The European Union has regretted the postponement of the December 22 General Election in South Sudan and challenged the leadership to ensure the two extra years are used to make a difference.
The country is going through an economic crisis that has seen civil servants and members of the organized forces go unpaid for almost one year.
In a statement after the third extraordinary meeting of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), the EU Ambassador to South Sudan, Timo Olkkonen, regretted that another extension had become necessary.
The EU envoy said it was a confirmation that the commitments made by the political leaders to the people of South Sudan were not delivered upon following the signing of the roadmap in August 2022. Olkkonen challenged the leadership to ensure the extension window is used effectively to implement the outstanding provisions of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“The R-ARCSS was designed to guarantee sustainable peace for the people of South Sudan, who have suffered from violence, insecurity and lack of rule of law for far too long. It remains essential to preserve the integrity and validity of this agreement,” Olkkonen said.
RJMEC on Wednesday voted to endorse the postponement of the General Election, thus the extension of the current transitional government to 2026. Juba had cited the lack of funds as the reason for rescheduling the poll.
“Regarding funding, we expect the Government of South Sudan to make a commitment to use its own resources, including those from natural resources, to fund relevant institutions,” the envoy said.
The EU, the US, Norway and Britain abstained from the Wednesday vote. They said the reasons advanced for the extension of the current government were the similar to those advanced for previous postponements. By Radio Tamazuj
GENEVA – At the request of the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) is supporting the country with US$9.5 million for its emergency mpox response in six of the highest transmission provinces: Equateur, Sud-Ubangui, Sankuru, Tshopo, Sud-Kivu, Nord-Kivu, as well as in Kinshasa, a province with a high population density and 17 million people.
DRC is currently battling the largest mpox epidemic in the world with 5,160 confirmed cases and 25 deaths since the beginning of this year. The World Health Organization (WHO) says testing coverage in DRC remains low due to limited testing capacity and availability, and the number of suspected cases is around five times the number of laboratory-confirmed cases.1
By working through the priority areas of the government’s National Preparedness and Response Plan, the Global Fund’s support will contribute to:
Enhancing disease surveillance systems, with special emphasis on strengthening early warning capabilities – including community-based surveillance – and alert and response systems to detect, monitor and respond to mpox and other disease outbreaks.
Strengthening laboratory systems and diagnostics to increase case detection and stop the spread of the disease.
Conducting risk communication and community mobilization and engagement. Building on the network of community health workers and other community actors already deployed for HIV, TB and malaria prevention and awareness-raising will ensure people have the information they need to protect themselves and reduce stigma associated with mpox.
Implementing infection prevention and control measures to protect health workers who are caring for sick patients, including at the community level.
Reinforcing country-level coordination, planning and support for emergency response and operations, including support for community involvement in the response and donor coordination.
Strengthening the capacity of health facilities to not only provide primary health care services to manage mpox, but also to support future emergencies affecting children and high-risk adults, as well as displaced and vulnerable populations. Strengthening existing health facilities also helps health workers address other infectious diseases such as cholera, meningitis and measles.
“Our partnership with the Global Fund and other health partners has a proven track record in reducing infectious diseases,” said Dr. Roger Kamba, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Over the past two decades, the number of AIDS-related deaths and new HIV infections in DRC have reduced by more than 60%, through coordination and collaboration across all our partners, and we are determined to continue to work in the same manner for a strong response to mpox. The fight against the current mpox epidemic is a top priority for our ministry, especially through the reinforcement of the community response. It is essential to recognize that by acting now, we are not only fighting mpox but also investing in the resilience and health security of tomorrow.”
The support from the Global Fund will also boost the ongoing collaboration among DRC’s ministry of health, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO, humanitarian organizations and other key partners to address the severe challenges to the public health system in eastern DRC, where the mpox epidemic is converging with risks of other infectious diseases in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
“People living in areas of conflict and crises often face significant barriers to accessing health services due to damaged infrastructure, insecurity and a shortage of trained health personnel and supplies,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund. “When a disease outbreak occurs in these places, the challenges are compounded. Strong systems of trusted community health workers, health educators and other local responders are essential for stopping disease spread.”
The stigma associated with epidemics such as mpox also delays patients seeking care.
“In a disease outbreak, immediate intervention is crucial to strengthen systems for health and improve disease detection, surveillance and response mechanisms, aiming to prevent further deterioration in health outcomes, particularly for women, children and internally displaced persons,” said Mark Edington, Head of Grant Management at the Global Fund.
Already in this mpox epidemic, the Global Fund has supported moving available stocks of personal protective equipment like medical gloves, masks and gowns to the most affected provinces.
The epidemiology of mpox has continued to evolve in complex ways, which has important implications for prevention, preparedness and response efforts. Mpox is increasingly being associated with HIV. HIV is heightening the risk of mpox transmission, illness and death in people with weak immune systems and with advanced HIV. Investing in a country’s mpox efforts helps strengthen their work to stop the spread of HIV and vice versa.
With cumulative investments of almost US$3.2 billion since 2003, DRC and the Global Fund have been collaborating to combat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and strengthen systems for health.
The Global Fund is encouraging other affected countries to assess their mpox needs and consider repurposing existing Global Fund investments to respond.
Hundreds of pagers exploded simultaneously across Lebanon and in parts of Syria on Tuesday. (Screengrab)
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has blamed Israeli intelligence agency Mossad for the sophisticated attack. A further round of explosions in the Lebanese capital Beirut, apparently targeting militant group Hezbollah, has taken the death toll to at least 15 with hundreds more left wounded.
The Iranian ambassador and thousands of others were among the wounded in what appeared to be the first phase of a sophisticated, remote attack that saw hundreds of pagers explode simultaneously across Lebanon and parts of Syria on Tuesday
The Associated Press news agency cited an anonymous Hezbollah official, which blamed Israel for targeting the device. However, Israel has not admitted any part in the attack and the Israeli military have declined to comment.
Tensions have been rising between Lebanon and Israel, with clashes almost daily between Hezbollah and Israeli forces since the war between Israel and Hezbollah ally Hamas began in Gaza.
The UK Foreign Office has urged “calm heads and de-escalation”. A statement added: “The civilian casualties following these explosions are deeply distressing.” By Andy Wells, Yahoo News
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.[File, Standard]
Indian firm Adani Airports Holdings Limited has dismissed claims that the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will be leased for 30 years, saying the project is yet to be approved.
In a response filed at the High Court in Nairobi, the firm argued that cases challenging the controversial takeover are premature and that the airport improvement project is still at the due diligence stage, awaiting approval.
A lawsuit filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Law Society of Kenya, argues that the proposed takeover lacks transparency and could undermine national interests.
However, Alok Patni, representing Adani Airports, characterised the allegations as premature and based on inaccurate information. “I confirm that the project is still at the review and due diligence stage and the averments by the applicants that the JKIA has since been leased for 30 years is premature and an outright misrepresentation of facts,” he said.
Patni emphasized that the project is still under evaluation by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), where Adani has submitted a privately initiated proposal (PIP) dated March 1, 2024. He said the proposal aims to address urgent need for upgrades to JKIA, which has been marred by poor infrastructure.
In the petition, KHRC and LSK maintain that Kenya could independently raise the estimated $1.85 billion (Sh238 billion) needed for the airport’s expansion without leasing it. They say the Adani proposal threatens local jobs and fails to provide value for money.
LSK’s lawyer Dudley Ochiel, articulated concerns that leasing JKIA to Adani would transfer control and revenues from the operational airport to the firm for 30 years, with long-term financial implications for Kenyans. “Thus, the proposal would deprive the public of, and transfer to Adani, all the current revenues, receipts, expenditures and other financial transactions over JKIA. Although the project is dubbed a Built-Operate-Transfer, KAA would be handing over an existing and operational airport to Adani,” Ochiel said.
He added that after 30 years, Adani would, in perpetuity, retain an 18 per cent equity stake in aeronautical business at JKIA. “Thus, after 30 years, Adani would be entitled to an 18 percent concession fee starting at Sh6 billion and increasing by 10 percent every five years forever. In this way, the Adani proposal violates Article 201(c), demanding that the burden and benefits of using resources and public borrowing be shared equitably between present and future generations,” he said.
But Patni’s affidavit outlines Adani’s extensive experience in managing airport operations in India, where it oversees an integrated network of eight airports, including major hubs contributing to the nation’s economy.
He noted the intention is to transform JKIA into a world-class facility. The investors claim they developed an interest in investing in and improving JKIA following media reports from 2018 to 2023 on the deteriorating state of JKIA, referencing issues such as power outages, leaking roofs and inadequate passenger facilities. Adani also cites a news article showing unsuccessful works that had been done by local contractors to repair the roof, which had occasioned a loss of more than Sh175 million to Kenyan taxpayers.
“In light of the documented challenges facing JKIA, our interest in this project is not only business-driven but also aimed at enhancing the experience for passengers and improving operational efficiency,” Patni stated.
Adani says following the reports they initiated a privately initiated proposal and tendered to the government of Kenya on March 1, 2024. It then paid a review fee of $50,000 (Sh6,452,000) to the Public Private Partnership Facilitation Fund, complying with legal requirements.
Patni states in his affidavit that on March 18, 2024, KAA issued Adani with a letter confirming the PIP had been received and cleared the project to proceed to the development phase, then the feasibility study phase. In the proposal, Adani says it gave a detailed analysis of the project delivery plan, a justification for using the PIP method, value for money and affordability.
Adani said it proposed to construct a new passenger terminal, build and refurbish existing terminal buildings to increase passenger capacity and provide state-of-the-art amenities and facilities within the proposed and existing terminals.
The firm also proposed to enhance the airside pavement works, including constructing new taxiways, rapid exits taxiways and aprons, and also undertake other improvements as necessary for modernisation of the JKIA.
The Adani’s have asked the court to allow the PIP proceed through the various stages and have the matter by LSK struck out for want of jurisdiction. By Nancy Gitonga, The Standard
The State House Anti-Corruption Unit is investigating the leadership of the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) over allegations of defrauding President Museveni in a failed Shs 2.5 billion project last year.
The project, titled “Peace Support and Security Protection in the Greater Masaka Region,” never materialized, according to investigators. Documents reveal that State House had already disbursed Shs 300 million as the first instalment before halting further funding upon realizing the president had been misled.
At the Center of the alleged fraud are Rev Fr. Constantine Mbonabingi, who was the UJCC executive secretary at the time and is now the first bishop of Juba and All South Sudan, and Rev Fr. Daniel Musiitwa, UJCC’s deputy executive secretary in charge of finance and administration.
On October 16, 2021, a delegation from the UJCC, led by Church of Uganda Archbishop Dr Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, Rev Fr. Mbonabingi, Rev Fr. Musiitwa, and UJCC programs officer David Muzaale, visited President Museveni at State House. They sought funding for two projects: the Peace Support and Security Protection initiative and a request for Shs 7 billion to recapitalize the Ecumenical Church Loan Fund Uganda Ltd (ECLOF).
Notably absent from the delegation were key UJCC board members, such as the provincial secretary of the Church of Uganda, the secretary-general of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, and the vicar general of the Uganda Orthodox Church.
Following the meeting, Museveni directed then Principal Private Secretary Kenneth Omona and State House Comptroller Jane Barekye to release the requested funds. In June 2023, Shs 300 million was transferred to a new UJCC Absa bank account, with Mbonabingi and Musiitwa as the account signatories.
The investigation reveals that the Shs 300 million was withdrawn and diverted for unclear purposes. After receiving complaints from UJCC members, State House suspended any further disbursements to the council.
Investigators are now seeking to determine how the funds were used and why Rev Fr. Constantine Mbonabingi and Rev Fr. Daniel Musiitwa created a new bank account without the knowledge of Bishop Anthony Zziwa, the chairperson of the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC).
“This is not only a gross abuse of public funds and a breach of the trust we placed in men of God, but it also contravenes several provisions of the Public Finance Management Act. We are ashamed, embarrassed and disappointed by these actions,” said a source at State House, who requested anonymity.
FURTHER COMPLICATIONS
It is also reported that the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has frozen UJCC accounts in an effort to recover Shs 92 million in unpaid taxes. However, a source claims that UJCC has opened additional bank accounts to manage donor funds.
Additionally, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has instituted legal proceedings against UJCC for deducting and failing to remit over Shs 216 million in staff benefits. In recent years, several donors—including the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), DIAKONIA, Faith to Action, and the Church of Sweden—have suspended funding to UJCC due to allegations of corruption and misuse of donor funds.
Among the few partners still working with UJCC are FECLAHA, AACC, and the African Union (AU), but they now send their own staff to manage financial matters due to lack of trust in UJCC’s management. JISRA is currently the only project still being funded through UJCC, but concerns have arisen over the misuse of these funds.
Allegedly, Fr. Musiitwa, a project officer named William, and an assistant accountant named Hellen are the primary beneficiaries of the project’s finances. There are further claims that Hellen has used JISRA funds to build a new house.
ABOUT UJCC
The UJCC board of trustees is composed of nine members, including three bishops representing the Catholic Church, the Anglican Church of Uganda, and the Orthodox Church.
In addition to the bishops, three technical officials serve on the board: the provincial secretary of the Church of Uganda, the secretary general of the Uganda Episcopal Conference, and the vicar general of the Uganda Orthodox Church.
These technical experts are typically involved in meetings to provide advice and oversight, but Fr. Musiitwa allegedly excluded them from recent discussions to avoid scrutiny. When contacted for comment, Fr. Mbonabingi promised to consult and respond, but by press time, he had not yet followed up with our reporter. By Written by GEOFREY SERUGO, The Observer
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