Author name: yasir

Egypt warns no peace in region without Gaza ceasefire

Egypt /

Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated on Saturday that without a ceasefire in Gaza, there “will be no peace or security” in the region. During a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Abdelatty condemned Israel’s actions, emphasizing that “in the twenty-first century, we cannot accept a policy of starving over 2.2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.” Sybiha criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, linking it to various global crises. “This war in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine; it’s about restoring a world order based on international law,” he said. He also announced that Ukraine is planning another Global Peace Summit, inviting Russian representatives to participate. Israel’s Netanyahu rejects Egyptian cease-fire initiative in Gaza  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected an initiative proposed by Egypt on Sunday for a short-term cease-fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the proposal, according to Israeli media. “We proposed a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip for two days to exchange four (Israeli) hostages for some (Palestinian) prisoners, and then negotiations would take place over 10 days to turn the cease-fire into a permanent truce,” al-Sisi said during a joint press conference with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in the capital Cairo. Despite the support of most Israeli ministers for the Egyptian proposal, Tel Aviv decided to reject the deal due to opposition from Netanyahu, who emphasized that “negotiations will take place only under fire,” according to Israel’s Channel 12. The channel confirmed that Israel’s security establishment also supported the proposal. Israel estimates that around 101 of its citizens are still being held captive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza amid concerns that some of them may have already been killed in indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes across the densely populated area. Efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to secure a cease-fire and facilitate a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas have so far stalled, with Netanyahu refusing to consider ending the conflict. The Israeli army has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border incursion by Hamas last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire. Nearly 43,000 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 100,000 others injured, according to local health authorities. The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

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Death toll since start of Israeli onslaught on Lebanon climbs to 2,672

World /

 The death toll from Israel’s onslaught on Lebanon since Oct. 8 last year has surged to 2,672, with 12,468 injuries, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Sunday. At least 19 people were killed and 108 injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon on Saturday, according to the ministry. Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since last month against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on Gaza. Despite international warnings that the Middle East is on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, on Oct. 1 it expanded the conflict by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon.

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Over 600 million women and girls affected by war, U.N. warns

World /

Over 600 million women and girls are now affected by war, marking a 50% increase in a decade, and they fear being forgotten amid a global backlash against women’s rights, according to top U.N. officials. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted in a recent report that progress in women’s rights is eroding amid escalating armed conflicts. He noted that the goals of equal participation in peace negotiations, outlined in a Security Council resolution from 2000, remain largely unmet. Guterres pointed out that women’s leadership in peace efforts is being undermined, with decision-making predominantly male-dominated. He warned that as long as patriarchal structures persist, achieving peace will remain challenging. The report revealed alarming statistics: the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled in 2023, cases of conflict-related sexual violence rose by 50%, and the number of girls affected by serious violations increased by 35%. Sima Bahous, head of UN Women, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the lack of attention to women’s voices in peace initiatives. She highlighted the dire situations faced by women in places like Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar, expressing that 612 million affected women and girls wonder if they have been forgotten by the international community. Bahous stressed the urgent need for action, noting that many women in conflict zones face severe food insecurity and high maternal mortality rates. Women’s participation in peace negotiations remains low, with less than 10% involvement in peace processes overall. To address these issues, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed announced a “Common Pledge on Women’s Participation in Peace Processes,” calling for concrete commitments to include women as mediators and ensure their meaningful involvement in peace negotiations. Ambassadors at the meeting highlighted a persistent lack of political will to support women’s roles in peace processes, underscoring the need for renewed commitment from member states.

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Uganda fuel tanker explosion toll up to 24

Africa /

The death toll following a fuel tanker explosion near the Ugandan capital Kampala last week has risen to 24, the government said Sunday. The impoverished East African country has witnessed several similar disasters in recent years, with people rushing to steal fuel from tankers involved in road accidents. The “devastating accident” on Tuesday in the town of Kigogwa, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) north of Kampala, resulted in “11 reported dead at the scene”, said Communications Minister Godfrey Kabbyanga in a statement He added that “13 more have since died in Kiruddu hospital and Bombo military hospital bringing the number to 24”. “Since some of the dead were burnt beyond recognition, the police have been working tirelessly hard to identify the deceased through DNA testing,” he said. The tanker had left the capital for Gulu in northern Uganda, a journey of some 650 kilometres (403 miles), but it overturned and burst into flames en route. The driver is still at large, according to the government.

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Kenya’s court blocks $740 million Adani energy contract

Business /

Kenya’s High Court has halted the government’s plans to award a major electricity transmission contract to India’s Adani Energy Solutions Limited, citing concerns over the procurement process. On Friday, the court issued an order blocking the Sh95.68 billion ($740 million) deal after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) petitioned against it, highlighting issues of public participation and constitutional compliance. Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled for a conservatory order, suspending any project agreements related to the development of transmission lines and substations. The project, designed to enhance Kenya’s electricity infrastructure, has been controversial since its signing on October 11 as a 30-year public-private partnership with the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO). It aimed to finance several high-voltage transmission lines. This court decision is seen as a win for local contractors who argued they were unfairly excluded from the bidding process. Adani Group’s recent attempt to secure a management lease at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has also faced public protests, with critics expressing concerns over potential threats to local jobs and sovereignty. Both the airport project and the transmission line deal have faced scrutiny over transparency and public involvement, with opponents warning of economic risks tied to foreign control of critical infrastructure.

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African Union, SADC urge lifting of US sanctions on Zimbabwe

Africa /

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on Friday called for the unconditional lifting of all sanctions imposed against Zimbabwe. “The Chairperson remains concerned by the negative impact of continued sanctions against the Republic of Zimbabwe on the country’s socio-economic development and recovery efforts,” his office stated in a message marking SADC’s Anti-Sanctions Day, observed annually on Oct. 25. “In solidarity, the SADC community today joins Zimbabwe in calling for the immediate and unconditional removal of these unwarranted and cruel sanctions, which violate the basic tenets of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” stated Zimbabwe’s President and current SADC chairperson, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa emphasized that the imposition of sanctions undermines the collective efforts toward regional integration and sustainable development. “May this message transcend our borders and reach the ears and rattle the conscience of those perpetuating these cruel sanctions. They must realize the extent of harm their reprehensible actions inflict on the generality of the people of Zimbabwe, on the SADC region, and Africa at large,” he said. – March to US Embassy in Harare In Zimbabwe, Anti-Sanctions Day was marked under the banner of the Broad Alliance against Sanctions, with a small group of citizens gathering outside the US Embassy to call for the removal of US-imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. The Broad Alliance Against Sanctions is a group of supporters of Zimbabwe’s ruling party who have protested outside the US Embassy for about five years, making headlines with their near-daily picketing in the capital Harare. The anti-sanctions demonstrators have blamed the sanctions for harming Zimbabwe’s economy, asserting that the embargoes are responsible for the challenges the country faces, including difficulties in obtaining credit, medicine, and educational opportunities. “The sanctions must go. Every ordinary Zimbabwean is suffering because of these sanctions,” Edwin Mbewe, a protester, said. However, the US Embassy refuted claims that the sanctions are to blame for the country’s economic struggles, instead attributing Zimbabwe’s economic crisis to government corruption. “The notion that U.S. sanctions are the cause of Zimbabwe’s difficulties does not align with reality. This false narrative diverts attention from the real issues plaguing Zimbabwe. According to reports by Zimbabwe’s own Prosecutor General, Zimbabwe loses $1.8 billion to corruption annually,” said Pamela Tremont, the US ambassador to Zimbabwe, in a statement. Further commenting on its page on X, formerly Twitter, the US Embassy stated, “there are no sanctions on the 16 million people in Zimbabwe. We urge the Government to deal with economic mismanagement and corrupt actors who are the root causes of Zimbabwe’s economic troubles.” Ambassador Tremont also indicated that Zimbabwe’s economic problems are largely due to mismanagement, which she attributed to corruption costing the country about $2 billion annually. The US Embassy concluded, “sanctions affect only 11 individuals and 3 companies in Zimbabwe, preventing them from using the U.S. financial and banking systems for their personal affairs and traveling to the United States.”

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At BRICS, South Africa’s stance on Palestine welcomed

Africa /

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said many countries have welcomed the position his country took on the Palestinian issue, including its genocide case against Israel at the top UN court. Ramaphosa made the remarks in his BRICS media wrap-up late Thursday, saying he got an opportunity to have bilateral discussions with countries such as Egypt, Congo, as well as Iran, and the UAE. ‘‘All of them welcomed the stance that has been taken by South Africa in relation to Palestine,’’ he said, a video of which was posted on his official X account. Ramaphosa attended the Oct. 22-24 BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan. Ramaphosa said he informed the countries that in a few days South Africa will be submitting its full genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). South Africa filed a case with the ICJ tribunal based in The Hague in late 2023, accusing Israel, which has bombed Gaza since last October, of failing to uphold its commitments under the 1948 Genocide Convention. Several countries, including, Türkiye, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya and Colombia, have all joined the case which began public hearings in January. In May, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. It was the third time the 15-judge panel issued preliminary orders seeking to rein in the death toll and alleviate humanitarian suffering in the blockaded enclave, where the death toll nears 43,000. Ramaphosa said the expansion of BRICS strengthens the Global South, calling it a platform that promotes multilateralism and development. He said during bilateral talks, leaders wished South Africa well for its upcoming G20 presidency in December. Ramaphosa said Pretoria will be promoting the interests of Africa and the Global South, promoting the concept of solidarity, equality and sustainable development.

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LRA victims disappointed by Kwoyelo’s Lenient Sentence

Africa /

Victims of Uganda’s infamous Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) expressed disappointment on Friday over the 40-year prison sentence given to former commander Thomas Kwoyelo for war crimes, including murder, rape, and torture. However, Kwoyelo will only serve an additional 25 years since he has already spent 15 years in custody. Grace Apio, a victim, criticized the sentence as too lenient for those who endured horrific atrocities. “We feel very bad… we’re really suffering,” she stated, emphasizing that the ruling could send a dangerous message to potential future perpetrators. Kwoyelo received a reduced sentence due to being abducted by the LRA as a child and expressing remorse. The LRA, led by Joseph Kony, emerged in the late 1980s with the goal of overthrowing the Ugandan government, committing widespread brutality, including child abductions. Kwoyelo denied the charges and claimed that only Kony could be held accountable for the group’s actions. His lawyer, Evans Ochieng, announced plans to appeal the decision, expressing dissatisfaction with both the conviction and the sentence. Human Rights Watch characterized the trial as a “rare opportunity for justice” for victims of the prolonged conflict, which forced the LRA out of Uganda in 2005. The group’s activities have diminished in recent years, but Kony remains at large, indicted by the International Criminal Court in 2005.

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3.7M children in Sudan at risk of acute malnutrition, warns UN

Africa /

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is worsening, leaving millions in urgent need of aid, the UN said on Friday, warning that 3.7 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition. “There are 3.7 million children under five projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year alone who are in urgent need of life-saving treatment,” the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a joint statement. “These children are already weakened by hunger. If not reached soon, these children are 11 times more likely to die from preventable diseases than their healthier peers inside Sudan,” warned the statement. There is a severe shortage of access to essential services like clean water, health care, and shelter, said the statement. “As we witness the collapse of vital infrastructure, the international response must intensify immediately to match the overwhelming scale of need,” it added. Calls from the UN and the international community for an end to the fighting are increasing as the war threatens to push millions into famine and death due to food shortages caused by the conflict, which has spread to 13 of Sudan’s 18 states. Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been engaged in the conflict, resulting in over 20,000 deaths and more than 10 million displaced people and refugees, according to the UN.

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