Day: November 4, 2021

On Wednesday, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission released a much-anticipated joint report into abuses committed in the first nine months of the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. It finds evidence of serious abuses, some of which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

These abuses include extrajudicial killings and executions, widespread sexual violence, torture, forced displacement, arbitrary detentions, violations of economic, social, and cultural rights, and denial of access to aid.

As the UN high commissioner and the Ethiopian human rights commissioner pointed out, the report is far from a full rendering of the devastation experienced by civilians in Tigray. The report does not give well-documented trends the attention they deserve. It makes scant mention of the abuses committed by Amhara regional forces and militia against Tigrayans in western Tigray. It documents brutal sexual violence by all warring parties, but fails to acknowledge the scale of abuses, including sexual slavery, by Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Amhara forces targeting Tigrayan women and girls. And it glosses over the deliberate and extensive destruction and pillaging of health infrastructure, and the intimidation and killing of humanitarian workers.

An international investigation that identifies the pattern and scale of abuses, and those responsible for the worst crimes up to the present, will be key for future reparations and accountability.

Since June, the Ethiopian authorities have blocked access to lifesaving assistance and services for Tigray’s population. Continuing abuses in the region and the expansion of the conflict into Amhara and Afar regions triggered large-scale displacement of people and further strained the humanitarian response. Increasing reports of serious abuses by Tigrayan forces against Amharas in these areas, as well as reported government arrests and enforced disappearances of Tigrayans elsewhere in Ethiopia, further underscore the need for robust international scrutiny to deter further abuses.

The joint report points to the need for further investigations and accountability. Concerned governments should urgently establish and support an independent, international investigative mechanism that can ensure credible scrutiny, preserve evidence for future trials, and facilitate genuine accountability. Victims of abuses and affected communities deserve nothing less.

Source: Human Rights Watch

Efforts for job creation underway in North West province

MEC for the Northwest Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Ms Kenetswe Mosenogi, has made a rallied call for Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the North West to utilise opportunities offered by the government for the growth and development of their businesses. The MEC was speaking at the Productivity SA’s Workplace Challenge virtual workshop held today in collaboration with DEDECT aimed at enabling economic growth and job creation in the province.

“This workshop is a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between department and Productivity SA with the vision of growing the economy of the Northwest wherein enterprises will be provided with support and implementation of the productivity and competitiveness intervention to SMMEs and cooperatives; assist businesses to recover and promote cooperation and skills development to thrive, said MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi.

Mosenogi alluded to the sentiments echoed CEO of Productivity SA that small businesses play a catalytic role in the creation of employment and growing employment. She further encouraged small businesses to share information on the kind of support given by state organs as this will make them be creative and innovative.

Productivity SA is a government entity of the Department of Employment and Labour whose function is to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises, targeting those in the productive sectors to preserve existing jobs and create productive employment and decent work for all.

In his opening remarks the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Productivity SA, Mr Mothunye Mothiba, said “Productivity SA programmes are designed and structured towards supporting South Africa to achieve a productive, high-income economy which is globally competitive, targeted at the priority economic sectors that have a potential for labour absorption. The programmes are crucial building blocks for an implementable and action-oriented economic recovery and revitalisation plan, premised on unlocking South Africa’s productivity potential for sustained competitiveness and economic growth, targeting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) as a catalyst for full and productive employment and, consequently, decent work for all.

Mothiba urged SMMEs to join Productivity SA programmes and highlighted successes as per MoU signed in which a total of 631 enterprises supported, 15 productivity champions trained; an uptake of 109 participants on workplace challenge programme.

About 03 small businesses in the North West province that have participated in Productivity SA’s Enterprise Development and Support Programmes were afforded an opportunity to share their insights on their journey during the workshop. The said businesses participated in the Workplace Challenge Programme which focuses on operational efficiency enhancement interventions, promoting a productivity culture and mindset, as well as driving accountability for productivity performance across sectors (national, sector and enterprise-level) and segments of society

To date, the collaboration has seen 631 Enterprises supported in the province with 15 Productivity Champions trained and uptake of 109 participants in Productivity SA’s Workplace Challenge Programme.

Amongst the companies that presented after benefiting from Productivity SA and SEDA partnership programmes is MTNL Worx. The company which is situated in Mafikeng is operating a laundry services business with Protea Hotel as their main client. The business has employed 10 permanent and 3 temporary employees. DEDECT assisted the company with laundry equipment, installation of the drainage system and distribution box for three-phase. The intervention led to improved financial performance and position of the company.

Meanwhile, African Poncho (Pty) Ltd, also operating in the manufacturing industry and specialising in the clothing and textile subsector, has signed a formal service level agreement Productivity SA and SEDA as a strategic partner to further assist the company with their financial management system.

Recently 3 companies in North West registered with the Itukise Programme administered by Productivity SA and reported to both the DTIC as well as the National Skills Fund with the intention of providing unemployed graduates with work experience over a period of one year. Eight unemployed graduates have successfully been placed with suitable hosts in the province and their progress is being monitored monthly. Companies are urged to contact Productivity SA to participate in productivity improvement programmes.

The Department together with Productivity SA has also called for small businesses to participate in the Business Turnaround and Recovery and workplace challenge/ Kaizen programme for the 2021/22 financial year. This has extended to 19 November 2021

Small businesses are encouraged to get a form from the Departmental website: www.nwpg.za/dedect(link is external) and send with supporting documents to dedect.business@nwpg.gov.za(link sends e-mail). For more information businesses may contact of call Zac Dipudi at 082 800 9931 or email: zdipudi@nwpg.gov.za(link sends e-mail) OR Palesa Magomashole at (011) 848 5503 or email: Palesam@productivitysa.co.za

Source: Government of South Africa

TRIPOLI— A group of 91 illegal immigrants, mostly children, on Wednesday were voluntarily repatriated from Libya to their home country Niger.

“Based on instructions from the Interior Minister regarding resumption of voluntary repatriation flights for illegal immigrants, a flight deported from Misurata International Airport to Niger’s Niamey airport through the International Organization for Migration (IOM),” Hussain Attorki, head of migrants deportation department in Misurata International Airport, said.

“The flight carried 91 illegal immigrants, including six men, 25 women, and 60 children and infants,” he added.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores.

The Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, run by the IOM, arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their homeland.

Since 2015, more than 53,000 illegal immigrants have been repatriated from Libya through the program, which is carried out under the EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration and through the Italian foreign ministry’s Migration Fund.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday that 357 illegal immigrants were rescued and returned to Libya.

“357 persons were returned last night to Tripoli (90) and to Zawiya (267) in two separate operations. 54 women and 22 children among them,” UNHCR tweeted.

“The boat returned to Tripoli with 90 onboard was in distress at sea for two days. UNHCR & IRC provided medical aid & assistance to all survivors,” it said.

Many illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya, given the chaos and insecurity that have plagued the North African country since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.

According to UNHCR, nearly 28,000 illegal immigrants have been rescued and returned to Libya so far this year.

Rescued migrants were detained inside overcrowded reception centers across Libya, despite repeated international calls for closing those centers.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

The Ethiopian government marked the one-year anniversary of fighting between its forces and rebels in the northern Tigray region by suggesting its military is nearing victory.

Amid urgent global appeals for a cease-fire to the escalating violence, the government said in a statement on Facebook that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front “and its puppets are being encircled by our forces” and that “a rat that strays far from its hole is nearer to death.”

“This is not a country that crumbles under foreign propaganda!” the statement added. “We are fighting an existential war!”

Tigrayan forces, however, say they are advancing on the capital, Addis Ababa, and that it could fall within months or even weeks.

In recent weeks, Oromo regional forces have joined the Tigrayan forces in their fight against the central government, leading to what the two groups claim are significant advances.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed vowed that his government would prevail.

Abiy’s spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, did not respond when asked if Abiy would meet with U.S. Horn of Africa special envoy Jeffrey Feltman, who arrived in Ethiopia Thursday for a two-day visit amid growing concern over the violence.

“Ethiopia will not collapse. Ethiopia will prosper,” Abiy said, speaking in Addis Ababa on Wednesday. “Ethiopia will forever exist with her honor by defeating all who test her through the blood and bones of her children.”

The Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency Wednesday and called on residents to defend their neighborhoods if rebels arrive in the capital.

“Our country is facing a grave danger to its existence, sovereignty and unity. And we can’t dispel this danger through the usual law enforcement systems and procedures,” Justice Minister Gedion Timothewos said during a state media briefing.

Debretsion Gebremichael, leader of the Tigray region, blamed the Ethiopian government and its allies for causing the suffering in the past year.

“The warmongers decided to continue with the war, and we entered into this war because the only option we had is to destroy our enemies by force.”

State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Thursday urged “all parties to end hostilities immediately — that includes the TPLF, that includes the Ethiopian government,” he said.

“We remain gravely concerned by the expanding conflict, by the violence, the expansion of the fighting throughout the country and the growing risk that it poses to the unity, to the integrity, of the Ethiopian state,” he said, calling on all sides to “enter negotiations with preconditions towards a sustainable cease-fire.

After arriving in Addas Ababa Thursday, Feltman met with the government’s defense minister, finance minister, deputy prime minister and African Union chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat. He is to hold talks with more Ethiopian officials on Friday, the State Department said.

Feltman “had a productive set of discussions” with the Ethiopian officials, Price said Thursday, and “appreciated the opportunity to do so. He’ll have an opportunity to continue discussions tomorrow.”

On Wednesday, the State Department updated its travel advisory for Ethiopia to Level 4.

“What that means is we are advising U.S. citizens: Do not to travel to Ethiopia,” Price said. “We are recommending that U.S. citizens in Ethiopia consider departing now using commercial options that remain available.”

Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the yearlong conflict was marked by “extreme brutality.”

“We have reasonable grounds to believe that during this period, all parties to the Tigray conflict have committed violations of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law,” the U.N. human rights chief said during a press briefing on Wednesday. “Some of this may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Civilians in Tigray have been subjected to brutal violence and suffering.”

A joint report by the U.N. human rights office and the government-created Ethiopian Human Rights Commission found that sexual violence has been rampant in the conflict, detailing reports of gang rapes by various parties against women and girls, but also against men and boys.

Price, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, said Thursday the U.S. is “carefully reviewing” the report.

The yearlong conflict has plunged about 400,000 people in the Tigray region into famine, killed thousands of civilians and forced more than 2.5 million people in the north to flee their homes, according to the U.N.

Source: Voice of America

President Cyril Ramaphosa extends his warm wishes to South Africa’s Hindu community for their observance of the religious festival of Deepavali, known as the Festival of Lights.

President Ramaphosa said: “As an occasion of religious devotion and cultural expression, Diwali is a rich and enriching feature of our nation’s valued and enviable diversity. It is also an occasion on which we acknowledge the ties of history that bind our nation to other parts of the world.”

“South Africa’s Hindu community makes a significant contribution to the spiritual, ethical, economic and cultural life of our nation through the values of honesty, patience and compassion.

“These are values and moral duties of which our society is in great need, as we seek to rebuild our economy and overcome poverty, unemployment and inequality.

“At the dawn of the Hindu New Year, this is not only a time for reflection and for a fresh commitment among Hindu devotees but an opportunity for all of us to play our part in moral and ethical renewal in our country and in reaching out to the most vulnerable among us.”

The President wishes the Hindu community a period of blessed spiritual and social fellowship within the provisions of the COVID-19 health regulations.

Media enquiries: Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Source: Government of South Africa