Musings From Abroad

Zambia’s Hichilema meets Macron, Xuexiang at COP28

Published

12 months ago

December 2, 2023

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema engaged in bilateral discussions with President Emmanuel Macron of France and Ding Xuexiang, the Executive Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China, on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28).

Hichilema commended Macron for his country’s continued support and underscored the importance of nurturing the growing ties between the two nations.

“We appreciate the support that France has provided to Zambia over the years, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership for the benefit of our countries and peoples,” President Hichilema stated.

In a separate meeting with Chinese Vice Premier, Ding Xuexiang, Hichilema acknowledged and appreciated President Xi Jinping’s warm reception during his recent state visit to China.

The leaders stressed through the discussions how Zambia and China had it had an “all-weather friendship” since Zambia gained its independence in 1964. The conversations also revolved around developing this friendship even more and looking into new opportunities for collaboration.

“We are committed to building on the solid foundation of our bilateral relations with China for the benefit of both our nations. The talks with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang were productive and reflect our mutual desire for continued growth and collaboration,” President Hichilema stated.

Hichilema’s meeting with Macron and Xuexiang is symbolic, as his country remains at the centre of a debt-restructuring effort, with France and China being co-chairs of its creditor committee. Meanwhile, it is not clear if discussions between the leaders included the debt situation.

In terms of debt restructuring, Zambia has had a busy year. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) authorised a staff-level agreement with the country on the second review of its Extended Credit Facility last month, subject to IMF board approval, following the rejection of its bond deal with foreign holders by its official creditors. This opened up an additional $184 million.

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Musings From Abroad

EU withdraws Niger diplomat after junta accuses it of mismanaging aid

Published

15 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The European External Action Service (EEAS) has announced that the European Union would return its ambassador from Niger after the governing military in the nation questioned how an EU team handled humanitarian supplies intended for flood victims.

In a statement released on Friday, the junta in Niger accused the EU ambassador in the West African nation of distributing a 1.3 million euro flood relief grant to many foreign nongovernmental organisations in an opaque way and without working with the government.

Consequently, it mandated an audit of the fund’s administration.

“The European Union expresses its profound disagreement with the allegations and justifications put forward by the transitional authorities,” the EEAS said.

“Consequently, the EU has decided to recall its ambassador from Niamey for consultations in Brussels.”

Niger has been under military rule since the junta seized power in a 2023 coup.

Musings From Abroad

Mpox remains health emergency, WHO insists

Published

17 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has insisted that the Mpox epidemic remains a public health emergency.

WHO first declared an emergency when a new strain of mpox spread from the severely affected Democratic Republic of the Congo to neighbouring countries in August.

The WHO Director-General has decided that the increase in mpox still qualifies as a public health emergency of worldwide significance after the WHO called a meeting of its Emergency Committee and followed its recommendations.

According to WHO, the decision was made in light of the growing number and ongoing geographic dispersion of cases, field operating difficulties, and the requirement to establish and maintain a coordinated response across nations and partners.

Mpox is a virus that is spread by close contact and usually manifests as pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms. Although it is typically minor, it can be fatal.

More than 1,000 suspected deaths and more than 46,000 suspected cases have been reported this year throughout Africa, primarily in Congo.

The WHO’s highest level of warning, known as a “public health emergency of international concern,” was previously used to describe a worldwide epidemic of a different type of mpox in 2022–2023.

This year’s notice was issued in response to the transmission of a novel viral variation known as clade Ib. Among other nations, cases of this variation have been verified in the UK, Germany, Sweden, and India.

Following criticism for moving too slowly on vaccinations, WHO approved Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine in September and listed Japan’s KM Biologics vaccine for emergency use earlier this month.