Donation Amount. Min £2

East Africa

Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres makes his speech during the Africa climate summit 2023 at KICC on September 5, 2023. [File, Standard]

Nations worldwide have been urged to embrace dialogue as a means of urgently addressing escalating global conflicts. The call was made on Thursday during preparations for the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations, held at the United Nations Office in Nairobi (UNON).  

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in a message delivered by Zainab Hawa Bangura, Under-Secretary-General and Director-General of UNON, expressed concerns over growing conflicts, saying the mission to find peace "is more urgent than ever."

"Around the world, we hear rising voices of intolerance and xenophobia, amplified by online misinformation and hate speech. In our fractured world, dialogue is not optional – it is essential for building bridges of understanding and trust," said Mr Guterres.  

He urged the organisation to promote dialogue, the fundamental conviction on which its establishment was anchored. 

"Where dialogue is missing, ignorance fills the void. So, too, is the work of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, reinforced by the global platform for dialogue that it has created over the past two decades," he said. 

International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations was adopted to be celebrated on June 10, every year, by the UN General Assembly during its 78th sitting.   

It was a proposal by China as an avenue to rally countries to resolve challenges through consensus. 

This year's celebrations, according to the organisers, are expected to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York, with a series of similar events also slated to take place in Nairobi, Geneva, Vienna, Rome, Bangkok, among many other countries.  

While describing dialogue as "only a project for the future," Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), Ababu Namwamba, rallied leaders to embrace the Kenyan harambee (togetherness) in the face of challenges. 

"I find a particularly striking manifestation of this truth in the African spirit of Ubuntu. Ubuntu means, I am because we are, or humanity because of us, meaning I choose myself and my humanity because of you and your humanity," he said. 

He added: "The future is only a project of dialogue and open discussion, as people foster agreement with society, then achieve a more just society. So, it is part of the wisdom, born in sorrow, marching forward." 

He observed that the world is currently confronted with several challenges, including threats of war, epidemics, nuclear proliferation, and climate change, that need commitment, even as he lauded the UN for the role it has played in advocating for peace.

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kenya, Guo Haiyan, implored countries to embrace cultural exchanges to transcend complex challenges that the world is grappling with. 

"In the face of such a turbulent world with increasing challenges, we need more dialogues among flourishing civilizations than ever before to gain mutual understanding. To build a global community of shared future for mankind, each civilization should pursue diversity and seek common ground while preserving differences," she said.

At the same time, she urged world leaders to emulate China's Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), a programme that she says has successfully helped them advocates respect for diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, and the robust importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

Ms. Haiyan also believes that upholding inclusiveness to beat superiority would also contribute to harmonious coexistence among nations, while urging them to promote mutual learning to transcend clashes.

"With the dregs of civilization superiority theory resurfacing, some powers, in the name of culture, attempt to provoke confrontation and cultural hegemony," she stated. By Okumu Modachi , The Standard

Zambia's former President Edgar Lungu has died at the age of 68, his party has said in a statement.

He had "been receiving specialized treatment in South Africa" for an undisclosed illness, the Patriotic Front added.

Lungu led Zambia for six years from 2015, losing the 2021 election to the current President Hakainde Hichilema by a large margin.

After that defeat he stepped back from politics but later returned to the fray and appeared to have ambitions to run for the presidency again.

In a video statement, Lungu's daughter Tasila said that the former head of state, who had been "under medical supervision in recent weeks", died at 06:00 (04:00 GMT) on Thursday.

"In this moment of grief, we invoke the spirit of 'One Zambia, One Nation' - the timeless creed that guided President Lungu's service to our country," she added. BBC

IJM stock photo

A man has recently been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl.

The incident occurred while the child was attending a church service with her family. Stepping outside momentarily, she was led away by the perpetrator and assaulted.

Afterwards, the little girl bravely told her mother what had happened. The 18-year-old suspect was spotted near the church, leading to an urgent report to local authorities and his subsequent arrest.

Initial medical examinations confirmed what the girl had said, and the suspect was charged with a serious offense.

However, the charge was later downgraded, making the accused eligible for bail. An IJM attorney quickly took action, explaining the facts of the case to the magistrate to ensure bail was denied. IJM supported the girl’s mother to lodge a complaint, resulting in the original charges being reinstated.

Despite pressure on the family to drop the case, IJM provided ongoing legal support to ensure that the case proceeded through the justice system. Last year, the suspect was re-arrested and remanded, with IJM continuing to represent the survivor until justice was served.

This 10-year sentence serves as a strong reminder of the significance of timely legal intervention, and the importance of collaboration between justice officials, legal advocates, and the community to ensure that offenders are held to account.  IJM

Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives (the lower house of parliament) Wednesday approved a proclamation that bans the use of plastic bags.

The Dry Waste Management and Disposal Proclamation imposed fines ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 Birr on individuals found in possession of single-use plastic bags.

The proclamation further enforces stricter penalties on manufacturers, importers, marketers, retailers, and commercial stores of single-use plastic bags. Violators in these categories face fines between 50,000 and 200,000 Birr and imprisonment of up to five years.

Some of the MPs raised concern over the ambiguity of the proclamation which stipulated that those found in possession shall be punished.

Another council member expressed concern over the socioeconomic impact of the measure:

The proclamation stipulates that anyone found with plastic shall be fined two to five thousand Birr.

They asked how is this viewed in light of the current reality of life in Ethiopia and whether it won’t create pressure on the low-income segment of society since they might be more inclined to use it.

Responding to these criticisms, Awoke Amzaye (PhD), Deputy Chairperson of the Standing Committee for Water, Irrigation, Lowland Areas, and Environmental Development Affairs said plastic bags are more harmful to the country than the fine itself, as they do not decompose for up to a hundred years.

”From this perspective, even if the fine were twenty or thirty thousand Birr, it would be to save the country” he said.

A nationwide public awareness campaign will be launched on Thursday to inform citizens about the details of the new regulation and its rationale from an environmental perspective, it is learned.

It was also clarified during the session that the proclamation does not include plastic shoes, water containers, or thick plastic items. APA

An aerial shot of delegates during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State & Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 
PCS 

The African Union Commission (AUC) has called for dialogue over the decision by the Donald Trump administration to ban nationals of seven African countries from entering the US.

President Trump banned citizens of Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan from travelling to America, citing risks from terrorism and the prevalence of visa overstays.    

From 9 June, these citizens will not be allowed to travel to the US, and they are part of a 12-strong list of countries worldwide facing the same measure. 

The African Union Commission has stepped in with a plea to the United States following a controversial decision to ban nationals from seven African countries from entering the U.S.

On Thursday, June 5, the AUC issued a statement, warning that such a ban could have far-reaching implications, which the commission says could potentially damage decades of nurtured relations between Africa and the US.

“The African Union Commission has taken note of the recent proclamation by the Government of the United States imposing new travel restrictions affecting nationals from several countries, including some on the African continent,” the statement read. 

But the AU, in a rejoinder, suggested that this move was a bit too extreme, urging the U.S to reconsider the ban.

The AUC's statement added, "While recognising the sovereign right of all nations to protect their borders and ensure the security of their citizens, the African Union  Commission respectfully appeals to the United States to exercise this right in a manner that is balanced, evidence-based, and reflective of the long-standing partnership between the United States and Africa."

Among the African countries targeted by the ban are Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Eritrea. Burundi, Sierra Leone and Togo also make the list but they have been slapped with partial restrictions.

The AUC warned that such a ban could lead to several implications,  including disruption of educational exchanges, trade relations, and diplomatic engagement. 

Trump had earlier posted a video on Truth, citing a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado as an incident which underscored the dangers posed to the U.S by the entry of foreign nationals who are inadequately vetted.

In the AUC's statement, the commission called for a more diplomatic approach, urging the U.S government embrace a framework which was rooted in dialogue.

As far as the ban is concerned, Kenya is not off the hook yet, as Trump insists the list could be revised and new countries could be added. Some US senators have been on a warpath with Kenya, pointing to the growing dalliance with China as a problem.

The voices, largely from the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, have called for a reassessment of the relationship between Kenya and the US.

In March 2024, Kenyans seeking to travel to the U.S were put on high alert after Trump revised directives on U.S. visa and Green Card applications. Under the directive, applicants for Green Cards will be required to disclose their social media history as part of a strict vetting process. By Rene Otinga , Kenyans.co.ke
 

About IEA Media Ltd

Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.

To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854.
If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.

We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.

Get in touch

Our Offices

London, UK
+44 7886 544135
editor (@) informereastafrica.com
Slough, UK
+44 7957 636854
info (@) informereastafrica.com

Latest News

Nations urged to embrace dialogue amid escalating conflicts

Nations urged to emb...

Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres makes his speech during the Africa climate...

Former Zambian President Lungu dies aged 68

Former Zambian Presi...

Zambia's former President Edgar Lungu has died at the age of 68, his party has said in a statement....

Ethiopia bans use of plastic bags

Ethiopia bans use of...

Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives (the lower house of parliament) Wednesday approved a pr...

10-year sentence for man who sexually assaulted a three-year-old in Uganda

10-year sentence for...

IJM stock photo A man has recently been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a t...

For Advertisement

Big Reach

Informer East Africa is one platform for all people. It is a platform where you find so many professionals under one umbrella serving the African communities together.

Very Flexible

We exist to inform you, hear from you and connect you with what is happening around you. We do this professionally and timely as we endeavour to capture all that you should never miss. Informer East Africa is simply news for right now and the future.

Quality News

We only bring to you news that is verified, checked and follows strict journalistic guidelines and standards. We believe in 1. Objective coverage, 2. Impartiality and 3. Fair play.

Banner & Video Ads

A banner & video advertisement from our sponsors will show up every once in a while. It keeps us and our writers coffee replenished.