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| A Great Recognition for the Work of Female Peace Builders in Cameroon The 1st National Women’s Convention for Peace in Cameroon, an umbrella group with 80 member organizations, will receive the German Africa Prize presented by the German Africa Foundation. The foundation has been committed to strengthening relations between Germany and Africa for 45 years. Since 1993, the foundation has awarded the German Africa Prize to outstanding personalities from the continent who have made exceptional contributions to democracy, peace, human rights, arts and culture, economic development, science and society. The 1st National Women’s Convention for Peace is the largest and most far-reaching network of women’s organizations focusing on peace in Cameroon. It was established in January 2021 and consists of 80 groups that represent the 10 regions of Cameroon, as well as up to 25 distinct social categories of women. The women called for an immediate cease-fire, a resumption of dialogue between the government and separatists in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon, a place for women at the negotiating table, the strengthening of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration centers and the creation of psychosocial support centers for war victims in conflict regions. SOURCE: DW |
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| Could An Online Gathering Solve South Africa’s Putin Problem? South Africa is considering hosting the headline meeting of leaders from BRICS nations entirely online to avoid Russian President Vladimir Putin participating in person. The virtual summit approach has been discussed by a committee of ministers appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to resolve issues connected with Putin’s arrest warrant. Under the plan, most summit events would still take place in South Africa, such as the high profile BRICS Business Forum and the meeting of foreign ministers. The meeting of heads of state would be the only part held online. South Africa would have to persuade its BRICS partners that an event with an online element is the best way to host a successful annual gathering. Pretoria is mindful of alienating its partners in BRICS, as it tiptoes around various national interests. SOURCE: SEMAFOR |
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| Calls For African Countries to Create Champions in Key Sectors Côte d’Ivoire’s economic capital is hosting the 2023 edition of the Africa CEO Forum for the 4th consecutive year. Accelerating the emergence of the next generation of African champions is at the heart of discussions of this private sector major event. The forum that kicked off on Monday (June 5) comes at a time when African economies are affected by a lack of funding. As the first day of the forum drew to a close, Côte d’Ivoire had signed 3 draft treaties worth 450 million dollars. The objective is to boost the economy on the long term by accelerating the industrial transformation. World deciders as well as heads of governments have convened in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire for the 2023 Africa CEO Forum. Thousands of company directors attending the event have two days to exchange views on the private sector’s key role in the continent’s development. SOURCE: AFRICA NEWS |
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| Times Higher Education Impact Ranks University of Johannesburg as on Track to Reach SDGs The 2023 Impacts rating assessed 1,591 universities from 112 countries looking at several indicators to provide a balanced comparison across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching. Research is the most obvious and traditional way that a university might help to deliver the SDGs is by creating research in relevant topics. Stewardship refers to universities being custodians of significant resources; not just physical resources, but also their employees, faculty and students. How they act as stewards is one of the key factors in delivering the SDGs. Outreach refers to place, which THE said is critical in higher education and the work universities do with their local, regional, national and international communities. Teaching, meanwhile, plays a critical role, both in ensuring that there are enough skilled practitioners to deliver on the SDGs, and in making sure that all alumni take forward the key lessons of sustainability into their future careers. SOURCE: BUSINESSTECH |
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| Ghana’s Appetite for Hand-me-downs Ends Up in Crucial Waterways Yvette Yaa Konadu Tetteh’s epic swim down the River Volta highlights the damage done to the country’s waterways by an out-of-control trade in secondhand clothes from the global north. As the 30-year-old swims, a crew shadows her on a solar-powered boat, named The Woman Who Does Not Fear, taking air and water samples along the way that will be analysed to measure pollution. It is hoped that the swim will draw attention to some of the pristine environments in Ghana, in contrast with places such as Korle Lagoon in the capital city of Accra, one of the most polluted water bodies on Earth. The swim is supported by the Or Foundation, of which Tetteh is a board member, that campaigns against textile waste in Ghana, one cause of increasing water pollution in the country. Ghana imports about 15m items of secondhand clothing each week, known locally as obroni wawu or “dead white man’s clothes”. In 2021, Ghana imported $214m of used clothes, making it the world’s biggest importer. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN |
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| Lilongwe is Taking a Closer Look at Who is Granted Asylum Malawi’s government has started revoking citizenship of refugees and asylum-seekers who they say obtained their status fraudulently. Officials say the campaign is aimed at flushing out criminals from other countries, including Rwandan genocide suspects. But critics say the program is too broad and will ensnare legitimate refugees. Minister of Homeland Security Zikhale Ng’oma told a televised news conference Monday that Malawi received a request from Rwanda to help track down about 55 criminals wanted for various charges who are staying in Malawi. Ng’oma said the fugitives could not be found easily because they might have changed their identities and started using Malawian names. As part of the manhunt, he said, the government is revoking passports and citizenships that were fraudulently obtained. SOURCE: VOA |
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| Tanzania and Australia Forge Closer Ties in the Mining and Energy Industries The Australian Commercial Commissioner for Africa, visited Tanzania last week to promote commercial ties and increase Australia’s involvement in the mining and energy industries. The Minerals Minister, Dr. Doto Biteko, and Mr. Scott Morriss co-hosted a reception for Australian companies operating in Tanzania that offer mining, machinery, technology, and services. Mr. Morriss expressed his satisfaction at the advancement of significant, crucial mining projects in Tanzania by Australian businesses. In order to extract graphite and rare earth, the government inked contracts for $667 million in April with three Australian businesses: Evolution Energy Minerals, EcoGraf Ltd., and Peak Rare Earths. Tanzania’s minister said that the country’s mining industry is flourishing. He emphasized that in order for Tanzania to achieve its goal of expanding the industry, more foreign investors still needed to travel there and make investments. SOURCE: BUSINESS INSIDER |
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| Kenyans Bemoan Plans to Raise Taxes Police have fired tear gas to disperse Kenyans demonstrating in the capital against government plans to impose higher taxes. One of the controversial proposals in the unpopular finance bill is a new 3% housing fund levy for all salaried workers, and a move to increase value added tax on fuel to 16%. The bill also calls for taxes on beauty products, crypto-currencies and earnings by social media influencers. They are among the measures that have been opposed by many Kenyans. The dozens of protesters had sought to gather at a park in the centre of Nairobi before marching to parliament to urge MPs to reject the tax proposals. Local media reported that some of the protesters were arrested. Legislators are set to debate the bill on Thursday, amid warnings issued by President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua against those opposed to the proposals. SOURCE: BBC |
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| Building a Dynamic Ecosystem of Innovative Entrepreneurs and Startups in Libya The new Deraya entrepreneurship initiative for young entrepreneurs is jointly developed by the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The initiative is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the essential know-how to turn innovative ideas into successful startups. Targeting youth and vulnerable groups, Deraya is open to innovative and aspiring entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35. Through interactive webinars, the initiative’s participants will be given an opportunity to engage with experienced entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and role models from Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia and learn from their success stories, wealth of knowledge, and expertise. The initiative will also entail startup weekends in Tripoli, Benghazi, Sebha, and Derna, culminating with a pitch competition where the winning startups will receive financial support, financed by EU and AfDB, to further develop, grow, and take their business ideas to the next level. SOURCE: DISRUPT AFRICA |
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| What Happened to Cause Musicians to Leave Ethiopia? The overthrow of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 led to violent conflict that had a particularly heavy impact on musicians. Sing and Sing On: Sentinel Musicians and the Making of the Ethiopian American Diaspora is the first study of the forced migration of musicians out of the Horn of Africa dating from the revolution. The book traces their struggles and what happened to their rich and diverse music traditions when they settled in the US. SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION |