A ''rousing'' dance song for everyone who loves
Mother Africa
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Rwanda -------- Urges More Global
Collaboration As Eight Countries
Prosecute Genocide Suspects
by Aurore Teta Ufitiwabo
April, 2024
(Pan-African News Wire
The New Times (Kigali)
John Bosco Siboyintore, Head of Rwanda's Genocide
Fugitives Tracking Unit --- at the National Public
Prosecution Authority (GFTU), has revealed
the hurdles encountered in prosecuting
genocide suspects scattered across
the globe and called for enhanced
international cooperation to
bring them to justice.
Out of 33 countries where approximately 1146 indictments
were sent, only eight genocide suspects have faced
prosecution, with 11 nations opting to return
them to Rwanda for trial.
Siboyintore highlighted that 30 individuals have already
returned to Rwanda to stand trial, facilitated through
extradition, deportations, or transfers from the ICTR.
Notable contributors to this effort include Canada,
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the
Netherlands, the USA, DRC, Uganda,
the Congo Republic, and Malawi.
Additionally, Siboyintore stressed that 29 individuals were
tried in countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, the
Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland.
However, significant challenges persist, including a lack
of political will in some countries, particularly in Africa,
where over 900 fugitives remain at large. Some
fugitives exploit refugee status and acquire
new nationalities, complicating
extradition efforts.
Frequently changing identities and countries of origin
further impede tracking efforts, while the absence
of bilateral treaties and legal frameworks adds
to extradition complexities.
Looking ahead, Siboyintore stressed the imperative of
bolstered international cooperation in prosecuting
genocide suspects. Rwanda is actively pursuing
bilateral treaties and legal frameworks with
host countries, urging them to fulfill their
international obligations by either
extraditing or prosecuting these
fugitives via international law.
Furthermore, ongoing discussions and cooperation
engagements with host nations are crucial in
raising awareness about the presence of
fugitives and the imperative to
combat impunity.
Siboyintore emphasised the necessity of revoking
refugee status for fugitives, ensuring they face
prosecution instead of benefiting from
UNHCR protection.
____________________________________
Nigeria: Prices of Garri, Akpu, Others
Push Food Inflation to 40 Percent
by Faruk Shuaibu
April 15th, 2024
(Pan-African News Wire
Daily Trust (Abuja)
Nigeria's headline inflation rose to 33.20 percent, data
from the National Bureau of Statistics has shown.
In a report on Monday, the NBS said the headline inflation
rate, which was 31.70 percent in February, showed an
increase of 1.50 percent points.
Also, food inflation increased to 40 percent with the
pricesof garri, akpu, water melon, among others,
cited as the reason for the increase.
It stated that on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation
rate was 11.16 percent points higher compared to the rate
recorded in March 2023, which was 22.04 percent.
"This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year
basis) increased in the month of March 2024 when
compared to the same month in the preceding
year (i.e. March 2023)."
It added that on a month-on-month basis, the headline
inflation rate in March 2024 was 3.02 percent, which
was 0.10 percent lower than the rate recorded in
February 2024 (3.12 percent).
"This means.. that in the month of March 2024, the rate of
increase in the average price level. is less than the rate
of increase in the average price level in February
2024," it said.
The NBS noted that the Food inflation rate in March 2024
was 40.01 percent on a year-on-year basis, which was
15.56 percent points higher compared to the rate
recorded in March 2023 (24.45 percent).
"The rise in food inflation on a year-on-year basis was
caused by increases in prices of the following items
garri, millet, akpu uncooked fermented (which are
under the bread and cereals class), yam tuber,
water yam (under potatoes, yam, and other
tubers class), dried fish sadine, mudfish
dried (under fish class)..... palm oil,
vegetable oil (under oil and fat),
beef feet, beef head, liver (in
meat class), coconut, water
melon (under fruit class),
lipton tea, Bournvita,
Milo (under coffee,
tea and cocoa
class).''
"On a month-on-month basis, the food inflation rate
in March 2024 was 3.62 percent which shows a
0.17 percent decrease compared to the rate
recorded in February 2024 (3.79 percent).''
"The fall in Food inflation on a month-on-month basis was
caused by a fall in the rate of increase in the average
prices of guinea corn flour, plantain flour etc (under
bread and cereals class), yam, Irish Potatoe, Coco
Yam (under potatoes, yam & other tubers class),
titus fish, mudfish dried (under fish class),
Lipton, Bournvita, Ovaltine (under coffee,
tea and cocoa class).''
"The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve
months ending March 2024 over the previous twelve-
month average was 31.40 percent, which was 8.69
percent points increase from the average annual
rate of change recorded in March 2023
(22.72 percent)," it added.
_______________________________________
Algeria signs Hosting Agreement
for Intra-African Trade Fair 2025
April 15th, 6:39pm
(Pan-African News Wire
Source: Afreximbank)
The IATF is now a foremost event in the African calendar
of economic, social, trade and even policy events.
The Host Agreement Signing Ceremony for the Intra-
African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) took place in
Algiers on 15 April 2024. The Ceremony, which
was hosted by the African Export-Import
Bank, (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank
.com) in collaboration with the African
Union, and the AfCFTA Secretariat,
& the Government of the People’s
Democratic Republic of Algeria,
paves the way for the fourth
edition of the Intra-African
Trade Fair - to take place
from 4 to 10 September
2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the
IATF2025 Advisory Council and Former President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extolled the
Intra-African Trade Fair as the go-to trade and
investment event on the African continent.
He added: “the IATF2025 Hosting Agreement represents
more than just a contractual agreement; rather....
it symbolises a collective responsibility of the
partners ---- for excellence and innovation in
continuing the tradition of the Intra-African
Trade Fair, which has become established
as the AfCFTA Marketplace and the go-
to trade and investment event on
the African continent.''
''The IATF --- is now a foremost event in the African calendar
of economic, social, trade, and even policy events. It is in
the passionate pursuit of these goals -- that Afreximbank
in collaboration with the African Union Commission and
AfCFTA Secretariat, are championing the noble cause
of changing the socioeconomic landscape of Africa
---- by devising progressive initiatives aimed at
promoting intra-African trade and
continental integration.”
Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African
Trade Bank, Afreximbank ----- said: “The Intra-African
Trade Fair opens alternate routes for African trade.
It has become the platform for actualising the
AfCFTA vision. It expands and deepens
knowledge of the continent's trading
environment and enhances the
industrial capacity of African
economies.''
''Ultimately, IATF has become the engine ---- accelerating
trade and business flows within the continent. The last
3 fairs have generated combined trade and investment
deals... of no less than US$120 billion. To anyone who
wonders what the US$120 billion represents - African
businesses have found buyers in new markets across
Africa, industries have found new sources of raw
materials, investment and capital goods,
government-to-government deals -- in
critical sectors such as agriculture
and agro-processing - have been
forged and African contractors
have won major government
projects.”
She also expressed her gratitude to the Government of
the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for their
unwavering commitment and support for the
Intra-African Trade Fair.
A statement delivered on behalf of H.E. Wamkele Mene,
Secretary-General, AfCFTA Secretariat described the
importance of the Intra-African Trade Fair as “our
strategic response to the challenge of trade
information scarcity --- aiming to enhance
intra-African trade and investments -- all
without the need for outside help. And
it serves as a symbol of hope and
opportunity, breaking down
conventional trade and
investment barriers to
unite the diverse yet
cohesive African
identity.“
A statement delivered on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Albert
Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic
Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals,
highlighted that other regions of the world have
proved - that “trade can be a powerful tool for
economic growth. Whilst trade.. was able to
lift millions out of poverty in those regions
--- the same has not been reflected in
Africa’s experience.''
''Trade amongst African countries -- is low. The AfCFTA was
designed - to change this story. Not only was it meant to
boost Intra African trade, but it was meant to deal with
Africa’s perennial challenges of job creation, too high
levels of poverty & very low levels of manufacturing
and industrial base. It was designed to create a
predictable legal framework for trade and
investment ---- hence offering more
guarantees to investors thereby
bringing --- certainty and
predictability - to the
African trading
environment.”
''It is through our combined efforts ------ that we can drive
positive change, foster innovation, and create a better
future for all the inhabitants of the African continent.''
In his Closing Remarks, Jean-Louis Ekra, Former President
of Afreximbank and Deputy Chairperson of the IATF2025
Advisory Council, praised... “the power of African unity,
shared purpose, and collective action towards a path
taken to promote intra-African trade and investment.
It is through our combined efforts that we can drive
positive change, foster innovation, and create a
better future for all the inhabitants of the
African continent.”
The Ceremony was also attended by public and private
sector institutions, African diplomatic corps, financial
institutions, and trade and industry associations, and
is intended to maximise awareness surrounding the
upcoming IATF2025.
Attendees at the Signing Ceremony also had the
opportunity to visit the Algerian Company of
Fairs and Exports (SAFEX), which will be
the venue for IATF2025.
The Intra-African Trade Fair -------- is the African continent’s
premier trade and investment event and provides a unique
opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their goods and
services... engage in Business to Business (B2B) and
Business to Government (B2G) exchanges, network,
establish new business contacts and conclude
business deals.
The event also gives delegates the opportunity to hear
actionable insights from an array of experts on a wide
range of trade and investment topics & opportunities
at the IATF Trade and Investment Forum.
The event also offers opportunities for participants from
the Diaspora, creative industries including gastronomy
and the culinary arts, to attend and showcase their
goods, services and expertise. In addition, there
will be training workshops covering exporting,
standards, and marketing.
Attendees at the IATF include businesses, buyers, sellers,
traders and investors, plus captains of industry, senior
government ministers, trade finance and advisory
specialists, trade and economic organisations,
senior executives ---- from corporates and
multinationals, innovative entrepreneurs
and the media --- all in one venue.
The highly successful third edition of the Intra-African
Trade Fair (IATF2023) took place in Cairo, Egypt, from
9 – 15 November 2023, and attracted over 28,000
conference delegates, trade visitors and media,
had 1,939 exhibitors from 130 countries, and
witnessed US$43.8 billion of trade and
investment deals being concluded.
For more information about IATF2025 please
visit www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com
______________________________________________
Uganda engages communities in physical
and mental health activities as part of the
World Health Day Commemoration
April 15th, 5:52pm
(Pan-African News Wire)
The event was organized at the WHO
Country Office in Kololo, Uganda.
The Ugandan Ministry of Health, the World Health
Organization (WHO), and its partners carried out
awareness-raising and community engagement
activities to commemorate World Health Day
in Uganda. In line with the theme "My health,
my right," these activities ----- included a
public sports walk, mass screening
for both communicable and non-
communicable diseases
(NCDs), and a blood
donation drive.
The event was organized at the WHO Country Office
in Kololo, Uganda. It brought together the country's
stakeholders, government representatives, the
UN family, development and implementation
partners, and the media.
World Health Day is commemorated every 7th of April, this
edition takes place just six years before the evaluation of
a countries' progress toward achieving universal health
coverage, the Ministry of Health and WHO emphasized
the need to strengthen collaborative efforts to support
Uganda in ensuring equitable access to
comprehensive health services.
“Ensuring that all Ugandans fully enjoy their right to health
requires collaborative efforts from all sectors, partners,
and communities --- under the one health approach,”
said Dr Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero, Uganda’s Minister
of Health. “It is my appeal that we all channel our
energies towards achieving universal health
coverage in Uganda,” she added.
During the "Walk the Talk" public sports walk, participants
were encouraged to engage in activities ---- that promote
physical and mental health. With support from the STOP
TB Partnership, Victoria University Medical Centre, and
Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, participants were
screened for non-communicable diseases... including
diabetes, high blood pressure, &obesity, as well as
communicable diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B,
and tuberculosis.
Dr Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, WHO Representative
to Uganda, welcomed the country's progress in key
healthcare areas.
"Uganda has made significant progress in reducing
maternal and child mortality, as well as new HIV
infections by 40% between 2010 and 2022.
These results are commendable ----- but
further efforts are needed to ensure
that all people in Uganda... have
access to integrated, person-
centred health services,"
he said.
Doctor Yonas added that implementing the existing public
health policies, strategies, and guidelines, improving
efficiency in the use of resources, and promoting
community empowerment and participation will
accelerate Uganda’s progress ----- towards
achieving universal health coverage.
Like many other countries, Uganda is constantly affected
by public health emergencies, including the recent Ebola
outbreak, COVID-19, and the current food insecurity in
the Karamoja region. The country... also faces socio-
economic challenges that result in unequal access
to comprehensive health services, with over
half of its population - not fully covered.
WHO continues to work with its partners, mobilizing
financial and technical resources to support the
country in improving its health system to
achieve Universal Health Coverage.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of
the World Health Organization (WHO).
________________________________________
El-Fasher -- clashes raise concerns of
expanding conflict in Sudan’s Darfur
April 15th, 10:21am
(PressTV)
Fierce clashes have erupted in and around Darfur’s
El-Fashe,r which had been relatively calm since
the war erupted in Sudan last year between
the army and a rival paramilitary force,
raising fears of a further expansion
of the conflict.
“Clashes have taken hold of the countryside west
of the city,” AFP quoted a local human rights
defender as saying on Sunday.
“Airstrikes have pounded (the area) and everyone
is terrified,” she told the agency by phone, on
condition of anonymity.
The local resistance committee, one of many pro-
democracy groups organizing aid across the
country, said on Saturday a militia allied
with the paramilitary Rapid Support
Forces (RSF), had set ablaze six
villages west of El-Fasher.
According to another activist committee, at least
10 civilians were killed in the attacks.
The RSF --- has been fighting the army, led by Gen. Abdel
Fattah Burhan, for control of the North African country
since April 15 last year --- in a war that has killed
thousands of people --- and displaced eight
million ---- amid warnings of famine.
Amid the violence in the countryside, residents in North
Darfur... have reported an influx of displaced people
moving towards the city. But local activist, Adam,
who asked to be identified only by his first name,
told AFP “we could hear the sound of clashes”
in the city itself, on Saturday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “deeply
concerned” by reports indicating “an attack
on El-Fasher... may be imminent”, his
spokesperson said on Saturday.
In a statement, he said “such an attack would be
devastating for civilians in the city” ..which has
functioned as “a humanitarian hub for the UN
that ensures lifesaving assistance”
across Darfur.
North Darfur’s El-Fasher is the last state capital
not under RSF control in the vast Darfur region.
The recent clashes shattered a fragile truce deal
that was brokered by local armed groups in
El-Fasher last year.
Unrest has soared there..... since the two most powerful
armed groups, led by Darfur governor Mini Minawi and
Sudan’s finance minister Gibril Ibrahim, vowed to
fight alongside the army.
In a statement on Thursday, they said the RSF, led by
Burhan’s former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo,
had “taken advantage of the forces’ position of
neutrality and defense”.
“There can no longer be neutrality,” they declared, vowing
to “fight along with our allies, the patriots and the armed
forces against the RSF militias and their hired helpers.”
Both warring sides in Sudan have been accused of war
crimes, including targeting civilians, indiscriminate
shelling of residential areas and torture.
________________________________________
Southern Africa: Extreme Drought
in Southern Africa --- Triggers
Hunger Crisis for Millions
by Amanda Morrow With Rfi
April 13th, 2024
Radio France Internationale
Southern Africa is on the brink of a hunger crisis after
an historic drought decimated crops during the
peak October to March farming season - one
year after the region was pummelled by
tropical storms.
Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe declared national disasters
within weeks of each other after insufficient rains wiped
out crops including the staple maize harvest.
The severe dry spell - exacerbated by the El Nino weather
pattern that triggers higher global temperatures - has
reached Botswana and Angola to the west, and
Mozambique and Madagascar to the east.
The World Food Programme (WFP) said that some areas
had suffered their driest February in 40 years.
As many as 50 million people are facing food insecurity.
The authorities in Zambia have ordered the army to
support food production, with 84 of the country's
116 districts stricken by a drought that has also
wrought havoc on electricity supplies.
Zambia is highly reliant on hydroelectric power.
Harvest write-off
Almost three-quarters of Zambia has gone without any rain
since January, said Chris Mzembé of the Lusaka branch of
the NGO... Care International.
In places where it has rained, the water came in violent
storms that destroyed crops, Mzembé told RFI - adding
that many maize farmers, especially the smallest,
lost everything.
"They spent all their money on buying seeds and fertilisers
and paying for labour and then their crops died," he said.
"Their entire investment is, therefore, gone."
Like in Zimbabwe, maize production drives the country's
agricultural sector and is at the heart of the local diet.
It's also used as livestock feed and in various industrial
processes including the production of maize flour,
maize starch, corn oil and ethanol.
Coupled with rising food prices and an unstable local
currency, the plummeting maize yields have caused
widespread panic.
"Both individuals and companies have started holding
back (maize-based) goods because they anticipate
they'll be able to sell for more tomorrow,"
Mzembé said.
"This could aggravate the crisis
and further increase prices."
This year's harvest write-off means that millions of
people in southern Africa won't be able to feed
themselves until well into 2025.
USAid's Famine Early Warning System estimated that
some 20 million people would require food relief
in the first few months of this year.
While these are normally "lean months" as families
wait for the new harvest, this year there will be
little hope for replenishment.
Aid appeals
Malawi says it needs more than €200 million in
immediate humanitarian assistance, having
declared a state of emergency in 23 of its
28 districts.
Zimbabwean leader Emmerson Mnangagwa says the
country needs €2 billion in aid. Families have been
urged to conserve food as the authorities work
with charities and UN agencies to bring
in supplies.
Nearly 20 percent of Zimbabwe's population - 2.7 million
people in rural areas - benefits from food aid already.
Meanwhile Zambia has also appealed
for international help.
With the next crop growing season a year away, the British
charity Oxfam has warned of acute food shortages and
malnutrition for more than six million Zambians -
or 30 percent of that country's population.
But humanitarian agencies including WFP say resources
are stretched as it is, because of funding cuts by
governments, despite growing demand for
food aid in many parts of the world
badly affected by climate shocks.
Scientists have warned that extreme weather will
continue to become --- more frequent and more
damaging, and that vulnerable communities
will be worst hit.
______________________________________
Togo: Campaigns begin for
upcoming legislative and
regional elections
April 13th, 4:39pm
(africanews)
Electoral campaigns for the legislative and regional polls
have begun in Togo. Originally scheduled to take place
on April 20, campaigning started on Saturday April 13
and will last for 2 weeks before the vote on April 29.
Although the upcoming polls will be the first regional
elections in the country's history, it is the legislative
elections that is attracting the most attention since
it will be key to who becomes the country's
next leader.
This comes especially since the surprise adoption of a
new constitution by the country's MPs on March 25.
Following the vote by MPs on the new fundamental law,
which shifts the country ------ from a presidential to a
parliamentary system, Togo's Head of State, Faure
Gnassingbé, attempted to appease the population
by delaying the promulgation of the text and
requesting a second reading in the
National Assembly.
He called for MPs to hold broad consultations -- with
traditional and regional leaders across the country.
Those consultations started last Monday April 15.
Opposition parties have vowed protests and resistance to
the planned change of the constitution, but their initial
three-day planned protests did not hold.... after they
were banned by the government.
The interior and security ministries said the protests
planned for Thursday (Apr. 11) would seriously
disturb public order.
A spokesman for the opposition behind the planned protest
said the coalition was considering whether to move
forward with the rallies, anyway.
“Whenever they’re in a panic, they’re ready to use any
kind of tricks against the opposition," spokesman
Eric Dupuy told The Associated Press.
“It doesn't move us.”
The government last week arrested nine opposition
activists for engaging in political activities at a
market. All nine were released on Tuesday
(Apr. 9) evening.
Tension is rising in the west African nation of eight million
people over the new constitution that effectively scraps
presidential elections and introduces more changes
that aim to shift the country to a parliamentary
system of government.
Many fear the changes amongst other things may be an
avenue for President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his
grip on power especially after his current mandate
expires in 2025.
The Gnassingbé family has ruled Togo since 1967.
_______________________________________________
Sudan: One year of unrelenting
war --------- with no end in sight
April 13th, 11:42am
(africanews)
The war in Sudan that began a year ago between the
country’s military, chaired by Gen. Abdel-Fattah
Burhan... and the notorious Rapid Support
Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohammed
Hamdan Dagalo will mark one year
on Monday.
The war in the African country has killed thousands and
forced eight million people to flee their homes to safer
areas inside Sudan or to neighbouring countries,
according to United Nations figures.
But the precarious conditions and lack of aid
is pushing Sudan to the edge of famine.
The food security situation has become the "biggest
concern" for humanitarian agencies working in
Sudan, according to Justin Brady, the Head of
the OCHA office in the country.
In an interview, he said this year’s harvest season was
at least 4% less than that of last year, adding that last
month they received two credible warnings of famine
in the country.
“Famine isn't a word that we as humanitarians use loosely.
It's something that is reserved, really, for the direst
situations. And I'm afraid that's where the
Sudanese people find themselves,”
he said.
The international community’s authority on determining
the severity of hunger crises warned last month that an
immediate action is needed to “prevent widespread
death and total collapse of livelihoods and avert a
catastrophic hunger crisis in Sudan.”
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC,
said that security conditions and lack of access meant
the agency was unable to update its assessment from
December, when it found 17.7 million people in Sudan
were facing acute food insecurity; of them.... about
5 million being one step from famine.
Brady said they received reports of people dying of
malnutrition, and others eating leaves of trees, or
only eating once in three days.
He described the humanitarian situation in Sudan as “very
dark,” adding that “this is going to get very ugly very
quickly, we can overcome both the resource
challenges and the access challenges.”
He appealed to the international community to pressure
the warring parties to stop fighting, raise funds for the
U.N. response plan - which is only 5% funded for this
year - and allow access to the worst hit areas in
Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan region to help
reverse the course of the disaster before
it’s too late.
“We’re not just talking about people potentially dying in the
tens and hundreds of thousands in the coming weeks and
months. But it is really delirious, depleting effect on
Sudan for the future,” he said.
Since the war began, food production has crashed, imports
stalled and staple food prices have soared by 45% in less
than a year, according to The United Nations Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA.
Movement of food across the country, particularly to rural
and remote areas where most people live, has also been
severely restricted due to conflict, driving more than
37% of the population into above crisis levels of
hunger, the OCHA said in a recent report.
Eighteen months before the war, both Burhan and Dagalo
led a military coup and plunged the country into chaos.
They toppled an internationally recognised civilian
government that was supposed to steer the
country’s democratic transition after the
2019 military overthrow of longtime
leader Omar al-Bashir amid an
uprising against his three-
decades of Islamist-
backed rule.
The coup and the war were a major blow to Sudanese’
hopes for peaceful rule, after decades of military
and Islamist rule, which the West both caused
and undermined by encouraging a separatist
civil war in the break-away oil-rich south,
thus making Sudan a ''pariah state''.
United Nations experts said in a report to the U.N.
Security Council earlier this year, that Darfur is
experiencing “its worst violence since 2005.”
_____________________________________________
Kenya proposes treaty to ease
Somalia-Ethiopia tensions
April 12th, 4:17pm
(africanews)
Kenya on Thursday announced a proposal for a regional
maritime treaty to defuse tensions between Ethiopia
and Somalia.
Ethiopia in January signed a deal with the breakaway
region of Somaliland to lease a portion of its
coastland in return for possible recognition
of the region, which has claimed
independence from Somalia
since 1991.
The deal angered Somalia.. fueling concerns
of futher destabilisation in the Horn of Africa.
In early April, tensions escalated when Somalia ordered
Ethiopia’s ambassador to leave the country, as well as
the closure of Ethiopia’s consulates in the region of
Somaliland and the semi-autonomous region
of Puntland.
The regional treaty proposed by Kenya in consultation
with Djibouti and the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (Igad) would govern how landlocked
states in the region can access ports on
commercial terms, Kenya's principal
secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir
Sing'oei, said Thursday.
Somalia and Ethiopia are considering the proposal,
according to Sing'oei in an interview with Reuters
news agency.
He said that the treaty would be a way to ensure
regional stability, adding that the two countries'
leaders have been asked to meet to discuss
the proposal.
It came as Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
on Thursday met with his Kenyan counterpart William
Ruto in Nairobi as part of efforts to find a diplomatic
solution to the dispute.
_______________________________
Russian military trainers arrive in Niger
as relations deteriorate with the US
April 12th, 2:20pm
(africanews)
State television in Niger has broadcast footage of Russian
military trainers arriving in the country aboard a plane
equipped with military supplies to boost its air
defenses amid deteriorating relations
between Niger and the U.S.
Two Russian trainers were filmed in front of the plane
wearing military uniforms, caps and face coverings.
The plane arrived Wednesday night, the report
said, and carried military supplies to help
Niger improve its air defenses.
“We are here to train the Nigerian army to use the military
equipment that is here,” one of the Russian trainers said
in French, in Thursday's broadcast. “We are here to
develop military cooperation between Russia
and Niger.”
Until recently, Washington considered Niger a key
partner and ally in a region swept by attempted
coups in recent years.
A U.S. airbase was established as the heart of Niger’s
counter insurgency operations in the sub-Saharan
region known as the Sahel. Since 2012, the
region has been gripped by a worsening
insurgency - fought by groups linked to
Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
The U.S. invested heavily in training Niger’s forces to beat
back the insurgency that has ravaged the country and its
neighbors, But last summer, some of those elite U.S.-
trained forces took part in a coup that ousted the
elected president.
U.S. relations with Niger took a further downturn last
month when the junta announced on state television
the flights from its airbase were illegal and that it no
longer recognized the US military presence in the
country. The junta criticized the U.S. for trying to
force it to choose between partners and
warning them against cooperating
with Russia and Iran.
Niamey has yet to order US troops
out, U.S. officials have said.
The broadcast said the arrival of Russian trainers
followed a call between Russian President
Vladimir Putin and the country’s military
leaders in March.
Niger's military leaders are seeking to diversify their
partnerships and achieve greater sovereignty, the
broadcast said.
________________________________________
Climate-smart seeds cultivate
hope for Kenya's agricultural
future?
April 12th, 1:24pm
(africanews)
These are no ordinary beans -
they're climate-smart beans.
The seeds could be the answer to growing
crops.... as the world's weather shifts.
In a pioneering collaboration between scientists
from the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock
Research Organization (KALRO) and the
Alliance of Bioversity International and
CIAT, an initiative is underway to
popularize a new bean variety
tailored for Kenya's diverse
climatic conditions.
Dubbed "Nyota", meaning "star" in Kiswahili, these
climate-smart beans signify more than just
agricultural resilience; they symbolize a
beacon of hope for a sustainable future
amidst the challenges posed by
climate change.
David Karanja, a bean breeder and National Coordinator
for Grains and Legumes at KALRO, sheds light on the
meticulous process behind developing these
resilient varieties.
"When doing climate smart bean varieties - you start with
parents of known characteristics, like drought tolerance,
heat and dry. One of the varieties we have is KAT Bean
1 is parent, then we have varieties like GLP 2 that
grows in a lot of areas. Then we also combine
with varieties that have high levels of iron
and zinc. You do the crosses in the
screen house where you take the
parents and keep on crossing
and backcrossing - until you
get the variety you require
before you take them for
multi-location trials,"
he says.
Kenya's agricultural landscape presents a spectrum of
challenges, from arid lowlands to cold, dry highlands,
each with its unique climatic demands.
One focus with these beans is to make sure
drought doesn't kill them off before they've
had time to flourish.
"We are in the lowlands, there's heat and a lack of
adequate rainfall. So when we are trying to make
the varieties drought tolerant, we work towards
breeding varieties that will escape the terminal
drought. That means the variety has to grow
within a very short period so that it can
escape the drought. So basically most
of them, like the bean varieties that
we work with, they flower within
30 days & mature within 70 days.
Within that period, the early
cessation of rainfall, then
that bean will have
matured and be
.....harvested,"
says Karanja.
But there are still challenges, including disease
pressures and soaring demand for seeds
outpacing the current supply.
Josephine Syanda, a research scientist at KALRO,
underscores the market-driven approach to
breeding, emphasizing the importance of
considering consumer preferences and
cooking times.
"When we are breeding, we normally take into account
the aspect of the market. Because the cooking time
will give us varieties that cook faster and when
they cook faster, they reduce the cost of fuel,
like for example gas and firewood, which
probably will reduce the cost of living
for the farmers," Syanda remarks.
The introduction of Nyota beans holds immense
promise for Kenya's agricultural sector.
By enlisting farmers to cultivate these resilient
varieties, the initiative aims to bolster national
bean production, which currently -- falls short
of meeting the annual consumption demand.
Benson Gitonga, a farmer, has adopted Nyota beans
and has witnessed remarkable increases in yields
and profitability.
"I can harvest 9 to 12 bags from an acre of land, unlike
other varieties where I would only get 5 to 7 bags.
The difference upon comparison is substantial.
When I bring beans to the market, they
consistently fetch a good price, selling
for Kenya Shillings 200 per kilogram,
while other varieties often go for
Kenya Shillings 100. Customers
purchasing for home use -----
particularly appreciate its
qualities ----- as it boasts
low flatulence levels ----
making it an appealing
choice for many,"
he says.
According to Karanja, Kenya's annual bean production
is 600,000 metric tonnes, while consumption is at
755,000 metric tonnes, leading to the need
for imports.
To meet the burgeoning demand for Nyota beans,
KALRO has licensed several seed companies to
produce and market the seeds.
Kenya boasts about 26 registered seed companies.
Most aim to produce and distribute superior
seeds for commercial and domestic use.
Approximately two-thirds of seeds planted in Kenyan
farms are sourced from formal channels, with the
government advocating for the use of licensed
seeds to ensure quality and mitigate the
spread of seed-borne pests
and diseases.
However, the government's strict regulations on seed
exchange have drawn criticism from environmental
groups such as Greenpeace Africa.
Elizabeth Atieno Opolo, a food campaigner at Greenpeace
Africa, has concerns about limiting farmers' access to
indigenous seeds.
Critics argue that legislation limiting farmers' access
to indigenous seeds perpetuates dependency on
commercially owned seeds, thereby
exacerbating financial burdens
on small-scale farmers.
"Most of these improved seeds (referring to GMO seeds)
that we see they usually get their primary plantic
genetic resources from these indigenous seeds.
So they go back to our seeds, they take our
seeds and then they go to the lab and do
whatever they do themselves and then
they sell back these seeds to the
farmers and then, you find that
at the end of the day farmers
have to be buying these
seeds every season...
because they can't
replant the seeds.''
''So they have to keep on buying seeds every
new season --- and that is keeping farmers
in a cycle of debt," says Opolo.
_______________________________________________
Cuba and Benin express interest
in boosting bilateral ties
April 12th, 2:47pm
(Prensa Latina)
On Friday, Cuba and Benin.. expressed their common
interest in continuing to boost economic-commercial
and cooperation ties, on a telephone conversation
between Foreign Ministers Bruno Rodriguez and
Oleshegun Abjadi Bakari respectively.
The head of Cuban diplomacy reported on X that during
the dialogue they also agreed on the good state of
bilateral relations.
Cuba and Benin have maintained collaboration in terms
of human resources training through the scholarship
program, since the establishment of diplomatic
relations on February 1, 1974.
Benin, a French-speaking country in West Africa, has a
population of over 11 million inhabitants in an area of
112,600 square kilometres.
________________________________________________
Kenya: African Experts Meet -----
for Global Climate Change Goals
April 10th, 7pm
(teleSUR)
On Tuesday, African experts are meeting in Nairobi, the
Kenyan capital, to align their priorities with the global
climate change objectives ahead of the UN climate
change conference to be held in June in Germany.
The four-day meeting, which bringd together policymakers,
negotiators, practitioners, farmer organizations, and civil
society organizations from 30 African countries, will
develop a common African position ahead of the
60th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for
Scientific and Technological Advice
and the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation (SB 60)...
to be held on June 3-13
in Bonn.
In his remarks, George Wamukoya, team leader of the
African Group of Negotiators Experts Support
(AGNES), said that it is imperative --- that
experts unite under a common African
position to pave the way for
meaningful action, at the
coming climate change
meetings.
"Collective effort, guided by reflection on COP28
outcomes, will shape strategic approaches
across agriculture, adaptation, gender
equality, health, water security,
biodiversity and nature-based
solutions," Wamukoya said
during the meeting.
He added that, through dialogue, collaboration, and
determination, there is an urgent need to chart a
path towards resilience, sustainability, and
equitable development ------- for the
whole continent.
The meeting is expected to provide the African
negotiators with a strategy and an approach
to engage in negotiations on agriculture,
adaptation, loss and damage, and
adaptation finance.
Mithika Mwenda, executive director of the Pan African
Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), promised to
leverage its convening power by facilitating
broad-based consultations on adaptation
issues at the 60th sessions of the
SB 60 in Bonn.
Mwenda said that PACJA is providing a unified platform
for African non-state actors to support and maintain
the campaign for increased adaptation financing.
He said that with the global temperatures already
surpassing pre-industrial levels, the need for
decisive action by African countries and
the global south - is now.
__________________________________________
Malawi: WHO Donates Supply
Kits -------- amid Food Crisis
April 9th, 8:15pm (teleSUR)
On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) donated
pediatric severe acute malnutrition (PEDSAM) kits to the
Malawian government in response to President Lazarus
Chakwera's recent appeal for support amid worsening
food insecurity in the country.
Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, the WHO country
representative to Malawi, said that in line with
the president's request, the WHO has
observed an increase in cases of
severe acute malnutrition in
children since January....
prompting the donation.
"When food security is affected in a country, it will quickly
manifest in children, especially those under five. This is
something we foresaw not only for this year but also
last year with Cyclone Freddy, the floods, and the
cholera outbreak," she said.
“The WHO will continue collaborating with other partners
and the Malawian government to support the training of
health workers in nutrition rehabilitation, particularly in
the country's eight southern districts where the risk is
high,” she added.
The PEDSAM kits are designed to provide essential
supplies necessary for the effective treatment and
care of children suffering from malnutrition, as
well as malaria.
Malawian Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda
described the donation as "timely and very useful for
Malawi," where the infant mortality rate remains
a concern.
The minister said that cases of severe malnutrition and
malaria in children in Malawi contribute to the high
infant mortality rates, with malnutrition alone
accounting for at least 30 percent of deaths. )
____________________________________
Namibia: Critical Food
Shortage, Low Rainfall
April 9th (teleSUR)
On Monday, Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Water and
Land Reform announced that the country is facing a
critical food deficit, particularly in staple cereal
crops such as maize and pearl millet.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform
Anna Shiweda said in a statement that this deficit is
expected to require substantial food imports to
meet domestic demand.
"Looking at the Food Balance Sheet, the indications are
that the country will experience a high food deficit,
especially for staple cereal crops (maize, pearl
millet), which will require coverage through
food imports from outside the country,"
she said.
Namibia relies on neighbouring Southern African
Development Community (SADC) countries for
cereal imports. Due to below-normal rainfall
affecting cereal production in countries
such as South Africa, Zimbabwe -- and
Zambia, however, alternative sources
outside the SADC Region may need
to be explored, Shiweda said.
"This means..... that we will have to import cereals from
other sources outside the SADC Region. This, in turn,
implies a high cost of the domestic food basket for
local consumers," she added.
Shiweda emphasized the urgency of addressing this
issue, calling for a reassessment of the nation's
food production systems.
"This situation is yet another wake-up call for us as a
country to relook at our food production systems
and come up with innovative climate-smart
strategies that will make the agriculture
sector more responsive and resilient to
the impact of climate change and
climate variability," she said.
Namibia has experienced below-to-normal rainfall this
year --- coupled with sporadic and erratic rainfall
patterns, significantly impacting the agriculture
sector ---- which serves as the mainstay and
lifeline for the livelihoods of 70 percent
of the population.
________________________________________
Gaza genocide becoming reminiscent
of Rwanda genocide, Algeria warns
April 9th, 4:41pm
(PressTV)
Algeria says the lessons learned from Rwanda’s painful
past must be upheld --- when it comes to confronting
Israel’s genocidal war in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf made the remark during a
ceremony in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, on Sunday.
His presence was intended to renew Algeria’s
permanent solidarity with the Republic
of Rwanda.
The Rwandan genocide took place between April and July
of 1994. It was triggered by the killing of Rwanda’s Hutu
President Juvenal Habyarimana, a close ally of Paris,
whose plane was shot down over Kigali.
France has long been accused of not doing enough
to prevent the mass slaughter, which has led to
strained ties between the two countries
to date.
The Algerian foreign minister said in earlier comments
that Israel had turned Gaza --- “from a mass prison
into a mass grave.“
Israel launched the brutal campaign in Gaza on October 7,
following Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the resistance
groups into the occupied territories. The regime
has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians,
mostly women and children.
Algeria has - time and again - said Israel
must be held accountable for its crimes.
Meanwhile --- the Western camp is
under fire for giving arms to Israel.
The Canadian government is sued at a federal court
for “contributing to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza”.
Recently, judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
heard a case filed by Nicaragua accusing Germany of
supporting “genocide” ---- against the people of
Palestine in Gaza, by supporting Israel.
In January, the ICJ imposed provisional measures ordering
Israel to do all it can, to prevent death, destruction and
acts of genocide in Gaza. The orders came in a case
filed by South Africa accusing Israel of breaching
the Genocide Convention.
On Sunday, the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency
(UNRWA)’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said
the Israeli savagery had set a new record in terms of
killing minors, paramedics, and journalists.
The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are facing increasingly
dire conditions. The US-Israeli onslaught has entered
the seventh month now.
___________________________________
Rwandan president denounces
US semantic duplicity
April 9th, 2:32pm
(Prensa Latina)
President Paul Kagame expressed concern in a message
broadcast on Tuesday --- about the US Government's
reluctance to describe the massacres perpetrated
by members of the Hutu ethnic group against
their Tutsi compatriots ----- as genocide.
In a post on X, the president reacted to the ambiguity of a
message from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in
which, in his opinion, the official avoided specifying
that the Tutsis were the target of the massacres
that covered this country with blood for
100 days... after April 7, 1994.
Some 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis, were killed by
members of the Hutu ethnic group. The echoes
still resound in Rwanda, three decades later,
despite redemption and healing promoted
by the Government of President Kagame.
The genocidal outburst that horrified humanity included
moderate Hutus and even those with other marital
ties to Tutsis.
''We mourn many thousands of Tutsis, Hutus, and others
who lost their lives during 100 days of unspeakable
violence,'' the US Secretary of State’s message
said ---- sparking President Kagame’s anger.
''There are 365 days in a year. Give us that day, April 7, and
then you can have the remaining 364 days to blame us
every day for everything you do not like about us,''
the Rwandan president’s reply advises.
The official Rwandan position also establishes that “any
ambiguity on who the victims of the genocide were, is
an attempt to distort history - and disrespect for the
memory of the victims.”
__________________________________
International Quds Day
in Africa
April 8th, 10:37am
(PressTV)
People across Africa marked International Quds Day
with massive rallies to demonstrate solidarity with
the oppressed people of Palestine ---- while
condemning the Israeli apartheid regime
over its atrocities and occupation
of Palestine.
Record numbers turned out at this year's rallies because
the world has been awoken by the horrific genocidal
crimes being perpetrated against Palestinians by
the Israeli apartheid regime in Gaza and the
occupied West Bank.
South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice
over the Israeli apartheid regime's genocidal war on
Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip --- has
galvanized African support for Palestine.
The large turnout at this year's Quds Day rallies across
Africa ---- once again ---- reaffirmed the continent's
historical support for the liberation of Palestine.
The recent historical presidential election in Senegal
saw how Senegal's youngest president, Faye....
defeated the ruling coalition's candidate in a
March election by a landslide, reflecting
high hopes for change in the country
of around 18 million people.
______________________________
Egypt and Norway promote
global recognition of
a Palestinian state
April 8th, 6:42am
(Prensa Latina)
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, and
Norway, Espen Barth Eide, today.... discussed
international efforts aimed at expanding
the base of countries that recognize
the Palestinian State.
During a telephone dialogue, both parties also agreed on
the need to stop Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and
reactivate the peace process, detailed a statement
from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In this regard, they reiterated the urgency of achieving
an immediate and permanent ceasefire, as well as
guaranteeing the delivery of “full, safe and rapid”
humanitarian aid to meet the needs of Gazans.
Although 137 of the 193 UN members recognize
Palestinian statehood, most richer nations
such as the US, Canada, Japan and
Western Europe... did not take
that stance.
The Arab group at the United Nations is currently working
on a resolution to elevate the status of Palestinians
from an observer state --- to a full member
of the international organization.
Shoukry emphasized that Israel must fulfill its
responsibilities as an occupying power and
cease its attacks on civilians and relief
personnel in Gaza.
He warned that these actions violate all provisions
of international law and humanitarian law.
He also urged the neighbouring country to open all land
crossings with the coastal enclave --- and remove
obstacles to efforts to increase the flow of
aid to Gaza.
_______________________________________
Sudan: UNICEF Denounces Dangerous
Situation -------- of Millions of Children
April 2nd (teleSUR)
On Tuesday, UNICEF officials said that the United Nations
(UN) agencies said 14 million Sudanese children are in
need of urgent assistance in nutrition, health, water
and other essential goods.
Mandib O'Brien, UNICEF representative in Sudan, warns
that the suffering of children ------ could result in a
generational catastrophe - because the country
is facing the biggest child displacement crisis
in the world.
For its part, the pan-Arab channel Al Mayadeen, reflected
statements by the official in which she said that over 3.5
million children were forced to flee their homes since the
beginning of the war and there are more than 7.4 million
children who cannot access safe drinking water while
more than three million children under five years of
age ----- suffer from acute malnutrition.
O'Brien also called for a united effort to find aid,
seek funding and find a political solution to
the war in the African country.
Since mid-April, Sudan has been embroiled in an internal
war after power struggles flared up between army chief
Abdel Fatah al-Burhan & the leader of the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
In Sudan, where a military coup d'état took place in 2021
and another in 2019, a war raged that killed thousands
of civilians, including some 15,000 in the West Darfur
region alone, and displaced some seven million
people, according to the United Nations.
____________________________________
Nine more kidnapped
by Boko Haram -------
rescued in Nigeria
April 1st, 8:24am
(Prensa Latina)
The Nigerian armed forces rescued nine people
who were kidnapped by the Islamist group
Boko Haram in two different operations,
the newspaper Vanguard reported.
Three members of the terrorist organization were
neutralized during operations carried out in the
town of Bama, state of Borno, in the north-
west of the country.
The army also conducted operations in the towns of
Angwan Wanna, in the centre of the country, and
Bula Marwa, in the northeast, freeing three
adult women and six children.
Recently, the Nigerian armed forces rescued more
than 130 students kidnapped three weeks ago
from a school in Kaduna state, in the north-
west of the country.
Mass abductions, particularly of little girls and
government functionaries, for whose release
they demand cash ransoms, are one of the
main ways of obtaining income for so-
called Islamist groups and criminal
gangs operating in the country.
The attacks against unarmed populations and kidnappings,
constitute the two main headaches of the Nigerian central
authorities, in addition to the frequent conflicts between
herders and farmers over the use of water and areas of
their activities.
__________________________________
Sudanese army represses
civilian volunteers and
aid groups
Khartoum, April 1st, 8:19am
(Prensa Latina)
The Sudanese Army and paramilitaries repress civilian
volunteers and aid groups working in soup kitchens
and other assistance centres, political
observers reported.
Observers highlight that the arrests in the capital are just
one part of a broader strategy of both sides fighting to
gain power in the country, repressing civil society
actors by arresting volunteers, limiting access
to aid, and blocking the arrival of more food.
On the same issue, the Pan Arab Al Jazeera channel
reported that the arrests of activists and volunteers
affect thousands of citizens, who depend on soup
kitchens to survive in the face of the looming
famine throughout the country.
The outlet added that local aid groups have asked donor
countries for protection as both paramilitaries and the
army -- benefit from the control of humanitarian aid.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ----- noted
recently that there are 14 million Sudanese children in
urgent need of humanitarian aid, while 19 million are
out of school and four million have been displaced
by the war.
UNICEF also reported that two-thirds of the Sudanese
population ---- lacks access to health services since
nearly 80 percent of hospitals ceased operations
due to the serious shortage of medical supplies
and the danger to health personnel.
Since mid-April, Sudan has been mired in an internal war,
after contradictions over power issues flared up
between the head of the Army, Abdel Fatah
al-Burhan, and the leader of the para-
military Rapid Support Forces,
Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
A war broke out in Sudan ---- where a military coup
occurred in 2019 and another in 2021, killing
thousands of civilians, including about
15,000 in the Western Darfur region
alone, displacing about seven
million people, according to
data provided by the UN.
__________________________________
At Least 20 Killed by Paramilitary
Attacks in Central Sudan
March 30th, 4:04pm
(teleSUR)
In Wad Madani, capital of Al Jazeera state, the FSR
attacked several villages "with the aim of looting
and stealing", in actions in which they killed at
least 20 civilians and injured 32 others in the
last three days, the region’s defense
committees reported.
The committee, created in 2013 to support the population
in the multiple internal conflicts, warned that civilians
"were subjected to acts of terrorism & whips", while
the rebels "opened fire on citizens carrying sticks,
knives and hunting rifles" ---- who tried to
defend themselves.
"These crimes of the Rapid Support Forces in Al Jazeera
state are pushing villagers to flee their homes," said an
Emergency Lawyers Group, which is monitoring
violations of the war in Sudan, and detailing
that forced displacements, aggravate
the humanitarian situation.
On the other hand, in the Darfur region, the Darfur Bar
Association --- said that Army aircraft this morning
bombed paramilitary-controlled sites north and
east of the city of El Fasher, the capital of
Northern Darfur state, which resulted in
the deaths of three civilians, including
one child, and eleven others injured.
The Army’s response comes four days after the Armed
Forces asked citizens to stay away from the FSR
assembly sites, after warning them that they
considered these positions a target for
aerial bombardment.
Meanwhile, the paramilitary action comes three days
after this same committee warned of the deaths of
43 Sudanese at the hands of the rebels during the
attacks of the last two weeks ---- against 28
villages in the same area.
The war between the Army and the FSR --- which broke out
in mid-April last year, has so far left, according to the UN,
13,900 dead and the worst wave of displacement in
the world ----- in just eleven months.
____________________________________________
Presidential system...
introduced in Somalia
March 30th, 3:05pm
(TASS)
The Parliament of Somalia approved the introduction of
a universal direct voting right and the transition to the
presidential form of government, AFP reported.
"Lawmakers of both chambers unanimously approve the
amended articles of the Constitution," House of the
People Speaker Adan Mohamed Nuur Madobe said.
The amendments are expected to be implemented
during the next regional elections, scheduled
for June 30.
The principle of the universal direct voting right - was
cancelled after Siad Barre came into power in 1969;
after he was deposed in 1991, the political system
in Somalia was clan-based.
The current Constitution was adopted in 2012.
Two years later, the process of review and
amendment started.
Currently, amendments have been introduced to
four articles, with 11 remaining; after that, a
referendum will be held.
_________________________________
Russian companies interested in
cooperation with Guinea —
ambassador
March 29th, 11:15am (TASS)
Many Russian companies are interested in cooperation
with Guinea, Russian Ambassador to the Republic
Alexey Popov said in an interview with the
Guinean news portal Guinee Matin.
"Many Russian enterprises are showing interest in working
with Guinea," he said, talking about the prospects for
developing cooperation between the two countries.
Popov noted --- that Russia is always "open to
proposals" and is ready to do "everything
possible to expand cooperation in
various fields."
The head of the diplomatic mission also spoke about the
current level of economic cooperation. According to
him, "the key area of economic cooperation
between Russia and Guinea, is the
mining industry."
The Russian Ambassador noted the successes of the
Russian company, Rusal, which "over more than 20
years of its work in Guinea has invested millions of
dollars in the local economy," and also mentioned
the international gold mining company Nordgold.
According to the ambassador, these companies
"contribute to the sustainable development of
the country through tax contributions to
the national budget, job creation
and social infrastructure."
Rusal is the largest aluminum producer outside China.
In Guinea it owns the Compagnie des bauxites de
Kindia (CBK)... as well as the Friguia bauxite-
alumina complex. In addition, the company
is implementing a project in the country
to develop the world's largest bauxite
deposit, Dian-Dian.
____________________________________
AFP: Senegal's Constitutional Council
announces Bassirou Diomaye Faye
as President
March 29th, 10:26pm
(RT.ru)
Senegal's Constitutional Council has announced
Bassir Diomaye Faye as its new president.
This is reported by France Press.
As stated in the article, the Constitutional Coun
cil
approved Faye as president, publishing the final official results.
It is specified that he won 54.28% in the first round,
and the former Prime Minister Amadou Ba - 35.79%.
Presidential elections were held on March 24.
On March 7, Senegalese President Macky Sall
dismissed the previous Government and
appointed a new Prime Minister.
___________________________________
First warship in Russia’s recent
history visits Eritrea — fleet
March 29th, 2:53am (TASS)
The frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, calling at Massawa port
in Eritrea has been the first visit by a Russian warship to
the country in Russia’s modern history, the Russian
Pacific Fleet said.
"A welcoming ceremony for the Russian vessel on the first
ever visit to Eritrea in Russia’s history, attended by the
African country’s officials and Navy, was held at
the port," the fleet said.
"The port call by the Pacific Fleet vessel will last a
few days after which the frigate will continue
accomplishing tasks assigned to it for its
long-distance sea voyage," it added.
According to the Pacific Fleet, cultural and sporting
activities for its navymen will be organized during
the port call. Thus, the crew of the frigate will
have a sightseeing tour, and teams made up
of crew members ---- will play friendly
matches against the host side.
____________________________________
Western political pressure on Mali
unacceptable: Russian delegation
to UNHRC
March 28th, 3:49pm (TASS)
Russia - considers the West’s attempts to squeeze Mali
politically unacceptable, the Russian delegation said
during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights
Council in Geneva, calling for the African
country to be provided with
"real assistance."
"The Malian leadership ----- requires constructive support at
all levels from the international community, not political
pressure that the countries of the ‘collective West’ try
to exert, including via international human rights
mechanisms," representative of the Russian
delegation Ruslan Stroganov said.
"We consider these methods --- unacceptable. We call to
reject this practice and switch to providing Mali with
real technical cooperation taking into account
the interests of the leadership and
people of this country."
Russia --- "closely monitors the human rights situation in
Mali," noting the openness of the country’s leadership
for dialogue with international organizations, the
representative said. In this regard, Stroganov
pointed out --- that the Malian authorities
"have to deal with many problems -----
including illegal militias & terrorist
groups operating there."
The security problems "directly affect not
only the human rights situation, but the
situation in the country in general,"
the diplomat underscored.
Moscow supports the "course of the Malian government
to ensure the strict protection of human rights by law
enforcement and armed forces members, carrying
out scrupulous investigations of all cases of
potential violations in this area," the
Russian diplomat concluded.
The 55th Human Rights Council session takes place in
Geneva between February 26 and April 5. Russia is
not a member of this council, but it actively
participates in its meetings.
________________________________
Tanzania's Foreign Minister strongly condemns
the terrorist attack at Crocus Park in a
conversation with Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov
March 28th, 2:58pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Tanzanian Foreign Minister, January Makamba, held a
telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart
Sergey Lavrov, during which he strongly condemned
the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall. This was
reported on March 28, by the Russian
Foreign Ministry.
"The head of the Tanzanian Foreign Ministry strongly
condemned the barbaric terrorist attack at the
Crocus City Hall concert Hall," the ministry
said in a statement on its website.
Makamba expressed his deep condolences in connection
with the incident and asked Lavrov to convey words of
support and sympathy to the families of the victims,
as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to
the victims.
The terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall near Moscow,
where the band Picnic was supposed to perform,
occurred on March 22. Terrorists in camouflage
burst into the building, started shooting and
set fire to the concert hall. According to
the latest data, the death toll has risen
to 143 people.
A criminal case was opened under Article 205 of the
Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Terrorist
act"). The FSB of Russia reported that after the
terrorist attack, the attackers were going to
cross the border of the Russian Federation
with Ukraine --- they had contacts on the
Ukrainian side.
A total of 11 people were detained, including four direct
perpetrators of the attack. All four are foreign citizens.
To date, the court has arrested eight detainees.
Solidarity with the Russians was also expressed by the
presidents of Belarus, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Turkey,
Kazakhstan, the Foreign Ministers of Italy,
Germany, France, Pakistan, South Africa,
Mali, Congo and many other states.
Putin, in his address to the Russians in connection with
the tragedy, said that the Russian Federation counts
on cooperation with all countries sharing the pain
with Moscow over the terrorist attack in Crocus
City Hall.
_____________________________________________________
Putin discusses trade, economic
cooperation with South African
President — Kremlin
March 28th, 9:28am (TASS)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has had a telephone
conversation with his South African counterpart Cyril
Ramaphosa and discussed cooperation between the
two countries ---- in trade, economic, energy and
humanitarian areas with him, the press
service of the Kremlin said.
"A number of issues - related to practical cooperation in
the trade, economic, energy and humanitarian areas
were discussed," according to a statement
released, after the conversation.
Putin and Ramaphosa expressed "satisfaction with the
level of strategic partnership between the two
countries that has been reached," the
press service noted.
The sides also discussed cooperation within BRICS in
a new extended format, according to the statement.
"In the context of Russia’s BRICS chairmanship - that
passed from South Africa, the issue of cooperation
within the integration in a new extended format
was discussed," the statement reads.
_______________________________________
Russia’s efforts --- in combating terrorism
in Africa producing results — UN official
March 28th, 9:24am (TASS)
Russia’s efforts in combating terrorism in Africa, are
producing results, Special Representative of the UN
Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel
Leonardo Santos Simao said in an interview
with TASS.
The region of West Africa and the Sahel is undergoing big
challenges -- with a lot of suffering in the population, he
said. "And our role as UNOWAS (the UN Office for West
Africa & the Sahel - TASS), which is the name of our
office, is to try to promote peace and stability in
the region. And to reach this objective we need
to upgrade the capacity of the region to fight
terrorism -- which is the principal challenge
of the region," the diplomat said.
"And to fight terrorism, it's important to bring all the efforts
to help the most affected countries, and these are in
central Sahel, particularly Mali, Burkina Faso and
Niger. Russia, is a permanent member of the
Security Council -- so it is a country with
special responsibilities for that reason.
But also Russia is a country which is
cooperating with many countries in
Africa but particularly these ones
in the Sahel. So the purpose of
our visit -- is to commend the
efforts Russia is making to
combat terrorism in
the region.''
''That cooperation with the countries of the region
is very much valued --- because it's producing
results," he stressed.
Moreover, the UN envoy noted the necessity - to tackle the
other two issues. "One is humanitarian assistance which
is necessary. Russia is providing that assistance, but
the magnitude, the size of the problem is such that
more effort is necessary to alleviate the suffering
of that population.''
''And the second aspect is to look into the long-term
perspective, because terrorism is bred on poverty,
so it's necessary --- to tackle development. So
what we are doing is to encourage Russia
to help these countries.. on the way to
development," he said.
Simao noted, that the development of agriculture, could be
one of the solutions to the food problem. "So, that's taking
advantage of the natural conditions these countries have,
particularly starting with agriculture, which will bring
food security and also create jobs among the youth.
Because the youth also, is another challenge for
the region," he said.
The youth are now more than half of the population
of each of these countries.. the diplomat noted.
"And there are no jobs, both for rhe educated
and non-educated youth," he emphasized.
Simao added.... that he had had a meeting with Russian
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin. "This is the
agenda that we came to discuss with the Russian
authorities. I've had a meeting with the vice
[foreign] minister [Sergey] Vershinin on
that and we agreed that this is the
way to work together.''
''We also agreed that we have to continue to support these
countries --- so that there is more dialogue among the
countries of the region --- but also with the regional
sub-regional organization, which is the ECOWAS.''
''That dialogue is necessary, to bring more stability among
the countries concerned, so then they can concentrate
on joint efforts to fight the terrorists, but also.. for
development," he concluded.
___________________________________________
South Africa’s Ramaphosa briefs Putin
on efforts for settlement in Ukraine
— Kremlin
March 28th, 9:21am (TASS)
In a telephone conversation South African President Cyril
Ramaphosa has briefed Russian President Vladimir Putin
on his intention to continue efforts for a settlement in
Ukraine. According to the Kremlin press service, the
Russian president shared Moscow's fundamental
assessments.
The Russian presidential press service said that "in light
of the well-known peace initiative of African states for
resolving the Ukrainian crisis, Cyril Ramaphosa
declared South Africa's intention to keep
working in this direction."
Putin in response "outlined his fundamental assessment
of the situation around Ukraine, noting that Russia has
always been open to a serious and substantive
discussion on the political and diplomatic
resolution of the conflict," the news
release reads.
In the spring of 2023, Ramaphosa spoke about the African
countries' initiative for settling the Ukrainian crisis and
organizing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine -
but didn't specify what exactly the initiative implied.
Diplomatic sources have told TASS that central to
the proposals were food security and prisoner
of war exchanges.
A delegation of African leaders visited Kiev and
St. Petersburg in the summer of the same year.
Putin said that, like China's proposals, the
African initiative might serve as a basis
for a peace settlement.
____________________________________________
Africa should not be dictated to -
to decide between old and new
friends — UN official
March 28th, 6:07am (TASS)
African countries -- lack an open and frank dialogue when
they decide which countries to cooperate with, and they
should not be dictated to, to decide between old & new
friends, the Special Representative of UN Secretary
General for West Africa and the Sahel... Leonardo
Santos Simao said, in an interview with TASS.
"We have to recognize that Africans --- African countries,
they feel that they need to bring other partners for their
development. But for me, you can bring new partners,
it's your choice to bring it but it's important also that
you preserve all partnerships --- and changing them
where it's necessary to change. The idea that you
have a new friend but you chase out the old one,
maybe it's not a good one..... in the long run,"
he said.
"What is important is, okay, we have a lot of common
things which happened in the past, but also, there
are areas which need our attention because we
need to change. Then you sit down in an open
and frank dialogue. Sometimes... not easy
dialogue, but --- it's a dialogue which is
necessary, until you reach common
ground," Simao added.
[Rhondda Records adds: twat]
_______________________________
‘There is space for everyone’:
Russia, West, Asia can help
Africa — UN official
March 27th, 11:27pm (TASS)
Temporary problems with the comprehensive assistance to
Africa can be overcome if countries understand that there
is room for everyone in Africa concerning this matter, UN
Secretary General’s Special Representative for West
Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao,
said in an interview with TASS.
"I think this is a sort of temporary problem - but with time
and patience and dialogue - people will understand that
there is space enough for everybody. For Russia, for
Western countries, for Asia, and everyone,"
he said.
"And Africans - if I can understand in their mood - they are
leaning to exclusive relationships, no more. They wanted
this diversification of relationship because they see this
as an option to try efforts of development which didn't
happen in the past."
According to the UN official, humanitarian assistance is
seen as one of the most important formats of foreign
support, which is needed in West Africa, especially
in the Sahel.
"And so we appreciate very much the humanitarian
assistance Russia is providing to the region, but
it's not enough," he noted.
"The magnitude of the problem is such, that more and more
humanitarian assistance is necessary. It saves life. But at
the same time, we have to look at the long term through
efforts for development also. So we have to look at
these two sides, as well as at the same time -
increase humanitarian assistance, but
also..... certain efforts for long
term development."
He noted, that Africans hope to open up new opportunities
for further development. "After 60 years of independence,
this development is not coming. So they try to find new
ways, new avenues, explore new avenues towards
economic development. That's what they are
looking for," he stressed.
[Rhondda Records adds - bit better]
______________________________________________
After heavy heat, South Sudanese
students.... return to classes
March 27th, 2:26pm
(Prensa Latina)
South Sudanese students should return to classrooms
next week at the end of the unusual and unexpected
holiday decreed to protect them from the infernal
heat that prevails in this African country, the
official media reported today.
The return to school is possible -- due to an expected drop in
temperatures -- with the arrival of the rains expected in the
coming days, according to the joint announcement on the
subject --- released by the Ministries of Education and
Health, through the media.
The scorching temperatures recently experienced by the
people of South Sudan are.. ''a consequence of climate
change'', which is particularly severe in this --- the
world’s youngest country, with heavy rains that
devastate lives and farms, interspersed with
prolonged droughts that scorch crops and
kill livestock.
The ''official report'' on the consequences of the
phenomenon, specifies..... that last week
thermometers rose.. up to 45 degrees
Celsius in the states of North Bahr
El-Ghazel, Warrap, Unity and
Upper Nile.
The provision to suspend classes, however, was
ignored by the management of the schools in
some rural areas... where the weather was
less cruel to residents.
_________________________________
Namibia expects increase in trade
turnover with Russia --- due to
technological sector
March 27th, 10:49am
(TASS)
Namibia notes a high level of Russia’s technological sector
and it expects the expansion of economic cooperation in
this direction to push trade turnover between the two
countries up, Namibian Minister of International
Relations and Cooperation, co-chair of the
intergovernmental Russian-Namibian
commission Peya Mushelenga said.
"Indeed ---- the current level of trade turnover between
Russia and Namibia is rather low," he said at the 10th
meeting of the Russian-Namibian intergovernmental
commission on trade and economic cooperation.
"For increasing it, it is necessary to focus on a number
of the areas where we could boost cooperation.
For example, we see that Russia has a high
technological level. And... information
technology is one of the areas that
will allow.... ensuring the highest
potential for growth of bilateral
trade turnover" --- the
minister added.
He also mentioned subsoil management and energy -- as
prior cooperation areas and expressed confidence, that
organization of specialized webinars will also facilitate
cooperation between the two countries’
business communities.
Bilateral trade between Russia & Namibia totaled $8.1 mln
in 2022, according to figures provided by the Russian
Foreign Ministry. That said, the sides have
repeatedly noted their interest in
increasing its volumes.
The two-sided intergovernmental commission on trade
and economic cooperation, is the main mechanism
for practical cooperation in this area.
____________________________________
President of Republic of Congo
praises aid provided by
Russian medics
March 27th, 9:45am
(TASS)
President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso
praised the aid provided by Russian medics during the
infection outbreak in the African country in his
'phone call with Russian President, Vladimir
Putin, the Kremlin press office announced.
According the press office, the Congolese President
"highly praised the efficient work of the Russian
epidemiologists on elimination of an infectious
disease outbreak in the Republic of Congo."
Previously - the Russian Agency for International
Humanitarian Cooperation reported the Russian
specialists provided aid in August, 2023, which
resulted in the incidence in the country
decreasing by 16 times.
In particular, Russian specialists worked in the city of
Dolisie -- where they organized a mobile laboratory,
determined the sources of infection, & organized
the monitoring of drinking water.
Russian medics also worked in infection hospitals
across the country, introducing patient isolation
rules and training local colleagues in treatment
of digestive tract infections and handling bio
material samples.
_____________________________________
UN Security Council to ''analyze''
''violence and elections'' in DRC
March 27th, 8:30am
(Prensa Latina)
The UN Security Council will review the context in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) -- as
humanitarian organizations* warn of the impact
of cyclical violence on civilians in the east
of the country.
The Security Council will analyze the most recent report by
Secretary General António Guterres on the United Nations
Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) in the DRC over the last
four months.
Among other aspects, the report emphasizes events such
as the presidential elections, which ended with the
recognition of the victory of Félix Tshisekedi as
elected president by the Constitutional Court.
Furthermore.... it analyzes the tensions and confrontations
that arose before and during the elections by the different
political forces, as well as the efforts for dialogue
promoted by MONUSCO.
Other issues on the agenda are, national security in regions
such as Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu ---- where the lives
of civilians remain threatened - by the actions of the Allied
Democratic Forces & the Congo Development Cooperative.
As a consequence, the DRC experiences a complex
situation for the preservation of human rights,
while sexual violence and displacement
impact civilians in areas in conflict.
A recent statement from the United Nations Refugee
Agency (UNHCR) - urged taking immediate action in
the face of the threatening situation for displaced
people in the eastern region.
After 2 years of conflict in North Kivu, over 1.3 million
people were forced to flee their homes, bringing the
number of internally displaced people to a total of
5.7 million in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.
The UNHCR described the context as devastating, given
that violence impedes humanitarian operations and
causes the forced displacement of many boys and
girls, who are exposed to serious risks & human
rights violations, including kidnapping, forced
recruitment, mutilation and rape.
In 2023, 50,000 cases of ''gender violence'' were reported
in North Kivu alone, of which more than half were rapes
against women and girls, while 37 percent of the
victims, were boys.
* Who?
____________________________________________
Mali’s Interim President expresses
gratitude for free wheat supplies
— Kremlin
March 27th, 7:45am
(TASS)
Interim President of Mali Assimi Goita expressed gratitude
for free supplies of wheat and fertilizers to the country in
the telephone conversation with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin’s press service said.
"Assimi Goita expressed special gratitude for free Russian
supplies of wheat, fertilizers, and fuel," the Kremlin said.
The leader of Mali also expressed his condolences
over the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, the
Kremlin informed.
_______________________________________
Putin, Mali’s leader discussing
steps to strengthen ties —
Kremlin
March 27th, 7:43am
(TASS)
Russian President, Vladimir Putin and Interim President of
Mali Assimi Goita discussed steps to strengthen relations
between the two countries in different spheres during
the telephone conversation, the Kremlin’s press
service said.
"Further steps to strengthen ties between Russia and
Mali, in different areas, were discussed, including
the implementation of joint projects in energy,
agriculture, and the mining sector,"
the Kremlin said.
The leaders of the two countries also agree to
scale up cooperation in the fight against
terrorism, the Kremlin’s press
service added.
___________________________
Ambassador to Bangui: Russia
and Central African Republic
------ choose location for
Russian military base
March 26th, 2:18am
(RT.ru)
Russia and the Central African Republic are discussing
the location of a Russian military base in the country.
This was stated in an interview with TASS ---- by the
Russian Ambassador to Bangui, Alexander Bikantov.
According to him, negotiations are currently
ongoing between the Ministries of Defense
of the two countries.
"As far as we know, the location of the base
is being selected," the diplomat said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Felix Molua said that Russia
andthe Central African Republic - are discussing
new contracts, in the field of military-technical
cooperation.
_______________________________________________
Zambia: Unity Essential
to End Conflicts in DRC
and Mozambique
March 25th, 11:18pm
(teleSUR)
On Sunday, the extraordinary Southern African
Development Community (SADC) Double
Troika Summit opened in Lusaka, the
Zambian capital.... with President
akainde Hichilema saying unity
among member countries was
vital to end conflicts in the
Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and
Mozambique.
The summit, which brought presidents of SADC members,
was called to address peace and security concerns in
the two countries.
The Zambian president --- said countries needed to unite
to find lasting solutions to the conflicts in the eastern
part of the DRC and Mozambique's Cabo
Delgado region.
"We need to continue working together to ensure there is
peace and stability in the region - because instability in
one country is instability for all of us," said Hichilema,
the chairperson for the SADC Organ on Politics,
Defense and Security Cooperation.
Finding lasting solutions was necessary, because failure to
do so would see negative repercussions in all countries in
the region, he said, adding that attaining sustainable
development will be difficult for the region in the
absence of peace in some countries.
The Zambian president emphasized the need for countries
to care about the well-being of others because instability
could affect any country.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said there is
a need to use diplomatic and political methods to
find lasting solutions to the conflicts in the
two countries.
_________________________________________
African Union expresses solidarity
with Russia - after terrorist
attack near Moscow
March 23rd, 7:40am (TASS)
African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki
Mahamat has expressed solidarity with the Russian
government and people --- after a terrorist attack
near Moscow.
"I was shocked to learn of the horrific terror attack
in Moscow, claiming many victims. Our deepest
condolences to the bereaved families and in
solidarity with the people and government
of the Russian Federation following this
heinous attack - that we condemn
in the strongest terms,"
he wrote on X.
The terrorist attack took place at the Crocus City Hall, in
the town of Krasnogorsk outside Moscow, late on March
22. Unidentified gunmen armed with automatic weapons
went on a shooting spree. According to the latest data
from Russia’s Investigative Committee ----- over 115
people were killed... but that number may grow.
_________________________________________________
Achieving peace in Sahel requires
global support for Burkina Faso,
Mali, Niger — MFA
March 20th, 12:21pm (TASS)
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin drew the
attention of the Special Representative & Head of the UN
Office for West Africa & the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo
Santos Simao, to the fact that achieving peace in the
Sahel Region, hinges on international efforts to help
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, the Russian Foreign
Ministry said in a statement
"We specifically drew Simao’s attention to the fact that
a sustainable settlement in the Sahel Region requires
international support, namely for Burkina Faso, Mali
and Niger, which are simultaneously engaged in
countering terrorism in Africa and defending
their own sovereignty," the ministry
emphasized.
The parties also exchanged views on the situation in West
Africa and Sahel --- "focusing on humanitarian and socio-
economic challenges, uncontrolled migration, the lack
of resources necessary for development, integration
processes, including activities within ECOWAS
(Economic Community of West African States
- TASS) and the Sahel Alliance."
In addition, the work of UNOWAS in promoting stability and
responding to a wide range of challenges in West Africa
and the Sahel .....was discussed in detail.
"Russia expressed support for their efforts. We noted
the importance of building them in a neutral and
constructive manner in the interests of all
countries of the region," the Russian
Foreign Ministry noted.
___________________________________
Russian ambassador to Zimbabwe
says country may like to host the
Russia-Africa summit in future
March 20th, 1:53am (TASS)
Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Nikolay Krasilnikov has
not ruled out that the country could become the venue for
one of the next Russia-Africa summits.
"It is quite possible, because Zimbabwe --- is showing
increased interest in partnership in the Russia-Africa
format. Zimbabwe has the potential to host such an
event," he explained to Izvestia. "The only thing, is
that the country needs to work on infrastructure.
If not the third summit, then it is quite possible
to hold the fourth summit in Zimbabwe - for
example, in the area of Victoria Falls,"
he pointed out.
The ambassador also stressed - that the Russian side
is interested in Zimbabwe "increasing the level of
its political and economic cooperation with
the BRICS countries."
"Everyone.... is interested in this. There is such a movement
towards each other," the diplomat noted. "Zimbabwe has
shown interest in joining the New Development Bank
[established by BRICS]. I think that if this happens
in practice, then we can say that the country is
ready to join BRICS. That, is where we are
starting from," Krasilnikov emphasized.
_________________________________________
Russia to hand over 25,000 tons
of wheat to Zimbabwe —
ambassador
March 20th, 1:16am (TASS)
The Russian side will transfer 25,000 tons of wheat and
23,000 tons of fertilizer to Zimbabwe, ambassador to
Harare, Nikolay Krasilnikov, said.
Commenting on.... the upcoming humanitarian aid delivery
ceremony, the ambassador pointed out that the shipment
"consists of 25,000 tons of wheat, delivered from Russia
through the Russian Agriculture Ministry and the United
Grain Company, and 23,000 tons of fertilizers donated
to Zimbabwe - by the Uralchem-Uralkali group
of companies."
"Both deliveries were made in line with the implementation
of Russian President Vladimir Putin's initiative to provide
assistance to African countries," the diplomat
told Izvestia.
According to the ambassador... the wheat and fertilizers
were delivered by sea ---- through the Mozambican port
of Beira. "And now everything is ready for us to hold a
ceremony of wheat and fertilizer transfer --- with the
participation of Zimbabwean President, Emmerson
Mnangagwa, on March 20, which will symbolize
our friendship, solidarity ------ and readiness to
cooperate not only in the field of agriculture,
but also in other areas of socio-economic
development," he concluded.
______________________________________
Niger broke military pact with US
after being 'warned' about
Iran, Russia ties
March 19th, 11:27am
(PressTV)
Niger’s junta decided to suspend a military agreement with
the United States after a delegation of senior US military
officials visited the Western African country and
"expressed concerns".... about its growing
relations with Russia and Iran.
The Pentagon said on Monday, that the officials traveled
to the Nigerien capital Niamey last week to discuss the
matter with the country’s military leadership, seeking
''clarification'' about the way ahead.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, asserted that the
US government had “direct and frank” conversations in
Niger, and was continuing to communicate with the
country’s ruling military council – known as the
National Council for the Safeguard of the
Homeland (CNSP).
“The US delegation was there to raise a number of
concerns. … We were troubled (about) the path
that Niger is on. And so these were direct and
frank conversations, to have those in person,
to talk about our concerns and to also
hear theirs.''
“US officials expressed concern, over Niger’s potential
relationships with Russia and Iran,” Singh said.
Niger’s junta announced on Saturday that it had canceled
a 2012 defense cooperation agreement with the US.
“The government of Niger, considering the aspirations and
interests of its people, responsibly, decides to denounce
with immediate effect the agreement that permitted US
military personnel and civilian employees from the
American Department of Defense on Niger’s
territory,” Nigerien government spokes
-man, Amadou Abdramane said, in
a statement on national tv.
The move followed a visit to Niamey by a delegation of
senior US military officials led by Under Secretary of
State for African Affairs ----- Molly Phee.
Abdramane accused US officials of not following
diplomatic protocol and not informing Niger
about the composition of the delegation.
He added that Niger regretted the “intention of the
American delegation, to deny the sovereign
Nigerien people - the right of choosing
their partners and partnerships ---
capable of truly helping them
fight against terrorism.”
High-level Russian military officials, including Deputy
Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov -- have visited
Niger & met with the country’s military leadership.
The prime minister of the ruling junta, Ali
Mahamane Lamine Zeine, visited Iran
in January.
Foreign Minister of Niger, Bakary Yaou Sangare, visited
Tehran in October 2023 -- to explore opportunities for
strengthening political and economic ties, as well
as boosting cooperation in scientific and
technological sectors between the
two countries.
Commending Iran’s skills in various economic, scientific,
and technological sectors, the Nigerien diplomat
underscored, that Iran’s capabilities are well
matched to cater to Niger’s requirements
in the energy and industrial domains.
_________________________________
South Sudan: Schools Close
as Heatwave Intensifies
March 18th, midnight
(teleSUR)
On Saturday, South Sudan announced an indefinite closure
of all schools as a result of heatwaves over the past few
days with very high temperatures both during the day
and night.
Yolanda Awel Deng, minister for Health, said most parts of
South Sudan are experiencing a heatwave expected to
last at least two weeks with temperatures ranging
between 41 degrees and 45 degrees Celsius.
"The government... has decided to take the following
measures, one, close down all schools with effect
from March 18, two, during the closure of the
schools, parents are advised to stop their
children from playing outdoors..... for
prolonged periods --------- and they
should also monitor children ---
--- especially the young ones
for signs of heat exhaustion
and heatstroke" Awel told
reporters in Juba --- the
capital of S. Sudan.
She said... heatwaves can acutely impact large populations
for short periods, often trigger public health emergencies
...and result in excess mortality and cascading socio-
economic impacts, like loss of work capacity and
labour productivity and can also cause loss of
health service delivery capacity, where
power shortages which often
accompany heatwaves ---
disrupt health facilities.
Awel said her ministry's disease surveillance department
has put a system in place.... to detect and respond to
cases ------ as there are already cases of death
related to excessive heat being reported
in South Sudan.
Joseph Africano Bartel, undersecretary for the
Environment in the Ministry of Environment
and Forestry --- said that climate change
is becoming - a ''global phenomenon''
in which South Sudan.......... will be
experiencing lots of temperature
fluctuations.
He advised schools -- to make sure that they have good
ventilation, install solar panels such that they will be
able to have fans working, and also to make sure
that trees are planted in compounds -- to
produce a microclimate.
Africano called on developed countries to cut ''emissions''
- warning that South Sudan will experience the unusual
impact of climate change ''soon'' --- including heavy
rains, floods, and droughts.
[Rhondda Records adds - after being torn from Sudan
- which was torn from Egypt - quango-land seems
to be in total control, here.]
_____________________________________
Moscow counts on Cameroon to
attend meetings.... ahead of
3rd Russia-Africa summit
March 18th, 4:54pm (TASS)
Moscow is counting on Cameroon’s participation in the
meetings preceding the 3rd Russia-Africa summit, as
well as other high-level events, Ambassador to
Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Georgy
Todua, told TASS in an interview.
"We count on Cameroon’s participation in the first meeting
of Russian & African foreign affairs departments, which
is scheduled for this autumn in Sochi," he said, adding
that many high-level events are planned in 2024,
including the St. Petersburg International
Economic Forum, Education Ministers
Forum, and Moscow Conference on
International Security, to which
the leaders of corresponding
agencies of Cameroon
are invited.
"We intend to continue active work in order for
Cameroon to be represented at the proper
level," the ambassador added.
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya participated
in the 2nd Russia-Africa summit held last
July in St. Petersburg.
______________________________________
Somalia: ATMIS & UN Condemn
Hotel Attack in Mogadishu
March 18th (teleSUR)
On Monday, the United Nations and the African Union
Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) condemned
the attack at a ''popular'' hotel in the capital
of Mogadishu, which left at least three
soldiers dead and 27 others
wounded.
In separate statements issued in Mogadishu... the capital
of Somalia, the two missions vowed to sustain efforts to
''pacify'' Somalia ----- despite increased attacks by the
Al-Shabab ''terrorist'' group.
"The cowardly acts by al-Shabab militants -- will not deter
our collective resolve to ensure a peaceful, safe, secure,
and stable Somalia," said the African Union Special
Representative for Somalia, Mohamed El-Amine
Souef, in a statement issued in Mogadishu
on Friday evening.
According to Souef, taking lives and causing mayhem
in this holy month of Ramadan is abhorrent. "Our
condolences go out to the bereaved families,
and we wish a speedy recovery to those
injured in the attacks. We commend
the Somali Security Forces for
their swift response ------- in
neutralizing the attackers
and saving lives,"
he added.
Thursday's attack at the SYL Hotel began at around 9:45
pm, local time, after gunmen forced their vehicle laden
with explosives inside the SYL Hotel and opened fire
on the patrons, including some lawmakers and
government officials.
The five suicide bombers were inside the vehicle, but one
blew himself up, prompting sporadic gunfire inside the
hotel between the attackers and security forces.
The siege ended on Friday morning.
The police spokesman Kassim Ahmed Roble confirmed
that 18 civilians were among those wounded in the
attack at the heavily fortified hotel, which is near
the presidential palace and is frequented by
government officials and high-profile
businessmen.
The UN in Somalia said the terrorist attack on the
popular hotel, was a violation of the values of
the holy month of Ramadan.
"It extends its condolences to the families of the
victims and wishes a speedy recovery for the
injured," the UN said in a post on X,
formerly Twitter.
The Al-Shabab extremist group was driven out of
Mogadishu in 2011, but the terror group is still
capable of conducting attacks, targeting
government installations..... hotels,
restaurants and public places.
[Rhondda Records adds: some day the truth
will emerge about the role of the US in the
tragedy of Somalia ---- where some
populations - have been denied
food - starved like Gaza - in
order to bring a ''Peace''
which never arrives.]
___________________________________
Niger has torn up a military agreement
allowing the presence of the US
Armed Forces in the country
March 16th, 9:10pm
(RT.ru)
Niger has torn up a military agreement with the US
that allows the US military to stay in the country.
This is reported by Reuters with reference to the official
representative of the military transitional government
of the African country, Amadou Abdraman.
The ruling military junta of Niger has canceled a military
agreement with the US that allows US military and
civilian personnel of the Ministry of Defense
to stay on the territory of the state.
It is specified that the decision
comes into force immediately.
In September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
at the general political discussion of the 78th session
of the UN General Assembly pointed out the
hypocritical position of Western
countries regarding coups
in Africa and Ukraine.
As Bloomberg columnist Andreas Klut wrote, the US
authorities still refuse to call the overthrow of the
government in Niger in July a coup... for fear of
ending military cooperation with the country
in the strategically important region.
