Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: FreeTheFive Blog: Tanaice Neutro

    Source: Amnesty International –

    “Being an activist it’s a serious thing in Angola, it’s about life and death”

    16 September marks one year since Tanaice Neutro has been arbitrarily detained. We met with his wife, Teresa Cuanga, who describes what an entire year, without her husband has been like.

    Teresa thought it was the end of a nightmare she never wanted to have again. What she didn’t know was that her happiness wouldn’t last long, as her husband Tanaice would be sent back to prison in less than three months after his release.

    Teresa Cuanga with her and Tanaice’s baby

    On the morning of 16 September 2023, Tanaice Neutro told his wife he was about to join a demonstration in solidarity with the motorbike taxi drivers who were facing restrictions on their activities in some areas of Luanda, Angola’s capital.

    Hours before the demonstration was due to take place, Tanaice and other activists were surprised by the police, who without a warrant took all those present to the Criminal Investigation Services-SIC and that day, Tanaice and other activists never went home again.

    “That morning, I said, love, don’t go to the demonstration, you know there are always police there. He said he couldn’t cancel. He had already given his word to his friends. He told me nothing would happen, that I shouldn’t worry” said Teresa, who tells us in detail what happened on 16 September 2023 and introduces us to the profile of the man who could make history for serving a total of four years in prison solely  for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of assembly.  

    On 19 September 2023, Tanaice Neutro and other 3 activists were tried and convicted. The public prosecutor initially accused them of “outrage and injury to the President of the Republic”. Amid various inconsistencies and lack of evidence, the charge was changed to ‘disobedience and resisting orders.’ Witness reports and videos circulated showed that at the time of their arrest, the activists were lying on the ground, not resisting.

    Without any evidence, the court convicted and sentenced Tanaice and the other three activists (AGPT) to two years and five months in prison. Their lawyers submitted both an appeal and complaint against the decision, but both were rejected by the court.

    This is not the first time Tanaice Neutro has been arbitrarily detained.  We wanted to understand from Teresa, who is the man who is dedicating his life to fight for the right to protest in Angola, even though he knows the risks associated.

    Teresa begins by telling us how she met Tanaice and her activism.

    “Tanaice’s mother, my mother-in-law, was a good friend of mine. In 2015, she introduced me to her son and from there began a beautiful friendship that ended with our traditional and civil wedding. Tanaice is a kind person, he likes listening to Certanejo (a Brazilian musical rhythm), his favourite artist is Teixeirinha and his favourite song is by Teixeirinha and Mary Teresinha.”.

    “He wasn’t an activist when I first met him. He loves listening to music, composing and singing kuduro (Angolan musical style), at first he sang about common themes that didn’t give the Angolan government any headaches, until in 2021, when he released a song entitled ‘2022 vais gostar’(2022 you will like), which went viral in Angola.”

    1. ‘(…)Since 1975 they have been [allegedly] stealing the wealth of a humble people
    2. Many Angolans have died because of speaking the truth
    3. This tip is for ‘me’ to be afraid of being shot and starved to death.
    4. But since I’m already frustrated, they can kill me if speaking out is a crime (…)’

    “Tanaice’s dream is to one day own his own home, have a job and be able to see his children study and graduate. He also dreams of seeing a different Angola without suffering. He thinks a lot about people and would like to be able to help people more. He didn’t go to university, but if he ever had the chance, he would study law.”

    Since he was arrested in January 2022 and again in September 2023, Tanaice has gone on several hunger strikes, and his health situation is  sensitive due to him not receiving  adequate medical treatment in prison. “And now, how is he doing?” We asked.

    “I can say that he is recovering from his last hunger strike in February this year 2024. When I go to visit him, he just wants to know how his children are and if his stereo is still playing. He doesn’t regret going out to the protest that day and sometimes asks how the campaign for his freedom is going.”

    We also wanted to find out what Teresa thinks of Tanaice’s arbitrary detention and what it’s been like raising her four children on her own.

    “I miss Tanaice. It’s hard looking after the children on my own. They always ask when their father will be back and I say soon, but sometimes they hear news about their father on the radio. They know that their father is in jail and they know the reasons why. They used to see their father when he recorded videos here at home.”

    “It hurts a lot. Everything has stopped. Tanaice has committed no crime by criticizing President Joao Lourenço. If we have freedom of expression, then we must speak out. We can’t see things that aren’t right and not speak out. If we don’t hold our leaders accountable, who will? There will always be someone who must speak out”.

    Tanaice strongly believes in the right to freedom of peaceful assembly. One of Tanaice’s best-known songs is entitled ‘manifestação (demonstration/protest).”:

     ‘(…) Demonstration is the right of a citizen who is unhappy,

    But it seems that Agostinho Neto didn’t explain this to the leaders (…)

    (…) Whenever an activist complains about a fair cause, they can’t arrest him or kill him

    We want the police to release the activist, the brother activist who is in prison (…)

    (…) If you don’t want the people to complain, President, do your job well.

    Don’t look down on me João Lourenço, listen to my advice

    First give Angolans the 500,000 jobs you promised.

    Then bring down the price of meat before the end of the year

    Also build schools and hospitals so the population will be happy

    Stop threatening with a gun everyone who’s a protester(…)

    “At first, I didn’t understand anything about activism until my husband was arrested. That’s when I realized that being an activist it’s a serious thing in Angola, it’s about life and death because you speak out against powerful people who can move heaven and earth to hunt you down. I’m afraid of losing my husband. I’m afraid that because of his activism, something will happen to me or the children.”

    “Since all this began, the hardest days are when I have to visit my husband in jail because I leave the baby at home for an almost two-hour journey. On the way to jail I often ask myself if I deserve to go through so much suffering and injustice, but I keep going. At night, I miss him more and wonder what he’s doing, how he woke up that day and if he’s eaten, especially on days when I can’t take food to the jail.”

    The right to freedom of peaceful assembly  is routinely  being violated in Angola. Like Tanaice, every year there are several documented cases of injustice committed against people who decide to take to the streets and protest for their rights or those of their communities. Stand up for Tanaice and three other activists who are detained solely the peaceful exercise of their human rights. Call for the immediate release of Tanaice and the three other activists.  Sign this petition and share it on your networks using the hashtag #FreeTanaice #FreeAGPT #Freethefive.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: UN Security Council casts nearly all vetoes last decade on Syria, Palestine and Ukraine, robbing opportunities for peace

    Source: Oxfam –

    Ahead of the UN Summit for the Future, Oxfam calls for reform of the UN Security Council to stop the “Permanent Five” from being their own “judge and jury”

    The UN Security Council (UNSC) is failing people living in conflict, with Russia and the United States particularly responsible for abusing their veto power which is blocking progress toward peace in Ukraine, Syria, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.

    A new Oxfam report, Vetoing Humanity, studied 23 of the world’s most protracted conflicts over the past decade, including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Libya, Niger, the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen, and found that 27 of the 30 UNSC vetoes cast on these conflicts were on OPT, Syria and Ukraine.

    The report concludes that the five permanent members of the UNSC (the P5) are exploiting their exclusive voting and negotiating powers to suit their own geopolitical interests. In doing so, they have undermined the Council’s ability to maintain international peace and security.

    More than a million people have been killed in these 23 conflicts alone and more than 230 million people are today in urgent need of aid – an increase of over 150 percent since 2015.

    “China, France, Russia, the UK and the US took responsibility for global security at the UNSC in what is now a bygone colonial age. The contradictions of their acting as judge and jury of their own military alliances, interests and adventures are incompatible with a world seeking peace and justice for all,” said Oxfam International Executive Director Amitabh Behar.

    For instance, in 2023 Russia vetoed a nine-month extension of cross-border assistance to Northern Syria which left 4.1 million people with little or no access to food, water and medicine. Russia has also used its veto four times on Ukraine, despite being an aggressor in the conflict and by UN rules should therefore be disqualified from voting.

    “China, France, Russia, the UK and the US took responsibility for global security at the UNSC in what is now a bygone colonial age. The contradictions of their acting as judge and jury of their own military alliances, interests and adventures are incompatible with a world seeking peace and justice for all.” 

    Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International Executive Director

    Oxfam International

    While the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has passed at least 77 resolutions over the last decade supporting Palestinian self-determination and human rights and an end to Israel’s illegal occupation, the US has used its veto power six times to block resolutions perceived as unfavourable to its ally Israel. The US vetoes have created a permissive environment for Israel to expand illegal settlements in the Palestinian territory with impunity.

    “More often than not the Security Council permanent members’ vetoes have contradicted the will of the UN General Assembly, in which all states are represented,” Behar said.

    The report critiques another of the P5’s powers called “pen-holding”, which allows them to lead on negotiations and direct how resolutions are drafted and tabled, or ignored – again, too often according to their own interests.

    While France and the UK have not used their veto last decade, they and the US have held the pen on two-thirds of resolutions relating to the 23 protracted crises studied by Oxfam. The UK holds the pen on Yemen, for example, where it has a colonial legacy and strategic interests to maintain the maritime routes. In 2023, Mali objected to French pen-holding given what it considered “acts of aggression and destabilization” there.

    Many other initiatives are not even written up or tabled because they would inevitability be vetoed, the report says. As a result, the 23 crises studied by Oxfam are being treated in wildly different ways.

    Nearly half of them have been largely neglected with fewer than five resolutions each over the last decade, including just one on Myanmar and none on Ethiopia or Venezuela.

    “The erratic and self-interested behaviour of UNSC members has contributed to an explosion of humanitarian needs that is now outpacing humanitarian organizations’ ability to respond. This demands a fundamental change of our international security architecture at the very top.”

    Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International Executive Director

    Oxfam International

    On the other hand, the UNSC has passed nearly 80 on both South Sudan and Sudan, 53 on Somalia and 48 on Libya. None have led to lasting peace. Despite the Democratic Republic of Congo having had 24 UNSC resolutions in the past 10 years, for instance, the UN mission there (MONUSCO) has been hindered by chronic underfunding and lack of coordination.

    “The erratic and self-interested behaviour of UNSC members has contributed to an explosion of humanitarian needs that is now outpacing humanitarian organizations’ ability to respond. This demands a fundamental change of our international security architecture at the very top,” Behar said.

    Globally, the number of people needing humanitarian assistance has risen nearly four times in the last decade, triggering massive funding needs. Between 2014 and 2023, the UN appeal has nearly tripled from $20 billion to over $56 billion – but less than half of this amount was met last year.

    The report is critical of the fact that humanitarian funding remains entirely dependent upon voluntary contributions. In contrast, UN member state funding for peacekeeping operations is mandatory.

    As the Summit of the Future kicks off this week to envision a revitalized UN, Oxfam calls for a wholesale reform of the UN Security Council, including the abolition of the P5’s veto power.

    “We need a new vision for a UN system that meets its original ambitions and made fit for purpose for today’s reality,” Behar said. “A Council that works for the global majority not a powerful few. This starts with renouncing the veto and pen-holding privilege of the P5 and expanding membership to more countries.”

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Media Advisory: Oxfam and partners at UNGA79

    Source: Oxfam –

    Oxfam leaders, experts, and partners are joining the UN 79th General Assembly, Summit of the Future, and Climate Action week in New York, hosting and attending events focused on UN Security Council Reform, gender, digital rights, inequality, climate action, and humanitarian issues. They will be urging global leaders to take bold decisions and action as they deliberate on the pressing issues of our time.   

    This year’s theme is “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations.” 

    Here is an overview of Oxfam’s key events, including a press conference on a report on UN Security Council Reform, media spokespeople, and products: 

    “Our global systems have failed to address the unprecedented challenges we face today, leaving millions behind. Conflict is rampant, the climate crisis is at a breaking point, and inequality is soaring. As we gather at this year’s Assembly, leaders cannot squander the opportunity to restore people’s faith in the UN’s role as the flagbearer for global peace, security, and cooperation. They must move beyond mere rhetoric and make bold choices to create a system that serves all of humanity, not just the powerful few.” 

    Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International Executive Director

    Oxfam International

    A few highlights from Oxfam’s agenda at UNGA (all times in EST): 

    Thursday, September 19: Oxfam will publish a report titled,Vetoing Humanity,” which highlights how the five UN Security Council Permanent Member States’ (P5) have abused the veto and negotiating powers in their own geopolitical interests; and how they have paralyzed the Council’s ability to maintain international peace and security or mitigate prolonged conflicts and human suffering. 

    At 8:30am, Oxfam will be hosting a photo call at an art installation in Tudor City outside the UN, featuring a large dove shackled to a “veto” weight, signifying how the Security Council veto has restrained efforts for global peace. Brooklyn-based artist Miles Giordani built the installation with Oxfam.  

    At 11:00 am, Oxfam will also hold a press conference on the “Vetoing Humanity” report in the UN Correspondents Association briefing room. 

    At 5:30pm, Oxfam and other civil society organizations will be hosting a media happy hour for a chance for experts and journalists to connect. Media can RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unga-media-civil-society-happy-hour-tickets-1009525918197 

    Saturday, September 21: Oxfam and partners will host a Summit of the Future Action Days Official Side Event on Reforming the UN Security Council for an Equal and Sustainable Future” at the UN Headquarters.  Speakers will include Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International Executive Director; Anne-Marie Slaughter, CEO of the New America; Ambassador Lazalous Kapambwe former Zambia Permanent Representative to the UN and 67th President of UN ECOSOC; Wameedh Shakir, Founder and Chairperson of Itar Foundation in Yemen; Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director and Chair – Global Governance Forum and Ishaan Shah co-founded Stolen Dreams. Register to participate or watch the Livestream here: Reforming the UN Security Council for an Equal and Sustainable Future (Side Event, Action Day 2, Summit of the Future) | UN Web TV 

    Monday, September 23: Oxfam will publish “Multilateralism in an Era of Global Oligarchy: How Extreme Inequality Undermines International Cooperation,” a report highlighting how ultrawealthy individuals — often enabled by the richest countries — exert disproportionate influence over policy decision. The paper proposes the solutions needed for progress and provides new global data prepared for UNGA. On Thursday, September 26, a joint event with the Ford Foundation will outline key aspects the report; the panelists will include: Oxfam International Executive Director Amitabh Behar; Ronald Lamola, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; and Nanjala Nyabola, Kenyan writer, researcher, and political analyst; moderated by The Washington Post’s Karen Attiah. 

    Reactive Statements: 

    Oxfam will be making statements regarding Summit of the Future outcomes, Heads of State Speeches during the High-Level Debate and other developments throughout. 

    Oxfam Spokespeople: 

    • Amitabh Behar, Oxfam International, Executive Director: Sustainable Development Goals, UN Reform, Inequality, Climate, Democracy, Human Rights, war in Gaza 
    • Abby Maxman, Oxfam America President and CEO: Sustainable Development Goals, Inequality, Humanitarian Issues 
    • Lebogang Ramafoko, Oxfam South Africa Executive Director: Summit of the Future, Climate and Inequality 
    • Brenda Mofya, Head of Oxfam New York Office: Sustainable Development Goals, The Summit of the Future, Humanitarian Issues  
    • Dr. Tawanda Mutasah, Oxfam America Vice President of Global Partnerships and Impact: Sustainable Development Goals, UN Reform 
    • Ashfaq Khalfan, Oxfam America Director of Climate Justice: U.S. position and context on climate issues in UN agenda, Climate and Inequality, Future Generations 
    • Nabil Ahmed, Oxfam America Director of Economic and Racial Justice: Economic/Wealth Inequality, Progressive Taxation, Corporate Power, Multilateralism 
    • Pauline Chetcuti, Oxfam International Head of Humanitarian Advocacy and Campaigns; Humanitarian and Climate Financing, Humanitarian Issues 
    • Neal McCarthy, Oxfam America Associate Director of Digital in Program: Summit of the Future Digital Compact  
    • Rebecca Shadwick, Oxfam International Gender Rights & Justice Policy & Advocacy Lead: Gender Justice and Rights in the Summit of the Future 
    • Abdulwasea Mohammed, Oxfam in Yemen Advocacy, Policy, and Campaigns Lead; Yemen, Inclusive Peace and Security 

    Partners:  

    • Marinel Ubaldo, Climate Activist from the Philippines; Climate and Youth Activism 
    • Hilda Nakabuye, Climate Activist from Uganda: Climate and Youth Activism 
    • Wameedh Shakir, Chairwoman of Itar Foundation for Social Development in Yemen; Yemen, Gender, UN Reform

      Full list of events and media products: 

      Wednesday, September 18: 

    • YEMEN JOINT NGO BRIEFING NOTE: Humanitarian Situation and Funding in Yemen on the Occasion of the 79th United Nations General Assembly 

      Thursday, September 19: 

    • OXFAM REPORT + PRESS CONFERENCE + PHOTO CALL: Oxfam is publishing the report “Vetoing Humanity: How a few powerful nations hijacked global peace and why reform is needed at the UN Security Council.” 
    • Embargoed press release and report 
    • Public press release and report (links will go live at 00:01 EST) 
    • As detailed above, Oxfam will be presenting the report at a press conference and presenting a temporary art installation featuring a dove of peace shackled by the weight of the veto by Brooklyn-based artist Miles Giordani. 
    • OXFAM JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY MEDIA HAPPY HOUR: Oxfam and civil society partners are hosting a happy hour to connect policy experts with media. Media RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unga-media-civil-society-happy-hour-tickets-1009525918197 
      TIME: 5:30-8:30pm 
      LOCATION: The Stag’s Head, 252 E 51st Street (at 2nd Avenue) 

      Friday, September 20: 

    • FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE + OXFAM EVENT: Youth Climate Strike: Tear Down the Pillars of Fossil Fuels. Oxfam staff and partners will take part; Climate activist Hilda Nakabuye will speak at the rally 
      TIME: 2:00-4:00pm 
      LOCATION: Meet at Foley Square, RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/youth-climate-strike-tear-down-the-pillars-of-fossil-fuels-2  
    • OXFAM + TRUST AFRICA EVENT: African Civil Society Dialogue on the Summit of the Future 
      LOCATION: Jay Suites – Fifth Avenue, 15 W 38th Street  
      Note: This event continues to September 21. For more information contact Gail Smith (gail.smith@oxfam.org.za). 
       
      Saturday, September 21: 
    • OXFAM SIDE EVENT: Summit of the Future – “Transforming Economies beyond GDP: towards a caring and feminist future with people, well-being and planet at the center.” 
      TIME: 9:00-10:45am 
      LOCATION: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pmurQXRqTlqJFa4Ysp_AFA  
    • OXFAM EVENT: “Connecting the Global North and South in fulfilling existing legal obligations on climate finance, including loss and damage” 
      TIME: 11:00am-12:30pm 
      LOCATION: Oxfam NY Office, 369 Lexington Avenue 
      Note: For more information contact Karelia Pallan (karelia.pallan@oxfam.org) 
    • OXFAM + IMPACT COALITION ON AI EVENT: Oxfam’s Neal McCarthy will be speaking on the Panel on AI & Technology Governance”  
      TIME: 4:00-5:15pm 
      LOCATION: UNHQ – CR12 
       
      Monday, September 23: 
    • OXFAM REPORT: “Multilateralism in an Era of Global Oligarchy” will outline how extreme economic inequality undermines multilateral efforts to effectively respond to critical global challenges like global taxation, health, and debt and propose the solutions needed for progress. The paper provides new global data prepared for UNGA. 
    • OXFAM STATEMENT: Oxfam will issue a media reaction to the Pact of the Future and Summit of the Future outcomes 
    • OXFAM STATEMENT: Oxfam will issue a statement ahead of President Biden’s address at the General Debate  

      Tuesday, September 24: 

    • OXFAM EVENT: “Building Global Consensus for Justice in Mining for the Energy Transition: Can the UN Critical Energy Transition Minerals (CETM) Panel lead the way?” RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/un-panel-on-critical-energy-transition-minerals-toward-the-change-we-need-tickets-999360422927 
      TIME: 3:00-4:30pm 
      LOCATION: Oxfam NY Office – Sinatra Room (2nd Floor), 15 W 38th Street  
       
      Wednesday, September 25: 
    • OXFAM SPEAKING ON DEVEX PANEL: “Food as a weapon in the new age of starvation.” Oxfam in Yemen’s Abdulwasea Mohammed, Advocacy, Policy and Media Lead, will speak about the food security crisis in Yemen 
      TIME: 10:25-11:00am 
      LOCATION: In-person in New York and online at https://pages.devex.com/devex-at-unga-79.html 
       
      Thursday, September 26: 
    • OXFAM + FORD FOUNDATION EVENT: “Multilateralism in an Era of Oligarchy” will explore how extreme economic inequality undermines multilateral efforts to effectively respond to critical global challenges like global taxation, health, and debt; Oxfam panelists will be moderated by The Washington Post’s Karen Attiah. 
      TIME: 12:30-2:30pm 
      LOCATION: Ford Foundation, 320 E 43rd Street 
      Note: Please contact Shelby Bolen (shelby.bolen@oxfam.org) to be added to the RSVP list. 

    ABOUT OXFAM 

    Oxfam is a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice and will highlight the urgent need in tackling the intersections of rising inequality, humanitarian emergencies, and the climate crisis. 

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Amnesty’s Secretary General urges world leaders to seize historic opportunity at UN General Assembly

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard will be in New York for the opening of the high-level General Debate of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and participating in the Summit of The Future. She will be available for interviews in New York City from 20 to 24 September, and can respond to developments during UNGA, as well as the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. Her opinion piece on the Summit of the Future, “We must act globally to safeguard the future of humanity,” was recently published in Newsweek.

    “This year’s General Assembly and the Summit of the Future are being presented as a historic opportunity for world leaders to plot a course to a safer, fairer and greener world. To meet this ambitious goal, firm commitments and bold thinking are required. As they gather in New York, leaders must ask themselves whether this will be yet another meeting where they simply talk about greater co-operation and consensus, or whether they will show the imagination and conviction to actually forge it. With multiple crises around the world, a growing climate emergency, and a breaking down of the multilateral order, there is a very small window for leaders to acknowledge these issues and take collective action to fix them for the common good of humanity. If they miss this opportunity, I shudder to think of the consequences. Our collective future is at stake,” said Agnès Callamard.

    “For Amnesty International, there is only one acceptable pathway to the future: that which is paved with universal and indivisible human rights. And there is only one acceptable destination: the sustainable equal dignity of all persons as rightsholders.”

    Agnès Callamard will be hosting several meetings, including with State representatives and human rights defenders. She will be speaking at events on “UNMuting” civil society at intergovernmental level, on the importance of fomenting inclusive and participatory governance, and on the need for global tax reform and a rights-based economy that can deliver a sustainable future. She is available to discuss these and other priority issues, including the consolidation of authoritarian practices in countries like Tunisia and Venezuela; the need for stricter regulation of new technologies that pose a threat to human rights; the lacklustre global response to the climate crisis and worsening environmental devastation; and the relentless war on women, from assaults on abortion rights to the systemic oppression and discrimination in Afghanistan and Iran.

    For Amnesty International, there is only one acceptable pathway to the future: that which is paved with universal and indivisible human rights.

    Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Reportage: Harsh response lessons abound in wake of PNG’s ‘invisible’ quake

    Source: Dr David Robie – Café Pacific – Analysis-Reportage:

    Headline: Harsh response lessons abound in wake of PNG’s ‘invisible’ quake

    Timu village from the top showing the site where 11 people were buried
    by landslips during the earthquake on
    26 February 2018. Four of the
    bodies have been recovered, seven are still buried, including five
    children.
    Image: Sylvester Gawi/Graun Blong Mi- My Land

    By David Robie

    Tomorrow Papua New Guinea is marking two weeks since the devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake that devastated

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Reportage: WPFD, Indonesia and media ‘open door’ to West Papua

    Source: Pacific Media Centre

    Headline: WPFD, Indonesia and media ‘open door’ to West Papua – Analysis published with permission of PMC

    Event date and time: 

    Thu, 03/05/2018 – 4:03pm6:00pm

    PACIFIC MEDIA CENTRE SEMINAR 3/2018:
    WPFD, INDONESIA AND MEDIA ‘OPEN DOOR’ TO WEST PAPUA

    As the world marks World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Pacific Media Centre’s director, Professor David Robie, talks about the challenges of “press freedoms” in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia. David was one of only two New Zealanders among the 1500 global journalists, media policy makers and communication researchers present at the last WPFD conference in Jakarta last May. He was also a keynote speaker at the “Press Freedom in West Papua” seminar in Jakarta organised by the Papuan chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) in spite of attempts by local authorities to gag the issue at the conference. David also visited a progressive new research library founded by celebrated Australian author, researcher, activist and Indonesian affairs expert Max Lane in the cultural and educational city of Yogyakarta on this trip. he also spoke to Papuan university students at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) while he was in Yogya.

    He will share his experiences and reflect on media freedom issues in Indonesia amid a disturbing and growing intolerance towards the secular traditions of the republic and the implications for West Papua.

    David’s trip to WPFD was funded by the School of Communication Studies and he has had research papers published in Media Asia and other publications about the issues. David is editor of Pacific Journalism Review and Asia Pacific Report and convenor of Pacific Media Watch freedom project at AUT.

    World Press Freedom Day 2018 in Ghana – ‘Keeping Power in Check’

    An Indonesian oasis of progressive creativity emerges in culture city

    Who: Professor David Robie, director of the Pacific Media Centre

    When: May 3, 2018
    4.30pm-6pm

    Where: Sir Paul Reeves Building
    Auckland University of Technology
    City Campus
    Room WG907

    Contact: Professor Robie

    Event on Facebook
     

    PACIFIC MEDIA CENTRE SEMINAR 3/2018:
    WPFD, INDONESIA AND ‘OPEN DOOR’ TO WEST PAPUA

    As the world marks World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Pacific Media Centre’s director, Professor David Robie, talks about the challenges of “press freedoms” in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia. David was one of only two New Zealanders among the 1500 global journalists, media policy makers and communication researchers present at the last WPFD conference in Jakarta last May

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Reportage: Tanah Papua, Asia-Pacific news blind spots and citizen media: From the ‘Act of Free Choice’ betrayal to a social media revolution

    Source: Pacific Media Centre

    Headline: Tanah Papua, Asia-Pacific news blind spots and citizen media: From the ‘Act of Free Choice’ betrayal to a social media revolution – Analysis published with permission of PMC

    For five decades Tanah Papua, or the West Papua half of the island of New Guinea on the intersection of Asia and the Pacific, has been a critical issue for the region with a majority of the Melanesian population supporting self-determination, and ultimately independence. While being prepared for eventual post-war independence by the Dutch colonial authorities, Indonesian paratroopers and marines invaded the territory in 1962 in an ill-fated military expedition dubbed Operation Trikora (‘People’s Triple Command’). However, this eventually led to the so-called Act of Free Choice in 1969 under the auspices of the United Nations in a sham referendum dubbed by critics as an ‘Act of No Choice’ which has been disputed ever since as a legal basis for Indonesian colonialism. A low-level insurgency waged by the OPM (Free West Papua Movement) has also continued and Jakarta maintains its control through the politics of oppression and internal migration. For more than five decades, the legacy media in New Zealand have largely ignored this issue on their doorstep, preferring to give attention to Fiji and a so-called coup culture instead. In the past five years, social media have contributed to a dramatic upsurge of global awareness about West Papua but still the New Zealand legacy media have failed to take heed. This article also briefly introduces other Asia-Pacific political issues—such as Kanaky, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinean university student unrest, the militarisation of the Mariana Islands and the Pacific’s Nuclear Zero lawsuit against the nine nuclear powers—ignored by a New Zealand media that has no serious tradition of independent foreign correspondence.

    Researcher profile

    Robie, D. (2017). Tanah Papua, Asia-Pacific news blind spots and citizen media: From the ‘Act of Free Choice’ betrayal to a social media revolution. Pacific Journalism Review, 23(2): 159-178. Paper available at: https://doi.org/10.24135/pjr.v23i2.334

    Thursday, November 30, 2017

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Completes the Sixth Review under the Extended Credit Facility Arrangement for Guinea-Bissau and Approves US$7.3 Million Disbursement

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    August 28, 2024

    • The IMF Executive Board today completed the sixth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) for Guinea-Bissau. This decision allows for an immediate disbursement of SDR5.44 million (about US$7.3 million) to help meet the country’s financing needs.
    • The authorities’ commitment to a range of challenging policy reforms is starting to show some results. They should persevere with their ambitious structural reform agenda to improve domestic revenue mobilization, strengthen expenditure controls, and enhance governance.
    • Economic growth is expected to reach 5 percent in 2024, while inflation should slow to 4.2 percent compared to 7.2 percent in 2023. However, the economic outlook remains subject to significant near-term risks.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed today the sixth review under Guinea-Bissau’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The three-year arrangement, approved on January 30, 2023, aims to secure debt sustainability, improve governance, and reduce corruption while creating fiscal space for inclusive growth. The Executive Board granted an augmentation of access (140 percent of quota or SDR 39.76 million) on November 29, 2023.

    The completion of the sixth review enables the disbursement of SDR 5.44 million (about US$7.3 million) to help meet the country’s balance-of-payments and fiscal financing needs. This brings total disbursement under the arrangement to SDR 24.88 million (about US$ 33.44 million). In completing the sixth review, the Executive Board granted a waiver of nonobservance of the end-April 2024 quantitative performance criterion on the floor on social and priority spending and the continuous quantitative performance criterion on the ceiling on the accumulation of new external payment arrears. Furthermore, the Executive Board also completed the financing assurances review.

    Economic growth is projected at 5 percent in 2024 and inflation should decline significantly from last year to reach 4.2 percent. The current account deficit is expected to narrow and reach 6.1 percent of GDP. The authorities remain committed to achieving the domestic primary deficit target of 1.2 percent of GDP in 2024 to put public debt on a firm downward trajectory. The authorities’ commitment to a range of challenging policy reforms is starting to show some results, but the economy remains subject to important near-term risks, including a challenging socio-political climate.

    At the conclusion of the Executive Board’s discussion, Mr. Li, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, made the following statement:

    “Guinea-Bissau continues to face very challenging external and domestic environments. Terms-of-trade shocks and high inflation continue, while the tightening of regional financial conditions have raised borrowing costs. Despite these challenges, the Guinea-Bissau authorities continued to build consensus on critical reforms and maintained political and macroeconomic stability. It is also commendable that the authorities have restored orderly export processes of cashew nuts, which are essential for growth and fiscal revenue, and maintained strong fiscal consolidation measures. Continued commitment to the implementation of structural reforms and policies under the ECF arrangement will be critical to ensure debt sustainability, macroeconomic stability, and address the country’s vast developmental needs.

    “Program performance in the sixth review has improved. Seven out of nine Quantitative Performance Criteria (QPC) as well as all two Indicative Targets were met for April 2024. The QPC on external payment arrears as well as the continuous structural benchmark (SB) on debt service were missed due to technical arrears in external debt service. To avoid recurrence of external arrears, the authorities should strictly adhere to the revised continuous SB which incorporates a corrective action. The QPC on social priority spending was missed due to delayed external project grants, which are expected to materialize in coming months.

    “Fiscal consolidation remains critical to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure debt sustainability and macroeconomic stability. This should be underpinned by strict rationalization of non-priority expenditure and revenue mobilization. To control spending pressures ahead of the legislative election in November 2024 and ensure achievement of the fiscal consolidation targets, expenditure controls through the Technical Committee of Arbitration of Budgetary Expenditure (COTADO) should be strengthened, and the containment of wage bill spending should continue. Revenue mobilization should focus on reducing tax expenditures and strengthening of revenue administration. The authorities should also continue to engage donors for additional budget support and grants to finance social priority spending. Moreover, it is important to strengthen debt management procedures to avoid the incurrence of technical arrears.

    “The authorities are implementing structural reforms which are pivotal to the program’s success. Urgent actions should be taken to mitigate fiscal risks from the public utility company. The authorities should also continue advancing the disengagement of the undercapitalized bank, including through contingency planning. Moreover, further efforts are needed to improve governance, especially transparency in public procurement and beneficial ownership information, which are the essential steps to improve the anti-corruption and AML/CFT effectiveness.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Tatiana Mossot

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/08/28/pr25312-guinea-bissau-imf-exec-board-completes-6th-rev-ecf-arr-approves-us7m-disbursement

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: MIL Analysis – The five best articles in Russian language for 03.09.2024

    MIL Analysis : Here are the top five Russian language articles published today. The analysis consists of five articles that are currently being prioritised.

    In today’s analysis, trends such as the economic performance of the Moscow Exchange are noticeable. In addition, the Moscow Metro has unveiled a new mock-up of the White Gyrfalcon train for the high-speed railway, which contributes to future trends and railway development. The new trend of ‘Chrono-work’ is gaining more and more popularity, which shows how the workforce can change. The training and culture of society is stable and improving.

    You can read one of the articles below.

    1. Financial news: ‘Portfolio’ of a student: shares take 66% in the portfolios of young investors

    Moscow Exchange has compiled an investment portfolio of ‘student’ on the stock market – the analysis was carried out among private investors aged 18 to 22 years, making transactions on the stock market of the Moscow Exchange.

    The most popular among young investors are shares. According to Moscow Exchange data, 66 per cent of the student’s ‘portfolio’ is held by shares, 22 per cent by bonds, and 12 per cent by units of investment funds. At the same time, the average market share of shares in investors’ portfolios is at the level of 35%.

    2. Maxim Liksutov: the first carriages of the newest Russian train ‘White Gyrfalcon’ will go to St. Petersburg along the high-speed railway by 2028

    Moscow Metro

    Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin presented a model of the newest Russian train ‘White Gyrfalcon’ for the high-speed railway Moscow – St. Petersburg, the project initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the exhibition ‘Manezh Station: Moscow Transport 2030’. The train will reach speeds of up to 400 kilometres per hour.

    3. ‘Rosneft’ opened a master’s programme for foreign students in Ufa

    The Rosneft Scientific Institute in Ufa has opened a Master’s programme for international students on the basis of the Ufa State Petroleum Technical University (USPTU) in Petroleum Engineering. The first students of the programme were 10 applicants from Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon.

    4. The ‘Street of the Far East’ exhibition opened on the starting day of the WEF

    ‘We are reopening the ‘Street of the Far East’ together again. It was born 9 years ago as a dream that we could show the vast Far East in one place, all the 11 regions that are quite different. Every year we show new projects at the exhibition: roads, hospitals, social and economic initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of Far Easterners – everything about how our Far East is developing. We tell you what we are dreaming of and what we are achieving. I am confident that with our joint efforts we will achieve all our goals,’ said Yury Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District.

    5. Introducing chrono-working: A new trend in flexible working that experts say could completely transform the workforce

    Robert Walters

    Experts talk about a new trend that has the potential to change the way the workforce is used to working.
    Almost half of respondents believe that being able to choose their own working hours would have a positive impact on their mental health
    35% of people feel that their organisation’s flexible working hours policy does not meet their specific needs.

    Find out more about MIL’s content and data services by visiting milnz.co.nz.

    Regards MIL!

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes Post Financing Assessment Discussions with South Africa

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    September 4, 2024

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Post Financing Assessment (PFA)[1], and endorsed the Staff Appraisal on a lapse-of-time basis. South Africa’s capacity to repay the Fund is assessed as adequate.

    The new government of national unity that took office in June faces significant challenges, including declining real per capita growth, high unemployment, poverty, and inequality, and a rising level of public debt. The new administration has committed to address these challenges by continuing ongoing structural reforms aimed at addressing supply constraints and bolstering inclusive growth, while maintaining fiscal discipline.

    Growth slowed to 0.7 percent in 2023, depressed in part by widespread power shortages and disruptions at rails and ports. Unemployment remained elevated, reaching 32 percent at end-2023. Following decisive monetary policy tightening during 2022 and early 2023, inflation fell within the SARB’s 3–6 percent target range last year, moderating further to 5.1 percent in June 2024. The current account deficit widened to 1.6 percent of GDP in 2023 (from
    0.5 percent in 2022), driven by higher imports. The budget deficit remained in line with the revised budget target thanks to robust revenues and expenditure restraint, although public debt continued to rise to just above 74 percent of GDP.

    Looking ahead, growth is expected to reach 1 percent in 2024, on the back of improved investor sentiment and electricity generation, stabilizing at 1.4 percent in the medium term, as structural bottlenecks ease only gradually. Inflation is projected to decline toward the midpoint of the target range 2025Q2. The current account deficit is expected to increase modestly to 2.2 percent of GDP by 2029, as imports accelerate in line with domestic demand. The fiscal deficit is projected to remain elevated over the medium term, given rising debt service, support to state-owned enterprises, and sizeable spending on public wages and transfers. As a result, public debt is not expected to stabilize. Risks to the outlook are broadly balanced, with faster reform implementation under the new government of national unity representing an upside risk to growth, while downside risks largely relate to the uncertain external environment and an inability of the new government to agree on needed fiscal and structural reforms.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    South Africa’s economy has shown resilience in the face of massive disruptions, but persisting structural challenges risk a further erosion of living standards. Despite unprecedented electricity shortages and bottlenecks at rails and ports last year, growth stayed positive, as economic agents adapted. However, per-capita income growth continued to decline, public debt rose further, and unemployment and poverty rates remained at unacceptably high levels.

    The new government should use the opportunity of a new mandate to implement bold reforms to address long-standing challenges and achieve the economy’s full potential. Such a mandate can turn the economy around from the path of weak growth, high debt, and deteriorating living standards toward high growth, fiscal sustainability, and shared prosperity. This requires determined structural and fiscal reforms, complemented by prudent monetary and financial policies. The new administration should build on the existing reform agenda but increase its ambition and accelerate implementation to put the economy on a permanently higher and more inclusive growth path.

    Structural reforms are paramount to support job creation, growth, and prosperity. Wide-ranging electricity and transportation-sector reforms, including to foster private sector participation, are indispensable to reinvigorating activity, boosting exports, and supporting the green transition. Product-market reforms improving business environment and removing obstacles to trade, complemented by labor-market reforms, are essential to boost investment and employment. Strengthening governance and reducing corruption are essential to reap reform gains, which should be broadly distributed.

    An ambitious fiscal consolidation is essential to restore the sustainability of public finances. Durable expenditure-based consolidation of at least 3 percent of GDP over the next three years is required to place debt on a sustained downward path, while protecting vulnerable groups. Reliance on gains on foreign reserves has helped lower borrowing needs but does not substitute for the needed fiscal consolidation. Any additional spending initiatives to lower inequality and improve health should be financed in a deficit-neutral way. Improving the institutional fiscal framework by adopting a debt rule, bolstering the procurement framework, and improving public-investment management can support the adjustment and mitigate fiscal risks.

    Monetary policy should carefully manage the descent of inflation to the mid-point of the target range and stay data dependent. Given continued uncertainty about the inflation outlook, rate cuts should be considered only once inflation declines sustainably towards the mid-point of the target range. Any change to the monetary policy framework should be carefully timed, well-coordinated and communicated to manage expectations and safeguard credibility.

    Financial policies should continue to support financial stability. Ongoing banking resolution and safety-net reforms, together with the new loss-absorbing capacity requirement, significantly strengthen crisis management tools and enhance depositors’ protection. Continued monitoring of risks remains critical, given the sovereign-financial sector nexus. Implementation of prudential regulations, along with the countercyclical buffer, could play a vital role.

    Staff assess that South Africa’s capacity to repay the Fund is adequate under the baseline and downside scenarios. South Africa is expected to be able to repay the Fund by end-2025 given ample reserves and manageable external debt service. Capacity to repay is also assessed as adequate under a downside scenario, where policies will need to be tightened to contain inflationary pressures and safeguard debt sustainability, while protecting vulnerable groups. The flexible exchange rate is expected to act as a shock-absorber. 

    South Africa: Selected Economic Indicators, 2022–26

    Social Indicators

    GDP               

     

    Poverty (percent of population)

    Nominal GDP
    (2022, billions of US dollars)

    407

    Lower national poverty line (2015)

    40

    GDP per capita
    (2022, in US dollars)

    6,712

    Undernourishment (2019)

    7

    Population characteristics

     

    Inequality
    (income shares unless otherwise specified)

    Total (2022, million)

    62

    Highest 10 percent of population (2015)

    53

    Urban population
    (2020, percent of total)

    67

    Lowest 40 percent of population (2015)

    7

    Life expectancy at birth
    (2020, number of years)

    64

    Gini coefficient (2015)

    65

    Economic Indicators

     

    2022

    2023

     

    2024

    2025

    2026

     

     

    Proj.

    National income and prices
    (annual percentage change unless otherwise indicated)

       Real GDP

    1.9

    0.7

    1.0

    1.3

    1.4

       Domestic demand

    3.9

    0.8

    1.2

    1.5

    1.5

         Private Consumption

    2.5

    0.7

    0.9

    1.2

    1.3

         Government Consumption

    0.6

    1.9

    1.2

    1.2

    1.3

         Gross Fixed Investment

    4.8

    3.9

    3.1

    2.8

    2.7

         Inventory Investment
    (contribution to growth)

    1.5

    -0.6

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

       Net export
    (contribution to growth)

    -2.1

    -0.1

    -0.3

    -0.2

    -0.1

       Real GDP per capita 1/

    1.1

    -0.8

    -0.6

    -0.2

    -0.1

       GDP deflator

    5.0

    4.8

    4.9

    4.5

    4.5

       CPI (annual average)

    6.9

    5.9

    5.2

    4.6

    4.5

       CPI (end of period)

    7.4

    5.5

    4.8

    4.6

    4.5

    Labor market
    (annual percentage change unless otherwise indicated)

       Unemployment rate
    (percent of labor force, annual average)

    33.5

    33.1

    33.8

    34.2

    34.5

       Unit labor costs
    (formal nonagricultural)

    2.1

    -0.8

    -0.6

    -0.2

    -0.1

    Savings and Investment
    (percent of GDP)

    Gross national saving

    14.4

    15.0

    13.9

    13.7

    13.7

    13.7

    Investment (including inventories) 2/

    12.4

    15.4

    15.5

    15.4

    15.7

    15.8

    Fiscal position
    (percent of GDP unless otherwise indicated) 4/

    Revenue, including grants 4/

    25.0

    27.6

    26.8

    27.0

    27.0

    27.1

    Expenditure and net lending 5/

    34.6

    31.9

    32.7

    33.2

    33.4

    32.6

    Overall balance

    -9.6

    -4.3

    -5.9

    -6.3

    -6.4

    -5.5

    Primary balance

    -5.4

    0.3

    -0.9

    -0.9

    -0.8

    0.2

    Gross government debt 6/

    69.0

    70.8

    73.4

    75.0

    77.6

    79.3

    Government bond yield (10-year and over, percent) 7/

    9.7

    11.3

    11.6

    Money and credit
    (annual percentage change unless otherwise indicated)

    Broad money

    9.4

    8.3

    6.5

    7.5

    7.5

    7.5

    Credit to the private sector 8/

    1.0

    8.9

    4.4

    5.9

    5.9

    5.9

    Repo rate (percent, end-period) 7/

    3.5

    7.0

    8.25

    3-month Treasury bill interest rate (percent) 7/

    3.9

    6.5

    7.9

    Balance of payments
    (annual percentage change unless otherwise indicated)

    Current account balance (billions of U.S. dollars)

    6.7

    -1.8

    -6.1

    -6.9

    -7.7

    -8.6

    percent of GDP

    2.0

    -0.5

    -1.6

    -1.8

    -1.9

    -2.0

    Exports growth (volume)

    -11.9

    7.4

    3.5

    3.5

    3.6

    3.7

    Imports growth (volume)

    -17.4

    14.9

    4.1

    4.0

    3.9

    3.8

    Terms of trade

    9.3

    -8.6

    -4.8

    -1.2

    -1.4

    -0.3

    Overall balance (percent of GDP)

    -1.0

    0.0

    0.5

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Gross reserves (billions of U.S. dollars)

    55.5

    60.6

    62.5

    62.5

    62.5

    62.5

    in percent of ARA

    78.1

    88.9

    97.0

    95.3

    Total external debt (percent of GDP)

    50.5

    40.4

    41.5

    42.2

    43.6

    44.9

    Nominal effective exchange rate (period average) 7/

    -11.6

    -4.9

    -7.7

    Real effective exchange rate (period average) 7/

    -10.1

    -1.4

    -9.0

    Exchange rate (Rand/U.S. dollar, end-period) 7/

    14.7

    17.0

    18.4

    Sources: South African Reserve Bank, National Treasury,
    Haver, Bloomberg, World Bank,
    and Fund staff estimates and projections.

    1/ Per-capita GDP figures are computed using
    STATS SA mid-year population estimates.                                                                                                                                                                                   

    2/ Inventories data are volatile and excluded from the
    investment breakdown to help clarify fixed capital formation developments.                                                                                                         

    3/ Consolidated government as defined in the budget unless otherwise indicated.                                                                                                                                                                       

    4/ Revenue excludes “transactions in assets and liabilities” classified
    as part of revenue in budget documents.  This item represents proceeds
    from the sales of assets, realized valuation gains from holding of
    foreign currency deposits, and other conceptually similar items,
    which are not classified as revenue by the IMF’s Government Finance Statistics Manual 2014.                              

    5/ The Eskom debt relief is treated as capital transfer above-the-line item.                                                                                                                                                                                                            

    6/ Central government.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

    7/ Average January 1- April 19, 2023. For nominal and effective
    exchange rate, year on year change of average January 1-April 19.                                                                                                          

    8/ Other depository institutions’ “loans and securities” in all currencies.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

    [1] After completing an IMF lending program, a country may be subject to a Post Financing Assessment (PFA). It aims to identify risks to a country’s medium-term viability and provide early warnings on risks to the IMF’s balance sheets. For more details click here.

    [2] The Executive Board takes decisions under its lapse-of-time procedure when it is agreed by the Board that a proposal can be considered without convening formal discussions.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Tatiana Mossot

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/04/pr24317-south-africa-imf-exec-board-concludes-post-fin-assess-discuss

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Togo

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    September 6, 2024

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Togo.

    Following a series of shocks in recent years, Togo continues to face headwinds, including persistent challenges of food security and terrorist attacks, while broader development needs remain acute. Fiscal expansion implemented in response to the shocks has helped preserve robust economic growth but has also pushed up public debt, reversing the debt reduction achieved during the 2017–20 ECF-arrangement, eroding fiscal space and buffers to absorb shocks, and contributing to regional vulnerabilities in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). In response to these challenges, in March 2024, the International Monetary Fund approved the authorities’ request for a new arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility.

    Against a background of a substantial strengthening of fiscal revenue and a beginning of fiscal consolidation in 2023, the macroeconomic outlook is broadly favorable. Growth is expected to remain robust, while fiscal revenue is expected to rise further. There are no substantial domestic or external disequilibria, with low inflation and a well-contained current account deficit.

    The outlook is however subject to elevated risks, including from a potential intensification of terrorism, potential difficulties in securing affordable regional financing, and banking sector challenges. In the longer run, economic performance is also subject to the risk of weakening debt sustainability should efforts to achieve sufficient fiscal consolidation while maintaining robust growth disappoint.

    The 2024 Article IV consultation focused on how the Togolese authorities can best (i) anchor macroeconomic stability by ensuring fiscal consolidation to enhance debt sustainability, (ii) conduct structural reforms to lay the basis for sustained growth, and (iii) strengthen social inclusion to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and support medium-term growth prospects.  

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They commended the authorities’ policies, which enabled Togo to weather the series of shocks of recent years relatively well, with continued growth and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. However, significant challenges remain, including from the sharp increase in the debt burden in recent years and terrorist attacks at the northern border, while development needs remain acute. Against this background, Directors encouraged the authorities to maintain full commitment to the recently approved ECF arrangement with the Fund and continue their efforts to strengthen debt sustainability and implement reforms to boost inclusive growth and reduce poverty. These efforts should be well communicated to ensure social cohesion and supported by the Fund’s capacity development.

    Directors underscored the importance of continued growth‑friendly fiscal consolidation, guided by the dual fiscal anchor adopted under the ECF, to ensure debt sustainability and create fiscal buffers. They welcomed the recent large increase in fiscal revenue and called for further measures, comprising tax policy and revenue administration elements. Such measures could be considered as a part of an overarching fiscal strategy that considers taxation and spending together to help reach both efficiency and income distribution goals. In that context, creating space for priority spending, particularly on health and education, will be imperative to promote social inclusion while expanding cash transfers could further improve the social safety nets. The authorities should also continue to strengthen public financial management, including the oversight of state‑owned enterprises.

    Directors noted that to boost growth it will be important to strengthen the business environment, accelerate productivity gains, and attract more private investment. Strengthening of the governance and anti‑corruption frameworks will be key. In this regard, they encouraged the authorities to request an IMF governance diagnostic assessment. Directors noted the dynamic economic activity at the special economic zone while encouraging cautious implementation of industrial policies, considering their cost and benefits. The authorities should also continue addressing the existing financial sector vulnerabilities and increasing the capacity of banks to provide credit to the private sector. Improving access to infrastructure and utilities and building climate resilience, potentially with support by an RSF arrangement, remains key. Further enhancing data provision to the Fund is also important.

    It is expected that the next Article IV Consultation with Togo will be held in accordance with the Executive Board decision on consultation cycles for members with Fund arrangements.

    Table 1. Togo: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators, 2020–29

     

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    Estimates

    Projections

    (Percentage change, unless otherwise indicated)

    Real GDP

    2.0

    6.0

    5.8

    5.6

    5.3

    5.3

    5.5

    5.5

    5.5

    5.5

    Real GDP per capita

    -0.4

    3.5

    3.3

    3.1

    2.8

    2.8

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0

    GDP deflator

    1.8

    2.5

    3.7

    2.9

    2.2

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    Consumer price index (average)

    1.8

    4.5

    7.6

    5.3

    2.7

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    GDP (CFAF billions)

    4,253

    4,621

    5,069

    5,507

    5,927

    6,366

    6,850

    7,371

    7,932

    8,536

    Exchange rate CFAF/US$ (annual average level)

    575

    554

    622

    606

    Real effective exchange rate (appreciation = –)

    -2.0

    -1.4

    2.3

    -5.4

    Terms of trade (deterioration = –)

    -1.3

    6.5

    -0.1

    4.4

    -2.7

    -2.5

    0.4

    1.1

    1.0

    0.7

    Monetary survey

     (Percentage change of beginning-of-period broad money)

    Net foreign assets

    14.1

    5.6

    -0.6

    6.2

    2.7

    2.4

    3.0

    2.8

    2.2

    2.2

    Net credit to government

    -1.6

    -0.3

    8.0

    0.2

    -2.9

    1.0

    1.2

    2.0

    0.2

    0.2

    Credit to nongovernment sector

    0.2

    6.0

    10.7

    1.5

    9.4

    4.0

    4.4

    4.6

    4.8

    4.8

    Broad money (M2)

    11.4

    12.3

    14.9

    8.5

    8.8

    7.4

    7.6

    7.6

    7.6

    7.6

    Velocity (GDP/end-of-period M2)

    2.1

    2.1

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    Investment and savings

    (Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    Gross domestic investment

    21.4

    23.4

    25.9

    28.0

    26.0

    24.4

    25.0

    25.8

    26.7

    27.2

    Government

    9.3

    8.2

    9.7

    11.5

    9.3

    7.3

    7.7

    8.3

    8.9

    9.4

    Nongovernment

    12.1

    15.2

    16.2

    16.5

    16.7

    17.1

    17.3

    17.5

    17.8

    17.8

    Gross national savings

    21.1

    21.2

    22.5

    25.1

    22.7

    21.0

    21.9

    23.3

    24.4

    24.9

    Government

    2.2

    3.6

    1.4

    4.8

    4.4

    4.3

    4.7

    5.3

    5.9

    6.4

    Nongovernment

    18.9

    17.6

    21.0

    20.3

    18.3

    16.8

    17.2

    18.0

    18.5

    18.5

    Government budget

    Total revenue and grants

    16.6

    17.1

    17.6

    19.8

    19.0

    18.8

    19.2

    19.7

    20.1

    20.5

    Revenue

    14.1

    15.3

    15.1

    16.8

    16.9

    17.3

    17.8

    18.3

    18.7

    19.3

    Tax revenue

    12.5

    14.0

    13.9

    14.8

    15.2

    15.7

    16.2

    16.7

    17.2

    17.7

    Expenditure and net lending (excl. banking sector operation)

    23.7

    21.8

    26.0

    26.6

    23.9

    21.8

    22.2

    22.7

    23.1

    23.5

    Overall primary balance (commitment basis, incl. grants)

    -4.7

    -2.5

    -5.9

    -3.9

    -4.0

    -0.5

    -0.6

    -0.8

    -1.0

    -1.1

    Overall balance (commitment basis, incl. grants, excl. banking sector operations)

    -7.0

    -4.7

    -8.3

    -6.7

    -4.9

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    Overall balance (commitment basis, incl. grants)

    -7.0

    -4.7

    -8.3

    -6.7

    -6.4

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    Overall primary balance (cash basis, incl. grants)

    -4.7

    -3.4

    -5.9

    -3.9

    -4.0

    -0.5

    -0.6

    -0.8

    -1.0

    -1.1

    Overall balance (cash basis, incl. grants, excl. banking sector operations)

    -7.1

    -5.6

    -8.3

    -6.7

    -4.9

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    Overall balance (cash basis, incl. grants)

    -7.1

    -5.6

    -8.3

    -6.7

    -6.4

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    -3.0

    External sector

    Current account balance

    -0.3

    -2.2

    -3.5

    -2.9

    -3.3

    -3.3

    -3.1

    -2.5

    -2.3

    -2.3

    Exports (goods and services)

    23.3

    23.7

    26.6

    25.5

    25.6

    25.5

    26.1

    26.3

    26.3

    26.2

    Imports (goods and services)

    -32.3

    -34.0

    -38.8

    -36.2

    -35.7

    -34.8

    -34.4

    -34.2

    -34.0

    -34.0

    External public debt1

    27.6

    27.3

    26.2

    25.9

    27.4

    28.7

    29.6

    30.4

    30.6

    30.2

    External public debt service (percent of exports)1

    6.9

    5.2

    8.3

    8.2

    8.4

    9.1

    9.1

    8.2

    7.2

    6.5

    Domestic public debt2

    34.6

    37.6

    41.2

    42.1

    42.4

    39.8

    36.9

    34.6

    32.8

    31.8

    Total public debt3

    62.2

    64.9

    67.4

    68.0

    69.8

    68.6

    66.5

    65.0

    63.4

    62.0

    Total public debt (excluding SOEs)4

    60.1

    63.0

    65.8

    66.6

    68.6

    67.6

    65.7

    64.3

    62.8

    61.5

    Present value of total public debt3

    60.5

    61.0

    58.3

    54.7

    51.8

    49.1

    47.4

    Sources: Togolese authorities and IMF staff estimates and projections.

    1 Includes state-owned enterprise external debt.

    2 Includes domestic arrears and state-owned enterprise domestic debt.

    3 Includes domestic arrears and state-owned enterprise debt.

    4 Includes domestic arrears.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. (Article IV consultations with countries benefitting from Fund financial arrangements are held every other year.) A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.  

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Tatiana Mossot

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/06/pr24320-togo-imf-exec-board-concludes-2024-aiv-consult

    MIL OSI

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: As floods hit dozens of countries, WFP urges investment to protect weather-battered communities

    Source: World Food Programme

    Photo: WFP/Mumit M. Bangladesh is currently grappling with severe floods that have impacted nearly 6 million people, particularly in the southeastern and northeastern regions of the country.

    ROME – As the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) responds to flood emergencies across the globe, the agency is calling for investment and concerted action to prepare vulnerable communities for more frequent extreme climate events that threaten to damage crops, displace communities and disrupt food systems.

    The number of floods in WFP’s areas of operation has increased this year, with at least 21 countries already facing significant flooding, and more expected. The floods exacerbate ongoing crises and threaten food security, while also slowing down efforts to deliver critical relief. In 2023, climate extremes drove 72 million people into crisis or emergency levels of hunger, a 26 percent increase from the previous year. 

    “Rich and poor countries alike are suffering severe floods and record-breaking storms, and with each passing year extreme climate events are becoming the new normal,” said WFP Assistant Executive Director Valerie Guarnieri. “When flood events come on top of conflict, displacement and hunger, they multiply the strain on communities and governments. Investing in early action and preparedness is essential to protect people’s access to food and this is a core priority for WFP.”

    In 2023, WFP assisted almost 18 million people in 60 countries with solutions and services to manage climate risks. WFP’s support for early warning systems and ‘anticipatory action’ – where help arrives before disaster strikes – reached 36 countries, covering over 4.1 million people. WFP-supported climate risk insurance programmes provided 5.1 million people in 27 countries with financial protection.

    In flood-affected Bangladesh, WFP recently provided cash assistance to 120,000 families before floods hit – one of WFP’s largest anticipatory action programmes to date. WFP has also been supporting cash-for-work schemes that help rebuild critical infrastructure. From Bangladesh to Somalia, WFP is working with governments and communities to analyse climate risks, strengthen early warning systems and expand climate protection.

    “Climate shocks are predictable. By investing in preparedness, we can help reduce the impact of extreme weather and safeguard food security amid the climate crisis,” said Guarnieri. Evidence generated by WFP in Bangladesh and Nepal shows that anticipatory action investments have reduced the cost of humanitarian responses to floods in affected areas by up to 50 percent.

    The recent spate of floods worldwide has seen WFP responding on several fronts, most recently in Asia and West Africa. 

    • In Myanmar, on the government’s request, WFP is gearing up to expand its flood response operations to also reach those affected by Yagi, one of the strongest typhoons to hit Southeast Asia in decades. 
    • In Laos, WFP teams are on the ground helping the government and partners assess needs and, over the coming days, 100 metric tonnes of rice will be distributed to affected families. 
    • Chad, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria have been among the hardest hit in some of the worst flooding Western and Central Africa have ever experienced, with more than four million people have been affected. WFP is ramping up its support, targeting a million people across the region – distributing food and cash. WFP is also advocating for expanded anticipatory action and improvements to early warning systems to help respond more effectively. 
    • In war-torn Sudan, the worst floods in 40 years are adding to the misery caused by the war. WFP has provided food assistance to 41,000 people affected by the flooding and continues operations to assist those affected by the conflict. But floods are complicating the delivery of lifesaving aid.
    • In South Sudan, massive flooding is affecting over 735,000 people, most of whom already face extremely high levels of food insecurity. WFP has been planning for a worst-case scenario and initially plans to reach 1.2 million people from mid-September. The flooding is also creating challenges for WFP’s logistics operations, with a sharp increase in airdrops as many communities have become inaccessible.

    Forecasts suggest major flooding events will likely continue across Asia, the Sahel, Sudan and South Sudan over the next few months. As La Niña takes over from El Niño, floods and increased tropical storm activity are more likely in Southern Africa, northern South America and Southeast Asia. In addition to the La Niña pattern, the current extremely warm ocean temperatures are fuelling what is expected to be an exceptionally active 2024 hurricane season in the Caribbean.

    For photos, click here.

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TALWAR ARRIVES IN MOMBASA, KENYA

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 8:01PM by PIB Delhi

    Indian Navy’s frontline stealth frigate, INS Talwar, arrived in Mombasa, Kenya, on 22 Sep 24. The visit aims to strengthen ties further and reaffirm India’s commitment to constructive collaboration and mutual growth.

    During the ship’s stay in the harbour, personnel from both navies will engage in a wide range of professional interactions and cross-exchange visits to enhance cooperation and bolster interoperability.

    India and Kenya share a strong bond built on a foundation of centuries-old historical ties. As geographic neighbours linked by the Indian Ocean, the two nations cherish a natural partnership, further strengthened over the years by regular high-level visits, increasing trade and investment, and extensive people-to-people contact.

    Maritime cooperation between India and Kenya is guided by the Vision Statement ‘BAHARI’, meaning ‘Ocean’ in Swahili. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto released the Joint Vision Statement in December 2023 during the Kenyan president’s state visit to India.

    INS Talwar was commissioned on 18 June 2003 and is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based in Mumbai under the Western Naval Command. Captain Jithu George commands the ship, which has a complement of approximately 300 personnel.

    ****

    VM/SPS                        

     

    (Release ID: 2058097) Visitor Counter : 61

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  • MIL-OSI Translation: Biographical notices

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Karen Mollica (BA Honours [Political Science], McMaster University, 2000; MA [International Affairs], Carleton University, 2003) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2003 after completing internships in Guyana and Costa Rica.

    Karen Mollica (BA Honours [Political Science], McMaster University, 2000; MA [International Affairs], Carleton University, 2003) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2003 after completing internships in Guyana and Costa Rica. Her early assignments included serving as coordinator of the Landmine Action Team and as a case officer for several West and Central African countries. She then worked at the Canadian International Development Agency, serving as First Secretary at the High Commission in South Africa and as Counsellor and Head of Cooperation at the Embassy in Jordan. Upon her return to headquarters in 2019, she was appointed Director of Policy, Planning and Operations for Latin America and the Caribbean, a position she held until 2022. Most recently, she served as Director and Senior Ministerial Advisor in the Office of the Minister of International Development and Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy to the Holy See.

    Ajit Singh (BA [Communications], University of Winnipeg, 2003; BA Honours [Political Science], University of Winnipeg, 2004; MA [International Law], United Nations University for Peace, 2006; JD, Osgoode Hall Law School, 2012) has lived, studied and worked in a multilingual environment in 6 countries on 4 continents. He joined the Government of Canada in 2008 after working in media, education, the United Nations and civil society organizations. He then practised private law in Toronto and was called to the Ontario Bar as a barrister. In 2013, he joined the Privy Council Office in the Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat. He subsequently worked at the Foreign and Defence Policy Secretariat, where he was responsible for relations with Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Latin America, as well as legal files. In 2017, he joined Global Affairs Canada as Deputy Director in the Foreign Policy Planning Division, where he led the Foreign Ministers’ Events team during Canada’s G7 Presidency in 2018. He then worked in the Conflict Prevention, Stabilization and Peacebuilding Division. In 2021, he joined the Department of National Defence as Director of Operations. He returned to the Privy Council Office in 2022, this time to become the first person to hold the position of Director of International Crisis Response.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 57: UK Statement on Burundi

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Burundi. Delivered at the 57th HRC in Geneva.

    Thank you, Mr. President.

    We thank the Special Rapporteur for his important update, and for his valuable reporting throughout his mandate. We are concerned that Burundi continues to deny full access to the Special Rapporteur.

    Mr President, conditions for human rights defenders and civil society in Burundi remain difficult.  An active civil society where journalists can work safely and independently is essential to support democracy, and we call on the government of Burundi to strengthen protections for media workers. Ahead of next year’s elections it is important that progress is made towards ending impunity for all perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses. It is essential that Burundi engage meaningfully with this Council’s mechanisms, in line with its public commitments to continue engaging constructively with the international community. We again call upon Burundi to co-operate with all UN bodies working to improve the human rights situation, including by reopening the OHCHR country office.

    Special Rapporteur,

    Your reporting shows that this Council’s ongoing scrutiny remains necessary. How can this Council further support Burundi to engage constructively with international human rights mechanisms?

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes the 2024 Article IV Consultation with Uganda

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    September 9, 2024

    • Uganda has navigated the post pandemic recovery well due to sound macroeconomic policies. The economic recovery is strengthening with low inflation, favorable agricultural production, and strong industrial and services activity.
    • Uganda should continue its efforts to create fiscal space through revenue mobilization and better expenditure discipline, vigilant monetary policy, and exchange rate flexibility, using future oil revenue to address growth impediments and improve social development while advancing governance reform and financial inclusion.

    Washington DC: On September 6, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2024 Article IV Consultation[1] with Uganda.

    Uganda has navigated the post-pandemic recovery well due to sound macroeconomic policies. The economic recovery is strengthening with low inflation, favorable agricultural production, and strong industrial and services activity. Growth is estimated at 6 percent in FY23/24, up from 5.3 percent in FY22/23. Headline inflation has increased to 3.9 percent by June 2024, driven by rising energy prices and core inflation, though the latter remains below the Bank of Uganda’s (BoU) target of 5 percent.

    Elevated current account deficit and limited capital inflows have weighed on Uganda’s international reserves. Despite strong coffee and gold exports, the current deficit remains high due to rising oil project-related imports. Tight global financial conditions and reduced external project and budget support have driven down gross international reserves, covering only 2.9 months of imports at the end of 2024 (excluding oil-project related imports).

    The overall fiscal deficit continued to decline in FY23/24 but was less than planned due to revenue underperformance and higher current spending, while development spending fell short of expectations, worsening expenditure composition.

    Looking ahead, growth is expected to strengthen, boosted by the start of oil production, which will make lasting improvement in the fiscal and current account balances. Inflation is expected to rise near the BoU’s target of 5 percent in FY24/25. Risks are mostly on the downside, including continued fallout from the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which complicates the already tight external financing conditions, potential delays in oil production, and climate-related shocks. Upside risks to inflation come from commodity price volatility, weather conditions, and exchange rate depreciation pressures stemming from limited capital inflows.

    The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with Uganda:

    “Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed Uganda’s robust post‑pandemic recovery underpinned by sound macroeconomic policies and the favorable medium‑term outlook due to the anticipated start of oil production. At the same time, they noted pressures on international reserves amid tight global financial conditions, as well as the elevated debt servicing costs accompanied by a shortfall in the country’s development spending. Directors also highlighted the significant downside risks, including from the continued fallout from the “Anti‑Homosexuality Act”, which could exacerbate already tight external financing conditions, potential delays in oil production, sluggish reform implementation, and climate‑related shocks. Against this background, they encouraged continued reforms, including those envisaged under the expired ECF arrangement, to rebuild fiscal and external buffers and boost inclusive and sustainable growth, supported by technical assistance from the Fund and other partners as needed.

    “Directors encouraged strong efforts to create durable fiscal space, emphasizing the need to address significant spending demands in human capital, infrastructure, and climate resilience. They recommended continued revenue‑based fiscal consolidation, improved expenditure discipline, and a prudent fiscal management framework to ensure effective use of oil revenues once production begins.

    “Directors commended the Bank of Uganda’s commitment to price stability and agreed with its tight monetary policy stance to anchor inflation expectations. They advised keeping monetary policy data dependent and emphasized the importance of continued exchange rate flexibility to help build up buffers and improve competitiveness. Directors called for continued efforts to enhance monetary transmission and central bank independence, including through full implementation of the 2021 Safeguards Assessment recommendations.

    “While recognizing the resilience of Uganda’s financial system, Directors called for vigilant monitoring of the rapid increase in the sovereign‑bank nexus and significant cross‑border exposure of the nonfinancial corporate sector, alongside multifaceted efforts to enhance financial inclusion.

    “Directors stressed that accelerating structural reforms is crucial for achieving inclusive, sustainable, and private sector‑led growth. They supported further efforts to strengthen enforcement of the anti‑corruption framework, address remaining shortcomings in AML/CFT, enhance fiscal transparency, introduce regulatory reforms to support businesses, and implement an ambitious climate resilience agenda drawing on the recommendations of the C‑PIMA.

    The next Article IV consultation with Uganda will be held on the standard 12‑month cycle.”

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Tatiana Mossot

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/09/pr24322-Uganda-imf-exec-board-concludes-2024-aiv-consult

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Botswana

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    September 10, 2024

    • Botswana’s economic growth is expected to slow to 1 percent in 2024 primarily because of a diamond market contraction, before picking up next year. Inflation has declined sharply since the peak of mid-2022 and returned to the central bank’s medium-term objective range of 3–6 percent, where it is expected to remain in the medium term.
    • The government plans a fiscal expansion in FY2024 followed by two years of substantial fiscal adjustment. Public debt is low (20 percent of GDP), but government deposits at the central bank have significantly reduced over the past decade.
    • The financial sector is sound, stable, and resilient.

    Washington, DC: On August 28, 2024, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Botswana and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting on a lapse-of-time basis.[2]

    Botswana’s economic growth decelerated from 5.5 percent in 2022 to 2.7 percent in 2023, below the long-run potential growth of 4 percent. A sharp decline in diamond trading and mining activities was the main contributor to the slowdown, as global demand for rough diamonds decreased. Inflation has remained below the ceiling of the central bank’s medium-term objective range since July 2023. Despite lower diamond exports, FX reserves increased in 2023 supported by higher customs union receipts. The financial sector is broadly sound, stable, and resilient.

    Botswana’s economy is expected to decelerate further this year, with growth projected at
    1 percent. The continued slowdown is mainly due to a fall in diamond production, partly offset by construction projects financed by the fiscal expansion. Growth is forecast to rebound – averaging 5 percent over the next two years – due to higher prices and quantities of diamonds produced. Inflation is projected to remain within the central bank’s objective range of
    3–6 percent.

    The fiscal deficit is projected to widen further to 6 percent of GDP in FY2024, reflecting a further decline in mineral revenues and higher capital expenditure. The government plans a substantial fiscal adjustment in the following two years to reach a fiscal surplus. The external position should soften over the medium term (with FX reserves decreasing to 5 months of imports) due to weak growth in customs revenues and higher government foreign debt repayments. Risks to the outlook remain elevated due to the emergence of cheaper lab-grown diamonds, and uncertainty over the recovery of major export markets.

    Executive Board Assessment

    In concluding the 2024 Article IV consultation with Botswana, Executive Directors endorsed staff’s appraisal, as follows:

    Botswana is facing a severe slowdown from a diamond market contraction in 2023 and 2024. Growth is expected to fall to 1.0 percent this year, from 2.7 percent in 2023 and 5.5 percent in 2022. This reflects weaker global demand for diamonds and a sharp increase in inventories.

    Real GDP growth should rebound next year, although risks to the outlook remain elevated. A strong recovery is projected in 2025, driven by the rebound in diamond production and trade. But the economic outlook is highly uncertain, with the emergence of cheaper lab-grown diamonds, and the announced sale of De Beers by its UK parent company.

    In the near term, the fall in diamond revenues could be accommodated by a mix of higher fiscal deficit and reprioritization of capital expenditure. Some fiscal relaxation is warranted in light of the widening of the output gap, but staff encourages the authorities to reprioritize capital projects to limit the increase in the deficit and ensure that they achieve the highest value for money.

    Over the medium term, the authorities’ planned fiscal consolidation is critical to put a stop to the depletion of government’s financial buffers, build resilience against shocks, and preserve fiscal sustainability. Staff assesses that targeting a 1 percent of GDP fiscal surplus would generate sufficient savings to protect the budget against major economic shocks. While the authorities’ adjustment plan focuses mostly on expenditure restraint, there is also scope to increase revenues. The medium-term adjustment should be supported by institutional reforms, including a fiscal rule, more credible medium-term budgeting, and possibly a well-designed SWF.

    The monetary policy stance is appropriate. Inflation has declined since August 2022 and is projected to remain within the central bank’s objective range in the medium term. Underlying pressures, as measured by core inflation indicators, seem contained, while inflation expectations are well anchored. The 2023 external position is assessed to be broadly in line with fundamentals and desirable policies.

    The authorities’ plans to strengthen financial sector oversight, deepening, and inclusion are welcomed. The financial sector is broadly sound and stable despite the economic slowdown. Faster implementation of the 2023 FSAP recommendations will further reduce financial risks. These include moving to implement Basel III liquidity standards, enhancing risk-based supervision of banks, reinforcing the crisis management framework (ELA, bank resolution), and deploying macroprudential tools to address household debt risk.

    Accelerating growth and job creation requires a fundamental shift towards greater private sector participation, a more diversified export base, and a more efficient public sector. The authorities should prioritize SOE modernization, improved infrastructure for doing business (internet, energy, logistics), trade facilitation measures, more efficient social protection, and financial inclusion reforms that support small entrepreneurs. These goals could be enshrined in the new NDP, supported by time-bound and well-prioritized action plans.

    Botswana: Selected Economic and Social Indicators, 2020-20291

     

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

     

    Projection

    (Annual percent change, unless otherwise indicated)

    National Income and Prices

                       

    Real GDP

    -8.7

    11.9

    5.5

    2.7

    1.0

    5.2

    4.8

    4.0

    4.0

    4.0

    Nonmineral

    -3.5

    7.9

    4.9

    2.6

    5.1

    4.1

    4.4

    4.4

    4.4

    4.5

    GDP per capita (US dollars)

    5,863

    7,244

    7,726

    7,250

    7,341

    8,003

    8,602

    9,146

    9,726

    10,437

    GNI per capita (US dollars)2

    5,872

    7,174

    7,220

    6,963

    7,150

    7,733

    8,290

    8,798

    9,344

    10,027

        Consumer prices (average)

    1.9

    6.7

    12.2

    5.1

    3.8

    4.5

    4.5

    4.5

    4.5

    4.5

    Diamond production (millions of carats)

    16.9

    22.7

    24.5

    25.1

    21.1

    23.3

    25.0

    25.5

    26.0

    26.4

    Money and Banking

                       

    Monetary Base

    -3.8

    -8.8

    -5.3

    33.1

    8.7

    9.7

    9.3

    9.2

    9.3

    9.3

    Broad money (M2)

    5.9

    5.0

    6.8

    9.3

    8.7

    9.7

    9.3

    9.2

    9.3

    9.3

    Credit to the private sector

    5.3

    5.4

    4.7

    5.6

    8.5

    11.0

    11.0

    11.0

    11.0

    11.0

    (Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    Investment and Savings

                       

    Gross investment (including change in inventories)

    32.8

    27.4

    25.0

    30.3

    35.4

    34.1

    35.0

    35.5

    36.7

    37.5

    Public

    6.5

    5.5

    5.4

    7.1

    8.4

    7.0

    6.2

    6.0

    5.5

    5.2

    Private

    26.3

    21.9

    19.6

    23.2

    26.9

    27.1

    28.8

    29.5

    31.2

    32.3

    Gross savings

    26.6

    28.1

    24.9

    29.9

    33.4

    35.6

    36.2

    36.8

    37.3

    37.7

    Public

    -4.3

    0.7

    4.0

    3.0

    2.4

    4.2

    5.4

    6.1

    5.9

    5.5

    Private

    30.8

    27.5

    20.8

    26.9

    31.0

    31.4

    30.9

    30.7

    31.4

    32.2

    Central Government Finances3

                       

    Total revenue and grants

    25.6

    29.0

    29.1

    28.4

    28.2

    28.8

    28.6

    28.8

    27.6

    26.7

    SACU receipts

    9.1

    6.5

    5.5

    9.1

    9.6

    7.0

    6.4

    6.6

    6.3

    5.9

    Mineral revenue

    5.3

    10.6

    13.3

    7.4

    5.8

    9.5

    9.9

    9.8

    8.9

    8.4

    Total expenditure and net lending

    36.5

    31.4

    29.1

    33.1

    34.2

    30.6

    29.1

    28.3

    27.1

    26.2

    Overall balance (deficit –)

    -10.9

    -2.4

    0.0

    -4.7

    -6.0

    -1.7

    -0.5

    0.5

    0.5

    0.5

    Non-mineral non-SACU balance4

    -25.3

    -19.5

    -18.8

    -21.3

    -21.3

    -18.2

    -16.7

    -15.9

    -14.7

    -13.8

    Net Debt

    15.3

    12.8

    12.6

    16.9

    22.2

    21.6

    20.2

    18.2

    16.2

    14.6

    Total central government debt5

    18.7

    18.7

    18.1

    20.1

    22.6

    22.1

    20.7

    20.1

    20.0

    20.0

    Government deposits with the BoB6

    3.4

    5.9

    5.5

    3.3

    0.4

    0.4

    0.6

    1.9

    3.8

    5.5

    External Sector

                       

        Trade balance

    -13.2

    -3.5

    2.7

    -2.4

    -6.9

    -0.9

    0.2

    0.3

    0.0

    0.0

    Current account balance

    -10.3

    -1.7

    -1.2

    -0.6

    -2.0

    1.5

    1.2

    1.2

    0.6

    0.2

    Overall Balance

    -11.7

    -1.4

    1.8

    0.6

    -0.9

    1.3

    1.3

    1.5

    0.9

    0.5

    Nominal effective exchange rate (2018=100)7

    94.0

    94.1

    90.8

    86.4

    Real effective exchange rate (2018=100)7

    94.4

    97.7

    99.1

    94.7

    Terms of trade (2005=100)

    140.5

    178.9

    161.3

    152.7

    125.9

    162.2

    171.4

    176.6

    181.6

    186.6

    External central government debt5

    7.8

    8.4

    7.5

    8.9

    8.3

    6.7

    5.6

    4.8

    3.9

    3.5

    Gross official reserves (end of period, millions of USD)

    4,944

    4,806

    4,281

    4,757

    4,587

    4,879

    5,198

    5,600

    5,852

    6,014

    Months of imports of goods and services8

    6.4

    6.6

    7.1

    7.3

    6.3

    6.0

    5.8

    5.6

    5.4

    5.1

    Months of non-diamond imports8

    9.3

    8.7

    8.2

    8.8

    7.9

    7.8

    7.6

    7.5

    7.2

    7.1

    Percent of GDP

    31.2

    27.1

    21.8

    24.2

    23.3

    22.3

    21.5

    21.7

    20.8

    19.6

    Sources: Botswana authorities and IMF staff estimates and projections.

    1 This table is based on calendar years unless otherwise indicated.

    2 Based on Atlas method from the World Bank.

    3 Fiscal variables are based on fiscal years (starting on April 1).

    4 The non-mineral non-SACU balance is computed as the difference between non-mineral non-SACU revenue and total expenditure.

    5Excludes guarantees. Debt data measured at end of fiscal year.

    6Government deposits with the BoB include Government Investment Account as well as other accounts. Deposits data measured at end of fiscal year.

    7 For 2020-2023, both effective exchange rates are from IMF INS database.

    8 Based on imports of goods and services for the following year.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] The Executive Board takes decisions under its lapse-of-time procedure when the Board agrees that a proposal can be considered without convening formal discussions.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pavis Devahasadin

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/09/pr-24321-botswana-imf-executive-board-concludes-2024-article-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2024 Article IV Consultation with Kingdom of Lesotho

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    September 11, 2024

    • Lesotho’s GDP growth has improved modestly, picking up to 2.2 percent in the fiscal year ending in March 2024. Inflation increased in the second half of 2023, peaking at 8.2 percent in January 2024. But upward pressures have eased, and inflation has since fallen to 6.5 percent in June.
    • The outlook for Lesotho’s fiscal and external balances has improved significantly owing to windfall transfers from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and renegotiated water royalties.
    • In this context, and amid Lesotho’s sizable development needs, a key challenge for the authorities will be to ensure that this revenue is saved wisely and spent strategically.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with the Kingdom of Lesotho.

    GDP growth picked up modestly to 2.2 percent in 12-month period ending March 2024, compared with 1.6 percent a year earlier. This largely reflects accelerated construction from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Nonetheless, unemployment remains high, diamond and textile exports have been sluggish, and an exceptional dry season increased food-security concerns across the country.

    Headline inflation reached 6.5 percent in June, up from 4.5 percent in July 2023, though down from a peak of 8.2 percent in January 2024. The increase in inflation was largely due to exogenous factors that will most likely fade going forward.

    Lesotho registered a sizable fiscal surplus of 6.1 percent of GDP in during the fiscal year ending March 2024. In a change from past practice, transitory SACU transfers
    (10.4 percent of GDP higher than in FY22/23) were not accompanied by a parallel increase of the public wage bill. Instead, the authorities used the SACU proceeds to reduce arrears and rebuild deposits at the Central Bank.

    In support of the Loti’s peg to the Rand, the Central Bank of Lesotho has kept the policy rate steady at 7.75 percent since May 2023, in line with policy rates in South Africa.

    Financial conditions remain stable—private sector credit growth picked up to 12.5 percent in FY23/24, mainly due to construction, while the nonperforming loans have eased to
    3.8 percent of total loans as of 2023 Q4.

    Growth is projected to peak in the fiscal year ending in March 2025 (at 2.7 percent), while inflation is expected to ease slowly. Another year of windfall SACU transfers (6 percentage points of GDP above the 10-year average) will again bolster fiscal and external balances in FY24/25. These transfers are projected to fall sharply starting in FY25/26, though higher water royalties will help fill the gap. As a result, the fiscal balance is projected at a surplus of around 1 percent of GDP over the medium term, with the current account deficit at a modest
    2.6 percent.

    The authorities are encouraged to continue their prudent fiscal approach, ensuring that additional revenues are saved wisely and spent strategically, while also pushing ahead with reforms to support private sector-led growth.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They welcomed the recent pickup in growth but concurred that Lesotho’s economy faces substantial challenges, including high unemployment, widespread poverty, and sluggish growth. They also noted the risks posed by global growth shocks, extreme weather events, uncertain transfers from the South African Customs Union (SACU), and commodity price volatility. Against this background, Directors welcomed the authorities’ commitment to strengthening policy frameworks, supported by Fund capacity development as needed.

    Directors emphasized the need for continued fiscal prudence to strengthen foreign exchange reserve coverage, safeguard the peg, and preserve medium-term debt sustainability. They agreed that containing the public wage bill, increasing spending efficiency, and prioritizing social spending on the most vulnerable remain critical. Given increased water royalties, Directors encouraged the authorities to establish a well-governed savings framework anchored by a credible fiscal rule to build buffers and support Lesotho’s long-term development objectives.

    Directors agreed that public financial management (PFM) should be strengthened. They encouraged passage of PFM-related legislation, and improved budget processes, strengthened internal controls, and enhanced financial reporting. Directors also underscored the importance of boosting public investment efficiency, through a prioritized capital project pipeline with enhanced project management capacity.

    Directors concurred that monetary policy should focus on price stability and safeguarding the exchange rate peg. They noted the slowdown in inflation, but urged the authorities to monitor price dynamics closely and stand ready to adjust monetary policy if inflationary pressures reemerge. Directors encouraged the authorities to improve central bank governance and coordinate closely across institutions on fiscal and monetary policies.

    Directors noted that the financial sector remains stable and encouraged continued monitoring of risks, including from the nonbank financial sector. They concurred that an updated national financial inclusion strategy would be key to improving financial intermediation and supporting private sector growth. They welcomed the progress made in strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks for financial stability and AML/CFT.

    Directors strongly encouraged the authorities to implement much-needed structural reforms to catalyze job-rich inclusive growth, including by improving the business environment, strengthening governance, and reducing corruption risks. They lauded the authorities’ commitment to improving data quality and timeliness to support policymaking.

    Lesotho: Selected Economic Indicators, 2020/21–2029/301

     

    2020/21

    2021/22

    2022/23

    2023/24

    2024/25

    2025/26

    2026/27

    2027/28

    2028/29

    2029/30

    Act.

    Act.

    Act.

    Est.

    Projections

    (12-month percent change, unless otherwise indicated)

    National Account and Prices

                       

    GDP at constant prices (including LHWP-II)

    -5.3

    1.7

    1.6

    2.2

    2.7

    2.4

    1.9

    2.1

    2.1

    2.1

    GDP at constant prices (excluding LHWP-II)

    -3.0

    4.4

    1.4

    1.5

    1.6

    1.7

    1.8

    1.9

    1.9

    2.0

    GDP at market prices (Maloti billions)

    34.2

    36.0

    38.5

    41.5

    45.2

    48.8

    52.4

    56.1

    60.0

    64.4

    GDP at market prices (US$ billions)

    2.1

    2.4

    2.3

    2.2

    2.3

    2.4

    2.5

    2.7

    2.8

    2.9

    Consumer prices (average)

    5.4

    6.5

    8.2

    6.5

    6.7

    5.8

    5.6

    5.3

    5.1

    5.1

    Consumer prices (eop)

    6.5

    7.2

    6.8

    7.4

    6.0

    5.5

    5.4

    5.3

    5.0

    5.0

    GDP deflator

    5.2

    3.5

    5.3

    5.4

    6.0

    5.4

    5.3

    4.9

    4.9

    5.1

    External Sector

                       

    Terms of trade (“–” = deterioration)

    3.5

    -1.6

    -3.2

    -5.9

    -2.7

    0.6

    0.1

    -0.6

    0.1

    0.1

    Average exchange rate

                       

    (Local currency per US$)

    16.4

    14.9

    17.0

    Nominal effective exchange rate change (– depreciation)2

    -8.7

    6.3

    -3.0

    Real effective exchange rate (– depreciation)2

    -6.0

    8.7

    -1.9

    Current account balance (percent of GDP)

    -5.7

    -9.0

    -13.8

    -0.2

    -0.7

    -2.3

    -2.3

    -3.2

    -2.9

    -2.5

    (excluding LHWP-II imports, percent of GDP)

    -2.3

    -6.5

    -9.6

    6.4

    3.6

    1.7

    0.1

    -1.5

    -1.9

    -1.6

    Gross international reserves

                       

    (Months of imports)

    4.1

    4.3

    4.0

    4.3

    4.9

    5.7

    6.2

    6.3

    6.4

    6.5

    (excluding imports for LHWP-II, months of imports)

    4.2

    4.5

    4.3

    4.5

    5.0

    5.9

    6.3

    6.4

    6.4

    6.5

    Money and Credit

                       

    Net international reserves

                       

    (US$ millions)

    718

    846

    671

    755

    916

    1,121

    1,258

    1,343

    1,417

    1,513

    (Percent of M1 Plus)

    109

    127

    111

    114

    137

    163

    179

    185

    190

    197

    (US$ millions, CBL calculation)

    777

    843

    698

    755

    843

    (Percent of M1 Plus, CBL calculation)

    118

    127

    116

    114

    126

    Domestic credit to the private sector

    -3.0

    6.7

    8.7

    12.5

    9.0

    8.1

    8.0

    8.3

    7.4

    7.7

    Reserve money

    16.5

    1.0

    24.5

    24.0

    1.9

    1.2

    1.6

    1.6

    2.1

    2.3

    Broad money

    12.2

    0.0

    8.7

    15.2

    3.9

    5.0

    5.1

    5.4

    5.1

    5.4

    Interest rate (percent)3

    3.8

    3.5

    3.5

    4.7

    (Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    Public Debt

    54.7

    58.4

    64.5

    61.5

    59.9

    59.7

    59.8

    59.8

    59.5

    59.5

    External public debt

    42.9

    42.3

    47.2

    47.8

    46.6

    46.4

    46.2

    46.2

    46.0

    46.0

    Domestic public debt

    11.7

    16.1

    17.3

    13.7

    13.3

    13.3

    13.5

    13.5

    13.5

    13.5

    Central Government Fiscal Operations

                       

    Revenue

    54.4

    48.8

    44.6

    56.5

    63.4

    61.1

    57.8

    55.6

    55.6

    54.8

    Domestic revenue (excluding SACU transfers and grants)

    25.1

    27.2

    27.6

    29.3

    31.0

    36.6

    34.9

    33.7

    33.7

    33.7

    SACU transfers

    26.2

    16.7

    14.0

    24.5

    25.6

    19.3

    18.5

    17.5

    17.5

    17.5

    Grants

    3.1

    4.9

    3.0

    2.8

    6.9

    5.2

    4.3

    4.3

    4.3

    3.6

    Recurrent expenditure

    43.0

    38.6

    40.5

    40.8

    42.0

    40.9

    40.9

    40.8

    40.8

    40.8

    Of which: wages, including social contributions

    17.6

    17.0

    18.0

    17.1

    16.8

    16.7

    16.6

    16.4

    16.4

    16.4

    Capital expenditure

    11.4

    15.5

    9.6

    9.6

    16.3

    14.3

    13.9

    14.0

    14.1

    13.5

    Additional fiscal measures

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Overall balance

    0.0

    -5.4

    -5.5

    6.1

    5.1

    5.8

    3.0

    0.8

    0.6

    0.5

    (excluding SACU transfers and grants)

    -29.3

    -27.0

    -22.5

    -21.1

    -27.3

    -18.6

    -19.8

    -21.1

    -21.3

    -20.6

       Operating balance

    0.0

    -5.4

    -5.5

    6.1

    5.1

    5.8

    3.0

    0.8

    0.6

    0.5

    Primary balance

    1.6

    -4.0

    -3.6

    8.1

    6.7

    7.5

    4.8

    2.7

    2.6

    2.6

    (excluding SACU transfers and grants)

    -27.7

    -25.6

    -20.6

    -19.2

    -25.7

    -17.0

    -18.0

    -19.2

    -19.3

    -18.6

    Statistical discrepancy

    -0.6

    0.6

    2.2

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Sources: Lesotho authorities, World Bank, and IMF staff calculations.

    1 The fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31.

                       

    2 IMF Information Notice System trade-weighted; end of period.

                     

    3 12-month time deposits rate.

                       

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Julie Ziegler

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/10/pr-24324-lesotho-imf-executive-board-concludes-2024-article-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Kenya

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    September 17, 2024

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Haimanot Teferra, visited Nairobi during September 11-16 and held discussions with Kenyan authorities on recent developments and their policies to manage the emerging challenges.

    At the conclusion of the visit, Ms. Teferra issued the following statement:

    “The Kenyan authorities and IMF staff had productive discussions on the authorities’ policies and reforms to address the evolving economic and fiscal challenges.

    “We remain fully committed to support the authorities on their efforts to identify a set of policies that could support the completion of the reviews under the ongoing program as soon as feasible. The authorities expressed commitment to advancing economic and governance reforms which are crucial for fostering sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits all Kenyans. We will continue our discussions with the authorities.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pavis Devahasadin

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2024/09/17/pr-24332-kenya-imf-staff-concludes-visit

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Save the Children supports thousands of Palestinians, including newborn babies, medically evacuated from Gaza to Egypt, with funding from Community Jameel

    Source: Save the Children

    Thousands of Palestinians, including newborn babies, evacuated from Gaza to Egypt with urgent medical needs are receiving critical support from Save the Children as part of a Community Jameel-funded initiative to support pregnant mothers and children.
    With Community Jameel’s support, Save the Children has procured 20 incubators and other medical supplies and installed these in Ministry of Health neonatal intensive care units in Egypt, where medics are delivering urgent obstetric and paediatric care to mothers and neonates, including preterm babies, who have been evacuated from Gaza.
    Since October 2023, around 5,000 people have been evacuated for treatment outside Gaza, with over 80% receiving care in Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and a further 10,000 patients currently in need of medical evacuation for specialised care. This includes newborn babies requiring intensive care whose families are trying to evacuate them following the bombing of specialist maternity units across Gaza.
    The number of evacuations has decreased drastically since the closure of border crossings, with around 2,150 patients unable to leave Gaza since May due to the closure of the Rafah crossing. The health system in Gaza has all but collapsed, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that, as the war continues to drive critical medical needs, the number of patients requiring medical evacuation is expected to increase. Relentless bombardment and the ongoing siege have dismantled the healthcare infrastructure, with 19 out of 36 hospitals out of service.
    The WHO also said that there are more than 500,000 women of reproductive age in Gaza who now lack access to essential services including antenatal and postnatal care. Maternity services are only provided at eight out of 17 partially functioning hospitals, and at four field hospitals.
    Since last October, Gaza’s Ministry of Health has estimated that 20,000 babies have been born in the Gaza Strip. Research shows that about 15% of women giving birth are likely to experience complications in pregnancy.
    Matteo Caprotti, Country Director at Save the Children Egypt, said:
    “Repeated so-called “evacuation” orders, access restrictions on medical supplies and fuel and attacks on hospitals and medical points in Gaza are destroying children’s chances to get life-saving treatment. Those who managed to be evacuated to Egypt are suffering from injuries and are haunted by the horrors they have experienced. We’re proud to partner with Community Jameel to provide Palestinian children with the support they have a right to and so critically need.”
    George Richards, Director of at Community Jameel, said:
    “Palestinian mothers in Gaza are giving birth in traumatic, unhygienic and undignified conditions without access to basic care. Some women are self-inducing labour to avoid giving birth on the move, while others are scared to seek vital prenatal care because of fears of bombing, and some have died due to a lack of access to doctors. With Community Jameel’s support, Save the Children is providing lifesaving treatment to pregnant mothers and newborn babies in need of urgent care who are evacuated from Gaza through the Rafah crossing to Egypt.”
    With Community Jameel’s support, Save the Children is also providing equipment and specialist training to Egyptian ambulance paramedics, who receive and transport medical evacuees from Gaza, including training on child safeguarding and psychological first aid and self-care. Faced with a humanitarian emergency where patients, including children, have suffered deprivation of basic necessities, trauma and catastrophic injuries, paramedics require specialist skills to manage their mental health and wellbeing.
    Hakim-, a paramedic who received psychological first aid and safeguarding training from Save the Children as part of the initiative, said:
    “I learned that we must build a secure bridge between us and the children to make them feel safe and help them calm down. You start to examine the child’s condition afterwards because first you must establish trust with the child and help them feel secure. For children who have been subjected to a psychological trauma such as the war in Gaza, treatment will vary based on their age. Children who are younger than three will require special treatment because they cannot fully verbally express themselves, they can only cry. This makes identifying what they need more challenging.”
    Following initial training of about 90 paramedics, the Egyptian ambulance authority has now requested Save the Children to scale up training to its full staff of 16,000 paramedics as they rotate from across Egypt into the North Sinai governorate to support the Gaza crisis response.
    Save the Children in Egypt has been supporting Palestinian children and families who have fled the war in Gaza into Egypt with urgent assistance and support, providing mental health and psychosocial (MHPSS) sessions to children and adults, health services and cash assistance to thousands of stranded Palestinians to support them to meet their basic needs. Since the beginning of the crisis and up until the closure of the Rafah crossing, Save the Children has procured and delivered emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza through the crossing, including water, medicine, food parcels, shelter kits, baby and dignity kits.
    About Community Jameel:
    Community Jameel advances science and learning for communities to thrive. An independent, global organisation, Community Jameel was launched in 2003 to continue the tradition of philanthropy and community service established by the Jameel family of Saudi Arabia in 1945. CommunityJameel supports scientists, humanitarians, technologists and creatives to understand and address pressing human challenges in areas such as climate change, health and education.
    The work enabled and supported by Community Jameel has led to significant breakthroughs and achievements, including the MIT Jameel Clinic’s discovery of the new antibiotics halicin and abaucin, critical modelling of the spread of COVID-19 conducted by the Jameel Institute at Imperial College London, and a Nobel Prize-winning experimental approach to alleviating global poverty championed by the co-founders of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT.
    Community Jameel is separate and distinct from Community Jameel Saudi, the civil society organisation registered with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI USA: News Releases

    Source: US State of Kansas

    TOPEKA—Applicants who successfully passed the Kansas bar examination will be sworn in as Kansas attorneys at 9:30 a.m. Friday, September 27, in Topeka. 

    The ceremony will take place at The Beacon at 420 SW 9th St.  

    New attorneys can choose to be sworn in during the ceremony Friday or at another time by a state or federal judge. 
     
    Chief Justice Marla Luckert will preside over the Supreme Court, and District Judge Toby Crouse will represent the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. 
     
    Doug Shima, clerk of the Kansas appellate courts, will administer the state oath. Traci Anderson, a clerk from the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, will administer the federal oath. 

    New attorneys 

    New attorneys eligible to be sworn in, listed alphabetically by county, are: 

    Barton 

    Clarissa Noelle Ratzlaff, Great Bend
    Jack Leander Roenne, Great Bend 

    Butler 

    Hayley Ann Koontz, Benton 

    Cherokee 

    Addison Alese Tucker, Galena 

    Cowley 

    John Michael Taylor, Atlanta 
    Christin Dunnell Smith, Winfield 

    Douglas 

    Madisyn Dianne Schmitz, Eudora 
    Michael Aaron Archer, Lawrence 
    Elm P. Beck, Lawrence 
    Damien James Burger, Lawrence 
    Chad Josiah Cook, Lawrence 
    Jackson Scott de la Garza, Lawrence 
    Rosston Joseph Eubank, Lawrence 
    Anna Christine Hedstrom, Lawrence 
    James Andrew Henderson, Lawrence 
    Natalie Alison Jabben, Lawrence 
    Carter Michael Jones, Lawrence 
    Makaylah Lynn Jones, Lawrence 
    Jared James Lenz, Lawrence 
    Sarah Kathryn Lynch-Chaput, Lawrence 
    Jillian Elizabeth Roy, Lawrence 
    Isabela Guadalupe Solorio, Lawrence 
    Collin Winslow Studer, Lawrence 
    Chloe Ann Thompson, Lawrence 
    Trace Lee Tobin, Lawrence 
    Elijah Jeffrey Waugh, Lawrence 
    Hudson David Weaver, Lawrence 

    Ellis 

    Brianna Kay Brin, Hays 

    Ford 

    Nichole Marie Byer, Dodge City 

    Harvey 

    Destiny Dawn Denney, Newton 

    Johnson 

    Mandi Michelle Abbott, Leawood 
    Megan Elizabeth Gannon, Leawood 
    Madisen Kate Hane, Leawood 
    Benjamin Richard Baker, Lenexa 
    Annie Elizabeth Birney, Lenexa 
    Drew Elizabeth Davis, Lenexa 
    Juliana Mare Herrera, Lenexa 
    Emily Hope O’Donnell, Lenexa 
    Samuel Alejandro Sketers, Lenexa 
    Lucas Ryan Zoller, Lenexa 
    Cinthia Terrazas, Mission 
    Dilini Lankachandra, Mission Hills 
    Madeline Lizette Ames, Olathe 
    Tristin Andrieu Lewis Dierking, Olathe 
    Isaiah Cole Eaton, Olathe 
    Morgan Renee Hood, Olathe 
    Kelsey Danielle Saunders, Olathe 
    Lindsay Marie Barash, Overland Park 
    Brooke Ashton Brownlee, Overland Park 
    Cody Von Byrd, Overland Park 
    Wangxue Deng, Overland Park 
    Makenzie Ryan Fankhauser, Overland Park 
    Emily Rosalyn Featherston, Overland Park 
    Jamie Elizabeth Gallagher, Overland Park 
    Richard Ryan Love, Overland Park 
    Alden John Vogel, Overland Park 
    Molly Sue Wackerly, Overland Park 
    Tiffany Lauren Wylde, Overland Park 
    Caitlin Daly McPartland, Prairie Village 
    Julea Miranda Pina, Prairie Village 
    Elizabeth Grace Rohr, Prairie Village 
    Monica Sandu, Prairie Village 
    Andrew Dean McLandsborough, Roeland Park 
    Caroline Maria Rene McCord, Shawnee 
    Nicholas Christopher Kaechele, Spring Hill 
    Caitlin Alyse Kremer, Spring Hill 

    Leavenworth 

    Angelique Joeann Margve, Basehor 

    Lyon 

    Nickolas Reid Velo, Emporia 

    Pottawatomie 

    Daniel Mark Frazier, Saint Marys 
    Margaret Elizabeth Shermoen, Wamego 

    Riley 

    Carolo Dionicio Gonzalex, Manhattan 
    Joseph Logan Hoover, Manhattan 
    Candice Lea Wilson, Manhattan 

    Saline 

    Emma Rose Dipota, Salina 
    William David Strommen, Salina 

    Sedgwick 

    Michael Dee Vinson, Derby  
    Michael Roy Van Deest, Maize  
    Gabrielle Christine Altenor, Wichita 
    Joel Geoffrey Amend, Wichita 
    Leslie Nichole Anderson, Wichita 
    Cameron Joseph Edens, Wichita 
    Brooke Stanton Flucke, Wichita 
    Baron Jack Hoy, Wichita 
    Sophia Ana Padgett, Wichita 
    Caitlin Corrine Riffer, Wichita 
    Makaela Breanne Stevens, Wichita 
    Ethan John Ward, Wichita 

    Shawnee 

    Joshua Nolan Becker, Topeka 
    Loretta Anne Caballero, Topeka 
    Jacob Wendell Cibulka, Topeka 
    Kiley Jan-Elizabeth Deain, Topeka 
    Andrew Zachary Foreman, Topeka 
    Edgar Fuentes, Topeka 
    Quinn McLean Hughes, Topeka 
    William Elliot Woody Naeger, Topeka 
    Dylan James Pryor, Topeka 
    Jacob Christian Alexander Reaves, Topeka 
    Carly Paige Steward, Topeka 
    Megan Kristine Walden, Topeka 
    Gabriel Reece Walker, Topeka 

    Wyandotte 

    Olivia Leigh Banes, Bonner Springs  
    Bailey Hannah Baker, Kansas City 

    _______________

    Arizona 

    Noel Kenmadu Ahaneku, Maricopa  
    Chance Matthew Berndt, Phoenix 

    Colorado 

    Emily Jean Marie McCurley, Larkspur 

    Florida 

    Bryna Rachelle Faimon, Pensacola 

    Iowa 

    Spencer Ray Mitchell, University Heights 

    Missouri 

    Samantha LeAnn Mishler, Independence 
    Kevin Christopher Birzer, Kansas City 
    Austin Marcus Polina, Kansas City  
    Brien Charles Stonebreaker, Kansas City 
    Vincent Cyrus Amiri, Kearney  
    Kyleigh Jo Rupe, Lee’s Summit 

    New York 

    Rebecca Rachel Halff, New York 

    Oklahoma 

    Paige Elizabeth Harding, Afton 

    South Carolina 

    Zachary Christian Freeman, Aiken 

    Virginia 

    Cody Grant Hoagland, Concord  
    Alisha Deanna Mehdi, Herndon 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan’s famine-hit Zamzam camp receive vital food, as WFP faces a race against time to save lives

    Source: World Food Programme

    This is a summary of what was said by Leni Kinzli, spokesperson for WFP Sudan (speaking from Nairobi) to whom quoted text may be attributed – at a press briefing In Geneva today.

    Nairobi/Geneva: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is in a race against time to save lives in war-torn Sudan, as 1.5 million people across the country either face famine or are at risk of famine. Without urgent assistance, hundreds of thousands of people could die.

    WFP is working tirelessly to get aid into the hands of people who are facing starvation, and we are saving thousands of lives every single day in Sudan. So far this year, we’ve supported 5.4 million people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance. As we speak, we are urgently getting basic staple foods into the hands of 180,000 people facing famine in Zamzam camp. Vulnerable communities are receiving a package of wheat flour, lentils, oil and salt. 

    Meanwhile in Khartoum, WFP is supporting community kitchens to provide around 175,000 hot meals daily. We’ve also just started in-kind food distributions for around 155,000 people in Karrari and Omdurman where people will receive two-month rations. Around 16,000 people in the metropolitan area received mobile money transfers in July and August, with a higher number planned for this month. WFP has also launched self-registration pilots to expand mobile money transfers to North and South Darfur, South Kordofan, and Gezira State. 

    WFP is taking advantage of the reopening of the Adre border from Chad into the conflict-rattled Darfur region. Trucks carrying vital food and nutrition supplies are crossing that border most days, despite facing delays due to flooded seasonal rivers and muddy road conditions where aid convoys are getting stuck. Since Adre reopened one month ago, we’ve transported 2,800 metric tonnes of food supplies into Darfur region via this route, enough aid for over 250,000 people. Of that, over 100,000 people in risk of famine areas in West Darfur have so far received emergency food and nutrition supplies. 

    Even though we are doing everything we can – it’s just a drop in the ocean compared to the needs, not just in Sudan but regionally. Across Sudan, South Sudan and Chad, around 36 million people have been pushed into hunger because of the ongoing war. 

    I was recently in Adre, Chad – where around 800,000 people have fled to. After enduring unimaginable violence, they are only met with hunger and destitution. Despite receiving food assistance, many are struggling to get by, eating once a day if they are lucky. Like a teenage girl I met called Thuraya who lost both her parents and is solely responsible for her younger siblings, sometimes only able to offer them water instead of a meal. If that is the situation for people in a comparably safe and stable place – it is hard to imagine what people facing famine or at risk of famine in Sudan are going through. I did get a glimpse from the stories I heard of women who had recently fled from ‘risk of famine’ areas. Women like Nadjua. Nadjua, along with other new arrivals, risked their lives to get to safety in Chad because there was nothing left to eat, and all their crops had been destroyed by floods. Others said they could not farm because it was too unsafe to go their fields. Health and nutrition workers in the camp told me that over half of their malnutrition cases in the camp were new arrivals coming from risk of famine areas in Sudan. 

    It is people like Thuraya and Nadjua – who are among tens of millions bearing the brunt of the brutal war in Sudan – that world leaders need to pay attention to. It is for them that they need to step up for during the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. WFP and other aid agencies cannot tackle these challenges alone. We are doing everything we can, but we cannot stop widespread starvation and hunger-related deaths without the support and attention of the international community, too.

    World leaders need to give this humanitarian catastrophe the attention it requires. That attention then needs to be translated into concerted diplomatic efforts – at the highest levels – to push for a humanitarian ceasefire and ultimately an end the conflict. We also need the international community to step up in demanding that the warring parties guarantee safe and unfettered humanitarian access and adhere to international humanitarian law.  Lastly, we need a surge in funding to address the extraordinary level of need – over $600 million in coming six months, to provide urgent aid to people in the most severe levels of hunger across the region. We would require even more to help everyone who needs it. 

    For over 500 days the Sudanese people have been bearing the brunt of this war, feeling forgotten and abandoned by the world. They are still holding on to hope that one day they can return to their lives. Together, we owe it to the Sudanese people to step up collective action and prevent mass-scale starvation. The hopes of the Sudanese people, their future, are riding on what we do next. We cannot let them down. 

                                             #                           #                            #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media 

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI: Aurora Information Technology joins Softlink Information Centres

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BRISBANE, Australia, Sept. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Softlink Information Centres, a Volaris Group company, has acquired Aurora Information Technology (AIT), developer of library automation software used in public and special libraries. Their flagship product, Aurora Library Management System (LMS), is based on Aurora Montage – a patron web catalogue. This year, a new, cloud-based library staff solution called Aurora Astria was introduced to the market.

    AIT was established in the late 1990s. Co-founders, Doug Coulson and Martin Fisk, designed and developed the product.

    “It took us almost one year to build Aurora software to the point of winning business. Our first customer was the Royal Blind Society (NSW) which over time became part of Vision Australia.  AIT is now providing software for Vision Australia’s major digital transformation project. With software capabilities for Libraries for the Blind, we also won business with national organisations in New Zealand and South Africa.” Doug Coulson, AIT Co-founder.

    Today, Aurora is found in large and small public libraries, predominantly in Australia. This includes the Rural Libraries Queensland network, managed by the State Library of Queensland. The solution supports the delivery of a centralised catalogue and networked library services throughout the State.

    For more than 10 years, AIT has donated Aurora LMS software, hosting and services to all indigenous knowledge centres through Queensland.  

    “The average life of a small business is less than 9 years, so to have been in business now for 28 years, still having our original customers and being able to help support indigenous library services along the way, is something for which AIT founders are very grateful.   We are pleased that Aurora has found a home at Softlink Information Centres.” Doug Coulson, AIT Co-founder.

    Sarah Thompson, General Manager of Softlink Information Centres adds: “It is exciting to include AIT as part of our wider community of software businesses across the globe that work tirelessly to provide exceptional solutions to librarians, researchers and library managers.”

    The AIT team will join Softlink Information Centres, led by Sarah Thompson.  

    About Softlink Information Centres

    Softlink Information Centres has been a leader in providing library, knowledge and research management solutions for over 40 years. Our products are trusted by hundreds of businesses worldwide, including some of the largest multi-branch law firms, parliamentary, government libraries and top management consulting firms. We combine the latest technology with ease of use and affordability, enabling our clients to adapt, grow and deliver superior services. Visit us at Softlink Information Centres [https://ic.softlinkint.com/]. 

    For further information on Softlink Information Centres, please visit ic.softlinkint.com

    About Volaris Group

    Volaris acquires, strengthens and grows vertical market technology companies. As an operating group of Constellation Software Inc., Volaris is all about strengthening businesses within the markets they compete and enabling them to grow – whether that growth comes through organic measures such as new initiatives and product development, day-to-day business, or through complementary acquisitions. Learn more at www.volarisgroup.com.

    For more information, please contact:

    Sarah Thompson
    General Manager
    Softlink Information Centres
    Sarah.Thompson@softlinkint.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Africa: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 79: African Development Bank calls on Development Finance Institution’s (DFI’s) to put peace into action to promote peace and stability in Africa

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    NEW YORK, United States of America, September 24, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has urged Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and other development partners to scale up innovative partnerships and initiatives to build peace and security in Africa, home to eleven of the world’s most conflict-affected states.

    Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, African Development Bank Vice-President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Complex led the charge during a session held September 21, on the sidelines of the 79th Assembly of the United Nations titled: Investing in Prevention: Scaling up Peace – A Call to Action for DFIs.

    Over the last 20 years, the level of global conflict has escalated, with one-fifth of Africa’s population residing in conflict affected areas, affecting the future of the world’s fastest-growing continent.

    “Our goal today is very clear. We would like to mobilise institutions to prioritise peace building and through innovative partnerships and new financial mechanisms.  This is a call for action.” Akin-Olugbade said in opening remarks.

    The New Agenda for Peace, which is at center stage of the UN’s Summit of the Future, highlights how different actors, including DFIs can serve as peace agents, and emphasises the role of partnerships, especially in the context of fragile and conflict affected countries, urging increased political and financial mobilisation to prevent conflicts.

    The effect of three decades of a devastating civil war in Mozambique are still evident, Amilcar Tivane, Mozambique’s Vice-Minister of Economy and Finance told participants, stressing the need for prevention.

    The  Mozambique government has learned innovative solutions to deal with the root causes of conflict and to address lingering security challenges in northern Mozambique such as terrorism and insurgency.  What has worked is a resilience building strategy together with partnerships, Tivane said. The country is also launching a new initiative for peace for the reconstruction of affected tourism areas

    « We have learned that prevention is critical, » he said. « Sometimes its difficult (for governments) to acknowledge that the social dimensions could have a significant impact.»

    Issa Faye, Director General of the Islamic Development Bank ( IsDB) said his institution’s blend of ordinary and concessional financing has been key to the successful  financial support for 32 fragile African countries out of the 52 they support. 

    The IsDB have aided thousands of refugees through programmes to address skills gap, training and education, combining economic empowerment and food security.

    Faye underlined Islamic financing as a concept framing a lot of the institution’s programmes and stressed the need to find alternative financing which is dedicated, responsive and resilient.

    Risk perception, another major constraint to financing peace initiatives in Africa, was the subject of Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, the Executive Secretary of the UN Capital Development Fund (UN CDF), submission. He offered a concrete example of successful de-risking of a peace initiative in Burundi.

    « UN DCRF works to de-risk so that larger streams of finance can flow from the larger and more established institutions, » he said.

    Since 2021, UNCDF has been working in collaboration with the UN Peacebuilding Fund and the Government of Burundi to address interconnected and transnational root-causes of instability and nature loss in the Kibara National Park and surrounding buffer zones. The joint initiative with several partners including UNESCO, uses a unique blended finance approach.

    Peace finance needs new a lens

    Itonde Kakoma, President of Interpeace said a new paradigm approach, which moved away from the donor focus and instead sees development partners investing in peace investment hubs and creating a pipeline of peace positive projects, is much needed.

    He said the need to connect development finance and peace building while leveraging the private sector to build peace, safety and social cohesion between communities living in complex environments, was more imperative than ever.

    « We have a conviction that the Sustainable Development Goals can be unlocked by peace finance, » Kakoma said.

    Other participants such as Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary General, United Nations Peacebuilding Support stressed the importance of inclusion and the role of DFI’s such as the African Development Bank.

    “We need the economic might of the DFI’s. We have to work on this together,” she said.

    Spehar paid tribute to the African Development Bank which emphasizes peace and security as public goods in its new Ten-year strategy (2024-2033). The Bank’s joint pilot project in Central African Republic with UNHCR has the UN “working with communities on the  peace part and the African Development Bank working on the employment part,” Spehar said.

    The Bank has been on the forefront of systematically addressing issues of fragility in Africa and has built up over 20 years of experience in building Africa’s resilience by providing intellectual leadership and dedicated financial instruments, such as the Transition Support Facility, which mobilizes additional resources for affected countries. The Bank’s Private Sector Credit Enhancement Facility allows it to do more private investments in these riskier markets.

    The audience also heard from the g7+, Asian Development Bank, Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS), the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Aswan Forum, UNHCR, and the African Union Peace Fund whose Director Dagmawit Moges spoke of the institution’s reforms and the importance of governance.

    “We’ve gone beyond theory and talk. We at the African Development Bank are interested in strengthening partnerships. We are not going to work in silos. We are looking forward to continuing this discussion at COP 29 and at the Africa Resilience Forum next year,” Akin-Olugbade said.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: South Sudan: MSF suspends medical activities in Yei, Central Equatoria state, following attack on staff

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • MSF suspended outreach activities in Yei, Central Equatoria state, South Sudan, after a critical security incident.
    • MSF cannot resume activities until the safety of our staff is assured.

    Juba – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has suspended all outreach activities in Yei, in Central Equatoria state, South Sudan, until further notice, following a critical security incident involving MSF staff and staff from a partner organisation on Friday, 20 September 2024. We strongly condemns this attack against health workers in an area where people already face difficulty accessing healthcare.

    “We are deeply shocked by this unacceptable attack on the provision of neutral and impartial humanitarian assistance for communities in need,” says Iqbal Huda, MSF’s Head of Mission in South Sudan. “As a result of the attack, our outreach movements and activities to communities surrounding Yei and Morobo have been suspended until we can have concrete guarantees that medical humanitarian services and lifesaving work can continue unhindered in the area.”

    At approximately 3 pm on Friday, two clearly marked MSF vehicles were coming back to the town of Yei from an outreach activity, when along the road unknown armed men forced our staff to disembark from their vehicles at gunpoint, while looting MSF and the staff’s personal belongings. The armed men then forcibly took an MSF staff member and a staff member of a partner organisation to the bush, while letting the two remaining MSF staff members, the drivers, proceed with their vehicles.

    While the two abducted staff were safely released 24 hours later, this is the third attack on humanitarian organisations occurring around Yei in three months, pointing to a systematic attack on the provision of humanitarian aid. Until the safety of MSF activities and staff are assured, MSF cannot guarantee resumption of activities in the area.

    The real victims of these incidents are the most vulnerable people living in underserved areas, as MSF is the only provider of healthcare services in this area outside of Yei town.

    “Attacks against humanitarians and healthcare workers are unacceptable and they directly affect the provision of healthcare for communities who desperately need it. We call on all armed groups to uphold their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and respect the provision of humanitarian assistance,” says Huda.

    Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been working in the region that today constitutes the Republic of South Sudan since 1983. In Yei, MSF offers primary healthcare services by supporting four Ministry of Health facilities, delivering outpatient consultations, routine vaccinations, and maternal and child healthcare. MSF also conducts mobile clinics and provides community-based healthcare through the Boma Health Initiative programme in the area.

    In South Sudan, MSF teams provide a range of services including general healthcare, mental healthcare and specialist hospital care. Our mobile teams also provide health assistance to displaced people and remote communities in six of the country’s 10 states and in two administrative areas. In addition to responding to emergencies and disease outbreaks, we also carry out preventative activities, such as vaccination campaigns, seasonal malaria chemo-prevention, safe drinking water and distribution of non-food items.

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA Weather Service forecasts warm week followed by light snow

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    South Africa is set to experience a mix of warm and cool temperatures in the coming days, with a significant drop in temperatures and even light snowfall expected later this month, according to the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

    This after the weekend’s freezing temperatures and snowfall in some parts of the country caused havoc on the roads, resulting in one fatality.   

    READ | Heavy snowfall on N3 claims life of a 39-year-old woman

    Forecaster at the South African Weather Service (SAWS) Lehlogonolo Thobela provided an outlook for the week ahead, highlighting warm conditions across much of the country.

    “Today we are expecting just warm temperatures over the central parts, ranging between 26 and 30 degrees Celsius, that’s on average in the Northern Cape province. 

    “In Gauteng, the weather will be cooler in the south but warm in the northern areas, with maximum temperatures reaching about 25 degrees in the north and about 24 to 22 degrees over the southern parts,” Thobela said.

    The Eastern Cape will experience varied conditions, with cool weather in the northeastern parts but warmer and even hot temperatures in the south. 

    “It will be quite cool over most parts of the northeastern parts of the Eastern Cape but warm over most of the province and hot over the southern parts,” Thobela explained.

    The Western Cape, meanwhile, will see cooler conditions in the west but warmer weather in the east. 

    “Just warm temperatures are expected across the country,” Thobela said.

    Looking ahead to Wednesday, Thobela forecasted hot temperatures in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga, with highs of 34 degrees Celsius, and similarly warm to hot conditions in Limpopo. 

    “It will be warm over most parts of the country, with maximums between 25 and 30 degrees over the central parts,” he noted. 

    He said that cooler weather will persist in the Western Cape, especially along the west coast, where temperatures are expected to reach a maximum of 22 degrees.

    The heat is set to continue through the week, especially in Limpopo and the northern parts of KwaZulu-Natal, with hot conditions predicted for the 26th and 27th of September. 

    “It will be hot over most parts of Limpopo on the 26th and 27th,” Thobela said.

    Central regions like the Free State, North West, and Gauteng will remain warm during this period.

    However, a significant temperature drop is expected later in the month, starting on the 29th of September. 

    “It will be cold over the southern parts, and the Western Cape will be very cold, with maximums ranging between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius,” Thobela said. 

    The Eastern Cape will remain cool, with colder conditions in the central and southwestern parts.

    On the 30th of September, cold conditions will spread to KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Free State. 

    “There is some light snow expected over the highland areas of the Eastern Cape, as well as the southwestern parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the border of Lesotho, between the 30th [of September] and the 1st of October,” Thobela revealed, though he assured that the snowfall would be light.

    The cold snap will extend to the escarpment of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal on the 1st of October, with temperatures starting to recover by the 2nd.

    South Africans are advised to prepare for fluctuating temperatures and possible snow in high-lying areas over the next week. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: G7 foreign ministers’ statement in New York, September 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Following the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the High-Level Week of the UN General Assembly, the following statement was made by Chair Antonio Tajani.

    1. Introduction

    In today’s meeting in New York, in the wake of the Summit of the Future, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union reiterated their commitment to upholding the rule of law, humanitarian principles and international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and to protecting human rights and dignity for all individuals.

    They re-emphasized their determination to foster collective action in order to preserve peace and stability to address global challenges, such as the climate crisis and to advance the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    In doing so, the G7 members renewed their commitment to the promotion of free societies and democratic principles, where all persons can freely exercise their rights and freedoms.

    2. Summit for the Future

    In the spirit of the renewed determination to strengthen the multilateral system based on the UN Charter’s principles, as reflected  in the Pact for the Future adopted  at the Summit of the Future by world Leaders, the G7 members committed to continue working with countries and all relevant stakeholders  within the UN system through dialogue, mutual understanding and respect in the pursuit of common solutions, with the aim of upholding and reforming the multilateral system  so that it better reflects today’s world and is fit to respond to the complex global challenges of the future. They reaffirmed their commitment to work with all UN member states to strengthen the roles of the UNSG as well as the UNGA. They also recommitted to the reform of the UNSC.

    3. Steadfast Support to Ukraine

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support to Ukraine as it defends its freedom, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, against Russia’s brutal and unjustifiable war of aggression. The G7 members strongly condemned Russia’s blatant breach of international law, including the UN Charter, and of the basic principles that underpin the international order. They strongly condemned the serious violations of international humanitarian law perpetrated by Russia’s forces in Ukraine, which have caused a devastating impact on the civilian population. Violence against civilians, including women, children, and prisoners of war is unacceptable.

    They expressed their outrage at Russia’s repeated attacks against critical infrastructure and they condemned in the strongest possible terms any targeting of civilian buildings and even hospitals. Ensuring the protection and resilience of Ukraine’s energy grid and its power generation capacity remains a fundamental and urgent priority as winter approaches. They welcomed the international conference on energy security held on August 22. .as well as the ongoing coordination of the G7 energy group. They reiterated their commitment to help Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs, as well as support its long-term recovery and reconstruction priorities. 

    Russia must end its war of aggression and pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. The G7 members reiterated their commitment to explore and use all possible lawful avenues by which Russia is made to meet those obligations.

     The launch of the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans for Ukraine, as mandated by G7 leaders, will make available approximately USD 50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine that will be serviced and repaid by future flows of extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilization of Russian sovereign assets held in the European Union and other relevant jurisdictions.

    The G7 Foreign Ministers and the High Representative are working, together with Finance Ministers, to operationalize the G7 Leaders’ commitment by the end of the year. They will maintain solidarity in this commitment to providing this support to Ukraine. The G7 members confirmed that, consistent with all applicable laws and their respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in their jurisdictions will remain immobilized until Russia ends its aggression and pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine.

    They also committed to strengthening the Ukraine Donor Platform to help coordinate the disbursal of funds and ensure they align with Ukraine’s highest priority needs at a pace it can effectively absorb. This will play a key role in advancing Ukraine’s reforms in line with its European path and in contributing to a successful Ukraine Recovery Conference to be held in Italy in 2025.

    Any use of nuclear weapons by Russia in the context of its war of aggression against Ukraine would be inadmissible. They therefore condemned in the strongest possible terms Russia’s irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric, as well as its posture of strategic intimidation. They also expressed their deepest concern about the reported use of chemical weapons as well as riot control agents as a method of warfare by Russia in Ukraine. 

    The G7 members remained committed to holding those responsible accountable for atrocities in Ukraine, in line with international law. They also condemned the seizures of foreign companies and called on Russia to reverse these measures and seek acceptable solutions with the companies targeted by them.

    They condemned Russia’s seizure and continued control and militarization of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which poses severe risks for nuclear safety and security, potentially affecting the entire international community. They reiterated their support to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts directed at mitigating such risks.

    They underlined once again their support for Ukraine’s right of self-defense and reiterated their commitment to Ukraine’s long-term security, recalling the launch of the Ukraine Compact in Washington on 11 July 2024. They re-affirmed the intention to increasing industrial production and delivery capabilities to assist Ukraine’s self-defense. They highlighted their support to Ukraine in its efforts to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its own defense industry. They expressed their resolve to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to save lives and protect critical infrastructure.

    They remained committed to raising the costs of Russia’s war of aggression by building on the comprehensive package of sanctions and economic measures already in place. Though existing measures have had a significant impact on Russia’s war machine and ability to fund its invasion, its military is still posing a threat not just to Ukraine but also to international security.

    The G7 members expressed the intention to continue taking appropriate measures, consistent with their legal systems, against actors in China and in third countries that materially support Russia’s war machine, including financial institutions, and other entities that facilitate Russia’s acquisition of items for its defense industrial base.

    They expressed their intention to continue to apply significant pressure on Russian revenues from energy and other commodities. This will include improving the efficacy of the oil price cap policy by taking further steps to tighten compliance and enforcement, including against Russia’s shadow fleet, while working to maintain market stability.

    They especially emphasized the urgency to support Ukraine’s energy security, including by coordinating international assistance through the G7+Ukraine Energy Coordination Group. They underscored the importance to continue working with the Ukrainian authorities and International Financial Institutions through the Ukraine Donor Platform, and by mobilizing private investments and fostering participation of civil society.

    They highlighted the reality of millions of internally displaced Ukrainians and the importance of an inclusive rights-based, gender-responsive recovery, including the reintegration of veterans and civilians with disabilities, and to address the needs of women, children as well as other population groups who have been disproportionately affected by Russia’s war of aggression. They reiterated their condemnation of Russia’s unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children and welcomed coordinated efforts to secure their safe return.  They called on Russia to release all persons it has unjustly detained and safely return all civilians it has illegally transferred or deported, starting with children. They welcomed the Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine’s 10 point peace formula that will be hosted by Canada on October 30-31.

    They reiterated the need to support Ukraine’s agriculture sector, which is critical for global food supply, particularly for the most vulnerable nations, and called for unimpeded exports of grain, foodstuffs, fertilizers and inputs from Ukraine.

    They acknowledged the importance to involve the private sector in the sustainable economic recovery of Ukraine. They welcomed and underscored the significance of Ukraine itself continuing to implement domestic reform efforts, especially in the fields of anti-corruption, justice system reform, decentralization, and promotion of the rule of law. These endeavors are in line with the Euro-Atlantic path Ukraine has embraced. The G7 members were unanimous on the need to continue to support efforts of the Ukrainian government and people in these endeavors.

    They resolutely condemned Russia’s holding of illegitimate ‘elections’ in the occupied Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Russia’s actions once again demonstrate its blatant disregard for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence, and the UN Charter. They called on all members of the international community to refrain from recognizing Russia’s illegitimate actions.

    They welcomed the Summit on Peace in Ukraine that took place in Switzerland on June 15-16 and its focus on the key priorities needed to achieve a framework for peace based on international law, including the UN Charter and its principles, and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They remained committed to follow up on the Conference through constructive engagement with all international partners to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

    The G7 members acknowledged that Russia continues to expand its campaigns of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). They condemned Russia’s use of FIMI to support its war of aggression against Ukraine. They reiterated their determination to bolster the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism by developing a collective response framework to counter foreign threats to democracies.

    4. Situation in the Middle East

    The G7 members reiterated their condemnation of Hamas’ horrendous attacks on October 7, 2023. 101 hostages are still in the hands of Hamas. They noted with deep concern the trend of escalatory violence in the Middle East and its repercussions on regional stability and on the lives of civilians shattered by this conflict, from the Gaza Strip to the Israeli-Lebanese Blue Line. Actions and counter-reactions risk magnifying this dangerous spiral of violence and dragging the entire Middle East into a broader regional conflict with unimaginable consequences. They called for a stop to the current destructive cycle, while emphasizing that no country stands to gain from a further escalation in the Middle East.

    They expressed their deep concern about the situation along the Blue Line. They recognized the essential stabilizing role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon in mitigating that risk. They demanded the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 (2006) and urged that all relevant actors implement immediate measures towards de-escalation.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their strong support for the ongoing mediation efforts undertaken by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to reach a resolution between the parties to the conflict in Gaza. They reiterated their full commitment for the implementation of the UNSC Resolution 2735 (2024) and the comprehensive deal outlined by President Biden in May that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in the flow of humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis, to secure a pathway to a two-state solution with a safe Israel alongside a sovereign Palestinian state. They urged the parties to the conflict to unequivocally accept the ceasefire proposal, stressing the need for countries in a position to directly influence the parties to cooperate in strengthening mediation efforts. They called for the full implementation of the terms of the ceasefire proposal without delay and without conditions.

    They called on all parties to fully comply with international law, including international humanitarian law. They expressed their deep alarm for the heavy toll this conflict has taken on civilians, deploring all losses of civilian lives equally and noting with great concern that, after nearly a year of hostilities and regional instability, it is mostly civilians, including women and children, who are paying the highest price. Protection of civilians must be an absolute priority for all parties at all times.

    The G7 members expressed concern at the unprecedented level of food insecurity affecting most of the population in the Gaza Strip. Securing full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access in all its forms and through all relevant crossing points remains an absolute priority. They urged all parties to allow the unimpeded delivery of aid and ensure protection of humanitarian workers by properly implementing de-confliction measures. They recognized the crucial role played by UN agencies and other humanitarian actors in delivering assistance especially health care for the most vulnerable persons, including the polio vaccination campaign. They expressed their support for UNRWA to effectively uphold its mandate, emphasizing the vital role that the UN Agency plays.

    The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering commitment, through reinvigorated efforts in the Middle East Peace Process, to the vision of a two-state solution where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders, consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions, and in this regard stress the importance of unifying the Gaza strip with the West Bank under Palestinian Authority. We note that mutual recognition, to include the recognition of a Palestinian state, at the appropriate time, would be a crucial component of that political process.  They expressed their concern about the risk of weakening the Palestinian Authority and underlined the importance of maintaining economic stability in the West Bank. They welcomed the EU’s 400 million Euro emergency package for the Palestinian Authority. All parties must refrain from unilateral actions and from divisive statements that may undermine the prospect of a two-state solution, including the Israeli expansion of settlements and the “legalization” of settlement outposts. They condemned the rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians, which undermines security and stability in the West Bank and threatens prospects for a lasting peace. They expressed their deep concern regarding the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank.

    They reiterated their commitment to working together – and with other international partners – to closely coordinate and institutionalize their support for civil society peacebuilding efforts, ensuring that they are part of a larger strategy to build the foundation necessary for a negotiated and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace. The G7 members called on Iran to contribute to de-escalation of tensions in the region. They demanded that Iran cease its destabilizing actions in the Middle East. They underlined that they stand ready to adopt further sanctions or take other measures in response to further destabilizing initiatives.

    They reiterated their determination that Iran must never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon and that the G7 will continue working together, and with other international partners, to address Iran’s nuclear escalation. A diplomatic solution remains the best way to resolve this issue.  As the IAEA remains unable to verify that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful, they urged Iran’s leadership to cease and reverse nuclear activities that have no credible civilian justification and to cooperate with the IAEA without further delay to fully implement their legally binding safeguards agreement and their commitments under UNSCR 2231(2015).

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms Iran’s export and Russia’s procurement of Iranian ballistic missiles. Evidence that Iran has continued to transfer weaponry to Russia despite repeated international calls to stop represents a further escalation of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia has used Iranian weaponry such as UAVs to kill Ukrainian civilians and strike their critical infrastructure.

    They reiterated that Iran must immediately cease all support to Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war against Ukraine and halt such transfers of ballistic missiles, UAVs and related technology, which constitute a direct threat to the Ukrainian people as well as European and international security more broadly.

    They reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to hold Iran to account for its unacceptable support for Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine that further undermines global security. In line with their previous statements on the matter, they underscored that they are already responding with new and significant measures.

    They also reiterated their deep concern about Iran’s human rights violations, especially against women and minority groups. They reiterated their call on Iran to allow access to the country to relevant UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures mandate holders.

    De-escalation efforts in the region must also include the immediate and unconditional termination of any attack by the Houthis against international and commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. The G7 members reiterated their strong condemnation of these attacks and the right of countries to defend their vessels from attacks. They called for the immediate release by the Houthis of the Galaxy Leader and its crew. They expressed their strong concern about the August 21 attack on the merchant vessel Sounion and the ongoing risk of an environmental catastrophe as salvage operations continue. They welcomed the efforts by the EU maritime operation Aspides and by the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect vital sea lanes. They appreciated the efforts of those countries that are committed to protect freedom of navigation and trade, as well as maritime security, in line with UNSCR 2722 (2024) and in accordance with international law.

    5. Fostering partnerships with African Countries

    The G7 members reaffirmed their commitment to support African nations in the pursuit of sustainable development as well as the creation of jobs and growth. The focus remains on fostering fair partnerships, built on shared principles, democratic values, local leadership, and practical initiatives.

    They reiterated their intention to align actions with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the specific needs of African countries, including plans to improve local and regional food security, infrastructure, trade, and agricultural productivity. They expressed their support for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, a crucial factor for Africa’s growth in the next decade.

    The G7 members emphasized the need to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries and regional organizations. In addition to maintaining financial support for African nations, they expressed their determination to improve the coordination and effectiveness of G7 resources, mobilizing domestic resources and encouraging increased private investments.

    They welcomed the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20, and the creation of an additional Chair for Sub-Saharan Africa on the IMF Executive Board in November.

    They reaffirmed their commitment to the G20 Compact with Africa, a tool aimed at enhancing private investment, driving structural reforms, supporting local entrepreneurship, and fostering cooperation, particularly in the energy sector. The G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), and initiatives like the EU’s Global Gateway can contribute to promote sustainable, resilient, and economically viable infrastructure in Africa, ensuring transparency in project selection, procurement, and financing. In this framework, they welcomed Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.

    They recognized that sustainable development, peace and security and democracy go hand in hand, reaffirming their commitment to help African governments in strengthening democratic governance and respect for human rights, while addressing conditions conducive to terrorism, violent extremism, and instability.

    They expressed their deep concern about the destabilizing activities of the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and other Russia-supported entities. They called for accountability for all those responsible for human rights violations and abuses.

    6. Indo-Pacific

    The G7 members reiterated their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, based on the rule of law, which is inclusive, prosperous and secure, grounded on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights. They reaffirmed the importance of working together with regional partners and organizations, notably the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They reaffirmed their thorough support for ASEAN centrality and unity. They reaffirmed their intention to work to support Pacific Island Countries’ priorities, as articulated through the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

    As they seek constructive and stable relations with China, they recognized the importance of direct and candid engagement to express concerns and manage differences. They reaffirmed their readiness to cooperate with China to address global challenges. They expressed their deep concern at the China’s support to Russia. They called on China to step up efforts to promote international peace and security, and to press Russia to stop its military aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. They encouraged China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine. They also expressed their deep concern at China’s ongoing support for Russia’s defense industrial base, which is enabling Russia to maintain its illegal war in Ukraine and has significant and broad-based security implications. They called on China to cease the transfer of dual-use materials, including weapons components and equipment, that are inputs for Russia’s defense sector.

    They recognized the importance of China in global trade. However, they expressed their concerns about China’s persistent industrial targeting and comprehensive non-market policies and practices that are leading to global spillovers, market distortions and harmful overcapacity in a growing range of sectors, undermining our workers, industries and economic resilience and security, as well as impacting on currencies.  The G7 members are not decoupling or turning inwards. They are de-risking and diversifying supply chains where necessary and appropriate and fostering resilience to economic coercion. They called on China to refrain from adopting export control measures, particularly on critical minerals, that could lead to significant supply chain disruptions. Together with partners, the G7 members will invest in building their respective industrial capacities, promote diversified and resilient supply chains, and reduce critical dependencies and vulnerabilities.

    They remained seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas and reiterated their strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. They reaffirmed that there is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and they reiterated their opposition to China’s militarization and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea. They re-emphasized the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirmed UNCLOS’s important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. They reiterated that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on 12 July 2016 is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties. They reiterated their strong opposition to China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries’ high seas freedom of navigation. They expressed deep concern about the dangerous and obstructive maneuvers, including water cannons and ramming, by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia against Philippines vessels. 

    The G7 members reaffirmed that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to international security and prosperity, and called for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues. There is no change in the basic position of the G7 members on Taiwan, including stated One-China policies. They supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is.

    They remained concerned by the human rights situation in China, including in Xinjiang and Tibet. They are also worried about the crackdown on Hong Kong’s autonomy and independent institutions, and ongoing erosion of rights and freedoms. They urged China and the Hong Kong authorities to act in accordance with their international commitments and applicable legal obligations.

    The G7 members strongly condemned North Korea’s continuing expansion of its unlawful nuclear and ballistic missile programs in violation of multiple UNSC resolutions and its continuous destabilizing activities. They reiterated their call for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and demanded that North Korea abandons all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other WMD and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner, in accordance with all relevant UNSC resolutions. They called on North Korea to return to dialogue to promote peace and stability in the Korean peninsula. They urged all UN Member States to fully implement all relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They reiterated their deep disappointment with Russia’s veto last March on the mandate renewal of the UNSC 1718 Committee Panel of Experts.

    They condemned in the strongest possible terms the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including North Korea’s export and Russia’s procurement of North Korean ballistic missiles and munitions in direct violation of relevant UNSCRs, as well as Russia’s use of these missiles and munitions against Ukraine. They are also deeply concerned about the potential for any transfer of nuclear or ballistic missiles-related technology to North Korea, in violation of the relevant UNSCRs. They urged Russia and North Korea to immediately cease all such activities and abide by relevant UNSCRs. They urged North Korea to respect human rights, facilitate access for international humanitarian organizations, and resolve the abductions issue immediately.

    They called on China not to conduct or condone activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities and the integrity of our democratic institutions, and to act in strict accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

    7. Regional Issues

    Venezuela

    The G7 members reiterated their deep concern about the situation in Venezuela, following the vote on July 28.

    They emphasized that the announced victory of Maduro lacks credibility and democratic legitimacy, as indicated by reports of the UN Panel of Experts and independent international observers as well as data published by the opposition. They underscored that it is essential for electoral results to be complete and independently verified to ensure respect for the will of the Venezuelan people. 

    They expressed their outrage for the arrest warrant and constant threats to the security of Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who decided to seek refuge in Spain. According to the above-mentioned independent reports, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia appears to have won the most votes.

    They urged Venezuelan representatives to cease all human rights violations and abuses, arbitrary detentions and widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms, particularly affecting the political opposition, human rights defenders, and representatives of independent media and civil society. They called for the release of all political prisoners and for a path to freedom and democracy for the people of Venezuela.

    They urged the international community to keep Venezuela high on the diplomatic agenda and they expressed their support for efforts by regional partners to facilitate the Venezuelan-led democratic and peaceful transition that the people of Venezuela have clearly chosen in the polls.

    Haiti

    The G7 members expressed their determination to continue supporting Haitian institutions – including the Transitional Presidential Council (CPT) and the Government of Prime Minister Conille – in their commitment to create the necessary conditions of general security and stability for the convening, by February 2026, of free and fair elections. The expression of popular will would set the foundation for the full restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Haiti.

    They also expressed full support to the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, which is providing critical support to the Haitian National Police as they counter criminal gangs engaged in illicit trafficking and inflicting brutal violence upon the population.

    The G7 members emphasized the importance of continued support to the MSS mission through financial contributions to the UN Trust Fund as well as contributions in kind. They expressed their strong appreciation for the commitment of the Government of Kenya – which has already deployed 380 personnel on the ground – to support the Haitian National Police in restoring peace and security.

    They called on all countries that have committed to deploy their contingents to the MSS mission to do so as soon as possible, to consolidate the mission and its fundamental role in the Country. They called on Haiti’s partners to continue their humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people and to expedite their financial and in-kind contributions to the MSS mission to help ensure that the mission is resourced for success.

    They called also on the United Nations Security Council to consider a UN Peace Operation to maintain the security gains of the Haiti National Police and the MSS mission for holding free and fair elections and called on the Secretary-General accordingly to provide support.

    The G7 members welcomed the work of the G7 Working Group on Haiti in monitoring institutional, political, social and security developments in Haiti, with a view to supporting the stabilization of the country and the restoration of full democratic governance.

    Libya

    The G7 members reiterated their unwavering commitment to Libyan stability, sovereignty, independence and unity. They expressed deep concern about recent developments in the country, in particular those involving the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya and the High Council of State, which show the fragility and unsustainability of the present status quo. They urged relevant Libyan parties to rapidly reach the necessary compromises to begin to restore the institutional integrity of the Central Bank of Libya and its standing with the international financial community. They called on Libyan political actors to refrain from taking harmful unilateral actions that create further political tension and fragmentation and make the country vulnerable to harmful foreign interference.

    They noted advances made in the organization of local elections and they called for a free, fair and inclusive participation of all Libyans. It is now imperative to relaunch a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process facilitated by the UN towards free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections.

    They expressed their support and commended the efforts made by UNSMIL officer in charge Stephanie Koury in support of the stabilization of Libya. They called on the Secretary General to appoint a new Special Representative without delay.

    Sudan

    The G7 members reiterated their grave concern over the ongoing fighting, mass-displacement and famine in Sudan.

    They condemned the serious human rights violations and abuses against the civilian population, including widespread sexual and gender-based violence, as well as international humanitarian law violations by both sides to the conflict. They called for an immediate end to the escalating violence, which is creating further displacement, and urged the warring parties to ensure the protection of civilians. They reiterated their commitment to holding accountable all those responsible for violations of international law in Sudan.

    They condemned the emergence of famine in Sudan as a direct consequence of efforts to restrict access of humanitarian actors. They noted recent progress in relation to the re-opening of the Chad-Sudan Adre border crossing, in the wake of the Paris Conference and of the Geneva talks.  They called for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access both into Sudan and across lines of conflict so aid can reach all those in need.

    They urged all parties to cease hostilities immediately and to engage in serious negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire, humanitarian access and protection of civilians without pre-conditions.

    They called on external actors to refrain from fueling the conflict, to respect the UN arms embargo on Darfur, and to play a responsible role in resolving the crisis.

    They welcomed mediation efforts by regional and international actors and organizations to facilitate a durable peace for the country.

    Inclusive, national dialogue, aimed at restoring democracy, re-establishing and strengthening the civilian and representative institutions after the end of the conflict, is a prerequisite for lasting peace. The G7 Members emphasized that it is necessary for representatives of Sudanese civil society, including women, to be fully engaged in the reflection on the political future of the country.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Tanzania: African Development Bank grants $129 million loan to agricultural project generating decent jobs for young people

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, September 24, 2024/APO Group/ —

    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) on 20 September 2024 approved a $129.71 million loan to Tanzania for the implementation of a youth-focused agribusiness program.

    The loan will fund the first phase of the “Building a Better Tomorrow: Youth Initiatives for Agribusiness” program, which aims to create business opportunities and jobs for young people in key agricultural sectors.

    The total cost of the project is estimated at $241.27 million. In addition to the Bank’s loan, which covers 53,76 percent of the cost, the funding package includes grants of $1.15 million from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Trust Fund and $210,000 from tropical vegetable seed firm East-West Seed. The Tanzanian government will provide $110.41 million, representing 45.76 percent of the total.

    Patricia Laverley, the Bank’s Country Manager for Tanzania, said: “This project is expected to incubate and empower approximately 11,000 ‘agripreneurs,’ including at least 6,000 young agribusiness owners.” She added that the program will facilitate access to finance for an additional 2,500 young people already involved in agribusiness but lacking access to commercial loans. We expect each agribusiness run by a young person will employ an average of five workers.”

    The project will implement strategies to raise awareness and manage knowledge using youth-oriented information and communication technologies. It will also provide training and support for agrifood business incubation and acceleration, with a particular focus on the recruitment of female applicants.

    Digital technologies, including satellite technology and artificial intelligence, will be utilized to improve agricultural productivity and decision-making processes for young farmer cooperatives.

    As of 30 June 2024, the African Development Bank approved 25 projects in Tanzania, with a total commitment of $3.48 billion.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt’s fears about Ethiopia’s mega-dam haven’t come to pass: moving on from historical concerns would benefit the whole region

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Mike Muller, Visiting Adjunct Professor, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand

    A new round of angry exchanges has broken out between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

    On September 1, Cairo wrote to the UN security council to protest against Ethiopia’s continued filling of Africa’s second largest reservoir and bringing two more power generating turbines into operation. Egypt sees any new infrastructure development on the Nile as a potential threat, since the river is the source of over 98% of the country’s water.

    Egypt calls this a violation of international law and Ethiopia’s obligations to “prevent significant harm”. Ethiopia’s policies, it says,

    could result in an existential threat to Egypt … and would consequently jeopardise regional and international peace and security.

    Ethiopia has told Egypt to “abandon its aggressive approach” towards the dam. Ethiopia says that it must allow the Blue Nile’s water to flow through the dam’s turbines and on to Egypt to generate the hydropower for which it has been built, thus guaranteeing the overall flow to Egypt.

    I have tracked the Nile disputes since the 1970s, first as a development journalist, then as a civil engineer and senior public servant. More recently, my research on water and regional integration for regional development agencies has provided further insights. My 2021 study considered the lessons to be learnt for today’s water challenges from centuries of the use and management of Nile waters.


    Read more: Innovations on the Nile over millennia offer lessons in engineering sustainable futures


    Ongoing tension between Egypt and Ethiopia over control of the Nile River has a long history. Therefore, in one sense, the row between Egypt and Ethiopia is nothing new.

    The countries went to war as far back as 1874, even as they both were also battling European colonialism. Ethiopia won the war of 1874 and, 20 years later, beat back Italy’s attempt to colonise it, at the battle of Adwa.

    However, Egypt gained long term advantage from treaties negotiated by the British, which gave Cairo almost total control over the Nile. Egypt is still asserting the rights and privileges conferred by those colonial era treaties even though they are being challenged by other Nile countries. In my view, this is because Egyptians are still trapped by their past fears. As Norwegian professor Torje Tvedt has explained, these fears were deliberately entrenched by past colonial authorities.

    With these perspectives, my view is that the current controversy over the Ethiopian dam still reflects historical conflicts rather than a careful analysis of present challenges.

    Now 90% complete, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has begun to generate electricity. A series of good rainy seasons have allowed the reservoir to start filling rapidly without affecting Egypt’s water availability.

    The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam offers not just cheap green electricity for Ethiopia and the sub-region as well as reliable irrigation supplies and flood control for Sudan. Once filled, its storage could offer supply security and increase the amount of water available for Egypt as well.

    The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam

    What, then, are the issues that have prompted Egypt’s recent protests and what are the possible solutions to the problems raised?

    The immediate technical challenge is to continue filling the dam without disrupting flows to Sudan and Egypt. The filling process might have to be interrupted if there is a regional drought. So recent developments, notably the greater focus on the rate at which the dam will be filled rather than the legality of its construction, suggest that there is a shift in positions which neither side is yet willing to acknowledge publicly.

    This shift will be supported when other future-focused issues are raised. For instance, there must be negotiations about the supply of electricity to support Sudan’s irrigation expansion, although this is on hold due to the war in Sudan. In the longer term, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia could cooperate to use the GERD’s storage to help Egypt to manage its Aswan High Dam more efficiently. Aswan currently suffers very high evaporation losses, which could be reduced if its reservoir levels were better controlled. The GERD could help to do this.

    Unfortunately, the history of colonial Britain repeatedly threatening to cut Egypt’s Nile water supplies has been deeply imprinted in Egyptian public consciousness. It is understandable that Egyptians still fear a similar threat from Ethiopia. The responsibility now falls on Ethiopia to show good faith in its operation of the dam and to work with Egypt to change the combative discourse.

    Potential for cooperation

    Egypt’s repeated complaints have alerted Ethiopia and international organisations of the need to act carefully. If there is another regional drought, Ethiopia will need to slow the rate at which it completes filling its dam. Informal liaison structures are monitoring the situation and such a response would help to build a more constructive engagement with Egypt.

    Water is a patient teacher. Every season provides an opportunity for those who live with its natural cycles to understand it better. The hope is that, if the three countries experience the benefits of some seasons of the dam’s operation, the natural cycle will reveal the potential for cooperation and mitigate the conflict.


    Read more: Sudan’s catastrophe: farmers could offer quick post-war recovery, if peace is found


    When peace returns to Sudan, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam will enable a vast expansion of irrigation to develop its role as a regional breadbasket. The dam will also help to manage Nile floods which regularly cause death and destruction, even to Sudan’s capital, Khartoum.

    Efforts to promote cooperation between the East African countries that share the White Nile have been relatively successful. However, such cooperation on the Blue Nile will need much greater trust between the parties. To achieve this trust, the countries and their people will have to overcome centuries of cultural and political preconceptions. This will require much patient work and interaction, which is not easy in the current climate.

    – Egypt’s fears about Ethiopia’s mega-dam haven’t come to pass: moving on from historical concerns would benefit the whole region
    – https://theconversation.com/egypts-fears-about-ethiopias-mega-dam-havent-come-to-pass-moving-on-from-historical-concerns-would-benefit-the-whole-region-239418

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Accomplishments at the United  Nations

    Source: The White House

    Since his first day in office, President Biden has been committed to restoring American leadership at the United Nations. Our world today faces many challenges that no one country can or should confront alone. But when the United States shows up and leads at the UN, we can rally global action to tackle problems that affect us all. That is why the Biden-Harris Administration has worked tirelessly at the UN to advance American values, safeguard human rights for all, and address conflict and instability. Alongside our allies and partners from around the world, we have worked with UN agencies to tackle the climate crisis, shape our digital future, and fight poverty and disease.

    At a time of increasing geopolitical challenges and growing global needs, strong and effective American leadership at the UN is more critical than ever. The Biden-Harris Administration has worked to strengthen American leverage at the United Nations, uphold the UN Charter, and keep human rights at the core of the organization. Without robust American engagement, our competitor nations would gain leverage to advance their interests and values at our expense.

    The Biden-Harris Administration has also been committed to reforming and adapting the UN to the needs of the 21st century. For example, President Biden announced a new U.S. openness to expanding the membership of the UN Security Council, including permanent seats for Africa and Latin America. The UN is not a perfect organization, but given the scale of today’s challenges, the world needs global institutions that are more inclusive and effective.

    Over nearly four years, the Biden-Harris Administration’s leadership at the UN has delivered results for the American people. At the UN, we have:

    Responded to Threats to International Peace and Security

    • After Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we worked at the UN to build support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and hold Russia to account. We rallied 141 countries in the UN General Assembly to condemn Russia’s violations of international law. We used UN Security Council debates to shine a spotlight on Russia’s illegal war and atrocities. We pressed the UN General Assembly to kick Russia off the UN Human Rights Council. We isolated Russia by denying it senior UN appointments and preventing its election to UN bodies.
    • Responding to the security situation in Haiti, we partnered with Ecuador to obtain UN Security Council authorization of a new Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support mission.
    • Working with African partners, we secured a UN Security Council decision to create in December 2023 a new mechanism to largely fund future African Union-led Peace Support Operations from the UN-assessed budget.
    • Following the horrific October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, we defended at the UN Security Council Israel’s right to defend itself and demanded the release of hostages. Also in the Security Council, we called for increased humanitarian assistance to Gaza and established a new UN mechanism to improve aid coordination. In July 2024, we secured Security Council endorsement of President Biden’s plan for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
    • As the Sudan conflict worsened, we mobilized action in the UN Security Council, including the adoption of a resolution in June 2024 demanding an end to the siege of El Fasher.
    • Responding to concerns that Russia intended to deploy nuclear weapons in space, we and Japan proposed a UN Security Council resolution calling on countries not to develop such weapons.
    • In 2022, we partnered with Ireland at the UN Security Council to reform, expand and strengthen humanitarian exemptions for UN sanctions.
    • Working with the United Kingdom, we secured adoption of the first-ever UN Security Council resolution condemning the February 2021 military coup in Burma.

    Protected and Upheld Universal Human Rights

    • We rejoined the UN Human Rights Council in 2021, enabling the United States to once again lead multilateral efforts to hold accountable human rights violators worldwide.
    • We issued a standing invitation to all UN thematic human rights monitors to visit the United States and assess our human rights record at home. In contrast to authoritarian governments, this invitation showed that a confident democracy is willing to have its record scrutinized and receive advice on strengthening rights protections for its citizens.
    • We pressed for the release of a landmark report from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on human rights violations against Uighurs in China.
    • We worked in the UN Human Rights Council to establish a new Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Russia to examine Moscow’s crackdown on dissent at home and a Commission of Inquiry on violations and abuses in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
    • We restored American leadership at the UN in defending the human rights of LGBTQI+ individuals around the world. This included participating in high-level meetings of the Core Group of countries advocating for LGBTQI+ rights, including a September 23 meeting where the First Lady represented the United States. We also secured the renewal of the mandate of the UN’s Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and urged the UN to release its first-ever organization-wide strategy on LGBTQI+ rights, co-sponsoring the first-ever Human Rights Council resolution on the rights of intersex persons, and convening the second-ever informal UN Security Council meeting on the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals.
    • We spotlighted egregious human rights violations by North Korea, including by organizing the first briefing of the UN Security Council on North Korea human rights since 2017.
    • We helped establish mechanisms through the UN Human Rights Council to investigate human rights violations and abuses in Ethiopia, Sudan, and Nicaragua.
    • We worked at the UN to advance the global fight against antisemitism, including to ensure 36 countries and four multilateral organizations joined the U.S.-led Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism. In 2023, we convened a UN meeting on antisemitism with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and, in 2022, a roundtable at UNESCO.  
    • We advanced the UN’s work to promote racial equality, including by championing the inaugural session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. We co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution designating July 25 as International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent.
    • We engaged seriously with the human rights treaty body process, including through periodic reports about our domestic human rights record to the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
    • Reaffirming support for the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we pressed for enhanced participation of Indigenous Peoples throughout the UN system. In 2022, Ambassador (ret.) Keith Harper, the first-ever Senate confirmed U.S. ambassador from a federally-recognized tribe, was elected to the UN’s Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues.  
    • We supported efforts in the UN General Assembly to advance discussion of a proposed convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.  
    • After assuming the presidency of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), we hosted the UNCAC conference in Atlanta, Georgia in 2023, with approximately 2,600 delegates, including an unprecedented 1,000 from civil society.

    Advanced Gender Equity and Equality

    • We restored American leadership in pressing at the UN for the rights of women and girls, advancing their inclusion in societies, and supporting strong language in UN resolutions and at the Commission on the Status of Women on sexual and reproductive rights.
    • The January 2021 Presidential Memorandum on Protecting Women’s Health at Home and Abroad restored life-saving funding to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
    • We announced that the United States will contribute for the first time to the UNICEF–UNFPA Global Program to End Child Marriage.
    • Following the Iranian regime’s killing of Mahsa Amini and crackdown on protestors, we helped establish a new UN Fact-Finding Mission to investigate human rights abuses. We spearheaded efforts to remove Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women.
    • In 2024, we reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development Program of Action.
    • We launched the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse, which included actions at the UN to address online safety for women and girls.

    Shaped Our Digital Future, Promoted Labor Rights, and Tackled Synthetic Drugs

    • We sponsored the first-ever UN General Assembly resolution outlining principles for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). This landmark resolution helped define a global consensus on safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems for advancing sustainable development.
    • We hosted events at the UN on misuses of new technologies, such as countries using commercial spyware to surveil dissidents and journalists.
    • We worked at the International Labor Organization (ILO) to empower workers worldwide and joined the ILO’s Equal Pay International Coalition to share best practices to close the gender wage gap.
    • At the first Summit for Democracy in 2021, we announced the Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment and Rights (M-POWER), an initiative working with governments, trade unions, labor support, civil society organizations, and philanthropy to uphold and promote workers’ trade union rights around the world.
    • In coordination with the UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), we launched and hosted at the UN high-level meetings of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats and secured adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution to enhance international action to fight such drugs.

    Strengthened Global Health Cooperation, Advanced Sustainable Development, and Bolstered Climate Action

    • We redoubled efforts to support implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, launching a U.S. Strategy on Global Development to accelerate progress and mobilizing $150 billion of U.S. funding and billions more from the private sector, philanthropic, and other donor resources.
    • In 2021, we reversed the previous administration’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), enabling the United States to shape the WHO’s work on global health and reform. With the WHO, we led the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic by launching the COVID-19 Global Action Plan and donating nearly 700 million vaccine doses to 117 countries.
    • We hosted the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s 7th Replenishment in 2022, resulting in more than 75 governments, foundations, and corporations delivering pledges totaling a record $15.67 billion.
    • We worked at the UN to advance universal health coverage, continue the fight against tuberculosis and mpox, and combat global antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including to push countries for commitments on AMR that are bold, aspirational, and implementable.
    • We focused attention at the UN on addressing global food insecurity, repeatedly using the U.S. presidency of the UN Security Council to focus on the nexus between food security and conflict. We hosted at the UN ministerial-level meetings to generate new commitments to expand agricultural capacity and respond to famine with over 100 partner countries.
    • U.S. Representative to the UN Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland co-led the U.S. delegation to the 2023 UN Water Conference, where they announced more than $49 billion towards water security both at home and abroad.
    • In 2024, Secretary Haaland co-led the U.S. delegation to the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), where we announced new efforts to enhance our partnerships with SIDS.
    • After rejoining the Paris Agreement, we galvanized efforts at the UN to combat climate change, raising global climate ambition through countries’ enhanced national contributions, accelerated action to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, forward-leaning decisions at annual UN Climate Change Conferences, and major initiatives for ocean-climate action catalyzed by the annual Our Ocean Conference.
    • Former Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy John Podesta have helped lead an all-out effort, including critical agreements at the UN Climate Change Conference COPs 26 and 28 to partner with countries to accelerate climate efforts worldwide and reduce global emissions sufficiently to limit warming to 1.5° Celsius. 
    • We advanced efforts within the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Maritime Organization, and other multilateral organizations to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from the aviation, shipping, and other sectors.

    Strengthened American Presence at the United Nations

    • After a five-year absence, we rejoined the UN Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This allowed us to partner with UNESCO to combat the scourge of antisemitism, support global Holocaust education, promote journalist safety, safeguard Ukrainian cultural heritage, bolster ethical uses of AI, and advance science education for girls in Africa.
    • We led robust campaigns resulting in the election of U.S. citizens to key UN positions, including Doreen Bogdan-Martin as Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Amy Pope as Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Sarah Cleveland as Judge on the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
    • We supported the appointments of highly qualified Americans to lead UN agencies, such as Ambassador Cathy Russell as Executive Director of UNICEF, Ambassador Cindy McCain as Executive Director of the World Food Program, and Ian Saunders as Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization.
    • Co-chairing the UN Accessibility Steering Committee, we worked to make UN headquarters in New York more accessible for all delegates, including construction of a 24/7 entrance for wheelchair users and the installation of a lift so everyone can address the General Assembly from behind the official rostrum.

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    MIL OSI USA News