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UN: Africa to witness economic pickup in 2018

Africa’s economy is expected to grow 3.5 per cent in 2018, an increase of 0.3 percentage points from 2017, a UN official said Thursday.

Speaking at 30th AU Summit being held in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Vera Songwe, Secretary-General of the UN Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA ), said the growth uptick will be underpinned by strengthened external demand and moderate increase in commodity prices.

She said the growth will also be supported by more favorable domestic conditions including restoration of oil production in a number of countries and expected recovery in 2018 and 2019 of major economies like Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa.

However, she said the growth would not be enough for the continent’s rising population of more than one billion, 70 per cent of whom are categorized in the youth group.

Read Also:UN accuses Congo forces of targeting officials during deadly protests

Songwe said: “adjusting for population growth, the projected economic growth remains inadequate for Africa to make significant progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), the eradication of poverty and hunger.

“Although poverty level is reducing, it is still intolerably high at an average of 40 percent for the continent. As Such, there’s need to upscale efforts at structural reforms, prudent economic management and promoting regional integration.”

Nevertheless, UNECA projects the uptick in economic growth to continue for some time with 3.7 percent economic growth expected in 2019.

SDGs are a universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies until 2030.

NAN

January 25, 2018
UN accuses Congo forces of targeting officials during deadly protests

UN on Tuesday accused Congolese security agents of targeting its during a violence that broke out during a protest on Sunday, Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

Congolese security forces shot dead six people and wounded dozens more as they fired tear gas to disperse a protest in Kinshasa against President Joseph Kabila.

Shamdasani said that 68 people were wounded and 121 arrested, and the UN had information about “a number of other killings” in protests elsewhere in the country.

“One of those injured was a UN human rights monitor who was punched and kicked by security forces, in spite of wearing a blue UN vest with a human rights logo.

“He is also working under the long-established UN mandate to observe demonstrations.

“He was in the right place at the right time. He was there to monitor the protests and the conduct of the security forces in the context of the protests,” she said.

She said after he was beaten up, the UN team came back to monitor the protest but military police fired tear gas to stop them doing their work.

“They were targeted. “This is the UN we are talking about.

“If security forces are going to be so brazen as to even attack the UN, then we are very concerned about the way they are going to be treating other protesters,” Shamdasani said.

She said that the UN mission in Congo was taking up the incident with the authorities, and wanted an investigation into the killings.

Read Also: Iran protests: Russia berates US for UN talks on ‘internal affair’

“It is not our hope that they will investigate, it’s their obligation to investigate. It is the obligation of the government to ensure that security forces are handling protests in line with the law.”

A Congo government spokesman was not immediately reachable to comment.

Another UN official had said that Kabila’s refusal to step down at the end of his mandate in December 2016 has triggered a series of street protests.

He said that has also emboldened armed rebel groups, who are starting to coalesce in opposition.

Shamdasani said Internet and SMS services had been suspended since on Saturday night, and tear gas was fired into and around churches in Kinshasa, Goma, Kisangani, Lubumbashi and Bukavu.

She said there were heavy deployments of security forces around places of worship in Mbandaka, Beni, Mbuji-Mayi and Butembo.

“The Catholic church is rallying people, mobilising people to stand up for their rights.

“This is why you’ve seen that there are attacks against churches, tear gas being fired into churches, and people prevented from going in and in some cases prevented from coming out of churches after services.”

NAN

January 23, 2018
Over 10, 000 Cameroonian refugees registered in Cross River, says UN

Over 10, 000 refugees in various Cross River State communities have been registered so far, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has stated.

Assistant Representative in charge of Operations for UNHCR in Abuja, BambaBoubacar, disclosed this while donating a field Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in Calabar.

He said the vehicle was to facilitate the registration of the asylum seekers.

Boubacar explained: “We have registered so far 10, 400 Cameroonian refugees in Cross River and registration is continuing.

“We have been informed that there are people not registered in various areas. But until we complete the registration, we would not be able to give an accurate figure.

“We have people from other countries and also Nigerians who were established in Cameroon coming back. They cannot be registered as refugees.

“So we need to be cautious and register before providing a figure. But also for yesterday it was 10, 400 registered.”

He also disclosed that the UNHCR is planning to open an office in Calabar and a two field offices in other parts of the state.

January 21, 2018
UN Palestinian agency calls for donations after U.S. freezes funds

UNRWA, the UN refugee agency responsible for Palestinian, will launch a global fundraiser to make up for tens of millions of dollars withheld by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Pierre Krahenbuhl, said in a statement on Wednesday that the organisation was faced with “the most dramatic financial crisis in its history.”

He called donors and host countries to create “new funding alliances”, saying a global fundraising campaign would be launched in the coming days.

The U.S. government, on Tuesday, earmarked 60 million dollars for the agency for 2018, saying it would withhold 65 million dollars.

Read Also: Islamic Council chides Fed Govt over Palestine

The U.S. State Department Spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, said “the fund was are Frozen for future consideration.”

The U.S. was the largest single donor to UNRWA, contributing more than 350 million dollars to the agency in 2017.

Krahenbuhl added that the U.S. move would stoke “further radicalisation” throughout the Middle East.

UNRWA supports some five million Palestinian in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian Territories.

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced or forced to flee. UNRWA also supports their descendants.

dpa/NAN

January 17, 2018
UN moves to make migration work for all nations

The Secretary-General of the United Nations ( UN ), Mr Antonio Guterres, has announced the international organisation’s plan to negotiate a Global Compact on Migration in 2018.

Guterres said in an article entitled: “Toward a New Global Compact on Migration,’’ that managing migration had become one of the most profound challenges for international cooperation.

“This year, governments will negotiate a Global Compact on Migration through the United Nations.

“This will be the first overarching international agreement of its kind. It will not be a formal treaty. Nor will it place any binding obligations on states.

“This is an urgent task. We have seen what happens when large-scale migration takes place without effective mechanisms to manage it.

The world was shocked by recent videos of migrants being sold as slaves,’’ he said.

Guterres said the compact would recognise and reinforce the benefits of migration and strengthen the rule of law underpinning how states manage and protect migrants.

Read also: UN chief to raise $1bn donor contributions for Nigeria, others

He added that the compact would also address the need for greater international cooperation to protect vulnerable migrants and refugees, in line with international law.

According to him, migration powers economic growth, reduces inequalities and connects diverse societies.

Guterres said migration was also a source of political tensions and human tragedies, adding that majority of migrants live and work legally.

The UN scribe, however, noted that minority of migrants were putting their lives at risk when trying to enter countries where they often face suspicion and abuse.

“There are nearly six million migrants trapped in forced labour today, often in developed economies.

“How can we end these injustices and prevent them recurring in future?

“We must aim for a world in which we can celebrate migration’s contributions to prosperity, development and international unity.

“It is in our collective power to achieve this goal. This year’s global compact can be a milestone on the road to making migration truly work for all,’’ he added.

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. It happens for a range of reasons, which may be economic, social, political or environmental.

Push and pull factors also drive migration, which can be permanent, temporary, voluntary or forced.

NAN

January 16, 2018
Boko Haram: UN deputy secretary lays wreath to fallen heroes

Mrs Amina Muhammad, the UN Deputy Secretary General, on Wednesday in Maiduguri, laid wreath in remembrance of soldiers who lost their lives in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.

Muhammad, accompanied by Mrs Zainab Ahmad, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, visited the military cemetery at the Maimalari Cantoment prayed and laid a wreath in honour of the fallen heroes.

“We are here today to present our special prayers to the fallen heroes and their families.

“We thank God for their service to the nation and fight against Boko Haram insurgency to bring peace and stability to the country.

“We remember today is the most appreciable; May their souls rest in peace,”

Other dignitaries at the event include Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Mr Edward Kallon, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, Mrs Mairo Mandara, the Head of Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation as well as other UN officials.

Also, Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahaman Kulliya and Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, offered prayers for repose of the souls of the departed soldiers.

The UN deputy secretary had earlier visited the Military Control and Command centre, and held a closed door meeting with the Theatre Commander.

Muhammad had also paid a brief visit to Bama, one of the communities liberated from Boko Haram insurgents. (NAN)

January 10, 2018
487 Nigerian returnees arrive Port Harcourt from Libya

The second batch of 487 Nigerian returnees from Libya arrived Port Harcourt International Airport at about 10.43 p.m. on Monday in Max Air.

On Friday, the Federal Government announced the establishment of a reception centre in Port Harcourt for 5,037 Nigerians being evacuated from Libya.

The returnees were received by officials of National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA ), led representatives from other Federal Government agencies.

NEMA officials conveyed the returnees to Haji camp where they were profiled and fed.

Officials were on ground to check the returnees’ body temperature and also gave immediate first aid to those in need.

Read also: 1,295 Nigerians returned from Libya in November

Officials also said that 487 returnees are expected to be transported back to their states of origin within few days.

The Federal Government on Monday said it has so far evacuated 1,030 stranded Nigerian migrants from Libya between January 7 and January 8.

Mustapha Maihaja, the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency, disclosed this at a joint news conference by the Federal Government delegation to Libya.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, had on January 5 led a delegation on fact finding mission to Libya to secure the release of Nigerian migrants stranded in that country.

Onyeama said the Nigerian mission in Libya was coordinating the identification of the Nigerian migrants with the support of International Organisation for Migration.

According to him, they are being joined by a technical team comprising representatives from NEMA, Immigration and other relevant Nigerian government agencies.

The minister said that the political and security challenges in that country made it difficult to secure the evacuation of some Nigerians back home.

He added that “there are different centres of power in that country.

The central government recognised by the UN and AU do not have full control of the territories controlled by rebels.”

He pointed out that there were over 50 detention camps in Libya, many of them under the control of rebels and militia groups.

NAN

January 9, 2018
UN repatriated 19,370 illegal immigrants from Libya in 2017

The UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has repatriated 19,370 illegal immigrants from Libya in 2017, an IOM official said yesterday.

“The programme helped 19,370 illegal immigrants return to their countries of origin in 2017 by airlifting them to the capitals of those countries,” Juma Ben-Hassan, coordinator of the IOM Voluntary Return Program in Libya, told Xinhua.

“The immigrants assisted by the organization to return to their countries are of 27 African and Asian nationalities,” Ben-Hassan added.

The IOM and the Libyan authorities launched a humanitarian repatriation program to return immigrants detained in Libyan shelters to their countries of origin.

Libya, which suffers insecurity and chaos, is a major departure point for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean toward European shores.

Immigration officials said the number of illegal immigrants in Libya currently reaches 700,000.

In 2006, the IOM and the Libyan authorities launched a humanitarian program to repatriate immigrants stranded in Libyan shelters to their own countries.

Libya has become a preferred departure point for illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean into Europe, because of insecurity and chaos in the North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

January 3, 2018
UN chief issues 2018 ‘red alert’ to the world

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued “a red alert for the world” in the New Year.

In his New Year message, Guterres expressed regret that in 2017, the world went in reverse to the appeal for peace.

He said when he assumed office one year ago, he appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace.

Guterres said: “On New Year’s Day 2018, I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert – a red alert for our world.

“Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War.

“Climate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing.

“We see horrific violations of human rights. Nationalism and xenophobia are on the rise”.

As the world begins 2018, the UN chief called for global unity.

Guterres added that he truly believed we could make our world more safe and secure.

“We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that together,” he said.

The UN chief urged leaders everywhere to make this New Year’s resolution: “Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals.”

Guterres, who assumed office on Jan. 1, 2017, stressed that in 2018, “unity is the path” adding, “our future depends on it.

“I wish you peace and health in 2018. Thank you. Shokran. Xie Xie. Merci. Spasiba. Gracias. Obrigado,” the ninth UN chief said

January 1, 2018
Italy to deploy 470 troops to tackle traffickers in Niger

Italy aims to deploy up to 470 troops to Niger to help tackle traffickers, the military General Staff said.

Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on December 24 that some of the 1,400 Italian troops now stationed in Iraq could be transferred to the Sahel region in West Africa, which includes Niger, after victories against Islamist militants in Iraq.

Gentiloni said the redeployed troops could also help to combat terrorism in the Sahel.

The military said in a statement that a reconnaissance mission was underway in Niger to help decide the scale of the assistance, which the African country’s government has requested but which still needs to be approved by Italy’s parliament.

The general staff said if the necessary approval is given, Italy would aim to gradually send up to 470 troops, probably posting an average of 250 over the course of a year.

Read also: Dogara leads Nigerian delegation to Italy over Human Trafficking

“The aim of the mission is to increase the operational capacity of the Niger forces and put them in a position to guarantee stability in the area and fight illegal trafficking of migrants,” the military added.

Italy’s president dissolved parliament on Thursday ahead of an election due in March, but lawmakers will continue to meet, and could approve Gentiloni’s request to transfer the personnel.

Italy is especially keen to help tackle the people-smuggling gangs because it has borne the brunt of seaborne illegal migration to Europe from Africa.

No fewer than 600,000 people have made the perilous journey across the central Mediterranean from Libya in the past four years.

Arrivals have fallen sharply since officials working for the UN-backed government in Tripoli persuaded smugglers to stop boats leaving and the Libyan coastguard stepped up interceptions at sea.

(Reuters/NAN)

December 29, 2017