October 8, 2015
Peter Singhatey
Uncategorized
Africa, Armed Conflict, Blood Diamonds, Kimberly Process, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey
A program involving more than 80 countries to stem the flow of diamonds trafficked by armed movements is succeeding in stopping the revenue from sales of the gems being used to stoke violence, World Diamond Council President Edward Asscher said.
Source: World Diamond Body Rejects Report Trafficking Is Fueling War – Bloomberg Business
A program involving more than 80 countries to stem the flow of diamonds trafficked by armed movements is succeeding in stopping the revenue from sales of the gems being used to stoke violence, World Diamond Council President Edward Asscher said. The 12-year-old Kimberley Process has taken “more than 99 percent” of so-called conflict diamonds off the market, Asscher said in an interview from Vienna on Monday. He rejected a report by London-based Amnesty International last month that said diamond trafficking was helping to fuel violence in the Central African Republic. “The diamond council gladly re-invites Amnesty to participate and join us and the civil society coalition looking into aspects of CAR and the whole Kimberley Process,” he said. Bloomberg…
October 6, 2015
Peter Singhatey
Uncategorized
Africa, Development, Education, Gambia, Ibrahim Index 2015, International Security, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey
Mauritius has retained its top slot as the leading democracy in Africa, while Somalia lagged at the furthest end, according to the 2015 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG).
Source: Ibrahim Index: Democracy in Africa remains stagnant as Zimbabwe makes progress | Africa | DW.COM | 05.10.2015
September 29, 2015
Peter Singhatey
Uncategorized
Africa, Development, Gambia, Illegal Migrants, International Security, Migration, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are among African countries that will benefit from a $2.04 billion (€1.8 billion) emergency fund set up by the European Union to address the causes of migration and displacement of persons on the continent.
The fund, to be officially launched before the end of the year, will help the countries address socio-economic challenges that force people to migrate from their original homes.
“The EU will work to help African countries achieve economic development that tackles unemployment and prevents migration and radicalisation,” said the EU Commissioner for International Co-operation and Development Neven Mimica at a press briefing in Nairobi.
Other countries expected to benefit from the fund are Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan. In the Sahel region and Lake Chad area, the beneficiaries will be Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, the Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. In North Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt will also be part of the group…
Source: EU Gives Africa U.S.$2 Billion to Stop Migration
August 3, 2015
Peter Singhatey
African Center for Strategic Studies
Africa, Cecil, Dentist, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Trophy Hunting
Sad About Cecil? These African Animals Are Slaughtered by the Thousands – The Daily Beast.
JUBA, South Sudan — A hopeful myth persists in this region that “wildlife refugees”—fauna in flight from war-ravaged habitats—will return one day when the conflict is over. Would that it were so. But in South Sudan, no end of the conflict appears in sight, and amid vast human suffering, nature is being ravaged as well.
The great icons of the wild—the elephants, the rhinos, the leopards and lions (so beloved of trophy hunting dentists and the heedless offspring of the outrageously rich) are gone or going fast. Conservationists say the “charismatic megafauna” are nearly wiped out here. No northern white rhino has been spotted in the region since 1981; only 2,500 elephant remain in all of South Sudan…”
August 3, 2015
Peter Singhatey
African Center for Strategic Studies
Africa, Ebola, Middle East, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Research, Vaccine
New vaccine may end the biggest Ebola outbreak in history | Daily Maverick.
Over a year – and 11,279 reported deaths – since the beginning of the Ebola outbreak, the first effective ‘armour’ against the virus has been developed. The VSV-ZEBOV vaccine showed 100% efficacy in offering protection from Ebola virus, according to preliminary results published in the Lancet on Friday. The vaccine is the result of a massive collaborative effort between the Guinean Government, World Health Organization (WHO), Doctors without Borders and others.
Beginning in March, the trial involved over 4,000 volunteers, all of whom had come into contact with Ebola patients. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. The first – the intervention group – immediately received the vaccine. To test the protection conferred by the vaccine, those in the second, or control, group were given the vaccine three weeks later. (Usually the control group is only given a placebo; however, this was decided against for ethical reasons).
Within 10 days of receiving the vaccine, both groups developed protection against Ebola…
July 26, 2015
Peter Singhatey
Articles on Africa
Africa, Camac Energy, Erin Energy, Gambia, Offshore oil, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Research, Seismic Survey
Erin Energy commences survey of Gambia’s offshore for oil – Foroyaa Newspaper.
Erin Energy Corporation through its subsidiary Camac Energy Gambia Limited, has commenced the shooting of a 3D seismic survey off the coast of The Gambia. Polarcus Ltd has been contracted by the Company to carry out the survey using the Polarcus Alima, an ultra-modern 12 streamer 3D/4D seismic vessel. The survey is expected to take approximately 50 days to complete and will cover approximately 1,500 square kilometres on Erin Energy’s A2 and A5 blocks…
July 7, 2015
Peter Singhatey
African Center for Strategic Studies
Africa, China, Development, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Research
Is ‘China in Africa’ something to fear? – The Washington Post.
Should the West fear China’s growing influence on the African continent? While there is no question that China and Chinese companies are changing the way African politicians seek aid and investment, the relationship between the two sides is far more complicated than simple narratives about “democracy or dictatorship” or “trade not aid” suggest. Veteran journalist Howard W. French explores this complexity in his book, “China’s Second Continent: How a Million Migrants are Building a New Empire in Africa.” He graciously took the time to answer my questions about the book and China’s role in Africa.
LS: Much of the discourse in American politics is that the U.S. should be afraid of China’s role in Africa because China is undemocratic or “trying to take over.” Is this a fair approach? Why or why not?
HF: I’m afraid the American discourse on China and Africa is very confused and generally not very insightful. Part of that is driven by the recent, still startled realization in this society of just how serious a competitor China is becoming, and part of that reflects the baggage of very old and nearly immutable American attitudes toward Africa, which are bound up in paternalism and in using Africa as a kind of vanity mirror to help us brighten our own self-image and feel better about ourselves…
May 27, 2015
Peter Singhatey
Articles on Africa
Africa, Conflict, International Security, Peace & Security, Peacebuilding, peacekeeping, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Research
ISS Africa | Beyond rhetoric: the role of women in sustainable peacebuilding.
“A high-level review of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1325, expected to be released in October this year, provides an opportunity for policymakers to move beyond the rhetoric of gender mainstreaming and start putting words into practice. Resolution 1325 underlines the need for gender-sensitive approaches to peace and stability in post-conflict contexts.
Although the inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes has gained momentum in policy discussions over the last 15 years, the number of women in decision-making positions remains relatively small. Peacebuilding is the foundation for creating sustainable human security and equitable development in countries emerging from conflict. UNSC resolution 1325 recognises that women are disproportionally affected by conflict, and to address this, women should play a key role in achieving lasting peace after conflict…”
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