Category: Inside Africa

By Bola Olajuwon, Assistant Editor

BETWEEN 600 million and 800 million mobile subscribers will benefit from Africa Communication and Information Platform for Health and Economic Action (ACIP).

Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Vera Songwe said this during the virtual launch of ACIP.

Ms. Songwe deplored the state and high cost of Internet access in Africa, stating: “In an era of pandemic and economic crisis, it’s even more difficult for people to spend the little resources they have to pay for access.”

ACIP is a mobile-based tool for two-way information and communication between citizens and governments. It furnishes national and regional COVID task forces with user-generated survey data and actionable health and economic insights that will enable authorities to better analyse pandemic-related problems and implement appropriate responses.

The launch was presided over by Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who lauded the initiative.

He noted that it “responds to member states’ requests for assistance in collecting and processing essential data to respond effectively to COVID-19”.

Guinea President Alpha Condé pledged to “make sure that all 55 AU member-states are part of this initiative (ACIP)”.

Condé said the uncertainties around COVID-19 make a strong case for Africa to speedily embrace the fourth industrial revolution, ensuring better internet access and affordability.

Director of Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Dr. John Nkengasong said the platform offers a “unique opportunity to change the way we conduct disease surveillance, enhance our ability to acquire good and timely data, and make all Africans count.”

The good news, however, is that while the ECA is working with key stakeholders to solve the problem of internet access, reliability, and cost, the ACIP can reach over 80% of Africa’s mobile users without adding the burden of cost on them.

“We, as operators, can waive the charges for USSD because chances are that many people battling the pandemic in some rural areas may not have airtime,” said Robert Shuter, CEO of MTN. He said the uniqueness of the ACIP initiative got MTN and its “competitors to agree that this was an area for collaboration and cooperation.”

The launch was also attended by African ministers in charge of ICT, who urged stakeholders to ensure that there were synergies between the ACIP and efforts being made in the area of digital technology to combat COVID-19 at national levels.

ITU’s Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, called on African regulators and ICT ministers to “back this new platform.” He said artificial intelligence and big data are at the heart of the ACIP and that the support of telecommunication regulators from each country is “absolutely needed.”

Thirty-six African member states are already part of the initiative. The platform will also allow COVID-taskforces to deploy health and economic resources to mitigate the pandemic’s impact.

Zimbabwe said it has earned $221.32 million after selling 95 million kilogrammes of tobacco leaf since the selling season opened on April 29.

In a trading update, the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board said the sales were 40 per cent higher than that of last year, which stood at $158.07 million.

The average price at auction and contract floors was $2.33 per kg, higher than $1.79 in the same period of last year.

READ ALSO: FG calls on Nigerians to support fight against tobacco

Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s second largest foreign currency earner behind gold.

The country sold 259 million kg of tobacco leaf worth more than $500 million last year, up from 253 million kg in 2018.

(Xinhua/NAN)

After retaking the country’s main airport, the Libyan Army on Thursday announced the complete liberation of the capital Tripoli, while its forces move into another city to the southeast, the last stronghold for warlord Khalifa Haftar in western Libya.

“Tripoli has been liberated and fully secured, and we have reached the administrative borders of the city of Tarhuna, southeast of the capital,” said Mustafa al-Majei, the spokesperson of the Burkan Al-Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation.

Al-Majei confirmed that the Libyan Army has entered the Fam Malgha area of Turhuna, 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Tripoli.

“The military vehicles of putschist Khalifa Haftar’s militia have been seen withdrawing from Tarhuna towards the city of Bani Walid,” 180 km (112 miles) southeast of Tripol, al-Majei added.

On Wednesday, the Libyan Army of the internationally recognized government managed to retake Tripoli airport from Haftar’s militias.

In March, the Libyan government launched Operation Peace Storm to counter attacks on the capital, and recently regained strategic locations, including the Al-Watiya airbase, in a major blow to Haftar’s forces.

Libya’s government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to the military offensive by Haftar’s forces.

.(www.newsnow.co.uk)

The leadership of West Africa (ECOWAS) Youth Council has decorated Mr. Adedayo Falusi as an ambassador of the council.

Chairperson of the Council, Amb William-Ologun Oluwaseun, announced this in a statement.

He said: “As enshrined in our mission statement, the WAYC is dedicated to the productive engagement of youths for the advancement of the human race. We are committed to ensuring favourable youth policies across the countries in the West Africa region.

” We have considered Mr ADEDAYO FALUSI as an Ambassador of the council after meeting up with the standard requirements of achieving same. He can now be addressed as Amb. Falusi

“We charge him to do more and not rest on his laurels. He should now increase the tempo and extend his youth empowerment and opportunities, philanthropical gesture and advocacy beyond Nigeria.”

READ ALSO: COVID- 19: ECOWAS youths distribute relief materials

He added: ” Falusi has, over the years, shown tremendous commitment to youth empowerment, empowerment and advocacy in Ondo state and across Nigeria, not minding racial or religious background. Many youths have, through him, attain greater heights in their chosen carrier.”

He further revealed the Council is identifying with individuals such as Falusi, who are shining figures across the region.

He said the Council’s ambassadors represent everything its preach and stand for.

Falusi commended the entire body of West Africa (ECOWAS) Youth Council for honouring him with the Thomas Sankara Leadership award

He said: “I’m dazed at the fact that the WAYC could recognize a low profiled humanitarian and leader like myself. I see the gesture as an encouragement to relentlessly keep up with my humanitarian efforts. For me this is a bigger call to keep doing well.”

Many Rwandans looked forward to the capture of Felicien Kabuga, who managed to evade arrest on numerous occasions in the past 26 years before being tracked down in Paris on May 16.

“We were worried that he could die before justice is done.

“There is now relief that he is going to face the court,” Charles Ngarambe told dpa.

Ngarambe was a teacher at a school in Mukarange in the northern Byumba region, where Kabuga lived.

He narrowly escaped days before the genocidal killings erupted in 1994, but lost nine members of his family.

A French court decides on Wednesday if Kabuga will be handed over to the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), which has been dealing with fugitives from justice in the Rwandan genocide.

The IRMCT normally tries Rwandan cases in neighbouring Tanzania, but prosecutors are asking that Kabuga be held temporarily at The Hague, in the Netherlands, in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Many Rwandan genocide survivors hope that after the extradition process runs its course, his final stop will be back home to face justice.

According to the dossier of the Paris prosecutor general handling the hearing, Kabuga had “lived with impunity in Germany, Belgium, Congo-Kinshasa, Kenya, and Switzerland” and was living under a false identity in the Paris suburb of Asnieres-sur-Seine at the time of his arrest.

For members of Ibuka, the Rwandan genocide survivor organisation, it would be fitting for Kabuga to be tried in Rwanda, the scene of his alleged crimes against humanity, rather than an international court.

“We know the transfer is possible because the ICTR (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) court has already sent genocide suspects to be tried in Rwanda,” Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu of Ibuka told dpa.

The ICTR, a special court set up in Arusha, Tanzania convicted at least 60 high-ranking criminals who initiated and incited the genocide.

Other remaining cases were left to its successor court, the IRMCT.

READ ALSO: Rwanda’s most-wanted genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga arrested in France

According to Human Rights Watch, as the ICTR wound down its work before it closed in 2015, it handed over at least seven cases to Rwandan courts, suggesting it is possible for Kabuga to go on trial there.

Jean Damascene Bizimana, the executive secretary of CNLG, a Rwandan body established to fight genocide ideology, said that although Kabuga may not have picked up a gun, he used his money to coordinate the genocide.

Kabuga is accused of financing the massacre and importing vast quantities of machetes from China which the Interahamwe militia used to slaughter victims.

The wealthy Hutu businessman, a friend of former Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, was indicted in 1997 on seven counts: complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide.

Other counts are: attempt to commit genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, persecution and extermination in relation to the mass murder of the Tutsi and moderate Hutu ethnic groups in Rwanda.

The roots of the Tutsi and Hutu conflict stretch back through generations, but the genocide was sparked by the death of Habyarimana, whose plane was shot down on April 6, 1994.

The Interahamwe immediately launched a 100-day killing spree, often hacking their victims to pieces in their homes, churches, football stadiums and at roadblocks set up for this purpose.

Mass graves are still being discovered to this day, especially since prisoners involved in the genocide complete their sentences and provide new information about where victims were buried.

(dpa/NAN)

Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

Africa can only overcome its developmental challenges when its leaders focus on the mobilisation and growth of the continent’s abundant human, agricultural and other natural resources.

The National Coordinator, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu said this in a message commemorating the 2020 Africa Day.

Akobundu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in Nigeria, said when African nations patronise locally made products and services, the continent’s production capacity will improve.

She added such decision will not only impact the continent greatly, it will eventually lead to Africa’s development in every sector.

Akobundu was quoted, in a statement by her media aide, Abolade Ogundimu, as hailing Africa’s reactions to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Ogundimu further quoted Akobundu as saying: “The global COVID-19 pandemic is a right pointer at the need for African leaders and followers alike to sincerely look for solutions to their problems within themselves at all times.

“Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, predictions on its impact in Africa had never been favourable but ironically, the continent appeared to be least affect in terms of COVID-19 positive cases and mortality despite the state of infrastructure.

“The resilience of the continent has been proven in its approach to contain spread of the virus through manufacturing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) like face mask, hand gloves, sanitizers, even ventilators that used to be imported from other continents.

“Similarly, Nigeria and other African nations have been feeding themselves in the past four months without importing foreign foods,such revolution in other sectors will further grow the nation “she said.

READ ALSO: Buhari hails OIC response to African development challenges

Akobundu observed that African nations could achieve a lots in terms of development if they continue to patronise themselves even after the end of the lockdown.

“This is the right time to adopt both bottom-top and top-bottom approaches to every sector of national and continental socio-economic development.

She commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to ensuring the nation’s self-sufficiency through deliberate policies which became the saving grace since the beginning of global lockdown on importation of goods and services.

Akobundu also called for sustenance of collective efforts by African nations on ‘Silencing the Guns by 2020’ and Peer Review Process to deepen Governance and Development in the continent.

“Following President Buhari’s approval of Nigeria is already in the process of Second Cycle Review in 2019 after 11 years, the country is already in the process of conducting its self-assessment in APRM thematic areas.

“The themes include: Democracy and Political Governance; Economic Governance and Management ;Corporate Governance and; Broad-based Sustainable Socio-economic Development.

“I urge the general public to give maximum support to the process, so that sincere reports on the exercise from across the six geo-political zones during town hall meetings can be presented to the Federal government to form its National Programme of Action,”she said.

By Wofai Ibiang

African leaders have consistently neglected their country’s health sector despite several pledges to improve it. A Brookings Institute report highlighted that as of 2015, Africa accounted for one percent of the global health spending, even though the continent bore 23 percent of the world’s disease burden. In 2001 the leaders of 52 African countries met in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and committed to dedicating 15 percent of their annual domestic budget on health through a Millennium Declaration.

However, according to the WHO, only Botswana, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia have met this target. Reports such as that from CNN with the news headline Africa’s leaders forced to confront healthcare systems they neglected for years, gives most Africans a ray of hope. Hope that the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will nudge African governments to realize the importance of investing in national healthcare and that the wakeup call will have them prioritize the healthcare system of their respective countries.

Most health and civil society enthusiasts are advocating that public-private partnerships (PPPs) are the way to go to achieve better healthcare in Africa. After all, the business of health is attractive, with estimates that Africa’s healthcare and wellness sector has the potential of $259 billion in business opportunities and creating 16 million jobs by the year 2030. I highlight here that transparency and accountability need to improve if the gains of designing PPPs are to be achieved in Sub-Saharan Africa’s health system.

Captions such as ‘Africa’s $66B health financing gap requires private sector power, experts say’, from Devex, affirm the gusto in PPPs for Africa’s healthcare. Like any other PPPs, many factors have to be critically considered for PPPs in health projects to be successful. As I browsed through tons of research on infrastructure and PPPs in Africa, transparency and accountability were a common feature. Poor governance and a lack of transparency have the ability to undermine success in other vital elements of PPPs in healthcare. Corruption has long been identified as one of the major impediments to Africa’s structural transformation, and it trickles down to nearly every facet of society in majority of Sub-Saharan African countries.

To realize the gains of PPP projects in the health system, the issue of corruption in public and private procurement needs to be addressed. This has been done in other regions such as South America and the Caribbean, where Inter-American Development Bank with other partners introduced a platform called InvestmentMap. A tool that links the State and citizens by giving citizens a means to track public investments in all economic and social sectors. This management tool has increased transparency and accountability and information dissemination of public financing for all audiences in the countries where it is introduced.

What if the African Union and indeed African Development Bank introduced a similar tool which is, of course, adapted to the African context? An impact assessment paper in 2019 confirmed that after the launch of the InvestmentMap or MapaRegalias in Columbia, showed that the efficiency of physical execution increased by an estimated 8 percentage points for public investment projects financed by royalties. Introducing a tool such as the InvestmentMap has the potential to facilitate the effectiveness of PPP projects in Africa by curbing corruption through its transparency and accountability property. This is achievable considering that mobile phone penetration across Sub-Saharan Africa has increased in the past decade. According to a ZDNet report, the number of mobile internet subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa quadrupled since the start of the last decade. In Nigeria alone, there are 97.5 million unique mobile subscribers and a projection that this statistic will grow to 135 million by the year 2025. This milestone is already being harnessed to achieve gains in areas such as digital financial services. At the end of 2017, there were 135 live mobile money services found in 39 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa. This data is indicative of the potential that the mobile phone penetration can be exploited to increase transparency and accountability of infrastructure projects in the region.

Upgraded digital infrastructure and better e-government services can unlock Africa’s PPP potential further, although more developed digital skills are necessary. But any government wishing to make effective use of PPPs must establish effective institutions as the baseline for their development, the resources available to governments today, place this goal within their reach, provided there is political will and determination to implement them effectively.

Ibiang, is of International Development Professional and Master of International Public Policy (MIPP) Graduate Student at The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International StudiesWashington DC, USA. Email: wibiang1@jhu.edu or wofaibiang19@gmail.com

This write-up is endorsed by Prof. Olivier Fremond who has over 20 years’ experience in the field of PPPs and is an Advisor to the World Bank Group’s Public-Private Partnerships Division in Washington DC.