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NewsBrief, 10-16 December 2012

 


 

Mali transition leader resigns after arrest 

The arrest and resignation of Mali's transition prime minister pushed Bamako into further political turmoil as regional and international leaders debate military intervention in the country. Cheick Modibo Diarra was arrested by Malian troops on 10 December and tendered his resignation shortly after. Media reports said the soldiers were acting on orders from Captain Amadou Sanogo, head of the military junta that overthrew Mali's elected government in March. A spokesman for Sanogo told IRIN news agency that Diarra had jeopardised plans for a national dialogue aimed at restoring democracy in the country. "He causes confusion in and outside Mali," the spokesman, Bakary Mariko, said. "We wanted a unifying prime minister, but Cheick Modibo was the opposite." Leaders from the region and the international community condemned Diarra's arrest, which brought renewed questions about the military's involvement in Malian politics. ECOWAS Commission President Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo issued a statement saying: "ECOWAS strongly condemns any act that goes against the Transition in Mali, in particular, military action against the constituted Authority of the Transition, as well as any form of interference by the military in the political process." Interim President Dioncounda Traoré quickly appointed former Justice Minister Diango Cissoko as the country's new prime minister. Cissoko was sworn in on 11 December and has already announced a new government composed of thirty ministers, including many who had served under Prime Minister Diarra's government.

Article in English: http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97030/Analysis-Premier-s-ouster-complicates-Mali-crisis

Article in French: http://www.maliweb.net/news/gouvernement/2012/12/17/article,112182.html 


UN Security Council calls for a comprehensive Sahel strategy

The UN Security Council called for the international community to finalise a comprehensive strategy for the Sahel taking into account security, governance, human rights, humanitarian and development concerns. The Security Council held a high-level meeting on the situation in the Sahel on 10 December in New York. The crisis in Mali topped the agenda, but Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasised that the country's political and security problems are linked to challenges facing the region. "We cannot lose sight of the context in which Mali is but a part: a sustained, systemic crisis across the entire Sahel region," Ban said. The Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Sahel Romano Prodi said restoring unity in Mali is a top priority as he continues to focus on humanitarian aid and long-term development. Representing ECOWAS at the meeting, Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of State and Foreign Affairs endorsed calls for an integrated strategy for the Sahel. But he reiterated regional concerns that delays in authorising military intervention could allow militants occupying northern Mali to gain strength. "We must act urgently and now," he said.

Article in English: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2012/sc10849.doc.htm

Article in French: http://www.un.org/apps/newsFr/storyF.asp?NewsID=29482#.UM6iU0Sm4pM


Experts present draft common external tariff

West African experts presented a preliminary draft of the ECOWAS common external tariff (CET) necessary to form a customs union for the sub-region. The ECOWAS-UEMOA Joint Management Committee on the Common External Tariff met from 11-15 December in Abidjan to review technical aspects of the proposed CET. The CET was elaborated over the course of 11 previous joint committee meetings and has been sent to the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to ensure that it conforms to the international commitments of each member state. The CET must be adopted by member states before being submitted to ECOWAS statutory bodies for validation in the first quarter of 2013. The ECOWAS CET is a prerequisite step ahead of finalising negotiations to form an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between West Africa and the EU. Agricultural producers and manufacturers have expressed concerns that the EPA could flood the West African market with European imports and undermine regional integration. ROPPA and other producers' organisations held a press conference in Ouagadougou to call for greater protections for strategic products within the CET.

Article in English: http://news.ecowas.int/presseshow.php?nb=350&lang=en&annee=2012

Article in French: http://news.ecowas.int/presseshow.php?nb=350&lang=fr&annee=2012

 


 

West African leaders attend ACP summit

The future of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations was top of the agenda as heads of state from African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries gathered in Malabo. The Equatorial Guinean capital hosted the seventh ACP Summit from 13-14 December under the theme "The future of the ACP Group in a Changing World: Challenges and Opportunities". The ACP groups together 79 least developed and developing countries based on the 2000 Cotonou Agreement, which governs their trade relations with the EU. The Cotonou Agreement is set to expire by 2020, when each of the six ACP regions is expected to enter into an EPA agreement with the EU. Addressing the delegates, Ghanaian President John Mahama said changing global realities call for the ACP to reinvent itself. "The time has come to take our future in our hands," he said. "We must pursue new approaches to ACP-EU trade, while accelerating strategies that boost trade and investment." Mahama encouraged ACP leaders to explore opportunities to enhance South-South co-operation and trade, particularly with emerging economic powers.

Article in English: http://ghananewsagency.org/economics/president-mahama-wants-better-epa-deal-for-acp-countries--53948

Article in French: http://www.afriquemedia.tv/index.php/welcome/item/387-guin%C3%A9e-equatorial--7%C3%A8me-sommet-de-l%E2%80%99acp-%C3%A0-malabo

 


 

Ministers urge action on youth employment, child labour

ECOWAS ministers in charge of labour, employment and social affairs urged member states to take concrete action to improve conditions for young people in the sub-region. The ministers adopted a Youth Employment Action Plan and an Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour during a meeting on 7 December in Dakar. The Youth Employment Action Plan seeks to improve prospects for young people through increased job creation, improved education and vocational training and greater intra-regional mobility for young workers. Member states were encouraged to develop and implement national action plans and establish funds to make credit available to young entrepreneurs. The ministers called on ECOWAS to devote 10% of its programmatic budget to initiatives in support of youth employment. The Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour aims to eradicate the phenomenon in the sub-region, with a particular focus on the worst forms of child labour. It calls for ECOWAS member countries to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating measures to combat child labour.

Article in English: http://www.ilo.org/addisababa/information-resources/news/WCMS_195492/lang--en/index.htm

Article in French: http://news.ecowas.int/presseshow.php?nb=347&lang=fr&annee=2012


Guinea opposition rejects election date proposal

Opposition leaders in Guinea denounced a proposal to hold long-delayed parliamentary elections within five months. The head of the country's electoral commission, Bakary Fofana, said in a televised address that he would propose holding the elections on 12 May 2013. Guinean law requires President Alpha Condé to accept or reject the date. Opposition figures immediately objected, telling reporters that Fofana did not consult their representatives before announcing the date. Ten of the 25 electoral commission members signed a letter protesting the decision, which they said was taken unilaterally. Condé was elected in 2010, in Guinea's first democratic presidential election since its independence, but the country has not had a functioning parliament in four years. The election has been delayed repeatedly due to disputes over voting rolls and the composition of the electoral commission. The parliamentary elections are required in order for Guinea to complete its transition to civilian rule and unblock millions of dollars in international assistance.

Article in English: http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/guinea-proposes-date-for-delayed-elections/

Article in French: http://www.afriquejet.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3280:elections-legislatives-en-guinee-en-mai-2013&catid=43:guinee&Itemid=147 


Regional food security authorities launch "08 stocks" project

Food security officials meeting in Lomé welcomed a new initiative to promote co-operation among national food reserve systems in eight West African countries. The "08 stocks" project was launched at the 13-14 December meeting of RESOGEST, the network of bodies responsible for the management of national food security stocks in the Sahel and West Africa. The meeting also was an occasion for officials to introduce plans for a regional information system on food stocks and cross-border flows of agricultural products. Officials also presented the preliminary results of 2012-2013 agricultural campaign. CILSS has projected that total cereals production will reach 57.3 million tonnes, an increase of 13% compared to the 2011-2012 season and 18% more than the average over the past five years. CILSS says the rainy season arrived early and generally was characterised by a favourable distribution of rainfall. Despite the positive prospects, CILSS stressed that food insecurity remains a serious problem as illustrated in the elevated rates of malnutrition in the sub-region.

Article in French: http://www.cilss.bf/spip.php?breve210 


Kidnappers release Nigerian finance minister's mother

Kidnappers released the mother of Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, five days after she was abducted from her home in the southern Delta state. Security officials confirmed that the 82-year-old Professor Kamene Okonjo was freed on 14 December but gave few details. The abduction of such a high-profile target underscores the prevalence of kidnapping in Nigeria, for both political and financial motives. President Goodluck Jonathan raised the issue in talks with the visiting Commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Carter Ham. A statement from Jonathan's office said "the president said Nigeria was facing various security challenges, such as Boko Haram, policing the nation's extensive maritime borders, crude oil theft and kidnapping, and called on the USA to support the Government's efforts to find lasting solutions to these problems." The two also discussed ECOWAS efforts to resolve the crisis in Mali.

Article in English: http://allafrica.com/stories/201212121121.html

Article in French: http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/ARTJAWEB20121214113452/ 


UN Security Council extends Liberia sanctions

The UN Security Council expressed "serious concern" about a lack of progress in enforcement as it renewed its sanctions against Liberia for another 12 months. In a new resolution, the Council demanded that the Liberian government "make all necessary efforts to fulfil its obligations." Specifically, the Council was dismayed at the failure to freeze financial assets belonging to former President Charles Taylor. An international court sentenced Taylor to 50 years in prison in May after convicting him of atrocities connected to the civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone. The Security Council also renewed measures restricting travel and weapons and extended the mandate of a panel of experts charged with monitoring enforcement of the sanctions. The Council also urged Liberia to improve transparency in the governance of diamonds and other natural resource. It said it would consider modifying or lifting the sanctions once it receives confirmation the appropriate conditions have been met.

Article in English: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43757&Cr=liberia&Cr1=#.UM7rQ0Sm4pM

Article in French: http://www.un.org/News/fr-press/docs//2012/CS10852.doc.htm 


Classic board game makes Lagos into a playground

Nigeria's commercial capital has joined the ranks of other global cities for fans of a classic board game. Lagos is the setting for the newest edition of Monopoly, the game that lets players build real estate empires by buying game board squares representing real-world places. It is the first African city to be featured in the game, though two countries - Morocco and South Africa - have customised editions. The cheapest property on the board is named for Makoko, a floating shantytown on Lagos Lagoon. The exclusive, manmade Banana Island is the most expensive, coinciding with Mayfair in the London edition of the game and Boardwalk in the original American version. The Lagos State Government partnered in the development of the game, which was unveiled on 11 December at Lagos City Hall. Officials said the objective is to raise the city's international profile but also to promote financial literacy and remind Lagos residents about frequently overlooked traffic laws. The game punishes players for driving against traffic and rewards them for using proper road-crossings.

Article in English: http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/art-a-life/48884-monopoly-banana-island-beats-ikoyi-to-converted-mayfair-spot-on-lagos-city-edition

Article in French: http://www.slateafrique.com/99967/monopoly-lagos-nigeria-jeu


 

Publications

The Least Developed Countries Report 2012: Harnessing Remittances and Diaspora Knowledge to Build Productive Capacities

Migrant workers from some of the world's poorest countries are sending huge sums of money home, but governments must introduce appropriate polices to maximise the impact of these funds. That is the message from the 2012 Least Developed Countries Report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which examines remittance flows and their potential role in driving development in LDCs. The report, which presents data collected from 48 LDCs, found and eight-fold increase in remittance flows in 21 years, from USD 3.5 billion in 1990 to USD 27 billion in 2011. Total remittances were nearly double the value of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to LDCs, which stood at USD 15 million in 2011. While Bangladesh, Nepal and Sudan alone were the recipients of 66% of total remittances to LCDs, the report found that Mali, Senegal and Togo also received significant inflows. The report also examines patterns of migration. For instance, migrants from Burkina Faso made up 6% of total emigrant stocks from LCDs, with many Burkinabè migrating to Côte d'Ivoire. West African LDCs had some of the highest rates of migration among highly skilled workers. The Gambia and Sierra Leone had more high-skilled professionals living abroad than at home. The UNCTAD argues that these migrants represent an opportunity for their home countries. The report urges governments to take steps to reduce transaction costs associated with remittances and encourage greater diaspora engagement in their development strategies.

Report in English: http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ldc2012_en.pdf

Overview in French: http://unctad.org/fr/PublicationsLibrary/ldc2012overview_fr.pdf


The Future of Water in African Cities: Why Waste Water?

Many African cities already struggle to provide adequate water resources for their populations. With climate change and rapid urbanisation, governments are likely to face even greater challenges in the coming decades. Launched at the Africities Summit in Dakar, this World Bank report aims to spur innovation in water management strategies. The report advocates an integrated urban water management (IUWM) approach that takes into account the links between water and other sectors and development challenges. Water demand is increasing even faster than population growth and is projected to quadruple over the next 25 years. Fortunately, cities in Africa and elsewhere have already begun to experiment with new, holistic approaches to water management, and their experiences may help inform policies in countries facing similar challenges. While solutions must be designed to fit each city's specific needs, the report raises questions that all city planners should ask themselves to better understand the urban water cycle, which includes water supply, sanitation and storm water management. With the proper attention to these considerations and co-ordination among stakeholder, policymakers can devise innovative solutions to both technical and institutional challenges in urban water management. 

Report in English: http://water.worldbank.org/sites/water.worldbank.org/files/publication/iuwm-full-report.pdf

Overview in French: http://water.worldbank.org/sites/water.worldbank.org/files/publication/Water-iuwm-full-report-french.pdf

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