Botswana gets C grade in Global Pension Ranking as ageing pressures mount

Botswana’s pension system has been marked down in the latest global retirement-income index, underscoring the challenges facing policymakers as ageing populations and changing workforce dynamics put pressure on pension systems worldwide.

The country scored 57.0 points and received a C grade in the 2026 Marsh CFA Institute Global Pension Index, with the results indicating a decline from the previous year. The assessment places Botswana among pension systems that face scope for improvement as governments grapple with the challenge of delivering adequate retirement incomes while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

The index, published in October, assesses 55 pension systems across three key measures: adequacy, sustainability and integrity. Together, the three pillars account for 40%, 35% and 25% of the overall score, respectively. The assessment covers about 66% of the world’s population.

The findings come as pension systems face mounting pressure from longer life expectancies, lower birth rates and changes in employment patterns, which can increase retirement costs while reducing the proportion of working-age people supporting pension arrangements.

‘People are living longer, work is changing, and the pressures on retirement income systems are growing,’ said Tim Jenkins, the report’s lead author and a partner at Marsh. ‘The question is no longer whether systems need to evolve, but how quickly and how effectively they can do so.’

The report warns that ageing populations could increase the cost of providing retirement income as the working-age population shrinks relative to retirees. It also highlights the need for more flexible pension arrangements that accommodate phased retirement and non-traditional employment.

Those pressures have implications for pension-fund investment strategies, with the report noting that a greater proportion of the US$70 trillion in global pension assets could move towards more defensive positioning as demographic changes reshape retirement needs.

The Netherlands led the overall index with a score of 85.8, followed by Denmark at 84.1 and Iceland at 84.0. Singapore and Israel also received A grades, with scores of 82.0 and 81.9, respectively. The rankings highlight the gap between stronger-performing retirement systems and those still facing challenges in providing sufficient retirement income and maintaining their long-term resilience.

Mona Naqvi, managing director of the CFA Institute Research and Policy Center, said pension systems must respond to demographic shifts while maintaining reliable retirement incomes. ‘Retirement systems differ across markets, but all face the same long-term challenge: Delivering reliable income as demographics shift and markets change.’

The report argues that demographic pressures do not dictate a single outcome, leaving policymakers room to strengthen pension arrangements through evidence-based reforms. ‘The central insight is straightforward: demography is our destiny, but policy responses are choices,’ the report states.

PH bets Marama Tokong, Jayuard Alciso bow out in World Surf League

Filipino wildcards John Mark ‘Marama’ Tokong and Jayuard Alciso dazzled the home crowd before seeing their campaigns come to an end in the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour Philippines Pro at Cloud 9 on Monday morning.

Tokong bowed to Australian world No. 7 Ethan Ewing, while Alciso suffered a setback against familiar rival Kanoa Igarashi of Japan.

Fresh from a memorable win in his previous heat, the Siargao native known as the ‘King of Cloud 9’ tried to keep his momentum going but found himself up against a tough opponent in Ewing.

came away with 11.54 points, short of Ewing’s 14.50, as the Australian moved on to the next round.

Still, the defeat did little to take away from Tokong’s experience of competing against one of the surfers he had looked up to for years.

The Filipino admitted he felt surprisingly at ease sharing the lineup with Ewing, whom he considers one of his idols. He was also pleased to discover how friendly the Australian was outside the competition.

‘I got my hand. I was so comfortable, like when I was starting against this guy. He’s one of my idols. And I can’t believe he’s kind of like a friend. He’s very nice, and he knows what he’s doing,’ said Tokong.

For Tokong, the event was also an opportunity to see how far Siargao has come, with surfing helping put the island on the map and bringing in visitors from different parts of the world.

He hopes the close ties among residents and local businesses will remain as the island continues to attract tourists.

‘This island is so beautiful. Before, back then, all the travelers here, I was a surfer, and now there are so many people who know this place because of the waves, the island and especially the community here in Siargao. It’s so special, and this is why I love our island because the community is so good. The business community here on the island is really like we’re helping each other, and this is how important it is for me. I just wish that we’re going to keep going like this,’ added Tokong. Alciso, meanwhile, came close to making a late charge against Igarashi but ran out of time to turn the heat around. The Asian Games bronze medalist managed just 4.17 points on his final wave as the 30-minute heat came to a close, leaving him short of Igarashi’s 12.90 total.

Igarashi built his winning score with a 6.67 on his third wave and a 6.23 on his fourth, enough to keep Alciso at bay and secure his place in the next round.

Asian Games gold medalist Igarashi, meanwhile, had nothing but praise for Alciso, whom he faced in last month’s Asian Games, describing the Filipino as a talented surfer.

‘He’s such an amazing surfer. I was competing with him in the Asian Games last month and he’s such an amazing talent and he had such a good heat yesterday,’ said Igarashi.

’Undas’ generally peaceful, orderly; 40.7M visit cemeteries nationwide

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported a generally peaceful and orderly observance of Undas 2026 nationwide, recording more than 40.7 million visitors in cemeteries, memorial parks, and columbaria nationwide from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2

‘Based on reports from the ground, this year’s Undas was generally peaceful and orderly, reflecting the discipline of our personnel and the cooperation of the public,’ said PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. in a statement on Monday.

The PNP said 40,740,246 visitors had been recorded in 5,311 burial sites from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

A total of 1,695,440 visitors were recorded as of 6 a.m. on Monday.

Police also reported confiscating a total of 6,499 prohibited items from cemeteries nationwide.

These included 879 pointed or bladed weapons, 62 alcoholic beverages, 2,817 lighters, 1,739 cigarette and vape products, 180 cooking materials, and 397 flammable substances.

Nartatez said initial field reports indicated that security measures effectively managed the influx of cemetery visitors and travelers during the annual observance.

Over 166,000 police personnel and force multipliers were deployed to secure cemeteries, transport hubs, and other public areas.

Police assistance desks and emergency response teams were also stationed to assist cemetery visitors, especially children, senior citizens, and those requiring immediate help.

‘Our priority was to ensure people could honor their loved ones safely, and we are encouraged by the results of our collective efforts,’ Nartatez said.

Tinubu put his life on the line for Nigeria – Cross River gov

Cross River Governor, Bassey Otu, has praised President Bola Tinubu for his contributions to Nigeria’s democracy, saying the President put his life on the line in the struggle for democratic governance.

Otu made the remarks on Monday at an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Calabar, where he described Tinubu as a courageous leader and commended his administration’s policies.

The governor said the quality of decisions taken by leaders at critical moments played an important role in shaping the history and development of a nation.

The Cross River governor described Tinubu as a courageous leader whose political contributions had earned him recognition among Nigerians, particularly in the South-South region.

‘A nation is not defined by its wealth only but by the quality of decisions taken by leaders at critical moments. Today history bestows on me the mandate to see to the magnanimity of a change agent hero in the heart of Cross Riverians, South-South people, and of course Nigerians as a people,’ Otu said.

He also commended the President for the removal of the petrol subsidy, the establishment of the South-South Development Commission and initiatives aimed at expanding access to education.

Otu further praised the administration’s coastal highway project, which he said would improve connectivity between Calabar and Lagos.

‘In the nick of time, God created a special womb that would carry an icon of freedom, a demagogue, and a Jagaban who put his life on the line for democracy, he created the South-South Development Commission and eclipsed the exploitative subsidy regime, helped the children of the poor to attend citadel of learning, and linked Calabar with Lagos via coastal line,’ the governor added.

It is not yet Uhuru for war survivors in Northern Uganda

During one of my work visits to Northern Uganda, I was shocked to see that some war survivors still had no lips or ears, while others said they had never received treatment for their gunshot injuries.

Their faces still carry the pain of war the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) waged in northern Uganda, which ended two decades ago.

Twenty years on, survivors are still waiting for reparations, and a stalled transitional justice Bill is a big hindrance.

We recently marked Independence and the International Day of Rural Women. For survivors, especially women and children who lost their dignity and identity, the celebrations ring hollow. Their version of Uhuru, the freedom we celebrate every October, has not reached them.

Although there has been some humanitarian support, it has been insufficient. A 2024 ActionAid study titled Civil society movements reshaping peace and security in Northern Uganda, with women and youth groups in Amuru, Gulu, and Kitgum, found that only 4 percent of survivors receive grants lasting three years or more. Most grants last under a year. Trauma, stigma, and land disputes do not heal in 12 months.

Land is part of the problem. Several women cannot inherit it, so they have nowhere to farm.

Women who had returned from the LRA’s bush camps told us life there was easier. One said she never worried about food in the bush, but now struggles to feed her children. Another said the welcome she received when she returned from the bush gave way to rejection at home, where leaders, friends, and relatives turned her away. The returnees had to form their own groups to find belonging.

Outside help has faded too. During the insurgency, several NGOs worked in the north without answering to the people they served, and they focused on emergencies, not recovery. After the war, their numbers fell despite ongoing needs. Survivors say their stories fuelled viral campaigns like Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 video, yet no long-term help followed.

The next generation carries the cost. Between 4,000 and 8,000 children were born in captivity. Several clans rejected them and their mothers. These young adults remain deeply traumatised, lack inheritance rights, and face exclusion from leaders, communities, and families.

Some will say a policy already exists. It does, but with implementation gaps. In June 2019, Cabinet approved the National Transitional Justice Policy, which promises accountability, reconciliation, and reparations. But a policy is not a law, and survivors cannot enforce a promise.

The law is where the delay lies. In 2024, Parliament allowed Hon Charles Onen to introduce a private member’s transitional justice Bill. By October 2025, Justice minister Norbert Mao had asked that his ministry takes over the draft and publicly criticised technocrats for delaying it. Public records do not show whether the Bill has become law.

A June 2026 assessment by the International Centre for Transitional Justice found that continued delay leaves the policy largely unimplemented.

So what must happen? The Ministry of Justice should publish the Bill’s status and an action timeline sooner than later. The 12th Parliament should review and pass the Bill.

The government, donors, and NGOs should fund long-term survivors’ rehabilitation, mental health care, livelihoods, and legal help with land claims. As they do so, they should listen to survivors and facilitate them to lead recovery efforting a war does not end its consequences. Peace means survivors can get justice, treatment, land, acceptance, and laws that facilitate recovery. Until they can, it is not yet Uhuru for them.