African leaders met on Sunday to launch a continental free-trade zone that if successful would unite 1.3 billion people, create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc and usher in a new era of development.

After four years of talks, an agreement to form a 55-nation trade bloc was reached in March, paving the way for Sunday's African Union summit in Niger where attendees will unveil which nation will host the trade zone's headquarters, when trading will start and discuss how exactly it will work.

It is hoped that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) - the largest since the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1994 - will help unlock Africa's long-stymied economic potential by boosting intra-regional trade, strengthening supply chains and spreading expertise.

"The eyes of the world are turned to Africa," Egyptian President and African Union Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said at the summit's opening ceremony.

AfCFTA "will reinforce our negotiating position on the international stage. It will represent an important step."

Africa has much catching up to do: its intra-regional trade accounted for just 17% of exports in 2017 versus 59% in Asia and 69% in Europe, and Africa has missed out on the economic booms that other trade blocs have experienced in recent decades.

Economists say significant challenges remain, including poor road and rail links, large areas of unrest, excessive border bureaucracy and petty corruption that have held back growth and integration.

Members have committed to eliminate tariffs on most goods, which will increase trade in the region by 15-25% in the medium term, but this would double if these other issues were dealt with, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates.

The IMF in a May report described a free-trade zone as a potential "economic game changer" of the kind that has boosted growth in Europe and North America, but it added a note of caution.

"Reducing tariffs alone is not sufficient," it said.

Divergent interests

Africa already has an alphabet soup of competing and overlapping trade zones - ECOWAS in the west, EAC in the east, SADC in the south and COMESA in the east and south.

But only the EAC, driven mainly by Kenya, has made significant progress towards a common market in goods and services.

These regional economic communities (REC) will continue to trade among themselves as they do now. The role of AfCFTA is to liberalise trade among those member states that are not currently in the same REC, said Trudi Hartzenberg, director at Tralac, a South Africa-based trade law organisation.

The zone's potential clout received a boost on Tuesday when Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, agreed to sign the agreement at the summit. Benin has also since agreed to join. Fifty-four of the continent's 55 states have signed up, but only 25 have ratified.

One obstacle in negotiations will be the countries' conflicting motives.

For undiversified but relatively developed economies like Nigeria, which relies heavily on oil exports, the benefits of membership will likely be smaller than others, said John Ashbourne, senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics.

Nigerian officials have expressed concern that the country could be flooded with low-priced goods, confounding efforts to encourage moribund local manufacturing and expand farming.

In contrast, South Africa's manufacturers, which are among the most developed in Africa, could quickly expand outside their usual export markets and into West and North Africa, giving them an advantage over manufacturers from other countries, Ashbourne said.

The presidents of both countries are attending the summit.

The vast difference in countries' economic heft is another complicating factor in negotiations. Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa account for over 50% of Africa's cumulative GDP, while its six sovereign island nations represent about 1%.

"It will be important to address those disparities to ensure that special and differential treatments for the least developed countries are adopted and successfully implemented," said Landry Signe, a fellow at the Brookings Institution's Africa Growth Initiative.

Regulations governing rules of origin, removal of non-tariff barriers and the development of a payments and settlements system are expected to be unveiled at the summit.

African leaders met on Sunday to launch a continental free-trade zone that if successful would unite 1.3 billion people, create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc and usher in a new era of development.

African leaders met on Sunday to launch a continental free-trade zone that if successful would unite 1.3 billion people, create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc and usher in a new era of development. After four years of talks, an agreement to form a 55-nation trade bloc was reached in March, paving the way for Sunday's African Union summit in Niger where attendees will unveil which nation will host the trade zone's headquarters, when trading will start and discuss how exactly it will work. It is hoped that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) - the largest since the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1994 - will help unlock Africa's long-stymied economic potential by boosting intra-regional trade, strengthening supply chains and spreading expertise. "The eyes of the world are turned to Africa," Egyptian President and African Union Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said at the summit's opening ceremony. AfCFTA "will reinforce our negotiating position on the international stage. It will represent an important step." Africa has much catching up to do: its intra-regional trade accounted for just 17% of exports in 2017 versus 59% in Asia and 69% in Europe, and Africa has missed out on the economic booms that other trade blocs have experienced in recent decades. Economists say significant challenges remain, including poor road and rail links, large areas of unrest, excessive border bureaucracy and petty corruption that have held back growth and integration. Members have committed to eliminate tariffs on most goods, which will increase trade in the region by 15-25% in the medium term, but this would double if these other issues were dealt with, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates. The IMF in a May report described a free-trade zone as a potential "economic game changer" of the kind that has boosted growth in Europe and North America, but it added a note of caution. "Reducing tariffs alone is not sufficient," it said. Divergent interests Africa already has an alphabet soup of competing and overlapping trade zones - ECOWAS in the west, EAC in the east, SADC in the south and COMESA in the east and south. But only the EAC, driven mainly by Kenya, has made significant progress towards a common market in goods and services. These regional economic communities (REC) will continue to trade among themselves as they do now. The role of AfCFTA is to liberalise trade among those member states that are not currently in the same REC, said Trudi Hartzenberg, director at Tralac, a South Africa-based trade law organisation. The zone's potential clout received a boost on Tuesday when Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, agreed to sign the agreement at the summit. Benin has also since agreed to join. Fifty-four of the continent's 55 states have signed up, but only 25 have ratified. One obstacle in negotiations will be the countries' conflicting motives. For undiversified but relatively developed economies like Nigeria, which relies heavily on oil exports, the benefits of membership will likely be smaller than others, said John Ashbourne, senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics. Nigerian officials have expressed concern that the country could be flooded with low-priced goods, confounding efforts to encourage moribund local manufacturing and expand farming. In contrast, South Africa's manufacturers, which are among the most developed in Africa, could quickly expand outside their usual export markets and into West and North Africa, giving them an advantage over manufacturers from other countries, Ashbourne said. The presidents of both countries are attending the summit. The vast difference in countries' economic heft is another complicating factor in negotiations. Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa account for over 50% of Africa's cumulative GDP, while its six sovereign island nations represent about 1%. "It will be important to address those disparities to ensure that special and differential treatments for the least developed countries are adopted and successfully implemented," said Landry Signe, a fellow at the Brookings Institution's Africa Growth Initiative. Regulations governing rules of origin, removal of non-tariff barriers and the development of a payments and settlements system are expected to be unveiled at the summit.

Economic 'game changer'? African leaders launch free-trade zone

Hundreds of African migrants are banned from onward travel, but are also unable to return home. Watch our report to know more.

The struggles of migrants in Africa

&nbsp;British Royal Marines seized an oil tanker in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gibraltar-deal-clears-way-for-sunday-brexit-summit-179184">Gibraltar</a> on Thursday accused of bringing oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic step that could escalate confrontation between the West and Iran.

The Grace 1 tanker was impounded in the British territory at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, after sailing around Africa from the Gulf. Shipping data reviewed by Reuters suggests it had been loaded with Iranian oil off the coast of Iran, although its documents say the oil is from neighbouring Iraq.

The Gibraltar authorities who seized it did so under the authority of European sanctions against Syria that have been in place for years, with no reference to the source of the oil.

But the likelihood that the cargo was Iranian draws a link between this incident and a new US effort to halt all global sales of Iranian crude, in what Tehran has described as an illegal "economic war" against it.

European countries have tried to stay neutral in that confrontation, which saw the United States call off air strikes against Iran just minutes before impact last month, and Tehran amasses stocks of enriched uranium banned under a nuclear deal.

In a statement, the Gibraltar government said it had reasonable grounds to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas refinery in Syria.

"That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria," Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said. "With my consent, our port and law enforcement agencies sought the assistance of the Royal Marines in carrying out this operation."

"So, public, so aggressive"

The incident appears to be the first in which European authorities have seized a tanker for allegedly violating Syria sanctions, which have been in place since 2011.

"This is the first time that the EU has done something so public and so aggressive. I imagine it was also coordinated in some manner with the US given that NATO member forces have been involved," said Matthew Oresman, a partner with law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman who advises firms on sanctions.

"This is likely to have been meant as a signal to Syria and Iran - as well as the US - that Europe takes sanctions enforcement seriously and that the EU can also respond to Iranian brinkmanship related to ongoing nuclear negotiations."

Iran has long been supplying its allies in Syria with oil despite such sanctions. What is new now is the US. sanctions on Iran itself. They were imposed last year when President Donald Trump pulled out of an agreement that guaranteed Tehran access to world trade in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Those sanctions have been tightened sharply since May, effectively forcing Iran off of mainstream crude markets, making it desperate for alternative ways to sell oil and more reliant on its own tanker fleet to store supplies it cannot sell.

The US-Iranian confrontation has escalated in recent weeks, taking on a military dimension after Washington accused Tehran of attacking tankers in the Gulf and Iran shot down a US drone. Trump ordered air strikes but called them off at the last minute, later saying too many people would have died.

European countries opposed Trump's decision to exit the nuclear deal last year, and they have promised to help Iran find alternative ways to export. But they have so far failed to ease the impact of US sanctions, with all major companies halting plans to invest.

Iran has said it wants to keep the nuclear deal alive but cannot do so indefinitely unless it receives some of the promised economic benefits. In the past week, it announced that it had accumulated more low-enriched uranium than allowed under the deal, and it says it will refine uranium to greater purity than the deal allows from July 7.

By restricting Iran's ability to move oil around the globe, the US sanctions have choked off Tehran's Syrian allies.

Government-controlled areas of Syria suffered acute fuel shortages earlier this year resulting from what Assad described as an economic siege. In May, Syria received its first foreign oil supplies for six months with the arrival of two shipments including one from Iran, a source familiar with the shipment said at the time.

Earlier this year, Reuters revealed that the Grace 1 supertanker was one of four tankers involved in shipping Iranian fuel oil to Singapore and China, in violation of US sanctions.

Ship mapping information from data firm Definitive shows that in the latest case, the Grace 1 sailed a long route to the mouth of the Mediterranean around the southern tip of Africa instead of via Egypt's Suez Canal.

The 300,000-tonne, Panamanian-flagged tanker is managed by Singapore-based IShips Management Pte Ltd. It was documented as loading fuel oil in the Iraqi port of Basra in December, though Basra did not list it as being in port and its tracking system was switched off. The tanker then reappeared on tracking maps near Iran's port of Bandar Assalyeh, fully loaded.

A maritime intelligence source said the ship may have made the long journey around Africa to avoid having to transit the Suez canal, where such a large super-tanker would have had to unload its oil and refill after passing through, potentially exposing its cargo to seizure by Egyptian authorities.

"We welcome this firm action to enforce EU sanctions against the Syrian regime and commend those Gibraltarian authorities involved in successfully carrying out this morning's operation," a spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said.

"This sends a clear message that the violation of the sanctions is unacceptable."

Iranian crude exports were around 300,000 barrels per day or less in late June, industry sources said, a fraction of the more than 2.5 million bpd Iran shipped in April 2018, the month before Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal.

British Royal Marines seized an oil tanker in Gibraltar on Thursday accused of bringing oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic step that could escalate confrontation between the West and Iran.

British Royal Marines seized an oil tanker in Gibraltar on Thursday accused of bringing oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic step that could escalate confrontation between the West and Iran. The Grace 1 tanker was impounded in the British territory at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, after sailing around Africa from the Gulf. Shipping data reviewed by Reuters suggests it had been loaded with Iranian oil off the coast of Iran, although its documents say the oil is from neighbouring Iraq. The Gibraltar authorities who seized it did so under the authority of European sanctions against Syria that have been in place for years, with no reference to the source of the oil. But the likelihood that the cargo was Iranian draws a link between this incident and a new US effort to halt all global sales of Iranian crude, in what Tehran has described as an illegal "economic war" against it. European countries have tried to stay neutral in that confrontation, which saw the United States call off air strikes against Iran just minutes before impact last month, and Tehran amasses stocks of enriched uranium banned under a nuclear deal. In a statement, the Gibraltar government said it had reasonable grounds to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas refinery in Syria. "That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria," Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said. "With my consent, our port and law enforcement agencies sought the assistance of the Royal Marines in carrying out this operation." "So, public, so aggressive" The incident appears to be the first in which European authorities have seized a tanker for allegedly violating Syria sanctions, which have been in place since 2011. "This is the first time that the EU has done something so public and so aggressive. I imagine it was also coordinated in some manner with the US given that NATO member forces have been involved," said Matthew Oresman, a partner with law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman who advises firms on sanctions. "This is likely to have been meant as a signal to Syria and Iran - as well as the US - that Europe takes sanctions enforcement seriously and that the EU can also respond to Iranian brinkmanship related to ongoing nuclear negotiations." Iran has long been supplying its allies in Syria with oil despite such sanctions. What is new now is the US. sanctions on Iran itself. They were imposed last year when President Donald Trump pulled out of an agreement that guaranteed Tehran access to world trade in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. Those sanctions have been tightened sharply since May, effectively forcing Iran off of mainstream crude markets, making it desperate for alternative ways to sell oil and more reliant on its own tanker fleet to store supplies it cannot sell. The US-Iranian confrontation has escalated in recent weeks, taking on a military dimension after Washington accused Tehran of attacking tankers in the Gulf and Iran shot down a US drone. Trump ordered air strikes but called them off at the last minute, later saying too many people would have died. European countries opposed Trump's decision to exit the nuclear deal last year, and they have promised to help Iran find alternative ways to export. But they have so far failed to ease the impact of US sanctions, with all major companies halting plans to invest. Iran has said it wants to keep the nuclear deal alive but cannot do so indefinitely unless it receives some of the promised economic benefits. In the past week, it announced that it had accumulated more low-enriched uranium than allowed under the deal, and it says it will refine uranium to greater purity than the deal allows from July 7. By restricting Iran's ability to move oil around the globe, the US sanctions have choked off Tehran's Syrian allies. Government-controlled areas of Syria suffered acute fuel shortages earlier this year resulting from what Assad described as an economic siege. In May, Syria received its first foreign oil supplies for six months with the arrival of two shipments including one from Iran, a source familiar with the shipment said at the time. Earlier this year, Reuters revealed that the Grace 1 supertanker was one of four tankers involved in shipping Iranian fuel oil to Singapore and China, in violation of US sanctions. Ship mapping information from data firm Definitive shows that in the latest case, the Grace 1 sailed a long route to the mouth of the Mediterranean around the southern tip of Africa instead of via Egypt's Suez Canal. The 300,000-tonne, Panamanian-flagged tanker is managed by Singapore-based IShips Management Pte Ltd. It was documented as loading fuel oil in the Iraqi port of Basra in December, though Basra did not list it as being in port and its tracking system was switched off. The tanker then reappeared on tracking maps near Iran's port of Bandar Assalyeh, fully loaded. A maritime intelligence source said the ship may have made the long journey around Africa to avoid having to transit the Suez canal, where such a large super-tanker would have had to unload its oil and refill after passing through, potentially exposing its cargo to seizure by Egyptian authorities. "We welcome this firm action to enforce EU sanctions against the Syrian regime and commend those Gibraltarian authorities involved in successfully carrying out this morning's operation," a spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May said. "This sends a clear message that the violation of the sanctions is unacceptable." Iranian crude exports were around 300,000 barrels per day or less in late June, industry sources said, a fraction of the more than 2.5 million bpd Iran shipped in April 2018, the month before Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal.

Oil tanker bound for Syria seized in Gibraltar for sanctions-busting

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The US is underestimating the scope of "hybrid warfare" being waged by Russia to undermine democracies in Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a Pentagon white paper has said.

According to the Hill, the over 150-page white paper was prepared by Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Pentagon and independent strategists. The study points to Russia's use of propaganda and disinformation to sway public opinion across Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

"Overall, Russia's influence abroad is growing, and the Kremlin has mastered the use of hybrid warfare in driving Russia's foreign policy (Lamoreaux)," reads the document entitled 'The Future of Global Competition and Conflict' prepared as part of the Strategic Multilayer Assessment.

"Russia utilizes a variety of grey zone tactics around the globe. These include the use of paramilitary forces and other proxies, interference in political processes, economic and energy exploitation (particularly in Africa), espionage, and media and propaganda manipulation," it said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin "is also adept at blending military and civilian elements for maximum impact", it added.

The white paper also highlights the danger of alignment between Russia and China, both of which fear the United States' international alliances and share an affinity for "authoritarian stability".

"Russia has turned to China as a growing and necessary key strategic partner. Russia and China share a fear of, and common hostility toward the US and its system of alliances," according to it.

Beijing and Moscow share an affinity for "authoritarian stability and aligned views on opposing international norms regarding human rights, cyber and space", the paper contended.

The study recommends the State Department should spearhead "influence operations," including "sowing divisions" between Moscow and Beijing.

"The US should bilaterally engage Russia to peel them away from China's orbit. The US can work with Russia in ways that improve the US-Russia relationship without detracting from European efforts to balance and deter," it said.

Though the study does not offer any direct criticism of President Donald Trump, it has come days after Trump's meeting with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The study also said that Russia has launched "several cyber and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks".

It felt that the US should work with European allies to strengthen telecommunications and electrical infrastructure to preclude "Russian preemptive attacks".

The US is underestimating the scope of "hybrid warfare" being waged by Russia to undermine democracies in Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a Pentagon white paper has said.

The US is underestimating the scope of "hybrid warfare" being waged by Russia to undermine democracies in Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America, a Pentagon white paper has said. According to the Hill, the over 150-page white paper was prepared by Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Pentagon and independent strategists. The study points to Russia's use of propaganda and disinformation to sway public opinion across Europe, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. "Overall, Russia's influence abroad is growing, and the Kremlin has mastered the use of hybrid warfare in driving Russia's foreign policy (Lamoreaux)," reads the document entitled 'The Future of Global Competition and Conflict' prepared as part of the Strategic Multilayer Assessment. "Russia utilizes a variety of grey zone tactics around the globe. These include the use of paramilitary forces and other proxies, interference in political processes, economic and energy exploitation (particularly in Africa), espionage, and media and propaganda manipulation," it said. Russian President Vladimir Putin "is also adept at blending military and civilian elements for maximum impact", it added. The white paper also highlights the danger of alignment between Russia and China, both of which fear the United States' international alliances and share an affinity for "authoritarian stability". "Russia has turned to China as a growing and necessary key strategic partner. Russia and China share a fear of, and common hostility toward the US and its system of alliances," according to it. Beijing and Moscow share an affinity for "authoritarian stability and aligned views on opposing international norms regarding human rights, cyber and space", the paper contended. The study recommends the State Department should spearhead "influence operations," including "sowing divisions" between Moscow and Beijing. "The US should bilaterally engage Russia to peel them away from China's orbit. The US can work with Russia in ways that improve the US-Russia relationship without detracting from European efforts to balance and deter," it said. Though the study does not offer any direct criticism of President Donald Trump, it has come days after Trump's meeting with Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The study also said that Russia has launched "several cyber and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks". It felt that the US should work with European allies to strengthen telecommunications and electrical infrastructure to preclude "Russian preemptive attacks".

United States underestimating Russia's 'hybrid warfare': Pentagon white paper

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The leadership crisis is continuing in the world. Despite their economic might, the leadership in Europe, the US, UK, China and Russia are battling severe challenges. Most headlines in global media are about crises in these regions.&nbsp;

If we step back and look at the conflict zones, there are more in the developed world than in emerging economies. The trade flare-up between US and China is not surprising if you look at economic history. North America and Europe have dominated the global economy for so long that they are shaken up by competitive behaviour.&nbsp;

Remember the 1980s when Japan rose to a level when it was buying up companies in the US. The entire country stood up to demonise the rise of Japan amid fears that most American companies would be acquired by the Asian giants.&nbsp;

When the Asian tigers climbed up the economic ladder in the 1990s, there was excitement and anxiety in equal measure. While their rise expanded the markets for Western companies, it also created firms that could successfully compete with American and European giants.&nbsp;

The large conglomerates from South Korea, smart services companies from Singapore and low-cost manufacturing outfits in Philippines offered continuing competition to Western companies.&nbsp;

Europe is facing a crisis caused by Brexit and the looming threat of Russia. Between the self-inflicted problems of UK and Russia’s attempts to take back its old territories, Europe is focused on its own immediate future.&nbsp;

The rise of China has brought back fears of Japan in the minds of the American government. Hence, the US-China trade war. While Japan wanted to build its economic strengths, China is clear about being a global geo-political influence, prompting the US to take on them. European Union (EU) members are split on China since some are keen to take all the support they can for their stagnating economies.&nbsp;

The resulting chaos in the developed world is driving a new wave of leadership to take charge of various regions in the world. They are now reducing the influence of large economies by deciding what is in their own interest.&nbsp;

In Africa, leaders like Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, are showing the way ahead for the continent. Rwanda has emerged as economic dynamo and also a key member of the increasingly cohesive East African Community.

In recent months, it has taken big strides to reduce its dependence on aid while encouraging FDI.&nbsp;

Volkswagen has set up a factory in the country while a plan is being rolled out to convert its capital Kigali into a global financial centre. “We are offering ourselves to the world as proof of concept country. We are inviting companies to test their ideas for Africa in Rwanda. If it works here, it can be scaled up in the region,” Richard Sezibera, foreign minister of Rwanda, told me in a conversation recently.&nbsp;

The reforms for the African Union initiated by President Kagame will help the countries cooperate among themselves. Similarly the Smart Africa initiative of 24 countries triggered by President Kagame is working to use technology and broadband access to create knowledge economies in the region.&nbsp;

Leaders in the African continent realise that overdependence on the EU and the US will be counterproductive. They have to lead their own way if they seek genuine economic independence.&nbsp;

The world was seemingly stable when US and Europe dictated the global economic order. Armed with their economic might and multilateral institutions controlled by them, they were able to create a global market for their products. They were not so open about allowing global products to enter their own market. After spending decades trying to open up emerging markets, the Western economies are busy closing their own.&nbsp;

At the Horasis Global Meeting in Lisbon earlier this year, it was clear that the EU and the US will have to reconcile to a new world order where they would have to give space to leadership from other parts of the world. “While vigorous nationalism is rising, countries should avoid isolation caused by protectionism,” Frank-Jürgen Richter, chairman of Horasis, said.&nbsp;

Globalisation will work only if it inspires goodwill and is conducted transparently, said Jose Manuel Barroso, vice chairman, Goldman Sachs International and former President of the European Commission.&nbsp;

“Currently those who take initiatives are on the extremes, what we need is a more enlightened leadership: not only political, but corporate leadership as well,” he stated.&nbsp;

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is driving change not just for India, but also countries in the Indian Ocean and the BIMSTEC region. The BIMSTEC countries include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Bhutan.&nbsp;

At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Bishkek, Modi made it clear that emerging markets will create their own growth path. While collaboration with western economies will remain important, self-interest will influence economic policies. Modi is pursuing strong relations with China, Russia, EU and US independently, to carve a clear position for India in the world.&nbsp;

The conflict among the economic giants will fester and could even escalate over the next few years. This is now the ideal time for the new wave of leadership to control the destinies of its people, long in the hands of colonial and neo-colonial forces. The billions in Asia and Africa deserve this shift in power.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-rattling-old-world-order-2762411">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The leadership crisis is continuing in the world. Despite their economic might, the leadership in Europe, the US, UK, China and Russia are battling severe challenges.

The leadership crisis is continuing in the world. Despite their economic might, the leadership in Europe, the US, UK, China and Russia are battling severe challenges. Most headlines in global media are about crises in these regions. If we step back and look at the conflict zones, there are more in the developed world than in emerging economies. The trade flare-up between US and China is not surprising if you look at economic history. North America and Europe have dominated the global economy for so long that they are shaken up by competitive behaviour. Remember the 1980s when Japan rose to a level when it was buying up companies in the US. The entire country stood up to demonise the rise of Japan amid fears that most American companies would be acquired by the Asian giants. When the Asian tigers climbed up the economic ladder in the 1990s, there was excitement and anxiety in equal measure. While their rise expanded the markets for Western companies, it also created firms that could successfully compete with American and European giants. The large conglomerates from South Korea, smart services companies from Singapore and low-cost manufacturing outfits in Philippines offered continuing competition to Western companies. Europe is facing a crisis caused by Brexit and the looming threat of Russia. Between the self-inflicted problems of UK and Russia’s attempts to take back its old territories, Europe is focused on its own immediate future. The rise of China has brought back fears of Japan in the minds of the American government. Hence, the US-China trade war. While Japan wanted to build its economic strengths, China is clear about being a global geo-political influence, prompting the US to take on them. European Union (EU) members are split on China since some are keen to take all the support they can for their stagnating economies. The resulting chaos in the developed world is driving a new wave of leadership to take charge of various regions in the world. They are now reducing the influence of large economies by deciding what is in their own interest. In Africa, leaders like Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, are showing the way ahead for the continent. Rwanda has emerged as economic dynamo and also a key member of the increasingly cohesive East African Community. In recent months, it has taken big strides to reduce its dependence on aid while encouraging FDI. Volkswagen has set up a factory in the country while a plan is being rolled out to convert its capital Kigali into a global financial centre. “We are offering ourselves to the world as proof of concept country. We are inviting companies to test their ideas for Africa in Rwanda. If it works here, it can be scaled up in the region,” Richard Sezibera, foreign minister of Rwanda, told me in a conversation recently. The reforms for the African Union initiated by President Kagame will help the countries cooperate among themselves. Similarly the Smart Africa initiative of 24 countries triggered by President Kagame is working to use technology and broadband access to create knowledge economies in the region. Leaders in the African continent realise that overdependence on the EU and the US will be counterproductive. They have to lead their own way if they seek genuine economic independence. The world was seemingly stable when US and Europe dictated the global economic order. Armed with their economic might and multilateral institutions controlled by them, they were able to create a global market for their products. They were not so open about allowing global products to enter their own market. After spending decades trying to open up emerging markets, the Western economies are busy closing their own. At the Horasis Global Meeting in Lisbon earlier this year, it was clear that the EU and the US will have to reconcile to a new world order where they would have to give space to leadership from other parts of the world. “While vigorous nationalism is rising, countries should avoid isolation caused by protectionism,” Frank-Jürgen Richter, chairman of Horasis, said. Globalisation will work only if it inspires goodwill and is conducted transparently, said Jose Manuel Barroso, vice chairman, Goldman Sachs International and former President of the European Commission. “Currently those who take initiatives are on the extremes, what we need is a more enlightened leadership: not only political, but corporate leadership as well,” he stated. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is driving change not just for India, but also countries in the Indian Ocean and the BIMSTEC region. The BIMSTEC countries include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Bhutan. At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Bishkek, Modi made it clear that emerging markets will create their own growth path. While collaboration with western economies will remain important, self-interest will influence economic policies. Modi is pursuing strong relations with China, Russia, EU and US independently, to carve a clear position for India in the world. The conflict among the economic giants will fester and could even escalate over the next few years. This is now the ideal time for the new wave of leadership to control the destinies of its people, long in the hands of colonial and neo-colonial forces. The billions in Asia and Africa deserve this shift in power. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Rattling old world order: Emerging markets should take charge

North Korea has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly African swine fever, its main state newspaper said on Wednesday, breaking its silence on the outbreak which was first reported in late May.

In late May, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-case-of-african-swine-fever-reported-in-north-korea-222926">North Korea reported an outbreak of African swine fever</a> (ASF) to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), South Korea's agriculture ministry said but the North has not made any official comment on its outbreak.

North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said on Wednesday nationwide preventive measures are being carried out to contain the virus, quoting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as saying "prevention is the key to production in livestock industry".

"Increasing livestock production goes hand in hand with raising farm animals safe from various diseases," said Kim according to the newspaper.

"Once highly contagious diseases like African swine fever are spread .... herds of farm animals could die."

Preventative measures include disinfecting farms and restricting sales of pork and processed meat, the newspaper said.

North Korea raises mainly chicken, ducks and rabbits. Its pig population was 2.6 million as of 2017, according to data from Statistics Korea.

In the wake of the North's outbreak, South Korea has stepped up disinfection measures near the shared border to keep the viral disease spreading to the South.

So far, no further cases have been reported in North Korea.

African swine fever (ASF) is fatal and highly contagious to pigs and wild boards, but it does not affect humans. Since the first outbreak of ASF in East Asia was reported in China in early August last year, the virus has spread across China including Vietnam.

North Korea has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly African swine fever, its main state newspaper said on Wednesday, breaking its silence on the outbreak which was first reported in late May.

North Korea has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of the highly contagious and deadly African swine fever, its main state newspaper said on Wednesday, breaking its silence on the outbreak which was first reported in late May. In late May, North Korea reported an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), South Korea's agriculture ministry said but the North has not made any official comment on its outbreak. North Korea's Rodong Sinmun newspaper said on Wednesday nationwide preventive measures are being carried out to contain the virus, quoting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as saying "prevention is the key to production in livestock industry". "Increasing livestock production goes hand in hand with raising farm animals safe from various diseases," said Kim according to the newspaper. "Once highly contagious diseases like African swine fever are spread .... herds of farm animals could die." Preventative measures include disinfecting farms and restricting sales of pork and processed meat, the newspaper said. North Korea raises mainly chicken, ducks and rabbits. Its pig population was 2.6 million as of 2017, according to data from Statistics Korea. In the wake of the North's outbreak, South Korea has stepped up disinfection measures near the shared border to keep the viral disease spreading to the South. So far, no further cases have been reported in North Korea. African swine fever (ASF) is fatal and highly contagious to pigs and wild boards, but it does not affect humans. Since the first outbreak of ASF in East Asia was reported in China in early August last year, the virus has spread across China including Vietnam.

North Korea steps up measures to prevent spread of African swine fever

As many as 91 million people fall ill every year due to the consumption of poor quality food, said African Union Commission`s deputy chairperson Thomas Kwesi Quartey on Friday.

"It is about time that food security was made a priority in Africa," Anadolu News Agency quoted him as saying at the African Union headquarters here marking World Food Safety Day which is being observed for the first time at a continental level.

The event was attended by ambassadors from several countries, African Union leaders, African Union Commission staff members and other representatives of various organisations.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 600 million - almost 1 in 10 people in the world - fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420,000 die every year.

"A quarter of global deaths due to unsafe food consumption is in Africa," Egyptian Ambassador to the African Union Osama Mohamed Abdelkhalek said on the occasion. At least 137,000 people die every year, he added.

According to the United Nations, Children under five years of age carry 40 per cent of the foodborne disease burden, with 125,000 deaths every year.

The African Union is commemorating World Food Safety Day for encouraging dialogue and inspiring action to enhance food security as a global reminder in order to maintain a high level of awareness on the pressing issue.&nbsp;

As many as 91 million people fall ill every year due to the consumption of poor quality food, said African Union Commission`s deputy chairperson Thomas Kwesi Quartey on Friday.

As many as 91 million people fall ill every year due to the consumption of poor quality food, said African Union Commission`s deputy chairperson Thomas Kwesi Quartey on Friday. "It is about time that food security was made a priority in Africa," Anadolu News Agency quoted him as saying at the African Union headquarters here marking World Food Safety Day which is being observed for the first time at a continental level. The event was attended by ambassadors from several countries, African Union leaders, African Union Commission staff members and other representatives of various organisations. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 600 million - almost 1 in 10 people in the world - fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420,000 die every year. "A quarter of global deaths due to unsafe food consumption is in Africa," Egyptian Ambassador to the African Union Osama Mohamed Abdelkhalek said on the occasion. At least 137,000 people die every year, he added. According to the United Nations, Children under five years of age carry 40 per cent of the foodborne disease burden, with 125,000 deaths every year. The African Union is commemorating World Food Safety Day for encouraging dialogue and inspiring action to enhance food security as a global reminder in order to maintain a high level of awareness on the pressing issue.

91 million Africans fall ill every year after consuming poor quality meals

By Janos Besenyo

Russia has never had an African colony. It stayed out of the scramble for Africa, only engaging with African states in the 19th Century. In 1869, for instance, the Russians gave Ethiopia military support to threaten the position of the British in their quest to control the Suez Canal. They did this because Britain was one of their main European rivals.

It wasn’t until the Cold War started in 1947 that Russia began to develop diplomatic relations with several African countries. This was a way to counter the influence of its rivals such as the US.

The Cold War dictated the former USSR’s relations with many African countries for decades. This was followed by a period of relative inactivity. But more recently, relations have become increasingly important for Russia as well as some African countries.

The result is that some African countries no longer need to choose between the American and the Chinese way of development.

Ostensibly, China has the most pragmatic engagement with Africa. Its policy is not to interfere with the internal workings of nation states or play geopolitics by pitting countries against each other. But it has become increasingly difficult for the country to resist using its military power to protect its economic interests.

For its part, the US’s ultimate aim is to tip the regional balance of power in its favour while also gaining access to Africa’s resources.

My research explores Russia’s current relationship with the continent. The research examines Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy to redress the global balance of power by countering America’s influence in Africa and trying to match China’s large economic footprint on the continent.

I conclude that Russia’s primary goal is the political influence. This is achieved by gaining control of natural resources and providing military support and intelligence. Yet, despite making massive inroads, the Russian Federation is still less influential than the US and China on the continent.

From the African point of view, Russia offers a strategic alternative to America’s global hegemony, China’s economic diplomacy, and the lingering influence of Africa’s former colonial masters.

The history

During the Cold War the Russians provided diplomatic, economic, military, and educational support for numerous African liberation movements. These included Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Madagascar, Sao Tome &amp; Principe, and Tanzania. As a result, many young Africans were educated in Moscow.

Russia began to trade and interact with these states routinely. It sent in military intelligence officers to establish a strong presence and ensure that Africa was not purely influenced by the West. The Russians developed relations with Africa so intensely that for the 10 years between 1950 and 1960 it surpassed the influence of colonising powers.

That influence would remain more or less intact until the Boris Yeltsin era. Between 1990 and 1999 Russia’s impact on the continent was spectacularly lowered. Nine embassies and three consulates were closed. The number of personnel subordinated to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was drastically reduced. Russian cultural institutions were closed, and economic relations were unilaterally terminated. Previously generous aid programmes were scrapped.

This all changed when Putin came to power in 1999. Under his leadership Russia has started to regain its economic and political clout in Africa. Putin has jumpstarted Russia’s diplomatic, economic, and military ties with its former African allies.

Russian interests in Africa

From my research I can conclude that Russia’s primary intent is to build political alliances by supporting nation states economically and militarily while remaining non-judgemental about their internal governance structures.

Its long-term goal is to become a political, economic and military mediator that can stand behind Africa’s global interests and count on the continent’s support in return. Here are some of the areas where Russia are mainly active:

Economic interests: Russia is now seeking to exploit conventional gas and oil fields in Africa and elsewhere. Part of its long term energy strategy is to use Russian companies to create new streams of energy supply. For example, Russian companies have made significant investments in Algeria’s oil and gas industries. They have also invested in Libya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Egypt.

Russia is also expanding its African interests in minerals. Uranium – which is key to the nuclear power industry – is at the top of its list.

In addition, Russian companies are producing aluminium in Nigeria, and have constructed hydropower stations in Angola, Namibia, Botswana.

Russia is also on track to build nuclear plants in Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria. These investments are a means to becoming an integral part of Africa’s energy sector.

Russia has also improved its commercial relations with its African partners. In 2009, it established the Coordinating Committee for Economic Cooperation with sub-Saharan Africa to assist in promoting Russian business interests.

Defence interests: Russia has traditionally been one of Africa’s main arms suppliers. During the Cold War many armed liberation organisations and African countries – among them Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Guinea –bought military equipment from Russia. More recently Russia has made significant arms deals with Angola and Algeria. Egypt, Tanzania, Somalia, Mali, Sudan and Libya have also bought arms from Russia. The Russians also provide military training and support.

Aid: Under Putin Russia has made sizeable aid donations to a variety of African countries averaging about $400 million per year. Around 60% of Russian aid is delivered through international organisations; global humanitarian organisations like the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency. The remaining 40 per cent gets to Africa in a framework of bilateral cooperation. It also makes donations to support education, health care, agriculture, environment and energy.

The danger for Moscow is that, the more progress it makes with African governments, the more likely it is that its interests will collide with those of either China or the US – or both.

 
(Janos Besenyo is Associate Professor, Óbuda University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/russia-in-africa-can-it-offer-an-alternative-to-the-us-and-china-117764">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

By Janos Besenyo Russia has never had an African colony. It stayed out of the scramble for Africa, only engaging with African states in the 19th Century. In 1869, for instance, the Russians gave Ethiopia military support to threaten the position of the British in their quest to control the Suez Canal.

By Janos Besenyo Russia has never had an African colony. It stayed out of the scramble for Africa, only engaging with African states in the 19th Century. In 1869, for instance, the Russians gave Ethiopia military support to threaten the position of the British in their quest to control the Suez Canal. They did this because Britain was one of their main European rivals. It wasn’t until the Cold War started in 1947 that Russia began to develop diplomatic relations with several African countries. This was a way to counter the influence of its rivals such as the US. The Cold War dictated the former USSR’s relations with many African countries for decades. This was followed by a period of relative inactivity. But more recently, relations have become increasingly important for Russia as well as some African countries. The result is that some African countries no longer need to choose between the American and the Chinese way of development. Ostensibly, China has the most pragmatic engagement with Africa. Its policy is not to interfere with the internal workings of nation states or play geopolitics by pitting countries against each other. But it has become increasingly difficult for the country to resist using its military power to protect its economic interests. For its part, the US’s ultimate aim is to tip the regional balance of power in its favour while also gaining access to Africa’s resources. My research explores Russia’s current relationship with the continent. The research examines Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy to redress the global balance of power by countering America’s influence in Africa and trying to match China’s large economic footprint on the continent. I conclude that Russia’s primary goal is the political influence. This is achieved by gaining control of natural resources and providing military support and intelligence. Yet, despite making massive inroads, the Russian Federation is still less influential than the US and China on the continent. From the African point of view, Russia offers a strategic alternative to America’s global hegemony, China’s economic diplomacy, and the lingering influence of Africa’s former colonial masters. The history During the Cold War the Russians provided diplomatic, economic, military, and educational support for numerous African liberation movements. These included Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Madagascar, Sao Tome & Principe, and Tanzania. As a result, many young Africans were educated in Moscow. Russia began to trade and interact with these states routinely. It sent in military intelligence officers to establish a strong presence and ensure that Africa was not purely influenced by the West. The Russians developed relations with Africa so intensely that for the 10 years between 1950 and 1960 it surpassed the influence of colonising powers. That influence would remain more or less intact until the Boris Yeltsin era. Between 1990 and 1999 Russia’s impact on the continent was spectacularly lowered. Nine embassies and three consulates were closed. The number of personnel subordinated to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was drastically reduced. Russian cultural institutions were closed, and economic relations were unilaterally terminated. Previously generous aid programmes were scrapped. This all changed when Putin came to power in 1999. Under his leadership Russia has started to regain its economic and political clout in Africa. Putin has jumpstarted Russia’s diplomatic, economic, and military ties with its former African allies. Russian interests in Africa From my research I can conclude that Russia’s primary intent is to build political alliances by supporting nation states economically and militarily while remaining non-judgemental about their internal governance structures. Its long-term goal is to become a political, economic and military mediator that can stand behind Africa’s global interests and count on the continent’s support in return. Here are some of the areas where Russia are mainly active: Economic interests: Russia is now seeking to exploit conventional gas and oil fields in Africa and elsewhere. Part of its long term energy strategy is to use Russian companies to create new streams of energy supply. For example, Russian companies have made significant investments in Algeria’s oil and gas industries. They have also invested in Libya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Egypt. Russia is also expanding its African interests in minerals. Uranium – which is key to the nuclear power industry – is at the top of its list. In addition, Russian companies are producing aluminium in Nigeria, and have constructed hydropower stations in Angola, Namibia, Botswana. Russia is also on track to build nuclear plants in Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria. These investments are a means to becoming an integral part of Africa’s energy sector. Russia has also improved its commercial relations with its African partners. In 2009, it established the Coordinating Committee for Economic Cooperation with sub-Saharan Africa to assist in promoting Russian business interests. Defence interests: Russia has traditionally been one of Africa’s main arms suppliers. During the Cold War many armed liberation organisations and African countries – among them Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Guinea –bought military equipment from Russia. More recently Russia has made significant arms deals with Angola and Algeria. Egypt, Tanzania, Somalia, Mali, Sudan and Libya have also bought arms from Russia. The Russians also provide military training and support. Aid: Under Putin Russia has made sizeable aid donations to a variety of African countries averaging about $400 million per year. Around 60% of Russian aid is delivered through international organisations; global humanitarian organisations like the World Food Programme and the UN refugee agency. The remaining 40 per cent gets to Africa in a framework of bilateral cooperation. It also makes donations to support education, health care, agriculture, environment and energy. The danger for Moscow is that, the more progress it makes with African governments, the more likely it is that its interests will collide with those of either China or the US – or both. (Janos Besenyo is Associate Professor, Óbuda University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Russia in Africa: Can it offer an alternative to the US and China?

Thousands of people are still living in tents after the devastating cyclone Kenneth swept across the island of Ibo in northern Mozambique. The cyclone which arrived in the region on April 25 have already killed 41 people and damaged over tens of thousands of houses. Watch this video to know more.

Cyclone Kenneth leaves devastation in its wake in Mozambique

All you need to know about China's Belt and Road Initiative

An artificial intelligence research laboratory opened by Google in Ghana, the first of its kind in Africa, will take on challenges across the continent, researchers say.

The US technology giant said the lab in the capital Accra would address economic, political and environmental issues.

"Africa has many challenges where the use of AI could be beneficial, sometimes even more than in other places," Google's head of AI Accra, Moustapha Cisse, told AFP at the centre's official opening this week.

Similar research centres have already opened in cities around the world including Tokyo, Zurich, New York and Paris.

The new lab, Cisse said, would use AI to develop solutions in healthcare, education and agriculture -- such as helping to diagnose certain types of crop disease.

Cisse, an expert from Senegal, said he hoped specialist engineers and AI researchers would collaborate with local organisations and policymakers.

<a href="http://13.232.42.114/world/eu-countries-back-copyright-reforms-aimed-at-google-facebook-198643">Google</a> is working with universities and start-ups in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa to enhance AI development regionally, he said.

"We just need to ensure that the right education and opportunities are in place," he said.

"That is why Google is sponsoring a lot of these young people for their degrees... to help develop a new generation of AI developers."

'Clear opportunity'

Other tech companies, including Facebook, have launched initiatives in Africa and demographics are a key factor behind the drive.

Africa's population is estimated to be 1.2 billion, 60 per cent of them under the age of 24.

By 2050, the UN estimates the population will double to 2.4 billion.

As online social networks expand, that presents a huge market for US tech giants to tap into.

"There's a clear opportunity for companies like Facebook and Google to really go in and put a pole in the sand," said Daniel Ives, a technology researcher at GBH Insights in New York.&nbsp;

"If you look at Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, where is a lot of that growth coming from? It's international," he told AFP in a recent interview.

An artificial intelligence research laboratory opened by Google in Ghana, the first of its kind in Africa, will take on challenges across the continent, researchers say.

An artificial intelligence research laboratory opened by Google in Ghana, the first of its kind in Africa, will take on challenges across the continent, researchers say. The US technology giant said the lab in the capital Accra would address economic, political and environmental issues. "Africa has many challenges where the use of AI could be beneficial, sometimes even more than in other places," Google's head of AI Accra, Moustapha Cisse, told AFP at the centre's official opening this week. Similar research centres have already opened in cities around the world including Tokyo, Zurich, New York and Paris. The new lab, Cisse said, would use AI to develop solutions in healthcare, education and agriculture -- such as helping to diagnose certain types of crop disease. Cisse, an expert from Senegal, said he hoped specialist engineers and AI researchers would collaborate with local organisations and policymakers. Google is working with universities and start-ups in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa to enhance AI development regionally, he said. "We just need to ensure that the right education and opportunities are in place," he said. "That is why Google is sponsoring a lot of these young people for their degrees... to help develop a new generation of AI developers." 'Clear opportunity' Other tech companies, including Facebook, have launched initiatives in Africa and demographics are a key factor behind the drive. Africa's population is estimated to be 1.2 billion, 60 per cent of them under the age of 24. By 2050, the UN estimates the population will double to 2.4 billion. As online social networks expand, that presents a huge market for US tech giants to tap into. "There's a clear opportunity for companies like Facebook and Google to really go in and put a pole in the sand," said Daniel Ives, a technology researcher at GBH Insights in New York. "If you look at Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, where is a lot of that growth coming from? It's international," he told AFP in a recent interview.

Google takes on 'Africa's challenges' with first AI centre in Ghana

Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa has been downgraded to 2.3 percent for 2018, down from 2.5 percent in 2017, according to the April 2019 issue of Africa’s Pulse, the World Bank’s bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies released on Monday, April 8.

Sub-Saharan Africa's economic growth recovery to take longer: World Bank

India and the US Friday renewed a pact that provides a framework for promoting bilateral cooperation to meet the developmental aspirations of partner countries, particularly in Asia and Africa.

The First Amendment to the Statement of Guiding Principles (SGP) on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development was signed by Devyani Khobragade, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Mark Anthony White, Mission Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in India.

The SGP agreement, signed in November 2014, underscores the contribution of the India-US partnership to global stability and prosperity.

It provides a framework for promoting cooperation between the two countries to meet the developmental aspirations of partner countries, particularly in Asia and Africa.&nbsp;

The first amendment to the SGP agreement extends the validity of the SGP agreement up to 2021, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said.

It expands the scope of capacity-building activities undertaken jointly by India and the US under this framework and also provides a consultative mechanism for joint biannual monitoring and review of activities undertaken under the SGP.

"Under the agreement, India and the US will continue to offer capacity-building assistance to partner countries in multiple sectors, focusing primarily on agriculture, regional connectivity, trade and investments, nutrition, health, clean and renewable energy, women empowerment, disaster preparedness, water, sanitation, education and institution building," the statement said.&nbsp;

India and the US Friday renewed a pact that provides a framework for promoting bilateral cooperation to meet the developmental aspirations of partner countries, particularly in Asia and Africa.

India and the US Friday renewed a pact that provides a framework for promoting bilateral cooperation to meet the developmental aspirations of partner countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. The First Amendment to the Statement of Guiding Principles (SGP) on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development was signed by Devyani Khobragade, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Mark Anthony White, Mission Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in India. The SGP agreement, signed in November 2014, underscores the contribution of the India-US partnership to global stability and prosperity. It provides a framework for promoting cooperation between the two countries to meet the developmental aspirations of partner countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. The first amendment to the SGP agreement extends the validity of the SGP agreement up to 2021, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said. It expands the scope of capacity-building activities undertaken jointly by India and the US under this framework and also provides a consultative mechanism for joint biannual monitoring and review of activities undertaken under the SGP. "Under the agreement, India and the US will continue to offer capacity-building assistance to partner countries in multiple sectors, focusing primarily on agriculture, regional connectivity, trade and investments, nutrition, health, clean and renewable energy, women empowerment, disaster preparedness, water, sanitation, education and institution building," the statement said.

India, US renew triangular development cooperation in Asia and Africa

African art in focus at Dubai fair

Cyclone Idai is one of the worst disasters to hit southern Africa in living memory, according to the United Nations.

The UN also confirmed that at least 360 people have lost their lives due to the calamity.

"What we want to do is underscore the sheer level of this crisis.This may be one of the worst national disasters to hit southern Africa in living memory and we will need to do quite a lot," Xinhua quoted Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, as saying.

"Our humanitarian colleagues report that the UN's humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, allocated US $20 million from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund to complement the efforts of the governments of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to provide assistance to communities affected," he added.

"Lowcock noted that the allocation would be insufficient to respond to the expected rise in the level of need, and urged donors to contribute to the response," the spokesman said.

In Malawi, nearly 1 million people have been affected while 56 deaths and 577 injuries have been recorded so far.

At least 202 people are confirmed dead in Mozambique, according to the government. Furthermore, more than 2,50,000 children alone have been affected in the country due to the cyclone.&nbsp;Around 82,700 people, meanwhile, are estimated to be displaced.

"In Zimbabwe, at least 102 deaths and over 200 injuries have been reported, and more than 200 people are reportedly still missing," Haq said, adding that relief had reached the affected areas.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations are underway across the states.

Meanwhile, Mozambique`s President Filipe Nyusi, on Wednesday, declared three days of national mourning after days of torrential rain and flooding left a trail of destruction across southeast Africa.

The cyclone made landfall in the country last week, with wind speeds touching 200 kilometres.

Amongst other nations, India has become one of the first international responders to the Cyclone Idai in Mozambique.

The first batch of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material including food, medicines and clothing reached Port Beira of Mozambique on March 20.

Cyclone Idai is one of the worst disasters to hit southern Africa in living memory, according to the United Nations. The UN also confirmed that at least 360 people have lost their lives due to the calamity.

Cyclone Idai is one of the worst disasters to hit southern Africa in living memory, according to the United Nations. The UN also confirmed that at least 360 people have lost their lives due to the calamity. "What we want to do is underscore the sheer level of this crisis.This may be one of the worst national disasters to hit southern Africa in living memory and we will need to do quite a lot," Xinhua quoted Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, as saying. "Our humanitarian colleagues report that the UN's humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, allocated US $20 million from the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund to complement the efforts of the governments of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to provide assistance to communities affected," he added. "Lowcock noted that the allocation would be insufficient to respond to the expected rise in the level of need, and urged donors to contribute to the response," the spokesman said. In Malawi, nearly 1 million people have been affected while 56 deaths and 577 injuries have been recorded so far. At least 202 people are confirmed dead in Mozambique, according to the government. Furthermore, more than 2,50,000 children alone have been affected in the country due to the cyclone. Around 82,700 people, meanwhile, are estimated to be displaced. "In Zimbabwe, at least 102 deaths and over 200 injuries have been reported, and more than 200 people are reportedly still missing," Haq said, adding that relief had reached the affected areas. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations are underway across the states. Meanwhile, Mozambique`s President Filipe Nyusi, on Wednesday, declared three days of national mourning after days of torrential rain and flooding left a trail of destruction across southeast Africa. The cyclone made landfall in the country last week, with wind speeds touching 200 kilometres. Amongst other nations, India has become one of the first international responders to the Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. The first batch of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) material including food, medicines and clothing reached Port Beira of Mozambique on March 20.

Cyclone Idai one of Africa's worst disasters: United Nations

In the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, the worst tropical cyclone to impact Africa that caused massive damage in several South East African nations -- ozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, Madagascar -- India became the first country to respond to the disaster-hit nations by providing assistance.

The three ships operating in the Southern Indian Ocean were immediately diverted to Port Beira in Mozambique to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

India rushed its ships --INS Sujata, INS Sarathi and INS Shardul--in response to the request received from Mozambique government.

The category four cyclone stuck on March 15 and caused massive damage in central and northern provinces Mozambique while causing large scale devastation in the city of Beira.

According to an Indian Navy Release, "The disembarkation of HADR stores including food, medicines and clothing to the Mozambique Defence authorities has been completed. Arrangements are in progress to disembark potable water."

INS Sujata along with INS Sarathi arrived at Port Beira morning of March 18 while INS Shardul arrived on March 19.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a release said, "In this hour of tragedy, Government of India stands ready to extend support to the affected people."

How Indian ships helping the country

Indian Naval Ships are providing relief material in the form of food, clothes and medicine to the affected people. The Indian ships already had three medical practitioners and five nurses to provide immediate medical help and a medical camp has been set up.

Helicopters on board INS Shardul are operating from the local airport for rescue along with boats. Landing Craft Assault and Gemini rubberised craft with divers are being used to provide assistance for evacuation of marooned personnel.

The Defence Minister of Mozambique visited the Indian ships to oversee the relief efforts.&nbsp;

Reports of about 5000 personnel marooned at Buzi near Beira and those who required immediate evacuation are coming.

In 2016, after a drought in Mozambique, India had provided $10 million for the purchase of wheat and a donation of 100 tons of essential medicines and Transport vehicles for the country's Health and Interior ministry.

This is not the first time India has rushed its ships and provided support to regional countries. In past India provided help to countries like Sri Lanka in the aftermath of flooding in the country.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, the worst tropical cyclone to impact Africa that caused massive damage in several South East African nations -- ozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, Madagascar -- India became the first country to respond to the disaster-hit nations by providing assistance.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Idai, the worst tropical cyclone to impact Africa that caused massive damage in several South East African nations -- ozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, Madagascar -- India became the first country to respond to the disaster-hit nations by providing assistance. The three ships operating in the Southern Indian Ocean were immediately diverted to Port Beira in Mozambique to provide Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR). India rushed its ships --INS Sujata, INS Sarathi and INS Shardul--in response to the request received from Mozambique government. The category four cyclone stuck on March 15 and caused massive damage in central and northern provinces Mozambique while causing large scale devastation in the city of Beira. According to an Indian Navy Release, "The disembarkation of HADR stores including food, medicines and clothing to the Mozambique Defence authorities has been completed. Arrangements are in progress to disembark potable water." INS Sujata along with INS Sarathi arrived at Port Beira morning of March 18 while INS Shardul arrived on March 19. The Ministry of External Affairs in a release said, "In this hour of tragedy, Government of India stands ready to extend support to the affected people." How Indian ships helping the country Indian Naval Ships are providing relief material in the form of food, clothes and medicine to the affected people. The Indian ships already had three medical practitioners and five nurses to provide immediate medical help and a medical camp has been set up. Helicopters on board INS Shardul are operating from the local airport for rescue along with boats. Landing Craft Assault and Gemini rubberised craft with divers are being used to provide assistance for evacuation of marooned personnel. The Defence Minister of Mozambique visited the Indian ships to oversee the relief efforts. Reports of about 5000 personnel marooned at Buzi near Beira and those who required immediate evacuation are coming. In 2016, after a drought in Mozambique, India had provided $10 million for the purchase of wheat and a donation of 100 tons of essential medicines and Transport vehicles for the country's Health and Interior ministry. This is not the first time India has rushed its ships and provided support to regional countries. In past India provided help to countries like Sri Lanka in the aftermath of flooding in the country.

India is first country to offer help to African nations wracked by Cyclone Idai

United Nations experts said in Kenya on Monday that the use of chemicals in industry and agriculture has doubled in recent years, generating annual profits of $5 trillion along with negative impacts on the environment and human health that are concentrated in Asia and Africa.

The first day of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi was devoted to a presentation of findings from Global Chemicals Outlook II - From Legacies to Innovative Solutions.

One key conclusion of the report was that efforts to reduce the harmful effects of chemicals could become a $10 billion-a-year business in its own right.

"Whether the growth in chemicals becomes a net positive or a net negative for humanity depends on how we manage the chemicals challenge," UN Environment acting Executive Director Joyce Msuya said. "What is clear is that we must do much more, together."

While chemicals enhance human well-being in many ways, notably in health, nutrition and food security, the side effects of their use aggravate climate change and help drive the loss of biodiversity, according to the report.

The use of chemicals has doubled despite policies aimed at reducing their role in industrial processes, the UN's Achi Halpaap said.

And the presence of chemical residues in the environment has increased correspondingly, he said.

The increases have been most dramatic in Africa, which is the source of coltan and other raw materials used in electronic devices; and in Asia, due to Chinese manufacturing, according to Halpaap.

Illicit trafficking in chemicals is also boosting their presence in the environment worldwide, he said.

Fernando Lugris, a Uruguayan diplomat who took part in the negotiations leading that produced the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury, called the Global Chemicals Outlook II "historic" for the light it shed upon unnoticed realities.

The report cites data from the European Environmental Agency showing that 345 million tons of chemicals were utilised in 2016 in the 28 European Union member-states, 62 per cent of them toxic.

The World Health Organisation said that 1.6 million people died in 2016 as a result of the use of toxic chemicals, above all in the agricultural sector.

United Nations experts said in Kenya on Monday that the use of chemicals in industry and agriculture has doubled in recent years, generating annual profits of $5 trillion along with negative impacts on the environment and human health that are concentrated in Asia and Africa.

United Nations experts said in Kenya on Monday that the use of chemicals in industry and agriculture has doubled in recent years, generating annual profits of $5 trillion along with negative impacts on the environment and human health that are concentrated in Asia and Africa. The first day of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi was devoted to a presentation of findings from Global Chemicals Outlook II - From Legacies to Innovative Solutions. One key conclusion of the report was that efforts to reduce the harmful effects of chemicals could become a $10 billion-a-year business in its own right. "Whether the growth in chemicals becomes a net positive or a net negative for humanity depends on how we manage the chemicals challenge," UN Environment acting Executive Director Joyce Msuya said. "What is clear is that we must do much more, together." While chemicals enhance human well-being in many ways, notably in health, nutrition and food security, the side effects of their use aggravate climate change and help drive the loss of biodiversity, according to the report. The use of chemicals has doubled despite policies aimed at reducing their role in industrial processes, the UN's Achi Halpaap said. And the presence of chemical residues in the environment has increased correspondingly, he said. The increases have been most dramatic in Africa, which is the source of coltan and other raw materials used in electronic devices; and in Asia, due to Chinese manufacturing, according to Halpaap. Illicit trafficking in chemicals is also boosting their presence in the environment worldwide, he said. Fernando Lugris, a Uruguayan diplomat who took part in the negotiations leading that produced the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury, called the Global Chemicals Outlook II "historic" for the light it shed upon unnoticed realities. The report cites data from the European Environmental Agency showing that 345 million tons of chemicals were utilised in 2016 in the 28 European Union member-states, 62 per cent of them toxic. The World Health Organisation said that 1.6 million people died in 2016 as a result of the use of toxic chemicals, above all in the agricultural sector.

Asia, Africa bear brunt of damage from chemicals: UN experts

President Muhammadu Buhari took an early lead on Monday in initial official results from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nigeria-election-violence-killed-at-least-39-monitors-199661">Nigeria's presidential election</a>, but the party of his main challenger quickly rejected the tallies as "incorrect and unacceptable".

Saturday's election, which US observers said had lost some credibility after being abruptly delayed by a week by officials citing organisational glitches, was expected to be Nigeria's tightest since the end of military rule two decades ago.

At stake is control of Africa's top oil producer and biggest economy. Northeast Nigeria has also been wracked by a decade-long battle with Islamist militants that has spilled into neighbouring countries and led to the deployment of a regional task force.

Buhari, 76, is a former military ruler seeking a second term on an anti-corruption platform, while Atiku Abubakar, 72, a businessman and former vice president, has pledged to expand the role of the private sector.

Initial results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday put Buhari in the lead, having won in seven of Nigeria's 36 states, the commission said.

Atiku prevailed in four states and the capital, Abuja, which is not a state but treated as a separate district in elections.

Buhari led Atiku by 51 per cent to 46 per cent, according to a Reuters tally based on the figures given by the commission.

In provisional results announced in state capitals but not yet confirmed by the commission, Buhari had won four states to Atiku's one.

In the northern state of Kano, hundreds of people celebrated Buhari's provisional lead in what was billed as one of the key battlegrounds in this year's elections.

"Kano is for Buhari," Wahab Abdulawal, a trader, said.

Asked about the early results, Buhari told reporters: "I don't want to depend on rumours. ... We will rather wait for INEC to announce the (full) results."

But the chairman of Atiku's People's Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, said the election tallies announced so far were "incorrect and unacceptable".

"The results are being manipulated and cancelled for APC to retain power," he told reporters, referring to Buhari's party.

Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) said in a statement that the PDP had "embarked on a cynical plan to discredit INEC as a backup plan in the likely event of them losing the election".

The outcome, expected this week, appears to hinge on which man voters trust most to revamp an economy still struggling from a 2016 recession.

A credible and relatively calm vote would open a new chapter in the chequered political history of Nigeria, where nearly six decades of independence have been tarnished by military coups, endemic corruption and secessionist movements.

But doubts rose when the election was postponed on February 16, just hours before it was due to begin, with authorities citing problems in delivering ballot papers and results sheets.

'NEGATIVE EFFECTS'

The week-long delay in holding Nigeria's presidential election damaged public trust in the process and probably reduced Saturday's voter turnout, US observers said.

The civil society group YIAGA AFRICA, which monitored the election, projected turnout at 36 to 40 per cent.

Situation Room, a monitoring mission comprising over 70 civic groups, said on Sunday that as many as 39 people had been killed in election-related violence, and more than 260 in all since the start of the campaign in October.

Voting, however, took place "in a generally peaceful environment", said Hailemariam Desalegn, head of the African Union observer mission and a former premier of Ethiopia.

"There were scattered incidents of violence but it was not seen as pervasive on Election Day," said Derek Mitchell, president of the US observer mission.

Previous Nigerian elections have been marred by violence among supporters of different political parties that at times sparked conflict between Christians and Muslims. Security forces are currently stretched by the Islamist insurgency as well as by communal violence and banditry in other areas.

Hours before polls opened, explosions rocked Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, epicentre of the insurgency. In neighbouring Yobe, residents of the town of Geidam fled a militant attack around the same time.

Scattered violence and problems with smart-card readers that authenticate voters' fingerprints meant voting in a small number of precincts was put off to Sunday, Mitchell said.

"Serious operational shortcomings put an undue burden on voters," Maria Arena, the EU's chief observer and member of the European parliament, told reporters.

President Muhammadu Buhari took an early lead on Monday in initial official results from Nigeria's presidential election, but the party of his main challenger quickly rejected the tallies as "incorrect and unacceptable".

President Muhammadu Buhari took an early lead on Monday in initial official results from Nigeria's presidential election, but the party of his main challenger quickly rejected the tallies as "incorrect and unacceptable". Saturday's election, which US observers said had lost some credibility after being abruptly delayed by a week by officials citing organisational glitches, was expected to be Nigeria's tightest since the end of military rule two decades ago. At stake is control of Africa's top oil producer and biggest economy. Northeast Nigeria has also been wracked by a decade-long battle with Islamist militants that has spilled into neighbouring countries and led to the deployment of a regional task force. Buhari, 76, is a former military ruler seeking a second term on an anti-corruption platform, while Atiku Abubakar, 72, a businessman and former vice president, has pledged to expand the role of the private sector. Initial results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday put Buhari in the lead, having won in seven of Nigeria's 36 states, the commission said. Atiku prevailed in four states and the capital, Abuja, which is not a state but treated as a separate district in elections. Buhari led Atiku by 51 per cent to 46 per cent, according to a Reuters tally based on the figures given by the commission. In provisional results announced in state capitals but not yet confirmed by the commission, Buhari had won four states to Atiku's one. In the northern state of Kano, hundreds of people celebrated Buhari's provisional lead in what was billed as one of the key battlegrounds in this year's elections. "Kano is for Buhari," Wahab Abdulawal, a trader, said. Asked about the early results, Buhari told reporters: "I don't want to depend on rumours. ... We will rather wait for INEC to announce the (full) results." But the chairman of Atiku's People's Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, said the election tallies announced so far were "incorrect and unacceptable". "The results are being manipulated and cancelled for APC to retain power," he told reporters, referring to Buhari's party. Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) said in a statement that the PDP had "embarked on a cynical plan to discredit INEC as a backup plan in the likely event of them losing the election". The outcome, expected this week, appears to hinge on which man voters trust most to revamp an economy still struggling from a 2016 recession. A credible and relatively calm vote would open a new chapter in the chequered political history of Nigeria, where nearly six decades of independence have been tarnished by military coups, endemic corruption and secessionist movements. But doubts rose when the election was postponed on February 16, just hours before it was due to begin, with authorities citing problems in delivering ballot papers and results sheets. 'NEGATIVE EFFECTS' The week-long delay in holding Nigeria's presidential election damaged public trust in the process and probably reduced Saturday's voter turnout, US observers said. The civil society group YIAGA AFRICA, which monitored the election, projected turnout at 36 to 40 per cent. Situation Room, a monitoring mission comprising over 70 civic groups, said on Sunday that as many as 39 people had been killed in election-related violence, and more than 260 in all since the start of the campaign in October. Voting, however, took place "in a generally peaceful environment", said Hailemariam Desalegn, head of the African Union observer mission and a former premier of Ethiopia. "There were scattered incidents of violence but it was not seen as pervasive on Election Day," said Derek Mitchell, president of the US observer mission. Previous Nigerian elections have been marred by violence among supporters of different political parties that at times sparked conflict between Christians and Muslims. Security forces are currently stretched by the Islamist insurgency as well as by communal violence and banditry in other areas. Hours before polls opened, explosions rocked Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, epicentre of the insurgency. In neighbouring Yobe, residents of the town of Geidam fled a militant attack around the same time. Scattered violence and problems with smart-card readers that authenticate voters' fingerprints meant voting in a small number of precincts was put off to Sunday, Mitchell said. "Serious operational shortcomings put an undue burden on voters," Maria Arena, the EU's chief observer and member of the European parliament, told reporters.

Nigerian election's early tally puts Buhari ahead; opposition rejects it

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that a slew of peaceful elections and truces in Africa were signs of a "wind of hope" on the continent.

He was speaking on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, where heads of state from 55 member nations will meet from Sunday.

"This is a moment in which a wind of hope is blowing across Africa. We have seen reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, we have seen peace agreements... in South Sudan and CAR (Central African Republic)", said Guterres.

"We're working together to see if we can move the same direction in Libya. We have seen elections in Madagascar, DRC and Mali that people were forecasting will lead to tragedy and violence and in the end took place in a peaceful context," he added.

Ethiopia and Eritrea last year ended a two-decade-long cold war, while South Sudan is trying to implement the latest in a long line of peace deals to end a bloody five-year conflict.

The Central African Republic this week reached a peace deal between the government and 14 militia groups, boosting hopes of an end of a crisis that has gripped the country since 2012, sparking a conflict that left thousands dead and over a million displaced.

"All these circumstances were realized through the combination of efforts of the UN and AU... to make sure guns will be silent from 2020 onwards on the African continent," said Guterres.

"I believe Africa is becoming an example where it is possible to solve conflicts and prevent conflicts and I hope this wind of hope can be extended to other parts of the world."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that a slew of peaceful elections and truces in Africa were signs of a "wind of hope" on the continent.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that a slew of peaceful elections and truces in Africa were signs of a "wind of hope" on the continent. He was speaking on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, where heads of state from 55 member nations will meet from Sunday. "This is a moment in which a wind of hope is blowing across Africa. We have seen reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea, we have seen peace agreements... in South Sudan and CAR (Central African Republic)", said Guterres. "We're working together to see if we can move the same direction in Libya. We have seen elections in Madagascar, DRC and Mali that people were forecasting will lead to tragedy and violence and in the end took place in a peaceful context," he added. Ethiopia and Eritrea last year ended a two-decade-long cold war, while South Sudan is trying to implement the latest in a long line of peace deals to end a bloody five-year conflict. The Central African Republic this week reached a peace deal between the government and 14 militia groups, boosting hopes of an end of a crisis that has gripped the country since 2012, sparking a conflict that left thousands dead and over a million displaced. "All these circumstances were realized through the combination of efforts of the UN and AU... to make sure guns will be silent from 2020 onwards on the African continent," said Guterres. "I believe Africa is becoming an example where it is possible to solve conflicts and prevent conflicts and I hope this wind of hope can be extended to other parts of the world."

UN chief sees 'wind of hope' in African peace deals, elections

An old almost forgotten Sanskrit prayer has evocative Words tamaso ma jyotir gamaya that translates lead me from darkness to light. India has taken quite long to move into what the imperialist colonisers derisive called the ‘Dark Continent’.

Even after Independence, we have let stereotypes dominate our perceptions. It is in this context that one should welcome the sudden spurt of zeal in 'initiatives’ focusing on hitherto neglected countries in that resource-rich and strategically significant continent.

First of all, we must understand that countries on the eastern seaboard of Africa and particularly those situated in the Horn of Africa are our close neighbours with whom we have had millennia-old trade and cultural ties. This is where the non-violent weapon of Satyagraha was forged that was effectively deployed to liberate India from the colonial yoke.&nbsp;Nelson Mandela was inspired by Gandhi’s vision and his life. This has resulted in South Africa hogging the limelight most of the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Francophone Africa and the territories under Portuguese and Belgian control have been neglected in comparison to the detriment of our national interest.&nbsp;

What has awakened India from a stupor is the Chinese expansion on a frightening scale. The term ‘frightening’ may sound alarmist to some but the bitter truth is that it reflects ground reality. India has pledged $400 million in aid, and though, the figure appears large but it pales into insignificance to what China has been pouring in Africa since 2015. It has secured a naval base in Djibouti and competes with India in every arena from food to energy security. India simply can’t expect to match China in foreign or technical aid. Nor does our emphasis on Soft Power allowed us to gain any traction.&nbsp;

We have not given due importance even to oil producing countries, with the exception of Nigeria, and have been unnecessarily squeamish and sanctimonious about dealing with countries in grip of violent strife bilaterally though Indian men in uniform have played a critical role under the flag of United Nations. We have canvassed support in Africa chasing the mirage of a permanent seat in the Security Council or other elections in international fora. We have failed to assess commercial and strategic opportunities until China has gained a first mover advantage blocking us effectively.

Its said ‘better late than never’ and this seems to be the only consolation we can derive from the recent announcement from the South Block that India is raising its diplomatic representation in several countries that till now were put in charge of concurrently accredited envoys ensconced in more hospitable Capitals. Be it the state visit of the President or the Prime Minister what is required is to follow up on promises and expeditious execution of projects. 
 
Let’s not forget that over a million Indians live in African Diaspora and Africa provides a useful gateway to Latin America. It's time we looked beyond the BRICS.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

An old almost forgotten Sanskrit prayer has evocative Words tamaso ma jyotir gamaya that translates lead me from darkness to light. India has taken quite long to move into what the imperialist colonisers derisive called the ‘Dark Continent’.

An old almost forgotten Sanskrit prayer has evocative Words tamaso ma jyotir gamaya that translates lead me from darkness to light. India has taken quite long to move into what the imperialist colonisers derisive called the ‘Dark Continent’. Even after Independence, we have let stereotypes dominate our perceptions. It is in this context that one should welcome the sudden spurt of zeal in 'initiatives’ focusing on hitherto neglected countries in that resource-rich and strategically significant continent. First of all, we must understand that countries on the eastern seaboard of Africa and particularly those situated in the Horn of Africa are our close neighbours with whom we have had millennia-old trade and cultural ties. This is where the non-violent weapon of Satyagraha was forged that was effectively deployed to liberate India from the colonial yoke. Nelson Mandela was inspired by Gandhi’s vision and his life. This has resulted in South Africa hogging the limelight most of the time. Francophone Africa and the territories under Portuguese and Belgian control have been neglected in comparison to the detriment of our national interest. What has awakened India from a stupor is the Chinese expansion on a frightening scale. The term ‘frightening’ may sound alarmist to some but the bitter truth is that it reflects ground reality. India has pledged $400 million in aid, and though, the figure appears large but it pales into insignificance to what China has been pouring in Africa since 2015. It has secured a naval base in Djibouti and competes with India in every arena from food to energy security. India simply can’t expect to match China in foreign or technical aid. Nor does our emphasis on Soft Power allowed us to gain any traction. We have not given due importance even to oil producing countries, with the exception of Nigeria, and have been unnecessarily squeamish and sanctimonious about dealing with countries in grip of violent strife bilaterally though Indian men in uniform have played a critical role under the flag of United Nations. We have canvassed support in Africa chasing the mirage of a permanent seat in the Security Council or other elections in international fora. We have failed to assess commercial and strategic opportunities until China has gained a first mover advantage blocking us effectively. Its said ‘better late than never’ and this seems to be the only consolation we can derive from the recent announcement from the South Block that India is raising its diplomatic representation in several countries that till now were put in charge of concurrently accredited envoys ensconced in more hospitable Capitals. Be it the state visit of the President or the Prime Minister what is required is to follow up on promises and expeditious execution of projects. Let’s not forget that over a million Indians live in African Diaspora and Africa provides a useful gateway to Latin America. It's time we looked beyond the BRICS. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

From darkness to light: India-Africa trade corridor offers multiple opportunities

*By&nbsp;Steven Friedman

One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies.

Challenging this myth is a central theme of my book Power in Action: Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice, which has just been published by Wits University Press.

Over the past two decades, the book notes, democracy has blossomed in Africa: in 1990, the continent housed, at most, four democracies. Today, countries in which the government is not at least elected in a free vote in which opposition parties contest are a small minority. But there is still a deep-rooted feeling among Western academics, policymakers and journalists that African democracies are not yet “the finished product” – that they are still on their way to becoming full democracies.

This view gave birth to a field of academic study in the West – the search for “democratic consolidation”. It emerged because academics assumed that the new democracies were not yet “complete”, even though they called themselves democratic. And so they set out to discover whether democracies in Africa (and Asia and Latin America) were “consolidated”, which meant that they were the finished product.

The academics have never said how we would know a “complete” democracy when we saw one. They don’t have to – it is obvious from their writing that, to become the “finished article”, democracies have to become like those in the West.

The academics are reflecting a widely held view. Western governments that set out to make the world democratic were trying to “help” democracies outside the West to become just like those in it. European and US politicians who care about democracy elsewhere share this view. So do many Africans.

Colonial mindset&nbsp;

Academics on the African continent are keen to study whether their democracies are on the way to being “consolidated” and much commentary on the continent assumes that a “grown-up” democracy looks like Britain, France or the US. This is particularly so in countries like South Africa which house a significant minority of people of Western origin, many of whom believe that the West is the home of civilisation to which the rest of the world should aspire.

This view has a distinctly colonial flavour. The moral excuse for colonialism was that it was bringing to the colonised “civilisation”, which meant whatever people in the colonising country valued. There is no difference between this and trying to persuade the formerly colonised that their democracies can only become “real” if they mimic those in the West.

But it makes very little sense to claim that Western democracies are the “finished product”.

First, Western democracies differ between themselves. So which version are people in Africa meant to mimic? Must their countries become unitary states like Britain or France, or federal like the US and Germany? Must African states give unions and business associations a say in decisions as Sweden, Austria and Switzerland have done? Must language or religious groups be allowed a special say as Belgium and Holland have done? It is not clear which of the many forms of Western democracy Africans are meant to want to be.

Second, the “finished products” of the West are not that finished. Britain has an unelected house of traditional leaders and clergy – the House of Lords. The US system allows the half-million residents of one state to have the same say in the Senate as the 35 million of another. Several Western democracies detain suspects without trial – the US has done this for nearly two decades at Guantanamo Bay, far longer than South Africa’s apartheid state ever detained anyone without trial.

The media in several Western countries is judged by specialists to be less free than those in some non-Western democracies. To show the absurdity of claiming that Western democracies are always better, think what would happen if an African president was elected because he won the vote in a state where the voting machines were faulty and the governor was his brother? This happened in the US in 2000 – and no-one has declared it an “incomplete” democracy.

Third, the democratic idea is that every adult should have an equal say in the decisions which affect them. Where does that happen? Nowhere. So no democracy is a “finished product”. All fall short of the democratic goal and so Western democracies are no more real than those elsewhere. It also makes little sense to claim that one democracy is further down the road to “completion” than another – democracy has many aspects and on some, newer democracies outside the West are further down the road than those they are meant to want to be.

More people vote in some African countries than in some in the West. South Africa does more to promote women’s participation than most Western countries. A study of Botswana complained that its people did not value democracy because only 45% of voters knew the name of their member of Parliament – but the equivalent figure in Sweden was only 33% and several other European countries lagged far behind Botswana, whose voters are better informed than Swedes.

Inferiority complex 

In sum, the democratic inferiority complex of many Africans is unwarranted. The idea that our democracies are “B Grade” and those of the West are prime quality is false.

None of this means that African democracies are better than those in the West. It means that the idea of “real” and “not yet real” democracies expresses a colonial mentality, not reality.

Like all democracies, Africa’s have much room for improvement. But they will never become what they could be if they struggle to become a copy of a romanticised Western democracy. Africa’s democracies will progress if they concentrate on the core democratic principle – giving more and more people a say over more and more issues – and debate how to do that in their particular conditions.

*(Steven Friedman is Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-claim-that-democracy-fares-better-in-the-west-than-in-africa-is-a-fallacy-110408">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

*By Steven Friedman One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies.

*By Steven Friedman One day, if they follow instructions, Africa’s new democracies will grow up to be “real” like those of Western Europe and North America. This assumption makes little sense – but it influences the way many people in the West and in Africa think about African democracies. Challenging this myth is a central theme of my book Power in Action: Democracy, Citizenship and Social Justice, which has just been published by Wits University Press. Over the past two decades, the book notes, democracy has blossomed in Africa: in 1990, the continent housed, at most, four democracies. Today, countries in which the government is not at least elected in a free vote in which opposition parties contest are a small minority. But there is still a deep-rooted feeling among Western academics, policymakers and journalists that African democracies are not yet “the finished product” – that they are still on their way to becoming full democracies. This view gave birth to a field of academic study in the West – the search for “democratic consolidation”. It emerged because academics assumed that the new democracies were not yet “complete”, even though they called themselves democratic. And so they set out to discover whether democracies in Africa (and Asia and Latin America) were “consolidated”, which meant that they were the finished product. The academics have never said how we would know a “complete” democracy when we saw one. They don’t have to – it is obvious from their writing that, to become the “finished article”, democracies have to become like those in the West. The academics are reflecting a widely held view. Western governments that set out to make the world democratic were trying to “help” democracies outside the West to become just like those in it. European and US politicians who care about democracy elsewhere share this view. So do many Africans. Colonial mindset Academics on the African continent are keen to study whether their democracies are on the way to being “consolidated” and much commentary on the continent assumes that a “grown-up” democracy looks like Britain, France or the US. This is particularly so in countries like South Africa which house a significant minority of people of Western origin, many of whom believe that the West is the home of civilisation to which the rest of the world should aspire. This view has a distinctly colonial flavour. The moral excuse for colonialism was that it was bringing to the colonised “civilisation”, which meant whatever people in the colonising country valued. There is no difference between this and trying to persuade the formerly colonised that their democracies can only become “real” if they mimic those in the West. But it makes very little sense to claim that Western democracies are the “finished product”. First, Western democracies differ between themselves. So which version are people in Africa meant to mimic? Must their countries become unitary states like Britain or France, or federal like the US and Germany? Must African states give unions and business associations a say in decisions as Sweden, Austria and Switzerland have done? Must language or religious groups be allowed a special say as Belgium and Holland have done? It is not clear which of the many forms of Western democracy Africans are meant to want to be. Second, the “finished products” of the West are not that finished. Britain has an unelected house of traditional leaders and clergy – the House of Lords. The US system allows the half-million residents of one state to have the same say in the Senate as the 35 million of another. Several Western democracies detain suspects without trial – the US has done this for nearly two decades at Guantanamo Bay, far longer than South Africa’s apartheid state ever detained anyone without trial. The media in several Western countries is judged by specialists to be less free than those in some non-Western democracies. To show the absurdity of claiming that Western democracies are always better, think what would happen if an African president was elected because he won the vote in a state where the voting machines were faulty and the governor was his brother? This happened in the US in 2000 – and no-one has declared it an “incomplete” democracy. Third, the democratic idea is that every adult should have an equal say in the decisions which affect them. Where does that happen? Nowhere. So no democracy is a “finished product”. All fall short of the democratic goal and so Western democracies are no more real than those elsewhere. It also makes little sense to claim that one democracy is further down the road to “completion” than another – democracy has many aspects and on some, newer democracies outside the West are further down the road than those they are meant to want to be. More people vote in some African countries than in some in the West. South Africa does more to promote women’s participation than most Western countries. A study of Botswana complained that its people did not value democracy because only 45% of voters knew the name of their member of Parliament – but the equivalent figure in Sweden was only 33% and several other European countries lagged far behind Botswana, whose voters are better informed than Swedes. Inferiority complex In sum, the democratic inferiority complex of many Africans is unwarranted. The idea that our democracies are “B Grade” and those of the West are prime quality is false. None of this means that African democracies are better than those in the West. It means that the idea of “real” and “not yet real” democracies expresses a colonial mentality, not reality. Like all democracies, Africa’s have much room for improvement. But they will never become what they could be if they struggle to become a copy of a romanticised Western democracy. Africa’s democracies will progress if they concentrate on the core democratic principle – giving more and more people a say over more and more issues – and debate how to do that in their particular conditions. *(Steven Friedman is Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Rhodes University and the University of Johannesburg) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The claim that democracy fares better in the West than in Africa is a fallacy

In pics: Dazzling tableaux add sheen to 70th Republic Day parade

At least one protester died in an anti-government demonstration on Thursday as thousands of people rallied across Sudan calling on President Omar al-Bashir to resign.

The east African nation has been rocked by more than a month of deadly protests triggered by the Bashir government's decision to triple the price of bread.

Protesters chanting the movement's slogan of "Freedom, peace, justice" have been confronted by a crackdown that has drawn international condemnation, including from the United States which has warned Sudan it could damage moves to improve their ties.

The mushrooming demonstrations are widely seen as the biggest threat to Bashir's iron-fisted rule since taking power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989.

The Sudanese Professionals' Association that is spearheading the protest campaign had upped the ante with a call for nationwide rallies on Thursday.

"One protester has died in Omdurman today," Amer Ibrahim, who heads a committee at the prosecutor's office that is investigating protest violence, told reporters without specifying how the victim died.

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated Thursday in Omdurman, where they clapped and whistled before hit by tear gas according to witnesses.

A doctors' committee linked to the SPA said two protesters had died on Thursday.

It said the protester killed in Omdurman was struck with "live ammunition," while another protester had died in detention.

The committee did not specify when the victim had been detained.

Ibrahim meanwhile said that a protester died from wounds sustained at demonstration on January 13 in Khartoum, without saying when they died.

"Until now 29 people have died in demonstrations," Ibrahim said. Rights groups have put the overall death toll at more than 40.

The SPA called for rallies in 17 places in Khartoum and Omdurman -- the capital's twin city on the west bank of the Nile River -- from where demonstrators were told to march towards the presidential palace on Thursday.

Hundreds of protesters began demonstrating in several areas of the capital, aiming to reach the palace but they were quickly confronted by riot police with tear gas, witnesses said.

"Let's die like martyrs or fight for their rights," shouted men and women as they took to the streets in Khartoum's eastern district of Burri -- a site of regular protests.

Several previous attempts to march on the presidential palace have been broken up by riot police firing tear gas.

'Will achieve our mission'

Hundreds of protesters chanting "freedom, freedom" and "revolution, revolution" rallied in Burri, blocking all roads leading to the district with tree trunks, iron pipes, rocks and burning tyres, witnesses said.

Thick black smoke from burning tyres and rubbish billowed into the sky from Burri.

"We will demonstrate. We will achieve our mission of overthrowing this regime," said a protester without revealing his identity for security reasons.

Witnesses said many policemen wearing masks and driving pick-up trucks patrolled the streets in several areas.

Anti-government rallies were also held in the Red Sea town of Port Sudan, in a village in North State, in the agricultural state of Gadaref and in the central city of Madani, witnesses said.

Hundreds of protesters chanting the slogan of the movement "freedom, peace, justice" demonstrated for hours in Port Sudan.

Several villages along the highway connecting Khartoum with Madani also saw protesters taking to the streets, while in Madani itself protesters chanting "Revolution, revolution" were met with tear gas.

US warning

Several businesses in Khartoum ordered their employees to leave before the protests began, while many schools saw few children attending classes.

The demonstrations come with Sudan battling an economic crisis driven by soaring inflation and a shortage of foreign currency.

The country's president has remained defiant and rejected the calls to step down, blaming the violence on "infiltrators" among the protesters.

Bashir has accused the United States of causing Sudan's economic woes, but his words have fallen on increasingly deaf ears as people have struggled to buy even basic foods and medicines.

The United States imposed a trade embargo on Sudan in 1997, which was only lifted in October 2017.

On Wednesday, Washington called for an investigation into the deaths of protesters, warning Khartoum that excessive force against demonstrators and intimidation of the press and activists would jeopardise relations.

"A new, more positive relationship between the United States and Sudan requires meaningful political reform and clear, sustained progress on respect for human rights," US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.

At least one protester died in an anti-government demonstration on Thursday as thousands of people rallied across Sudan calling on President Omar al-Bashir to resign.

At least one protester died in an anti-government demonstration on Thursday as thousands of people rallied across Sudan calling on President Omar al-Bashir to resign. The east African nation has been rocked by more than a month of deadly protests triggered by the Bashir government's decision to triple the price of bread. Protesters chanting the movement's slogan of "Freedom, peace, justice" have been confronted by a crackdown that has drawn international condemnation, including from the United States which has warned Sudan it could damage moves to improve their ties. The mushrooming demonstrations are widely seen as the biggest threat to Bashir's iron-fisted rule since taking power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989. The Sudanese Professionals' Association that is spearheading the protest campaign had upped the ante with a call for nationwide rallies on Thursday. "One protester has died in Omdurman today," Amer Ibrahim, who heads a committee at the prosecutor's office that is investigating protest violence, told reporters without specifying how the victim died. Hundreds of protesters demonstrated Thursday in Omdurman, where they clapped and whistled before hit by tear gas according to witnesses. A doctors' committee linked to the SPA said two protesters had died on Thursday. It said the protester killed in Omdurman was struck with "live ammunition," while another protester had died in detention. The committee did not specify when the victim had been detained. Ibrahim meanwhile said that a protester died from wounds sustained at demonstration on January 13 in Khartoum, without saying when they died. "Until now 29 people have died in demonstrations," Ibrahim said. Rights groups have put the overall death toll at more than 40. The SPA called for rallies in 17 places in Khartoum and Omdurman -- the capital's twin city on the west bank of the Nile River -- from where demonstrators were told to march towards the presidential palace on Thursday. Hundreds of protesters began demonstrating in several areas of the capital, aiming to reach the palace but they were quickly confronted by riot police with tear gas, witnesses said. "Let's die like martyrs or fight for their rights," shouted men and women as they took to the streets in Khartoum's eastern district of Burri -- a site of regular protests. Several previous attempts to march on the presidential palace have been broken up by riot police firing tear gas. 'Will achieve our mission' Hundreds of protesters chanting "freedom, freedom" and "revolution, revolution" rallied in Burri, blocking all roads leading to the district with tree trunks, iron pipes, rocks and burning tyres, witnesses said. Thick black smoke from burning tyres and rubbish billowed into the sky from Burri. "We will demonstrate. We will achieve our mission of overthrowing this regime," said a protester without revealing his identity for security reasons. Witnesses said many policemen wearing masks and driving pick-up trucks patrolled the streets in several areas. Anti-government rallies were also held in the Red Sea town of Port Sudan, in a village in North State, in the agricultural state of Gadaref and in the central city of Madani, witnesses said. Hundreds of protesters chanting the slogan of the movement "freedom, peace, justice" demonstrated for hours in Port Sudan. Several villages along the highway connecting Khartoum with Madani also saw protesters taking to the streets, while in Madani itself protesters chanting "Revolution, revolution" were met with tear gas. US warning Several businesses in Khartoum ordered their employees to leave before the protests began, while many schools saw few children attending classes. The demonstrations come with Sudan battling an economic crisis driven by soaring inflation and a shortage of foreign currency. The country's president has remained defiant and rejected the calls to step down, blaming the violence on "infiltrators" among the protesters. Bashir has accused the United States of causing Sudan's economic woes, but his words have fallen on increasingly deaf ears as people have struggled to buy even basic foods and medicines. The United States imposed a trade embargo on Sudan in 1997, which was only lifted in October 2017. On Wednesday, Washington called for an investigation into the deaths of protesters, warning Khartoum that excessive force against demonstrators and intimidation of the press and activists would jeopardise relations. "A new, more positive relationship between the United States and Sudan requires meaningful political reform and clear, sustained progress on respect for human rights," US State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said in a statement.

One killed as thousands protest across Sudan demanding president's resignation

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/macron-to-blame-for-french-protests-italy-deputy-pm-matteo-salvini-182744">France's foreign ministry</a> on Monday summoned Italy's ambassador after Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio accused Paris of creating poverty in Africa and fueling mass migration to Europe.

"It's not the first time the Italian authorities have made unacceptable and aggressive comments," a French diplomatic source said.

Speaking on Saturday in central Italy, Di Maio attacked France's Africa policy — the latest chapter in a war of words between Rome and Paris since the anti-establishment 5-Star-Movement and far-right League won power last year.

"If we have people who are leaving Africa now it's because some European countries, and France in particular, have never stopped colonising Africa," said Di Maio, who leads the 5-Star.

"If France didn't have its African colonies, because that's what they should be called, it would be the 15th largest world economy. Instead, it's among the first, exactly because of what it is doing in Africa."

Ambassador Teresa Castaldo was summoned on Monday afternoon by the chief of staff of European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau, the French diplomatic source said.

Di Maio himself refused to back down in the row, telling reporters late Monday that France was manipulating the economies of 14 African countries that use the CFA franc — a colonial-era currency which is underpinned by the French Treasury.

"France is one of those countries that by printing money for 14 African states prevents their economic development and contributes to the fact that the refugees leave and then die in the sea or arrive on our coasts," he said.

France argues that the CFA franc has brought welcome monetary stability to the countries that use it, but French President Emmanuel Macron said in 2017 that it was up to African governments to decide what to do with the currency.

The new Italian government has frequently clashed with Paris, be it on immigration or policy in Libya, eager to mark the difference between itself and the previous centre-left administration which had good ties with the French authorities.

"I've stopped being a hypocrite talking only about the effects of immigration and it's time to talk about the causes," Di Maio said at the weekend.

"The EU should sanction all those countries like France that are impoverishing African countries and are causing those people to leave."

France's foreign ministry on Monday summoned Italy's ambassador after Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio accused Paris of creating poverty in Africa and fueling mass migration to Europe.

France's foreign ministry on Monday summoned Italy's ambassador after Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio accused Paris of creating poverty in Africa and fueling mass migration to Europe. "It's not the first time the Italian authorities have made unacceptable and aggressive comments," a French diplomatic source said. Speaking on Saturday in central Italy, Di Maio attacked France's Africa policy — the latest chapter in a war of words between Rome and Paris since the anti-establishment 5-Star-Movement and far-right League won power last year. "If we have people who are leaving Africa now it's because some European countries, and France in particular, have never stopped colonising Africa," said Di Maio, who leads the 5-Star. "If France didn't have its African colonies, because that's what they should be called, it would be the 15th largest world economy. Instead, it's among the first, exactly because of what it is doing in Africa." Ambassador Teresa Castaldo was summoned on Monday afternoon by the chief of staff of European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau, the French diplomatic source said. Di Maio himself refused to back down in the row, telling reporters late Monday that France was manipulating the economies of 14 African countries that use the CFA franc — a colonial-era currency which is underpinned by the French Treasury. "France is one of those countries that by printing money for 14 African states prevents their economic development and contributes to the fact that the refugees leave and then die in the sea or arrive on our coasts," he said. France argues that the CFA franc has brought welcome monetary stability to the countries that use it, but French President Emmanuel Macron said in 2017 that it was up to African governments to decide what to do with the currency. The new Italian government has frequently clashed with Paris, be it on immigration or policy in Libya, eager to mark the difference between itself and the previous centre-left administration which had good ties with the French authorities. "I've stopped being a hypocrite talking only about the effects of immigration and it's time to talk about the causes," Di Maio said at the weekend. "The EU should sanction all those countries like France that are impoverishing African countries and are causing those people to leave."

France summons envoy after deputy Italian PM says Paris creating poverty in Africa

India has said that its partnership with Africa is based on the "principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit."&nbsp;

While speaking on the occasion of Africa Day at Vibrant Gujarat 2019 in Gandhinagar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We take pride in our model of cooperation with Africa which is demand-driven, consultative, participative, involves local resources, builds capacity and is based on Africa’s own prioritisation of its needs."

Swaraj further said India views its "substantive engagement" with the African countries through "the prism of our own experience."

"When we became independent, we found that external assistance came with conditionality, both overt and covert, with prescriptions that would have constricted our sovereignty and independence," Swaraj added.&nbsp;

China's debt practices have come under criticism around the world including in Africa. Bejing has been involved in large scale infrastructure in Africa, putting many countries in massive debt which they are unable to repay.&nbsp;

India is focusing on its historical ties with Africa to promote ties. Speaking at the event, the external affairs minister said, "India has always shared a special bond with the people of Africa and supported their liberation from colonialism and from apartheid."&nbsp;

India will be opening 18 new embassies and High Commissions in Africa in the next few years which will take the number of Indian missions in Africa to 47. Last year, India opened its mission in Rwanda.

The development comes days before India's Republic Day wherein South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been invited as the chief guest.&nbsp;

India is the fifth largest investor in Africa with cumulative investments of $54 billion. Indian Lines of Credit are being used to develop 189 projects in 42 African countries for nearly $ 11.4 billion. In 2015, the third India-Africa summit took place in New Delhi and was one of the biggest diplomatic events under the Modi government in the last four years.

&nbsp;

India has said that its partnership with Africa is based on the "principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit." While speaking on the occasion of Africa Day at Vibrant Gujarat 2019 in Gandhinagar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We take pride in our model of cooperation with Africa which is demand-driven, consultative, participative, involves local resources, builds capacity and is based on Africa’s own prioritisation of its needs.

India has said that its partnership with Africa is based on the "principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit." While speaking on the occasion of Africa Day at Vibrant Gujarat 2019 in Gandhinagar, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "We take pride in our model of cooperation with Africa which is demand-driven, consultative, participative, involves local resources, builds capacity and is based on Africa’s own prioritisation of its needs." Swaraj further said India views its "substantive engagement" with the African countries through "the prism of our own experience." "When we became independent, we found that external assistance came with conditionality, both overt and covert, with prescriptions that would have constricted our sovereignty and independence," Swaraj added. China's debt practices have come under criticism around the world including in Africa. Bejing has been involved in large scale infrastructure in Africa, putting many countries in massive debt which they are unable to repay. India is focusing on its historical ties with Africa to promote ties. Speaking at the event, the external affairs minister said, "India has always shared a special bond with the people of Africa and supported their liberation from colonialism and from apartheid." India will be opening 18 new embassies and High Commissions in Africa in the next few years which will take the number of Indian missions in Africa to 47. Last year, India opened its mission in Rwanda. The development comes days before India's Republic Day wherein South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been invited as the chief guest. India is the fifth largest investor in Africa with cumulative investments of $54 billion. Indian Lines of Credit are being used to develop 189 projects in 42 African countries for nearly $ 11.4 billion. In 2015, the third India-Africa summit took place in New Delhi and was one of the biggest diplomatic events under the Modi government in the last four years.

India plans to open 18 new missions in Africa: Sushma Swaraj

The debate over the restitution of thousands of African cultural artefacts from France has become heated, but in West Africa conservators prefer to call it "collaboration" and are preparing for their return.

The French presidency announced on Friday night that it was restoring "without delay" 26 works plundered by the French army in 1892 and claimed by the authorities in Benin.

The recommendations come with the delivery of a non-binding report that proposes a change in legislation and urges the return of museum artefacts to Africa from France.

Alain Godonou, a Beninese conservator responsible for heritage at the new national agency for tourism promotion in Benin, has been working on this issue for more than 30 years and says now is the time for reflection.

The small West African country of Benin, formerly Dahomey, was home to the kingdom of Abomey (1600-1894) and priceless wealth.

But instead of sitting in the capital of Porto-Novo, the throne of King Glele from 1858 is one of the centrepieces of the 70,000 African objects kept at the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris.

"To keep war booty in countries that are now friends and collaborate doesn't make sense," Godonou told AFP.

"It's a relief but it's only the beginning. There is still so much to be done so that our youth can access this heritage that will make them proud."&nbsp;

Sensitive question&nbsp;

"We don't want them to have our objects just for the sake of it," Godonou continues.&nbsp;

"The cultural education of African youth is important and these objects will help to root them."

This includes a rehabilitation of museums. For years, Europeans have justified keeping the treasured artefacts by arguing that African countries didn't have the facilities to take care of their cultural heritage.

But in many countries -- including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Benin -- plans are underway new museums have been built and plans are underway for yet more.

Beninese President Patrice Talon, whose goal is to make tourism one of the pillars of the national economy, has approved the sites for five museums that will open in 2020 to honour the kings of Abomey and the Amazons, the all-female military regiment in Dahomey.

The country's minister of foreign affairs Aurelien Agbenonci told AFP on Saturday the government is "delighted" with the decision, which he said was "an invitation to get to work quickly."

Ousmane Aledji, in charge of heritage for the Benin presidency, welcomed the "new form of cultural exchange" with France.

"We're not for a violent claim, but we want to put in place measures for progressive restitution," he says.

His sentiment was echoed in Abidjan, where the director of the museum of civilisation of Ivory Coast Silvie Memel Kassi said "it's not a bad thing in itself that they were preserved and indexed in France."

"Ancestral pieces"

The national museum of Abidjan was renovated last year, but a larger museum is sill in the works.

In this case, said Kassi, "we could start talking about a definitive restitution."&nbsp;

She added that "the important thing is to work together, we want to have access to these objects, we need this memory, these objects are a memory."

In Dakar, the museum of black civilisation, whose inauguration is scheduled for December 6, will be ready one day to house the objects, pledges Kassi.

"We have operational reserves that can accommodate such objects," said the Senegalese museum director Hamady Bocoum, stressing the works may not necessarily end up in museums and could go back to communities who may "decide to put them in the altars of the ancestors."

"These works came from our ancestors," said Taho Toubo, a traditional leader from Ivory Coast.

"I pray for the ancestors that their pieces are returned."

The debate over the restitution of thousands of African cultural artefacts from France has become heated, but in West Africa conservators prefer to call it "collaboration" and are preparing for their return.

The debate over the restitution of thousands of African cultural artefacts from France has become heated, but in West Africa conservators prefer to call it "collaboration" and are preparing for their return. The French presidency announced on Friday night that it was restoring "without delay" 26 works plundered by the French army in 1892 and claimed by the authorities in Benin. The recommendations come with the delivery of a non-binding report that proposes a change in legislation and urges the return of museum artefacts to Africa from France. Alain Godonou, a Beninese conservator responsible for heritage at the new national agency for tourism promotion in Benin, has been working on this issue for more than 30 years and says now is the time for reflection. The small West African country of Benin, formerly Dahomey, was home to the kingdom of Abomey (1600-1894) and priceless wealth. But instead of sitting in the capital of Porto-Novo, the throne of King Glele from 1858 is one of the centrepieces of the 70,000 African objects kept at the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac in Paris. "To keep war booty in countries that are now friends and collaborate doesn't make sense," Godonou told AFP. "It's a relief but it's only the beginning. There is still so much to be done so that our youth can access this heritage that will make them proud." Sensitive question "We don't want them to have our objects just for the sake of it," Godonou continues. "The cultural education of African youth is important and these objects will help to root them." This includes a rehabilitation of museums. For years, Europeans have justified keeping the treasured artefacts by arguing that African countries didn't have the facilities to take care of their cultural heritage. But in many countries -- including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Gabon and Benin -- plans are underway new museums have been built and plans are underway for yet more. Beninese President Patrice Talon, whose goal is to make tourism one of the pillars of the national economy, has approved the sites for five museums that will open in 2020 to honour the kings of Abomey and the Amazons, the all-female military regiment in Dahomey. The country's minister of foreign affairs Aurelien Agbenonci told AFP on Saturday the government is "delighted" with the decision, which he said was "an invitation to get to work quickly." Ousmane Aledji, in charge of heritage for the Benin presidency, welcomed the "new form of cultural exchange" with France. "We're not for a violent claim, but we want to put in place measures for progressive restitution," he says. His sentiment was echoed in Abidjan, where the director of the museum of civilisation of Ivory Coast Silvie Memel Kassi said "it's not a bad thing in itself that they were preserved and indexed in France." "Ancestral pieces" The national museum of Abidjan was renovated last year, but a larger museum is sill in the works. In this case, said Kassi, "we could start talking about a definitive restitution." She added that "the important thing is to work together, we want to have access to these objects, we need this memory, these objects are a memory." In Dakar, the museum of black civilisation, whose inauguration is scheduled for December 6, will be ready one day to house the objects, pledges Kassi. "We have operational reserves that can accommodate such objects," said the Senegalese museum director Hamady Bocoum, stressing the works may not necessarily end up in museums and could go back to communities who may "decide to put them in the altars of the ancestors." "These works came from our ancestors," said Taho Toubo, a traditional leader from Ivory Coast. "I pray for the ancestors that their pieces are returned."

Restitution of African art from France: 'We need this memory'

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay back 500,000 rands ($35,000) donated to his campaign fund by a firm with links to his son after admitting he misled parliament, an official said.

Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on fighting corruption after his predecessor Jacob Zuma was mired in graft scandals that finally led to his ousting earlier this year.

Ramaphosa had told parliament that the payment in October 2017 was to his son Andile for consultancy work for Bosasa, a company that has contracts with government institutions.

But Ramaphosa later admitted it was a donation towards his own campaign last year to become leader of the ruling ANC party, a hard-fought battle in which he beat Zuma's chosen candidate.

"The donation was made without his knowledge," ANC official Zizi Kodwa told the SABC state broadcaster on Saturday.

"He has decided voluntarily that he will pay back the said amount and he will call for further investigation on all donations that were made to the campaign."

The main opposition Democratic Alliance party said Bosasa had won lucrative government contracts, adding "this looks suspiciously like all other ANC government corruption deals."

A judicial inquiry is probing allegations that Zuma and some of his family members oversaw a web of corrupt government contracts.

The ANC and Democratic Alliance will face off in elections next May.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay back 500,000 rands ($35,000) donated to his campaign fund by a firm with links to his son after admitting he misled parliament, an official said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay back 500,000 rands ($35,000) donated to his campaign fund by a firm with links to his son after admitting he misled parliament, an official said. Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on fighting corruption after his predecessor Jacob Zuma was mired in graft scandals that finally led to his ousting earlier this year. Ramaphosa had told parliament that the payment in October 2017 was to his son Andile for consultancy work for Bosasa, a company that has contracts with government institutions. But Ramaphosa later admitted it was a donation towards his own campaign last year to become leader of the ruling ANC party, a hard-fought battle in which he beat Zuma's chosen candidate. "The donation was made without his knowledge," ANC official Zizi Kodwa told the SABC state broadcaster on Saturday. "He has decided voluntarily that he will pay back the said amount and he will call for further investigation on all donations that were made to the campaign." The main opposition Democratic Alliance party said Bosasa had won lucrative government contracts, adding "this looks suspiciously like all other ANC government corruption deals." A judicial inquiry is probing allegations that Zuma and some of his family members oversaw a web of corrupt government contracts. The ANC and Democratic Alliance will face off in elections next May.

South Africa president to pay back $35,000 campaign funds

When Moustapha Dieng came down with stomach pains one-day last month he did the sensible thing and went to a doctor in his hometown of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital.

The doctor prescribed a malaria treatment but the medicine cost too much for Dieng, a 30-year-old tailor, so he went to an unlicensed street vendor for pills on the cheap.

"It was too expensive at the pharmacy. I was forced to buy street drugs as they are less expensive," he said.

Within days he was hospitalized - sickened by the very drugs that were supposed to cure him.

Tens of thousands of people in Africa die each year because of fake and counterfeit medication, an EU-funded report released on Tuesday said. The drugs are mainly made in China but also in India, Paraguay, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

Almost half the fake and low-quality medicines reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) between 2013 and 2017 were found to be in sub-Saharan Africa, said the report, also backed by Interpol and the Institute for Security Studies.

"Counterfeiters prey on poorer countries more than their richer counterparts, with up to 30 times greater penetration of fakes in the supply chain," said the report.

Substandard or fake anti-malarials cause the deaths of between 64,000 and 158,000 people per year in sub-Saharan Africa, the report said.

The counterfeit drug market is worth around $200 billion worldwide annually, WHO says, making it the most lucrative trade of illegally copied goods. Its impact has been devastating.

Nigeria said more than 80 children were killed in 2009 by a teething syrup tainted with a chemical normally used in engine coolant and blamed for causing kidney failure.

For Dieng, the cost can be measured in more than simple suffering. The night in hospital cost him more than double what he would have paid had he bought the drugs the doctor ordered.

"After taking those drugs, the provenance of which we don't know, he came back with new symptoms ... All this had aggravated his condition," said nurse Jules Raesse, who treated Dieng when he stayed at the clinic last month.

Fake drugs also threaten a thriving pharmaceutical sector in several African countries.

That has helped prompt Ivory Coast - where fake drugs were also sold openly - to crack down on the trade, estimated at $30 billion by Reuters last year.

Ivorian authorities said last month they had seized almost 400 tonnes of fake medicine over the past two years.

Able Ekissi, an inspector at the health ministry, told Reuters the seized goods, had they been sold to consumers, would have represented a loss to the legitimate pharmaceutical industry of more than $170 million.

"They are reputed to be cheaper, but at best they are ineffective and at worst toxic," Abderrahmane Chakibi, Managing Director of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi's sub-Saharan Africa branch.

But in Ivory Coast, many cannot afford to shop in pharmacies, which often only stock expensive drugs imported from France, rather than cheaper generics from places like India.

"When you have no means you are forced to go out onto the street," said Barakissa Cherik, a pharmacist in Ivory Coast's lagoon-side commercial capital Abidjan.

When Moustapha Dieng came down with stomach pains one-day last month he did the sensible thing and went to a doctor in his hometown of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital.

When Moustapha Dieng came down with stomach pains one-day last month he did the sensible thing and went to a doctor in his hometown of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital. The doctor prescribed a malaria treatment but the medicine cost too much for Dieng, a 30-year-old tailor, so he went to an unlicensed street vendor for pills on the cheap. "It was too expensive at the pharmacy. I was forced to buy street drugs as they are less expensive," he said. Within days he was hospitalized - sickened by the very drugs that were supposed to cure him. Tens of thousands of people in Africa die each year because of fake and counterfeit medication, an EU-funded report released on Tuesday said. The drugs are mainly made in China but also in India, Paraguay, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. Almost half the fake and low-quality medicines reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) between 2013 and 2017 were found to be in sub-Saharan Africa, said the report, also backed by Interpol and the Institute for Security Studies. "Counterfeiters prey on poorer countries more than their richer counterparts, with up to 30 times greater penetration of fakes in the supply chain," said the report. Substandard or fake anti-malarials cause the deaths of between 64,000 and 158,000 people per year in sub-Saharan Africa, the report said. The counterfeit drug market is worth around $200 billion worldwide annually, WHO says, making it the most lucrative trade of illegally copied goods. Its impact has been devastating. Nigeria said more than 80 children were killed in 2009 by a teething syrup tainted with a chemical normally used in engine coolant and blamed for causing kidney failure. For Dieng, the cost can be measured in more than simple suffering. The night in hospital cost him more than double what he would have paid had he bought the drugs the doctor ordered. "After taking those drugs, the provenance of which we don't know, he came back with new symptoms ... All this had aggravated his condition," said nurse Jules Raesse, who treated Dieng when he stayed at the clinic last month. Fake drugs also threaten a thriving pharmaceutical sector in several African countries. That has helped prompt Ivory Coast - where fake drugs were also sold openly - to crack down on the trade, estimated at $30 billion by Reuters last year. Ivorian authorities said last month they had seized almost 400 tonnes of fake medicine over the past two years. Able Ekissi, an inspector at the health ministry, told Reuters the seized goods, had they been sold to consumers, would have represented a loss to the legitimate pharmaceutical industry of more than $170 million. "They are reputed to be cheaper, but at best they are ineffective and at worst toxic," Abderrahmane Chakibi, Managing Director of French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi's sub-Saharan Africa branch. But in Ivory Coast, many cannot afford to shop in pharmacies, which often only stock expensive drugs imported from France, rather than cheaper generics from places like India. "When you have no means you are forced to go out onto the street," said Barakissa Cherik, a pharmacist in Ivory Coast's lagoon-side commercial capital Abidjan.

Tens of thousands die in Africa each year due to fake drugs

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