Category Archives: African Union

Inside Somalia’s impasse: election talks collapse amid mistrust and blame

Posted on by

Leaders holed up inside Mogadishu’s high-security international airport have failed to agree a plan, risking further unrest

For nearly a month, men from the militias of at least two of Somalia’s five federal member states have been stationed inside Mogadishu’s high-security international airport compound as their leaders attend a circuit of meetings to end the electoral impasse.

The huge complex bristles with barbed wire and armed men in and out of uniforms. In the car park of one of the compound’s hotels, a four-wheel pickup truck mounted with a large gun idles. A handful of young men have built a makeshift camp around the car.

Continue reading...

Until Africans get the Covid vaccinations they need, the whole world will suffer | Paul Kagame

Posted on by

We’re not asking for charity, but fairness – instead of the hoarding and protectionism currently in play

  • Paul Kagame is the president of Rwanda

The current situation with regard to the access and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines vividly illustrates the decades-old contradictions of the world order.

Rich and powerful nations have rushed to lock up supply of multiple vaccine candidates. Worse, some are hoarding vaccines – purchasing many times more doses than they need. This leaves African and other developing countries either far behind in the vaccine queue, or not in it at all.

Continue reading...

How Covid could be the ‘long overdue’ shake-up needed by the aid sector

Posted on by

Analysis: as need outstrips funding, experts are making the case for overhauling ‘old-fashioned’ donor-recipient narratives

This year one in every 33 people across the world will need humanitarian assistance. That is a rise of 40% from last year, according to the UN. More than half of the countries requiring aid to help deal with the coronavirus pandemic are already in protracted crises, coping with conflict or natural disasters.

Even before Covid-19 threw decades of progress on extreme poverty, healthcare and education into reverse, aid budgets were heading in the wrong direction. In 2020, the UN had just 48% of its $38.5bn (£28bn) in funding appeals met, compared with 63% of $29bn sought in 2019.

Continue reading...

African countries unite to create ‘one stop shop’ to lower cost of Covid-19 tests and PPE

Posted on by

Online marketplace for medical supplies will allow continent to buy in bulk and lower costs, says South Africa’s president

African countries have pulled together to set up a one-stop shop to give the continent a fairer chance in the international scramble for Covid-19 test kits, protective equipment and any vaccines that emerge.

The Africa Medical Supplies Platform will work like eBay or Amazon, unlocking access to supplies across the continent, and could save billions of pounds.

Continue reading...

UK channels aid budget as it seeks closer ties with Africa post-Brexit

Posted on by

£395m trade boost is aimed at countering China’s spending on the continent

Britain has unveiled plans to channel part of the £14bn aid budget through the City as it seeks to exploit the global reach of the finance sector to boost investment in Africa.

Details of the £395m package were announced by the international development secretary, Alok Sharma, ahead of a high-level UK-Africa investment summit next Monday.

Continue reading...

West stirring up unrest in Zimbabwe to force regime change, says Zanu-PF

Posted on by

Party briefing blames ‘rogue NGOs’ and ‘hostile intelligence services’ for violence

Zimbabwe’s ruling party believes western powers are behind a “revolution” to bring about regime change in the country, according to documents seen by the Guardian.

Related: Zimbabwe crackdown could last months, activists fear

Continue reading...

African Union calls on DRC to delay election announcement

Posted on by

Bloc has ‘serious doubts’ over vote, for which declared runner up has called a recount

The African Union has issued a surprise last-minute demand for the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government to suspend the announcement of final results of the deeply disputed presidential election.

DRC’s constitutional court is poised to rule as early as Friday on a challenge filed by the election’s declared runner-up. Martin Fayulu has requested a recount, alleging fraud.

Continue reading...