World

Details: World; 22 April 2023; 659

Kenya is offering to mediate in Sudan’s conflict in which more than 400 people have been killed and thousands injured or left homeless.

The offer came Friday from President William Ruto in a statement, the second in a week on Sudan, even though the warring parties in Khartoum have not indicated readiness to talk and have largely ignored ceasefire calls.

With a partial ceasefire, however, Dr Ruto said there is now an opportunity to help end the conflict, through dialogue.

“Accordingly, to support further progress in the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sudan, Kenya hereby offers to host a process of mediation between the parties to the agreement. We make this offer in the spirit of brotherhood, peace and solidarity as an acceptable neutral venue and also as an engaged stakeholder well-seized with the challenges facing our region,” Ruto said.

“Kenya has a strong track record in effectively facilitating peace-making and settlement of political conflict.”

Mediated South Sudan conflict

Kenya has in the past mediated the conflict between Sudan and then southern rebels under Dr John Garang. The outcome, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in Nairobi between Dr John Garang of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and Sudan’s then Vice-President Ali Osman Taha led to the eventual cessation of South Sudan from Sudan in 2011.

However, the conflict in Khartoum today pits rival security forces in the country: The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, whose leaders Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdani Daglo ‘Hemedti’ have amassed recent political influence, backed by outside entities.

It is unclear if Kenya’s offer will be accepted, or even backed by Sudan’s key partners including the US, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. But this is the first such offer from a leader in the region. Turkey had offered earlier in the week while the US was prevailing upon both sides to agree a long-term ceasefire.

Emergency meeting

On Thursday, an emergency meeting between the African Union, the UN and regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad), as well as Sudan’s neighbours in the Horn and Gulf, including Kenya, resolved to “reject any form of external interference which will further complicate the situation on the ground”.

They agreed to “commit to coordinate, collaborate and harmonise their respective initiatives to resolve the conflict, stabilise the situation and silence the guns in Sudan”.

Give peace a chance

As such, they said Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, will work with the request the Trilateral Mechanism in Sudan (which includes IGAD, UN and AU) in coordination with the League of Arab States, the European Union, the Troika (US, UK, Norway) and bilateral actors, to immediately engage the leadership of the SAF and the RSF, as well as other key stakeholders to seek a solution.

Ruto, meanwhile, said he was working within AU’s “silencing guns” call and conveying on warring parties “the numerous pleas and emphatic calls from our brothers and sisters in Sudan, the people of our region and the international community that it is now time to give peace a chance.”

“We invite the parties to take full advantage of this opportunity and urge Igad, AU and the UN to mobilise an effective international coalition to support a comprehensive peace-making agenda for Sudan,” President Ruto said. - AGGREY MUTAMBO, The EastAfrican

Details: World; 19 April 2023; 534

By JULIUS MBALUTO

London, UK - April 19, 2023 - The most influential Black people in Britain have today joined forces to launch a new campaign aimed at increasing the number of Black blood donors. Dame Sharon White, Chair of the John Lewis partnership and number one on the Powerlit 2023, kicked off the campaign by visiting a new NHS Donor Centre in east London. She was joined by Lord Woolley, principal of Homerton College and founder of Operation Black Vote, also named in the Powerlist Top 10.

The drive, endorsed by Netflix’s Vice President UK Content Anne Mensah, KPMG Partner and Vice Chair Richard Iferenta and the publisher of The Voice Paulette Simpson, seeks to raise awareness of the urgent need for more Black heritage blood donors. The latest data from NHS Blood and Transplant shows that only 1 percent of active blood donors in England are Black.

Every day 250 donations are now needed to treat sickle cell, the fastest growing genetic condition in the UK. This compares with 150 a day five years ago. Sickle cell is more prevalent in Black people and ethnically matched blood provides the best treatment. Over 55% of Black people in the UK have the Ro subtype needed by sickle cell patients compared with 2 percent of the general population. More black donors are urgently needed to meet the increasing demand.

Sharon White, former CEO of Ofcom said: “We know that Black people are more likely to suffer from sickle cell which can require regular blood transfusions. By increasing the number of Black heritage donors we can go a long way to ensuring that all patients across England receive the best matched blood.”

Simon Woolley said: “Giving blood is a simple but essential act of kindness that can save lives. It is vital that more Black people are aware of the importance of giving blood and feel confident to do so.”

Anne Mensah, VP, UK Content at Netflix, who has herself been a regular blood donor for many years added: “I am proud to support this campaign and have been giving blood at my local centre for years. Giving blood can be the difference between life and death for someone in our community. I encourage us all to do it if we can.”

The Powerlist, now in its 17th year, celebrates the achievements of the 100 most influential Black people in Britain. The list features people from a broad range of industries including law, finance, tech, business and science.

Michael Eboda, CEO of Powerful Media, publishers of the Powerlist, said: “There is not enough Ro blood available for sickle cell patients to meet hospital demand and therefore, I’m delighted that our Powerlistees have stepped up to highlight the need for more donors of Black heritage. This is an important community moment and I urge anyone who is eligible to donate blood.”

NHS Blood and Transplant said:“We are delighted to have the support of some of the most influential people in the country to help us raise awareness of the urgent need for more Black heritage blood donors. The demand for ethnically matched blood for sickle cell patients is on the rise and has already doubled in recent years. If you haven’t donated blood before, or haven’t in a while, we’d love to welcome you to join our amazing community of lifesaving blood donors and help meet the needs of patients right now and in the future. Each blood donation can save or improve up to three lives.”

Details: World; 14 April 2023; 669

Rioting Breaks Out Across London© Getty

Riots also engulfed the area in 1985 following the shooting of mother Dorothy "Cherry" Groce by the Metropolitan Police.

In April 1997, Devon Dawson, 29, was fatally shot ten times outside the Green Man pub on Coldharbour Lane.

In 2003 it was revealed that approximately £1million of crack cocaine was being sold there on a monthly basis.

More recently, in 2011, the riots that blighted the capital spread to Brixton and Coldharbour Lane. The New York Times that the spark of the unrest in the area came from the infamous street.

Brixton Riots, 1981© Getty

Protest Banner On Coldharbour Lane In London

Incredibly former Tory Prime Minister Sir John Major lived in the flat on the street as a child in the 1950s.

However, all that has now changed with property prices skyrocketing.

According to online estate agents Rightmove, three properties have been sold on Coldharbour Lane for more than £1 million since 2021.

Local Henry Wood, 28, told the Sun Online: "It's not even an up-and-coming area, it's already very gentrified.

"It's a weird mix of young people, families and old people who have been here forever.

"I've only lived here for two years so I don't remember what the area was like before, but it's now pretty nice."

Locals say Coldharbour Lane has been gentrified

UK - London - It's a Wonderful World Billboard

30-year-old resident Alex Fraser said: "It varies lots as you go up and down the road. Up towards Camberwell it's all gentrified with cafes and flats but down towards Loughborough Junction there are lots of vacant lots.

"It's a good place to move in with a family, it's as well connected as anywhere in South London and not too raucous.

"Sometimes you get police cars racing along the street at night with their sirens blaring, but it's only every so and often that you get crime-scene tape here - it's nothing like the old days."