The Mount Cameroon Race of Hope is known to be grueling because of the mountain’s steep terrain
Kenya’s athletics governing body says it is in touch with Cameroon’s government and athletics’ authority after a Kenyan runner died in the West African country.
Charles Kipkorir Kipsang collapsed and died on Saturday after crossing the finishing line in the Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, which was held in the city of Buea, the capital of Cameroon’s south west region.
Kipsang, 33, was leading the race but briefly stopped near the finishing line, Bernard Okalai Bilia, the region’s governor, was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
He ultimately crossed the finishing line, but collapsed and died shortly afterwards.
“We cannot say exactly what happened. He was fine. He was good after the race. We might believe that it is something like heart attack,” Mr Bilia was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
Athletics Kenya, Kenya’s governing body for the sport, lamented that Kipsang’s death follows the passing of two renowned runners from the East African nation.
“This is indeed very sad considering it is coming just a day after burying the world marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum who died in a tragic road [accident], and when we are preparing to bury the legendary Henry Rono,” read a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.
“We are in touch with the athletics authority and Cameroonian government and will keep you posted on the next steps.”
The Mount Cameroon Race of Hope is an annual endurance marathon race held on the slopes of Mount Cameroon.
It is known to be gruelling because of the mountain’s steep terrain
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (wearing a cap) and President of AfDB, Akinwunmi Adesina
The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to rehabilitate and restore the Lake Chad Basin.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the 37th African Union Summit held in Ethiopia, will mobilise financial and technical resources to improve the development and management of water resources, support livelihoods and restore peace in the region.
Lake Chad, once considered the sixth-largest inland water body on earth for livelihood, has shrunk in area by some 92% in recent decades. The larger Chad Basin contributes to food security for about 50 million people.
“The population living in this ecosystem are facing major socio-economic challenges – add to that the insecurity situation due to terrorist groups which brings loss of livelihood, destruction of households, forced internal displacements and beyond our national frontiers,” said Republic of Chad Minister of Water, Passalet Kanade Marssela.
African Development Bank Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Marie–Laure Akin-Olugbade, told dignitaries and sector leaders in water and agriculture at the signing ceremony that the agreement provides a framework for projects and programs to improve the quality of life for millions of Africans.
“This Memorandum of Understanding involves transforming living conditions in the hydrographic basin of the six member countries of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, namely Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, the Central African Republic and Libya. As the main financial partner of the Commission for several years, we will consolidate the gains made, through a new integrated regional programme that accelerates sustainable solutions to the challenges of Lake Chad and further improves the living conditions of the basin’s population,” she said.
The Lake Chad Basin Commission named the African Development Bank the “Champion Lead Partner for resource mobilization for the revival of the Lake Chad.”
Ambassador Mamman Nuhu, Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission said:
“Our shared goal is to ensure the sustainability of the Lake Chad Basin, especially the Lake, which has dramatically shrunk due to climate change and increased human demands. This…is a manifestation of our commitment to ensuring water security, economic prosperity, and stability in the region. It is an integral part of our shared goal to build climate resilience and sustainable growth.”
The African Development Bank has a track record of impactful support for the Lake Chad Basin Commission and its goals. Since 2005, the Bank has financed $241.3 million for several multinational projects in the water, transport, environment, and social sectors.
Recently, the Bank approved $17.8 million for a United Nations Development Progamme initiative, “Rompre le cycle de fragilité à travers la stabilization au lac Tchad” (“Breaking the cycle of fragility through stabilization in Lake Chad”). This initiative is expected to raise up to $21.5 million in additional financing from partner organizations.
The Bank is also developing a multi-year institutional capacity building program to strengthen the Lake Chad Basin Commission to carry out in-depth environmental, technical and economic studies that will inform solutions, decision-making, and financing requirements for Basin restoration. In addition, the Bank’s African Water Facility is financing the development of the second, five-year investment plan to build a pipeline of projects for the sustainable and beneficial use of water resources in the basin, as well as prepare the groundwork for further investments.
Several African governments are defending their decision to send large delegations to the COP28 climate conference in Dubai amid widespread criticism.
The UN’s attendance list revealed that Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Uganda were among the countries that sent the biggest teams.
Nigeria sent 1,411 people, followed by Morocco with 823 and Kenya with 765.
Representatives of Nigeria and Kenya on Sunday said that many of the delegates on their lists were not publicly funded as they were representing the media, civil society organisations and private institutions.
Both countries also said that some of the listed delegates are participating remotely.
“As the biggest country in Africa, the biggest economy and one with a bigger stake in climate action as a country with a huge extractive economy, it is a no-brainer that delegates from Nigeria will be more than any other country in Africa,” a statement by an adviser of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu said.
Kenya’s State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed told privately-owned Citizen TV that the number was “exaggerated” as it represented those who had registered for the event – not those who attended.
He added that the national government had only cleared 51 essential delegates and the rest had been sponsored by other groups.
In a statement, the Tanzanian government said more than 90% of the delegations from the country were sponsored by the private sector.
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima and AFDB President, Akinnwunmi Adesina
It was yet another bountiful harvest for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in its investment drive, as the African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development hinted on Thursday that they have voted $1 billion to further deliver special agro-industrial processing zones in 24 States of Nigeria.
This is in addition to an initial $520 million voted by the development partners for the development of eight special agro-industrial processing zones in Nigeria.
President of African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, disclosed this at the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, World Food Prize 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States of America.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is attending the event in pursuance of the food security and diversification policy of the Tinubu administration, had on Wednesday delivered his keynote address at the ongoing Dialogue.
Delivering his own speech titled, “From Dakar to Des Moines,” Dr. Adesina noted that the decision to pump such huge funds into Nigeria’s agribusiness was part of the resolve to develop Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) in 13 countries.
Explaining that it was the core of the food and agriculture delivery compacts from the Dakar 2 Summit held earlier this year in Dakar, Senegal, the AfDB President said, “We are investing heavily in the development of SAPZs to support the development of agricultural value chains, food processing and value addition, enabling infrastructure and logistics to promote local, regional, and international trade in food.
“The African Development Bank Group is investing $853 million in the development of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, and it has mobilized additional co-financing of $661 million, for a total commitment of $1.5 billion. We are deploying effective partnerships at scale. We are currently implementing 25 Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones in 13 countries.
“For example, the African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development provided $520 million for the development of 8 special agro-industrial processing zones in Nigeria. The second phase of the program aims to mobilize an additional $1 billion to deliver special agro-industrial processing zones in 24 States of Nigeria”.
Dr. Adesina regretted that while much progress had “been made in African agriculture, 283 million people still go to bed hungry in Africa, about a third of the 828 million people that suffer hunger globally.”
He however described the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue World Food Prize 2023, as a “journey and narrative of how we are combining the power of science, technology, policies, and politics to ensure that Africa fully unlocks its agricultural potential, and feeds itself, with pride.”
The AfDB President thanked Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, for participating in the global event, saying their presence is an indication “that Africa has the political will and is fully ready to tackle food insecurity and make hunger history” on the continent.
Also speaking during the fire-side chat with the AfDB President, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Vice President Kashim Shettima who spoke on the Tinubu administration’s initiatives for food security said the quality of present leadership in Nigeria and the rest of Africa will drive transformation in agriculture and other sectors.
According to him, “a nation falls or rises fundamentally due to the quality of its leadership. Right now Africa is blessed with quite a handful of quality leaders that have the drive, passion and skills set to redefine the meaning and concept of modern leadership.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu, my boss, is a good example, Macky Sall of Senegal and of course, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt are doing wonderfully well, just to mention a few of the African leaders that are distinguishing themselves in leadership.
“I want to assure this gathering of investors and stakeholders in the agricultural sector that my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a quintessential 21st century modern African leader who is determined to redefine the meaning and concept of modern leadership.
“Be rest assured that there will be a sea change in the fortunes of the Nigerian nation and by extention the African continent in the next couple of years because Nigeria is an anchor nation,” the VP added.
On wheat production, Sen. Shettima said “our target towards wheat production in Nigeria is to achieve 50% self sufficiency in the next 3 cycles. It is inconceivable that we are the second largest wheat importer in the world.
“Luckily, we have already procured the heat tolerant variety of wheat seeds and we are going to drive that process by supporting the farmers with the heat tolerant variety, agricultural extention services, fertilizer and also hope to increase the irrigation areas to 1 million hectares in the next cropping cycle.
“We need to produce about 2.4 million tonnes of wheat grains in Nigeria. We are going to reach out to our farmers through small irrigation schemes and through digitalisation. All the actors in the value chain will be sufficiently taken care of through innovative finance, partial credit guarantees and crop insurance,” the VP emphasized.
For rice production, the VP said the major challenge for Nigeria is the insufficiency of paddy rice. He noted that Nigeria has adequate milling capacity but “we need to produce 3 to 4 million tonnes of paddy rice to meet our requirement of about 2.5 million tonnes per annum. We have 75 million hectares of arable land and most of it suited for rice cultivation.”
He added that “we will provide our farmers with certified seeds, fertilzer, extension services, the digitlization of services, inputs, finance and market information. Our target is to achieve self sufficiency in rice latest by 2027.”
The VP also spoke about the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), reiterating the Tinubu administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for investors in the zones.
He said government would create an SAPZ development authority that will operate like a one-stop shop where regulatory and associated issues will be addressed.
The Serengeti beat six other parks in this year’s World Travel Awards
Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park has been named the best in Africa for the fifth time in a row.
It beat six other parks in the continent in this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA), a global body that aims to reward excellence in travel and tourism.
The Serengeti, which is popular for its wildebeest migration, has won the award ever year since 2019.
The Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) celebrated the Serengeti’s “stunning five-time victory”.
Other African contenders included Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Namibia’s Etosha National Park, Uganda’s Kidepo Valley National Park, South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve.
Ecowas leaders (pictured) announce sanctions almost a fortnight after Guinea’s coup. Credit/BBC
Ecowas leaders slam travel bans, asset freezes on Guinea junta leaders
Leaders of West Africa’s regional bloc, Ecowas, have imposed travel bans and a freeze on the financial assets of Guinea’s coup leaders and their families.
The sanctions are expected to put more pressure on the military junta to restore constitutional rule.
The decisions were announced after a summit in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday.
Ecowas also wants the junta to conduct elections within six months, and insists that none of the military leaders should be allowed to contest the polls.
The West African leaders however expressed their willingness to support Guinea through the transitional process.
They have called on the Africa Union, the UN, and their international partners to help enforce the travel bans and financial sanctions against the junta and their families.
They’re also demanding the unconditional release of the ousted President Alpha Condé.
An elite military united headed by Col Mamady Doumbouya seized power in Guinea nearly two weeks ago, accusing the government of mismanagement and corruption. BBC
Morocco claims innocence as Algeria cuts diplomatic tie over hostile actions
Hostile Actions: Morocco claims innocence as Algeria cuts diplomatic ties
Algeria is cutting diplomatic relations with Morocco, Foreign Minister Ramdane Lamamra said, accusing its neighbour of “hostile actions”.
However, Morocco has said Algeria’s reason for severing tie was unfounded.
Morocco and Algeria have had strained relations for decades, mainly over the issue of Western Sahara.
“Algeria has decided to cut diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Morocco from today,” Lamamra said at a news conference on Tuesday.
“The Moroccan kingdom has never stopped its hostile actions against Algeria,” he said.
The cutting of diplomatic relations is effective from Tuesday but consulates in each country will remain open, Lamamra said.
Morocco’s Foreign Ministry could not be immediately reached for comment.
King Mohammed VI has called for improved ties with Algeria.
Algeria last week said lethal wildfires were the work of groups it has labelled “terrorist”, one of which it said was backed by Morocco.
The forest fires in Algeria, which broke out on August 9 amid a blistering heatwave, burned tens of thousands of hectares of forest and killed at least 90 people, including more than 30 soldiers.
Algerian authorities have pointed the finger for the fires at the independence movement of the mainly Berber region of Kabylie, which extends along the Mediterranean coast east of the capital, Algiers.
The authorities have also accused the Movement for Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK) of involvement in the lynching of a man falsely accused of arson, an incident that sparked outrage.
Algiers last week accused Rabat of supporting the MAK, which it classifies as a “terrorist organisation”.
“The incessant hostile acts carried out by Morocco against Algeria have necessitated the review of relations between the two countries,” a presidency statement said last week.
It also said there would be an “intensification of security controls on the western borders” with Morocco.
The border between Algeria and Morocco has been closed since 1994.
Algeria backs the Polisario movement that seeks independence for Western Sahara, which Morocco regards as part of its own territory.
Algeria has accused members of the MAK separatist movement of starting forest fires
Morocco has rejected reasons put forward by Algeria in its decision to sever diplomatic relations with its North African neighbour.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra announced his country’s decision on Tuesday to cut all ties with Morocco for “hostile acts”.
Algiers accused its neighbour of providing support to members of the MAK separatist movement, which is fighting for self-determination in the Kabylie region of Algeria.
MAK is believed to have started forest fires in Algeria, and is also accused of involvement in the killing of a man mistaken for an arsonist.
In response, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Morocco rejects this unjustified decision. The pretext is fallacious and absurd.
“The Moroccan kingdom will however remain a credible and loyal to the Algerian people and will continue to act with wisdom.”
The Algerian foreign ministry had previously summoned the Moroccan ambassador over remarks the Moroccan envoy to the UN had made backing the separatist movement in Algeria.
Rabat has not provided a response to Algiers questions. This is believed to have exacerbated the row between the two countries and led to Algeria severing all ties.
Morocco has also been accused of using Israeli technology to spy on journalists and foreign officials, including Algerian military and political leaders. The Moroccan government denies this.
The already fractious relations between Algeria and Morocco over Western Sahara has worsened recently with Rabat re-establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.
Latest: Boat sinks off Tunisia ‘killing 23 migrants
Latest: Boat sinks off Tunisia ‘killing 23 migrants’
A humanitarian organisation says at least 23 migrants have drowned off the coast of Tunisia as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy.
The Tunisian Red Crescent, speaking to Reuters news agency, said 70 other passengers from the overcrowded boat were rescued, as were a further 39 migrants on a second boat that sank in waters near the Tunisian port of Sfax.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of drowning incidents in the area.
The numbers attempting the dangerous crossing from African countries to Europe have increased as the weather has improved.
Morocco recalls envoy in Berlin over Western Sahara
Western Sahara has been the subject of a dispute
Morocco has recalled its ambassador in Berlin over the Germany’s stand over the disputed Western Sahara territory.
Morocco said Germany had been involved in hostile actions that would harm the interests of the country.
In a statement, Morocco cited Germany’s “destructive attitude” and “antagonistic activism” regarding its actions that followed the US decision to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
Last year, Germany called a UN Security Council meeting to discuss the issue after former US President Donald Trump said Washington recognised Moroccan control on the disputed territory.
On Thursday, Morocco also accused Germany of “continued determination to counter Morocco’s regional influence” – referring to Germany’s decision to exclude Morocco in an international meeting last year. It further said Germany had disclosed sensitive information given by Moroccan security services to a convicted jihadist.
The German foreign ministry said it was surprised by Morocco’s decision, saying it had been working to resolve the crisis.
Western Sahara has been the subject of a dispute between the Moroccans and the Saharawi people, led by the Polisario Front – who claim it as an independent state.
AU Chairperson and FIFA President discuss ongoing strong collaboration
AU Chairperson and FIFA President discuss ongoing strong collaboration
Thursday, during a call that preceded the 34th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), AU Chairperson H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa and FIFA (www.FIFA.com) President Gianni Infantino spoke of the positive momentum generated between both organisations in the past two years as well as the strong institutional bonds forged between the AU and FIFA for the benefit of the African people.
Reviewing the progress made since both organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding in February 2019, the two leaders discussed various topics, including plans to boost African Football with a particular focus on infrastructure (stadia, football pitches), football academies and competitions, but also on the fight against match manipulation, as well as safety and security at football matches across Africa.
The joint #SafeHome campaign from August 2020 between the AU and FIFA, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), where the four organisations addressed the important issue of domestic violence, which was exacerbated by COVID-19-related lockdowns and stay-at-home measures by launching a successful awareness-raising campaign is a further testimony of the close collaboration between the AU and FIFA. A number of Africa-based FIFA Legends supported the campaign via video awareness messages which were distributed on social and traditional media. Both the AU Chairperson and the FIFA President also recognised the opportunities that education through football can bring through the FIFA Football for Schools programme which is being coordinated globally via the FIFA Foundation.
Having visited 35 African countries in the last few years, Gianni Infantino stressed the important role that Africa plays in global football, and how that needs to be strengthened in future. This role has been supported with strong investments via the FIFA Forward programme which has already delivered close to 300 projects across the continent.
The rollout of the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan, supporting football across Africa during the pandemic, has also been significant and continues to play an important role to keep football alive in the continent.
Related to COVID-19, vaccination processes will also be crucial in the months ahead. In this respect, the FIFA President reiterated his support for fair access to vaccines for all, a message that he had passed to a global audience earlier this week at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The FIFA President thanked the AU Chairperson for their continued support, and assured his AU counterpart that the strong relationship forged between both organisations in the past two years will continue when Félix Tshisekedi, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will assume the role of African Union Chairperson for a one-year term during the aforementioned Assembly, which takes place on 6 and 7 February 2021.
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