Musings From Abroad

World Bank disputes alleged cover-up by its IFC division over sexual assault in Kenya

Published

10 months ago

February 6, 2024

Ajay Banga, the president of the World Bank, has denied that the bank’s International Finance Corp (IFC) division attempted to conceal claims of sexual assault at a network of for-profit schools in Kenya that it owned from 2013 to 2022.

When asked about the IFC’s response to an independent investigation into the claims at Bridge International Academies, Banga disputed the notion that the IFC was engaged in a cover-up during a public event hosted by the Centre for Global Development.

Civil society organisations have voiced concern that, up until the World Bank’s Office of Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (Cao) received complaints from parents in 2018 and launched an inquiry, IFC disregarded evidence of child sexual abuse at several of Bridge’s Kenyan schools.

The $13.5 million Bridge equity investment was unloaded in March 2022 as part of a commitment to exit for-profit education, and this month, the IFC Board of Executive Directors is set to publicly discuss an action plan in response to the Cao’s findings.

Although Banga was not selected for the position of World Bank president at the time of the divestment, he will still have to cope with the fallout while trying to improve the lender’s operations.

If a cover-up “is proven to be so, I will take all the action that is necessary, but merely conjecture that is in a public space, I will refuse to sign up. That’s who I am; I’m sorry if you don’t like it.” Banga said.

Banga, who is a former Mastercard CEO has reiterated committed to reducing bureaucracy and increasing the World Bank’s emphasis on enhancing lives.

Related Topics:Ajay Banga Featured World Bank

Click to comment

Musings From Abroad

Nigeria, India to strengthen counterterrorism, maritime security cooperation

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

During a state visit to Nigeria on Sunday, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra, Modi reached an agreement, on behalf of his country, to strengthen cooperation in counterterrorism, intelligence, and maritime security.

President Bola Tinubu invited Modi to visit Nigeria, the first Indian prime minister to do so in 17 years.

Tinubu is looking for investments from some of the largest economies in the world.

In addition to discussing economic development, defence, healthcare, and food security, Modi and Tinubu met at the presidential mansion on Sunday after arriving in the capital, Abuja, on Saturday night, according to a joint statement.

The two nations decided to work together to protect maritime trade routes and fight piracy in response to the mounting risks in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea.

The most populous country in Africa, Nigeria, is looking to attract more Indian investment and lower-cost credit lines in order to strengthen its economy and generate employment.

Nigeria announced last year that it had obtained about $14 billion in pledges from Indian businesses, including Jindal Steel and Power, which promised to spend $3 billion in Nigeria’s steel industry, during the G20 conference.

Over 200 Indian businesses are present in Nigeria.

Modi was scheduled to go to Brazil for this year’s G20 conference after Nigeria.

Nigeria and India have a long-standing and cordial bilateral relationship. Nigeria, home to more than 200 million people, and India, home to 1.3 billion people, are both sizable emerging nations with multilingual, multiethnic, and multireligious communities.

Musings From Abroad

Military advisors from Russia arrive Equatorial Guinea

Published

2 days ago

November 17, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Russian military advisors are in Equatorial Guinea training indigenous soldiers.

Anonymous sources cited by Reuters during the week claim that between 100 and 200 Russian instructors are training with elite guards in charge of guarding the President and the first family.

The males had been seen in Malabo, the country’s capital, and Bata, its second city. Reports of Russian forces stationed in the nation initially appeared in August.

Oil-rich Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has maintained close relations with Moscow.

Nguema travelled to Moscow in September to attend the Russian Energy Week International Forum.

Russia has strengthened military connections with African countries, sending advisors and combat soldiers to the Central African Republic, Mozambique, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Faced with an Islamist terrorist insurrection, three Sahel countries have turned to Moscow for support, expelling French and American troops.