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Tag: African leaders

  • ECA to African leaders: honour your word

    AfricaN leaders should honour their commitment to allocate 10 percent of their budgets to agriculture if the continent is to improve food security, reduce poverty and spur economic growth, Batanai Chikwene of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has said.

    Speaking in Cairo, Egypt, Chikwene, a Programme Management Officer with African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), an ECA organ, said more resources were needed to support agriculture and smallholder farmers as the continent is  thriving under the  African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    “The AfCFTA will be of immense help to smallscale farmers and start-ups on the continent. In addition to providing them with 97 percent market access and a framework for trade facilitation, it will eliminate barriers inhibiting their growth. But then access to finance is important, which is why I believe the time is ripe for us to urge our leaders to recommit themselves and build that capacity for farmers to increase productivity,” he said.

    Chikwene said under  AfCFTA, African  farmers must be ready  to feed people in their own countries, on  the  continent and also to penetrate international markets.

    He said the private sector could help to finance the sector, adding that Africa’s small scale farming is key to the continent’s economic success.

    In 2003 African leaders agreed in Maputo, Mozambique to focus on building agriculture. In the Maputo Declaration, they agreed to vote at least 10 percent of their budgets on the improvement of food security.

    “So far, just a few of our countries have kept their promise. Our farmers need the support if the AfCFTA is to make the huge difference that we expect it to make on the continent,” Chikwene said.

    The Head of Private Sector and Trade Finance, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Khalid Ahmed, said: “Smallholder farmers and SMEs are critical to the overall development of Africa and must be encouraged to grow. They contribute significantly to the economies of African nations and provide the basic needs of the people.”

    He said access to funds was important for them, adding financial institutions should be mandated to develop specific products targeted at assisting smallholder farmers and SMEs on the continent.

    Ahmed Elmekass, coordinator, AU-SAFGRAD and Sherine Sherin El-Sabag, an Industrial Development Advisor in Egypt’s Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform Ministry, also supported the call for more resources to be allocated to  agriculture.

    The IATF is a platform designed to help African firms ease into the huge market that will be created by the AfCFTA.

    Over 50,000 prominent deal makers, businesses, industries, investors, countries and suppliers attended  the IATF where up to $25-billion business deals, contracts and investment transactions were expected to be sealed.

  • ‘ICC not set up to target African leaders’

    International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Fatou BensoudaI has denied that the organisation targets mainly African leaders.

    She described the impression that the ICC was set up to target African leaders as a myth. BensoudaI spoke at the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in Rome.

    She said the ICC could investigate a case based on a petition by a state party.

    “However, where a country does not have the capacity to try such heinous crimes against humanity like genocide etc, the ICC may come in. The United Nations Security Council can refer a state to the ICC whether the State is a party or not.”

    The Court has made only three convictions for war crimes so far – Congolese rebels Thamos Lubanga and Germain Katanga, and Congo’s former Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba.

    Under Bensoudas tenure, the Court opened investigations into four new situations concerning alleged crimes in Mali, the Central African Republic, Burundi and Georgia.

    “The ICC is currently conducting nine live preliminary examinations for alleged crimes in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Iraq/UK and Colombia,” Bensouda stated.

    In a chat with The Nation after the session, former West African Bar Association (WABA) President Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) said he  was proud of BensoudaI as a former student of the University of Ife.

    “She has been able to demonstrate that the ICC was not set up to embarrass African leaders or leaders of any region.

    “And as she pointedly made it clear, the Court intervenes where a government is unwilling or unable to prosecute, or where the system is sufficiently capable to deal with crimes against humanity or genocidal act.

    “But what is important is for African lawyers to also participate in the court right now, even for cases emanating from Africa. The prosecutors and defence counsel are from outside the continent.

    “This is not good enough and I think that it is a challenge for our lawyers to African lawyers to take part in the activities of the court,” Falana said.

    Falana said he would encourage Nigerian lawyers to take up cases in the court.

    On how to get Nigeria to the ICC, Falana said: “You know that she spoke about the investigation going on with respect to Nigeria.  This has to do with the Boko Haram manace.

    “With respect to her, the ICC will not intervene when there are measures in place in any country to deal with crimes against humanity.

    “I would rather blame the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). That is why I wrote to the NBA last year: why don’t you challenge the Attorneys –General in the states for their failure to bring perpetrators of killings to book because culpable homicide or murder is state offence?

    “The alleged notorious kidnapper is being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government. When Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped in Ondo State, the suspects were arrested and they were successfully prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice.

    “So, it has to be a situation where the government deliberately refuses to prosecute, or bring perpetrators to book, that is when the ICC has to intervene,” Falana said.

  • Osinbajo urges African leaders to put service above self

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has urged African leaders to imbibe the Rotarian creed of service above self to berth a continent free from poverty and lack.

    He spoke yesterday evening at the Eko Hotel and Suites, while flagging off a training programme for Africa’s Rotary International District leaders organised by Zone 20A Institute of Rotary International.

    He said a continent plagued with leaders with underdevelopment have a lot to learn from an organisation like the Rotary whose over a century commitment to service above self have created a poll of global Rotary leaders ungrained with integrity.

    He said: ” We need to begin to dream of a world in which people unite to take action to make lasting change, which often do not come without selfless service”.

    He described end Rotary International as as world’s foremost humanitarian organisation that has continued to do good across the world without any strings attached.

    “It is time we begin to propagate what Rotary preaches as the essential element of leadership especially in Africa, which is srvicr above self. Sacrificial service to the society. Leaders need to understand that to build people physically and mentally, they need to make enormous sacrifices.”

    We need a new orientation where leadership learn that society is built on fairplay, equity and justice, Osinbajo added.

    In his welcome address, the Chairman Local organising Committee Mr Michael Olawale-Cole said the Zone 20A Institute is the first highest Rotary  event to ever take place in Nigeria.

    Welcoming global leaders among them the Rotary International President-elect Mac Daniel Maloney and his spouse, May, Past Rotary International President Jonathan Majiyagbe, a Nigerian,  Ogun State Deputy Governor Mrs Yetunde Onanuga, and Rotary International Trustee Julia Flitch and Past Rotary Intrrnational Director Phil Stephen, he said , the Institute which opened its doors to Africa’s Rotary leaders since Monday was a first layer training for incoming Rotary International leaders on the responsibilities ahead of them.

    The convener and Director of Rotary International Mr Yinka Babalola said the Institute is to raise the quality of leadership to. E able to respond to the needs of the society and add to the quality of life of their people.

    In his goodwill message Majiyagbe urged the participants to co.e up with a communique that would enrich Rotary International on the African continent.

    He called for an African office, adding that Nigeria is eminently placed to provide an office for the take-off of such if approved.

    He urged all participants to strive to be an inspiration to the world, adding that the world can be made better if all contribute their quota.

    The Rotary International President Elect for 2019-2020, Maloney said the world would be a better place “if each and all use our talent, our skill, our abilities and our wealth to change the wrong around us”.

    According to him, Rotary International is an organisation that allows each and all to contribute his skill and talent in changing the world around them. He added that the world has improved greatly because the volunteers across the world are committed to making the world a netter place for the indigent, the poor and the needy by providing them better healthcare, providing potable and safe water, sanitation and safety.

    The Zone 20A Institute would round up tomorrow.

  • Gambia President challenges African leaders

    African political leaders and politicians got a piece of advice from their colleague at the National Defence College, (NDC) Abuja during the graduation lecture delivered by the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow.

    Mr Barrow said it is no longer business as usual for African leaders, warning that if they do not serve the interests of their people, the people would abandon them at the polls.

    President Barrow warned African leaders against taking the people for granted especially as the level of awareness in the social media has become unprecedented.

    According to him, politicians can no longer fool the people considering the recent experiences of Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and other countries.

    Barrow who honoured the invitation of the management of the NDC to deliver the Graduation Lecture as part of activities lined up for the 2018 Graduation Ceremony of Course 26, said time has come for African leaders to remain focus and pragmatic in their approaches geared towards meeting the challenges of growth and development in the continent.

    Mr Barrow said with the recent experience of his country, it is clear that “if governments represent the interest of the people, the people will stand by them. If they oppress the people, the people will abandon them”.

    “This is what has happened in The Gambia, and it serves as a lesson for all leaders,” Barrow told the gathering among whom were the College Commandant, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, Mrs Saratu Batagarawa and Commandants of various military institutions in the country.

    Mr Barrow who was accompanied by ministers and security aides and other top government officials spoke on the topic: “Democratic Principles and Post Conflict Peace Building, Imperatives for the West African Sub- Region”.

    He drew a parallel between recent developments in his country and other countries within the continent, stating that the challenges of democratic governance are the same in several ways.

    He said: “While we seek to show the commitment of government to improve the lives of citizens, effective service delivery must be demonstrated. In other words, commitment must not only be expressed verbally, but should also be translated into concrete action. The level of awareness, in this social media era is unprecedented.

    “Therefore no government can fool itself into believing that it can be business as usual for ever. Politicians are often accused of making empty promises, yet they expect to be given the mandate to lead indefinitely.

    “Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal and The Gambia have shown clearly that politicians cannot continue to fool the electorate.”

    Mr Barrow explained that for democracy to be properly entrenched, certain fundamental principles , such as the rule of law, transparency and accountability, justice and equity, must be strictly adhere to by all institutions.

    He said: “Democratic governance requires a holistic approach in transforming the institutions and organisations to professional standard for them to live up to expectations. The challenges faced in transforming any sector in a democratic country are similar to those confronted by the security sector due to the special roles security forces play in their country’s political and economic systems”.

    He added that the role of the professional Security and Military Forces are also central to the development and growth of any democratic society, regretting that in the Gambia, the former President deliberately undermined the degree of professionalism of the security forces by involving security personnel in partisan political and commercial activities.

    He said: “Professionalism of the security apparatus of a country is a central element of democratic governance, and forms part of any transformation strategy. Absolute control by the civil authority over the security is impossible.

    “Accordingly, there should be shared responsibilities within the framework of democratic prudence. Importantly, the professional security forces need to accept their subordination in policy and resource allocation to the civil authority and refrain from engaging in divisive activities”.

    Mr Barrow lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, the United Nations, The African Union and the ECOWAS for the pressures they collectively mounted on Former President Yahaya Jammeh to step down and allow the will of the people to prevail regarding his electoral victory, last year, noting that it was their intervention that did not allow the crisis in the Gambia to get out of control.

    He noted that since assumption of duty, he has been preoccupied by the need to unite the people, gain their confidence and trust and transform the country towards the path of peace and prosperity given that it has been difficult for The Gambia to emerge from 22 years of dictatorship, institutionalized corruption and ruined economy.

    The Commandant of the NDC, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, in his address said the College would remain grateful to The Gambia president for honouring its invitation and for hosting the Course 26 Participants during their tour to The Gambia.

    Admiral Osinowo who noted the good and warm relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia, especially through the ECOWAS platform, said over 2,000 Participants have being trained by the College since its inception in 1992, adding that the Course 26 Participants are drawn from Asia, European and African countries.

  • Obasanjo urges African leaders to ensure peace

    •Ex-president seeks $100b lifeline for Africa from China

     

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo said yesterday that the only way there can be peace and security in Africa is for the continent’s leaders to spearhead it.

    He also sought $100 billion lifeline for African nations from China within 10 years.

    He, however, asked Africans to learn clarity of thought and discipline from China.

    Obasanjo made the submissions in a paper at a forum organised by Gusau Institute, in collaboration with the Centre for Nigerian Studies at the Institute of African Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, China.

    He said for poverty reduction, Sino-Africa relations should enter into strategic relationship and partnership.

    His paper was titled: “Sino-Africa relationship: New era for partnership on peace and security, governance and poverty reduction”.

    The ex-President, who attended the forum with her daughter, Funke, however, was unable to interact with reporters at the event because many dignitaries formed a wall around him and escorted him to his vehicle after the opening ceremony.

    But he said: “Wherever the conditions for peace, security, and stability is lacking, there can never be durable peace, security and stability.

    “Peace, security and stability in any society can be ensured by the people of that society, spearheaded by the leadership of the society.

    “It is when the leadership shows the way that the citizenry will follow and outsiders will render assistance and helping hand.

    “African leaders will spearhead their peace, security and stability architecture and programme and as it has happened in the past, it is then the Chinese will be able to render appropriate helping hands, based on the requests and desires of African leaders.

    “At Africa’s request, training and equipping military and security forces must not be left out.

    “We take it that peace, security and stability have been established with appropriate and required actions taken. And this can only happen within the context of good governance.

    “But good governance will not happen without good leaders imbued with nationalism, selfless commitment and nationwide view of responsibility, obligations, duties and nation-induced worldview and global programme.”

    He said for poverty reduction, Sino-Africa relations should enter into strategic relationship and partnership.

    He recommended a $100billion lifeline for African nations within a period of 10 years.

    He added: “In this, strategic arrangement of three areas of resources coming from China to Africa, i.e. grant, short-and-medium term concessional loan and long term loan should be evolved and strengthened.

    “Again, I see three areas that must be covered i.e, education, skill acquisition and capacity development, infrastructure and trade.

    “For instance, it has been estimated that Africa needs some $90billion for infrastructure every year. It will not be a bad idea if China can provide $10billion of that amount every year for a period 10 years in the first instance.

    “It will be about 10% of the estimated need for infrastructure but it will be impactful. All these can be done through China Development Bank, China Exim Bank and the proposed Infrastructure Development Fund along with the World Bank.”

    Obasanjo said Africa needs China in order to be able to develop faster.

    He said: “I have no doubt in my mind that Africa needs China, indeed, Asia, as they need us. Anybody who understands the depth of the Chinese immersion into the Confucian philosophy, their ability to stay focused and stick to longer term plan will not cast away such relationship

    “Again, what can Africa learn from the governance system and style of China? Here, I am not on ideological trail, rather I am on efficiency, effectiveness, performance, service delivery, commitment and focus.

    “If the Chinese have done it and are doing it at home, we can learn from them and they can impart to us their system, method and service that can be grafted to our existing and make a desirable change for us.

    “Within a space of about one generation from 1981 to 2012, China has lifted 500million people from poverty, the highest level of such feat in the history of humanity. China has been hugely successful in poverty reduction effort and China has a lesson to teach any developing country who cares to learn.”

    Founder/ Chairman of Gusau Institute Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau(rtd) asked Africans to develop homegrown solution to conflict management.

    Those at the session included ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a former Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, and the Managing Editor, News Agency of Nigeria, Bayo Onanuga among others.

     

     

     

  • African leaders and SDGs

    Coming shortly after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was wound down, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is one among the cocktail of measures by the global community towards making the world a better place.  I am a strong advocate in Nigeria and Africa for exploring the synergy between SDGs and good governance and leveraging the goals to work for our people and our humanity at large.

    Most of us are still saddened that we never fully explored the utility of MDGs as key development tools for the 15 years they lasted. I remain mindful of missed opportunities and lessons learned, more so as a former state governor who appreciated fully how sub-national governments could benefit from and be instrumental to the implementation of MDGs in the interest of humanity. One of the lessons was that as much as we tried as individual leaders to attain the MDGs, such measures fell far short of the full effects of collective action.

    It seems difficult to address SDGs without first grasping the harmful effects of not giving unfettered support to meeting the MDGs targets.  If the MDGs did not fly fully, will the consequent SDGs fly – since the SDG programme is a follow-on to the MDGs? I recall the then UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon’s frank observation that ”The Millennium Development Goals were a pledge to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity, and free the world from extreme poverty… The MDGs measured what mattered to people. As we look ahead, we must do more to reach those who are most vulnerable, are not counted and have not shared the improvements of the past 15 years”. Unquestionably, there was a void, but it must be admitted that where faithfully pursued, MDGs added value not just to good governance, but to overall development and quality of life, as exemplified in China.

    China’s successful integration of MDGs into its national development planning, with effective and coordinated implementation from national to local governments, helped the country to achieve an unprecedented transformative result, using the three most critical goals: lifted 439 million people out of poverty; achieved universal basic education ahead of schedule; and made tremendous improvements in health care for women and children, and disease prevention and control.

    In contrast, within this period in Africa, there was drastic under-performance in the three critical goals: Poverty rose from 290 million to 414 million persons; Less than 70% was achieved in universal basic education; the number of under-nourished children rose from 27 million to 32 million.

    An example of what could have been done to achieve better results could be drawn from our efforts in my state, Anambra, where we domesticated the MDGs via a home-grown mechanism tagged ”Anambra Integrated Development Strategy” (ANIDS). This approach enabled us to simultaneously engage constructively in seamless planning, budgeting, and implementation of all the MDGs. These enabled us to achieve remarkably visible results across the MDGs, especially in first three critical goals.

    We became the first state in Nigeria to conduct mapping to establish the statistics of poverty. A major finding from the study was that poverty was fuelled by inadequate access to rural communities, which made us construct rural roads across the state to open up those areas to development opportunities and grant rural farmers access to urban markets for increased earnings from their produce. As affirmed by the then Minister of Works and the Senate Committee on Works, Anambra State during our administration had the best road network, particularly rural roads, in the country.

    Poverty alleviation also received a boost from the reconstruction and rehabilitation of our Industrial Estate in Onitsha; attracting investments from such Fortune 500 companies like the then SABmiller. We further accelerated the pace of industrialization as first state in Nigeria to partner with the Bank of Industry to obtain low-interest loans for MSMEs domiciled in the state.

    Our decision to return schools to their original missionary proprietors gave rise to a novel and unprecedented Government-Church partnership. The state consistently earned the first position in most national examinations, with the added value of raising productivity in different walks of life. So unique were ANIDS and its dividends that the World Bank commissioned a study of our achievements by a team led by renowned Oxford University’s Professor Collier, for possible adoption by other governments. The World Bank supports Anambra State because of that revolutionary approach.

    In health, again with novel partnership with the missionaries, we were able resuscitate 10 Schools of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Technology. Existing hospitals were rehabilitated and revamped through huge investments in facilities and staffing. We also established 10 primary and maternal health hospitals in rural communities across the state from the money we won from Melinda and Gates Foundation by being the best state in the eradication of polio; and at the tertiary level, a teaching hospital. With these efforts, Anambra State achieved reduction in infant mortality ahead of the MDGs deadline of 2015.

    It has been argued that the framework of the SDGs and Agenda 2030 (with 17 goals, 169 targets and 230 indicators) is too broad to make any meaningful impacts possible. But the reality is that the SDG framework is only as broad as the prevailing global challenges and unmet development needs. If we desire truly to attempt to end poverty and ensure that people’s human dignity and human rights are respected, we should be less concerned about the multiplicity of goals, targets and indicators. Rather, we should get to work – moving from agenda to action.

    I share the views of Helen Clark, the then UNDP Administrator, who recognized in 2015 that world leaders had the unique and unprecedented opportunity ”to shift the world onto a path of inclusive, sustainable and resilient development”. If  the SDGs programme is a continuum and should kick off where the MDGs ended, then the African continent needs to acknowledge that it failed in the three most critical MDGs and that such poor results must not be repeated with the SDGs.

    It is instructive that the MDGs success was offset by prevailing challenges and many areas of unmet needs, which characterized the results and progress as at best halting and mixed. Lingering problem areas likely to affect the SDGs include lack of political will, poor co-coordination, bureaucratic bottle-necks, poor resource management, erratic industrial actions, poor or total lack of true and validated baseline data, poor budgeting and accountability, and non-coordination between federal, state and local government agencies.

    Drawing from our experience in the poor implementation of the MDGs in Africa, making the SGDs work requires complete domestication of SDGs into the development planning of each country, and tailoring their effective and coordinated implementation modalities to the peculiarities of each nation and their sub-national and local geo-political entities.

    Effective funding is of critical importance. Africa cannot be parsimonious in funding the SDGs and expect the programme to achieve its set goals. Africa must match their funding efforts with broad support for the development of human capital and eschew negative trends like nepotism and corruption that chase capital and investments away. Nepotism is worse than corruption because it kills hard work and professionalism as people’s hard work would not match their opportunities.

    Africa must premise their action on the understanding that the most critical drivers of the SDGs are human beings – the beneficiaries and the implementers. Besides the human component, the continent must strive for adequate, reliable data collection, processing and utilization; effective evaluation and  monitoring at every stage of progress; transparent and inclusive budgeting; accountability; applying lessons learned and grasping missed opportunities; and strong political will.

    Finally, Africa owes it to our humanity to rally to a consensus that the SDGs must not flounder like the MDGs on account of collective inaction. The time to act is now, and this Global Festival of Action for SDGs represents a clarion “Call to Action”. Africa must overcome their lethargy, and must seize the moment.

     

    • Excerpts from remarks by Peter Obi, Former Governor of Anambra State at the Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development Goals, At the World Conference Centre, Bonn, Germany,   March 21-23.
  • Trump tells African leaders: I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich

    Trump tells African leaders: I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich

    UNITED States President Donald Trump yesterday told African leaders that he has many friends going to Africa to get rich.

     Trump was addressing African presidents attending the 72nd United Nations General Assembly on the continent’s business potential.

     “Africa has tremendous business potential,” said Trump at a luncheon at the Palace Hotel, adding:

    “I have so many friends going to your countries trying to get rich. I congratulate you.”

     He spoke of African businesses representing huge amounts of different markets.

     “For American firms, it has become a place they have to go.”

     “We hope to extend our economic partnerships with countries who are committed to self-reliance and to fostering opportunities for job creation in both Africa and the United States,” he said.

     “Secretary Tillerson and the Millennium Investment Corporation are already considering investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars in Cote Ivore, which has made impressive economic reforms,” he added.

     Trump also acknowledged allies of the U.S. in Africa who have partnered with America in the fight against terrorism, adding that America will continue to monitor violence in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

     He also noted that the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley would be travelling to Africa to help in resolving conflicts.

     At the luncheon was President Muhammadu Buhari, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo and others.

     

  • Osinbajo to African leaders: don’t leave legacy of war, poverty

    Osinbajo to African leaders: don’t leave legacy of war, poverty

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged African leaders to do everything possible not to bequeath burden of war, misery and poverty to the next generation.

    He spoke at the ongoing African Union summit in Addis Ababa where he led the discussion on peace and security.

    Nigeria is the Chairman of the AU’s Peace & Security Council, a continental equivalent of United Nation’s Security Council.

    He urged the leaders to embrace a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of violence in countries on the continent.

    Osinbajo said: “We need to rekindle our political will and determination not to bequeath to the next generation of Africans the burden of wars, poverty and misery.  It is therefore necessary for the Assembly to reaffirm the overriding importance of holistically addressing the root causes of violent conflicts in our countries.

    “The Peace and Security Council has continued to relentlessly discharge its mandate of promoting peace, security and stability in our continent. Our peace and security agenda must remain on the front burner of our deliberations. We have no choice  peace, security and stability are  fundamental to the realisation of sustainable development and to assure our peoples of decent and happy lives.

    “As we move towards silencing the guns by 2020, our collective resolve must remain solid and steadfast to effectively tackle conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”

     

     

    “Pursuant to our 50thAnniversary’s Solemn Declaration, and under Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Peace and Security Council in the month of July, we will prioritise the adoption of practical measures to address the current security challenges in South Sudan, Somalia, Guinea Bissau, the Sahel-Sahelo and Lake Chad Basin regions.

    “Furthermore, Nigeria will strengthen the engagement with all AU Member States in confronting the menace of child soldiering and millions of out-of-school children in armed conflict areas.

    “As a first step, we must ensure the full implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), especially the operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF) and the Peace Fund. In particular, the Government of Nigeria reiterates the need for the Peace and Security Council to work towards removing all distractions and impediments to the full attainment of operational capacity of the African Standby Force.  To ensure the effectiveness of the African Union peace support operations, the Regional Economic Communities and relevant international bodies, especially the United Nations must remain strategic pillars of peace, security and development of the Continent as envisioned in Agenda 2063.

    “We must redouble our efforts and, and without equivocation avail the necessary resources, in order to successfully achieve the goals set out in Agenda 2063. We need to rekindle our political will and determination not to bequeath to the next generation of Africans the burden of wars, poverty and misery.  It is therefore necessary for the Assembly to reaffirm the overriding importance of holistically addressing the root causes of violent conflicts in our countries.

    “The tragic consequences of wars and conflicts in Africa are self-evident. The millions killed and maimed,  the Millions displaced, children out of school , set us back decades economically and socially.  Our resolve to end wars and conflicts in Africa is therefore our vote for a future of  real growth and development for our continent.”

     

  • French president, African leaders meet on al-Qaida, Boko Haram

    French president, African leaders meet on al-Qaida, Boko Haram

    President Emmanuel Macron of France is meeting West African leaders today in Mali to discuss support for a new 5,000-strong multinational force meant to counter a growing threat from terror groups including Boko Haram and al-Qaida.

    Heads of state from five nations across Africa’s vast Sahel region have called for a new regional force after terrorists targeted tourist resorts and other high-profile areas in the region especially in Mali.

    The visit is Macron’s second to Mali in a month and a half which defines his hard-stand against terrorism especially those linked to al-Qaida in the region.

    The U.N. Security Council last month approved the deployment of the new force with troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad after at least five people were killed in an attack on a Mali resort popular with foreigners.

    Reports suggest that funding of the new force meant to be operational in the next few months will be the major focus of the meeting.

    On inauguration, the new force will operate in the region along with a 12,000-strong U.N peacekeeping mission in Mali which has been adjudged the deadliest in the world.

    It is believed that European countries, including Germany as well as U.S., will contribute to the establishment of the new force as Macron announces on Sunday his support for the force, both financial and in terms of equipment.

    Terror attacks have grown out of proportion in Mali which led to a French-led intervention that drove out Islamic extremists from strongholds in northern Mali in 2013, but the extremists have continued targeting peacekeepers and other forces.

    Unfortunately aid group “Doctors Without Borders” announced on Thursday it was suspending activities in northern Mali’s Kidal region because of security concerns.

    Extremist groups Ansar Dine, Al-Mourabitoun and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, declared in March that they had merged into Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen.

    The development caused more panic in the region with the call for the new force.

     

  • Equip your energetic youths, ILO tasks African leaders

    The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has challenged African leaders to equip their energetic young population with the required skills and opportunities to enable them contribute to the economic and social development of the continent and help strengthen the continent’s vibrant private sector.

    Speaking at a meeting of the 43rd Governing Council meeting of the African Regional Labour Advisory Council meeting in Geneva, ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Aeneas Chapinga Chuma, said it was very important for leaders of the continent to redouble their efforts to empower Africans with the necessary skills to promote development from bottom up through innovations and investment.

    He said despite a decade of growth and progress, much of the population in Africa still live in poverty, adding that the future of work has become increasingly necessary and important as we look at future Labour demand requirements.

    He said: “Attaining decent work for all remains a commitment for many of our countries and is embedded in the sustainable development goal, particularly goal number eight, which promotes sustained an inclusive economic growth, improve and protect employment and decent work for all.

    “It will require concerted efforts of several partners to make this a reality for our continent. It will entail leveraging on several modalities at the national, regional and international level. Taking note of the fact that official development available to Africa is likely to shrink over time; other sources of funding including funding from the private sector will become increasingly important.”

    While stressing the need for south south cooperation, he said such a cooperation was necessary as a development modality that Africa needs to tap on, saying “less than a month ago, tripartite delegation from six ARLAC member countries participated in an ILO conference in Casablanca, Morocco, where African countries affirmed their commitment to the promotion of South South cooperation in the African region.

    “The conference affirmed the potentials of south south cooperation to accurate structural transformation agenda in accordance with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. ARLAC is encouraged to explore south south cooperation as a means to realizing the broader goals of the institution in the area of capacity building.

    “The pursuit of social justice and decent work remains a challenge and looking for sources of growth to spare human development will require greater investment in human capital such as in health, education and in skills building.” Chuma said.

    Chairperson of ARLAC, Priscah Mupfumira, said the Labour force in Africa far outstrips job creation, pointing out that there is the need to address this mismatch.