Politics

Nutrition in focus as Zambia set to host 41st AU Ordinary Session

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2022

East Africa country, Zambia will next week host the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU).

The summit is schedule to hold from July 14 – 15, 2022 in Lusaka at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

Zambia’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Minister Stanley Kakubo, said the 41st Ordinary Session of the Executive Council will be attended by 13 Heads of State and Government, comprising five Heads of State that form the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU, and eight Heads of State that chair the eight regional economic communities recognized by the AU.

The Theme for the gathering “Building Resilience in Nutrition on the African Continent: Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development”.

With nutrition as part of its focus, the summit will be addressing of the biggest challenges facing the continent.

A global nutrition report says although it performs relatively well against other regions, Africa still experiences a malnutrition burden among children aged under 5 years. The average prevalence of overweight is 5.3%, which is lower than the global average of 5.7%. The prevalence of stunting is 30.7% – higher than the global average of 22.0%.

Also schedule as part of the summit is the election and appointment two judges of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights by the Executive Council of the continental body.

The summit is apt at a period where countries in the continent are faced with social and economic challenges in many cases due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The emergence of the Russia/Ukraine war has also dented the growth of most African countries, particularly in creating food crisis as both Russia and Ukraine account for a major percentage of world’s grains.

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.