Musings From Abroad

French Foreign Minister lauds Africa’s mediation in Russia/Ukraine war

Published

1 year ago

June 20, 2023

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs has tagged as ‘positive” the recently concluded peace mission by a delegation of African leaders to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Catherine Colonna lauded the moves by African leaders during a recent visit to South Africa and said, “From the French point of view, any peace effort is positive if it aims to restore the principles of the UN Charter,”

“These principles have been attacked and undermined (…) by Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine. As you know, these principles are the independence of states, sovereignty, the right to self-defense, and territorial integrity.

“These are also the principles that I think President Ramaphosa cited when he had the opportunity to speak two days ago about the mission he led with a number of other African heads of state,” Colonna added.

On Monday, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who was the leader of the delegation of African leaders to Europe to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, insisted that “this war must be settled… through negotiations and through diplomatic means.”

Meanwhile, Russia’s Vladimir Putin has maintained that Moscow was “open to constructive dialogue with anyone who wants to establish peace on the principles of fairness and acknowledgment of the legitimate interests of the parties”.

Any agreement must take into account “new realities,” which Moscow has described as its declared acquisition of five Ukrainian provinces, four of which it only partially controls. Russia has demanded that any agreement must do this.

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Musings From Abroad

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

Published

5 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

5 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.