Essential The Africa the Media Doesn't Tell You About

[Yehuda]

For the first time, rapists may face 30 years in jail in Somaliland

JANUARY 11, 2018 / 5:00 AM / UPDATED 15 HOURS AGO

NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Somaliland has passed its first law against rape, in a bid by the new government of the breakaway region to crack down on violence against women, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Rape is not a criminal offence and perpetrators do not face any penalty in the self-declared republic of Somaliland, a conservative Islamic region in the Horn of Africa.

Instead, victims’ families are paid off or they are forced to marry their rapists to avoid public shame. The new law will punish rapists with up to 30 years imprisonment.

Ayan Mahamoud, Somaliland’s representative in Britain, said the law passed by the lower house of parliament on Monday still needed approval from the more conservative upper house.

“The bill had been languishing for some years and the newly elected government, which is very serious about tackling violence against women, saw it as a priority to bring it before parliament,” Mahamoud told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“It is however possible that it will face resistance when it comes before the House of Elders in the coming weeks, as members in the upper house tend to be more traditional.”

Somaliland - with a population of about 4 million - declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following a bloody civil war, but is not internationally recognised as a country. Somalia does not have any legislation against sexual violence.

Mahamoud said President Musa Bihi Abdi’s government, which came to power in November, was shocked by reports of gang rape and wanted to take action against it.

He refuted claims the move was part of a strategy to show Somaliland as a functioning democracy with the aim of gaining recognition on the global stage.

The United Nations hailed the law as a milestone, but said much more needed to be done.

“Once it is signed into law, there is need to develop the capacities of the national justice and security actors, non-state actors and service providers and to create awareness among the public,” said Fadumo Dayib, head of UN Women in Somalia.

“Every woman and girl has the right to live her life without the threat and fear of violence. This law will make a substantial contribution in curtailing sexual violence against women and girls.”

Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by Katy Migiro. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org

For the first time, rapists may face 30 years in jail in Somaliland

 

[Bawon Samedi]

For the first time, rapists may face 30 years in jail in Somaliland

JANUARY 11, 2018 / 5:00 AM / UPDATED 15 HOURS AGO

NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Somaliland has passed its first law against rape, in a bid by the new government of the breakaway region to crack down on violence against women, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Rape is not a criminal offence and perpetrators do not face any penalty in the self-declared republic of Somaliland, a conservative Islamic region in the Horn of Africa.

Instead, victims’ families are paid off or they are forced to marry their rapists to avoid public shame. The new law will punish rapists with up to 30 years imprisonment.

Ayan Mahamoud, Somaliland’s representative in Britain, said the law passed by the lower house of parliament on Monday still needed approval from the more conservative upper house.

“The bill had been languishing for some years and the newly elected government, which is very serious about tackling violence against women, saw it as a priority to bring it before parliament,” Mahamoud told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

“It is however possible that it will face resistance when it comes before the House of Elders in the coming weeks, as members in the upper house tend to be more traditional.”

Somaliland - with a population of about 4 million - declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following a bloody civil war, but is not internationally recognised as a country. Somalia does not have any legislation against sexual violence.

Mahamoud said President Musa Bihi Abdi’s government, which came to power in November, was shocked by reports of gang rape and wanted to take action against it.

He refuted claims the move was part of a strategy to show Somaliland as a functioning democracy with the aim of gaining recognition on the global stage.

The United Nations hailed the law as a milestone, but said much more needed to be done.

“Once it is signed into law, there is need to develop the capacities of the national justice and security actors, non-state actors and service providers and to create awareness among the public,” said Fadumo Dayib, head of UN Women in Somalia.

“Every woman and girl has the right to live her life without the threat and fear of violence. This law will make a substantial contribution in curtailing sexual violence against women and girls.”

Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by Katy Migiro. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climate change and resilience. Visit news.trust.org

For the first time, rapists may face 30 years in jail in Somaliland

@FAH1223 @Karbaash @Grano-Grano @Ria_21 @Trajan

 

[BigMan]

lol congrats to Somalia i guess?

 

[Trajan]

@FAH1223 @Karbaash @Grano-Grano @Ria_21 @Trajan

lol congrats to Somalia i guess?

Somaliland*

It's a territory that is seeking independence. Somalia as a whole been had rape laws on the books

 

[thatrapsfan]

I wouldn't rule it out. They might have little choice if it's an existential threat. They rely on the Nile for almost all their needs. Remember Wikileaks in 2010...Egyptians were discussing the possibility of military action.

Its way past that stage now, the dam is almost complete. What are they going to do, invade to sabotage it? There is no credible military option left at this stage, especially with the state their military is in. They are barely able to deal with an insurgency in their own borders (Sinai) never mind invading a country with a well equipped military and massive population.

 

[Yehuda]

Ethiopia bans foreign adoption

By Bijan Hosseini, CNN

Updated 2320 GMT (0720 HKT) January 11, 2018

Actress Angelina Jolie adopted her daughter, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, left, from Ethiopia in 2005, when the girl was six months old.

(CNN) — Ethiopia has banned the adoption of Ethiopian children by foreign families, according to the country's state-run News Agency ENA, citing concerns over abuse.

Ethiopian officials previously suspended adoptions back in November, but allowed pending cases to continue through the process, according to the US Department of State.

Children adopted by foreign families in the past have been exposed to "various crimes and social crisis in the country they grew up in," ENA said.

In 2013, a US couple was convicted in the death of their 13-year-old daughter, whom they adopted from Ethiopia. Hana Williams died in 2011 from "hypothermia brought on by malnutrition and being forced to remain outside on a cold rainy night," according to court documents.

Hana's mother was convicted of homicide by abuse in the first degree, while her father was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree. Both are currently serving prison time.

The state news agency said intercountry adoption made children "vulnerable to identify crisis, psychological problems, and violation of rights."

Members of Seattle's Ethiopian community gather around the grave of Hana Williams on October 29, 2013, a few hours after the sentencing of Larry and Carri Williams.

The ban will "enable children to grow up in Ethiopian culture, custom, social values and practices of their birth place."

The US Embassy in Addis Ababa said it is unsure how the decision will affect current pending adoption cases, but that it will continue to "engage with the Ethiopian government."

Ethiopia was among the top 10 countries from which Americans adopted children in 2016, according to the US Department of State. Since 1999 more than 15,000 adoptions to the United States have been completed.

Actress Angelina Jolie famously adopted her daughter, Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt, from Ethiopia in 2005 when the girl was six months old.

The African country has seen a steady decline in adoptions since 2010, according to statistics from the State Department. In 2016, Ethiopia experienced "changes in the government office that oversees processing of adoptions," the State Department says. These changes contributed to ongoing processing delays.

Ethiopia says the new proclamation "encourages local adoption, family reunification and reintegration that will enable children to grow up in the midst of their fellow citizens."

Ethiopia bans foreign adoption

 

[Trajan]

Its way past that stage now, the dam is almost complete. What are they going to do, invade to sabotage it? There is no credible military option left at this stage, especially with the state their military is in. They are barely able to deal with an insurgency in their own borders (Sinai) never mind invading a country with a well equipped military and massive population.

Nah not invasion. In the Wikileaks they were discussing airstrikes to take it out. Egyptian govt was also caught on live air discussing ways of sabotaging the dam covertly.

Egyptian Air Force copped 24 Rafale fighter jets recently which have a range of 1500 KM. Not sure how effective it would be though since taking dams out is notoriously difficult (as the Brits found out in WWII with the dam busters). Ethiopia also has a missile defence system by the dam. They're not lacking lol.

 

[AB Ziggy]

African ministers meet over AU financing model

Daniel Mumbere 4 hours ago

RWANDA
African finance ministers will meet in Rwanda on Saturday to review progress on the implementation of the 0.2% levy on imports aimed at fully financing the African Union (AU).

The funding model was adopted during a Heads of State and Government Summit in Kigali, Rwanda in July 2016.

The same summit elected Rwanda’s Paul Kagame to take over from Alpha Code of Guinea as AU chair and when he effectively took over on January 1, 2018, his task is clear; steer the continental body away from heavy dependence on aid.


A joint statement by African Union and Rwanda names Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Chad, Djibouti, Guinea, Sudan, Morocco, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, Gabon, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire (14 out of 55 member states) as having started collecting the levy.

The statement adds that four other countries have initiated internal legal and administrative processes to allow collecting of the tax.

AU member states estimate to raise $1.2 billion through the import levy that would make the bloc self-sustaining and end dependence on donors who fund about 70 per cent of the budget.

AU’s activities include peacekeeping missions, programmes, and operational costs.

The finance ministers meeting in Kigali will review recommendations to be presented at the next Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia later this month.

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who spearheaded the continental reforms, will assume the role of chairmanship of the African Union for the year 2018 at the Summit.

African ministers meet over AU financing model | Africanews

 

[Yehuda]

Turkey, Somalia Sign Economic Partnership Pact

January 13, 2018

Turkey and Somalia on Friday signed a pact to boost their strategic economic partnership.

“We wish to deepen relations with Somalia. Turkey’s investment in Somalia stands at over $100 million,” Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag told a signing ceremony alongside his Somali counterpart Mahdi Mohammed Gulaid.

“This figure forms a foundation to prompt bigger cooperation in the days to come.”

He predicted that the bilateral trade volume would rise to $200 million from about $120 million in 2016.

He spoke at the opening of a Turkey-Somalia Joint Economic Commission meeting in the capital Ankara co-chaired by himself and Gulaid.

Akdag added that both countries should carry through 2016 memorandums of understanding in such areas as energy, mines, electricity, higher education, agriculture, and maritime affairs.

He added an expected free trade agreement between the two countries would boost trade ties.

Gulaid, for his part, said the meeting would maintain bilateral economic ties and bolster strategic cooperation in the years to come.

The countries also inked a memorandum of understanding on fishing and fisheries, signed by Turkey’s Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Ahmet Esref Fakibaba and Somali’s Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Abdirahman Mohamed Abdi Hashi.

“Now we have started work on the development of Somalia as well as [it] becoming a major economic power with the support of Turkey,” Hashi said following the signing ceremony, adding that the pact would be the beginning of numerous future cooperation deals between the two countries.

Under the deal, Turkish fishermen will be able to fish in Somalia’s territorial waters.

Turkey and Somalia have long enjoyed friendly relations, as Turkey has invested in many areas to help modernize Mogadishu, the capital of the Horn of Africa country.

Last September, Turkey opened its largest military training academy abroad in Somalia.

Located south of Mogadishu, the training facility took some two years to build.

The facility spans over 4 square kilometers (1.54 square miles), and can train more than 1,500 troops at a time, according to the Somali government.

Turkey, Somalia Sign Economic Partnership Pact

 

[The Singularity]

DRC army launches massive offensive against Ugandan Islamic extremists ADF.

 

[Bawon Samedi]

DRC army launches massive offensive against Ugandan Islamic extremists ADF.

Good!

Hope they also do this to the Rwandan backed militias destabilizing the Eastern Congo.

 

[AB Ziggy]

Ghana records 80% increase in new cases of HIV/AIDS in 2017 | TODAY.NG

There was 80 per cent increase in new cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Ghana according to a 2017 Ghana AIDS Commission report.

The report also indicates that the Volta Region and Brong Ahafo Region topped the chart of HIV/AIDS prevalence.

A large proportion of the new HIV/AIDS cases were pregnant women, the report also revealed.

The commission which revealed its findings during a two-day annual strategic planning meeting urged Ghanaians to take preventive measure in order not to contract the deadly disease.

The Director-General of the Commission, Amokowa Adu-Gyamfi, made a passionate appeal to Ghanaians to voluntarily test for the virus.

Mrs. Adu-Gyamfi asked persons living with the virus to stick to the approved anti-retroviral drugs because there was no herbal cure for the disease yet.

“We are not condemning them (herbalist), we are just saying that there is no herbal cure as yet for HIV. If you want to take them it’s up to you. But then take your anti-retroviral medication,” she said.

She alleged that the activities of the gay community are to blame for the sharp increase in HIV infection.

Since the start of the epidemic, an estimated 78 million people have become infected with HIV and 35 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. In 2016, one million people died of AIDS-related illnesses.


HIV/AIDS a major public health concern and cause of death in many parts of Africa. Although the continent is home to about 15.2 per cent of the world’s population, more than two-thirds of the total HIV infections, some 35 million people, were Africans, of whom 15 million have already died.

Sub-Saharan Africa alone accounted for an estimated 69 per cent of all people living with HIV and 70 per cent of all AIDS deaths in 2011. In the countries of sub-Saharan Africa most affected, AIDS has raised death rates and lowered life expectancy among adults between the ages of 20 and 49 by about 20 years.

 

[The Odum of Ala Igbo]

Those new DR Congo uniforms like nice. No more rubber boots

DRC army launches massive offensive against Ugandan Islamic extremists ADF.

 

[The Singularity]

Those new DR Congo uniforms like nice. No more rubber boots

They've also got some new tanks and beautiful artillery guns.

 

[Yehuda]

Ghana’s economy will top Africa in 2018

By Business Desk - January 16, 2018

Ghana is tipped to lead Africa as the fastest growing economy in 2018 with a growth rate of eight per cent as a result of increased oil and gas production, which boosts exports and domestic electricity production.

In its latest report dubbed: “Global Economic Prospects: Sub-Saharan Africa,” the World Bank has forecasted that growth in Sub-Saharan Africa will pick up at 3.2 percent in 2018, and Ghana will lead the economies in Africa with eight per cent followed by Ethiopia and Tanzania, which is expected to grow at 7.2%

Ghana’s economic growth, which had slowed from 4.0% in 2014 to 3.7% in 2015, recover to 5.8% in 2016 and 8.7% in 2017, following consolidation of macroeconomic stability and implementation of measures to resolve the crippling power crisis.

However the forecasted recovery in economic growth in 2018 will depends on fiscal consolidation measures remaining on track, quick resolution of the power crisis, two new oil wells coming on-stream, and improved cocoa harvest and gold production.

“Growth in non-resource intensive countries is anticipated to remain solid, supported by infrastructure investment, resilient services sectors, and the recovery of agricultural production,” the report stated.

On the Sub-Sahara outlook, the bank said growth in the area was forecast to pick up to 3.2 per cent in 2018. It also predicated a moderate rise in commodity prices.

Per capita output, which was projected to shrink by 0.1 per cent in 2017, is also expected to increase to a modest 0.7 per cent growth pace over 2018-19.

“At those rates,” World Bank said “growth will be insufficient to achieve poverty reduction goals in the region, particularly if constraints to more vigorous growth persist”.

Growth in South Africa, the second biggest economy in Africa, which is projected to rise to 0.6 per cent in 2017, is expected to accelerate to 1.1 per cent in 2018. Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria, which is forecasted to go from recession to a 1.2 per cent growth rate in 2017, will gain speed to 2.4 per cent in 2018, helped by a rebound in oil production.

Growth is forecast to jump to 6.1 per cent in Ghana in 2017 and 7.8 per cent in 2018 as increased oil and gas production boosts exports and domestic electricity production. However the bank noted that militants’ attacks on oil pipelines could hold the key.

“If militants’ attacks on oil pipelines in the country decreases further the Nigeria economic will grow further”

Ghana’s economy will top Africa in 2018