Year: 2022

NAIROBI— The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said more than 80,000 people have arrived in northeast Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camps due to ongoing insecurity and severe drought.

The UNHCR said the majority of the refugees arrived over the past two years. “More support is needed not only in Kenya but also in Somalia and Ethiopia, where millions of people are facing dire humanitarian conditions as the rains continue to fail,” UNHCR said in a statement.

Despite a recent decrease in the pace of daily arrivals, UNHCR and partners in Dadaab estimate that some 24,000 people have arrived since the end of September.

The UN agency said local communities and refugees already living in the refugee camps in Dadaab have been generously welcoming the new arrivals and sharing the limited resources they have.

“Adequate space in the camps, where the newly arrived are sheltered, is running out, forcing many to reside in makeshift shelters along the outskirts where clean water and sanitation facilities are either grossly insufficient or non-existent.

According to UNHCR, a cholera outbreak has been affecting refugee and host communities with over 350 cases having been identified since the end of October, mainly affecting children.

UNHCR said more resources are urgently required to meet surging needs and to help provide life-saving assistance and protection.

In June, as part of a regional appeal for the Horn of Africa drought response, UNHCR requested 11.1 million U.S. dollars to assist more than 257,000 drought-affected people in Kenya, including 55,000 new arrivals.

So far, the UNHCR said only half of the needed funds to respond to the drought have been received, even as thousands more people have arrived than anticipated.

Some 4.5 million Kenyans, mainly in the northern and eastern parts of the country, are also battling with the effects of the devastating drought, according to the UN.

Many families are struggling with severe food and water shortages, which may worsen in the coming months if the present rainy season fails.

In November, the UN and partners issued a call for 472.6 million dollars to enable aid agencies to respond now and into next year as the impact of the drought in Kenya deepens.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation remarks on the occasion of the Signing of the Science, Technology and Innovation Memorandum of Understanding with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation, 7 December 2022, Cape Town

Honourable Minister Maître José Mpanda Kabangu, Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation;

Mr Ndambu Mwalanga Odon, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry;

Senior officials from the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation;

Ladies and gentlemen

This a memorable occasion for two countries that ought to have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) a while back.

Our efforts to finalise the MoU in the past 2 years did not materialise, for one reason or another, through with no fault of our own.

With our mutual relentlessness and understanding of the importance of formalising the Science, Technology and Innovation Bilateral relationship, towards improving the socio-economic conditions of our people it was therefore, imperative that we ensure the eventual signing of the Memorandum of Understanding today.

Minister, I would like to thank you for honouring my invitation to be part of the World Science Forum, your presence here taking time out of your busy schedule means a great deal to me and my department.

This is by no means a new relationship but a form of renewal of our long established relationship. The relationship between the two countries dates back to the role that the Democratic Republic of Congo DRC played in the emancipation of south African people in the fight against apartheid.

South Africa has been involved in the efforts to ensure peace and stability in the DRC since 1994. The general bilateral cooperation Agreement that was signed in 2004, strengthened trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, increasing the import and exports of goods between the DRC and South Africa.

The Signing of the Science, Technology and Innovation Memorandum of Understanding between our two countries gives an opportunity to position technology and innovation capabilities to catapult the bilateral efforts, programmes and activities, that were implemented as part of the foundation laid in the political and economic relationship between the two countries. Given that STI is regarded as a driving force towards the development of any key sector.

In an article published in Afrin in Focus in February 2022, it was reiterated that the key to transforming African socio-economic conditions lies in investing in Science, Technology and Innovation. However, Africa, a continent of 1.3 billion people, which is estimated to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, contributes a mere 2% of the world research output, which accounts 1.to 3% of the research spending and 0.1% of the global patents.

The lack of investment in STI has undermined Africa’s transformation, without the required infrastructure necessary for innovation Africa will continue to rely on the colonial developed model of resource extraction which has been found to be the main contributor to debilitating poverty and aid dependency.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is one effort away from changing that gloomy picture of our beautiful continent. In the joint Plan of Action that our officials have developed and implemented to a certain degree, the strategic areas of interest, namely agriculture, mining and geosciences, renewable energy, water, Intellectual property management, technology innovation, high-performance computing and space science and technology, are key and critical to socio-economic development in the two countries whose implementation will assist in laying the foundation for fast-tracking mutual development as follows:

In recent research done by the Mckinsey group an estimated 24% of Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is from agriculture, that is however scratching the surface because Africa has the potential to produce 3 times more agricultural output through the right investment in agricultural research, development and Innovation (RDI).

Investment in Agricultural RDI will result in yield improvement, land expansion, improved post-harvest and trade of the agricultural commodities. It does not make sense for us to rely on European countries like Russia for simple agricultural commodities such as grains.

In relation to Mining and Geosciences, the two countries are two of the resource-rich countries in the continent, a bilateral programme will not only include programmes around geological mapping and mineral beneficiation, through our institutions such as Mintek in South Africa but could include programmes to empower Africans to determine the value of our resources.

As you may be aware, I am the Minister responsible for South Africa’s hydrogen programme, through our partnership, our two countries could potentially solve the energy crisis in the continent, given the DRC’s Inga Dam potential and South Africa’s investment in hydrogen technologies in the identified Renewable Energy programme.

Infrastructure, technology and human capital have been found to be the most pressing necessity in Health, a bilateral programme could focus on strengthening the capability of the health institution, especially in public health.

Besides the benefits of Space Science and Technology in the environment, earth, and the improvement of healthcare, Space Science and Technology is critical in fostering peace and security in African countries, through strengthening our militaries, based on the ability to detect threats and provide the technological solutions in our defence systems.

Intellectual Property management, High-Performance Computing and technological innovation are three areas that are not only cross-cutting but strategic in transforming our socio-economic condition, for instance, the management of intellectual property rights of innovations developed by African people, especially the youth, will ensure ownership, commercialisation and the development of critical industries.

In relation to High-performance Computing (HPC), I was happy to hear that the Centre for High-Performance Computing will be deploying some of the computer ranger racks to the DRC, and have also started with the technical training of DRC officials. The HPC will ensure that the DRC will have the capacity to manage big research data, especially in the ongoing effort to strengthen your National System of Innovation.

In closing, what will make our ambition possible Honourable Minister Kabangu is institution-to-institution collaboration, by ensuring that we strengthen institutional capability in the implementing activities under each of the identified areas of mutual interest.

The development of critical skills through co-investing in Human Capital Development, especially of the millions of youth in order for them to play a strategic role in developing the key sectors, especially in the identified areas of mutual interest. Our bilateral skills development programme could include the development of technical skills through what the DRC regard as the polytechnics, and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the South African context. This could be done through the twinning of these institutions and the exchange of personnel for the co-development of knowledge and knowledge transfer.

The establishment of community-based development programmes, bringing RDI-led technologies to different communities in the two countries demonstrating the value of Scientific and Technological RDI could change the lives of ordinary citizens. And co-investing financial resources in the implementation of the identified bilateral programmes ensuring that we achieve what we need to achieve.

The changing times has made it critical that these MoUs that we sign are not just seen as a gesture of goodwill or intent, but are a leeway for meaningful collaborative projects and programmes in response to our pressing challenges.

The level of poverty in our countries is increasing, almost half of the youth are unemployed, and we live in the most unequal society, which in the South African case is the legacy of both apartheid and colonialism.

Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, we cannot afford to be complacent and have this MoU be a symbol of today’s meeting only but it must be a symbol of our joint commitment for changing the lives of our communities and the future of our beautiful continent.

Thank you.

Source: Government of South Africa

BRUSSELS— An auction house in Belgium has rendered an apology after it received backlash for trying to sell three skulls of Africans who were killed when the Democratic Republic of Congo was a colony. Vanderkindere auction house also canceled the auctioning of the skulls in question.

The individuals whose skulls the auction house was trying to sell were reportedly killed between January 1893 and May 1894. Vanderkindere’s attempt to sell the body parts was condemned by the human rights group, Collectif Mémoire Coloniale et Lutte contre les Discriminations (CMCLD).

The group also called for a demonstration in Brussels to protest the sale of the skulls and to also call on the Belgian government to seize and conserve them “in an appropriate way and with dignity.”

The skulls were part of a private colonial collection that Vanderkindere had planned to put on public sale on Dec 14. “The Vanderkindere auction house sincerely apologizes for having offered at auction a lot comprising three human skulls linked to the Belgian colonial past, and this is why they are imperatively withdrawn from the sale,” the auction house said.

“We in no way condone the suffering and humiliation suffered by the people who are victims of these colonial acts. We once again offer our deepest regrets to anyone who has been hurt and hurt by the sale of this lot.”

The news of the skulls being put up for sale sparked outrage in the European nation as well as on social media. Human rights organizations labeled the decision as “dehumanizing and racist.”

Between 1908 and 1960, Belgium colonized the Central African territory formerly known as the Belgian Congo. Reports state that millions of Congolese nationals were killed under Belgian rule. Some also died due to famine and disease.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Ministers Patricia De Lille and Lindiwe Zulu join hands to provide shelter for survivors of Gender-Based Violence in Koffiefontein, Free State Province

In March 2020, Cabinet approved the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF 2020–2030) and the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to ensure a cohesive strategic framework to guide the national response to the GBVF crisis. The NSP is anchored on six key pillars that seek to guide specific actions by sectors of the South African society.

The implementation approach of the NSP on GBVF is anchored on six key pillars that seek to guide specific actions and harness the roles, responsibilities, resources, and commitment of all stakeholders across all spheres of government, civil society, faith-based communities and the private sector, amongst others.

The Department of Social Development is responsible for Pillar 4: response, care, support and healing. This involves the establishment of shelters, which play a vital role in the GBVF national response through the provision comprehensive package of care and support services, including psychosocial support services to survivors of gender-based violence in the healing, empowerment and recovery process. Shelters make a difference between life and death situations for women trapped in violent and abusive relationships.

As part of enhancing the national response against GBVF and the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign currently underway, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Ms Patricia De Lille will hand over a renovated public facility that has been repurposed as a shelter to the Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu in Koffiefontein, Free State Province.

The handover of the shelter is informed by the President’s Five-Point Plan on GBV and the pledge by Minister De Lille to identify and repurpose public facilities to provide shelter for survivors throughout the country.

Currently, the Department of Social Development is responsible for 349 shelters across the country, which include the White Door and Khuseleka One-Stop Centres. In line with the Distrct Development Model, the target is to have at least one shelter in each of the 52 districts of the country. In this regard, the Department has allocated an amount of R178 million for the provision of support services in the current financial year.

The full programme will include the unveiling of anti-GBVF billboard at the local Bloemspruit Police Station. To date, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has installed 30 anti-GBVF billboards at police stations in seven provinces in areas identified as GBV hot spot areas across the country.

Source: Government of South Africa

MOGADISHU— Somali forces seized a strategic town in the central regions of the country from Al-Shabaab, registering another milestone against the militants.

The Somali National Army (SNA), together with local vigilantes popularly known as Mo’awisley, captured Adan Yabaal town, about 220 kilometres north of the capital Mogadishu.

Adan Yabaal, a town located near the border between Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions that comprise Hirshabelle State, one of the five federal member states of the Federal Government of Somalia, had been a strategic location held by Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked extremist group.

The SNA said in a bulletin that it met no resistance from the normally feared Al-Shabaab fighters who left the town without posing resistance.

Out of fear from a possible fighting between the allied forces and the terrorists, most residents largely left the town, dreading being caught in a crossfire.

Al-Shabaab have lost most of the towns and settlements in Hirshabelle State, both Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions, after the SNA and Mo’awisley vigilantes waged offensive wars.

Mo’awisley vigilantes, who are mainly composed of nomadic herders, took up arms and rebelled against the jihadists’ confiscation of their livestock and illegal tax collection known as zakawaat,.

Over the last couple of weeks, the government forces and the vigilantes have been gradually inching towards the town which they seized on Monday. The town had been under the full control of Al-Shabaab for over a decade.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK