The holdout groups say they are hopeful peace talks with the transitional coalition government in Nairobi will resume soon, indicating that the new initiative could be the country’s last chance at long-term stability.
This comes after South Sudan’s main opposition political outfit, the SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Riek Machar, announced its withdrawal from the peace talks in Kenya dubbed the Tumaini Peace Initiative on Tuesday.
Machar, a principal of the transitional government, argued that the Nairobi talks were overstepping the mandate and undermining the country’s existing revitalized peace deal and sovereignty.
According to the party, some protocols signed in the peace talks included parallel institutions that duplicated the revitalized peace provisions.
“There are concerted efforts to resume negotiations, and we expect the SPLM-IO to return to the negotiation table soon. We believe that the SPLM-IO will come back and we think that the Political Bureau of SPLM-IO was not briefed well on what we agreed upon,” Lual Dau, secretary general of the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) faction, told South Sudanese local broadcaster Radio Tamazuj on Sunday.
Lual maintained that the only solution to the South Sudan conflict and crises lies in a politically negotiated settlement owned by all the political parties and stakeholders. He added that the Tumaini Initiative is the only platform to render the desired results.
“We are doing our best and the government delegation in Juba will brief them. The SPLM-IO will also be briefed by the Kenyan mediation and us in the holdout group so that they come back,” he said.
The opposition official revealed that the parties to the Tumaini Initiative have yet to negotiate and agree on the constitution-making process, justice, economics, power-sharing, and implementation matrix.
According to Lual, the discussion and development of the implementation matrix will most likely take a long time.
“We want to develop a clear implementation matrix with a clear budget and timeline, and it will take more time. But we would like to tell the public that we are expected to reach a peace deal this year because there is progress,” he said.
“Some technical committees are working, and those committees were formed even before the withdrawal of the SPLM-IO. Actually, the SPLM-IO delegation to the peace talks is still in Nairobi, but it has not attended any meetings since its Political Bureau announced its withdrawal from the talks. However, we hope they will return to the talks soon,” he added.
According to Lual, some members of the government delegation to the Tumaini Initiative returned to Juba earlier this week for consultations on the SPLM-IO’s withdrawal from the talks.
Peace negotiations between the South Sudan government and some holdout groups were launched in Kenya on May 9.
The mediation is led by former Kenya army commander Lazarus Sumbeiywo, who also mediated the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 which gave Southern Sudan autonomy and later led to a referendum for independence in 2011. The Tower Post
With this wide scope of its academic and research operations, encompassing the United States through Europe down to entire Asian-Pacific region, the reputable and world-known Russia’s Valdai Club has moved further down to Africa, which becomes currently the battle field for key global players and constitutes a significant part of the Global South. Worth to note that Valdai Club has previously wrapped up several aspects of policy reports on Africa and its future position in the global system.
The Valdai Club has intensified and broadened, over the past decade, its analytical studies through meetings, seminars and conferences on the geopolitical changes and, at periodic times, issued policy reports predicting the future. The Valdai Club does these within the context of emerging evolutionary processes of what is often referred to the ‘end of unipolarity’ and the ‘new multipolarity’ of this 21st century.
According to authentic reports, the Valdai Club, with a glimmer of stainless hope, plans to engage well-experienced experts, academic researchers, diplomats, entrepreneurs and regional stakeholders in Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania in East Africa. As expected, participants will converge on 24th July 2024 to thoroughly review, at this critical moment for the continent, the template of the multifaceted relations between Russia and Africa, particularly significant issues arising from the late July 2023 summit held in St. Petersburg and also consider some aspect of outstanding joint agreements reached at the first Russia-Africa summit in October 2019.
Undoubtedly these enthusiastic participants would step forward to take a critical look at how Russia has to leverage with its technology and innovation unto African landscape while focusing on areas such as energy, agriculture, industrialization and infrastructure development. Already African leaders appreciate the fact, as it was during the Soviet times, that Russia is currently training specialists for Africa.
During the discussions, participants would definitely bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas essential for tackling long-standing issues relating the challenges of economic development across Africa. Notwithstanding, one thing for sure, experts have suggested a number of strategic ways, including a more inclusive approach towards realizing policy issues that could become visible and symbolic achievements in the continent.
With current geopolitical trends at the background, Valdai Club titled its discussion theme: Russia – Africa: Strategy for Cooperation in a Multipolar World. According to confirmed sources, its partners in organizing the conference are the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Tanzania and the Russian House in Dar es Salaam. It is Valdai’s second conference, and would probably take more than 40 experts from Russia and East African countries.
The conference will compare positions on the entire cycle of roadblocks and challenges, and bring them to where Russia and African countries can apply well-refined approaches and implement the paths of development in practical politics.
As the organizers told this article author, this conference would allow experts to prepare preliminary notes and begin planning for the third Russia-Africa summit – 2026, which would be held in Africa. Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club, Andrei Avetisyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United Republic of Tanzania, both will moderate the conference along the following themes: (i) A year after the Russia-Africa summit: political dialogue between Russia and African countries at the present stage; (ii) Cooperation for development: economics and technology; (iii) Russian and African approaches to climate change; and (v) Shared values and cultural cooperation.
An international team of authors has prepared a new Valdai Club report especially for the conference, titled “Prospects and tasks of Russian-African cooperation”, which summarizes the first results of decisions made and agreements signed a year after the Russia-Africa summit in St. Petersburg, as well as a Valdai Paper: “Tanzanian virgin soil for Russian business. Prospects for cooperation in the agricultural sector.”
Among the foreign guests who will take part in the conference are: Nourhan ElSheikh, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University (Egypt); Dareskedar Taye, leading researcher at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia (Ethiopia); Mikatekiso Kubayi, Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation, Doctoral Candidate, Political Studies, University of Johannesburg (South Africa); Binilit Mahenge, Chairman of the Tanzania Investment Centre (Tanzania); Yvonne Msemembo, international news editor for ITV/Capital TV at IPP media company (Tanzania); Aldin Kai Mutembei, Professor of the University of Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania); Petro Pesha, Professor of the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (Tanzania) and many others.
Participating on the Russian side are: Andrey Avetisyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Tanzania; Irina Abramova, Director of the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Viktoria Panova, Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Sherpa of the Russian Federation in the Women’s Twenty (W20); Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Politics at the National Research University Higher School of Economics; Yuri Korobov, member of the General Council of the all-Russian public organisation “Business Russia”, president, chairman of the board of directors of JSC “Berega”;
Andrey Maslov, Director of the Centre for African Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics; Maya Nikolskaya, researcher at the Centre for Middle Eastern and African Studies at MGIMO; Andrey Bystritskiy, Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club; Fyodor Lukyanov, research director of the Valdai Discussion Club; Oleg Barabanov, programme director of the Valdai Discussion Club and others.
In this author’s pragmatic assessment, the Russia-Africa relations have become more substantive, and it is steadfastly strengthening over the past few years. Russia’s efforts to reinforce its positions in Africa creates new opportunities for the continent. The same holds the other way around. In dealing with future perspectives there is the necessity to underscore one strong point here that the multipolar is fast opening new opportunities, and we have to show much enthusiasm and passion to celebrate the death of ‘authoritarianism and exceptionalism’ of the collective west and the United States.
The Valdai Club has also echoed this trend based on on the results of the conference events, with participation of both Russian and foreign experts, since the first Russia-Africa Summit. In a wrap up to this discussion, Russia and Africa are balancing their relationships in the geopolitical power theatre and Valdai Club, among others, has made tremendous impact by shaping aspects of the bilateral relations and the foreign policy. The Valdai Discussion Club, a Russian think tank, was established in 2004. By
The Congo's Foreign Ministry summoned Uganda's charge d'affaires, Matata Twaha, following a UN report that alleged Ugandan support for the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group.
The report, released earlier this month, alleges that the Ugandan military is supporting the M23 -- a group active in eastern Congo that is linked to Rwanda. It said Rwandan forces have been operating alongside M23 rebels, complicating security in the region.
Deputy Foreign Minister Gracia Yamba Kazadi summoned Twaha on Friday to discuss the allegations.
Twaha denied the allegations and reiterated Uganda's commitment to regional stability and cooperation with the Congo government.
Earlier in March, the Congo recalled Rwanda's ambassador for attacks on its troops, accusing Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels in the eastern regions of Tchanzu and Runyonyi.
Renewed M23 attacks since November 2021 have displaced thousands and heightened tensions between Rwanda and the Congo.
The Congo accuses Rwanda of trying to exploit its mineral-rich territory and of supporting the M23, a charge Rwanda denies.
The M23 is made up of Tutsis, the tribe of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. By Yasin Gungor and Ahmet Emin Donmez Anadolu Agency
On July 19, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement with the Government of Republic of Senegal in Dakar to provide grant aid of up to 3,724 million yen for the Project for the Expansion of the Regional Hospital of Thies.
The recent increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Senegal, such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, and the fact that many of the deaths due to Covid-19 infections in the country had NCDs as an underlying disease, make it urgent to expand diagnostic and treatment systems for NCDs. The Regional Hospital of Thies, as the top referral hospital in the state, receives a large number of patients with NCDs. However, the Hospital is not able to provide adequate medical services because of the lack and ageing of medical equipment necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of NCDs, as well as constant congestion by the complex patients flow lines in the Hospital.
The project will improve the capacity to receive patients by building a new specialised outpatient ward and MRI ward at the Regional Hospital of Thies and providing the necessary equipment for diagnosis and treatment, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Senegalese Government's goal of UHC. This project will also contribute to the achievement of SDGs Goal 3 (Good health and well-being). JICA
Three Kenyan banks have exited the government’s lucrative $500 million monthly oil import deal with two Gulf states, amid rising competition for the issuance of letters of credit (LCs) to the selected local importers.
The agreement, which involves the extension of the credit period for the importation of petroleum products from 30 days to 180 days, was mid-wifed by the Kenyan government in partnership with the governments of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia in March 2023 to help ease dollar shortage in the economy and stabilise the foreign exchange market.
Latest disclosures by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) shows NCBA Group Plc, Absa Bank Kenya Plc, and Co-operative Bank have exited the deal, paving the way for new entrants Equity Group, United Bank of Africa, Diamond Trust Bank, I&M Bank and Pakistan’s MCB.
Sources from the banking industry say the selection of the lenders under the oil deal was not an automatic guarantee for business and, as a result, some of them could not cope with the intense competition for business from the four local oil importers: Gulf Energy, Galana Energies Ltd, Asharami Energy and One Petroleum Ltd.
To clarify, just like the Open Tender System (OTS), a bank has a better chance if their client is an importer,” a source said.
“There is no guarantee of business if you participate ... you still have to win business from importers.”
An LC is proof of commitment that a bank issues on behalf of an importer, which offers comfort to the supplier of goods.
KCB Bank disclosed in November 2023 that it had cumulatively guaranteed fuel import purchases worth $3.37 billion since the start of the government-to-government deal, revealing its might in supporting the government-backed deal with Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Corporation and Emirates National Oil Company, which started in April 2023.
KCB Group Chief Executive Officer Paul Russo said on July 16 that the group had built expertise in oil and gas, established a strong trade finance segment and developed a strong relationship with international financial institutions to boost its international trade business in the oil sector.
“Three teams are important for the success of this business: Oil and gas, trade finance and financial institutions.
“Oil and gas build relationships, trade finance structure products while financial institutions ensure you have limits with counterparties to fulfil client commitments,” Mr Russo said in an interview.
NCBA and Co-operative banks were not available for comment as their managers did not respond to our calls and text messages.
The government in March 2023 picked a consortium of five local banks to issue LCs of up to $4.8 billion for fuel to be imported on credit from the UAE over nine months by the oil marketers.
KCB, NCBA, Absa Bank Kenya, Stanbic Bank, Co-operative Bank made the list, alongside Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). The importation of petroleum through the government-to-government arrangement is one of the key measures that Kenya implemented in early 2023 to avoid an economic meltdown due to money supply constraints that existed then, in particular, dollar liquidity constraints.
The scheme is aimed at easing forex pressures by eliminating the buying of fuel, the country’s largest import commodity, in the spot market by postponing the demand for dollars.
Prior to the oil deal, the oil marketing companies’ demand for foreign currency to meet their import bills under the OTS stood at $500 million every month.
The nine-month scheme expired in December 2023 but was extended by 12 more months to December this year. By James Anyanzwa, The East African
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