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The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rejected US sanctions Thursday that were imposed on its leader Abdel-Rahim Dagalo during the war which has continued for almost five months.

The armed group described the sanctions for human rights abuses and atrocities as selective, unfair and based on false information. It accused Washington of blinding eyes from violations committed by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) during the war, including airstrikes.

The RSF warned that the US move against the group would reflect negatively on roles by Washington to mediate an end to the war.

“RSF is welcoming any efforts to stop the war, through addressing its root causes which will lead to the stabilization of the political troubles and the war,” it said. 

The US imposed sanctions Wednesday on paramilitary commander Abdel-Rahim, who is the brother of RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), for acts of violence, “including the massacre of civilians, ethnic killings, and use of sexual violence.”

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said: “Both sides have failed to implement a ceasefire, and the RSF and allied militias have been credibly accused of extensive human rights abuses in Darfur and elsewhere,” since the war started in April. Yeni Safak



Kenya needs to refinance its maturing $2 billion 2014 Eurobond by June next year. PHOTO | SHUTTERSTOCK/Photo Courtesy 

 

African sovereigns will continue to face steep borrowing costs in the international market in the near term due to attractive rates on offer in the US financial market, complicating efforts to retire maturing Eurobonds for several states in the next two years.

Citi Managing Director and Africa head of markets George Asante told the Business Daily that market access conditions have been difficult for African countries and companies, especially for Eurobonds, primarily due to risk aversion on tough economic conditions and pricing due to higher rates on offer in developed markets.

"The risk premium is also being applied in domestic markets," he noted.

 

“When someone can get five or six percent in the US then it becomes more challenging to convince them of a similar yield on an African asset. Therefore, for Africa to achieve a lower cost of funding, you almost need to wait for the US to turn the curve.”

 

In the US, the Federal Reserve has progressively raised its benchmark rate, to the current range of 5.25 -5.5 percent, even though inflation has eased in the country. The most recent increase was seen in July, at 0.25 percentage points.

The sharp hikes—from 0.25- 0.5 percent in March 2022— have seen issuers like Kenya struggle to issue a sovereign bond in the past one year due to concerns about the high rate demands by potential lenders.

The country has instead leaned on concessional lending by Bretton Woods institutions and bilateral agreements for external funding.

Kenya needs to refinance its maturing $2 billion 2014 Eurobond by June next year.

Read: Debt headache as Kenya seeks new Eurobond

Among the other African issuers, Zambia has a $1-billion Eurobond also due next year, while Angola’s $1.5 billion bond floated in 2015 is due for retirement in 2025, but a third has been partially redeemed through a buy-back.

To get around the high cost of financing, Asante said that sovereigns need to diversify their source of loans.

Getting more lenders to the table will also help even out supply and demand, thus tightening the premium being paid from a real yield perspective.

Other than refinancing existing debt, the Kenya government has also recently announced an expansion of its external borrowing plan to carry the bulk of funding the current fiscal year’s budget deficit.

Last month, the Central Bank of Kenya disclosed that the National Treasury had cut the net domestic borrowing target from Ksh586.5 billion ($4 billion) to Ksh316 billion ($2.2 billion).

The Ksh270.5 billion ($1.9 billion) difference was transferred to the external target, raising it to Ksh402 billion ($2.8 billion) from Ksh131.5 billion ($900.7 million) previously.

The enhanced external funding, the monetary regulator said, will be largely concessional, but there is also some to be accessed that will be on commercial terms. Business Daily

MPs were irked to find out that a big percentage of funds released to the two cooperatives, was retained by third parties for purportedly supporting them in the compensation application process

KAMPALA, Uganda, September 5, 2023/APO Group

The House Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry has commenced investigations into the alleged financial mismanagement of government funds released to cooperative societies.

The investigation was ordered by Speaker Anita Among on 29, August 2023 following reports of massive corruption in cooperatives.

The committee chaired by Hon. Mwine Mpaka, began its inquest in Jinja District, eastern Uganda, where they met Busoga Growers Cooperative (BGC) and Jinja Multipurpose Cooperative Society (JMCS), the beneficiaries of war loss compensation on Monday, 04 September 2023.

MPs were irked to find out that a big percentage of funds released to the two cooperatives, was retained by third parties for purportedly supporting them in the compensation application process.

The committee learnt that since 2018, government has paid out Shs15.5 billion to BGC but only Shs5 billion was received, leaving the rest to two law firms - Matovu & Matovu Company Advocates and Makada Company Advocates.

“Who advised you to hire the services of law firms to process your compensation and to be cheated this much?” asked Hon. Richard Gafabusa (NRM, Bwamba County).

Members were further disappointed to learn that the cooperatives operated on a Memorandum of Understanding with the law firms, to retain 40 percent of the total compensation monies which the firms never honoured.

“Right from the start, the firms used to disburse 40 percent of the money to the union instead of 60 percent. 20 percent would go missing. With time, they would give us only 20 percent,” said Haruna Ntuyo, the Treasurer of BGC. Right from the start, the firms used to disburse 40 percent of the money to the union instead of 60 percent

Although he could not avail documentary evidence, Ntuyo said the cooperatives were advised to hire law firms to help them process their compensation money, by the then Permanent Secretary in the trade ministry.

For JMCS, it was revealed that only Shs1.5 billion out of Shs5.3 billion released by government was received. MPs were furious to learn that the cooperative did not only lose money to Matovu & Matovu company advocates, but also gave out Shs2.1b to a syndicate of officials on the verification committee in the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry.

“The money was paid to me in cash [and] I would hand it over to the district commercial officer. He said there were officers who had to benefit from this money because they helped us in the verification process,” said the chairperson, JMCS, Henry Magero.

Magero added that the district commercial officer identified as James Muganza, did not sign any document on receiving the said funds. Muganza who is out on Police bond over the same matter denied all allegations.

MPs criticised Magero and Muganza saying they were full aware of their corrupt actions and hence part of the syndicate that diverted the cooperative’s funds.

“I am putting it to you that you knew the whole scheme of why and where the money was taken. Because when you were giving Muganza the money, did it occur to you that he was lying, that he wanted it for himself?” asked Hon. Elijah Mushemeza (Indp., Sheema County South).

Hon.  Mpaka noted, “there is a clear evidence of intentional corruption; for you to give the lawyer all that money to keep cheating you and you do not report the case at all. To give Shs2 billion to an individual without him signing anywhere”.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Jinja, Richard Gulume, urged government to review the compensation programme, cognizant that there were numerous loopholes.

“We need to streamline how we handle compensations in the near future, for example, the RDC office is critical but we were never involved in this process, in such a case we are not able to supervise,” he said.

The committee proceeds with its investigations in Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Masindi and Nakaseke districts.

 

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

 

CNH Industrial is helping to progress agriculture, everywhere: bit.ly/CNH_Tanzania

Basildon, September 5, 2023 - Our new photo series depicts how CNH Industrial’s New Holland Agriculture brand is helping to revolutionize mechanized farming in Tanzania. These images capture the enthusiasm around this initiative.

Tanzania is encouraging its farmers to mechanize, both to increase productivity and improve food security. During the first few months of 2023 in support of this initiative, we delivered 200 new tractors, trained farmers how to use them, as well as created a coalition to provide access to financing. CNH Industrial is committed to putting innovation in these farmers’ hands.

CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI) is a world-class equipment and services company. Driven by its purpose of Breaking New Ground, which centers on Innovation, Sustainability and Productivity, the Company provides the strategic direction, R&D capabilities, and investments that enable the success of its global and regional Brands. Globally, Case IH and New Holland Agriculture supply 360° agriculture applications from machines to implements and the digital technologies that enhance them; and CASE and New Holland Construction Equipment deliver a full lineup of construction products that make the industry more productive.

The Company’s regionally focused Brands include: STEYR, for agricultural tractors; Raven, a leader in digital agriculture, precision technology and the development of autonomous systems; Flexi-Coil, specializing in tillage and seeding systems; Miller, manufacturing application equipment; Kongskilde, providing tillage, seeding and hay & forage implements; and Eurocomach, producing a wide range of mini and midi excavators for the construction sector, including electric solutions.

Across a history spanning over two centuries, CNH Industrial has always been a pioneer in its sectors and continues to passionately innovate and drive customer efficiency and success. As a truly global company, CNH Industrial’s 40,000+ employees form part of a diverse and inclusive workplace, focused on empowering customers to grow, and build, a better world. CNH Industrial

The First Africa climate summit in Nairobi intensified calls for a common African currency to address climate finance gaps. A section of African ministers and experts indicated that currency could stimulate economic growth, enhance access to capital markets, and reduce risks for international investors,  all while promoting regional cooperation.

Speaking during the ministerial panel discussion Dr Mohammed Adam, state minister of finance in Ghana emphasised the need for Africa to utilise its own currency in trade and leverage private sector funds to complement public finance in responding to the climate crisis. 

He stated: "With a single currency, intra-African trade would become more efficient, reducing trade barriers and transaction costs. This would stimulate economic growth and create additional fiscal space for investments in climate resilience and renewable energy projects."

"Africa should use its currency to trade and tap into private sector funds to complement public finance in response to the climate crisis," he said.

Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the deputy chairperson for the African Union Commission, highlighted the long-standing goal of a common African currency as a symbol of unity and strength.

"The goal of a common African currency will be a pillar of African unity, a symbol of the strength that we hope will emerge from efforts to integrate the continent," she said. "A unified currency could make African nations more attractive to global investors." 

She added, "A larger, more stable market would encourage foreign direct investment, leading to increased access to capital markets. These funds could be channelled towards green bonds and climate finance initiatives, helping us bridge the climate finance gap."

Barbara Creecy, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries from South Africa, drew attention to the critical issue of climate finance for Africa. She pointed out the stark disparity, saying, "Currently, about half of the climate finance globally comes from the private sector. But in Africa, it makes up only 14 per cent of the total flows."

She highlighted, "Climate projects often involve long-term commitments, and a common currency could provide greater confidence in the stability of investment returns, encouraging more significant flows of climate finance.

She explained that by eliminating the need for foreign exchange reserves and reducing currency risk, African nations would free up fiscal space that could be allocated to climate projects, renewable energy initiatives, and climate resilience programs. This would be a game-changer for our efforts to combat climate change.

Soipan Tuya, the CS Environment, emphasized the need to address Africa's debt burden in the context of climate action. She said, "The multinational development banks have to reconsider Africa’s debt approach, enabling African countries to tackle climate change challenges without burdensome debt."

The discussions at the summit revolved around the importance of reforming financial systems to enable post-disaster reconstruction, strengthening the African Adaptation Initiative, and delivering the UNFCCC Loss and Damage Fund. Additionally, leaders highlighted the necessity of financial investments in universal coverage of early warning and early action systems for disaster risk reduction.

Africa faces a significant adaptation funding gap, with the African Development Bank estimating the cost of climate-related disasters to be between USD7 billion to USD15 billion annually, projected to rise to USD50 billion by 2030.

To address these challenges, African countries need to raise USD124 billion annually by 2030, but they currently receive only USD28 billion a year. The summit aims to emphasize the urgency of prioritising adaptation investment as a development imperative for Africa and the world.

Furthermore, the summit aims to secure commitments towards the delivery of the USD100 billion funding target and greater support from Multilateral Development Banks for climate adaptation.

Private capital, estimated at USD630 billion per year, was identified as a potential source of investment, particularly in agriculture. By Mactilda Mbenywe, The Standard

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