Saturday, March 15, 2025

African Governments Deny They Have Been Approached to Take in Palestinians Forced from Gaza

A tent camp for displaced Palestinians is set up amid destroyed buildings in the west of Al-Shati camp, west of Gaza City, March 3, 2025

TWO African governments denied today that they had been approached by the United States and Israel to take in Palestinians they plan to forcibly remove from Gaza, while another claimed to have turned down the overtures.

The ethnic cleansing plan would call for Palestinians to be removed to Sudan, Somalia and the breakaway region of Somalia known as Somaliland.

Because all three places are poor and in some cases wracked by violence, the proposal also casts doubt on US President Donald Trump’s stated goal of deporting Gaza’s Palestinians to a “beautiful area.”

Officials from Sudan said they had rejected the plan, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland told reporters that they were not aware of any contacts.

Under Mr Trump’s plan, Gaza’s more than two million people would be exiled permanently. He has proposed that the US would take ownership of the territory, oversee a lengthy clean-up process and turn it into a property development project.

The idea of a mass transfer of Palestinians was once considered a fantasy of Israel’s ultranationalist fringe, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed it as a “bold vision” since Mr Trump presented the scheme at a White House meeting last month.

Palestinians in Gaza have rejected the proposal and dismissed Israeli claims that the departures would be voluntary.

Arab nations have expressed vehement opposition and offered an alternative reconstruction plan that would leave the Palestinians in place.

Human rights groups have warned that forcing or pressing the Palestinians to leave could amount to ethnic cleansing and therefore a potential war crime.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, US and Israeli officials confirmed the contacts with Somalia and Somaliland, while the US officials confirmed Sudan as well.

They said it was unclear how much progress the efforts had made or at what level the discussions had taken place.

The White House and Mr Netanyahu’s office both declined to comment officially.

Meanwhile, Hamas said it had accepted a proposal from mediators to release one living Israeli-American hostage and the bodies of four dual nationals who had died in captivity.

The announcement came as talks continue in Qatar on the next stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

The Palestinian group in Gaza did not immediately specify when the release of soldier Edan Alexander and the four bodies would occur and other countries that are party to the agreement did not immediately confirm the Hamas statement.

Mr Alexander was taken from his base in southern Israel on the border with Gaza during the Hamas attack of October 7 2023.

Time to Put Anti-racism at the Heart of What We Do

As anti-immigration rhetoric gains mainstream acceptance, trade unions must unite workers across backgrounds while challenging the false narrative that blames migrants for economic hardship, argues TONY CONWAY

PUBLIC SNUB: People protesters outside the Reform UK Wiltshire conference at The Civic Trowbridge, in Trowbridge, Wiltshire on February 9 2025

LAST YEAR was a significant year for anti-racists worldwide. Far-right populist parties came to the fore in most European nations, were re-elected in India, elected in South America and of course having taken over the US Republican Party saw their candidate elected in Donald Trump.

All these trends have a common theme. Free-market capitalism, anti-worker and anti-democracy. That’s not to say there won’t be major disagreements as shown by the current trade disputes, but the trends remain there.

Last year should not have been a surprise. Far-right parties and candidates had been building support electorally and via a myriad of influencers. Channels such as GB News — most recently rightly called out for an anti-semitic broadcast — and blogs regularly spin narratives scapegoating migrants. Influencers like the Tates have millions of followers.

These views linked to two trends, anti-migration and anti-Muslim, have leached across over decades into so-called mainstream parties. So much so immigration is now considered to be a legitimate concern.

Is it any wonder that Reform UK is polling high and got 4.2 million votes in the 2024 general election?

What we do know is that significant numbers of people are pessimistic and pessimism results in fear.

Over the last months, I’ve taken time out to speak to Reform voters. By and large, they just want things to be better. The cost of living, health, schools and housing. They see the other parties as having failed — “so give someone else a chance” is the constant refrain.

Many of these potential Reform voters are not anti-immigration or anti-racist as such but they link it to their problems. Some because that’s what they have been told. It’s worth noting that many Reform’s supporters do not consider Reform or themselves as racist. Clearly, Reform UK attracts racists but their vote is wider than this.

So the first thing we must confront is to say clearly immigration is not a legitimate concern overriding all else. Our nations aren’t overcrowded, houses can be built and hospitals can work. Indeed in many cases, the services need labour from overseas. This is particularly the case in health and social care, hospitality, construction and transport.

Secondly, we must bring such workers into our campaigns not just anti-racist campaigns but our unions and employment rights campaigns. The Employment Rights Bill must fully protect those on work visas. In a number of cases, workers on work visas are scared to join a union or take industrial action due to immigration laws.

Migrant groups and lawyers are lobbying the government to include all workers in the Act. Failure to do so will undermine workplace solidarity. Unions must represent and recruit all workers. Unite and some of the independent unions have taken steps to do so.

Unions and others should get behind Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people campaigns. The IWA and others support a campaign for anti-racist immigration laws. Can we grow support?

The current Borders Bill has been put up to stop the traffickers but others say it will penalise the trafficked. We therefore need more safe routes as unions such as PCS have argued. The sleight-of-hand restrictions stopping people claiming citizenship if they entered via a non-authorised route must be done away with.

The Tories want to restrict immigration further and argue that as there are 9.5 million people not actively seeking work between 16 and state pension age, all vacancies could be filled.

The numbers aren’t accurate as they include young people and students who are learning as well as people unable to work and those who have retired. Plus job matches are difficult due to poor travel, and housing. To fill vacancies Britain needs a socialist industrial strategy and a massive increase in skills training.

Anti-immigration rhetoric has been linked to the growth of anti-Muslim beliefs. Statistics in the State of Hate 2024 produced by Hope Not Hate show that 44 per cent of people have problems with Islam. The report more explicitly shows that cultural racism is now significant.

Such views are picked up by the right of the Tory Party and Reform UK along with a variety of extreme-right and fascistic groups. It feeds the anti-woke argument.

Reform UK argues for changes in the education system to further push so-called British values rather than the full range of British history.

In challenging Reform UK in the immediate term we need to both expose its policies and recognise that it is a product of world and national events. As such our main task is to unite the class — our class — and challenge those who wish to divide us. They seek to divide to weaken. Old versus young. Employed versus unemployed. Black versus white and one religion versus another religion.

We should welcome the trials of Reform UK and the closure of branches. We must challenge their policies not just because they belong to them, because even if Reform UK fails these policies remain.

Anti-immigration, racism, opposition to a free NHS, pro-privatisation, anti-workers’ rights and unions, anti-free education and pro-independent schools, more prisons and bigger armed forces. Anti-net zero and climate change deniers. Sexism and anti-women. Anti-LGBT.

Reform UK wants to leave a large number of international bodies that safeguard our rights and health. It takes its lead from the right in the US and at its heart it wishes to see us in hock to financiers. It is a flat low-tax party. They claim to lower taxes but pass the bill on to users and citizens. It must be defeated in May. But:

To challenge these ideas means taking our arguments into the heart of the movement. It means building community resilience.

It’s a continuous battle, one that requires constant vigilance.

Anti-racists have mobilised for UN Day Against Racism on March 21-22 and we must build support then and afterwards. Unions have carried anti-racist policies and have organised meetings and education. These must become cross-union and permanent.

Trade union councils should organise anti-racist events. Media lies must be challenged. Racist and anti-worker laws must be challenged. Far-right protests must be opposed. The movement must be united and bold.

Tony Conway is convener of the Communist Party anti-racist anti-fascist commission.

‘This Should Send Shockwaves Through the NHS, Government, and Society’

RCN warns nurses are leaving the NHS due to shocking levels of racist abuse and understaffing

NHS workers on the picket line outside St Thomas' Hospital, London, May 1, 2023

NURSES are leaving the NHS due to shocking levels of racist abuse and understaffing, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned.

Ministers were given an “urgent reality check” as a survey showed 35 per cent have experienced bullying, harassment or abuse at work.

One in seven nursing and midwifery staff said they have faced discrimination at work in the past 12 months.

Two in three of those said it was on the grounds of their ethnic background.

The RCN said its research lays bare the impact of workforce shortages, with low pay continuing to be a significant issue for those on the front line of care.

Just 27 per cent of respondents said they are satisfied with their level of pay.

More than half said they worked unpaid overtime every week.

Nearly a third said they often think about leaving their current organisation.

RCN executive director Patricia Marquis said: “It is disturbing and saddening to see the levels of bullying, abuse, and discrimination aimed at staff as they care for patients.

“This should send shockwaves through the NHS, government, and society.

“Racism must be unacceptable in our healthcare system, and employers and government must take a strong stance on stamping this out.”

The survey also showed that staff shortages are a huge concern.

Only 31 per cent say there are enough staff to enable them to do their job properly.

Nearly half — 45 per cent — said that they felt unwell due to work-related stress.

And about one in six came to work despite feeling not well enough to perform their duties — a 9 percentage point increase from 2020.

Ms Marquis said: “When a predominantly female workforce experiences such shocking levels of attacks, it’s vital that along with zero tolerance to those who perpetrate this, we must look at what sits behind it.

“Along with the abuse, we’re seeing staff hit with high levels of stress in environments where staff shortages are forcing many to work unpaid overtime to keep services running.

“The government must act and deliver an urgent investment in beds and staff to cut waiting times, which have recently hit record levels, and end the frustrations that cause some people to lash out at those trying to deliver care in the most challenging of circumstances.”

She warned that government’s unexpected announcement to abolish NHS England — along with some 10,000 jobs — “must see a keen focus on the staff who are working harder than ever to deliver the care patients need and deserve.

“A failure to take care of staff will only add to pressures, risk increased levels of abuse, an exodus from the workforce, and put patient care at ever-increased risk.”

Keep Our NHS Public co-chair Dr John Puntis said the savings from abolishing NHS England dwarf the amount of funding needed to fund nursing properly.

He said: “The RCN highlights how lack of investment in NHS staff and facilities translates into misery not just for patients but also for hard-pressed and underpaid nurses.

“Breaking this vicious cycle will take more than saving a small amount of money from the abolition of NHS England and driving outsourcing of services to the private sector.

“The lesson from the Blair-Brown era is that a very significant increase in funding is now needed if Labour has any hope of restoring the NHS to an extent that makes a noticeable difference to the electorate.”

Claire Goodwin-Fee, CEO and founder of Frontline19, a non-profit organisation which provides free mental health support to front-line NHS workers, said: “The results of this NHS staff survey highlight the very urgent need for a workforce plan and removing barriers to the recruitment and retention of front-line staff.

“Without meaningful support for staff to cope with the pressures of the work, it is inevitable that they will become burnt out and leave in large numbers — only exacerbating the understaffing cycle.

“After all they have given and continue to give, providing decent and pre-emptive wellbeing interventions is the very least the NHS can do.”

The Department for Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.

Woman Swept Away in Pinetown Floods Identified as Vanitha Naidoo

The 54-year-old was driving home from work when her car got swept away by heavy floods for about three kilometres in the Pinetown area on Thursday evening.

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)

Woman swept away in Pinetown floods identified as Vanitha Naidoo

DURBAN - The woman swept away by floods in Pinetown, west of Durban, has been identified as Vanitha Naidoo, a pharmacist at a Clicks store in Hillcrest.

The 54-year-old was driving home from work when her car got swept away by heavy floods for about three kilometres in the Pinetown area on Thursday evening.

Despite a long search on Thursday night, rescuers only recovered her body trapped inside the car in a river near Gordon Road on Friday morning. 

Devashin Govender is a relative to the deceased.

"We are going to go down to the Pinetown mortuary now and then identify the body and wait for the postmortem and then we will provide further updates shortly thereafter."

South Africa: Woman Swept Away by Floodwaters in KwaZulu-Natal Province

Houses, cars and graves washed away after heavy rains caused flooding in Umgababa, near Durban, South Africa, Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

By Dominic Wabwireh with Other agencies

A woman's vehicle was carried off by powerful floodwaters that led to extensive destruction and disturbances in KZN on Thursday night.

A woman in South Africa lost her life due to severe flooding in Pinetown on Friday.

Rescue teams are currently working to clear debris in the affected area.

KwaZulu-Natal has been hit by heavy rainfall in recent weeks, leading to extensive flooding. Authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to stay away from low-lying areas.

The floods have claimed at least 31 lives, with 22 fatalities reported in KwaZulu-Natal near Durban and nine in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, including six children.

More than 5,000 people have been displaced as a result of the disaster.

The flooding, which impacted both Botswana and South Africa from February 16 to 20, caused significant disruptions, including the closure of major border crossings into South Africa, the temporary suspension of all government schools in Botswana, and severe traffic congestion.

Many regions have become completely cut off, leaving residents stranded and emergency services facing challenges in their response efforts.

The situation remains critical as rescue operations continue and communities grapple with the aftermath of the flooding.

Local authorities are working diligently to provide assistance to those affected and to restore normalcy in the region.

The ongoing heavy rains have raised concerns about further flooding, prompting officials to monitor the situation closely and issue warnings to residents.

British National Killed in Kenya by President's Motorcade Vehicle

Kenyan President William Ruto, center, reviews the honour guard after arriving to give the State of The Nation address at Parliament buildings in Nairobi, Kenya

A 79-year-old British man, Edgar Charles Frederick, has died after being struck by a vehicle linked to Kenyan President William Ruto’s motorcade in Nairobi.

The incident occurred on Thursday along a main road in the capital. Police confirmed that the driver, who was behind the wheel of a support vehicle in the convoy, failed to stop but was later arrested and released on bail.

Authorities say an investigation is ongoing, and the driver is expected to appear in court. Frederick had been visiting Kenya to see family members living in the country. His next-of-kin have been informed, and a post-mortem is expected to take place.

The UK High Commission stated that it was aware of the reports and seeking further details. Meanwhile, social media footage showed a man lying injured on the road near a busy shopping area, later covered with a traditional Maasai shawl.

Officials clarified that the vehicle involved was part of the regional administration’s support team for the presidential detail. President Ruto was in the area at the time for public engagements.

UN Judge from Uganda is Convicted in the UK of Forcing a Woman into Slavery

1:09 PM EDT, March 13, 2025

LONDON (AP) — A British jury on Thursday convicted a United Nations judge of forcing a young woman to work as a slave after tricking her into coming to the U.K.

Prosecutors said Lydia Mugambe made the Ugandan woman work as her maid and provide childcare for free.

Mugambe, who is also a high court judge in Uganda, was studying for a doctorate in law at the University of Oxford when the offenses occurred. According to her United Nations profile page, she was appointed to one of the global body’s international courts in May 2023.

Prosecution lawyer Caroline Haughey told jurors during the trial that Mugambe “exploited and abused” the victim, deceiving her into coming to the U.K. and taking advantage of her lack of understanding of her rights.

Prosecutors said Mugambe arranged for a contact in the Ugandan High Commission in London to get the woman a visa, under the guise that she would be working in the household and office of the diplomat. Once she arrived in Britain, she was taken to Mugambe’s home and made to work as an unpaid nanny. Her passport and visa document were taken away from her.

The victim eventually sought help from a friend, which led to police becoming involved.

Mugambe, 49, denied the charges. Jurors at Oxford Crown Court convicted her on all four charges she faced, including an immigration offense, forcing someone to work and conspiracy to intimidate a witness.

There were gasps from the public gallery as the verdicts were read out, and the court was cleared after Mugambe appeared unwell. She is due to be sentenced on May 2.

“Lydia Mugambe used her position to exploit a vulnerable young woman, controlling her freedom and making her work without payment,” said Eran Cutliffe of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division. “Thanks to the victim’s courage in coming forward it has been possible to bring Ms. Mugambe to justice and be held accountable for her actions.”

US Aid Cuts are Hurting Africa’s Ability to Respond to Disease Outbreaks, Health Chief Says

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA

11:21 AM EDT, March 13, 2025

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Aid cuts by the United States are hurting Africa’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, the head of the continent’s public health agency said Thursday, ahead of a meeting with regional health ministers to discuss other financing options.

Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or Africa CDC, told reporters that Friday’s meeting with African health ministers will “discuss recent developments in global health financing” and where more sustainable funding might come from.

Kaseya spoke of a “new era” in health financing after U.S. aid cuts that have left health systems in Africa in disarray. The aid cuts, which affect governments and their partners in the non-governmental sector, have shut down or disrupted projects tackling diseases ranging from malaria to AIDS.

Much of the funding to the Africa CDC and regional governments was lost with the Trump administration’s decision to terminate most foreign aid contracts and cut $60 billion in overall U.S. assistance abroad. Many of the affected programs are in fragile countries that are highly reliant on U.S. aid to support health systems, nutrition programs and stave off starvation.

Kaseya cited the immediate impact in Congo, which is the epicenter mpox outbreaks in Africa and where aid cuts and insecurity in the country’s east have contributed to challenges in testing for the disease as well as securing enough vaccine doses.

Aid cuts have impeded the collection and transportation of samples in Congo, Kaseya said.

“We know this aid cut is a difficult moment for our countries, and it came overnight,” he said. “Some of them were not prepared for this major aid cut.”

The U.S. aid cuts affecting the response to outbreaks of mpox, Ebola and other diseases are the latest in a trend of declining monetary support by international partners over the years, he warned.

“We are not just talking about the U.S.,” he said. “We are saying almost all Western countries are decreasing their support. And that one is a critical issue for our health security.”

Kaseya said the Africa CDC and the World Bank are discussing possible “transitional” funding in the aftermath of U.S. aid cuts.

South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi Will Withdraw Troops from Conflict-torn Eastern DR Congo

South African soldiers, part of the Southern African Development Community’s mission to fight against armed rebel groups in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, stand in Goma as the bodies of two South African soldiers are repatriated to South Africa Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa, File)

By Farai Mutsaka

2:35 PM EDT, March 13, 2025

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — African leaders on Thursday announced the withdrawal of thousands of troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi who were sent to quell insurgencies in mineral-rich eastern Congo, where M23 rebels have killed some of the peacekeepers while overrunning the region this year.

Troops from the three countries were sent in 2023 under the banner of the Southern African Development Community, or SADC, but public opposition to the deployment has surged since 14 South African and three Malawian peacekeepers were killed by the rebels in January.

The decision was announced after a virtual meeting of the 16-member bloc, which also includes Congo, and came a day after Angola announced it would host peace talks next week between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels.

No timetable was announced for the pullout of troops, who have numbered up to 3,000, but the SADC said in a statement that it would be a “phased withdrawal.”

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told his country’s national broadcaster, SABC, that other belligerents should also now withdraw. “All the forces that are not invited, non-invited parties, in that conflict must also withdraw and be engaged in a process of ceasefire,” Lamola said.

Speaking at a meeting in South Africa with European Union leaders in the coastal city of Cape Town, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the decision to withdraw troops was made because a ceasefire process “has now been embraced.”

He expressed confidence in the planned peace talks between Congo and M23 under the mediation of Angolan President João Lourenço, but said there would need to be humanitarian support for the people of eastern Congo and political support for the country to ensure a ceasefire holds.

The SADC mission was part of a myriad of forces operating in the mineral-rich region plagued by decades of armed violence. They include Congolese government soldiers, foreign mercenaries, a United Nations peacekeeping force and more than 100 groups that are fighting for power, land and valuable mineral resources. Others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings targeting ethnic groups.

The M23 rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts, and at times have vowed to march as far as Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, over 1,000 miles away.

Rwanda has rejected charges, including by the Congolese government and U.N experts, that it backs M23 in eastern Congo, a region that is now one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises with more than 7 million people displaced.

The withdrawal of SADC troops comes after the M23 took control of eastern Congo’s main city of Goma and seized the second largest city, Bukavu, in offensives over the past two months.

Fourteen South African soldiers, and at least three from Malawi were killed in January in the fighting. The United Nations later evacuated a group of critically injured South African peacekeepers, although the South African government did not provide figures.

SADC deployed troops to eastern Congo in December 2023 and extended the mandate by another year during a meeting in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, last November.

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the SADC chairman, appealed for “continued support” for the safe withdrawal of the troops and evacuation of equipment, adding that “dialogue is a key cog to usher lasting peace” in Congo.

The U.N. Human Rights Council last month launched a commission that will investigate atrocities, including allegations of rape and killing akin to “summary executions” by both sides.

___

Associated Press writer Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, contributed to this report.

EU Announces a $5 Billion Investment in South Africa as the Tariffs War with Trump Escalates

By GERALD IMRAY

1:50 PM EDT, March 13, 2025

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — European Union leaders announced 4.7 billion euros ($5.1 billion) in investments in South Africa on Thursday to support green energy and vaccine production, and agreed to start talks on new trade deals with Africa’s most advanced economy.

The announcement came at the first bilateral summit between the bloc and the African country in seven years.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke of the need to boost international cooperation during the meeting, held at the South African leader’s Cape Town office.

Their message stood in contrast to the Trump administration’s confrontational foreign policy and trade tariffs.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he would impose a 200% tariff on European wine, Champagne and spirits in an escalation of a trade war with the EU.

“We will defend our interests,” von der Leyen said in response to Trump’s latest threat. “We’ve said it and we’ve shown it, but at the same time I also want to emphasize that we are open for negotiations.”

Von der Leyen also said that Europe was looking to deepen its trade relationship with South Africa, already the EU’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We want to strengthen and diversify our supply chains but we want to do it in cooperation with you,” she said, sitting next to Ramaphosa.

She described it as a new chapter in their relations and referred to South Africa as a reliable partner. “On both sides there’s high respect for stability, predictability and reliability,” she said.

Ramaphosa said the summit came at a time of increasing global uncertainty. Both the EU and South Africa have felt the impact of Trump’s first months of his second term.

South Africa has been singled out for sanctions by the Trump administration over domestic and foreign policies that the U.S. leader has cast as anti-American — a reference to South Africa launching a case at the top U.N. court accusing U.S. ally Israel of genocide in the war in Gaza, as well as to South Africa’s ties with China and Iran.

Trump issued an executive order last month cutting all U.S. funding to South Africa, accusing it of a human rights violation against a white minority group in the country, and of supporting some “bad actors” in the world, such as the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran.

Von der Leyen’s visit also reemphasized the EU’s support for South Africa’s presidency of the Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations this year, another area where the United States has criticized South Africa while boycotting some early G20 meetings.

South Africa hopes to use its leadership of the group to make progress on help for poor countries, especially on debt relief and more financing to mitigate the impact of climate change.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed some of those priorities for the G20 and skipped a foreign ministers meeting of the group in South Africa last month. He also said that he wouldn’t attend the main G20 summit in Johannesburg in November, indicating that the U.S. would give little attention to attempts at international cooperation through the bloc, which includes 19 of the world’s major economies, the EU and the African Union.

The EU said that the vast majority of the new investment in South Africa — $4.7 billion out of the $5.1 billion — would be to help South Africa transition from its coal-based economy to greener energy supplies.

That new pledge came a week after the U.S. withdrew from an agreement to give funding to South Africa and two other developing nations to help them transition to clean energy sources that was seen as a possible blueprint for more deals to reduce carbon emissions across the world. The EU has also pledged money to that Just Energy Transition Partnership and said that it’s still committed to the program.

“We know that others are withdrawing so we want to be very clear with our support,” von der Leyen said. “We are doubling down and we are here to stay.”

Thursday, March 13, 2025

AU Chairperson to Meet Commissioners Amid Leadership Transition

March 13, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – Angolan President João Lourenço, the current Chairperson of the African Union (AU), arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday ahead of the official leadership transition at the AU Commission. He was welcomed at Bole International Airport by President Taye Atske-Selassie.

During the 38th AU Heads of State and Government Summit, Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was elected as the new Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC), succeeding Moussa Faki Mahamat. He will officially assume office alongside his deputy, Selma Malika Haddadi.

According to the Angolan Embassy in Ethiopia, President Lourenço will meet with the newly appointed AUC Chairperson and Commissioners over the coming days to discuss the AU’s strategic priorities.

The newly appointed AU Commissioners include Amb. Bankole Adeoye (Nigeria, Western Region) – Re-elected as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS), Moses Vilakati (Eswatini, Southern Region) – Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), Lerato Mataboge (South Africa, Southern Region) – Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy and Amb. Amma Twum-Amoah (Ghana, Western Region) – Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development (HHS).

As part of his visit, President Lourenço is expected to hold high-level discussions with the new leadership team, focusing on advancing the AU’s key initiatives and strengthening continental cooperation.

BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2025

Cuba Keen to Deepen Ties with Ethiopia

March 13, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.

Speaking at an event held at Ethiopia-Cuba Friendship Park to commemorate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two nations, the Cuban foreign minister emphasized the importance of expanding areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.

“As we celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, we aim to diversify our cooperation to further benefit our peoples,” he stated. “This visit will undoubtedly contribute to that goal. We also take this opportunity to once again express our gratitude to the Ethiopian government for its unwavering support in our struggle against the unjust and intensified blockade that severely impacts the Cuban people.”

Rodríguez Parrilla began his official visit by paying tribute to the 163 Cuban combatants who lost their lives in defense of Ethiopia’s territorial integrity. He highlighted their sacrifice as a symbol of the solidarity and internationalism that define Cuba’s foreign policy.

He also acknowledged the enduring people-to-people ties between the two countries, expressing deep appreciation for Ethiopia’s ongoing solidarity. “The name you have chosen for yourselves fills us with pride, as it embodies the deep brotherhood between our peoples, forged throughout history.”

During the ceremony, the Cuban foreign minister laid a wreath at the memorial grave of Cuban soldiers who fought alongside Ethiopia. The event concluded with the national anthems of both nations being played.

Dignitaries in attendance included representatives from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Mayor’s Office, members of the Ethiopian-Cuban Friendship Association, Cuban expatriates, former Ethiopian scholarship recipients in Cuba, and other officials.

This visit marks a renewed commitment to further strengthening the historic and strategic partnership between Ethiopia and Cuba.

BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2025

Women-led Enterprises Require Climate Finance

March 13, 2025

ADDIS ABABA – Amaranth Farm Ecolodge urged women engaged in agriculture and green initiatives to secure climate finance to enhance their contributions and expand their impact.

Amaranth Farm Ecolodge celebrated the 2025 International Women’s Day with women involved in green initiatives and agriculture.

The event aimed to promote women participants as leaders in gender-responsive climate adaptation solutions and to catalyze the development of locally relevant strategies to enhance smallholders’ adaptive capacity to climate change. It also sought to communicate the impact of their work at the community, institutional, and policy levels.

Approached by The Ethiopian Herald, Co-founder and Executive Director of Amaranth Farm Ecolodge, Mulunesh Jebessa, said that the role of women-led institutions has become increasingly critical.

“Despite their significant contributions, women-led organizations often face challenges in securing the necessary funding and support to fulfill their missions. To address this pressing issue, we need active participation of women-led organizations in the climate finance landscape,” she said.

Mulunesh emphasized that women engaged in urban agriculture, solar energy, and other green initiatives require accessible climate finance to expand their impact.

She further highlighted the importance of targeted funding for women-centric institutions to ensure they receive the attention and resources they deserve. Women-led organizations not only foster sustainability but also promote economic empowerment, making their success vital for community resilience.

By securing access to funding for women, the country can unlock new opportunities for women-led initiatives, enabling them to innovate and drive transformative change in communities where female entrepreneurs and leaders can flourish, according to the Executive Director.

“Let us stand together to promote women-led organizations in taking charge of their destinies in the green economy, bringing a lasting impact on our environment and society in their transformative journey toward a sustainable and equitable future,” she urged.

Women are significantly underrepresented in climate research and innovation leadership, as well as in climate policy decision-making. However, to achieve sustainable development, women play a key role, she stressed.

Mulunesh stated that her organization’s efforts to achieve these objectives have gained acceptance and support from the Ministry of Planning and Development.

This recognition is a crucial step toward advancing the role of women-led organizations in addressing critical climate challenges, ultimately benefiting entire communities, she added.

BY MISGANAW ASNAKE

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2025

Conference Explores AfCFTA’s Benefits in Boosting Intra-Africa Trade

March 13, 2025

-57th ECA Conference Kicks Off

ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has emphasized that fully harnessing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is crucial for boosting intra-African trade and diversifying economies.

The 57th session of the Economic Commission for Africa: Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development commenced yesterday under the theme:

“Advancing the Implementation of the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area: Proposing Transformative Strategic Actions”.

In his keynote speech, ECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete highlighted that AfCFTA serves as a vital tool for enhancing trade within the continent, promoting economic diversification, and integrating African economies into global value chains. To realize its full potential, a strategic and coordinated approach is necessary.

He further noted that green and sustainable finance, climate-aligned investment strategies, and strengthened economic governance are essential to drive AfCFTA-led growth.

Deputy Executive Secretary Antonio Pedro underscored the significance of leveraging AfCFTA to mitigate the negative effects of multilateral trading systems. He described the agreement as both a development blueprint and a powerful political platform for Africa to establish a unified stance on key global issues.

Currently, approximately 85% of Africa’s total exports are directed outside the continent, with primary commodities comprising over 60% of the total. In contrast, intra-African trade is more diversified, consisting predominantly of industrial products. Pedro noted that reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers could increase intra-African trade by 45% by 2045 compared to a scenario without AfCFTA. However, he highlighted the lack of awareness about the agreement among African private-sector players, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as a major challenge.

Finance State Minister Semereta Sewasew emphasized that AfCFTA is not merely a legal framework but a transformative initiative aimed at deepening Africa’s economic integration. By facilitating intra- African trade, harmonizing policies, and eliminating barriers, AfCFTA contributes to industrialization, job creation, and poverty reduction, which are essential to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

“This initiative is not just an agreement; it is a bold statement of Africa’s collective vision for economic independence, shared prosperity, and deeper regional integration. Signing the agreement is just the beginning—its implementation requires sustained collaboration, commitment, and effort,” she stated.

Ethiopia has made significant strides in improving regional connectivity. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway serves as a crucial trade corridor, facilitating the movement of goods and strengthening economic ties across the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, Ethiopia’s partnership in the LAPSSET Corridor with Kenya demonstrates its commitment to enhancing regional logistics and ensuring efficient trade flows across borders.

By fully implementing AfCFTA, Africa has the opportunity to redefine its trade landscape, strengthen economic resilience, and drive sustainable development for the continent.

BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN

THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 13 MARCH 2025

Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional Government Appeals for Help After Factional Fighters Seize Key Towns

Ethiopians holding national flags protest against what they say is interference by outsiders in the country’s internal affairs and against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the party of Tigray’s fugitive leaders, at a rally organized by the city administration in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022. (AP Photo, File)

By SAMUEL GETACHEW

6:55 AM EDT, March 13, 2025

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The interim government of Ethiopia’s Tigray region appealed for the Ethiopian federal government to intervene after a faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front seized control of two major towns, leaving several people wounded and raising fears of a return to civil war.

On Tuesday the TPLF faction seized Adigrat, the second-biggest town in Tigray, and appointed a new administrator, ousting the office-holder loyal to the interim government. On Wednesday night, it took control of Adi-Gudem, a town near the regional capital, Mekele. Several people in Adi-Gudem suffered gunshot wounds when armed forces attempted to occupy a government building.

The TPLF fought a brutal two-year war against federal forces which ended in November 2022 with the signing of a peace agreement and the formation of a TPLF-led interim government. Hundreds of thousands of people are believed to have been killed in the fighting which began in November 2020, with millions displaced and many left near famine in Africa’s second-most populous country.

However, since the war ended, the TPLF has splintered. In October, its leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, expelled the head of the interim government, Getachew Reda, from the party along with four members of his cabinet.

In retaliation, Reda, who was the chief negotiator of the peace agreement, temporarily suspended four senior military commanders who he believed were aligned with Gebremichael’s faction.

“The region may be on the brink of another crisis,” read a statement Wednesday from the Tigray Communication Affairs Bureau, which is part of the interim government.

Reda has described the TPLF’s recent actions as a “potential coup attempt.”

In a televised interview, he emphasized the need for the international community — one of the key guarantors of the Pretoria Peace Agreement — to closely monitor the escalating situation in the war-torn region.

“The parties to the Pretoria Agreement should really take into account the deteriorating situation in Tigray and the far-reaching ramifications of the unraveling of the Pretoria agreements,” he said.

TPLF deputy chairman Amanuel Assefa told The Associated Press that the current crises have nothing to do with the Pretoria agreement but are largely related to law enforcement.

“The TPLF and the Tigray forces are the rightful owners of the Pretoria Agreement. Therefore there is no reason to engage in any actions that would violate that”, he said.

London Renters Union Halts Eviction of Disabled Mother

 London Renters Union members in Stratford, London, March 13, 2025

CAMPAIGNERS successfully brought the threat of eviction for a disabled mother and her family to a halt today.

London Renters Union (LRU) protested outside the Stratford offices of Local Space, the charitable housing association which issued the eviction.

Cynthia fell into arrears last year after she was moved from legacy benefits onto universal credit.

The mother-of-two was served an eviction notice in summer 2024.

The arrears have since been settled through a repayment plan with the support of the local council.

Local Space postponed the eviction — but had not stopped the court proceedings, leaving the family still vulnerable to speedy eviction in the future.

Cynthia, who is an LRU member, said: “I was completely shocked when the charity made it clear they were still threatening my family with eviction, even though we’ve paid back most of the rent arrears.

“This doesn’t feel fair at all. Me and my two children have been really stressed, worrying sick about where we will live in a few months’ time.”

After the protest, the LRU said that it managed to get the eviction called off and the remaining arrears cancelled.

The government is currently rolling out plans to impose £6 billion of welfare cuts while continuing to hike rents more than inflation for social tenants.

An LRU spokesperson said: “Disabled renters are already more vulnerable to eviction and homelessness and the current wave of attacks on disabled people from the government are only set to make things worse.

“The only choice we have right now is to come together as a community and defend each other from exploitation and mistreatment.”

Mark Kent, Deputy CEO, Local Space, said the firm “will not be requesting a possession order from the court, the eviction is not going ahead, however as a process of the courts Local Space will need to attend the hearing to instruct an adjournment of the case.”

It's ‘Now or Never’ as Teacher Shortages Lead to Record Class Sizes, Report Warns

Pupils in a classroom

CLASS sizes have hit record highs amid “growing signs” that teacher shortages are negatively impacting education quality in England, a report warned yesterday.

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) said this year is a “now or never” moment for the government to demonstrate that it will deliver on a manifesto pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers.

In the report, officially published today, the educational research charity described the forthcoming spending review as a “crucial opportunity” as “sluggish recruitment and persistently high leaving rates have led to real impacts on schools and pupils.”

It warned that the number of unfilled teaching vacancies in state schools is now double the pre-pandemic rate, and 15 per cent of secondary pupils were in classes of more than 30 in 2023-24 — up from 10 per cent in 2015-16.

National Education Union (NEU) general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “More schools are in deficit now than at any point since 2010 and class sizes are the largest on record.

“The core drivers of teachers leaving the profession are unchanged: workload, funding, excessive accountability measures and below-inflation pay.”

The NEU is carrying out an indicative ballot on potential industrial action over the government’s unfunded recommendation of a 2.8 per cent pay award for 2025-26.

The NFER report recommends a 2025-26 pay award for teachers in excess of 3 per cent, as well as spending increases on financial incentives targeting shortage subjects.

School leaders’ union NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “These stark findings reflect the severe staffing crisis school leaders are grappling with day in day out.”

Association of School and College Leaders general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio said: “We are far beyond the point where small steps and half measures can address the scale of the recruitment and retention crisis in education.”

NASUWT teaching union general secretary Patrick Roach said: “The government can be in no doubt that a failure to deliver on pay and working conditions will only lead to a further decline in teacher numbers and a deterioration in the quality of education provided to children and young people.”

The Department for Education said: “On top of the 5.5 per cent pay award announced last year, we are also taking steps to support teachers’ well-being and ease workload pressures including encouraging schools to allow their staff to work more flexibly so more teachers stay in the profession.”

Momentum Launches Campaign to Get Labour MPs to Vote Down Government Welfare Cuts

LEFT-WING campaign group Momentum has begun lobbying Labour MPs to block cuts to welfare spending.

A Commons vote is expected after the government’s proposals to reduce spending on benefits sparked an angry backlash among Labour’s grassroots.

Sir Keir Starmer, who has described the benefits system as the “worst of all worlds,” was jeered at this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions as he insisted that Labour had a duty to reduce social security costs.

Labour MPs urged him to “provide compassion” to those who cannot work, stressing that disabled people have become “frightened” after hearing their party use the “language of tough choices.”

Ministers have already pledged to cut £3 billion from the welfare budget over three years and next week are expected to announce in a green paper that billions more will be axed from the main disability benefit, the personal independence payment (PIP) and funding to help those with long-term illness to return to work.

Cutting PIP could push 700,000 disabled people into poverty, disability charities have warned.

Momentum co-chairwoman Sasha das Gupta said: “The Labour leadership reportedly planning to slash funding for the most vulnerable in society is inhumane.

“This is just another form of austerity, plain and simple.

“We urge Labour MPs to vote against any cuts to welfare if brought to a parliamentary vote and to oppose them using the tools at their disposal.”

Launching its campaign today, Momentum highlighted figures showing more than three -quarters of people who rely on universal credit or disability benefits went without basic essentials at some point over the last six months.

The group aims to mobilise thousands of its supporters to write to their MP opposing any welfare cuts.

Momentum has launched an online lobbying tool to lobby your MP to oppose welfare cuts.

Editorial: Whose State? Starmer’s Speech Solves Nothing for a Country in Crisis

Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a Q&A session after delivering a speech where he announced NHS England will be abolished to "cut bureaucracy" and bring management of the health service "back into democratic control" during a visit to Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK Ltd in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, March 13, 2025

KEIR STARMER’S onslaught on a “flabby” state, starting with the abolition of NHS England, needs to be seen alongside the government’s other major initiatives of the last two weeks.

These are the decision to spend far more on the military and to take an axe to welfare benefits. These moves — none of which were put before the public at last July’s general election — represent a reordering of the ruling class’s priorities and a reconfiguration of the state machinery to match.

Britain now faces a world of more intense struggle between rival capitalist powers, with old alliances shaken and familiar certainties upended. Trade war is a here-and-now reality, and actual war looms on the horizon.

In one sense, this is a delayed after-shock of the 2008 bankers’ crash, which broke the prevailing model of globalised capitalism and has left Britain a country scarred more than ever by poverty and inequality with an increasingly dysfunctional state incapable of delivering basic functions.

Millions of working people have experienced a lost generation of stagnant living standards, public services in mounting disrepair and social atomisation.

For all of Starmer’s airy talk of Artificial Intelligence and digitalisation, his present course is not going to reverse that any time soon.

Instead, his strategy is dominated by a looming budgetary crisis exacerbated by his decision to commit more and more of the country’s wealth to militarism.

Trade unions are right to warn that the cuts in the NHS — laughably dressed up as an exercise in extending democratic control, as if that was one of the cabinet’s preoccupations — could add increased pressure onto front-line workers.

They are also correct to object to the apparently rushed nature of the announcement, with no prior negotiation or signs of a strategy.

It is not as if staff in NHS England — a product of the reforms introduced by Tory minister Andrew Lansley in 2012 — were doing nothing at all, and the idea that thousands of jobs can be axed without consequences is nonsensical.

And the claim that the resources freed up will mean more doctors and nurses risks echoing Boris Johnson’s notorious claim that leaving the European Union would add billions to the NHS budget. We are still waiting.

The underlying drive is to roll back the post-war gains of the working class still further, particularly in relation to the welfare cuts, the better to make the British state more competitive for the struggles ahead.

However, Starmer is not lying when he says that he believes “in the power of the state.” He has proved that again and again when it comes to its core coercive functions.

The state that wears a uniform, that restricts protest, that hands down draconian sentences and may be soon extending its reach to the battlefields of Ukraine, he is clearly committed to.

It is those forces that will be the main beneficiaries of the shakeout elsewhere. It all underlines the folly of welcoming the arms spending increases. Already the bill is falling due.

None of these proposals will solve the underlying weaknesses of the British economy and society. And they will not, indeed cannot, address the fundamental problem of the state.

That is not the issue of whether it is flabby or agile, but the interests it serves. Those are determined by the capitalist class, and the state — to be distinguished from the services it provides — is an institution alienated from society mandated above all to preserve property relations and the accumulation of capital.

In a world setting of vicious competition and mounting tensions, Starmer’s speech therefore solves nothing. The state that is needed is not large or small, but working-class.

Starmer Announces Abolition of NHS England

PM's move will ‘cause disruption and divert senior leaders' time and energy from improving care for patients,’ Health Foundation warns

Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a Q&A session after delivering a speech where he announced NHS England will be abolished to ‘cut bureaucracy’ and bring management of the health service ‘back into democratic control’ during a visit to Reckitt Benckiser Health Care UK Ltd in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, March 13, 2025

SLASHER PM Sir Keir Starmer stepped up his cuts programme today with the abolition of NHS England, part of what he billed a restructuring of the state.

The Prime Minister’s move was denounced as “shambolic and ill thought-out” as thousands of workers risked losing their jobs.

NHS England, a statutory authority managing the health service across most of the country, is to have its functions merged into the health ministry headed by Wes Streeting.

Sir Keir, speaking at the Hull campus of pharmaceutical firm Reckitt Benckiser, he said: “I don’t see why decisions about £200 billion of taxpayer money on something as fundamental to our security as the NHS should be taken by an arm’s length body, NHS England.

“And I can’t, in all honesty, explain to the British people why they should spend their money on two layers of bureaucracy.

“That money could and should be spent on nurses, doctors, operations, GP appointments.

“So I’m bringing management of the NHS back into democratic control by abolishing NHS England.

“That will put the NHS back at the heart of government where it belongs, free it to focus on patients — less bureaucracy with more money for nurses.”

The move forms part of a broader attack on regulation, benefits and state functions being sprung on the public.

The Prime Minister said: “In such uncertain times, people want a state that will take care of the big questions, not a bigger state that asks more from them.

“We need to be operating at maximum efficiency and strength. I believe in the power of the state. I’m not interested in ideological arguments about whether it should be bigger or smaller. I simply want it to work.”

His speech brandished artificial intelligence and digitalisation as panaceas and was loaded with anecdotes concerning apparently absurd and obstructive regulations holding business back.

Trade unions were unimpressed. Unison general secretary Christine McAnea said: “This announcement will have left NHS England staff reeling.

“Just days ago they learned their numbers were to be slashed by half, now they discover their employer will cease to exist.

“The way the news of the axing has been handled is nothing short of shambolic. It could surely have been managed in a more sympathetic way.

“Thousands of expert staff will be left wondering what their future holds. Wherever possible, their valuable skills must be redeployed and used to the benefit of the reformed NHS and patients.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called the announcement “an ill-thought-out strategy that could end up meaning front-line healthcare staff struggle to do their jobs effectively if they aren’t paid on time, don’t have basic medical supplies or are forced to do additional administrative work rather than treat patients.”

Fran Heathcote, leader of Civil Service union PCS, said: “Technology has a part to play in improving public services and enhancing our members’ job satisfaction, but we are also clear that it cannot be used as a blunt instrument to cut jobs.

“Better public services and better front-line delivery will require human beings making empathetic decisions, not automatons incapable of understanding people’s needs.”

In the Commons, Mr Streeting talked up the savings to be made, which would amount to hundreds of millions a year.

He claimed: “That money will flow down to the front line to cut waiting times faster and deliver our Plan for Change by slashing through the layers of red tape and ending the infantilisation of front-line NHS leaders.”

He told MPs that there are presently 15,300 staff at NHS England and 3,300 in the Department of Health and Social Care, numbers looking to be cut by at least half.

His “boldness” was commended by Tory former health secretary and chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

But leading think tank the Health Foundation warned: “History tells us that rejigging NHS organisations is hugely distracting and rarely delivers the benefits politicians expect.

“Scrapping NHS England completely will cause disruption and divert time and energy of senior leaders at a time when attention should be focused on improving care for patients.”

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Escalation to Follow Naval Ban if Gaza Starvation Continues: Al-Houthi

By Al Mayadeen English

12 Mar 2025 22:18

Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has reiterated support for Gaza, warning the Israeli occupation of military escalation if the siege on Gaza is not lifted.

The leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, declared on Wednesday that the resumption of the ban on Israeli navigation in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden—enforced as of Tuesday—is aimed at countering the Israeli occupation’s aggressive policies in the region.

Sayyed Al-Houthi emphasized that any Israeli vessel entering these waters would be targeted as part of the announced operations.

Condemning the Israeli occupation’s ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the Ansar Allah leader stated that preventing aid from reaching the besieged enclave and closing border crossings are deliberate efforts to starve the Palestinian people, coining the actions “a grave crime against humanity.”

He asserted that Yemen’s decision to reinstate the Israeli shipping ban is driven by a firm conviction that practical steps must be taken against Israeli intransigence and brutality.

He further warned that blocking Israeli maritime activity is only the first step, promising more escalatory measures if the occupation persists in starving Palestinians and preventing humanitarian relief from reaching Gaza.

"All options remain on the table if the starvation of the Palestinian people continues," he stressed.

Arab and Islamic silence: Condemnation without action

Addressing the broader Arab and Islamic stance, al-Houthi criticized the passive response to "Israel’s" aggressive policies, calling it a betrayal of responsibility toward the Palestinian cause. He asserted that Israeli actions are backed by the United States and tacitly approved by Arab and Islamic regimes that have shown a lack of resolve in confronting Israeli escalations.

“The positions of Arab and Islamic nations do not rise to the level of humanitarian, religious, or moral responsibility regarding the Palestinian cause,” he said, adding that official statements from Arab summits are typically weak in tone and are not followed by concrete diplomatic or economic measures.

Al-Houthi also pointed to revelations by the World Bank that some Arab regimes have established alternative land routes to circumvent Yemen’s blockade on Israeli-bound goods, questioning whether these regimes would deny the World Bank’s findings or admit to complicity in aiding the Israeli occupation.

He referenced past footage showing Arab trucks transporting goods to "Israel" during times of aggression, warning that the low threshold of Arab condemnations emboldens the Israeli occupation’s gradual escalation.

“It is unacceptable for our people to align their stance with the positions of Arab regimes because those positions reflect weakness and abandonment of responsibility,” he declared.

Al-Houthi acknowledged Arab opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians but dismissed it as an insufficient response. “Refusing to grant land for the displacement of Palestinians is good, but it is a very minimal stance compared to what must be done,” he said.

He warned that if Arab regimes were to accept the displacement of Palestinians, they would become direct aggressors against the Palestinian people.

“Some Arab regimes view us as their greatest enemies—why? Because we take strong stances in support of the Palestinian people,” he said, adding that even those sympathetic to Yemen’s position consider it reckless and imprudent.

He concluded by stating that instead of criticizing Yemen’s actions, pressure should be directed at the Israeli occupation, which continues to starve Palestinians under American protection. “The US backing enables the enemy to carry out major aggressive steps, and it will not stop unless confronted with deterrence and strong practical stances.”

Yemen resumes naval blockade against Israeli ships in support of Gaza

The Yemeni Armed Forces announced the resumption of their naval blockade on all Israeli ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.

Sanaa's decision comes after the expiration of the deadline set by Ansar Allah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi for mediators to pressure the Israeli occupation into reopening Gaza’s border crossings and allowing humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. 

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Yemeni Armed Forces declared the immediate enforcement of the blockade, warning that any Israeli vessel attempting to breach the restriction would be targeted within the designated operational zones.

The military stressed that the blockade would remain in place until the Israeli occupation complies with the demand to reopen Gaza’s border crossings and facilitate the entry of essential food and medical supplies.

The statement reaffirmed Yemen’s unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and reiterated its commitment to standing alongside the Palestinian Resistance.

IMF Approves $1.2 Billion More for Egypt's Economic Recovery

A woman walks past an exchange office in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024

Africa News with AP

The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday it completed its fourth review of Egypt’s economic reform program approving a $1.2 billion disbursement for the North African country.

The IMF said in a statement it completed its fourth review on Monday and Egyptian authorities can immediately draw the funds. The IMF executive board also granted Egypt’s request for an arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility with access to an additional $1.3 billion.

Egyptians have been grappling with soaring inflation as they navigate rising daily costs that reached another high last year. They included an increase in fuel prices, a hike in subway fares and a slide in the Egyptian pound against foreign currencies. A recent government decision to raise minimum monthly wages is yet to grant some relief.

Last month, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk announced that the monthly minimum wage for public sector workers will increase to EGP 7,000 ($138) starting in July, up from EGP 6,000 ($118.58). It's meant to match that of private sector workers whose monthly minimum wage increase took effect on March 1. The wage increase for public sector workers comes as part of the government's social protection initiative.

In October, Egypt raised fuel prices between 10% and 17%, a move likely to impact the cost of both goods and services. The cost of a liter of diesel — which is heavily relied on for public transport — increased from 11.5 pounds ($0.23) to 13.5 pounds ($0.25), while the price of 92-octane gasoline rose to 15.25 pounds ($0.31) from 13.75 pounds ($0.28).

Egypt reached a deal with the IMF last spring to more than double the size of its bailout to $8 billion. The price hikes have been deemed necessary to meet conditions set by the IMF for further assistance to the country.

South Africa Plans to Spend More on Health and Defense After the US Cuts Aid

Minister of Finance of South Africa Enoch Godongwana arrives ahead of the state of the nation address by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the City Hall in Cape Town, Feb. 8, 2024. (Rodger Bosch/pool photo via AP, file)

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

2:56 PM EDT, March 12, 2025

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Lawmakers in South Africa laid out plans to shore up the budgets for health and defense but also put up value added tax by 0.5%, a move that will raise the cost of living as consumers pay more for goods, including food, and services.

An additional 28.9 billion rand ($1.5 billion) was earmarked for health spending in the 2025 budget, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said, as the country scrambles to make up for cuts to aid from the U.S. under the Trump administration.

The extra money will pay the salaries of roughly 9,300 medical personnel in clinics and hospitals and about 800 newly qualified doctors.

Health spending overall is expected to grow from 277 billion rand in 2024/25 to 329 billion rand in 2027/28.

The increase comes amid concerns that South Africa’s health system, which cares for the world’s largest HIV population and has 5.5 million people on life-saving antiretroviral drugs, will be strained by cuts to USAID, the U.S. agency for international development.

In early February, President Donald Trump cancelled PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which provides over $400 million annually to South Africa’s HIV programs and nongovernmental organizations.

Although 74% of South Africa’s HIV response is funded domestically, some services depend on U.S. government funding, which makes up around 17% of the nation’s AIDS response budget.

Despite South Africa being one of Africa’s most developed nations, it struggles with high debt rates and slow GDP growth.

The health ministry will shortly begin consultations on how to divide up state funds, including allocations to fill the gaps left by the U.S. cuts, ministry spokesperson Foster Mohale said.

“It’s too early to tell you how we are going to assist those affected by the funding freeze,” said Mohale. “But we’ll be able to communicate (soon) how we’re going to use this budget to try to cover some pressure areas.”

The latest budget has not yet been approved by the cabinet. Parliamentary committees will debate the budget in the coming weeks before putting it to a vote before the full legislature. If it passes, the ministries are free to use the funds as allocated. However, if Parliament rejects it, new elections are convened, and the administration resigns.

Some 5 billion rand ($271 million) was ringfenced to beef up military forces, said Godongwana, reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to peacekeeping in the region as fighting intensifies in eastern Congo.

To fund additional spending on health, education, transportation and security, the government plans to raise the consumption tax, or VAT, by half a percentage point in 2025–2026, sparking outrage from political and civic organizations.

VAT is payable on goods and services including food and electricity.

Another half a percentage point will be introduced in the following year, putting the rate of VAT at 16% by 2026–2027.

“VAT is a tax that affects everyone. By opting for a marginal increase to VAT, its distributional effect and impact were cautiously considered,” said the finance minister, attempting to fend off jeers from lawmakers. “The increase is also the most effective way to avoid further spending cuts and to enable us to extend the social wage.”

DR Congo and M23 Rebel Group Will Hold Peace Talks on Tuesday, Mediator Angola Says

M23 rebels entered the centre of east Congo’s second-largest city, Bukavu, and took control of the South Kivu province administrative office, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.

By MONIKA PRONCZUK

5:15 PM EDT, March 12, 2025

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The government of Congo will hold peace talks next week in Angola with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east, mediator Angola announced Wednesday.

A statement from Angolan President João Lourenço’s office said the parties would begin “direct peace negotiations” in the Angolan capital, Luanda.

Angola has acted as a mediator in the conflict in eastern Congo, which escalated in late January when the Rwanda-backed rebels advanced and took control of the strategic eastern Congo city of Goma. In February, M23 seized Bukavu, eastern Congo’s second biggest city.

Congo President Felix Tshisekedi was in Angola on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of peace talks.

“Following the diligence carried out by Angolan mediation in the conflict affecting the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Government of the Republic of Angola makes public that delegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 will begin direct peace negotiations, on March 18, in the city of Luanda,” Lourenço’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Congolese government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“We acknowledge and look forward to the implementation of this Angolan mediation initiative,” Tina Salama, the spokesperson for President Tshisekedi said on social media on Tuesday.

The announcement comes after several canceled peace talks hosted by Angola that had previously excluded M23 and instead focused on their Rwandan backers.

Peace talks between Congo and Rwanda were unexpectedly canceled in December after Rwanda made the signing of a peace agreement conditional on a direct dialogue between Congo and the M23 rebels, which Congo refused.

M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern Congo near the border with Rwanda, in a conflict that has created one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises. More than 7 million people have been displaced.

The rebels are supported by about 4,000 troops from neighboring Rwanda, according to U.N. experts, and at times have vowed to march as far as Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, over 1,000 miles away.

The U.N. Human Rights Council last month launched a commission to investigate atrocities, including allegations of rape and killing akin to “summary executions” by both sides.

DR Congo Faces Setback in Mpox Response After Rwanda-backed Rebels Advance in the East

By JANVIER BARHAHIGA and CHINEDU ASADU

11:21 AM EDT, March 11, 2025

MITI MURHESA, Congo (AP) — Hospitals across eastern Congo that were once at the forefront of the country’s response to the mpox outbreak are facing a setback in detecting the disease and offering treatment following the advance of Rwanda-backed rebels in the region.

The mpox global health emergency is worsening as the fighting between the M23 rebel group and Congolese troops escalates in eastern Congo, which has been the epicenter of the health crisis. Many patients have fled and can’t be found. Recently arrived vaccines are running short as supplies can’t reach combat zones. Hospitals have been under attack.

The Associated Press visited one of the mpox hot spots, which is now under control of M23 rebels backed by neighboring Rwanda. Health workers and remaining patients described a growing disaster.

“The situation has been very difficult. Insecurity has disrupted everything,” said Dr. Serge Munyahu Cikuru, medical officer in charge of the Miti Murhesa health zone in South Kivu province’s Kabare territory.

The country, meanwhile, continues to battle other diseases in the east, including cholera and measles, in addition to mysterious outbreaks that recently started in the northwestern region.

Cases are not being reported as before

Congo saw a 31% weekly increase in mpox cases last week, bringing the total to 16,255, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, that is only one side of the story: Only seven out of the 26 provinces reported cases last week, the public health agency said at its last briefing, partly blaming the security crisis.

Although Congo has seen a surge in the current vaccination phase as compared to the previous one, much of that success is in other regions while eastern Congo remains cut off.

The Miti Murhesa treatment center is fast running out of supplies.

Mubake Buroko Patrick, an mpox patient at the facility, said it was difficult to get drugs in the weeks following the fighting.

“The war has complicated our access to medicines,” he said. “I’m feeling a little better, but the treatment needs to be improved.”

Africa CDC’s mpox incident manager Dr. Ngashi Ngongo told reporters last week that authorities have started negotiations for a humanitarian corridor, which would require the suspension of hostilities to allow for humanitarian access in conflict zones.

Patients are fleeing in fear

More than 600 mpox patients fled different hospitals in eastern Congo as the fighting escalated, the Africa CDC said.

Many of the fleeing patients were in the Miti Murhesa health zone, one of the hardest hit in the mpox outbreak. At least 4,700 cases were reported there as of the end of 2024, according to the zone’s chief medical officer Dr. Cikuru.

Only two of the four treatment centers in the zone are currently functional while others are among numerous health facilities affected by the fighting between government forces and M23, he said.

As M23 seized Goma and Bukavu, their fighters were expanding their presence in the region, including in other parts of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces where they had been present for years.

Many patients in Miti Murhe have had to “choose between staying under fire or fleeing” the rebels, Dr. Cikuru said.

Tracing patients to prevent spread of mpox has become more difficult and health workers are running out of options on how to make the best of remaining medical supplies, he said.

“Our fear is an increase in the number of cases due to the current situation,” the doctor said. “Patient care in the treatment centers continues, but the shortage of medicines is a major concern.”

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Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Associated Press writer Evelyne Musambi in Nairobi, Kenya contributed to this report.