Category: Governance

European Union leaders are to meet Thursday for a summit dominated by migration, the economy and, not surprisingly, Ukraine. Reports suggest Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — who arrived in London on Wednesday — may attend the Brussels summit in person.

The EU’s two-day summit comes ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and days after top EU officials held a summit with Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

Besides Western Europe, Ukraine’s leader has made only one other known trip outside his homeland since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; that trip was to Washington in December, where he met with United States President Joe Biden and addressed the U.S. Congress.

Zelenskyy wants several things from the Europeans, including to speed up Ukraine’s bid to join the EU, more weapons ahead of an expected Russian offensive, and more sanctions against Moscow.

Brussels is unlikely to fast-track Kyiv’s membership application. But in Kyiv last week, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen praised Zelenskyy’s commitment to join the bloc.

“I must say I am deeply impressed, and I want to commend you for the preciseness, the quality and the speed at which you deliver,” she said. “This is phenomenal.”

Europeans already have committed billions of dollars in defense and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Brussels is also expected to unveil a 10th sanctions package against Moscow later this month.

zeleMigration is also set to dominate the summit amid a sharp uptick in economic migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Europe this past year. That’s on top of the millions of Ukrainian war refugees.

Today, some EU member states are calling for tougher policies — and fences — against what they call “irregular” migration. Using EU funds for border fences is especially divisive.

“I think migration and asylum policy remains a very tricky issue within the EU — with the EU witnessing its biggest migration and asylum crisis since World War II,” said Pauline Veron, a policy advisor at the European Centre for Development Policy Management, a Netherlands-based think-tank.

Veron said that, even as many Europeans continue welcoming Ukrainian refugees, they are feeling rising angst about migration from Africa and elsewhere.

Source: Voice of America

On the third day of his trip to Africa, Pope Francis told leaders of the Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo they can help fight the injustice that has plagued the region for so long.

Francis spoke Thursday as he led prayers at the Notre Dame du Congo cathedral, also called Our Lady of the Congo, in the DRC capital, Kinshasa. The audience consisted of many of the nation’s priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and seminarians.

He told them they have reminded him of the difficulties they face living in a land so rich and beautiful, yet so hurt by “exploitation, corruption, violence and injustice.”

As Francis arrived, a group of protesters gathered outside the cathedral to urge the pope to address sexual abuse on the part of Catholic priests and punish those responsible. They carried banners urging the pope to use the law to stop sexual abuse.

Tim Law, founder of the group known as Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, told reporters they were there to urge the pope to take action on a high-profile case in which a 14-year-old girl was raped by a priest and it was covered up by the bishop. He said the nuns and priests who reported the incident were all fired, in violation of the pope’s own order that whistleblowers be protected.

Law said that “if he [the pope] enforces this rule, he sends a message that he cares about African children.”

Earlier Thursday, the pope addressed a crowd of tens of thousands of young people gathered at Martyr’s Stadium in the capital. There, he urged them not to become discouraged in their efforts to resist and fight corruption.

The pope’s African visit continues Friday when he travels to Juba, the capital of South Sudan. The nation gained independence from Muslim-majority Sudan in 2011 after a drawn-out and violent conflict, becoming a majority Christian nation.

Officials said they have more than 5,000 security personnel put on active duty in preparation for the papal visit.

Source: Voice of America

FOREIGN MINISTER SHOUKRY: Now join us as we try to (inaudible) somewhat so that they don’t take up too much of the time, but it seems that we failed to do that. We recognize the interest of your visit. But let me again welcome you. This is an important relationship that I think has been beneficial to both sides for the last four decades. We look forward to continuing to work closely together in stabilizing this region and promoting our bilateral relationship for the best interests of both Egypt and the United States. We’ve always had similar views of many of the issues related to the region and international issues. We look forward to even a stronger relationship, a strategic relationship – a hundred years that we are celebrating centennial. So we certainly will work closely with you to continue to promote this important relationship.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you very much, Sameh. And I will keep it very short because I know we’ll have an opportunity to speak to our colleagues a little bit later, but simply to say it’s very good to be here, very good to be with you. We had good conversations at the Africa Leaders Summit in Washington. I was very much appreciative of the time we were able to spend with the president this morning. And simply, to your point, this is a vital partnership for us. Egypt has been and remains a force for peace and stability and security in a region that certainly needs even more of that. And our work together in so many different areas to advance peace and security is more important than ever, as well as the bilateral relationship itself and the work that we’re doing together. So I look forward to continuing the discussions, and we’ll have a chance to share more with our colleagues in a little while. Thank you.

Source: US State Department

Brazzaville – For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Africa is emerging from the holiday season without a significant spike in COVID-19 cases.

A total of 20,552 new cases were recorded in the first three weeks of January 2023, which represents a drop of 97% compared to the same period last year. However, an increase in cases has been reported in South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia in the past two weeks. The drop in the number of newly reported cases may be partly due to low COVID-19 testing rates, but it is critical to note that hospitalizations for severe forms of the disease as well as deaths have dropped significantly. As of 22 January 2023, 88 deaths associated with COVID-19 have been reported in the Region, compared to 9096 for the same period in 2022.

“For the first time since COVID-19 turned our lives upside down, the month of January does not mean an increase in the number of cases. Africa is entering the fourth year of the pandemic with hopes of emerging from emergency response mode,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “However, with the variants still circulating, it is important that countries remain alert and put in place measures to effectively detect and combat any further rise in infections. »

In 2022, Africa did not experience any major pandemic peaks, outbreaks lasted an average of three weeks before fading. In contrast, in 2021, the continent experienced two pandemic waves caused by more transmissible and deadly variants.

With the gradual slowdown in the number of new cases over the past year, the low transmission of the virus is expected to continue in the coming months, with possible occasional spikes. However, it remains essential that countries maintain their capacity to detect and respond effectively to any unusual outbreaks of cases.

Over the past year, as African countries have stepped up efforts to scale up vaccination, only 29% of the continent’s population have completed the primary round of vaccination as of January 22, 2023, compared to 7% in January 2022. However , the vaccination rate for adults aged 18 and over has increased from 13% in January last year to 47% currently.

However, only four countries in the African Region vaccinated more than 70% of their population, 27 vaccinated between 10 and 39%, while 11 covered between 40 and 70% of their population. Vaccination of high-risk populations has seen some progress with 41% of healthcare workers fully vaccinated in 28 countries and 38% of older people in 23 countries.

To further expand vaccination coverage, in addition to vaccination campaigns, it is important to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into routine health care services that take into account the needs of the most vulnerable. So far, 12 African countries have started integrating COVID-19 vaccination into routine health services.

“As the trajectory of the pandemic evolves, our approach must also evolve. We are helping countries put in place effective ways to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are available, accessible and delivered over the long term,” said Dr Moeti. “We know from experience that huge immunization shortfalls can be the perfect opportunity for the resurgence of vaccine-preventable infections. Even though COVID-19 cases are down, the pandemic may take an unexpected turn. But we can count on vaccines to avoid a disastrous outcome. »

Vaccination against COVID-19 remains essential to protect against severe disease and death, as the virus continues to circulate and mutate.

In Africa, Botswana and South Africa are the only countries to have detected the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant, one of the sublines with public health implications. Genomic sequencing has slowed as COVID-19 testing rates have fallen. In the past week, only three countries have reached the WHO benchmark of five tests per 10,000 people per week, down from 25 at the same time in 2022.

So far this year, 1896 sequences have been submitted. In the same period last year, 7625 sequences were made. Sequencing is essential to track variants and help prepare for a rapid and effective response.

Dr. Moeti spoke today at a press conference. She was accompanied by Ms. Wilhelmina Jallah, Minister of Health of Liberia, and Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Also present to answer questions were experts from the WHO Regional Office for Africa: Dr Thierno Baldé, COVID-19 Response Operations Manager, Dr Phionah Atuhebwe, Vaccine Introduction Manager , and Dr Patrick Otim, Head of Health Emergencies at the Serious Events Management Unit.

Source: World Health Organization

Officials in Cameroon say separatists have killed two election officials in Cameroon , capital of the Northwest region. The rebels have vowed to disrupt Cameroon’s March 12 Senate elections. The government says election preparations will continue, despite the killings.

Cameroonians say they got up on Friday morning and noticed that the military presence in major streets of Bamenda, the capital of Cameroon’s Northwest region, had increased.

The military said several homes, especially in the area around Foncha Street, a popular neighborhood, were searched Thursday night but did not say why the search was carried out or if any arrests were made.

It is on Foncha Street that the body of Gilbert Yufela Tateng, district chairman of Cameroon’s elections management body in Jakiri town, about 90 kilometers north of Bamenda, was found Thursday morning.

The military said Tateng was shot and killed Wednesday night.

The elections body, ELECAM, said Tateng was preparing for Cameroon’s March 12 senatorial elections.

ELECAM also said John Fai, its official in charge of organizing elections in Momo, an administrative unit in the Northwest region, was also killed on Thursday. Both ELECAM and the government of Cameroon say the officials were killed by separatists.

Capo Daniel, spokesperson and deputy defense chief of the separatist Ambazonia Defense Forces, said the two officials defied separatists’ orders and were involved in election preparations.

“Any Ambazonia citizen that participates in Cameroon’s senatorial elections will face serious consequences. The officials of Cameroon that are charged to conduct such elections, will be hunted by our forces for charges of enabling colonialism,” Daniel said. “Two officials of ELECAM have already suffered the fate for collaborating with an enemy state to enforce its laws on our people.”

Separatists dismiss local media reports that Fai was killed by an angry mob.

Ambazonia is what English-speaking separatists call the breakaway state they are fighting to carve out from majority French-speaking Cameroon.

President Paul Biya last week announced that Senate elections will be held March 12. ELECAM staff are in their offices accepting candidate applications ahead of the January 28 registration deadline.

ELECAM chairperson Enow Abrams Egbe told a news conference in Yaounde this week that security has been improved following separatists’ threats to disrupt the elections.

“We must be ready to meet the challenges ahead, and in so doing, bring our efficient contributions to the peacebuilding process, dialogue and national cohesion in our dear and beautiful country,” Egbe said. “Our vision and ambition is to increase voter turnout and preserve citizens’ rights to vote as guarantee for inclusive and universally accepted electoral process in our country,”

Cameroon’s government says the elections must take place as planned.

About 15,000 councilors in 60 divisions across Cameroon make up the electoral college that will vote on March 12.

Lawrence Tangwa, a councilor from Bui, an administrative unit where Jakiri is located, says voters, candidates and elections officials should not be punished for organizing or participating in elections.

“I know that there are threats quite alright, but it is the right of the state to protect citizens and property,” Tangwa said. “It is a civic responsibility to take part in elections, it is your own way that you participate in local development because if you’re not there to choose the persons that will lead you, certainly people will make wrong choices for you and I think that they (voters and candidates) are all mobilizing towards the 12th of March.”

Separatists in English-speaking western Cameroon launched their rebellion in 2017 after what they said was years of discrimination by the country’s French-speaking majority.

The conflict has killed more than 3,500 people and displaced more than a half-million, according to the United Nations

Source: Voice of America

The United Nations said Wednesday peacekeepers discovered mass graves in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following a series of attacks blamed on a local militia.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters one grave in the village of Nyamamba contained 42 bodies, including six children. Seven bodies were found in a grave in the village of Mbogi.

The graves are located in Ituri province, where Haq said there has been a “significant deterioration of the security situation in Djugu and Mahagi territories.”

Haq said since December, the U.N. peacekeeping mission has said at least 195 civilians have been killed and 84 people abducted in incidents linked to two armed groups, CODECO and Zaire.

The U.N. says more than 1.5 million people have been displaced in Ituri, and the attacks have hampered humanitarian efforts.

Source: Voice of America