East Africa

Details: East Africa; 20 September 2022; 734

China International Book Trading Corporation Reading China Series 1

China International Book Trading Corporation, released the first part of Reading China, a series of high-end interviews. This series of interviews focuses on "A Community of Shared Future for Mankind", "High-quality Development" and other key issues of concern to the international community, interviewing experts in international relations, politics and economics to explain their understanding of China's paths and development practices.

Three honorable guests, namely, Zoon Ahmed Khan, Research Fellow of Belt and Road Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, Harvey Dzodin, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization and Donatien Niyonzima, former Official Gazette Editor in the Office of the Prime Minister of Rwanda were invited to discuss together upon the topic of "A Community of Shared Future for Mankind".

In the face of a complex international situation and the threat of cold war mindset and power politics, Chinese President Xi Jinping has delivered a keynote speech entitled "Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind" in January 2017 in the headquarter of the UN's office in Geneva. President Xi said "We should work together to build a world of common prosperity through win-win cooperation."

Zoon Ahmed Khan believed that developed countries need to understand that the prosperity of China and other developing countries is inevitable, and it is not hegemony that these countries seek.

In the context of a slow recovery in the world economy, complex changes in the international investment and trade landscape as well as multilateral investment and trade, President Xi Jinping has proposed the "Belt and Road Initiative" in 2013 as a major initiative to promote the interconnectivity between countries and economic integration across continents.

Harvey Dzodin expressed that it has been proven wrong that the "Belt and Road Initiative" will lead to a debt trap or that China is forcing developing countries to accept agreements; and he thinks that China does not want to dominate other countries in such a way, but rather to help participating countries prosper through a win-win cooperation.

Donatien Niyonzima said that the "Belt and Road Initiative" has opened up more possibilities for cooperation between China and his home country Rwanda in the areas of infrastructure development, education and even e-commerce.

Details: East Africa; 20 September 2022; 762

President William Ruto is on Wednesday set to make his inaugural address at the 77^th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the president will also hold bilateral talks with several Heads of State and Government during the four-day meeting.

“Participation at the highest level in the UNGA is particularly important for Kenya as the country seeks to complete the second year of its non-permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council,” a statement from the Ministry indicated.

It said that at the bilateral level, President Ruto will lead Kenya’s quest to harness relations with the United States of America guided by the 5 pillars bilateral strategic dialogue partnership.

“The Head of State will also attend to a working session with senior representatives of the American businesses during which he will urge for increased trade and investment between the two countries.”

It indicated that the president will also seize the opportunity to engage other select World leaders on priority areas of bilateral relations.

In his capacity as Coordinator, President Ruto will also chair a meeting of the Conference of African Heads of State on Climate Crisis (CAHOSCC).

The statement pointed out that at United Nations Headquarters, Kenya will seek to promote its Foreign Policy at the multilateral system including “enhancing participation in the quest for realization of SDGs and global leadership in emerging issues including climate change.”

The 77th UNGA coincides with the worst drought in the Horn of Africa with many countries in the region including Kenya experiencing unprecedented effects in the last forty years. Source: Capital News

Details: East Africa; 17 September 2022; 803

Subsequently, during inquiry, the authorities came to know that the drugs were concealed in pallets and were hidden in his stomach. (File)

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Thursday arrested a 50-year-old Congo national for allegedly trying to smuggle 1.5 kilogram of cocaine in the city. The sources in the agency revealed that the person was trying to smuggle the drugs stuffed in 115 pallets concealed inside his body.

According to the DRI officials, the Congo national, identified as Alfa Tsouke, was detained eleven days ago from the Mumbai international airport. “We received a tip-off that a person is trying to smuggle cocaine. Accordingly, we laid a trap and took the Congo national in custody. He was detained on suspicion,” said an official.

Subsequently, during inquiry, the authorities came to know that the drugs were concealed in pallets and were hidden in his stomach. The Congo national was then taken to JJ hospital, where X-ray screening showed presence of some foreign material in his stomach. Tsouke was admitted to a hospital and after eleven days, he purged out 115 pallets that contained cocaine. By: Express News Service, The Indian Express

Details: East Africa; 20 September 2022; 922

South Sudan has bought a piece of land in Djibouti for the construction of a harbour in its latest effort to find an alternative to the port of Mombasa which is facing an onslaught from Dar-es-Salaam.

South Sudan has bought three acres of land at the port of Djibouti for the construction of a facility that will handle its import and export goods as Juba seeks to cut reliance on the Mombasa port in Kenya.

The latest development comes just two months after the Chamber of Commerce in South Sudan said it will shift its cargo to the port of Djibouti, which it termed as convenient for the Africa’s youngest State.

“We have been only using Port Sudan and Mombasa but recently, we have decided to go to Djibouti and as I am speaking to you, we have land in Djibouti,” South Sudan Minister for Petroleum Puot Kang Chol is quoted by local media.

The minister said the land was procured by the Ministry of Petroleum for the purpose of exporting the country’s crude oil as well as use it on imported goods. If effected, the move will hit the port of Mombasa given that Juba is one of Kenya’s largest clients.

Mombasa has been the main route for all consignments destined to the landlocked country with South Sudan importing nearly all of its cargo through the Kenyan port.

Mr Chol said they were ready to facilitate and stock goods destined for South Sudan through Djibouti.

“If any of you have goods, and you want to bring them through Djibouti, we have a land, we will have a space for you to accommodate your materials [or] whatever you want to bring,” said the official.

South Sudan is the second country in terms of cargo throughput volumes at the Mombasa port after Uganda, accounting for 9.9 percent of transit volumes. Uganda accounts for 83 percent of all throughput cargo followed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda at 7.2, 3.2 and 2.4 percent in that order.

Kenya Ports Authority managing director John Mwangemi said South Sudan is one of their largest clients but they can choose a preferred facility. “I am not aware of the development in South Sudan but the government there can make a choice on which port to use,” said Mr Mwangemi.

The announcement by South Sudan comes just a few days after President William Ruto issued a directive for all inbound cargo to be cleared in Mombasa, dealing a blow to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Naivasha.

Kenya allocated South Sudan land in Naivasha for the construction of a dry port, which would see goods destined to Juba cleared at the ICD facility to save truckers the long journey to Mombasa. Kenya has also allocated a piece of land to Uganda to clear its goods in Naivasha.

Dr Ruto promised during the election campaigns to return the port services to Mombasa if elected as President in the August election. - GERALD ANDAE, The EastAfrican

Details: East Africa; 17 September 2022; 746

A collage image of President Yoweri Museveni (left) and President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania during President William Ruto's inauguration on September 13, 2022 (right). KENYANS.CO.KE

Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, has expressed his displeasure at the European Union (EU) Parliament for disapproving the Ksh421 billion oil pipeline deal it signed with Tanzania in 2021.

Tanzania was preferred over Kenya, with Museveni's administration claiming that Kenya lacked an efficient road system and would thus delay the project.

In a statement on Friday, September 16, Museveni argued that the project will go on as projected despite the EU Parliament sanctioning the project over human rights and environmental issues.

The EU parliament had warned its member states against financing the project over the concerns activists had raised.

File photo of KPC Pipeline FILE KENYA PIPELINE

In response, Museveni stated that his government would seek other development partners to fund the project if the initial contractors bail out of their agreement. The 1,443km pipeline is projected to run from Hoima in Uganda to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania.

"We should remember that Total Energies convinced me about the pipeline idea; if they choose to listen to the EU Parliament, we shall find someone else to work with.

"Either way, we shall have our oil coming out by 2025 as planned. So, the people of Uganda should not worry," Museveni stated in a statement.

His response was also issued minutes after Uganda's deputy speaker and the attorney general raised concerns over the EU's censure.

The deputy speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, stated that the motion seemed premised on allegations of potential environmental impacts, human rights violations and climate change targets.

"I believe formal communication of this motion by the European Parliament will be made and a formal response will be made," Tabeywa stated.

Human and Environmental Issues

The EU Parliament wants Uganda to release activists and journalists who were reportedly apprehended and intimidated for opposing the project

Among the victims are Maxwell Atuhura, an environmental rights defender and Federica Marsi, an Italian journalist, who has been in custody since May 25, 2021.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta(left) alongside his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni TWITTER

Uganda Prefers Tanzania Over Kenya

Uganda settled on Tanzania, then under the late President John Pombe Magufuli, stating that dealing with their neighbour would be more cost-effective.

A detailed report ascertained that it was difficult to secure land in Kenya as it took nearly two years to compensate land owners, unlike in Tanzania where the government owns all the land.

Kenya switched focus to building its Ksh121.45 billion pipeline from Lokichar, Turkana County, to Lamu.

“The pipeline route from Hoima to Lokichar to Lamu is the best option for Uganda given that Kenya will charge them cheaper compared to Tanzania per barrel of crude oil transported through the pipeline,” former Energy Cabinet Secretary, Charles Keter stated.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta was keen on partnering with Uganda in constructing the pipeline that would have seen Kenyan transport over 100,000 barrels of oil per day.By Washington Mito, Kenyans.co.ke