Africa

Windhoek: Logistical issues meant that thousands of Namibians were still waiting to vote in pivotal presidential and legislative elections late on Wednesday as the polling stations were scheduled to close. The vote could usher in the desert nation's first woman leader even as her party, the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) faces the strongest challenge yet to its 34-year grip on power. Some voters told AFP they queued all day, for up to 12 hours, blaming technical problems which included issues with voter identification tablets or insufficient ballot papers. According to Namibia's electoral law, those in the queue before the polls closed -- scheduled at 9:00 pm (1900 GMT) -- should be allowed to vote. "We have the obligation to make sure that they pass their vote," said Petrus Shaama, chief officer of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). The main opposition party, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has blamed the ECN for the long lines and cried foul play. "We have reason to believe that the ECN is deliberately suppressing voters and deliberately trying to frustrate voters from casting their vote," said Christine Aochamus of the IPC. She said the party had "started the process" of approaching a court "to order the ECN to extend the voting time". At one polling station inside Namibia's University of Science and Technology in the capital Windhoek, hundreds of people were still in line at 09:00 pm despite some having arrived at 6:00 am, an hour before polls opened. It was a similar situation at the Museum of Independence, according to an AFP reporter, where one voter said he arrived 12 hours earlier and was still in line with hundreds of others. Unemployment SWAPO's candidate and current vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, was one of the first to vote and called on Namibians "to come out in their numbers". An estimated 1.5 million people in the sparsely populated nation had registered to cast their ballot. SWAPO has governed since leading mineral-rich Namibia to independence from South Africa in 1990 but complaints about unemployment and enduring inequalities could force Nandi-Ndaitwah into an unprecedented second round. Leader of the IPC, Panduleni Itula, a former dentist and lawyer said he was optimistic he could "unseat the revolutionary movement". "We will all march from there and to a new dawn and a new era of how we conduct our public affairs in this country," the 67-year-old told reporters after voting. Itula took 29 percent of votes in the 2019 elections, losing to SWAPO leader Hage Geingob with 56 percent. It was a remarkable performance considering Geingob, who died in February, had won almost 87 percent five years before that. Namibia is a major uranium and diamond exporter but not many of its nearly three million people have benefitted from that wealth. "There's a lot of mining activity that goes on in the country, but it doesn't really translate into improved infrastructure, job opportunities," said independent political analyst Marisa Lourenco, based in Johannesburg. "That's where a lot of the frustration is coming from, (especially) the youth," she said. Unemployment among 15- to 34-year-olds is estimated at 46 percent, according to the latest figures from 2018, almost triple the national average. Second round For the first time in Namibia's recent history, analysts say a second round is a somewhat realistic option. That would take place within 60 days of the announcement of the first round of results due by Saturday. "The outcome will be tight," said self-employed Hendry Amupanda, 32, who queued since 9:00 pm the night before to cast his ballot. "I want the country to get better and people to get jobs," said Amupanda, wearing slippers and equipped with a chair, blanket and snacks. Marvyn Pescha, a self-employed consultant, said his father was part of SWAPO's liberation struggle and he was not going to abandon the party. "But I want SWAPO to be challenged for better policies. Some opportunistic leaders have tarnished the reputation of the party, they misuse it for self-enrichment," the 50-year-old said. While lauded for leading Namibia to independence, SWAPO is nervous about its standing after other liberation-era movements in the region have lost favour with young voters. In the past six months, South Africa's African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority and the Botswana Democratic Party was ousted after almost six decades in power.

Middle East

Cairo: The Arab League welcomed that the ceasefire deal between Lebanon and the Israeli entity took effect, stressing the need to intensify efforts to reach a similar deal on the Gaza Strip as soon as possible. In a statement on Wednesday, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the agreement is an important step towards calm and stopping the bloodshed, calling for it to be fully and accurately implemented so that Lebanon can regain its health as soon as possible, appreciating the US-led mediation efforts that led to the agreement. Aboul Gheit stressed the need to complete the procedures for the Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territories as soon as possible, in preparation for the return of the displaced to their homes, stressing the importance of implementing Security Council Resolution No. 1701 in all its provisions. He noted that the Lebanese people suffered greatly during this war, which claimed thousands of civilian victims and caused great destruction to the infrastructure, pointing out that the agreement represents an important opportunity for the Lebanese people to rearrange the internal political situation, especially with regard to electing a president to end a more than two-year vacuum. Read Also Qatar welcomes ceasefire deal in Lebanon

Gulf

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday it is ready to open the first part of the Riyadh Metro, a major project intended to help shift the car-centric kingdom to public transport. Three lines will open to the public on December 1, "with gradual launches completing the six-line, 176-kilometre (109 mile) network across the city," the Royal Commission for Riyadh City said in a statement. All six lines are expected to be operating by January 5, the statement said. Traffic moves beneath the metro line leading to the King Abdullah financial district in the Saudi capital Riyadh on November 26, 2024.(Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) "The network has been developed to transport over 3.6 million passengers at maximum capacity and operates on a fully automated (driverless) metro system," the statement said. Services will be provided by 183 trains with 448 carriages manufactured by Siemens of Germany, Bombardier of Canada and Alstom of France, the statement said, adding that they feature "a modern and unified design" by French firm Avant Premiere. The official Saudi Press Agency published a photograph of HH King Salmanformally declaring that the project -- billed as "the backbone of the capital's public transportation network" -- had been inaugurated. Riyadh, a fast-growing city of around eight million people, has become a laboratory for various signature projects under the Vision 2030 reform agenda of Crown Prince HH Mohammed bin Salman. These include theme parks, sports stadiums, tourist attractions showcasing Saudi history and office towers meant to house companies establishing regional headquarters in the kingdom -- a requirement for securing government contracts. A metro train is tested on the line leading to the King Abdullah financial district in the Saudi capital Riyadh on November 26, 2024.(Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) But while the city is developing an extensive bus network, cars remain by far the most common means of transport, especially in the summer months when temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit). Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest exporter of crude oil, though Vision 2030 is intended to transition the kingdom away from fossil fuels. Saudi Arabia has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060, and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City said the metro highlighted the government's commitment to sustainable development. "Aligning with global sustainability standards and smart sustainable solutions, the network integrates environmental practices, featuring stations constructed with 20% recycled materials and local resources, and engineered to lower energy and water usage," it said.