September 30, 2021

September 30, 2021October 1, 2021

South Africa tells Western envoys it needs funds to shift from coal

PRETORIA— South Africa told visiting climate envoys from the United States, Britain, Germany and France that it needs major financial support to move away from coal, the environment department said.

South Africa is the world’s 12th biggest carbon emitter, according to the Global Carbon Atlas, emitting 479 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e) in 2019. It is also by far Africa’s largest emitter.

This month, the government adopted a more ambitious emissions reduction target of 350-420 Mt CO2e per year by 2030, weeks before the United Nations COP26 climate summit, where it hopes to wring money out of rich countries for a swifter transition to renewable energy.

“While South Africa is committed to a just transition (to cleaner energy sources), we need certainty of … financing … to accelerate this transition. We do need an irrevocable agreement that we can sign at COP26,” the environment department said.

South Africa’s struggling state power utility, which produces most of its power by burning coal – more than 80 per cent of the country’s power is produced this way – wants billions of dollars to replace its heavily polluting coal plants with cleaner alternatives.

South Africa’s delegation comprising the environment, trade and public enterprises ministers and deputy finance and foreign ministers told the Western climate envoys that the financial support should include concessional and grant funding which takes into account current fiscal constraints.

The environment department cited repurposing retiring coal plants, investment in low-carbon power generation and grid infrastructure, and electric vehicle manufacturing as goals.

This week, consultancy Meridian Economics proposed a new funding model for the shift away from coal that it said could unlock billions of dollars of cheap financing.

It would involve the government taking out long-term debt, with the effective borrowing cost lowered either by wealthy nations guaranteeing the debt or South Africa receiving cash incentives for its emissions reductions.

A portion of the money raised would be earmarked for a fund to support thousands of workers losing jobs in coal plants – a political headache for a government that needs union support.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

September 30, 2021October 1, 2021

Refugees International condemns the Ethiopian government’s expulsion of key UN leaders

Please see below statement from Refugees International Vice President for Programs and Policy Hardin Lang:

Refugees International condemns the Ethiopian government’s decision to expel key UN staff from the country, leaving key posts vacant during a time of crisis.

The ongoing conflict in Tigray has already pushed some 900,000 people into famine with deaths now being reported regularly. The government’s humanitarian blockade is causing this famine, stopping food and medicine from reaching those in need, including women, children, and elderly, who are disproportionately affected by the famine.

Kicking out senior UN leaders will only make the crisis worse. Violence and hunger are also now spreading to other parts of Ethiopia, including Amhara and Afar regions. It is time for the United States and other members of the UN Security Council along with the African Union to challenge Ethiopia to end the aid blockade, and ensure that relief reaches those in need.

Source: Refugees International

September 30, 2021October 1, 2021

Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2599 (2021)

The Security Council today extended until 31 January 2022 the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) as an integrated special political mission, following the previously agreed 15‑day technical rollover.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2599 (2021)(to be issued as document S/RES/2599(2021)), the Council said that the Mission will carry out its mandate as set out in resolution 2542 (2020) and paragraph 16 of resolution 2570 (2021).

Speaking after the vote, the representative of the United Kingdom stressed that Libya is at a critical point and called on the Council to support its people as they look towards the national elections taking place soon. The full implementation of the ceasefire agreement must include the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries, she stressed, welcoming the Independent Strategic Review of UNSMIL (document S/2021/716). As the lead on the current resolution, “we worked hard to find a text that all Council members could support,” she said, noting the intensive engagements of the past two weeks to find consensus. Voicing regret at the inability to secure the support of all members for a compromise text, she called on them to engage constructively on a substantive renewal of the mandate ahead of the 31 January deadline.

The representative of France stressed the important role of the Mission in Libya’s political transition process, including the parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in December as well as the ceasefire agreement. Also emphasizing the need for withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries, he said the Council must restructure the Mission in order to strengthen its effectiveness. Highlighting the need for unity in the Council, he noted that his country will organize an international conference on Libya, to be held in November in Paris, as a demonstration of support for the political process under way in that country. He also called on the international community to consider the regional implications of the Libyan crisis.

The representative of the United States described today’s outcome as “unfortunate” for both Libyans and the Security Council, expressing regret that the 15‑member organ failed to implement the strategic review’s recommendations. It was necessary to implement the recommendations “now, not months down the road”, he insisted, stressing that the leadership structure proposed in the review — deploying the Head of Mission to Tripoli — was essential, as the placement of a Special Envoy in Geneva was a hindrance to the Mission’s effective engagement on the ground. This failure undermines efforts to stabilize Libya. Today’s outcome, however, will not deter the United States from supporting the preparations towards the 24 December elections. Calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces without delays, he urged all Council members to forge the best approach and break the stalemate over the coming months.

The representative of Tunisia said his delegation had hoped that the Council would reach consensus on the substantial renewal of UNSMIL’s mandate at this crucial moment of Libyan transition. The basis for consensus exists, he said, encouraging all Council members to support it, so that they can help the Mission discharge its mandate.

The representative of Kenya, stressing that “we all want UNSMIL to succeed”, voiced regret about the Council’s failure to reach a common understanding regarding an approach to facilitate that. The technical rollover of the resolution represents a missed opportunity for the inclusion of important elements regarding support for Libya’s national reconciliation efforts and issues of interest to the neighbouring States, he said. Noting that protracted and intensive negotiations did not yield a compromise text, he cautioned the Council about the message it is sending to Libyans and the world. “We must listen to Libya,” he emphasized, calling on the Council to “walk the talk of inclusion” and place Africans in the leadership of peace processes in Africa.

The representative of China said Libya is on the path of national reconstruction, adding that the Mission must play a constructive role in helping the country’s people implement the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum road map and achieving a political settlement, in accordance with the principles of Libyan ownership and leadership. Noting the critical stage at which the Libyan political process has arrived, he called on all parties to demonstrate political will and act in coordination with the road map to ensure the holding of elections as scheduled. Voicing support for discussing a leadership adjustment at the Mission after the elections, he said that foreign troops and mercenaries should withdraw in a balanced manner.

The representative of the Russian Federation said there is no alternative to peaceful settlement of the conflict under the aegis of the United Nations. He concurred with other speakers that Libya is at a momentous stage in the run‑up to the elections. The conclusions and recommendations of the strategic review, including the proposal on the leadership structure, can be implemented after the elections, he said, applauding the Council for managing to forge consensus on today’s resolution.

Source: UN Security Council

September 30, 2021October 1, 2021

Kenya Airways, SAA sign deal to form pan-African airline, to beat business slump

NAIROBI— Troubled Kenya Airways (KQ) and South African Airways (SAA) have partnered to help shore up their battered revenues.

They signed a memorandum of co-operation on Tuesday aimed at forming a pan-African airline.

Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said in a statement that the mutual co-operation between the two struggling carriers would help in turning around their fortunes.

“The future of aviation and its long-term sustenance is hinged on co-operation. KQ and SAA collaboration will enhance customer benefits by availing a larger combined passenger and Cargo network, fostering the exchange of expertise, innovation, best practice, and adopting home-grown organic solutions to technical and operational challenges,’’ said Kilavuka.

He said the loss making national carrier, which is a subject of state takeover, remains committed to its financial turnaround strategy with pursuit of partnerships being one of its core strategic pillars.

SAA’s interim Chief Executive Thomas Kgokolo said the cooperation between the two airlines, which includes demand recovery and other cost containment strategies, will aid recovery of both carriers in an increasingly competitive African airline environment.

“It will also enhance related Kenya and South Africa tourism circuits, which sectors account for significant portions of respective country growth domestic product, benefiting from at least two attractive hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi and possibly Cape Town,” he said.

“KQ and SAA, as iconic airline brands of Africa’s biggest and vibrant economies, in East Africa and Southern Africa, respectively, are at the precipice of what could be Africa’s formidable Pan African airline.’’

KQ, which has forecast a grim full-year performance due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, made a net loss of Ksh11.48 billion ($104.36 million) in the six months period to June 30, 2021, down from a net loss of 14.32 billion ($130.18 million) in the same period last year.

The persistent underperformance of the airline has led to huge losses and loss of market share to rival firms.

As a result, the government has opted to nationalise the carrier by buying out the minority shareholders with hopes of turning around its dwindling fortunes.

On the other hand, South Africa’s embattled national carrier emerged from bankruptcy last week, flying its first plane in the last 18 months. It has not been operating flights since March 2020.

The passenger plane flew from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Sept 23.

SAA, once Africa’s second largest airline after Ethiopian Airlines, had survived for decades on government bailouts and was shedding routes even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

The government agreed in June to sell a 51 percent stake to a group of investors called the Takatso Consortium, opening the way to a potential injection of $200 million.

Even after a state bailout of more than $500 million and a restructuring of its debt, the airline only emerged from bankruptcy after slashing hundreds of jobs.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

September 30, 2021October 1, 2021

Five Sudan officers killed targeting Daesh cell – Security Officials

KHARTOUM— Five Sudanese counterterrorism officers were killed during a raid in Khartoum targeting “a cell linked to the Daesh group”, the country’s intelligence services said in a statement.

“After receiving information on the presence of a terrorist cell linked to Daesh, intelligence officers conducted a search,” it said.

During the operation, “two officers and three non-commissioned officers” were killed, while “four foreign terrorists managed to escape”.

“Eleven terrorists from different foreign countries have been arrested,” the statement added.

A two-story house in the capital’s Jabra neighborhood was surrounded by a cordon of security forces, who asked crowds to move away in case explosives were left behind.

Neighbors said they heard an exchange of gunfire and saw the wounded being transported away in cars.

In 2019 the US Department of State warned of the risk of Daesh in Sudan.

“Despite the absence of high-profile terrorist attacks, Daesh facilitation networks appear to be active within Sudan,” it said.

Sudanese officials had “acknowledged that there were ‘extremists’ linked to Daesh in the country”, the report added.

To the north of Sudan lies Egypt, which for years has been battling an insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula led mainly by the local branch of the Daesh group.

Another group of extremist fighters is active in Yemen, across the Red Sea from Sudan.

The clash comes after Sudan’s government said last week it thwarted a coup attempt involving military officers and civilians linked to the regime of ousted strongman Omar al-Bashir.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK