World Bank working paper reveals astonishing amount of aid money to the African continent going directly into tax havens!

The World Bank working paper named ‘Elite Capture of Foreign Aid – Evidence from Offshore Bank Accounts’, which was finally released yesterday is a devastating read. Not because of the facts in it, but because of the extent of the misuse and theft of aid money. The World Bank are now proving by small samples how much of their loans, grants and funds, which is given by donors to the WB, which happens to be moved to tax havens by the regimes that needs it. That is eating of the plate of the poorest and living lavish on others people’s dime.

Just in the Annex, the truth really comes forward, where it is only a small samples, but showing the distasteful enterprise still. Like from table one. You can see that a certain amount of African countries have taken out huge funds into havens deposits and non-haven deposits.

The report explains this about the table one: “The table shows the 22 countries in our main sample and presents summary statistics for the main variables in our analysis. The sample includes all countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are equivalent to at least 2 percent of annual GDP on average. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).

Nation Haven (million USD) Non-Haven (million USD)
Burkina Faso 32 88
Burundi 103 19
Eritrea 8 11
Ethiopia 64 155
Ghana 76 446
Guinea-Bissau 8 16
Madagascar 193 232
Malawi 31 82
Mali 27 133
Mauritania 32 150
Mozambique 40 161
Niger 29 79
Rwanda 149 41
Sao Tome and Principe 4 8
Sierra Leone 32 82
Tanzania 145 437
Uganda 73 188
Zambia 117 306

When you add into the A6 Table of the modestly aid-dependent countries. You see yet more African countries, where the money a flowing out of the coffers. Where surely not all aid is going where its supposed too.

The report explains table A6 like this: “The table shows the 24 countries for which annual disbursements from the World Bank are between 1% and 2% of annual GDP on average. is the average of the 24 countries in the sample. Annual WB aid (% of GDP) is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Sample mean is the average of the 22 countries in the sample. WB aid disbursements is annual disbursements from the World Bank as a fraction of annual GDP. Annual ODA aid (% of GDP) is annual Official Development Assistance (ODA) from all sources as a fraction of annual GDP. Haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the 17 countries classified as havens. Non-haven deposits is foreign deposits held in the countries not classified as havens” (World Bank Feb 2020).

Nation Haven (million USD) Non-Haven (million USD)
Benin 42 96
Cape Verde 14 20
Central African Republic 18 53
Chad 11 91
Comoros 7 27
Democratic Republic of Congo 910 93
Cote d’Ivoire 387 787
Gambia 24 82
Guinea 54 114
Kenya 1277 1784
Lesotho 11 28
Senegal 253 487
Togo 82 146

Without going into deep technicalities of these operations, neither how the World Bank came through these numbers. We can see there is a staggering amount of funds that disappear and goes missing. Which was supposed to go to development or directly to support the state functions. Which happens to end up in tax-havens, surely by someone closely associated with the state or heads of state. Since, these sorts of amounts couldn’t have left the nations without the approval of the executive or head of state.

We can also clearly see, that some aid is directly feeding the rich and keeping tax-havens alive. Giving them financial stimulus and also covering the expenses of the elites in the respective places. There is certainly a mismanagement and a need for more oversight from the World Bank. But also more mechanisms to stop the misuse of aid. If it is supposed to help and not just create a very vastly elite in the nation in question. Because, with this sort of operations, they have clearly achieved that. Peace.

Togo: CENI lettre de CNSC-Togo – Objet: Annulation et retrait de votre accreditation pour l’observation electorale de 2020 (17.02.2020)

South Sudan: Open Letter to Parties to the R-ARCSS on Inclusion of Youth during the Nominations to Institutions of Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity at all levels (19.02.2020)

Zimbabwe: Press Statement by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon. Ambassador N.C.G Mathema (19.02.2020)

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions XXVI: Rwanda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Statement on the relase of Rwandan nationals by Uganda (19.02.2020)

Haiti: Communique du Premier Ministre (18.02.2020)

Tanzania: Mashinji’s deflection is a propaganda victory for CCM

In 2016 CHADEMA National Chairman Freeman Mbowe wanted a man who was an intellectual and appointed Dr. Vincent Mashinji. 4 years later the same National Chairman wanted someone more mature and appointed John Mnyika as the Secretary General. That is why in the end of December 2019, Mnyika took over the office of Mashinji. This means Mbowe appointed his Deputy Secretary General to his Secretary General before the 2020 elections.

However, today, Mashinji went over to Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM). So let us be reminded what the man has said about CCM in the past. Like what he said of the former Presidential Candidate and former Prime Minister Eward Lowassa who also deflected to CCM last year.

there are no votes in for Edward, no big crowds, all those are votes for Lowassa, it is our power, not to lie, citizens supported us to look for change and not following him so he doesn’t think that citizens are stupid that he will drag you in the morning let us go here in the evening” – Dr. Vincent Mashinji (March 2019).

We can wonder if people will tell that story to him too. That Vincent will not bring the voters CCM from CHADEMA. It is typical of the season ahead of elections that people are moving parties. However, it is brave for a man saying he would champion the CHADEMA to the State House in 2020 to actually join the CCM and the State House in 2020. You know what I am saying?

So, his move isn’t in his dire interest of change nor “development” unless his sold out all of his ideals. To succumb to the pressure and become a member of the ruling party. Because, it seems like a ploy to help CCM counter CHADEMA ahead of 2020. For them to again show they have former important figures of the party in their ranks.

Mashinji knows the drill of the opposition. He has gotten arrested, caught cases and been blocked from travelling abroad. The pain and suffering, the lack of freedom and even holding press conferences. He knows all this. Still, with that pain, maybe the humiliating way he had to leave his office of CHADEMA was the last touch.

What we do know is that Mashinji moves parties to eat. He goes for safety and security. Especially, when the political platforms on the outside of government is becoming smaller. The opposition is getting more into legal trouble and the Magufuli regime towards them.

Vincent knows all of this and still he will now comply to this. He knows the ills and now he becomes another stooge. He wasn’t a intellectual renegade, just someone into the office and the main role. When he lost that appointment, he went quickly elsewhere, as two months was all it took for him to deflect. He didn’t even need a push.

Well, Vincent wont reign in the voters, but his a propaganda victory for the CCM. Just like Lowassa was last year. The CHADEMA continues to give CCM this. Peace.

South Sudan: Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. condems killing of an aid worker in Pibor, calls upon government to step on efforts to protect humanitarians (18.02.2020)

Uganda-Rwanda Tensions XXV: Uganda – Press Statement (18.02.2020)

Opinion: Maybe Duterte needs a Gag Order [on himself]

Now that the Solicitor General Jose Calida in the on-going “tax-case” with ABS-CBN, one of the biggest news-outlet and media corporations in the Republic of Philippines. Which has been under hard scrutiny from President Rodrigo Duterte since the end of last year. Now, the owners and everyone involved in ABS-CBN is feeling the same sort of legal ramifications as the Rappler did just a few brief moments ago.

We have seen this script before, now they are retaliating even harder. Not only at the foreign investor side, but also directly at the core of the business. Not allowed to speak of the case, which is implying themselves. If this succeeds, then the Duterte administration is setting the precedence of only one thing.

The Duterte administration won’t from now on, only a lovely press ass-kissing their every move. Singing the songs of the Malacañang Palace and their glories achievements. They want state-run TV and most likely in the tunes of Pyonyang. Because, why not go full tilt and full ego boost of Rodrigo?

No free statement, no free reporting and no fair judgement. Anyone who has an idea that counter the brilliant mind and the scholar, the entrepreneurial mastermind from Davao. Don’t you dare speak ill of him. Than the sickness, the moon will not shine on you and the devil will put a spell on you.

Since, they will not allow the ABS-CBN to report on it. Neither speak on it, when its their livelihood. What if the Malacañang Palace got an gag order? What if Duterte got one? If all of his cabinet and everyone involved? All his aides and secretaries? Just keep your mouth shut. The public will address your matters.

I cannot say that all reporting made by ABS-CBN has been good neither should it be either. There are always grounds for questioning the behaviour and the ways a network like that operates. However, to do this legal ramifications and these sort of steady attacks. Undermine their work and their justification for their freedom of expression in the Republic. Just like it did with Rappler too.

This is the same story, just another venue from the same people to the same ends. That is why the gag order would be fitted to the palace and its king. Not that the ones reporting on the acts of the palace and the king to get the blame. Because, they are telling the stories of the place, the way they deem fit. If it is done wrongly and with prejudice. Than the President and his men should state that and show the public their digressions. Not muffle them to silence and possibly try to revoke their license. What sort of game plan is that?

This isn’t about liberty, ownership or anything of the above. It is a about an administration whose so reckless and careless acts towards the expressions and freedom of speech. That is why the ones who dare to question Duterte get’s into trouble.

Yesterday it was Rappler, today its ABS-CBN. Soon its someone else, who has a foreign owner, who hasn’t paid tax and whose not “correct” in the eyes of the President. Maybe, he shouldn’t have travelled with the random lady in Hong Kong? Maybe, he shouldn’t have kissed  the woman in South Korea?

If you don’t like the headlines, Mr. President, don’t create them! Don’t utter the words, don’t speak ill and act with fury. Think rational and be humble. I know that is not Rodrigo, but he should consider it. Let that be his gag order. To actually think before he talks. That would be really refreshing, compared to random rants at various events across the Republic.

Well, I expect more to follow this. This story is not over. There was a lot more tricks of the trade in concern to Rappler. Therefore, there will be more for the ABS-CBN.  By the way, this story is not a song of greatness, but of mediocrity of Duterte. Since he again cannot stand comments or reporting on his actions. If he could, then would have been a better man and let this one go. Peace.