NAIROBI, Kenya, April 30, 2023/APO Group/ -- President William Ruto has asked global financial institutions to focus on Africa’s underlying potential.
He said it was misplaced for them to perceive the continent only in the lens of a high risk borrower.
He explained that Africa is a promising investment spot that promises a high return.
“We are asking for a win-win financial architecture that brings everyone on board,” he said. Developed countries enjoy interest rates of as low as 0.5 per cent as compared to more than 10 per cent cent rates levied on developing countries
He made the remarks during the 2023 Mo Ibrahim Governance Forum held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
The President challenged the global financial system to charge developing countries just interest rates on loans.
“Developed countries enjoy interest rates of as low as 0.5 per cent as compared to more than 10 per cent cent rates levied on developing countries.
The high interest rates, he went on, have made it impossible for developing countries to finance any meaningful development.
He noted that the current system is struggling to respond to the challenges of the moment.
“It has failed to respond to the needs of emerging economies; it is rigged against those of us in the global south.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.
On the morning of April 15, Tagreed Abdin, an architect living in Sudan, was thinking of leaving for work despite it being a Saturday.
Her teen boys, who go to school on Saturdays, were off that particular day. Abdin knew that working from home with the boys around would be challenging. She opted to leave.
The busy day was to be followed by an evening where they would all relax and watch television.
But her plans and the peaceful morning were shattered by the sound of heavy gunfire. Uncertainty loomed as news started to pour in about violent clashes in Khartoum.
Electricity was soon disconnected and in scorching temperatures above 40 C (104 F), the family stayed without power for the next four days.
“We had no idea what was going on. We didn’t see it going on for two weeks. But it wasn’t really clear then the scale of what was going on,” she told Anadolu via telephone from Khartoum.
Almost two weeks into the power struggle between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, thousands are living with no or little access to food, water, or amenities. Hundreds have been killed; thousands injured, according to officials as the conflict rages on.
Abdin, who lives in the west of Khartoum, insisted that there has been no truce between the rival groups.
Her day starts with the sound of gunfire. The night ends the same.
“There has been gunfire and shelling on and off over the past week or past few days when the cease-fire was declared over the Eid break,” she said, referring to the holiday that marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
At home, since the conflict erupted, she ventured outside Thursday to buy hypertension medicine for her elderly mother, only to find pharmacies closed or out of stock.
The family is facing a shortage of fresh vegetables, milk, and other products. They also have to make sure that electricity is consumed less as it is pre-paid and once, they run out, it will difficult to purchase.
The situation is much worse for others. Her father, who is in the north of the capital, is surviving on lentil soup.
The overall situation for residents in Sudan is dire, she said.
“People are literally dying. They are dying of health care, of hunger, lack of water, electricity,” said Abdin.
Stations are without fuel and if people want to escape to the border or the port, their vehicles are empty. She noted how her friend’s father died as there was no ambulance to take him to the hospital due to lack of fuel.
At the moment, Abdin is staying put until there is a direct threat or when she is confident that an escape would be safe.
World leaders if they cannot stop the conflict should provide safe passages for residents to reach the border or ports, she said.
“Bring in supplies. Negotiate an agreement where the airports and ports are working,” said Abdin.
Her requests include lobbying other countries to waive visa restrictions to allow Sudanese to travel and a guarantee of safe corridors that would allow them to leave home and safely reach the ports.
“That’s what we need from the world right now,” she said.
For now, Abdin finds it hard to pass the day. Days earlier, a missile hit an apartment building in her neighborhood, killing one person.
“It’s very hard just to get through the day and to pretend that life is normal. Because you are constantly hearing the sound of shelling,” she said, as she is worried about rationing water and electricity. By Rabia Ali, Anadolu Agency
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said a plan by the UK government to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was agreement between free nations, seeking to safeguard the safety of people and that it is wrong to call it a deportation, Reuters reports.
As reported, Meloni said this on Friday, April 28, while speaking to reporters at the Italian embassy in London after her visit to Britain, where she met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
"I think that talking about deportation or suggesting that Rwanda would be a country that does not respect rights and would be an inadequate or unworthy nation is a racist way of interpreting things," she was quoted.
Under the deal, some of these people will be relocated to Rwanda where they will be empowered through different initiatives.
In 2022, the UK received 45,000 migrants which reflected a 60 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Italy is also facing growing pressure from migrants crossing the Mediterranean, with a surge in arrivals compared to 2022. Almost 41,000 people have landed in Italy so far in 2023, against around 10,200 in the same period last year.
In March, UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, visited Rwanda, where she signed the expansion of the agreement, and visited multiple projects related to the migration partnership.
Under the UK-Rwanda migration deal, those who will benefit from the partnership will have the option of applying for asylum, locally, and be facilitated to resettle in Rwanda or to be facilitated to return to their home countries, having received support through the programme.
The UK will fund the programme, initially releasing an upfront investment of £120 million, which will fund invaluable opportunities for the migrants and Rwandans as well.
This includes secondary qualifications, vocational and skills training, language lessons, and higher education.
The UK will also support in terms of accommodation prior to local integration and resettlement.
According to the deal, they will be entitled to full protection under Rwandan law, equal access to employment, and enrollment in healthcare and social care services. By Moise M. Bahati, The New Times
Minister of Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Umar Farouq
The Federal Government has explained that the sum of 1.2 million dollars allegedly spent in hiring buses for the evacuation of Nigerian students in Sudan was due to the dire need of the war situation.
This is contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs Mrs Rhoda Iliya.
It was also signed by officials of the Ministry of foreign affairs Ambassador Janet Olisa and Dr Sani Gwarzo of the Humanitarian affairs ministry in Abuja on Saturday.
”The outcry over the negotiated sum of 1.2 million dollars for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for.
”The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for the same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens.
”The general public is hereby advised to discountenance the unverified information being circulated on social media as some of them are either due to ignorance or sheer mischief,” it said.
The statement also appealed for cooperation and understanding of all Nigerians in the ongoing efforts to ensure all Nigerians stranded in Sudan are returned home safely.
”The first batch of 13 buses conveying six hundred and thirty-seven (637) evacuees had arrived at the identified safe borders at Aswan, Egypt.
”The evacuees are undergoing necessary documentation and clearance before admission into the Egyptian territory for their eventual evacuation to Nigeria in the coming hours by the Nigerian Air Force and Air Peace airline, who have been on standby for the operations.
”However, the movement of the second batch of 29 buses will commence on April 29 and the evacuees are advised to be at the designated locations with only one luggage.”
It advised Nigerian students awaiting evacuation from Khartoum to cooperate with embassy officials for proper documentation while embarking on the buses to the designated locations.
”This will go a long way in speeding up the process and avoiding unnecessary delays with documentation and clearance upon arrival at the Aswan, Egypt.”
The government expressed commitment towards the successful evacuation of all Nigerians stranded in Sudan before the expiration of the extended 72 hours ceasefire agreement.
”We want to use this opportunity to extend our appreciation to friendly countries who have in one way or the other assisted in bringing succour to Nigerians fleeing the war in Sudan.
”Particularly, Nigeria acknowledges the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously assisting with the evacuation of eight Nigerians from Sudan to safety in its territory, from where they would be airlifted back to Nigeria,” the statement added. By Nan , The Guardian
Residents of Mukwanga zone in Buwenge town council, Jinja district were on Friday sent into panic mode after a 48-year-old man, Anthony Mutebe collapsed to death in the trading centre after exhibiting Ebola-like symptoms.
Mutebe's body which had blood spills from the eyes, mouth, nose, and ears, was left in the open for several hours for fear of spreading a suspected contagious disease.
Prior to his death, Mutebe reportedly vomited blood for nearly ten minutes before collapsing, prompting the residents to alert the police authorities. The police cordoned off the scene and prevented curious residents along with family members who had converged in the area from getting in contact with the deceased.
By 1.00 pm the residents became impatient waiting for the Jinja district health surveillance teams, and several individuals, including children, started to stroll in to pay their last respects to their deceased neighbour, touching his forehead as is the tradition in the area, raising more health concerns over the further spread of the suspected disease. Musa Magumba, the Buwenge town council councillor stated that Mutebe was confirmed dead at around 8:00 am.
A surveillance team from Buwenge health centre IV led by Pauline Akiror arrived later and extracted samples from the deceased for further analysis at the Uganda Virus Research Institute to ascertain the exact cause of death. Only 30 select family members were allowed at the burial and social distancing was also strictly observed.
Uganda was only declared Ebola-free on January 11 this year by the World Health Organisation following its seventh Ebola outbreak late last year that claimed over 55 lives with a case fatality of 39 per cent. The first case was confirmed on September 20, 2022, in Mubende district, western Uganda before the virus got spread to other districts of Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Kagadi, Bunyangabu, Wakiso, Jinja, Masaka and Kampala. A total of 143 cases (85 males and 58 females) were confirmed with 22 probable cases and 87 recoveries. By URN, The Observer
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