Politics

US Senator blocks $75m aid to Egypt over human rights concerns

Published

2 years ago

October 17, 2022

A United States Senator, Patrick Leahy, has blocked a $75 million aid to Egypt over the North African country’s poor human rights record and its failure to make progress on reforms, particularly the continued detention of over 60,000 political prisoners.

Egypt was due to benefit from an annual military aid of $1.3 billion from America but the aid has come under heavy scrutiny in the last few years as President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has consolidated control over the country and continued to squeeze the space for free speech, according to Leahy while making a push for the blockage of the funds.

Some of the money was subject to a waiver if conditions for reform aren’t met, including freeing political prisoners.

In September, the Biden administration withheld $130 million of the amount over human rights concerns but said it would allow $75 million to be paid because Egypt had released 500 political prisoners.

But Leahy, who is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and has jurisdiction over spending legislation and financial assistance, has rejected the assessment justifying the aid.

“We should take this law very seriously, because the situation facing political prisoners in Egypt is deplorable,” he said.

Egypt has had a poor human rights record especially since Al-Sisi came into power with many opposition figures arbitrarily arrested and clamped into detention.

And despite making some “surface reforms” and releasing hundred political prisoners, thousands still remain behind bars, including more than 80 lawyers.

Among those still incarcerated are former presidential candidate, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who was arrested in 2018 after criticising the government and calling for a boycott of the presidential elections.

Fotouh who is in his 70s, is still in prison and is not allowed to access the prison library and has not been given a TV, books, or a magazine, according to secret security reports.

Related Topics:Aid Detention Egypt Featured Human Rights United States

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Politics

Botswana’s new president wants swift resolution of De Beers diamond deal

Published

3 days ago

November 2, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Duma Boko, the recently elected president of Botswana, stated on Friday that he hoped to wrap up negotiations for a new sales agreement with the multinational diamond mining conglomerate, De Beers, as quickly as possible.

“The relationship with De Beers could have been damaged by the way the negotiations were handled,” President Boko said in a televised statement from Gaborone, Botswana’s capital. “The first thing that needs to be done is to engage the other party”.

The government’s portion of diamonds from the Debswana joint venture will progressively rise to 50% over the following ten years, according to a new diamond sales agreement reached last year by De Beers, a division of Anglo American.

Currently, De Beers purchases 75% of the production from Debswana Diamond Company, which is jointly controlled by Botswana and De Beers.

The agreement has not yet been signed, even though the Botswana government and the departing president, Mokgweetsi Masisi, praised its benefits Beers was “thinking about walking away, not signing at all… (a) very dangerous position to be in as a country,” according to Boko.

According to Boko, his new government wishes to communicate with De Beers to comprehend its issues.

“A proper negotiation involves compromise, where you get a bit of what you wanted, the other person gets a bit,” Boko said. “Then…you have a durable, sustainable agreement.”

As part of a larger reorganisation of its extensive operations, Anglo is developing a strategy to sell out De Beers. In July, Masisi stated that the Botswana government might increase its 15% stake in De Beers.A decline in worldwide demand has severely impacted diamond prices, just like it has for other luxury items. De Beers has been providing contracted clients with flexibility and limiting supply.

Politics

President Maisi concedes as Botswana’s ruling party loses 58-year reign

Published

4 days ago

November 1, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Following preliminary results showing his party lost its legislative majority by a landslide in this week’s election, Botswana’s President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, announced his party’s defeat on Friday, ending nearly 60 years in power.

The opposition coalition, Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), held a sizable lead with over half of the constituencies reporting, placing its leader, attorney Duma Boko, in a strong position to win the presidency.

According to analysts, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has controlled the small southern African nation since gaining independence from Britain in 1966, was overthrown by growing socioeconomic dissatisfaction, especially among young people.

Botswana has always relied heavily on its diamond industry for revenue, but this year’s economic growth was severely hampered by a decline in the world diamond market, and unemployment increased to 28%.

According to results from 41 of the 61 constituencies up for election, the UDC had gained 26 seats in parliament, while the BDP had only three, according to state television. The president is chosen by the members of parliament.

Boko, who hasn’t made any public statements since the outcome, ran on a platform of increasing social grants and the minimum wage.

“Although I wanted to stay on as your president, I respect the will of the people and I congratulate the president-elect. I will step aside and I will support the new administration,” Masisi said at a press conference.

Small groups of supporters of the opposition celebrated in the streets of Gaborone, the capital, on Friday morning, which was peaceful.

“I did not ever think I would witness this change in my life,” said 23-year-old student Mpho Mogorosi. “The BDP had stayed too long in power and I am proud to be part of the people that removed them for a better Botswana.”

After South Africa’s African National Congress lost its legislative majority after 30 years in power and was compelled to form a coalition government, the BDP became the second long-ruling party in southern Africa to lose at the polls this year.

Later this month, elections will be held in neighbouring Namibia, where the SWAPO party, which has ruled since 1990, is anticipated to face fierce opposition.

“The outcome of Botswana’s elections should serve as a warning to long-time ruling parties across southern Africa and beyond that without economic progress and employment opportunities, political dominance will falter,” said Zaynab Hoosen, an Africa analyst at Pangea-Risk.