Africa news roundup
September 8-14, 2024
Ghana
Calls to halt galamsey intensifies
The Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining has criticized the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo-Bawumia-led government for paying lip service to the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as Galamsey. The group held a press conference at the Accra Press Centre on Wednesday 11 September when it complained that the government’s posture towards the fight against galamsey had resulted in the widespread pollution of water bodies across the country and called on the government to act swiftly to address the issue. President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, reiterated the urgent need for action to eradicate the galamsey menace. He expressed deep concern over the involvement of some chiefs and top political figures in these illegal activities, highlighting the corruption that exacerbates the problem.
The president of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, challenged all presidential candidates from various political parties to publicly pledge their commitment to fighting illegal small-scale mining. He outlined several demands that the GJA believed were crucial to ending the canker. These included a call for the president to declare a state of emergency over water bodies and equip the military to remove anyone found mining in these areas. Leadership from the various media groups, such as Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), and other environmental activists took turns to address journalists.
Nigeria
Four hundred deportees return
Four hundred Nigerians who had been deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where they were received by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons. Also present were the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the National Emergency Management Agency, and other relevant stakeholders. The Federal Government repatriated a total of 190 people from the UAE in July 2024, PUNCH Onlinereported. The diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the UAE has been ongoing with the UAE imposing a visa ban on Nigerians nearly two years ago, stemming from various diplomatic disputes.
One major issue involved Dubai’s Emirates Airline halting flights to Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria was unable to remit an estimated $850 million in revenue to the UAE. In June, after several rounds of negotiations with UAE authorities, the Nigerian Government assured its citizens that the visa ban would soon be lifted. Around the same time, it was announced that Nigeria had paid 98 per cent of the $850 million owed, signaling progress in resolving the dispute. Reports earlier this year indicated that both countries had reached an agreement to lift travel restrictions on Nigerians. The UAE Government in July 2024 announced it had finally lifted visa restrictions imposed on Nigerians with immediate effect.
The current deportation occurs against the backdrop of ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations, which may be rooted in various undisclosed issues.
Liberia
Fire chief visits Ghana
The Chief Fire Officer of Liberia Colonel Barvoul Warsuwah has paid a working visit to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Headquarters to explore opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange between the two nations’ fire services. The visit marked an important step toward enhancing collaboration and strengthening the ties between the fire services of Ghana and Liberia and advancing fire safety management in the countries to help promote economic development. Both parties engaged in fruitful discussions, sharing best practices and exploring strategic methods to enhance fire safety measures and emergency response protocols. Col. Warsuwah was received, on arrival, by his Ghanaian counterpart, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Julius Aalebkure Kuunuor, along with senior GNFS officers.
The visit began with a ceremonial Guard of Honour to formally welcome the Liberian delegation to the GNFS Headquarters. In a gesture of goodwill, the GNFS presented the delegation with a commemorative gift package including a plaque, calendar and a traditional Kente stole featuring the GNFS logo and Adinkra symbols of safety and security. Colonel Warsuwah expressed admiration for the operational efficiency of the GNFS and emphasized the importance of love and compassion in building an effective firefighting team.
Kenya
Passengers stranded at JKIA
Passengers using the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were stranded following a demonstration, on Wednesday, by workers against a planned deal between the government and a foreign investor. The government had negotiated a build-and-operate agreement with India’s Adani Group which would see the renovated and an additional runway and terminal constructed, in exchange for the group running the airport for 30 years. Kenya Airport Workers Union, in announcing the strike, said that the deal would lead to job losses and “inferior terms and conditions of service” for those staff who were kept on.
Large queues formed outside the JKIA on Wednesday morning as flights were delayed and cancelled. Union leaders said on Wednesday evening that they would return to work and that normal operations would resume shortly. The aviation workers union argued that the 30-year deal was “opaque” and could lead to job losses. The unions agreed to return to work after being given assurances that the deal with Adani would not be finalized without their approval. A Kenya high court temporarily halted the implementation of the deal until a case filed by the Law Society and the Kenya Human Rights Commission was heard. However, the government has said that the airport in the capital, Nairobi, is operating beyond capacity and needed private investment to upgrade it.
South Africa
Three accused of murder
Three men have been accused of killing two women and feeding their bodies to pigs. Farm owner Zachariah Johannes Olivier, 60, supervisor Adrian Rudolph de Wet, 19, and employee William Musora, 45, are facing two counts of premeditated murder and one count of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm. Musora, a Zimbabwean national, also faces charges of being in South Africa illegally. The victims, Locadia Ndlovu and Maria Makgatho were, allegedly, trespassing on Olivier’s farm in the northern province of Limpopo in August when they were shot dead. Ndlovu’s husband Mabutho was with them at the time and told the press that he was also shot on the farm, however he managed to crawl to a nearby road where he was, reportedly, able to seek help before being taken to a police station where an ambulance was called.
Police have confirmed that Makgatho and Ndlovu aged 47 and 34, respectively, were mauled by the pigs and had numerous gunshot wounds on their bodies. The two women and Mr Ndlovu were, allegedly, trespassing on the farm to try and collect potentially expired dairy products that had been dumped there by a truck. Olivier, De Wet and Musora appeared in Mankweng Magistrates’ Court in Polokwane in Limpopo on Tuesday. They will remain behind bars until their trial is concluded. The case has caused outrage in South Africa with several organizations calling for the men to be denied bail and face the harshest possible sentence. The case will continue next month.
Sierra Leone
Xi Jinping and Bio commit to strengthen cooperation
China’s President Xi Jinping has praised the leadership of Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing cooperation between China and Sierra Leone. In a bilateral meeting, held on the eve of the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xi Jinping expressed his appreciation for Bio’s contributions to global peace and security, particularly highlighting his presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Xi Jinping pledged to bolster cooperation between China and Sierra Leone across various sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, mining, infrastructure development, resource lending initiatives, and security. He also announced an increase in Chinese development assistance to Sierra Leone.
In response, President Bio expressed his gratitude to President Xi Jinping for the ongoing support and assistance provided to Sierra Leone, noting significant improvements in the China-Sierra Leone relationship. He also acknowledged the International Fish Export Certification received by Sierra Leone, emphasizing that it would enhance trade relations between the two nations. Bio further underscored the urgent need to address the persistent security challenges in the Sahel region.
Xi Jinping hosted Bio and his wife, Fatima Bio, along with other heads of state, at a banquet reception to welcome them ahead of the official opening ceremony of FOCAC.
Togo
Lomé hosts WTO regional course on trade policy for second year
Lomé is currently hosting a workshop on World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy. The session was launched on 9 September, by Kossivi Hounakey, Togo’s Minister Delegate of Trade. The training, also held last year, will last eight weeks. This programme targets officials from trade ministries in French-speaking Africa and covers key WTO principles. Topics will include multilateral trade agreements, services, market access, and dispute resolution. The goal is to boost trade and investment in member States and foster labor mobility and industrialization under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
According to Kossivi Hounakey, the eight-week training is crucial for improving Africa’s participation in international trade. The continent only contributes to two per cent of global trade. “To turn the tides, Africa must bolster integration, skills, as well as its productive and transformative capacities. That is why the WTO’s technical support and capacity-building programs on the multilateral trading system are important for Africa”, the official said. As Togo aims to diversify its trade partnerships, the WTO workshop will help the country better position itself in the global trading system and benefit its trade sector.
Cote d’Ivoire
CAF donates 14 million dollars to sports development
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has donated over 14 million dollars to Côte d’Ivoire. This generous contribution comes from CAF’s legacy fund and is in recognition of Côte d’Ivoire’s successful hosting of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The announcement was made by Dr Patrice Motsepe, the President of CAF, who emphasized the importance of this donation for the future of football in the country. The 2023 AFCON was a remarkable event, drawing international attention to Côte d’Ivoire and showcasing the nation’s capability to host such a prestigious tournament. The tournament not only brought together some of the best football talent from across the continent but also highlighted the rich culture and hospitality of Côte d’Ivoire.
Motsepe highlighted that the 14 million dollars would be specifically allocated for the development of football infrastructure and programmes in Côte d’Ivoire. The funding is expected to have a lasting impact on the sport in the country, fostering growth and excellence at all levels. The donation underscores CAF’s commitment to supporting member nations and promoting the development of football across Africa. By investing in the grassroots and infrastructure, CAF aims to elevate the standard of African football and ensure that countries like Côte d’Ivoire can continue to produce world-class players and host major tournaments. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the sport on the continent and create more opportunities for young athletes.
Burkina Faso
New biometric passport launched
The government has unveiled a new generation biometric passport in a move that highlights the countries unwillingness to rejoin the ECOWAS fold despite calls from regional authorities for a change of stand. Unlike the previous generation passport in Burkina Faso, the new one launched recently doesn’t carry the ECOWAS Logo or any related inscriptions on its cover page. Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger, West African countries currently governed by military regimes, announced its decision to quit the 15-nation ECOWAS bloc in January after having sanctions slammed over military coups. As part of the novelty, the ID agency chief said citizens can now apply for passports online through a simplified and flexible data collection process.
Meanwhile, at the launch of the passport early this month, Director General of the National Identification Agency Arzouma Daouda Parfait Louré said the achievement is the fruit of a process that started in 2022. He said there had been a thorough diagnosis of the old passport production system which had been in place since 2018. The new passports will be produced with technology of the latest generation and in line with security standards for travel documents prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the official explained. Early this year, the World Bank’s International Development Association approved funding to the tune of $150 million to assist the country in the building of its digital public infrastructure.
Senegal
Government reaffirms its fight against human trafficking
Three days after a devastating shipwreck off the coast of Mbour, which claimed the lives of over 125 people, search operations for survivors continue despite the slim chances of finding any further survivors. In response to the crisis, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye visited Mbour on Wednesday evening, visibly distressed by the severity of the situation. Th President said the nation was in mourning, and the situation was unbearable and extended heartfelt condolences to the grieving families. While the President has criticized human trafficking networks, there is growing frustration among the public with the new government’s focus. Critics argue that the administration has failed to prioritize addressing the unemployment crisis among Senegalese youth.
To date, nearly 40 bodies have been recovered, with four survivors, and about 50 people remain missing. The government has pledged to take decisive action against those involved in human trafficking. “The government is actively combating this issue”, Faye affirmed. “We will relentlessly pursue these traffickers, these merchants of death, until they are held accountable”, he said. As Mbour grapples with the loss of many young lives, the nation faces one of its most severe migration crises in recent years. The community is in mourning, reflecting on the devastating impact of this tragedy.
Cameroon
Former prime minister takes over UN
The former Cameroonian prime minister, Philemon Yang, has taken over the presidency of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Yang, a former diplomat who served as prime minister of his West African country from 2009 to 2019, said the cornerstone of his one-year presidency “will be built on the principles of unity in diversity’”. He called on the world’s divided nations to come together to address global challenges, from climate change to poverty, conflict and armed violence. Yang told the 193-member world body that there were doubts about the ability of nations to join forces to tackle these and other pressing issues noting, “We must demonstrate that international cooperation remains the most effective tool at our disposal to address the deep and borderless problems we face”. He added that peace and security would continue to be “of paramount importance” during his presidency.
Outgoing General Assembly President Dennis Francis has urged the United Nations, which was created from the ashes of World War II, to live up to its mandate of maintaining international peace and security. “It is no exaggeration to say that the scale of man-made human suffering that we are witnessing around the world is simply staggering”, said the former diplomat and ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago, referring to Gaza and other conflicts. Francis also warned that millions of people today live in abject poverty and despair, and that “on our current trajectory, millions more will face poverty and hunger by 2030”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also stressed the need for nations to work together.
Yang will chair the next gathering of world leaders at the General Assembly, beginning with the Future Summit on 22-23 September, convened by the Secretary-General to spur multilateral action on global issues and reform global institutions founded after World War II, including the United Nations. Immediately after the summit, world leaders will hold their annual meeting from September 24 to 30, with public speeches at the assembly and many private meetings where world affairs are often discussed.
Rwanda
Germany proposes deportation plan
Barely two months after Britain’s new Labour government scrapped plans to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda, Germany has proposed adopting the scheme. Its migration commissioner, Joachim Stamp, said the German plan would focus on migrants coming across the European Union’s eastern border. Germany has accepted millions of refugees over the past decade, but its ruling coalition government is facing rising pressure to restrict irregular migration. This follows a deadly stabbing at a festival in the city of Solingen last month, which was claimed by the Islamic State group. Stamp said Rwanda made most sense as a destination for illegal migrants as the UK’s facilities were still in place.
However, unlike the British plan, Germany’s scheme would be supervised by the United Nations. “We currently have no third country that has come forward, with the exception of Rwanda”, Stamp said. He said Rwanda has publicly expressed its willingness to continue implementing this model. In addition, Stamp suggested removing the so-called “connecting element” in the new Common European Asylum System (CEAS). In December last year, the European Union agreed on new rules to handle irregular arrivals of asylum seekers and migrants. The deal was hailed as a breakthrough after almost a decade of bitter feuds on the issue, but it could take until the end of 2025 for the pact to take full effect.
