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20 Informer East Africa (Print) ISSN 2516-3965 (Online) ISSN 2516-3973

JUNE 2020 UK EDITION

The world says Africa CDC calls on

Tanzania to share
BLACK LIVES MATTER By LAURYN MUTASA
virus data
The head of the Africa Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
says “we continue to remain hope-
There is no topical issue in re- ful” that Tanzania will cooperate
cent history which has united the by sharing its COVID-19 data
world like the death of George even as the country’s president de-
Floyd in Minneapolis, USA in clared victory over the pandemic.
May. George died after a white Continued on page 3...
police officer knelt on his neck
for almost 9 minutes. Bobi Wine, Besigye,
Protest erupted across the US as
secretly meet over
chants of black lives matter and crumbling People
placards dominated in every pub- Power Movement
lic space. This followed looting,
Kampala, Uganda – For the last
torching of police vehicles and it
three weeks, news headlines in
all got ugly as protesters ignored
Photo by Jacobin Uganda have been talking about
the deadly Coronavirus and rules prominent supporters who are de-
on lockdown and took to the cent and Black lives matter. many. The four police officers fecting from People Power Move-
streets. who handled George Floyd were ment led by Hon.
Protests carried on in many Eu- sacked and they are now being
However, it was not just in Amer- ropean cities. In Africa and many prosecuted. Continued on page 4 ...
ica, the clip trending on main- other countries, the chant was the
stream and social media was same, ‘End police brutality and Legislators in the House of Rep- Kenyan author
watched globally and people black lives matter.’ resentatives Judiciary Committee shares the impact of
protested in their own countries engaged civil rights activists and
in solidarity with the Americans. The protests continue in the US law enforcers in Houston plan to
Covid-19 in Kenya
In London, protesters took to the and the call for justice and fair- introduce a bill in the House on Kenya has emerged as one of the
streets, chanting UK is not inno- ness seem to have resonated with 4th July 2020 on combating po- countries in Africa that has been
lice violence and racial in- adversely affected by the COVID
justice. 19 pandemic, which has recently
swept across the globe...
The Medaria Arradondo, Continued on page 6 ...
Police Chief in Minneapolis
has vowed that his depart-
ment will be reformed to
Five members of the
ensure George Floyd death UDPS, killed in a fire
is not in vain. He said one
of the reforms could be an
set by security forces
early warning system to
identify the conduct of po-
Benjamin Badibanga Mwindilayi,
18, was about to finish high school
lice officers.
when he was shot dead at a shop in
front of his family home in King-
Anti-racism protesters on
abwa, in northeast Kinshasa, at
the streets shared with this
around 11 am on 21 January 2018.
newspaper that the injustice
Photo PR Week perpetrated to black people
Continued on page 12 ...
across the world was deeply
Informer East Africa

rooted in colonialism and slavery. century slave trader Edward Col-

Their anger was transferred on ston and dumped it to the harbour.
statutes which symbolised or ech- Kenyans also standing in soli-
oed colonialism and slave trade. darity celebrated the removal of
Britain’s Queen Victoria statute
In Boston US, a statute of Chris- in Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi.
topher Columbus was removed
and dumped in Lake Virginia. In Kenyans said, they didn’t wish
the UK, statute of Sir Winston to be reminded of colonialism
Churchill was graffitied with and slavery. The death of George
paint and it was later sealed off
Floyd has united the world and
for protection. people from all races to stand
against racism, inequality and in-
In Bristol UK too, protesters justice.
pulled down the statute of 17th
Photo JM

Photo by JM Photo JM

Photo by JM
Photo by Seattle Globalist

House of Commons Library UK

Photo by New York Times
2
 June 2020

Africa CDC calls on Tanzania

to share virus data
The head of the Africa Centers could be infected with the virus.cess. Brazilian federal police raid-
ed the government palace of Para
embark on a large-scale coronavi-
rus testing as the centerpiece of its
for Disease Control and Preven-
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO state in the Amazon region as well plan to reopen its economy. That
tion says “we continue to remain
KNOW TODAY ABOUT THE Gov. Helder Barbalho’s home as is diverging from the strategy of
hopeful” that Tanzania will co-
VIRUS OUTBREAK: part of an investigation into al- President Andres Manuel López
operate by sharing its COVID-19
leged fraud in the purchase of ven- Obrador’s federal administration,
data even as the country’s pres-
— ‘Ticking time bomb:’ Lack of tilators for treating COVID-19. which has shunned widespread
ident declared victory over the
beds slows Delhi’s virus fight testing as a waste of resources.
pandemic.
— Mexico City Mayor Claudia
— Resurgence of virus threatens Sheinbaum says the capital will — A scientist whose modelling
John Nkengasong says “they un-
South Korea’s suc- helped set Brit-
derstand exactly what is at stake”
cess story ain’s coronavi-
in the East African nation, which
rus strategy says
has not updated its virus data since
— Homes for dis- the country’s
late April.
abled hit hard by death toll could
COVID, faced past have been cut in
Tanzania’s number of cases re-
violations half if lockdown
mains frozen at 509, while oppo-
had been intro-
sition leaders have asserted there
— Two Brazilian duced a week
are actually tens of thousands.
governors are com- earlier. Britain
ing under more fire has the world’s
President John Magufuli at a
over allegations of second-highest
church service on Sunday de-
corruption related to number of con-
clared that “corona in our country
COVID-19 spend- firmed COV-
has been removed by the powers
ing, with one having ID-19 deaths
of God,” and he praised the con-
his home raided and at more than
gregation for not wearing face
another set to face Photo by AP 41,000. Google
masks. He has warned that masks
an impeachment pro- Alerts
not approved by the government

European Commission seeks to lift

border controls by end of June
The European Commission has
called on member states to lift all
border restrictions by the end of
June.
The request comes amid a “fast
improving” Covid-19 situation in
many countries, home affairs com-
missioner Ylva Johansson said.
“We are coming very close to a
situation where we should lift all
the internal border restrictions and
border checks,” she explained.
EU home affairs ministers will
discuss the response to the Cov-
id-19 pandemic in the field of in-
ternal border controls and the free
movement of persons today, with
further announcements to follow.
Italy did so earlier this week.
Johansson said she was “very
happy” to see EU nations be-
ginning to end border checks
and open up the EU and Schen-
gen passport-free area again
as spread of Covid-19 was
stemmed.
As the summer tourist season
approaches, several nations, in-
cluding France and Belgium, Photo by PA
have announced the reopening of
their borders, with more European
nations, including Germany, set to
follow suit on June 15th.
Johansson said the epidemiologi-
cal situation was fast improving in
many member states and that citi-
zens were adopting social distanc-
ing measures as “a new normal” to
fight the spread of the virus.
However, decisions to
reopen will be taken at
a national level, likely
leading to some resist-
ance.
Source: Image: Zheng
Huansong/Xinhua News
Agency/PA Images
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Informer East Africa

Bobi Wine, Besigye, secretly meet over

crumbling People Power Movement
By NANGAYI GUYSON

Kampala, Uganda – For the

This is the third time Bobi Wine
and Besigye have met to talk about
In a joint statement after the meet-
ing last year, Besigye and Bobi
not be contesting again then what
is he still looking for? People can’t
last three weeks, news headlines
making a strong alliance against Wine said: “we agreed that despite be fooled twice and if Bobi Wine
in Uganda have been talking
Museveni’s ruling party the NRM. belonging to different formations/ adds himself in that mess, we shall
about prominent supporters who
Last year while speaking to jour- fronts, we must all work together just clap for him. That is what we
are defecting from People Pow-
nalists at the FDC headquarters in as partners”.However, on a sad wanted,’’ Mirundi added.
er Movement led by Hon. Rob-
Najjanankumbi, the party chair- note, many Ugandans believe an
ert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine
person, Mr Waswa Biriggwa, said alliance in Ugandan elections can- Uganda is expected to go to polls
ahead of 2021 General Elections.
they will publicly announce the not work. They have already pre- early 2021 but because of coro-
One of the latest people to de-
resolutions of the talks. dicted the talks between the two navirus pandemic, No political
fect is top people power Blogger,
will defiantly fail. campaigns are allowed in Uganda.
Ashraf Katto, mobilizer and for-
“We have met twice with the Peo- President Yoweri Museveni said
mer self-appointed Spokesperson
ple Power group and we are to Alex Makuyi, a youth chairman it would be wrong to hold a pres-
of Kyadondo East Member of
meet again to work out the mo- for Bududa District in Uganda idential election due early next
Parliament and co-founder of the
dalities of defeating the current and a strong support of NRM said year if the coronavirus persists,
Movement.
regime. We shall notify the pub- “there is nothing much Ugandans signaling for the first time a possi-
lic about our final strategy very should expect from those talks, ble postponement.
Ashraf Katto accuses Bobi Wine
soon,” Mr Biriggwa said. opposition in Uganda is weak and
of being selfish and only minding
full of greedy people. Museveni is “To have elections when the virus
about his brothers and close rel-
However, he added that “FDC as still around until God calls him” is still there… It will be madness,”
atives. After defecting , escorted
a party has not yet directly partic- he said. the 75-year-old Museveni said in
the blogger to the President by
ipated in the talks but Dr Besigye an interview with the local NBS
Superstar and Promoter Balaam
is doing it on our behalf and as a He cited the Mbabazi and Besi- Television.
Barugahara who confirmed his
party, we are ready to join hands gye’s TDA (The Democratic Al-
departure from people power and
with other pressure groups with liance) talks of 2016 Presidential But postponing a general election
asked for forgiveness from Pres-
similar ideologies to defeat Mu- elections which failed to agree on in Uganda seems to be one of the
ident Museveni and was given
seveni,” he added. a single candidate. most difficult things. According
cows. Ashraf Katto is just one of
to Article 77 in the 1995 Consti-
the people who have so far left
In May, Dr Besigye and Mr Former Presidential press secre- tution, there’s only extension of
people power. Others are full
Kyagulanyi started informal meet- tary Tamale Mirundi casted the the life of Parliament for a peri-
figure, Bobi wine’s Body Guard
ings about joining hands to defeat talks by saying Bobi Wine Joining od of not more than six months if
Eddy Mutwa and among others.
the ruling National Resistance Besigye will be the last Curse in a state of war or emergency is in
Movement Party and President him. Mirundi said that this was existence. Even in times of war or
As a result of this defections, Peo-
Museveni 74, who is expected to a miscalculation on Bobi Wine’s emergency, a parliamentary reso-
ple Power Movement has started
contest for the sixth elective term side, noting that it will be his last lution in favour of the extension
to crumble and according to the
but these talks did not go well and curse if the two make a partner- backed by not less than two-thirds
inside sources, the two strong op-
were disrupted by rumors within ship. of all MPs has to be passed. So,
position leaders in Uganda, Bobi
the people Power Movement. it’s difficult for Uganda to post-
Wine, Besigye, secretly met last
“Bobi wine is likely to lose all the pone elections to more than six
month pave way on how they can
Bobi Wine and Besigye aim at 35% of the population is seeking months.
defeat President Yoweri Musev-
fronting one candidate in the for a change of government and
eni who has ruled the East African
presidential race come 2021. The rallying behind if he dare join This means Museveni who has
nation since taking over power by
meeting started from Bobi Wine’s hands with Besigye, he will lose been in power since 1986 as the
force in 1986.
home in Magere, Waki- them. Besigye has a curse that has leader of a rebel army and his
so District after he not enabled him to win the elec- long rule has been marked by ac-
(Bobi Wine) was re- tion,” Mirundi asserted. cusations of corruption, human
lease from jail on May rights violations and poor social
02 last month year and “If Bobi comes alone with his peo- services, to face a popular sing-
last month Bobi Wine ple power movement, he stands a er-turned-politician Bobi Wine of
met Besigye at his chance but if he collaborates with people power movement or his
home in Kasagati on Besigye, he has already failed be- four-time challenger Dr Kizza Be-
the outskirts of Kam- fore 2021. First ask yourself why siegye of the FDC after an alliance
pala. Besigye has failed to win the elec- to front one presidential candidate
tion. He announced that he will has been made by the two leaders.
4
 June 2020

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Informer East Africa

Kenyan author shares the impact of

Covid-19 in Kenya
By FLEVIAN MUTIE

K enya has emerged as one of the This impact will be determined as

its revenues given a fact that it
has been trying to make a come-
food on the table.
countries in Africa that has been
the country approaches the next back from its lossmaking streak These ventures range from sale of
adversely affected by the COVID
harvest period. Consequently, the in no-profit making declaration protective gear to medical insti-
19 pandemic, which has recently
country is likely to go deeper into year after year. tutions, sale of sanitization tanks
swept across the globe, shaking
the pockets and import more food On the contrary, with the closure and booths, face masks, sanitizers
it and wreaking great havoc in
so as to maintain supply lines of of all learning institutions, and and generally foodstuff, which
almost everything that stands on
crucial commodities and manage with the mandate issued by the some Kenyans are doing to sur-
its way, ranging from health, ed-
food security. government for the citizens to vive, as life has to go on despite
ucation and majorly on economy,
stay at home, hundreds of new the pandemic. This is mostly be-
even to the point of affecting the
As business- ing done by Kenyans
super power states that most Af-
es have not who have faced termi-
rican countries do depend on for
been left un- nation of contracts or
a boost.
touched by totally lost their jobs
the tough due to the COVID 19
On the same, IEA News, speak-
sting of the crisis.
ing to Kenyans in urban centres,
virus, most Apart from the impact
came across a renowned Kenyan
entities have on businesses and en-
author and online entrepreneur,
succumbed trepreneurship, Anene
Enos Anene, who is based in Nai-
to unavoid- says that COVID 19
robi, and in an interview with IEA
able closure has had a social im-
News, he says that he has high-
while others pact, as it has also
lighted such economic effects in
are waver- negatively affected
his book called Strategic Manage-
ing in it with families and marriag-
ment for Business; Across Func-
others hav- es. The Kenya gov-
tional Global Perspective in the
ing to emerge ernment has adopt-
21st century, Anene quotes sev-
and reinvent Roberts bus turns into a grocery store PhotoBy Flevian Mutie ed strict measures to
eral macro environments which
themselves. counter the spread of
interplay within nations and how
According to International La- ventures and small businesses the virus.
they impact into organizational
bour Organization It has been have sprung up in Kenya’s urban
behavior.
estimated that due to restrictions areas owing to the outbreak. But these measures, as necessary
in travels, the International Air as they are, are having particu-
These environments include po-
Transport Association (IATA) For example, as the Kenya gov- lar impact on women and girls,
litical, legal, international rela-
had expected a plunge in passen- ernment recently classified food including elevating the risk of
tions, terrorism, health environ-
ger revenue to 44% which would distribution as an essential ser- gender-based violence. Recently,
ments amongst others, with the
translate to USD 252 billion in vice, there has sprung a rampant Africa Mediations, an organiza-
primary focus being on health
decline. increase in most of Kenya’s ur- tion in Kenya dealing with jus-
as an operating environment for
ban centers since supply chains tice administration highlighted
business, especially under the
In Kenya for example we have have been opened up, and with an increase in domestic and gen-
scourge of COVID 19 as a defin-
seen the Kenya Airways being everyone staying home. Food has der-based violence. This has con-
ing moment.
grounded as a result this effect become a daily necessity, which sequently been a result of every-
has without doubt taken a toll on has seen the demand for food one being subjected to staying at
Simultaneously, Kenya is also
doubling up. home where a game of fault find-
recovering from a
All the citi- ing has risen, especially between
battle with locust
zens have been partners and couples in marriage,
invasion that hap-
forced to adapt leading to fracas in homes and
pened early this year
to the pandem- breaking of many marriages.
whose impact has
ic environment,
not been fully con-
and cannot just Anene says that this kind of vi-
firmed but is nega-
stay at home, as olence is increasing by the day,
tively impacting the
Anene says that and it seems to become the norm
agricultural sector,
staying behind especially during this pandemic
and before we re-
closed doors when all people have been sub-
cover, here comes Traders including Kimani line up their commodities at a roadside in Nairobi (Car
will not bring jected to the curfew and stay-
the pandemic. boot Sale) Photo by Flevian Mutie
6

ing at home. “This is likely to
happen, as husbands and wives,
and vice versa come home early
to find one another and most of
them have practiced fault-find-
ing especially on when it comes
to provision, and unfortunately it
happens at a time when the girl
child and the woman as a whole
has been empowered. I wish Ken-
ya, as a state can opt to follow the
family-first agenda laid down by
the UN in Africa, and I also wish
that it would apply to all cases
and not just women” says Anene.
Enos adds that on the other hand,
some of the businesses have been
started by entrepreneurs who
have seen a gap and chose to
cash in. Taking another instance,
the flower sector the once boom-
ing business and the favorite of
many in the European market
whose contribution in the econo-
my usually attracted around USD
1.15 billion annually in forex ex-
change has been crippled due to
curfews and lockdowns in major
market countries and lack of ef-
fective freight transport and this
has resulted to employees being
sent home on compulsory leave
hence the horticulture industry
has been crippled an approximate
of 58% of people being affect-
ed and being made redundant at
work according to ILO.
The East Africa nations such like
Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Bu-
rundi, South Sudan and Rwanda
for instance have been having
a thriving business with an al-
most a borderless operation zone
where the flow of goods and ser-
vices have been exchanged from
the coast of Mombasa all the way
to the far ends of Kigali, Kampala
and Dar es salaam.
However, this free movement
of goods and services and road
trucks have faced hurdles due to
the Coronavirus effects as a result
we have seen the Kenyan Presi-
dent taking more stern measures
to invoke border control and lock-
down, the move which so far will
continue to have a catastrophic
effect and strain to both local and
foreign business ventures.
The tourism sector which em-
ploys thousands of Kenyans in
its tourism products under safa-
ri tourism, coastal tourism and
business-conference has seen the
loss of tourists who are unable
to travel owing to restrictions in
travel and for fear of spreading
the coronavirus disease to other
people. The ban itself had also
been placed on hotels and eater-
ies, bars and restaurants in Kenya
and although the ban being lifted
albeit with control measures, the
effect still in economic loss will
be felt as it is now.
The Kenyan matatu and locomo-
tive SGR transportation in the
sector has seen a decline in terms
of seat occupancy and due to the
extension of curfews and sec-
tional cessation of movement in
and out of counties like Nairobi,
Mombasa, Kwale and Mandera,
there has been reduced activities
on road transport more so their
economic contribution to the
economy has deeply been impact-
ed negatively. Anene says that he
Impact of the pandemic cannot be
understated in the world econo-
mies and business organizations
all over the world.
Kenya as a country and her busi-
nesses within the borders are not
exceptional as they are being im-
pacted on the same breath. How-
ever, in as much as the Covid19
pandemic and its effects exist,
it is important for organization
to reinvent and operate at these
times if at all they have to sur-
vive. Some of the measures which
can be adopted to survive at these
trying times include restructuring
of business to fit the moment, due
to reduced economic activities
and production, then work from
home can be integrated as busi-
ness model.
Shift work pattern to be an equal
chance for employees if at all
full time and absorption is not
possible, reduced income or half
pay to employees, leveraging on
available technologies to save
on cost of travelling and confer-
ence meetings which can be done
virtually like on teleconferencing
and phone call conferencing.
“I believe the nations shall once
June 2020
again thrive after this
pandemic comes to an
end just like other pan-
demics swept across
the globe and are now
history. Consequent-
ly, Kenyans are los-
ing jobs by the days
because of the nega-
tive economic curve
in offices, companies
and organizations at IEA Flevian Mutie Speaks with Writer Enos Anene
large”. Says Enos. Apart from Kimani, this has also
pushed other Kenyan small busi-
Owing to the pandemic, most ness owners towards innovation
Kenyans have started operating and creativity in their business-
small businesses from their car es in pursuit of higher custom-
boots in order to get their daily er numbers especially with the
bread, meet other expenses and at scourge of the virus allover.
the end of the day make al ends
meet. A businessman in Nairobi’s Imara
Daima has taken his bus and in-
The same experiences have as stead of putting more efforts into
well been shared across and into the lucrative transport business,
the transport sector, where John and unlike Kimani, he resolved
Kimani, a taxi operator says he to convert it into a mobile gro-
has struggled to get passengers in cery store. Robert Muruika now
vain, which has consequently co- sells fruits and vegetables from
erced him to start vegetables and it, and gets his daily bread out of
fruits from his car boot. Kimani, it. Speaking to IEA News, Rob-
speaking to IEA News, says he ert says that he can easily move
had to get something else to do so across Nairobi Eastlands vending
as to provide for his family. his commodity and to other are-
as where fruits and veggies are
“This is a measure that came af- highly in demand. He adds that
ter I was suspended from East before the COVID 19 outbreak,
Africa Portland Cement, my pre- his transport venture has brought
vious workplace. he says. I used big returns on a daily basis, but
to drive all the way down from with the new measures which the
Nairobi to Athiriver and back as Kenya government has put into
I went to work, but when things place, the matatu industry cannot
turned upside, I decided to avail generate even halfway what he
my car for taxi and cab services.” has been getting before.
Adds Kimani. It came to a point
where everything was totally out “This is why I have taken such
of control, when this pandemic a big risk and converted my bus
blew across the country, and I into a mobile grocery store.” Says
had to retrieve my car and start a Robert. “If we have more daring
business venture on my own, just guys like me, Kenya would be
to survive through it. very far, especially in the field
of innovation. Am calling fellow
I got veggies and fruits amongst stakeholders in the business dock-
other wares which I used to sell et to think outside the box.” He
in a posh Nairobi estate, although adds. Robert says that the Kenyan
nowadays I move from street to capital, Nairobi has recently seen
street. Kimani adds that selling a rampant increase as many exhi-
fruits from his car next to a busy bitions in the car boots and vans
highway is even more lucrative, craze has slowly spread in all the
as most people having been sub- residential areas in the city and
jected to staying at home are buy- has become the norm, as most en-
ing foodstuff, cereals and fruits trepreneurs are slowly turning to
in bulk. “I wouldn’t think of re- such ventures as survival strategy
treating back to my former job. in the coronavirus era.
This looks good for me,” he says.
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Kenya
 June 2020

Open letter to H.E Salva Kiir

Mayardit, President of the Re-
public of South Sudan
Re: Requesting H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit to Repatriate
the South Sudanese living in Protection of Civilian site (POCS)
Your excellency, researchers, and I learned with re-
gret that, the reports indicate that
their relocation, and or repatria-
tion to the place of their choice is
and begin the process of rebuild-
ing their lives.
Please accept my greetings and
approximately 40% of 230,000 critical and important given that
best wishes to you and the nation
people living in POCS have devel- nature of uncertainty and politi- As one of the officials in the 2010
as we navigate through the COV-
oped mental illness. the report was cal dynamics of our country, and election, I can tell you without
ID-19 crisis and the incident of
carried out in 2015 and we are in not only those, there are also other fear of contradiction that you’ve
Sherikat that bedeviled our coun-
2020 now, so the number has the environmental factors which can garnered 90% votes in greater up-
try. I commend you and your gov-
probability of shooting to about hinder the “right time” for their per Nile; thus, by that virtue, they
ernment for forming a committee
70% or more. relocation and resettlement as pro- are your citizens and supporters
that shall investigate, prosecute,
vided for in R-ARCSS. that believe in your leadership and
and apprehend the criminals that
The rate to which this mental still is despite the slogan they are
are behind such senseless and ab-
illness grow is exponential as it Therefore, I find now is the right chanting in UNMISS such can be
horring killings of hardworking
is not easy when well-off person time and how I wish, it should understood as frustration caused
citizens at their place of hustle.
is reduced to zero and confined to have been the priority that could by overstay in a concentration
Your excellency,
live in the condition in which they have been tackled before anything camp for period closed to 7 years
have lived-in for these years. else as it concerns your citizens and also given the fact that they
I write to you as Nuer, and as a cit-
However, your excellency, I am in which you lead and served; the are families of the victims and
izen of South Sudan baffled by the
not here to explain the challenges situation on the ground is much survivors whose lives have been
state of the people living in UN-
they are facing as I know you’re worse than we all can imagine. shattered by wars, and who are
MISS CAMP (POCs) for approx-
much aware of the refugee life and therefore, urgent resettlement will living with great despair, anger
imately 6 years now. I also write
their circumstances as those were be helpful now that, there is calm and bitterness following the 2013
to you as a staunch supporter of
the reasons why you took-up arm and free movement of people. Conflict.
the party (SPLM/A) in which you
against the Khartoum Regime to
lead concurrently with our nascent
liberates and defend your people Your excellency, I’ve never re- They must be resettled such that
republic. these two reasons have
who were living as refugees in quested anything before either pri- the enemy of peace doesn’t ex-
placed you as the highest civil
their capital of Khartoum. vately or publicly, this is my first ploit their anger for political mile-
servant in our country that formu-
time coming to the public request- age and patronage. Whereas you
lates, directs, and inspects poli-
Your Excellency, ing you to repatriate your people and your colleagues gathered for
cies that are meant for the national
I am here to request your esteemed to the place of their choice so that the Extra Ordinary African Union
good of our country.
authority to speedily initiate Chap- they are integrated into the society Summit to deliberate on how best
ter V, article 5.4 to uphold the promise
In 2016, I was a member of the
which talks of of the African Union
SPLM/A-IO Under the First Vice
the establish- to end impunity, and
President Dr.Riek Machar, but
ment of compen- silencing of the guns,
following the July 8th incident
sation and the I ask you to never lose
of 2016, I relocated to UNMISS
Reparation Au- sight of the profound
POCs for reasons that are known
thority (CRA). I suffering that is linked
to me-one of it is, I made a prom-
am aware that it to IDPs, and their much
ise not to turn my gun on my fel-
should be con- wailing for justice.
low South Sudanese.
stituted after 6
months from the The hybrid court is the
Therefore, I went to UNMISS and
commencement only hope for them as
lived with those people for about
of the transi- they believe that the
4 months, and I can tell you for
tional period but perpetrators of the
a fact, life isn’t easy there. while
with due respect, gravest crimes shall be
in UNMISS I was given reports/
your excellency, Humanitarian Practise Network held accountable just
research carried out by the NGO
Designed by: www.dreamsfactorydesign.com 9
Informer East Africa
as you swiftly respond to the Sher- lives of your citizens that is dwin- have. Hence, should this process 3. Central Bank of South Sudan
ikat incident. I hope that shall be dling at alarming rates next door. be caused to delay because of lack can cover this through money cre-
the norm for our nascent republic of funds, I purpose the following; ation or by increased credit of the
going-forward. As you are aware the educators, 1. Formulate a salary cut of about banking system which can have
researchers, ordinary citizens of 40% of you and your Five Vice minimal cost or even nil.
In resettling the IDPs, we can vol- South Sudan, region and the world Presidents, and ministers so that,
untarily devise a framework on re- are closely following the progress the people are immediately reset- Yours sincerely,
quest if need be such that smooth of our country and how it treats tle without delay. Gatkuoth Jal Gatluak Nyak
and successful resettlement is its citizens; in my opinion some- Executive Director at Raise A Fin-
done in timely manner. Your ex- thing better than what is given 2. Consider financing this through ger (RAF)
cellency, as you tether the spread to citizens currently should have domestic and foreign borrowing Contact: banyjal@yahoo.com/gat-
of covid-19 that have posed threat been offered; for we are blessed as you wait to reimburse when the kuothjal4@gmail.com.
to the country, and its economy, I with resources that most countries funds for this project is availed or
want you to be awakened by the that are perceived to be rich don’t projected into the financial year.

French researcher wins access to ex-president’s

1994 Rwanda genocide files
A French researcher won an
tion”, some say in a move to stoke
anti-Tutsi sentiment. In November
in 1996, they would become avail-
able in 2021.
France for three years.
extended legal battle Friday for
2016, Kigali launched an inquiry The turning point came in 2010
access to ex-president Francois
into the alleged role of 20 French “Protection of state secrets must when former president Nicolas
Mitterrand’s archives on the 1994
officials in the genocide. be balanced against the interests of Sarkozy acknowledged on a vis-
Rwandan genocide, in which Kiga-
informing the public about historic it to Kigali that France had made
li accuses France of having played
- ‘Victory’ for history - events,” the State Council ruled. “serious errors of judgement” in
a role.
France has always denied the al- Rwanda.
legations and last year, President “This is a victory for the law, but
France’s top administrative court,
Emmanuel Macron announced the also for history,” Graner’s lawyer While falling short of an apology
the State Council, ruled the docu-
creation of a panel of historians and Patrice Spinosi told AFP. it was seen as a breakthrough in
ments would allow researcher and
researchers to look into the claims. Rwanda. But France’s perceived
author Francois Graner “to shed
Graner, who has published wide- “Researchers like Mr Graner will foot-dragging on bringing geno-
light on a debate that is a matter of
ly on the genocide, first requested be able to access President Mitter- cide suspects living in the country
public interest”.
rand’s archives to justice, has aggravated tensions.
in order to ful- On May 16, the genocide’s alleged
The documents include
ly understand financier, Felicien Kabuga, was
notes written by the Presi-
France’s role in arrested at his home outside Paris
dent’s advisers and minutes
Rwanda in 1994 after a quarter-of-a-century on the
of government meetings.
and 1995,” he run.
said.
The ruling is the latest chap-
- ‘Serious errors On June 3, a Paris court approved
ter in a long dispute between
of judgement’ - his transfer to a UN body for trial
France and Rwanda in the
Graner belongs in Arusha, Tanzania.
aftermath of the genocide in
to rights group
which some 800,000 peo-
Survie (“Sur- French-Rwandan former hotel
ple, mainly minority Tutsis
vival”), which driver Claude Muhayimana is set
but also moderate Hutus, Photo Courtesy Hindustan Times
has vowed to to go on trial in Paris in February
were slaughtered in 100
access to Mitterrand’s documents “shed light on France’s involve- next year, accused of having trans-
days of ethnic violence committed
in 2015, the year the government ment in Rwanda before and during ported Hutu militiamen to sites
mainly by Hutu extremists.
under then-president Francois the genocide.” where massacres were carried out.
Hollande declassified archives on Franco-Rwandan relations hit a
Ahead of the genocide’s 20th an-
Rwanda for the period 1990-95. low point in 2006 after a French In the two other Rwandan geno-
niversary in 2014, Rwandan Presi-
judge recommended Kagame be cide trials concluded in France, a
dent Paul Kagame accused Paris of
But the researcher’s request was prosecuted by a UN-backed tribu- former officer in the presidential
having played a “direct role” in the
refused, prompting him to file le- nal over the 1994 killing of Hab- guard, Pascal Simbikangwa, was
assassination of then-President Ju-
gal challenges that have failed until yarimana. given a 25-year sentence in 2014,
venal Habyarimana, a Hutu, which
to now with courts upholding a law while Octavien Ngenzi and Tito
sparked the bloodbath.
protecting presidential archives for The Rwandan President, who had Barahira, two former mayors, re-
25 years after a leader’s death. led the Tutsi rebel force that even- ceived life sentences in 2016.
The Tutsi leader said France took
tually overthrew the genocidal Source: Hindustan Times
part in Habyarimana’s “execu-
In the case of Mitterrand, who died Hutu regime, broke off ties with
10
 June 2020

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Informer East Africa

Three Kenyan police held after

dragging woman behind motorbike
Arrest of three officers comes af- — DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) world have witnessed major pro-
June 11, 2020 tests against police violence and
off the streets.
ter video posted online sparks fur-
racism prompted by the police kill- It described the case of 13-year-old
ther outrage over police violence in
The woman was reportedly accused ing of George Floyd in the United Yassin Hussein Moyo who died in
Kenya. Three Kenyan police held
of breaking into a police officer’s States on May 25. Nairobi on March 31 after being
after dragging woman behind mo-
house. shot while standing on his balcony
torbike
The Independent Policing Over- Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was as police forced people into their
sight Authority (IPOA) issued a pinned to the ground by a white homes on the street below.
Three Kenyan police officers have
statement saying it had launched an police officer in Minneapolis, Min-
been arrested after a widely circu-
investigation into the matter. nesota. The officer, who has since In others, a tomato seller died in
lated video showed the men drag-
been fired and charged for murder, western Kakamega after being hit
ging a woman behind a motorcycle
The incident by a tear gas canister,
and whipping her.
came amid an while four men were
outcry over po- beaten to death in dif-
The arrests on Thursday came after
lice brutality in ferent parts of the coun-
the video taken the previous day in
Kenya, where try.
Kuresoi South, west of the capital,
law enforcement
Nairobi, sparked outrage among so-
officers have of- “It is shocking that peo-
cial media users, activists and oth-
ten faced accu- ple are losing their lives
ers.
sations by rights and livelihoods while
groups of using supposedly being pro-
In the one-and-a-half minute clip, a
excessive force, tected from infection,”
police officer is seen riding a motor-
especially in poor Otsieno Namwaya,
cycle, 21-year-old Mercy Cherono
neighbourhoods. HRW’s senior Africa
being pulled along behind it, while
Photo Courtesy al Jazeera researcher, said at the
others beat her. The ordeal causes
On Monday, pro- time.
her trousers to slide off, leaving her
testers poured onto the streets of knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly
naked from the waist down.
Nairobi after the IPOA said police nine minutes, as Floyd pleaded “I In a February report detailing the
officers were involved in the kill- can’t breathe”. killing of at least eight people in
“Three officers were yesterday ar-
ing of at least 15 people since the Nairobi’s low-income neighbour-
rested ... following circulation of
enforcement of a dusk-to-dawn cur- Activists in Kenya have taken to hoods, HRW said police “continue
a video depicting a woman being
few to slow the spread of the coro- social media to draw parallels with to kill crime suspects and protesters
whipped & dragged on a motorbike
navirus pandemic. the country’s own scourge of police in cold blood despite persistent calls
in Kuresoi South Sub-County,” the
brutality, which typically goes un- to end the killings and the use of ex-
Directorate of Criminal Investiga-
“I am here to protest for our youth punished. cessive force”.
tions said in a statement.
who have died at the hands of the Prominent Kenyan commentator Minister of Interior Fred Matiangi
police without any wrongdoing,” and cartoonist Patrick Gathara last on Friday criticised police excesses,
“The suspects are in lawful custody
Rahma Wako, a demonstrator in week drew an image of a man repre- but “took exception to painting the
helping with further investigations
the capital’s Mathare settlement senting African governments hold- entire service with the same brush”,
into the matter,” it added.
said. “We are saying, ‘Enough is ing up a “Black lives matter” plac- his office said in a statement.
enough’. As mothers, many of our ard, while kneeling on the neck of
THREE @PoliceKE officers were
youth have been killed while being a man asking: “What about African It came after the IPOA announced
yesterday arrested by @DCI_Ken-
labelled as thieves.” lives?” six police officers would be arrest-
ya Detectives following circulation
ed and prosecuted - one for Moyo’s
of a video depicting a woman being
“[We are] telling them to stop kill- Kenya to probe fatal police shoot- death; another for shooting dead a
whipped & dragged on a motorbike
ing our kids,” added Beatrice Ron- ing of teenager (2:07) secondary school teacher while re-
in Kuresoi South Sub-County.
go, another protester. “Mothers are sponding to a burglary at a market
crying, sisters, everybody - we are In April, Human Right Watch in western Siaya; and four others for
The suspects are in lawful custody
all hurt by this injustice of police (HRW) accused the police of im- seriously assaulting a man during
helping with further investigations
brutality.” posing the curfew in a “chaotic an arrest.
into the matter pic.twitter.com/yx-
and violent manner from the start”,
4eXA8a9D
‘What about African lives?’ sometimes whipping, kicking and SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND
In recent days, cities around the tear-gassing people to force them NEWS AGENCIES
12
 June 2020

Five members of the UDPS, killed in a

fire set by security forces
Benjamin Badibanga Mwindilayi, by bystanders that the security forc- initially rejected by the authori-
es blocking the roads could con- ties. When the Prosecutor finally
The family submitted a letter sub-
mitted to the ministry of human
18, was about to finish high school
fiscate it. The family then took his authorized the embalming on 30 rights. No official or judicial au-
when he was shot dead at a shop in
body to the MONUSCO military January, the body had was almost thority has ever visited Benjamin’s
front of his family home in King-
base nearby. They were advised by decomposed. They took Benjamin’s family. To the family’s knowledge,
abwa, in northeast Kinshasa, at
the staff there to take the body to body for mourning for a night at there was no investigation into his
around 11 am on 21 January 2018.
another hospital called Hôpital du the family house. They had to use death.
He has been sent to buy sugar when
Cinquantenaire. long-burning joss sticks to reduce
he was shot in the mouth by securi-
the bad smell of his decomposed When Amnesty visited Benjamin’s
ty officers on motorbikes and died
On their arrival, hospital au- mother in 2018, she said:
instantly.
thorities refused to take Ben- “My child did not attend any
jamin’s body because he had demonstration. They came
That day peaceful demonstrations
died of a gunshot wound. for him at home.” On a lat-
had been organized across the
The family, accompanied by er visit in August 2019, her
country by the Lay Coordination
UN and Red Cross staff took pain was still fresh as she
Committee, an association affiliat-
Benjamin’s body to Kinshasa once again showed Amnesty
ed with the Catholic Church, to call
General Hospital. According staff the electrical fittings he
on the DRC authorities to organize
to accounts by family mem- has installed, and the plumb-
the then much-delayed elections, by
bers, his body was left on the Photo by Humanitaire Niooz fr ing work he used to do in the
December 2017.
floor of the morgue at this pub- family house. Benjamin was
lic hospital for days. body. killed by those who were supposed
When the family tried to take Ben-
Benjamin was buried on 3 February to protect him. Amnesty Interna-
jamin’s body to the morgue at Saint
Requests to embalm his body were 2018. tional
Joseph Hospital, they were warned

Uganda wants people to leave flooded

wetlands - and not come back
For the last decade, Silus Musa- streets.” absorb excess rainfall, Okidi told The rains over east Africa have been
the Thomson Reuters Foundation. unusually heavy since last year and
sizi has lived on a wetland on the
The Ugandan government has said climate scientists have predicted
shores of Lake Victoria. For most
people like Musasizi are partly to The evictions are in line with a direc- more such weather in future.
of that time, Uganda’s government
blame for the floods, and wants tive issued by President Yoweri Mu-
has been trying to chase him away.
them to leave the wetlands for seveni, who warned in an address last But the flooding is exacerbated
Now, it is the water itself that has
good. It plans to start evicting week that the floods “should be an by local factors including the de-
driven him from his small house
people without compensation this eternal lesson to all of us”. struction of forests and wetlands,
on the edge of Entebbe, a Ugan-
month - in the middle of a coro- said Frank Muramuzi, executive
dan town that juts into Africa’s
navirus lockdown that has hit the That is a message heard with director of the National Associa-
largest lake.
poor hardest. scepticism in the swamps of En- tion of Professional Environmen-
tebbe, where houses crumble into talists, a civil society group.
Thousands have been displaced
‘RICH WILL REMAIN’ the water and men fish in flooded
from their homes along the shore-
Alfred Okot Okidi, the top civil gardens. Peter Kisakye Zzimu- Muramuzi said wealthy investors
line by the worst flooding since
servant at the ministry of water la, the pastor of a church on the were snapping up land to grow
records began more than a century
and environment, said 700,000 wetlands, argued that people only rice or flowers for sale, and set up
ago. Musasizi, who works as a truck
Ugandans had been affected by build there because they cannot hotels and resorts.
driver, is renting a room on higher
flooding nationwide, almost all of afford to rent property elsewhere.
ground until the waters recede.
whom live illegally in the protect- “Nobody would wish to be here “All those establishments are be-
ed zones around lakes and rivers. but people are oppressed,” he ing done by rich people and some
“Homes have been destroyed,”
Settlement, cultivation and indus- said. “If you evict them, where them have connections in govern-
said Musasizi, whose family came
try were destroying the wetlands, will they go?” ment,” he said.
here originally seeking cheap
which act as “natural sponges” to “The poor people will be evicted,
land. “My friends are now on the
Designed by: www.dreamsfactorydesign.com 13
 environmental and human rights and coordinate more mass mobili- the r
groups adopted a landmark decla- zation campaigns at national and tatio
Informer East Africa ration calling on governments and regional levels. They also expect sona
corporations to urgently tackle the Man
but the rich people will remain.” ceedings and only 300 titles have dealing with human beings,” to agree on the implementation of
climate emergency in order to en- asaid the local
set of
church with a few other
relatedworshippers.
action plans in the coas
‘GOD HAS COME’ so far been cancelled.Now the ris- Kayanja Vincent de Paul, the may- homeless
sure the survival of humanity.
ing waters are forcing people out or of Entebbe. following months. subje
Last year, wetlands covered just of the wetlands, doing Oloya’s One day she foresaw a great flood. are w
8.4% of Uganda, down from work for him. Gathered for the Peoples’ Summit
“It is a hotcake. If you handle Theit Peoples’
“I got a dreamSummit
where thewasworld was term
organ-
15.5% in 1994, according to the “I’m very happy thatonGod Climate, Rights
has badly, it can and Human
burn you up.” ized by fullthe
of United
water,” she recalled.
Nations Human Soon
environment ministry. In 2014 the come,” he said. Survival, their goal is to unleash Rightsafter,
SUSPICION the waters
Office, Greenpeace started seeping
Inter- “ La
government ordered the cancella- new power, energy, and resources national, underAmnesty
the corrugated iron walls, ment
International,
tion of all land titles there, issued to supercharge a connected, di-
But the political pressures that Tensions are heightened by popu- bringing coldness and snakes.
Center for International Environ- to un
illegally by local officials because verse,
have stymied past threats and lar
of evic- action-oriented mass
suspicion. Musasizi, the truck
mentalAmojong,
Law, Wallace Global Fund, abili
the law prohibits private owner- tion may do so again,movement to overcome
with elec- driver, the cli- have
believes governments who is now sheltering at
ship of wetlands. tions scheduled for matenext crisis, by puttingthepeople
year. engineered grab and
and
floods to land the Newof York
the house churchgoer, ly, th
a fellowUniversity
Police fired teargas athuman
protesting fromatthe
rights poor.
the
School of that
core of its Rightshopes
Law sheCenter
will not have to return. chan
for Human
A subsequent survey of four cen- vendors last month assolutions.
they shut and Global Justice. The hum
tral districts identified 1,700 titles down a flooded market on another “After this water has chased these event “We
is taking place God
are praying gives us must
on Septem-
in wetlands, said Collins Oloya, the stretch of shoreline. poor people, more hotels areber go- 18money
and 19, ahead
in order of thethis
to leave place actio
United
acting director of environmental af-
These leaders and their groups
ing to be built here,” he said. Nations Secretary
because we cannotGeneral’s Cli- man
fight nature,
fairs at the environment ministry. “We need to conserveseek to putMeanwhile
the envi- pressure Judith
on govern-
Amojong, mate
an- Action Summit.
this is fighting God.” Reporting the m
But the process has become ments
ronment, but at the same time and corporations
we other to ramp
resident, is hoping for divine by Liam Taylor, Editing by Claire justi
bogged down in lengthy court pro- need to be conscious upthat climate commitments.
we are intervention. Among
She used to sleep in Cozens.
Craig Mokhiber,ReutersNew York Of- biliz
other initiatives, they plan to pur- fice Director at the United Nations and i
sue more concerted climate liti-
Jenn
Exec
Inter
S.Africa COVID-19 “The
cases top 70,000, right
quen
deaths at 1,480 ters
see
and d
Hurr
of cases and deaths,
health experts con- This
tinue to applaud of cl
South Africa’s mass yout
testing campaign. lies,
conf
South Africa has gove
South Africa
so far tested 1.12 powe
million people for as w
S COVID-19, with 34,071
outh Africa saw a mas- tests done over the our
sive jump in coronavirus weekend. justi
infections in the past 24 respo
hours, with 4,302 cases re- “The recoveries to date this c
corded, bringing the total are 38,531, this trans-
number of confirmed COV- lates to a recovery rate Kum
ID-19 cases in the country of 55%,” Mkhize said. at Am
to 70,038. “The
The Western Cape Prov- need
Zweli Mkhize, South Af- ince, which is a tourism the g
rica’s health minister, also
said in a statement that 57
hub, remains the coun- hum
try’s epicenter of the with
more COVID-19 deaths virus, reporting a high
had been recorded, bring and
number of cases and justi
the total fatalities to 1,480 deaths daily.
with a mortality rate of ing w
2.2%. Source: AA
“Am
Despite the high numbers chan
14
to he
14
 June 2020

DR Congo’s gold smuggled to UAE, Af-

rican countries: UN
A UN investigation has un-
was at the center of the network
and the country was losing mil-
smugglers, it said gold mined the country, the report said. By
in the DRC’s South Kivu region Handan Kazanci, AA
earthed a network smuggling
lions of dollars due to smug- was also being illegally moved
gold from the Democratic Re-
gling of the precious metal. to the UAE, Burundi,
public of Congo (DRC) to the
Rwanda, and Tanza-
United Arab Emirates as well as
According to the report, at least nia.
other countries in Africa.
1.1 tons of gold was smuggled
out of the province in 2019, Despite its significant
The UN report, seen by Anad-
and the government could have reserves, the DRC’s
olu Agency, details the illegal
earned up to $1.88 million in recorded gold exports
exports of gold to Dubai in the
taxes if it had been legally ex- remain low, mainly
UAE as well as Burundi, Rwan-
ported. due to smuggling and
da, and Tanzania.
the rudimentary min-
Citing accounts from several ing methods used in Photo Courtesy AA
It said the DRC’s Ituri province

SA dancer and choreographer Kirvan

Fortuin stabbed to death allegedly
by 14-year-old girl
S outh African dancer and chore- that Fortuin and the girl were in
Macassar. An argument ensued No other details have been made
ervation and Promotion of an In-
digenous Art Form at the Western
ographer Kirvan Fortuin died on
between the two, which led to available at this stage. Cape cultural awards in 2019.
Saturday morning.
him being stabbed. A case of murder has been opened “Kirvan was a true testament to
for investigation. how hard work and talent could
He was allegedly stabbed to death
Fortuin died while on the way to open many paths to success. He
by a 14-year-old girl, following
hospital. In a statement, Western Cape cul- was a rising star in South Africa,
an argument between the two.
tural affairs MEC Anroux Marais who had a promising road ahead
“A 14-year-old girl was arrested mourned the loss of Fortuin, say- of him,” Marais said.
The suspect has been arrested and
and is being processed according ing that the province had lost a
a case of murder is being investi-
to the Child Justice Act,” Rwex- true inspiration. “Sadly, we have been robbed of
gated.
ana said. Foundation the opportunity to celebrate his
future successes, but we honour
Police have arrested
Fortuin, 28, was re- the amazing life of this young
a 14-year-old girl in
siding between South man.”
connection with the
Africa and the Neth-
murder of Kirvan For-
erlands, and danced “Our deepest condolences go out
tuin, a well-known
for a Dutch company. to Kirvan’s family and friends,
choreographer, who
In South Africa, he and especially to those in the arts
was allegedly stabbed
worked as the found- and culture spheres, who walked
to death during the
er and artistic direc- his path with him. The Western
early hours of Satur-
tor of the Kirvan For- Cape has lost a true inspiration
day morning in Cape
tuin Foundation. in Kirvan, but we will continue
Town. Fortuin was
to celebrate his legacy for many
28-years-old.
Marais said that For- years to come.”
tuin received a min-
According to po-
isterial recommenda- By Alex Mitchley, News24
lice spokesperson
tion for Outstanding
Sergeant Noloyiso
Contribution to Pres-
Rwexana, it is alleged Kirvan Fortuin has been stabbed to death
Designed by: www.dreamsfactorydesign.com 15
Informer East Africa

Kenya Celebrates Removal of British

Queen Victoria Statue
T he removal of a prominent re- death of George
Nairobi resident Samuel Obie- Floyd, a black
minder of Kenya’s British col-
ro was among those this week American who
onization is being celebrated --
who welcomed the removal of died last month af-
five years later.
the statue, saying citizens do not ter a white police
want to be reminded of slavery, officer in Minne-
The statue Britain’s Queen Vic-
colonialism and the suffering it apolis knelt on his
toria outlasted several of statues
brought. neck for nearly
from before Kenya’s independ-
nine minutes.
ence from Britain in 1963.
Worldwide, statues that pay
homage to people with a history The officer is Image by VOA
It was beheaded and thrown
linked to racism and slavery are jailed on a murder
into nearby brush in 2015, after Three other officers on the scene
coming down. charge, and the FBI is investi-
standing in Jeevanjee Gardens in are charged with aiding and abet-
gating whether civil rights viola-
Nairobi for more than century. ting. By VOA News
The push accelerated after the tions occurred.

Coventry City fans raise £1000 and

climbing for Ugandan Sky Blues
supporter with one big dream
F ormer Leeds United star
pressive loan spell with League
One champions Coventry. The promo-
turned Football League pundit
tion is City’s
Alex Bruce believes that Aston
But after a number of attempts second in
Villa youngster Callum O’Hare
by his parent club, it is under- three years
already has a transfer move
stood that O’Hare has repeated- under Robins
lined up this summer and that
ly rejected contract offers that - a remarkable
a return to Coventry City might
would have seen him commit achievement.
suit him.
his future to the Birmingham
club - and an exit could be right Bruce contin-
O’Hare made his Villa debut
around the corner. ued: “Coven-
while under the wing of Alex’s
try are back in
dad, Steve Bruce, during his
The Sky Blues are interested in the Champi-
time as chief at Villa Park.
his services this summer as one Photo Coventry Live onship, a big
of a host of potential summer club. It’s good
The 22-year-old remains a high-
transfer targets. you can download here. It is al- to see Coventry back up there
ly-rated youngster amongst
ways up-to-date with the latest because they’ve obviously had
Villa fans and his stock only
“Yeah, obviously it’s not far from news from across the region. a tough few years there with fi-
climbed this term during an im-
where he’s from, so that move nancial problems so I’m pleased
might fit,” “He might have impressed to see them back in the Champi-
Bruce told Foot- someone else while he’s been onship.”
ball Insider. out on loan at Coventry. He’s
obviously got something lined The Sky Blues yesterday an-
There’s a quick up where he’s going to play.” nounced new one-year contract
and easy way to extensions for Zain Westbrooke,
stay on top of Mark Robins will be helped in Amadou Bakayoko and Jordan
all the Coven- his pursuit of the attacker after Young.
try City news City secured promotion to the
with our daily Championship, a level the Vil- The club will also enter into
newsletter. lans could be set to compete at contract negotiations for see
next term should their final Pre- young ‘keeper Tom Billson ex-
We also have a mier League fixtures see them tend his time with the club.
Coventry Livet free app which relegated. Coventry Live
16
 June 2020

Why violence is a hallmark of Kenyan

policing. And what needs to change
K enya has a long history of po- his political opponents.
The main role of the police ser-
dated to ensure police account-
ability: the Internal Affairs Unit
Finally, police are able to get
away with violence because
licing with excessive force, often
vice is to prevent, control, detect and the Independent Policing there’s also a lack of political
resulting in unnecessary deaths.
and investigate crime. But in Oversight Authority. Both ap- will to press for accountability.
Recently, at least six people died
practice, its members act more pear overwhelmed and dysfunc- What types of reform are needed
from police violence during the
like a paramilitary unit trained tional. and why haven’t they happened
first 10 days of a dusk-to-dawn
to deal with conflict and serious sooner?
curfew. Moina Spooner, from
disorder. This orientation takes “The authority appears over-
The Conversation Africa, asked
on a different nuance in how the whelmed by the sheer number Several reforms need to take
Douglas Kivoi, an expert on po-
police approach and treat civil- of police misconduct cases re- place.
lice reform and policy, to shed
ians. ported to its offices. Its work is
light on the situation.
further undermined by a hostile Policing falls under the National
Another factor that contributes environment. Police Service Commission. But
What can account for the use
to violent behaviour is the re- police salaries are still processed
of violence by Kenya’s police
cruitment process. Corruption, The Internal Affairs Unit, within by the Ministry of Interior and
force?
nepotism, tribalism and profes- the police force based in Nairo- Coordination of National Gov-
sional misconduct are all part of bi, is meant to handle complaints ernment, which falls under the
The brutality exhibited by Ken-
the process. Apart from physical against officers of
ya’s police force is a result of a
fitness, no attention is paid to policing agencies.
number of factors. These include
their mental and emotional state. Very few Kenyans
its beginnings under British co-
It’s unclear what training they know it exists and
lonial rule, poor recruitment
receive once recruited. To my those who do don’t
policies, corruption and poor ac-
knowledge, the training model trust it because it’s
countability for police actions.
and curriculum used to induct run in an opaque
“The main role of the police ser-
fresh recruits has never been manner by police
vice is to prevent, control, detect
made public. officers. The main
and investigate crime. But in
allegation against it
practice, its members act more
The Kenyan police force is is that it covers up
like a paramilitary unit trained
known to be one of the country’s crimes committed by Douglas-Lucas-Kivoi
to deal with conflict and serious
most corrupt public institutions. colleagues.
disorder.
The corruption is not simply a office of the president. This link
problem of the lower ranks. It The Independent Policing Over- means the national police ser-
Under the British colonial gov-
can be found at all levels of the sight Authority’s mandate is to vice is not truly independent. Po-
ernment the role of the police
police organisation. And there provide for civilian oversight over lice salaries should be prepared
was to protect the interests of
are reports that those who refuse the work of the police in Kenya. by the commission itself since it
the administration. It was not to
to pay bribes are sometimes bru- It is also tasked with investigating is the one that recruits and man-
serve the interests of the general
talised, maimed or even killed. deaths and serious injuries caused ages personnel within the police
populace.
by police action and investigating service. Otherwise, their loyal-
Police corruption points to larger police misconduct. ties lie elsewhere.
Successive post-independence
systemic problems caused by an
leaders used the police units to
absence of checks and balanc- The authority appears over- The way officers are recruited
advance their own interests. For
es and fragile institutions. This whelmed by the sheer number must also change and be made
instance, Kenya’s first President,
means it’s hard to hold them ac- of police misconduct cases re- more transparent. Individuals
Jomo Kenyatta, used the police
countable for their actions. ported to its offices. Its work is must be properly vetted by the
force to suppress dissenting
Why are the police officers not further undermined by a hostile National Intelligence Services.
voices. An example of this was
being held accountable for their environment. Officers are some- For instance, any criminal re-
the Kisumu massacre in 1969
actions? times subject to hostility, a lack cords must be scrutinised. The
when police fired into a crowd
of compliance and intimidation vetting of police officers should
protesting at the President’s vis-
The level of accountability with- from senior officers. Staffing also be a continuous exercise to
it. At least 11 were killed and
in police agencies in Kenya is levels are also low. Though near- weed out rogue elements.
hundreds were injured.
very low. They operate with im- ly a decade old, the authority has
punity, because they know they secured convictions for fewer There must be more emphasis
His successor, Daniel arap Moi,
will get away with it. than 10 cases, despite receiving on their training. This should in-
used the police as a tool for re-
more than 9,200 complaints. clude the development of a po-
pression and assassinations as
There are two major bodies man- licing policy which would cover,
well as detention and torture of
Designed by: www.dreamsfactorydesign.com 17
Informer East Africa
among other things, how the po- police stations and their inves- Legal Notice and commenced and the Kenya Economic Report.
lice should interact with commu- tigations should be made more operations in June 1999. The Develops and maintains research
nities. No such policy exists. public. Institute is thus an autonomous resources and databases on pub-
Think Tank established under an lic policy and related issues, and
And more must be done to inves- Police officers are yet to see Act of Parliament. avails these to the Government,
tigate suspicious deaths and hold misconduct by their colleagues the private sector and academic
those responsible accountable. as being detrimental to their own The Institute undertakes the fol- institutions.
work. This, coupled with other lowing activities:
There is also a gap in the inves- external factors like lack of po- Undertakes contracted public pol-
tigation of violent, sudden and litical will and the rudimentary Conducts objective research and icy research and analysis for the
suspicious deaths at the hands recruitment process, makes the analysis on public policy issues government and clients from the
of the police. A law passed two much- hyped reforms a mirage. with the goal of providing advice private sector. Undertakes capac-
years ago allowed for the crea- to policy makers. Provides advi- ity building activities for govern-
tion of a National Coroners Of- Douglas Lucas Kivoi (pictured sory and technical services on ment and private sector officers.
fice. This was meant to provide top) is Principal Policy Analyst, public policy issues to the Gov- Serves as a point of contact and
complementary forensic medical Governance Department at The ernment, government agencies, encourages exchange of views
science services to police inves- Kenya Institute for Public Poli- and other stakeholders. between the Government, private
tigations. But it has yet to be es- cy Research and Analysis (KIP- sector and other civil society.
tablished. PRA) Collects and analyses relevant
data on public policy and dis- This article is republished from
In addition, the Directorate of The Kenya Institute for Pub- seminates its research findings The Conversation under a Crea-
Criminal Investigations lacks lic Policy Research and Analy- to a wide range of stakeholders tive Commons license. Read the
modern forensic tools to solve sis (KIPPRA) is an autonomous through workshops/conferences, original article. Source: Policing
crimes. The Internal Affairs Unit public institute that was estab- internal seminars, research pa- Insight
needs to be decentralised to local lished in May 1997 through a pers, policy briefs, a newsletter,

Top Congolese Opposition Mem-

ber Dies of COVID-19
A major Congolese politician
Condolences to his family and
friends.”
day. Ghana has among the most
COVID-19 cases in West Africa,
says is the need for more eco-
nomic independence.
and leading opposition member
Also Sunday, Ghana’s Presi- but one of the lowest death rates Macron said the virus exposed
has died of COVID-19. DRC me-
dent Nana Akufo-Addo said the because of what experts say has what he described as the “flaws
dia reports the family of Pierre
country’s health minister has been extensive testing. and fragility” of French reliance
Lumbi announced his death in
the coronavirus. He said Kwa- on Europe and other foreign
Kinshasa Sunday. His exact age
ku Agyeman Manu is in stable In hard-hit Colombia, the num- markets to supply the nation.
is unknown.
condition and wished the “hard-ber of COVID-19 cases climbed
working minister for health, a past the 50,000 mark, the health “The only answer is to build a
Lumbi was opposition leader
speedy recovery from the virus,ministry said Sunday. new, stronger economic model,
Martin Fayulu’s campaign man-
which he contracted in the line to work and produce more, so as
ager in his unsuccessful bid for
of duty.” Despite the relatively high num- not to rely on others,” Macron
the presidency in 2018.
ber of cases, the nationwide said.
Akufo-Addo said high school lockdown is expected to be lifted With the French economy ex-
“Very saddened by the death
and university seniors will be on July 1. Colombia has taken a pected to contract as much as
of Senator P. Lumbi,” Fayulu
allowed to resume classes Mon- huge economic hit from the coro- 11% this year, Macron said he
tweeted.
navirus with unem- will come up with a blueprint for
ployment topping more economic independence by
The Deputy Afri-
23%. Its economy next month.
ca Director at Hu-
is forecast to shrink
man Rights Watch,
5.5% this year. Parisian restaurants and the
Ida Sawyer, tweeted
city’s iconic sidewalk cafes will
that she is also “very
French President be allowed to full reopen Mon-
sad” to hear about
Emmanuel Macron day in time for France to lift bor-
Lumbi’s death. “I
told the nation Sun- der restrictions for tourists from
have fond memories
day that the corona- the European Union.
of many engaging
virus pandemic has
conversations with
taught him what he Source: VOA
him over the years. Photo Courtesy VOA
18
 June 2020

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Informer East Africa

Libya: GNA sets conditions for talks with Haftar

The Interior Minister in the in- thority as there is no place for war
criminals who aspire to seize pow-
os and biddings in the name of the es of Haftar who suffered major
revolution,” he added. losses in the country earlier this
ternationally recognised Govern-
er by force, in apparent reference month. Source: MEM
ment of National Accord (GNA),
to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, A number of internation-
Fathi Bashagha, said that any in-
the commander of the self-styled al initiatives have been
itiatives to end the political crisis
Libyan National Army (LNA). launched to solve the Lib-
and unify the Libyan state institu-
yan crisis, the most recent
tions are welcome.
“Neglecting the fighters who did of which was the Egyptian
their best to secure the capital and initiative which was wel-
In a tweet, Bashagha stressed that
defend the civil and democratic comed by Arab and in-
these initiatives should include
features of the state will lead to ternational countries as a
the civil authority that governs
continued chaos and undermine solution for stopping the
the will of the people and the sub-
the state’s capabilities to fulfil its fight between the forces
mission of the army to civilian au-
duties. There is no room for cha- of the GNA and the forc- Source MEM

Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 7.93 million,

death toll at 432,514
Infections have been reported in fied in China in December 2019.
Qureshi asks India to stop hu-
reaches 2,729.
Finance Bill 2020: Not a
more than 210 countries and ter-
man rights violations in IoK, re- single SECP proposal in-
ritories since the first cases were
view its behaviour. corporated Country cannot
identified in China in December
afford to borrow more: Ha-
2019.
Worldwide coronavirus cases feez.
cross 7.93 million, death toll at
More than 7.93 million people
432,514 Sindh’s tally crosses Positive cases could soar
have been reported to be infected
55,000 mark. to 1.2 million by end July:
by the novel coronavirus globally
Umar Punjab budget to be
and 432,514? have died, accord-
Coronavirus situation: K-P govt unveiled today NAB to
ing to a Reuters tally.
could seek help from armed forc- Photo Courtesy Business Recorder contact NCA, Interpol to
es if needed: Wazir Coronavirus Punjab to announce Budget 2020- bring back Suleman Sheh-
Infections have been reported in
resurgence in Beijing prompts 21 today Pakistan’s coronavirus baz.
more than 210 countries and territo-
reinstatement of tough measures cases jump to 144,478, death toll Source: Business Recorder
ries since the first cases were identi-

Putin promises to ‘pleasantly surprise’ countries

which have hypersonic weapons
Russia will be ready when other
countries have hypersonic weapons,
said Russian President Vladimir Pu-
tin in an interview with “The News
of the Week” on Rossiya 1 TV
channel.
“They will have these weapons. But
I think that we will be able to pleas-
antly surprise our partners because
when they have these weapons, it
is very likely that we will have a
means to counter them,” Putin said.
No one can shoot down hypersonic
missiles, as “the speeds are such that
20
it is impossible to take them down,”
he noted. According to Putin, Rus-
sonic weapons undeniable.
“Our deterrence capability
sia, today is in a “unique situation”. remains unquestionable, ca-
In early March, Putin noted that pable of dominating and re-
Russian hypersonic weapons allow sponding to any threat,” said
to maintain a strategic balance in the head of the Vice Chair-
the world, thanks to which after the man of the Joint Chiefs of
Second World War there were no Staff, Gen. John Hyten. Mike
major armed conflicts. Mattis, then U.S. Defense
Vladimir Putin Secretary, called the Strategy
Putin said in his message to the Fed- of the Russian President “an
power plants and Kinzhal hyperson-
eral Assembly in March 2018 that arms race within itself.”
ic missile.
Russia was developing the latest
hypersonic weapons, in particular Putin, Kinzhal, USA
However, the Pentagon called the
Sarmat and Avanguard missile sys-
U.S. defense against Russian hyper-
tems, cruise missiles with nuclear
 June 2020

Beyoncé calls for justice in moving open

letter about Breonna Taylor

B eyoncé is one of the most fa- (something

the Louis-
mous people in the world. And,
ville Metro
over the weekend, she deter-
Council has
mined to use her platform and
since voted
influence to demand justice for
unanimous-
Breonna Taylor.
ly to ban)
by a judge,
On Sunday 14 June, the Lemon-
which al-
ade singer posted an open letter
lowed them
on her website addressed to Ken-
to enter
tucky Attorney General Daniel
Ta y l o r ’s
Cameron, in which she has urged
apartment
him to bring charges against
without an-
the police officers who fatally
nouncing
shot healthcare worker Taylor
themselves,
inside her home.
and they
“Three months have passed, and
also wer- Photo by Stylist
zero arrests have been made, and
en’t wearing
no officers have been fired,” she
body cams.
writes.
Taylor was shot eight times and
George Floyd murdered: how
died at the scene. As per the law-
we can all be better allies in the
suit filed by her family, no drugs
fight against racism.
were found.
Taylor, just 26 at the age of
“The LMPD’s investigation was
her death, was shot and killed by
turned over to your office, and
police during a drug raid on her
yet all of the officers involved
Louisville, Kentucky home on
in the shooting remain employed
13 March. The officers were in-
by the LMPD,” Beyoncé tells
vestigating two people suspect-
Cameron via her letter.
ed of selling drugs, neither of
whom was Taylor. They had been
“Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Of-
granted a “no-knock” warrant
ficers Myles Cosgrove and Brett
confrontation
with a white
store owner is a
must-read.
“Your office
has both the
power and the
responsibility
to bring jus-
tice to Breon-
na Taylor, and
demonstrate the
value of a black
woman’s life,”
writes Beyon-
cé. “Don’t let
this case fall
into the pattern
Hankison must be held account-
of no action after a terrible trag-
able for their actions.”
edy.
She goes on to urge Cameron to
“With every death of a black
bring criminal charges against
person at the hands of the po-
the three officers; commit to
lice, there are two real tragedies:
transparency in the investigation
the death itself, and the inaction
and prosecution of the officers’
and delays that follow it. This is
conduct; and to investigate the
your chance to end that pattern.
LMPD’s response to Taylor’s
Take swift and decisive action in
murder as well as the “pervasive
charging the officers.”
practices that result in the re-
peated deaths of unarmed Black
Powerfully, Beyoncé finishes:
citizens.”
“The next months cannot look
like the last three.”
Leona Lewis’ story about her
Source: Stylist

Get the latest reliable news Tell your stories

It’s all on Informer East Africa
The newspaper for the future
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Informer East Africa

Trade in many developing countries projected to ‘nosedive’, warns UNCTAD

In a new report from UN trade and and exports of major trading econ-
omies, January-May 2020. | UNC-
This is in line with the World Trade
Organization (WTO), which be-
development body, UNCTAD, it
TAD lieves that the decline in interna-
highlighted data showing that the
tional trade will be between 13 and
value of international trade in goods
But trade data shows that in April, 32 per cent this year.
has declined by about five per cent
the steepest decline in exports was
between January and March.
Photo by UN in poorer countries in South Asia Biggest economies lagging
even worse than the near 25 per cent and the Middle East. Based on key country indicators
Foreign direct investment could
contraction in world trade in the af- On the other hand, East Asian and such as Purchasing Manager In-
plunge by up to 40% this year and
termath of the 2008-9 financial cri- Pacific nations experienced the dices (PMI), UNCTAD noted that
fall below $1 trillion for the first
sis, from which the global economy smallest export shock – and some they “signal further deterioration
time since 2005.
has yet to recover fully. have even shown “signs of recov- of international trade in the second
ery”, according to UNCTAD’s quarter”.
Get the full analysis of #COV-
COVID-19 has severely hit markets Global Trade Update. PMI above 50, indicates an expan-
ID19’s impact on global #FDI flows
in developing and developed coun- Other key findings show that while sion of the export orders compared
in UNCTAD’s World Investment
tries alike, continuing the bad run the pandemic has caused trade in to the previous month, while any-
Report 2020. http://bit.ly/2UOq0Sb
observed in the first quarter, UNC- the automotive and energy sectors thing below 50 represents a contrac-
#UNCTADWIR
TAD said. to collapse, trade of medical prod- tion; 50 indicates no change.
ucts related to COVID-19 more
Worrying as that is, commerce is
South Asia, Middle East, worst hit, than doubled in April. By way of example, it cited poor ex-
expected to plummet further - by a
some ‘signs of recovery’. port orders in China (33.5 in April,
staggering 27 per cent - from April
20% decline through 2020 35.8 in May) the U.S (35.3 in April,
to the end of June.
Impact of COVID-19 on imports On the basis of ongoing economic 39.5 in May) and Europe (13.6 in
and exports of major trading econ- uncertainty, UNCTAD expects a de- April – an all-time low – and 31.9
Worse than 2008 crisis
omies, January-May 2020. cline of around 20 per cent for 2020. in May. UN
To put it into perspective, this is
Impact of COVID-19 on imports

20 Indian soldiers killed in border clash with China

The Indian army says 20 of its to be heading toward a peace-
What to watch: The messaging ful conclusion before the surprise
ously fought a war over the border
in 1962.
troops were killed in a violent clash
from both sides will be vitally im- eruption of violence on Monday.
with Chinese forces in a disputed
portant, Kugelman says. The two sides had blamed one What they’re saying: China’s For-
border region high in the Himala-
another for the recent tensions, eign Ministry blamed this deadly
yas. China also reported casualties,
“New Delhi has been very re- with China objecting to Indian clash on “illegal activities” con-
but it has not confirmed any fatal-
strained and calm in its messag- road-building near the disputed ducted by India on its side of the
ities.
ing throughout this crisis, and that border and India wary of China’s LAC.
makes sense given that India is incursions into territory it con- Meanwhile, India’s External Af-
Why it matters: This is the most
the less powerful of the two and it trols — in addition to Beijing’s fairs Ministry says China tried
perilous moment for relations be-
can’t afford escalation that leads to Belt and Road initiative and influ- to “unilaterally change the status
tween the two Asian giants in
a conflict.” ence-building in South Asia. quo” on the border.
decades. The sides had repeated-
ly clashed along the Line of Ac-
“But now that there has been a Prior to last month’s clashes, Chi- Three Indian soldiers were killed in
tual Control (LAC) but hadn’t ex-
deadly, mass-casualty incident, the nese troops had ventured across the “a violent face-off” with the Chi-
changed gunfire in 45 years. It’s
calculus has changed and the Modi LAC, reportedly digging in with nese Army in Ladakh in the disput-
unclear whether guns were used in
government will be under tremen- tents and even destroying some In- ed Kashmir region along the Hima-
the altercation overnight.
dous pressure to take a harder line, dian guard posts and bridges, per layan border on Monday night, the
at least rhetorically.” the Economist. Indian Army said in a statement.
Zoom in: “The large number of fa-
President Trump offered to medi-
talities suggests that the violence
Kugelman notes that India and ate what he called a “raging” dis- Details: The Indian Army later
had to go beyond the punching and
China began high-level military pute, but the sides said they would stated there had been “casualties
shoving that typically marks these
talks earlier this month, which handle it bilaterally. They previ- on both sides,” India Today notes.
spats, unless you had some soldiers
could provide an off-ramp — or The Indian Army added, “Senior
fall off cliffs,” Michael Kugelman,
could also be called off entirely as military officials of the two sides
a South Asia expert at the Wilson
a result of this incident. are currently meeting at the venue
Center, tells Axios.
to defuse the situation.” China said
Flashback: The news follows skir- Indian troops entered its territory
“I would take quite seriously those
mishes last month along the LAC, to attack its soldiers, but it didn’t
reports emerging now that claim
which included hospitalizations but comment on casualties, per AFP.
fire was exchanged and that there
no fatalities. The situation seemed
were deadly bullet wounds.” Photo Courtesy Axios
22
 June 2020

COVID-19: UN agencies warn against rising hunger

in Latin America and the Caribbean
The number of people in Latin
nearly 54 million people were al-
ready experiencing severe food in-
America and the Caribbean living
security.
in extreme poverty could surpass 83
million this year due to the impacts
COVID-19 is also affecting food
of the COVID-19 pandemic, lead-
systems, with domestic food prices
ing to a significant rise in hunger,
rising higher than other basic items.
according to a UN report released
Increased unemployment means
on Tuesday.
millions are unable to buy enough
to eat, while many others are forced
The study by the UN’s office for
to find cheaper food that is less nu-
the region, known by the acronym
tritious.
ECLAC, and the Food and Agri- Photo by UN
culture Organization (FAO), pro- Other measures proposed include Mr. Barreto reported that sever-
“The major task we have ahead of
poses 10 measures to ward against reinforcing school-based food pro- al Latin American and Caribbean
us is to keep the health crisis from
increased hunger, including through grammes, supporting food assis- countries have already increased
turning into a food crisis. That is
an “anti-hunger grant” to support tance initiatives by civil society, and social assistance to millions living
why we are proposing complement-
vulnerable people as well as food maintaining policies that have kept in poverty.
ing the Emergency Basic Income
producers. global food trade afloat.
(EBI) with the provision of an An-
ti-Hunger Grant (AHG),” said Ali- “We recommend governments ex-
Agriculture itself will not be so af- Averting a ‘hunger pandemic’ pand their programmes to include
cia Bárcena, ECLAC’s Executive
fected by the pandemic. What is more vulnerable people and groups,
Secretary.
more affected is the household in- Meanwhile, the World Food Pro- like informal workers and mi-
come. That’s why we’re concerned gramme (WFP) is calling for great- grants,” he added.
Anti-Hunger Grant
about the increase in extreme #pov- er international solidarity to defeat
erty in #LAC. That’s why we must COVID-19 in Latin America and WFP has so far dispatched nearly
The report recommends that the An-
insist on emergency admission and the Caribbean and to protect the 70 metric tonnes of supplies to 27
ti-Hunger Grant could be given for
the Bonus Against Hunger: @ali- most vulnerable countries and com- countries in the region via its hu-
six months to people living in ex-
ciabarcena munities. manitarian hub in Panama.
treme poverty.
“In Latin America, we may have a WFP also warns against a “hunger Coronavirus Portal & News Up-
The grant could be in the form of
historic setback in the fight against pandemic” in a region where COV- dates
cash transfers, food baskets or
hunger. In a matter of months, we ID-19 cases continue to rise, dou-
vouchers, equivalent to 70 per cent
may lose what we have achieved bling to 1.6 million in the last week Readers can find information and
of the regional extreme poverty
in fifteen years. Millions of people alone, according to the UN agency. guidance on the outbreak of the
line, or just under US $50 dollars
may end up going hungry. That is The warning applies to countries novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
per month, with an estimated over-
the gravity of the current problem”, where WFP has a presence, such as from the UN, World Health Organi-
all cost of $23.5 billion.
said Julio Berdegué, FAO’s Region- Colombia, Honduras and Haiti, re- zation and UN agencies here.
al Representative.
The two UN agencies further pro- gional Director Miguel Barreto told
pose that food producers should re- journalists via videoconference on More cargo flights from its interna-
Fear of a food crisis
ceive an increase of at least 20 per Tuesday. WFP does not operate in tional hub in China are expected in
cent in the average credit portfolio Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico the coming days.
In English, the report is entitled Pre-
from the last three years, for loans and Venezuela.
venting the COVID-19 crisis from Mr. Barreto said the “first of many
that would be financed by a special
becoming a food crisis: Urgent
credit line from multilateral and “Our projection paints a stark pic- flights” into the region will also
measures against hunger in Latin
development banks. Family farms ture. Our region already has prob- bring critical health supplies into
America and the Caribbean.
should also receive a basic invest- lems related to economic and cli- Ecuador from the World Health
ment kit of $250, at a regional cost mate shocks, as well as insecurity Organization (WHO) and the Pan
The agencies said the pandemic fol- and displacement. Another issue is American Health Organization
of roughly $1.7 billion.
lows seven years of slow econom- that between 50 and 70 per cent of (PAHO).
ic growth in Latin America and the
The Anti-Hunger Grant is included workers do so in the informal sec-
Caribbean, and could result in the
in a series of 10 measures aimed at tor, making them more vulnerable “At a time when we are seeing the
biggest drop in regional Gross Do-
ensuring all households have access because they cannot access to work virus devastate our region, this sup-
mestic Product (GDP) in a century;
to the nutritious food they need, due to lockdown in most of the port is absolutely crucial for people
a decline of -5.3 per cent.
food companies can continue to countries of the region,” he said. on the frontlines of the pandemic,
carry out their work, and countries and we look forward to the arrival
This will push an additional 16
have enough food to guarantee sup- Stepping up social support and of more supplies in the coming days
million more people into extreme solidarity and weeks,” he said. UN
ply at reasonable prices.
poverty this year, in a region where

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