Chad Orders French Troops to Leave Within Six Weeks As Relations Sour

20 December 2024

Radio France Internationale

French soldiers have been asked to leave Chad by 31 January, sources close to the government in Paris say - a deadline that RFI was able to confirm with Chadian authorities.

The request, received late Thursday, gives Paris just six weeks to remove 1,000 soldiers and their equipment. French officials say the tight deadline is likely to further strain relations.

French military sources called the move "a pressure tactic from the hardline faction of Chad's inner circle of power" - adding that such a withdrawal would be impossible.

Chad is the last remaining country in the Sahel to host French troops. It set up a special commission to oversee the dismantling of the military agreement between Paris and N'Djamena earlier in December.

Cautious negotiations

Despite the demand, negotiations are ongoing. French military sources described the discussions as "technical, but going well".

Chadian officials have also stressed that the troop withdrawal does not imply a breakdown in relations with France.

"The situation is entirely different from the AES countries," according to one source close to the Chadian authorities, referring to the Alliance of Sahel States, formed last year by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Relations bwetween France and Chad have grown tense since 2021, when Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno became president after his father's death.

"Macron has not distinguished himself with his diplomatic skills in the way he interacted with Chad's president," Sciences Po researcher Roland Marchal told RFI.

Macron, he added, has been perceived in Deby's circles as "unsupportive".

Both countries have however still a strong interest in keeping their relations as cordial and peaceful as possible, due to the volatile state of the Sahel region.

According to a Chadian source, the initial withdrawal timetable - which extended until March - was rejected as it was deemed too long.

The ideal scenario for N'Djamena would be for the French departure to be completed before the end of February, when Ramadan begins.

"We are trying to find a solution that works for both sides," added the Chadian source.

Proposals and counter-proposals

Proposals and counter-proposals are multiplying and ongoing "in a constructive spirit", a source said.

Senior French military officials added that France wants to show that the withdrawal is indeed under way.

French forces have already begun moving out. Three Mirage fighter jets left the Adji Kossei base between 10 and 11 December.

Troops from outposts in Faya-Largeau and Abéché, home to 50 and 100 personnel respectively, will begin evacuations next week.

This departure of the jets came less than two weeks after Chad unilaterally broke its defence agreement with France.

Marchal said French authorities acted quickly to retrieve the jets to show respect for Chad's demands. However, he noted a lack of coordination between the two governments.

Logistical challenges remain, as it takes more than 10 days to move equipment and personnel from remote outposts to the capital.

The Adji Kossei base is expected to be dismantled next due to logistical and safety considerations.

Read or Listen to this story on the RFI website.

Crowds in Mayotte Vent Frustration with Cyclone Response as Macron Tours Devastation

By SAM MEDNICK, ADRIENNE SURPRENANT and SYLVIE CORBET

8:48 PM EST, December 20, 2024

MIRERENI, Mayotte (AP) — Crowds in Mayotte vented their frustration at French President Emmanuel Macron, with some booing, as he toured destruction wrought by the strongest cyclone to hit the French territory in nearly a century.

Particularly tense scenes on Thursday underscored the discontent that many residents of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean feel toward their government, based about 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) away in Paris.

The people of Mayotte, the poorest department in France, have previously said they suffer from underinvestment and neglect by the government. Now, they are expressing disappointment with the response to Cyclone Chido, which hit Saturday.

The storm has devastated entire neighborhoods and caused an unknown number of deaths, as many people ignored warnings, thinking the storm wouldn’t be so extreme. Authorities have said hundreds or possibly thousands may be dead, but the official toll rose to 35 on Friday.

In the morning, Macron visited a neighborhood in Tsingoni on Mayotte’s main island, where people remain without access to drinking water or phone service nearly a week after the storm.

As he walked through the area, some shouted: “We want water, we want water.” Others, however, offered him a warmer welcome, posing for selfies with the French leader and showing him their children.

But the night before, Macron was met with boos from dozens of residents in Pamandzi on another nearby island.

As people expressed frustration at the slow pace of aid efforts, Macron grabbed a microphone and became angry.

Moving towards the crowd, he said: “I have nothing to do with the cyclone, you can blame me, it wasn’t me!”

Macron, who is known for his appetite for debate and for confronting people who are angry at him, vacillated between acknowledging the hardship and pushing back against criticism.

“You’ve been through something terrible, everyone’s struggling, regardless of skin color,” he said.

Visibly losing patience, Macron then shouted: “If it wasn’t France, you’d be 10,000 times more screwed!”

The French president added: “There’s no place in the Indian Ocean where people get so much help!” A woman could be heard saying “we disagree.”

In a reflection of further frustration, a woman working with local authorities in Mayotte’s capital told The Associated Press on Friday that many deaths recorded by officials on the ground have not yet been published in official tallies.

The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, said most of the people who died were migrants, living in the hills in flimsy houses. Mayotte is home to 320,000 residents and an estimated 100,000 additional migrants.

The woman was not able to give her own estimate.

The reported death toll has only slowly ticked up in the week since the cyclone hit and stood at 35 on Friday, even though authorities have said they know that is a dramatic undercount.

Many in Mayotte have expressed disbelief that the toll hasn’t been updated more quickly.

The Interior Ministry said Friday that in addition to the deaths, 67 people were seriously injured and more than 2,400 slightly injured.

“The number of deaths does not reflect the reality of the 100,000 people living in precarious housing,” the statement said. “The prefect has therefore ordered the deputy prefect to set up a mission to search for the dead.”

It said 70% of residents were “seriously affected.”

The government said it has created a way to count the dead by ordering a census of the population district by district, with the help of mayors and local associations.

In just one example of how the toll might grow, French Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq said Friday that about 17% of hospital staff and 40% of all regional health staff on the archipelago are still unaccounted for.

“That’s around 60 to 70 people,” she said on news broadcaster FranceInfo, stressing a large part of the population still has no access to phone service.

Meanwhile, French military and local authorities scrambled to repair busted water pipes across the islands and get water to villages who haven’t had any.

In the village of Mirereni, about 35 kilometers (20 miles) outside Mayotte’s capital, Civil Security officers were trying to remove a large, felled mango tree that busted a water pipe.

The pipe provides water to around 10,000 people in three nearby villages. But officials said repairing it might take longer than usual because of the heat, which impacts equipment.

Locals said they’re worried the lack of water would cause disease. Earlier this year, there was a cholera outbreak on the island, with at least 200 cases.

Mayotte is part an archipelago located between Africa’s east coast and Madagascar that had been a French colony. Its residents voted to remain part of France in a 1974 referendum while the rest of the islands became the independent nation of Comoros.

In recent decades, the French territory has seen massive migration from Comoros, one of the world’s poorest countries, most of whom entered and live illegally in Mayotte.

Macron said Friday fighting illegal immigration was key to state efforts to get Mayotte back on track.

“When you have schools where the population has multiplied by five in two years, when you have hospitals that are exploding under migration pressure, they feel they are being abandoned even if the state is doing a lot,” he said. “We won’t be able to solve Mayotte’s fundamental problems unless we solve the problem of illegal immigration.”

He has proposed rules that would apply to the territory in order to reduce the numbers of people coming in illegally.

On Thursday, he also announced a special law that would help rebuild Mayotte more quickly and would seek to destroy slums and replace tin shacks with more solid buildings.

___

Corbet reported from Paris.

Cyclone Chido’s Devastation of Mayotte Was Immediate and Decades Coming

A woman looks at a destroyed home in Mamoudzou, Mayotte, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrienne Surprenant)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

6:15 PM EST, December 20, 2024

The devastation from Cyclone Chido that shattered corrugated metal shacks and thousands of lives on the island of Mayotte was both immediate and long coming.

Residents of Mayotte, one of 12 tiny overseas territories remaining from one of the great global empires, have complained for decades of neglect by bureaucrats in France.

Authorities have confirmed 35 deaths from Cyclone Chido’s landfall Sunday, but fear hundreds or thousands may be dead.

The shacks of corrugated metal stood no chance in the Kaweni slum on the outskirts of the capital, Mamoudzou, where residents are still taking stock of their shattered lives.

Mayotte, the poorest place in the European Union, has struggled to care for migrants from the nearby independent Comoros islands. They have been moving to Mayotte — the only part of the Comoros that voted to remain part of France in a 1974 referendum — and last year, the government mobilized 2,000 troops and police to carry out mass expulsions, destroy slums and eradicate gangs.

This week, survivors lined up to collect water. Once among the island’s rare riches — with rivers and springs nestled between mountains and forests — water has grown scare as mismanagement and climate change have taken their toll.

Mayotte has had its driest year since 1997, according to the national weather service. Even before Chico, indoor plumbing only worked from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. once every three days on an island territory of about 350,000 people.

Women rested Thursday on a footbridge over a stream filled with debris in the Kaweni slum after families rushed to prepare food, wash dishes, clean their homes and anything else involving water.

Those living in neighborhoods without plumbing lined up at public taps with buckets, plastic jerrycans, reused bottles — anything to collect water. Then for 48 hours, they were dry again.

France’s Military is Being Ousted from More African Countries. Here’s Why

By MONIKA PRONCZUK and SYLVIE CORBET

12:11 AM EST, December 20, 2024

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — It’s been a tumultuous month for France and its relationship with former colonies in Africa, as its influence on the continent faces the biggest challenge in decades.

As Paris was devising a new military strategy that would sharply reduce its permanent troop presence in Africa, two of its closest allies struck a double blow.

The government of Chad, considered France’s most stable and loyal partner in Africa, announced on its Independence Day it was ending defense cooperation to redefine its sovereignty.

And in an interview published hours later by Le Monde, Senegal’s new president said it was “obvious” that soon French soldiers wouldn’t be on Senegalese soil.

“Just because the French have been here since the slavery period doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do otherwise,” President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said.

The announcements came as France was making efforts to revive waning influence on the continent. Foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot was completing a visit to Chad and Ethiopia, and President Emmanuel Macronfor the first time had recognized the killing of as many as 400 West African soldiers by the French Army in 1944.

French authorities stayed silent for almost 24 hours after Chad’s announcement, finally saying they were in “close dialogue” on the future of the partnership.

“Chad’s decision marks the final nail in the coffin of France’s post-colonial military dominance in the entire Sahel region,” said Mucahid Durmaz, a senior analyst at global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, referring to the arid region south of the Sahara.

The decisions by Senegal and Chad “are part of the wider structural transformation in the region’s engagement with France, in which Paris political and military influence continues to diminish,” Durmaz added.

They follow the ousting of French forces in recent years by military-led governments in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where local sentiments turned sour following years of French forces fighting alongside local ones in the face of stubborn Islamic extremist insurgencies.

What is France’s new strategy in Africa?

Jean-Marie Bockel, Macron’s personal envoy for Africa, last month presented to Macron his report on the evolution of the French military presence in Africa.

It was part of the “renewal of our partnership with African countries” that Macron announced in a 2017 speech in Burkina Faso in the early days of his presidency.

The details of Bockel’s report have not been made public. But three French top officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive talks with the concerned countries, said France aimed for a sharp reduction of its military in all its bases in Africa except the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti — where Macron is expected to travel in the coming days.

The officials said it doesn’t mean France would necessarily reduce military cooperation but instead would respond to needs expressed by countries. It could mean providing more specific training in airspace surveillance or drones and other aircraft. France also could deploy troops on a temporary basis.

The officials declined to confirm numbers of troop reductions but called it significant.

The French army earlier this year also set up a command for Africa, similar to the U.S. AFRICOM. Newly appointed commander Pascal Ianni specializes in influence and information warfare — a need highlighted by Russia’s growing presence in Africa.

“You can carry on your military cooperation like many countries do. But the idea of having permanent military bases, which then can be used as political ammunition against you and spun up in kind of a disinformation war, is maybe not the best way of going about things,” said Will Brown, a senior policy fellow at the European Center for Foreign Relations.

Meanwhile, France is trying to boost its economic presence in Africa’s anglophone countries like Nigeria, analysts said. Already, its two biggest trading partners on the continent are Nigeria and South Africa.

At the time of Chad’s announcement, Macron was hosting talks with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

Where does France have troops in West Africa, and why?

Since the independence of French colonies in Africa, France has maintained a policy of economic, political and military sway dubbed Françafrique, which included having thousands of permanent troops in the region.

France still has 600 troops in Ivory Coast, 350 in Senegal and 350 in Gabon, as well as around 1,500 in Djibouti. It has had 1,000 troops in Chad.

France’s defense ministry said the role of French troops in Africa is to train local soldiers and reinforce their capacities to fight extremism, mainly in peacekeeping, intelligence and logistics. But critics say keeping boots on the ground also has allowed Paris to retain influence and protect political regimes favorable to France.

“The countries of Francophone Africa want a change in the nature of this relationship,” said Gilles Yabi, head of the West Africa Citizen Think Tank.

Why are West African countries expelling French troops?

Growing anti-French sentiment has led to street protests in several West and North African countries, while governments that gained power on pledges of redefining relationships with the West say ties with France have not benefited the population. They want to explore options with Russia, China, Turkey and other powers.

Chad’s President Mahamat Deby “would not have made this decision if he did not have security guarantees from another actor,” Brown said. “We know he’s received serious support from the United Arab Emirates, who are very interested in what’s going on in neighboring Sudan and Darfur. We know that Turkey also made some outreach.”

Chad borders four countries with Russian military presence. In January, Deby traveled to Moscow to reinforce relations with the “partner country.”

Military leaders of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso who expelled the French military have moved closer to Russia, which has mercenaries deployed across the Sahel who have been accused of abuses against civilians.

But the security situation has worsened in those countries, with increasing numbers of extremist attacks and civilian deaths from both armed groups and government forces. Over the first six months of this year, 3,064 civilians were killed, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a 25% increase over the previous six months.

It is impossible to say whether the departure of French forces led to the increased violence. But it created a “huge security vacuum,” said analyst Shaantanu Shankar with the Economist Intelligence Unit, adding that it cannot be filled by Russia. Troops from the Russian private military company Wagner are being financed by the junta governments with fewer financial resources, he said.

Somalia and Tanzania Sign Historic Agreements to Boost Bilateral Ties

19 December 2024

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

Mogadishu, Somalia — In a landmark event on Thursday, Somalia and Tanzania formalized their commitment to enhanced bilateral relations through the signing of multiple agreements in Mogadishu. The pacts address cooperation in defense, tourism, health, aviation, and general diplomacy, promising a new era of collaboration between the two East African neighbors.

A critical component of the agreements includes a strategic partnership in defense. This collaboration is intended to bolster counter-terrorism efforts, enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean, and share intelligence to combat regional threats. Both nations have faced challenges from piracy and insurgent groups, making this cooperation essential for regional peace.

The agreements highlight an initiative to promote tourism, tapping into Tanzania's established attractions like Zanzibar and Mount Kilimanjaro, and Somalia's emerging cultural heritage sites. Cultural exchanges are expected to foster mutual understanding and appreciation between the peoples of both countries.

In the health sector, the agreements aim to facilitate medical training, share expertise, and manage public health crises, especially after recent regional pandemics. This could involve joint research projects, sharing of medical resources, and coordinated responses to health emergencies.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the deal is the establishment of direct flights between Mogadishu and Dar es Salaam. This move not only aims to boost trade but also to simplify travel for business, tourism, and personal exchanges. The improvement in air connectivity is expected to serve as a catalyst for economic growth by reducing travel times and costs.

Beyond sector-specific agreements, there's a broad commitment to cooperation in education, trade, and environmental conservation. This includes scholarships for students, trade facilitation, and joint efforts in climate change mitigation, acknowledging the shared environmental challenges.

The agreements are the culmination of discussions initiated during President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's visit to Dar es Salaam earlier this year. His dialogue with President Samia Suluhu Hassan was marked by a shared vision for the development and stability of East Africa.

The ceremony in Mogadishu was attended by high-ranking officials from both countries, including ministers of foreign affairs, defense, and tourism. The signing was celebrated as a step forward in regional diplomacy, highlighting a commitment to not just bilateral but also broader East African integration.

Local and international observers view these agreements as a significant stride towards economic recovery for Somalia, which has been rebuilding after decades of conflict, and for Tanzania, which seeks to expand its influence and economic partnerships in the region. The agreements are also seen as a blueprint for other African nations looking to strengthen bonds through mutual benefits.

As both countries look ahead, the focus will be on implementation, ensuring that the promise of these agreements translates into tangible benefits for their citizens. This could mean new jobs, improved security, and enhanced cultural ties, setting a positive trajectory for future collaborations in East Africa.

Read the original article on Shabelle.

Somalia 'Open' to Ethiopian Troop Role

Abdi Dakan/AU-UN IST

Ethiopian troops in Somalia (file photo).

19 December 2024

Voice of America (Washington, DC)

By Harun Maruf

The Somali government is "open" to a potential role for Ethiopian troops in an African Union mission scheduled to take over peacekeeping operations in the country next month.

A senior Somali government official on Thursday told VOA's Horn of Africa Service that the Somali government has "secured" and "allocated" all troops needed from the four other AU-troop-contributing countries -- Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda -- to participate in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he had not been cleared to speak with reporters.

But Somali leaders, he added, are now "ready to reconsider" Ethiopian involvement in AUSSOM following a conciliatory dialogue between the countries hosted by Turkey last week.

In recent months, Mogadishu had repeatedly demanded that Addis Ababa withdraw its troops from Somali territory unless Ethiopia canceled a controversial Memorandum of Understanding with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland. The memorandum grants Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometer stretch of Red Sea coastline in return for potential recognition of Somaliland's independence.

The anonymous official said although Somalia secured all troops from those four AU nations to compensate for the absence of Ethiopian troops, the recent diplomatic breakthrough has reopened the door for involving Ethiopia's military support.

During the talks in Ankara, Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to respect each other's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

The possible breakthrough came just weeks after a spokesperson for Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nebiat Getachew, told media outlets that Ethiopia's focus was on al-Shabab.

"Ethiopia's key role, in any situation -- in bringing al-Shabab to a level where it cannot be a threat to the region, as well as its role in the establishment and stability of the Somali government -- is known both by the Somalis and the international community," he said.

"It is an undeniable fact that the Ethiopian army has made sacrifices in blood and bones for this great result," Nebiat added. "The work of weakening the [Somalia-based] al-Shabab terrorist group will continue under any circumstances so that it does not pose a threat to our national security and the victories achieved through the sacrifices made so far are not reversed."

In a Thursday meeting, the AU's peace and security council expressed concern about the threat posed by al-Shabab and condemned the group's attacks on Somali and AU forces.

The AU appealed to the U.N. Security Council to explore financing options for AUSSOM.

"This is vital for #AUSSOM to fulfill its mandate & support the #Somalia Security Sector Development Plan (SSDP)," the AU said in a post on the X social media platform.

Starting in January, AUSSOM will have 11,900 personnel operating on the ground in Somalia, including soldiers, police and civilian support staff, according to Somali and AU officials.

Read the original article on VOA.

Zimbabwe President Launches Land Tenure Program

20 December 2024

The Herald (Harare)

By Zvamaida Murwira

President Mnangagwa will today launch the new Land Tenure Implementation Programme in Kwekwe to bolster the land ownership model, unlock huge amounts of finance, spur economic growth and enhance productivity.

This follows an adjustment to the country's land tenure system announced by President Mnangagwa in October to improve land tenure security.

Under the new era, all land held by beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme under 99-year leases, offer letters and permits, will be held under a bankable, registrable and transferable document.

Addressing the 380th Ordinary Session of the ZANU PF Politburo at the revolutionary party's headquarters, President Mnangagwa, who is also First Secretary of the ruling party, said he will be launching the new programme at Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe.

"Tomorrow (today) I will be launching the new land tenure implementation programme as we consolidate the gains of land reform. The programme is envisaged to bolster the land ownership model, and enhance access to financing, as well as to encourage production and productivity," said President Mnangagwa.

He implored communities to remain vigilant as the country seeks to capitalise on weather patterns for improved agricultural output.

"In the agriculture sector, I once again urge communities, village-by-village, ward-by-ward to remain vigilant as we maximise the weather patterns for a successful agriculture season," said the President.

To ensure the smooth facilitation of the process, the Government issued an indefinite moratorium on the issuance of any new 99-year leases, offer letters and permits for agricultural land.

In announcing the new policy in October this year, President Mnangagwa said in implementing the new system, priority will be given to veterans of the liberation struggle, youths and women.

In addition, security of tenure to all agricultural land regularised under this programme will, at all times, only be transferable among indigenous Zimbabweans and land targeted for the new tenure system will exclude communal land that is under the jurisdiction of traditional chiefs.

He said the noticeable new paradigm amongst Zimbabwean farmers, especially the majority of beneficiaries of the land reform, was to regard and conduct farming as a business, a source of both livelihoods and means to increase personal economic value.

Chronicling the background of the programme, President Mnangagwa said the Government, has since 2008, put in place various programmes to assist farmers to be productive on the land through programmes such as the Basic Commodity Supply Side Intervention (Baccossi), Inputs and Mechanisation Equipment, Maguta, and the Special Grains Import Substitution Programme among others.

"In the Second Republic, the country has witnessed and benefited from the Government's deliberate and complementary policy of incorporating accelerated infrastructure development which includes road construction and rehabilitation incorporating the much-needed rural roads, dam construction; irrigation; and housing development," he said.

Some of the challenges, he said, that were faced by farmers in the past include difficulty in accessing affordable finance and varying levels of accountability from the farmers.

The President has since constituted a Cabinet Oversight Committee chaired by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri to lead the reform process.

A technical committee - the Land Tenure Implementation Committee (LTIC) -- to coordinate and steer the implementation of this process will also be constituted.

These Committees will work diligently to develop improved security of tenure for land beneficiaries while ensuring that the value of agricultural and urban State land is fully unlocked to guarantee inclusive and nationwide economic development.

Government will put in place all the necessary institutional and logistical mechanisms to ensure the smooth coordination and implementation of these new policies and objectives.

Read the original article on The Herald.

Zimbabwe Govt Exceeds Housing Delivery Target

20 December 2024

The Herald (Harare)

By Blessings Chidakwa

The Second Republic has successfully delivered 700 000 housing units under National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), exceeding its initial target of 220 000 and is now approaching a new goal of one million units.

Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, the Government has prioritised the provision of affordable, modern and safe houses, recognising housing as a basic and fundamental need.

The revised target was announced during a media session aimed at enhancing interactions between journalists and Cabinet ministers, facilitated by Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere.

Among the attendees was National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda, who expressed confidence in surpassing the revised target of one million housing units.

Minister Soda stated that since inception of the Second Republic, guided by the President's vision, the Government aimed to construct a substantial number of houses within the National Development Strategy period, which runs from 2021 to 2025.

"The initial target, as I indicated, was 220 000 housing units. When we took stock in April last year, we realised that we had completed 272 000 houses, and the Cabinet is ready to review the target to 1 million housing units. As we speak, we have already achieved more than 700 000 housing units, which accounts for over 70 percent of our targets. This positions us well to achieve our goals by 2025," he said.

Minister Soda emphasised that housing delivery is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of National Housing; it involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including pension funds, insurance schemes, individuals, and civil society. He noted ongoing partnerships with banks such as BancABC, CBZ, and CABS, highlighting the importance of private sector participation in realising the vision for 2030, which is expected to be led by the private sector.

"So we are crowding in the private sector by creating a conducive investment environment where they can find opportunities to participate in the housing delivery sector," he said.

Read the original article on The Herald.

Council Pumps Raw Sewage Into Lake Chivero

ZimParks initiates broad investigations as Lake Chivero becomes deadly for surrounding wildlife and aqua-life; suspects sewage runoff from Marimba area contaminating the water.

19 December 2024

The Herald (Harare)

By Blessings Chidakwa

Harare City Council has been discharging raw sewage into the Mukuvisi River, which flows into Lake Chivero, the city's main water source, for the past two weeks, The Herald can reveal.

This has created serious health and environmental hazards, resulting in Zimparks banning all fishing activities at Lake Chivero, where thousands of fish have died, alongside animals including four rhinos and three zebras.

The pollution, primarily from raw sewage, has caused a surge in cyanobacteria, posing health risks to both humans and wildlife.

The Herald team traced the sewage discharge back to the Crowborough Sewerage Works, one of Harare's five treatment plants, which has a capacity of 54 million litres per day.

Observations revealed that council was directly pumping sewage into Mukuvisi River.

Along the sewer line, multiple burst pipes were found leaking sewage into the river and surrounding fields, where farmers depend on the flow.

Despite having replacement pipes available, council is yet to install them.

The area is poorly secured, making it easy for our crew to access without encountering security personnel.

Residents, speaking anonymously, expressed their frustration.

"The calamity at Lake Chivero stems from here. Bursting pipes from Kuwadzana should supply Crowborough for treatment, but instead, the council has allowed sewage to flow directly into the Mukuvisi River," one resident said.

Another resident noted that while attempts were made to block the sewage flow, the situation remained critical.

"The sewage is still pouring into the river. We need urgent intervention. This is the same water we drink."

Experts have said the rise in cyanobacteria due to pollution -- primarily from raw sewage -- poses health risks to both humans and animals alike.

"The situation at Lake Chivero is indeed concerning and raises several important ecological and environmental questions. Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, can produce toxins that are harmful to various wildlife, including large mammals like rhinos and other species. If Zimparks attributes the deaths to cyanobacterial poisoning, it is plausible that this could affect both aquatic and terrestrial animals,"said an environmental expert.

He stressed that the toxins in Lake Chivero can enter the food chain; for example, animals might consume contaminated water or prey on fish that have been affected.

"While cyanobacteria poisoning is a significant concern, it's important to consider other possible factors, like pollution, the mention of raw sewage entering the lake suggests that pollution could be contributing to the overall health of the ecosystem, impacting both water quality and the health of wildlife."

He added that diseases could affect wildlife populations, especially if they are already stressed by environmental factors, adding that changes in the ecosystem, whether from human activity or climate change, could weaken animal populations, making them more susceptible to illness.

The expert said eutrophication, a condition that is often caused by nutrient runoff (like sewage), can lead to oxygen depletion, resulting in fish deaths.

Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister Sithembiso Nyoni yesterday led a Government team to Lake Chivero and said measures are being put in place to protect the public.

"Our people are at risk not because of any external organisation, there are some people who are fishing in this lake, there are some people that are combining dead fish with live fish and then those fish are being sold to our people who may not die immediately but they may now start developing cancers. I came here because our animals, livestock are dying, there are people whose cattle, goats are dying, so that is an economy that is being shaken. We are responsible for the cleanliness, of the atmosphere and of the water," said Minister Nyoni.

Following the deaths of fish Zimparks announced a fishing ban at Lake Chivero, stating, "We have suspended all fishing activities with immediate effect. We are conducting investigations with other Government departments to assess the safety of the fish for human consumption."

At yesterday's full council meeting, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the trouble ridden council has been failing to reach its sewage treatment capacity.

"We need resources for water treatment and expertise to effectively address this issue," he said, adding that the technical team is collaborating with experts from National Parks to investigate pollution levels.

Mr Reuben Akili, director of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), condemned the pollution of Lake Chivero.

"The pollution levels have reached alarming heights, threatening human health and wildlife," he said, warning that reported fatalities among animals and fish are just early indicators of a broader ecological crisis.

Environmental advocates, including the Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT), issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the City of Harare and other relevant authorities to tackle the severe contamination of Lake Chivero. HWT emphasised the need to uphol constitutional rights of citizens to a safe and healthy environment, urging immediate cessation of sewage discharges.

The body also warned of potential legal action if the demands are not met.

Read the original article on The Herald.

Zimbabwe Launches New Land Policy to Empower African Farmers with Direct Farm Ownership

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa gestures during his inauguration ceremony at the National Sports Stadium in the capital, Harare, on Sept. 4 2023. (AP Photo /Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

By FARAI MUTSAKA

1:04 PM EST, December 20, 2024

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday launched a new policy that will allow beneficiaries of land taken from white people under contentious land reforms to sell it and to be able to borrow from banks using it as collateral.

This marks a major shift in Zimbabwe’s land policy. Previously, the resettled farmers couldn’t transfer ownership of land.

However, ownership of the land can only be transferred between “Indigenous Zimbabweans,” a reference to Black Zimbabweans, and will need government approval under the new policy.

Tens of thousands of Black people took over white-owned farms after then President Robert Mugabe initiated the land reforms in 2000. Mugabe, who died in 2019, justified the reforms as being necessary to redress some of the wrongs of colonialism that put most of Zimbabwe’s fertile land in the hands of a few white people.

But the new Black farmers weren’t allowed to sell or transfer ownership of the land, which was deemed to belong to the state. As a result, banks were reluctant to advance loans to the resettled farmers, who couldn’t use their land as collateral.

On Friday, a handful of farmers, including Mnangagwa, received title deeds to the farms they are occupying.

Mnangagwa also announced a technical committee to spearhead the process for other resettled Black farmers.

Speaking at an event held at his farm near Kwekwe city in central Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa said the policy would help “unlock the value” of the land and make it “bankable and transferable.”

About 4,500 white farmers who owned the majority of prime farmland were removed from their farms, often forcibly by violent mobs led by veterans of the country’s 1970s independence war more than 20 years ago.

Some farmers and their workers died or were seriously injured in the violence, which included beatings and rape, according to Human Rights Watch.

The land seizures badly impacted commercial farming, forcing a country that was a key regional food producer and exporter to rely on assistance from donors. Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector has rebounded in recent years, but droughts are now the main challenge.

Securing finance has been another problem that Mnangagwa hopes could be solved by the new policy of issuing title deeds to Black farmers.

Secure land tenure means “our farmers can access credit facilities” and it “lifts many out of poverty into prosperity,” Mnangagwa said.

In October, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said that Zimbabwe would compensate local and foreign white farmers who lost land and property in the farm seizures.

US State Dept. Official Hits Breaking Point Amid Gaza Carnage, Quits

By Al Mayadeen English

19 Dec 2024 09:29

Mike Casey, one of the few officials specifically working on Gaza's file, has resigned due to frustration with inaction and prioritizing "what the Israelis want."

The relentless genocide in Gaza, marked by an unbearable civilian death toll and the deliberate, unending killing of children, has even shaken some US officials. Among them is Mike Casey, a State Department diplomat who reached his breaking point amid the carnage.

An experienced US Army veteran and Iraq war alumnus, Mike Casey arrived in occupied al-Quds in 2020 expecting a diplomatic challenge rather than confrontation, The Guardian reported. Armed with two years of Arabic training and the hope of a potential shift in US leadership after the war on Iraq and the killing of a million people, Casey reportedly viewed the assignment as a chance to create meaningful change in one of the world’s most complex regions.

Rising to the position of deputy political counselor on Gaza at the State Department, Casey’s work, as per The Guardian, placed him at the heart of US policy on the region. However, he found himself confronting what he describes as a fundamental failure in American foreign policy.

“The more informed you become on this issue, you can’t avoid realizing how bad it is,” Casey told The Guardian.

Casey resigned from the State Department in July after four years, leaving quietly, unlike many other high-profile departures.

'I got so tired of writing about dead kids'

Now reflecting from his kitchen table in northern Michigan, he told The Guardian how, as one of only two US officials focused solely on Gaza, he became an unwilling witness to the ongoing humanitarian disaster. amid the ongoing Israeli war.

“I got so tired of writing about dead kids,” he said, as quoted by The Guardian. “Just constantly having to prove to Washington that these children actually died and then watching nothing happen.”

His role involved documenting the humanitarian and political situation through classified reports and research, but his disillusionment built up over time. It was a gradual realization of bureaucratic betrayals—reports ignored and humanitarian concerns overshadowed by political priorities.

“We would write daily updates on Gaza,” he said. “Colleagues used to joke that they could attach cash to the reports and still nobody would read them.”

The latest UN data reveal that over 45,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, with 90% of the population forcibly displaced and facing dire conditions nearing famine. Despite international legal efforts, including the International Court of Justice’s order to stop the Israeli military invasion in Rafah and the International Criminal Court’s pursuit of war crimes charges against Israeli officials, the war continues and aid is blocked as famine spreads.

‘Well, the Israelis have another idea’

Months after the aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza began, Casey and his colleagues developed comprehensive reconstruction strategies. These plans, which focused on humanitarian aid, security infrastructure, and governance, were consistently rejected. “Every idea we came up with, [the Biden administration] would just say, ‘Well, the Israelis have another idea,’” he explained.

Israeli proposals, like having local clans run Gaza, struck him as not only unfeasible but intentionally harmful. “We wrote numerous reports and cables explaining why this wouldn’t work,” Casey said. “It’s not in our interest to have warlords running Gaza.”

It is worth noting that an internal job description obtained by The Guardian confirmed Casey’s position, noting that he was the “lead political reporting officer on internal politics and security issues in the Gaza Strip and on Palestinian reconciliation issues.”

“The officer leads the Mission’s interagency efforts on Gaza, and is the back-up for Gaza economic issues,” it says.

Dive deeper

The Office of Palestinian Affairs was formally established in 2022 as "a key part of U.S. engagement with the Palestinian Authority and the territories." It was intended to serve as a hub for US policy, communication, and analysis, staffed by a couple dozen Americans and around 75 local employees.

The office’s origins trace back to the US Consulate General in occupied al-Quds, which merged with the US embassy after President Donald Trump declared al-Quds the capital of "Israel" in 2019.

However, its influence has been reportedly overshadowed by the broader State Department response during the war, which has led high-level diplomatic efforts like de-escalation talks, security coordination with Israel, and engagement with regional and international allies. The National Security Council also plays a key role in shaping US policy and advising the president, alongside the Pentagon, which provides unwavering military aid to "Israel".

When Trump left office, Casey had reportedly hoped the Biden administration would adopt a more balanced approach, but instead, he felt disappointed at every turn.

One particularly frustrating moment occurred at the start of the war when President Joe Biden publicly questioned casualty numbers, which had been estimated at around 8,300 killings in less than a month—numbers that Casey himself had documented.

“I was the one writing the reports,” he said. “What’s the point of me writing this stuff, if you’re just going to disregard it?”

Why it matters

The White House’s National Security Council did not respond to a request for comment.

Unlike his previous diplomatic roles in Malaysia, China, and Pakistan, Casey found his direct dealings with Israeli officials fundamentally different in how the US uses its leverage, as per the report.

“In Malaysia, if you didn’t cooperate, you could get sanctioned,” he explained. “With Pakistan, we could pull training programs, stop certain aid.”

“But with the Israelis, it’s completely different. They just have to drag out negotiations, and we’ll eventually agree to whatever they want.”

When asked for comment, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said, “We see no need to respond to baseless accusations stemming solely from the frustration of a former employee.”

Casey is not the only career official within US foreign policy to express frustration. There were several high-profile resignations over the past year, including Josh Paul, director of political-military affairs; Andrew Miller, deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs; Annelle Sheline, foreign affairs officer; and diplomat Hala Rharrit.

“We’ve been meeting to talk about a ceasefire for many, many months,” said Khaled Elgindy, director of the Middle East Institute’s Palestine and Israel-Palestinian affairs program, as quoted by The Guardian. “The thing that I was struck by is how little they had actually moved. Every time that we saw them, it was remarkable. There was no moving of the needle, virtually at all.”

Others see the administration's approach as an indictment of its handling of the crisis. Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/"Israel" Program at the Arab Center Washington DC, called the handling of humanitarian aid “a low that I don’t think we’ve ever seen before.” He described it as a strategy to “buy time and diffuse some tension among their own base to show that they’re trying to do something.”

In October, the US issued a 30-day ultimatum to "Israel", demanding the delivery of at least 350 truckloads of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Despite these requests and aid levels falling far below expectations, the Biden administration explained that it would not limit arms deals with "Israel" once the deadline passed due to limited progress.

Data from Mercy Corps and other relief agencies shows that Gaza's humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with only 65 aid trucks entering Gaza daily, a drastic reduction from the pre-war average of 500 trucks.

Now working at a local bank, Casey watches from afar, his criticisms extending beyond any single administration. He believes there is a systemic failure in US policy toward Palestinians.

His final conclusion?

“We don’t have a policy on Palestine. We just do what the Israelis want us to do.” 

Liberia: Who Set Capitol Ablaze?

The New Dawn

Joseph Boakai at the Capitol Building after the fire inciden

19 December 2024

Liberian Observer (Monrovia)

The December 18, 2024, fire that ravaged Liberia's Capitol building has sparked outrage, accusations, and a full-scale investigation. Authorities have described the scene as having clear signs of arson, with political tensions within the legislature adding fuel to the literal and metaphorical flames. As the investigation deepens, Liberia's leaders and citizens are demanding answers, while questions about accountability and motive dominate national discourse.

The Liberia National Police (LNP) wasted no time labeling the fire as a suspected arson case. At a press conference held at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman outlined the police's approach to the investigation.

"The particular scene has all of the elements associated with arson," Coleman said. "We treat it as such until we can clarify all of the doubt and everything around it."

Several individuals were arrested at the Capitol following the fire. Coleman noted that many of them, including security personnel, were later released after their identities and roles were verified. However, two to three individuals remain in custody as persons of interest.

"Yes, we have people we are questioning at this point in time," Coleman confirmed, adding that the police were committed to conducting a thorough investigation.

He added that no amount of immunity would shield persons of interest from the investigation and facing the law if found culpable.

The Inspector General also addressed public concerns regarding protests that took place at the Capitol a day earlier, December 17, during which police were accused of using excessive force.

"This is not the Wild Wild West. This is a nation of law," Coleman stated, defending the police response as "proportionate" and necessary to restore order.

Speaker Koffa and "The Alamo"

Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, a key figure in the ongoing political standoff in the House of Representatives, has come under scrutiny for a cryptic Facebook post he made hours before the fire. The post, which simply read "The Alamo!!!" was later deleted, raising suspicions that Koffa may have had foreknowledge of the incident.

In response to these suspicions, Koffa dismissed any connection between his post and the fire.

"If I had foreknowledge about the fire, would I have posted it? Would I engage in arson?" Koffa responded to the Daily Observer via a WhatsApp chat. "The Alamo celebrated brave men and women who stood for what they believe. The people at the Alamo did not burn their own building."

The Speaker's reference to the Alamo -- a historic 1836 battle in the USA, in which a small group of Texans resisted a much larger Mexican army -- was, according to him, a metaphorical nod to his supporters' resolve in the face of political adversaries (i.e. the Majority Bloc).

Rep. Foko denies involvement

Montserrado County District #9 Representative Frank Saah Foko, a staunch supporter of Speaker Koffa, has also been implicated in the controversy. Police reportedly contacted Foko for questioning via text message, but his account of their subsequent actions has raised eyebrows.

"I told my security at the gate, if the police come to see me, they can come in the house," Foko told Spoon TV. "But they came around the place, they moved around the community."

Foko categorically denied having any connection to the fire or the individuals arrested in his office. He also dismissed a resurfaced video in which he appeared to advocate for drastic measures, including burning legislative sessions, if the government failed to prioritize public welfare.

In the referenced video, Rep. Foko, who is seen behind his office desk at the legislature, wearing a white suit emphatically declared: "If we cannot prioritize the Liberian people's interest, for which we were sent here from the 73 districts, we should burn that session."

"The video that is trending," Foko explained yesterday following the fire outbreak, "I had that interview five months ago." He claims the footage was edited to misrepresent his stance.

Despite the controversy, Foko emphasized his willingness to cooperate with authorities, stating that he would report to the police with his lawyer.

President Boakai: "Destruction will not be tolerated"

President Joseph N. Boakai visited the Capitol to assess the damage and condemned the fire as a "despicable, unpatriotic act." He expressed sympathy for members of the Legislature while vowing to bring those responsible to justice.

"We are a poor country; people are trying to help us, and others are bent on destroying this country," Boakai lamented. "This destruction will have to stop."

The President called on the Ministry of Justice and security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and hold perpetrators accountable.

"This is not a place for hooligans," Boakai asserted. "This is a place for responsible people who are here to serve the Liberian people."

U.S. Embassy urges peaceful resolution

The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia issued a statement condemning the violence and urging all parties to seek peaceful resolutions to their political disputes.

"Citizens have a right to express their views peacefully, and violence is never the answer," the statement read. "Political differences should be resolved through an open political process."

The Embassy's statement reflects growing international concern over the implications of the Capitol fire and the broader political instability it represents.

A divided Legislature

The fire has intensified the already fraught political climate in Liberia's House of Representatives. A faction calling itself the "Majority Bloc" has been attempting to unseat Speaker Koffa, claiming to have installed a new speaker in defiance of constitutional procedures.

The factionalism has led to heated confrontations, with Koffa's supporters accusing the Majority Bloc of undermining democratic norms. Critics, however, argue that Koffa's leadership style has contributed to the Legislature's dysfunction.

Observers suggest that the Capitol fire may be a symptom of deeper political divisions, with both sides using increasingly aggressive tactics to assert their dominance.

Public outrage, calls for accountability

The Capitol fire has sparked widespread outrage among Liberians, many of whom see it as a direct attack on the nation's democracy. Civil society groups have called for a swift and transparent investigation, urging authorities to hold those responsible accountable.

To accelerate the investigation, Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah announced a US$5,000 reward for credible information leading to breakthroughs in the Capitol fire case. Minister Piah also appealed to journalists to practice ethical reporting during this sensitive time. "We encourage media practitioners to stick to the facts and avoid sensationalism that could inflame public sentiment," he stated.

For many, the incident has also underscored the need for systemic reforms to address the root causes of political instability and ensure that disputes are resolved through lawful and democratic means.

Critical Questions

As Liberia grapples with the aftermath of the Capitol fire, the incident has raised critical questions about the nation's future. The symbolic damage to the Capitol--a cornerstone of Liberia's democracy--has highlighted the fragility of the country's political institutions and the urgent need for unity.

Inspector General Coleman's commitment to uncovering the truth, coupled with President Boakai's firm stance against destruction, has offered some reassurance to a shaken public. However, the path forward may require more than just accountability; it will likely demand a renewed commitment to dialogue, governance, and the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Liberia's leaders and citizens are facing the dual challenge of addressing the immediate crisis and tackling the deeper issues it has exposed. As investigations continue, one thing is clear: the events of December 18 will remain etched in the nation's history as a sobering reminder of the importance of safeguarding its democracy.

** Claudius T. Greene, Jr. contributed to this story.

Read the original article on Liberian Observer.

Liberia President Boakai Calls for Swift Investigation

Joseph Boakai at the Capitol Building after the fire incident

19 December 2024

The New Dawn (Monrovia)

By Emmanuel Wise Jipoh

Monrovia — In the Capitol Building fire, President Joseph Boakai is calling for a speedy investigation into Wednesday's fire incident at the Capitol, vowing that anyone caught will be dealt with accordingly.

In the aftermath of Wednesday's fire at the Capitol, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai says the fire incident will be expeditiously investigated, and those found will be dealt with accordingly.

President Boakai, accompanied by Vice President Jeremiah Koung, toured the damaged facility and expressed sorrow while consoling members of the Legislature.

"This is complete banditry and gangsterism, and we're not going to accept this, so we are asking the Minister of Justice, the Security apparatus, and our friends to investigate this to the letter. People who are culprits, we will deal with", the President vows.

He describes the act as hooliganism and warns, "No stone will be left unturned in accordance with the law."

President Boakai: "This is unfortunate, and we are not going to settle for this. This is not a place for hooligans but for responsible people who are there to serve their country, so if you have a problem, you have the rule of law; you have every way the people will listen to you, so we are not going to accept."

Liberians woke up early Wednesday morning to saddening news that fire had gutted the Joint Chamber of the Legislature, less than 24 hours after violent clashes between Police and protesters demanding adherence to the rule of law amid an ongoing leadership crisis at the House of Representatives.

Few months ago, a group of lawmakers calling themselves Majority Bloc gathered to remove embattled Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has sparked controversy here, with minority Representatives resisting said action.

Meanwhile, immediately after the fire incident, reports link embattled Speaker Koffa, who has been defiant that he remains the legitimate Speaker to the incident, as being the mastermind of the fire outbreak on Capitol Hill.

But Speaker Koffa, in a Facebook post, writes, "Hon. Fonati Koffa has nothing to do with him; has no access to such social account."

However, Montserrado County District#9 Representative Saah Foko, a staunch supporter of Speaker Koffa and the minority bloc, has been invited by the Liberia National Police (LNP) for questioning in regard to a live interview video cast, in which he was heard threatening in July to burn down the Joint Chamber of Capitol Building.

Read the original article on New Dawn.

Chagos Islands: Mauritius Questions Agreement with UK

By Agencies

The British government said Wednesday it still plans to hand over a contested Indian Ocean archipelago, which is home to a strategically important military base, to Mauritius, after that country’s new leader backed away from the contentious deal.

The U.K. and Mauritius announced an agreement in October to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, a chain of more than 60 islands just south of the equator off the tip of India. Under the deal, the U.K.-U.S. naval and bomber base on the largest of the islands, Diego Garcia, would remain under U.K. control for at least 99 years.

When it made the announcement, Britain’s Labour Party government said it was finalizing details of a treaty with the Mauritian government. Since then, voters in Mauritius ousted the government that made the deal, replacing it with one led by Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.

Ramgoolam said he was reopening negotiations because the draft deal “would not produce the benefits that the nation could expect from such an agreement.” He told lawmakers in Mauritius’ parliament on Tuesday that his government “is still willing to conclude an agreement with the United Kingdom" and had submitted counterproposals.

Britain's Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty said he was confident the deal would be finalized, and it was “completely understandable that the new Mauritian government will want time to study the details.”

“I am confident that we have agreed a good and fair deal that is in both sides’ interests,” he told lawmakers in the House of Commons. “It protects the base at proportionate cost. It has been supported across the national security architecture in the United States and by India.”

The U.K.’s opposition Conservatives have accused the government of surrendering sovereignty over a British territory.

The deal was hailed by U.S. President Joe Biden as a “historic agreement” that secured the future of the Diego Garcia base. But supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump have slammed it.

British lawmaker Nigel Farage, a Trump ally, said “there is very deep disquiet” among incoming Trump administration officials “as to what this may mean for the long-term future of Diego Garcia.”

One of the last remnants of the British Empire, the Chagos Islands have been under British control since 1814. Britain evicted as many as 2,000 people from the islands in the 1960s and 1970s so the U.S. military could build the Diego Garcia base, which has supported U.S. military operations from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2008, the U.S. acknowledged it also had been used for clandestine rendition flights of terror suspects.

The U.S. has described the base, which is home to about 2,500 mostly American personnel, as “an all but indispensable platform” for security operations in the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa.

The displaced Chagossians fought unsuccessfully in U.K. courts for years for the right to go home. Under the deal, they and their descendants could be allowed to return to the islands, apart from Diego Garcia.

Mauritius, which lies east of Madagascar in southern Africa, is around 2,100 kilometers (1,250 miles) southwest of the Chagos Islands.

Deadly Crush at Christmas Funfair in Nigeria Leaves 35 Children Dead

The police have arrested eight people, including the main organizer, Naomi Silekunola. President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the victims' families.

By Agencies

Thirty-five children died, and six others were hospitalized in a crush at a Christmas funfair in Ibadan, Nigeria, after a massive crowd gathered for promised cash handouts and food.

Over 5,000 children attended the event, which turned deadly when organizers arrived.

The police have arrested eight people, including the main organizer, Naomi Silekunola. President Bola Tinubu expressed condolences to the victims' families and called for an investigation.

Authorities urged parents to check hospitals, where medics reported several fatalities.

Nigeria’s worsening economic crisis has led to similar deadly crowd surges this year, with incidents in Nasarawa, Bauchi, and Lagos claiming multiple lives.

Tanzanian Women Highlight the Path From Bodily Autonomy to Sustainable Development

2 December 2024

United Nations Population Fund (New York)

"When I learned about family planning, I felt like I had control over my life," said Mwanaisha Rajabu, a 28-year-old mother of three living in Fuoni, a village on the Unguja island of Zanzibar, in the United Republic of Tanzania. "It's not just about preventing pregnancy; it's about planning a better future for my family."

Family planning is often regarded as a taboo subject, an issue that is sensitive and even sexual in nature. But Ms. Rajabu's comments highlight the profoundly important role of family planning - and the information, health services and medicines that enable it - to the well-being of women, their children, their futures and their communities.

Family planning is essential to enabling women to choose the timing and number of their children, if they want to have children at all.

For Ms. Rajabu, the ideal family size has always been clear. In a country where the average fertility rate is estimated to be 4.5 children per woman, she says, "I always wanted to have a smaller family. But I didn't know how to access the right information and services."

The need for options

According to the most recent estimates, some 19 per cent of Tanzanian women who are married or in a union have an unmet need for family planning. Yet filling this need is not always simple.

Decades ago, lack of awareness about and access to contraception were leading reasons for not using any; today, it is fear and concerns over potential side effects. To address these issues, a range of methods must be made available, alongside accurate information about the benefits, side effects and efficacy of each.

Though she wanted a smaller family, Ms. Rajabu had not been using modern contraceptives until health educators, working with a community outreach initiative supported by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, explained the various methods available.

After seeking more information from a community health worker, she was able to select an option that suited her needs.

"Family planning has given me the power to choose how many children I want and when to have them," she said.

A cascade of benefits

The ability to plan ahead enables women like Ms. Rajabu to invest in themselves as well as their children. They can pursue their education, invest in small businesses and allocate resources in ways that improve their health, earning potential and long-term outcomes.

Cumulatively, family planning benefits not only individuals and families but communities as a whole.

"Access to family planning has changed our shehia," said Juma Abdallah, a local community leader, referring to small administrative areas within Zanzibar.

"Families are healthier, and women are more confident in making choices about their futures," he said.

Tatu Omar Sharif is one of those women. She lives in Uondwe, an area on the Pemba island of Zanzibar, with her husband and eight children.

"My husband and I didn't intend to have many children - I was often surprised that I was pregnant again," she described to UNFPA.

She and her husband learned about family planning together at a UNFPA-supported clinic, and saw it as an opportunity to safeguard their children's future.

"We want to use a family planning method so we can take good care of the children we already have."

Focus on a better life

UNFPA works with the health ministry to strengthen family planning services, including widening the range of contraceptive methods available. These include oral contraceptive pills, long-acting reversible contraceptives, injectables, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and condoms.

From January 2023 to November 2024, with financial support from the United Kingdom, UNFPA delivered enough reproductive health commodities to prevent an estimated 999,000 unintended pregnancies, 271,000 unsafe abortions and 1,300 maternal deaths.

UNFPA also works with governments, NGOs, community-service organizations, faith-based groups, young people and the private sector to strengthen community-based and youth-friendly reproductive health services.

They, like Ms. Rajabu and Ms. Sharif, recognize how reproductive health information and care have benefits that ripple outward from the individual to the family and community, from the present into the future.

"Now," Ms. Rajabu said, "I can focus on giving my children a better life."

Read the original article on UNFPA.

Cattle Rustling - a Lifeline for Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin

12 December 2024

Institute for Security Studies (Tshwane/Pretoria)

analysis

By Oluwole Ojewale and Raoul Sumo Tayo

Insurgents fund their activities through stealing cows - making it more difficult to address organised crime and terrorism.

In Africa, transnational cattle rustling - the forceful theft of livestock for illicit commercial gain - is increasingly linked to organised criminal and terrorist groups. It is a source of illicit finance, a form of forced governance over local populations and a way to exert dominance. Stolen cattle are sold to fund the purchase of weapons and supplies and to recruit fighters.

Rustling has grown in both scale and violence. And when perpetrated across national boundaries by actors such as Boko Haram, it demonstrates the terror-crime nexus in the Lake Chad Basin.

A recent assessment carried out by ENACT and the Central African Police Chiefs Committee (CAPCCO) identified cattle rustling as a priority crime affecting the region.

This is supported by Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project information, which shows that incidents of cattle rustling by Boko Haram in Cameroon and Chad's border regions rose from two in 2015 to 131 as of August 2024 (see chart). There have been 390 incidents and 146 deaths in this time. This data relies on local groups and media reports, and many incidents may have gone unrecorded.

Lake Chad, the Logone and Chari rivers and surrounding areas play a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of cattle rustling in the region due to the availability of water and grazing pastures. These areas are natural magnets for pastoralist communities, especially during dry seasons when other regions face water scarcity.

Pastoralists often move their herds to these fertile valleys during transhumance (seasonal migration) to use the rich grazing lands.

This predictable movement and concentration of herders and cattle in a contained area increase the opportunities for cattle rustlers to plan and execute raids and target larger numbers of animals in a single raid. The basin's marshy terrain and hard-to-patrol areas also provide a haven for criminal groups to operate.

Recent ENACT field research found that Boko Haram played a prominent role in cattle rustling activities in Chad and Cameroon's common border areas due to the proximity of this area to the group's base. Cattle rustling is one of its key revenue-generating activities and has become a crucial part of its overarching strategy for sustaining its operational capabilities.

An expert from Cameroon's University of Maroua said: 'Cattle rustling is a major source of funding for armed groups. If we say, for example, that a cow is worth 200 000 CFA, over a short period of time, a group that stole 25 000 head would have amassed 5 billion CFA.'

In regions where Boko Haram has established control or considerable influence, it employs cattle rustling as a means to exert dominance over local populations through interconnected strategies.

The first involves direct violent raids on communities, when cattle are stolen or both cattle and herders are abducted. The militants demand a ransom for the livestock's return. This approach hits communities economically, compelling them to either submit to Boko Haram's demands or pay protection fees to avert further attacks, said a former N'Djamena minister and provincial governor.

The second includes imposing an illegal livestock tax on pastoral communities. Butchers in Bongor, Chad, told ENACT: 'Boko Haram has established a tax [system]. They say that each herder must pay such an amount [of money]. If the herders refuse to give them, they kill them and take the cattle. They give to another person to go and sell.'

A new dimension to Boko Haram's modus operandi is called 'cattle round tripping'. This cattle-rustling tactic capitalises on deficiencies in legal and market systems, so rustlers profit from stolen cattle through strategic and deceptive practices. Rustlers generally steal cattle from specific communities, often executing raids in areas with weak security, where pastoralism is the predominant livelihood.

To elude law enforcement, they transport the stolen cattle to distant locations, frequently crossing state borders where tracking by authorities is significantly hindered. A Cameroon military official said, 'Sometimes they take those cattle and go into Nigeria to exchange them for other cattle so that they should not be known. And then they bring them back to the cattle market in Cameroon.'

The stolen cattle are predominantly taken to Nigeria as it's the biggest cattle market in the region, said the former provincial governor. The rustlers sell the stolen cattle at local and regional markets or to unsuspecting buyers. These cattle are mixed with legally acquired livestock and sold at prevailing prices, frequently through informal trading networks.

'Selling cattle to buy weapons and supplies and recruit fighters creates a symbiotic relationship between cattle rustling and insurgencies,' a university expert told ENACT. Several opportunities exist in this tri-border region to address this complex organised criminal activity.

By improving existing security measures, the state, security forces, Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and pastoralist communities can develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce cattle rustling and promote stability and economic security in the region.

Security forces and the MNJTF can work with local communities to develop early-warning systems that use traditional knowledge and modern technologies (such as cellphone alerts or community radio) to communicate cattle rustling or suspicious movements quickly.

Security forces can create specialised units in the police and military focused on cattle rustling. Armed with modern tracking technology, drones and satellite surveillance, these units can monitor cattle movements across borders and apprehend perpetrators in remote areas.

Pastoralist communities can organise legal, community-based vigilante groups that are officially recognised by the state. These groups should receive proper training in using kinetic military action and non-lethal methods to recover stolen cattle and prevent livestock theft. Adequate oversight mechanisms must ensure they operate within legal frameworks.

International development partners can supply advanced technology such as Global Positioning System tracking collars for cattle, drone surveillance and digital registration systems. These will aid security forces and communities in tracking cattle movements and preventing theft.

While an Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation-CAPCCO agreement could provide for cooperation in combatting cross-border crime and enhancing regional security, the Mifugo Protocol specifically addresses regional collaboration in addressing cattle rustling and livestock theft across borders.

These frameworks offer authorities in the affected countries a strategy for effectively confronting shared challenges while advancing peace, security and development.

Oluwole Ojewale, ENACT Central Africa Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator, ISS

Raoul Sumo Tayo, Senior Researcher, ENACT Central Africa Organised Crime Observatory, ISS

Read the original article on ISS.

Mozambique: Nations Disburses Four Million Dollars for Chido Victims

18 December 2024

Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)

Maputo — The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has disbursed four million dollars in support of the victims of tropical cyclone Chido, which hit the northern provinces of Cabo Delgado and Nampula on Saturday.

According to an OCHA statement, the amount aims at providing emergency aid for those affected by Chido, which caused at least 34 deaths.

"The emergency aid coordinator has allocated four million dollars to Mozambique to support the rapid humanitarian response', reads the note.

A working team led by the government relief agency, the INGD, the document says, was sent to the districts affected by the cyclone to survey the number of people affected and the main needs of the population.

The international NGO "Save the Children' has announced that about 650,000 children and their families are in danger as a result of Chido. In order to minimize the suffering of the victims, an international NGO, World Vision, announced that it will also disburse 1.2 million dollars to assist 75,000 affected people, particularly children.

Despite the casualties and the damage to various infrastructures, Chido has done much less damage to Mozambique than to the French island of Mayotte in the Mozambique Channel, which bore the full blast of the storm on Saturday, causing the death of over 1,000 people.

Chad: 'I Came to Help My Sisters' - As Chad Grapples With Record Floods and a Refugee Crisis, Midwives Are Bridging the Divide

17 December 2024

United Nations Population Fund (New York)

"The water ruined everything - the rice, the money... Everything is under water." In October 2024, Gloria Nadjitessem, 31, lost her home in Chad's capital N'Djamena to devastating floods that submerged towns across the country.

Along with her four children, Ms. Nadjitessem is among more than 4,000 people now sheltering in the Chari-Baguirmi displacement camp in N'Djamena's Toukra district. "This is where I live now," she told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. "There is no other way, but we make it work."

Since July 2024, some of the worst flooding to ever hit Chad has wiped out lives, homes and livelihoods and affected nearly 2 million people. More than 13,000 have been displaced, most of them seeking refuge in overcrowded, makeshift camps.

Climate crises are known to drastically increase dangers for women and girls, especially those forced from their homes, as access to healthcare, food and shelter dwindles. In these conditions, childbirth can be perilous, malnourished mothers struggle to produce milk for their newborns, and the risks of sexual violence and exploitation soar.

"The floods have really threatened these women," said 38-year-old Lucille Denembaye, a midwife at a UNFPA-supported mobile health clinic operating at the Chari-Baguirmi camp. "I met a woman whose husband infected her with HIV - she has five children, she is 27 years old and her house has collapsed on her - the situation is really horrible for her."

UNFPA has deployed 148 humanitarian midwives across Chad in 2024, equipped with supplies for safe birth and trained to deal with obstetric emergencies and support survivors of gender-based violence.

"I recently came to this site, and I have been here for three months," explained midwife Florence Denemadji, 36. "UNFPA trains us for emergency situations like these before we go to the field. If there are any shortages or needs, we call our supervisors and they send everything immediately."

An unequal crisis

Hunger and malnutrition have risen with the crisis, particularly in the displacement and refugee camps, further endangering lives and pregnancies. Chanceline Milamem, 24, fled her home in N'Djamena while heavily pregnant, giving birth in the camp at the end of October, assisted by UNFPA midwives.

"If there was food, I would eat, and the milk would come for the baby," she told UNFPA. "But there's no food, and the baby is getting thinner. I'm losing weight all the time. The midwives have taken good care of me, they are very kind. They took care of me until I delivered in good time, in their arms."

Like many other countries facing recurrent climate disasters, Chad was already grappling with another humanitarian crisis; since the war in Sudan broke out in April 2023, Chad has taken in more than 700,000 refugees - the largest influx in its history. Over 200,000 people have also returned to Chad from Sudan, numbers that make conditions in displacement camps even more tenuous.

The vast majority of refugees and returnees are women and children, many scarred by the horrors they have witnessed. In the Ouaddaï region on Chad's eastern border with Sudan, the town of Adré hosts a refugee camp that has swelled its population from 40,000 people to 230,000, severely stretching already scarce resources.

Yet at the Adré district hospital, Soliri Adete, 32, a UNFPA-supported midwife, is committed to providing care for all women in need. "Every day I come into the hospital to help my sisters who are ill and suffering," she told UNFPA. "I come to help them recover their health and also to help those who are victims of sexual violence."

A struggle for survival

As new arrivals to Adré rise, many are being relocated to Farchana, a cramped, underserved camp set up to accommodate refugees fleeing Sudan 20 years ago. "The most pressing challenge women face here is deliveries," said Souat Oumar, 39, a women's community leader in Farchana.

"There is no hospital at the camp and we don't have an ambulance. So we struggle to support these pregnant women to deliver."

For those experiencing complications, childbirth can quickly turn life threatening. "Sometimes they come to my home, and if I have some money I order a rickshaw to take them to a hospital. Other times a woman might be bleeding seriously or have a miscarriage or other critical issues... From that, some women die."

UNFPA supports a new health centre in Farchana town, as well as one near the camp and a one-stop centre at the district hospital in Adré, which provide critical services for both Chadian and Sudanese women and girls. The centres offer assisted childbirth, pre- and postnatal care, family planning, counselling, clinical management of rape and a safe space for survivors of gender-based violence.

Overall in Chad, UNFPA supports 27 safe spaces for women and girls and reached more than 35,000 people with sexual and reproductive health services in 2024. But its humanitarian appeal for Chad was only 40 per cent funded this year, meaning women went without supplies for safe birth and support for sexual violence survivors were limited. In 2025, UNFPA needs $27.8 million to serve the most critical needs of women and girls in Chad and ensure these life-saving services.

Read the original article on UNFPA.