Musings From Abroad

Guinea-Bissau becomes first non-European country to sign UN environment pact

Published

2 years ago

April 25, 2023

Guinea-Bissau has joined an international agreement on government accountability for human rights and the environment.

The United Nations made the announcement on Tuesday, making the country the first non-European country to join the agreement and the 47th signatory country to do so.

Environment Minister, Viriato Luis Soares Cassama, stated that the country “hopes to take advantage of the Convention’s instruments to fight climate change and promote its biodiversity… by allowing the public to participate in the decision-making process and to have access to justice when their environmental rights are violated.”

The UN revealed that the Portuguese-speaking West African country of about two million people signed the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making, and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters on April 4.

According to the website for the Convention, also known as the Aarhus Convention, it “protects the right of everyone to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being,” gives people the right to take part in environmental decision-making, and “recognizes that we have a duty to future generations.”

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Olga Algayerova, revealed that “the West African state is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change” but despite its status, is the first state “outside the pan-European region.”

Musings From Abroad

Brazilian meatpacker JBS invests $2.5 billion in Nigeria, builds six facilities

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Brazilian meatpacker JBS says it has inked a memorandum of understanding with the Nigerian government for a $2.5 billion investment plan that will include the construction of six new plants in the African nation.

Three of the plants would deal in poultry, two in beef, and one in pork, according to a statement from JBS.

In accordance with the memorandum of understanding, JBS stated that it would develop a five-year investment plan in Nigeria, which would include budget estimates, feasibility studies, and an action plan for the development of the local supply chain.

The Nigerian government would then guarantee the sanitary, regulatory, and economic conditions required for the project’s viability, JBS continued.

Musings From Abroad

China’s Xi meets with Morocco’s Crown Prince

Published

3 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Morocco’s official media reports that Chinese President, Xi Jinping, visited Morocco briefly on Thursday.

According to Morocco’s MAP, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan welcomed Xi in Casablanca. The visit demonstrated the close ties of camaraderie, collaboration, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, it said.

China’s official broadcaster, CCTV, said that Xi and Hassan had a “cordial conversation” at the airport after being received by the Crown Prince and Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

After attending the G20 Summit in Brazil, Xi paid the visit.

In recent years, China has increased its investments in Morocco’s rail and infrastructure. Morocco is desirable for Chinese electric car battery manufacturers because of its proximity to Europe, free trade agreements with important EU and US markets, and an established automotive sector.

Morocco was chosen by Chinese EV battery company Gotion High Tech in June to establish Africa’s first gigafactory, which will cost $1.3 billion in total.