Musings From Abroad

US set to hold 2nd Democracy Summit, but what’s in it for Africa?

Published

2 years ago

March 27, 2023

The United States is set to hold the second edition of Summit for Democracy which will be co-hosted with leaders from Zambia, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, and South Korea.

The forum is scheduled to hold on 29-30 March and is expected to have leaders from around the world, including from several African countries, discuss strengthening democratic institutions, tackling corruption, and defending human rights.

According to a statement by the US Department of State, the summit will highlight new approaches and partnerships that strengthen democracy, human rights, and governance.

It said the first session will highlight USAID and our partners’ efforts to surge resources to reformers during democratic openings, while the second will feature USAID’s new People Centered Justice (PCJ) approach to Rule of Law programming, and will highlight the Rule of Law and People Centered Justice Multistakeholder Cohort’s Declaration and Call to Action.

Session three will identify new approaches to addressing inequality and building trust in societies. Session four will focus on the work of the USG-led Financial Transparency and Integrity (FTI) Multistakeholder Cohort, including launching the Cohort’s Pledge and Call to Action, and will highlight how USAID is modernizing its support to anti-corruption reformers.

Lately, the United States has been preoccupied with approaches to reaffirm its dwindling influence in the international arena as China and Russia alliance continues to threaten Western dominance in lower-power nations, particularly in Africa.

The United States, Vice President Kamala Harris is currently on an African tour and part of her concern includes strengthening democratic institutions in African countries.

Washington has expressed concern with the nature and approaches of some African governments, notably Tunisia, where President Kais Saied is capturing state institutions and restricting opposition voices. Also, in West Africa where there has been a recent wave of military incursion in the government in Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

In the case of Tunisia, the US has blocked aid funds amidst President Saed’s anti-democratic stands, but beyond financial sanctions which always hit back on the public, how can the West really influence democratic consolidation in Africa?

Musings From Abroad

Swiss company Mercuria partners Zambia’s IDC in new metals trading firm

Published

2 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by Swiss commodities trader, Mercuria, on Thursday, it has established a metals trading arm with Zambia, the second-largest producer of copper in Africa.

The trading unit is jointly owned by Mercuria and an arm of Zambia’s Industrial Development Company (IDC), and its purpose is to allow Zambia to engage directly in the minerals trading market.

The joint venture “envisages the establishment of a vehicle to market and trade Zambian copper by mutual leverage,” according to a statement from Cornwell Muleya, the CEO of IDC.

The southern African nation wants to increase copper output to roughly 3 million metric tonnes within the next ten years, and in 2023, it produced roughly 698,000 tonnes of copper, down from 763,000 metric tonnes the year before.

In June, the Zambian government announced that it would establish a minerals trading unit.

Investors including First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold are ramping up production, with output set to receive a further boost once Vedanta Resources’ Konkola Copper Mines restart activity.

“Our joint venture with IDC marks a significant milestone for Zambia as it positions itself more strategically in the global minerals market,” Kostas Bintas, Mercuria’s global head of metals and minerals, said in the statement.

Musings From Abroad

Blinken to reveal UN Sudan funding additions

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

Additional financing for humanitarian aid to Sudan and initiatives to strengthen civil society in the nation, where a conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, will be announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the United Nations on Thursday.

Blinken will make many announcements when he leads a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Thursday, which will centre on humanitarian aid and civilian protection, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

According to Price, the announcements would include more money for humanitarian help, initiatives to strengthen civil society, and the return of democracy.

“Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten conflict,” Price said.

“So part of the reason the secretary … opted to convene a signature event on this very topic is to make sure it remains in the spotlight,” Price said.

For almost 18 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army have been engaged in combat, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis that has forced over 12 million people from their homes and made it difficult for U.N. organisations to provide aid.

A power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces preceded a planned shift to civilian administration, which sparked the conflict in April 2023.

Although the army declined to join this year’s U.S.-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, the warring parties did pledge to increase assistance access, which prevented any movement towards a ceasefire.

Price stated that before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month, the United States would keep collaborating with allies to enhance humanitarian access in Sudan and eventually end hostilities.

“We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, with the Sudanese stakeholders themselves, on the issues that matter most – humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, ultimately, the process by which we can work to get to a cessation of hostilities, which is most urgently needed,” he said.