Vulnerable to Shocks: Uganda how drought and low prices could jeopardize Uganda’s Poverty Reduction (13.09.2016)

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Uganda Police Force: “Transfers Appoinments Again” (14.09.2016)

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Yakama Nation responds to Law Enforcement Brutality; Energy Transfer Partners’ Threats to Native Lands and Lives; and Mainstream Media’s Misportrayal of DAPL’s Defeat (14.09.2016)

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World Bank Statement on Withholding New Lending to Uganda (13.09.2016)

 

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UGANDA, September 13, 2016The World Bank Group took a decision to withhold new lending to Uganda effective August 22, 2016 while reviewing the country’s portfolio in consultation with the Government of Uganda.  We continue to actively work with the Ugandan authorities to address the outstanding performance issues in the portfolio, including delays in project effectiveness, weaknesses in safeguards monitoring and enforcement, and low disbursement.

We reiterate our commitment to doing everything possible to work closely with the Government of Uganda, as well as with other stakeholders, to support the country’s development and ensure that all World Bank-supported projects deliver tangible and long-lasting results to all Ugandans, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Orient Bank’s action suggests that the President of Uganda Parliament, the Electoral Commission and the Voters of Uganda are Idiots! (14.09.2016)

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Kenya: Public Inquiry on Insecurity in the Coast Region and its Impact on the Enjoyment of Human Rigths (14.09.2016)

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EU Court of Justice Advocate General Finds that Western Sahara not part of EU-Morocco Trade Deal (14.09.2016)

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Communique: 624th PSC Meeting on the post- electoral situation in Gabon (14.09.2016)

Gabon Election

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 624th Meeting, held on 13 September 2016, adopted the following decision on the post- electoral situation in Gabon:

Council:

  1. Takes Note of the briefing made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security on the latest developments in the situation in Gabon, following the proclamation of the provisional results of the Presidential Election held in that country on 27 August 2016. Council Welcomes the outcome of the Mission undertaken by the Commissioner for Peace and Security to Libreville and Ndjamena from 8 to 10 September 2016, particularly to consult the Gabonese stakeholders about the envisaged visit to the country of a high-level delegation composed of African Heads of State, led by the Current Chairman of the African Union, H.E. President Idriss Deby Itno of Chad;
  2. Recalls the Press Statement PSC/PR/BR.DCXX of its 620th Meeting held on 2 September 2016. Council, reaffirming its commitment to the sovereignty of Gabon, recalls also the relevant provisions, among others, of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Protocol Relating to Establishment of the Peace and Security Council and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;
  3. Welcomes the initiatives taken by the Current Chairman of the AU, H.E. Idriss Deby Itno, as well as the Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in the search for an early resolution of the post-electoral situation in Gabon, in respect of the will of the Gabonese people as expressed on 27 August 2016. Council expresses its appreciation to the countries of the region, through the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), as well as to the partners, in particular the United Nations, for their continued support to AU efforts in Gabon;
  4. Takes Note, with satisfaction, of the appeal lodged with the Constitutional Court by the candidates to the Presidential Election, thus using legal and constitutional means as provided for the resolution of any dispute related to the result of the ballot;
  5. Stresses the importance of the conclusion of the appeals process submitted by the candidates to the presidential election, in a transparent and regular manner, thus contributing to the entrenchment of democracy in Gabon, as well as to promotion of peace and stability in the country and in the region. Council requests the Commission, in close cooperation with the partners concerned, and within the respect of the sovereignty of Gabon, to support the relevant Gabonese institutions in their efforts aimed at enhancing the transparency and credibility of the review process, as well as the proclamation of the final results of the Presidential Election of 27 August 2016 by the Constitutional Court;
  6. Requests the Commission to deploy observers, who will be chosen from among eminent members of high African French speaking jurisdictions, to assist the Constitutional Court of Gabon, in accordance with the modalities to be determined by common agreement with the said Court, as well as in compliance with the rules of procedure and the relevant provisions of title VI of the Gabonese Constitution;
  7. Appeals to the partners to continue to support AU’s initiatives in Gabon;
  8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

MEPs back trade deal with six African countries (14.09.2016)

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BRUSSELS, Belgium, September 14, 2016 –The European Parliament approved an agreement granting duty-free access to the EU for products from Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho, and improved market access for South Africa on Wednesday.

“This agreement will help our African partner states to reduce poverty and can also facilitate their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy. There are also many safeguards in the deal to ensure that local people truly benefit from this cooperation. The language on human rights and sustainable development is one of the strongest that you will find in any EU agreement”, said rapporteur Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ALDE, DE), before the vote.

MEPs approved the deal by 417 votes to 216, with 66 abstentions.

Free access to EU markets

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with six member states of the South African Development Community (SADCestablishes a “positive discrimination”, ensuring immediate duty- and quota-free access for their exports to the EU market. It also creates new regional opportunities through more flexible use of rules of origin.

The African countries will liberalise 86% of their trade with the EU (Mozambique 74%) over ten years with the exception of agricultural and fishery products. The deal replaces the previous interim agreements based on unilateral trade preferences and complies with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

Safeguards

While the agreement covers only trade and development cooperation, it leaves the door open for services, investment, intellectual property and public procurement. To mitigate potential negative impacts on the SADC countries, several safeguards were added to the deal. The EU undertook not to subsidize its agricultural exports to these countries.

The deal also lists trade-related areas that could benefit from EU development cooperation funding, but none is pledged at this stage.

Monitoring

In a July resolution, international trade MEPs advocated strengthening the monitoring of the agreement to ensure that “its benefits for the people are maximized”. The committee also tabled an oral question to the Commission for this plenary on parliamentary oversight and civil society monitoring.

Next steps: The deal will enter into force once the Council formally approves it and the national parliaments of the six African states ratify the text.

Note to the editors: in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement of 2000, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the EU agreed to negotiate reciprocal, though asymmetric, trade agreements to comply with WTO rules and to support these countries’ development and integration into the world economy.

Negotiations were to be concluded by the end of 2007, but the process took longer and the EU finished negotiations with six states of the SADC Group in July 2014. Angola finally decided not to enter into the agreement, but may join in the future. 

Negotiations with six SADC states ended in 2014. The other eight (Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) belong to other regional EPA groupings.

Uganda: Re: Investigations into the Conduct of Mr. Ronald Kibuule State Minister for Water (13.09.2016)

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