Our website use cookies to improve and personalize your experience and to display advertisements (if any). Our website may also include cookies from third parties like Google Adsense, Google Analytics, and Youtube. By using the website, you consent to the use of cookies.

African countries at COP28: several big wins and a united voice

African countries at COP28: several big wins and a united voice

AFRICAN countries entered the recent COP28 negotiations on climate change in high spirits. Before this conference, in September, African government leaders, policymakers, activists and other groups from the continent met at the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The African position and expectations for COP28 were shaped at this summit by the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration. BAMIDELE OLAJIDE, Lecturer, University of Lagos Africa’s main agenda at COP28, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, was to convince global players that they must show more altruism in financially supporting targets to reduce global emissions. For African countries, COP27, hosted by Egypt,…
Read More
Uganda’s anti-gay law causing wave of rights abuses, activists say

Uganda’s anti-gay law causing wave of rights abuses, activists say

THE consideration and passage by Uganda's government of one of the world's harshest anti-gay laws have unleashed a torrent of abuse against LGBTQ people, mostly committed by private individuals, rights groups said on Thursday. The Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA), which was enacted in May, prescribes the death penalty for certain same-sex acts. At least six people have been charged under it, including two accused of the capital offence of "aggravated homosexuality". But the report, authored by a committee of the Convening for Equality (CFE) coalition, said the main perpetrators of human rights abuses against LGBTQ people this year - including torture, rape, arrest…
Read More
Reactions to new Ugandan anti-LGBTQ law

Reactions to new Ugandan anti-LGBTQ law

UGANDA has implemented one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws, drawing widespread Western condemnation and outraging activists at home. Below is some reaction: CLARE BYARUGABA, UGANDAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST "The Ugandan President has today Legalised State-Sponsored Homophobia and Transphobia. It's a very dark and sad day ... We shall continue to fight this atrocious legislation through the Judiciary until Human Rights for all are upheld. We shall win, because as Martin Luther King Jr reminded us, the moral arc of the Universe always bends towards Justice." U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE "We are appalled that the draconian and discriminatory anti-gay bill is now…
Read More
Activists walk from Bamako to Ouagadougou to promote states’ federation

Activists walk from Bamako to Ouagadougou to promote states’ federation

A small group of activists have been walking from Mali's capital Bamako to Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou to express their support for a federation between the two West African states. The group are due to arrive in Ouagadougou on Tuesday where they will end their march at the Thomas Sankara memorial, a tribute to the former president and noted pan-Africanist. The prime ministers of Mali and Burkina Faso said last month they would examine the idea of creating a federation. It is not clear exactly what that would entail. The two countries share a long border and face similar challenges.…
Read More
Egypt withholding identity papers from dissidents abroad- rights group

Egypt withholding identity papers from dissidents abroad- rights group

EGYPTIAN authorities have been systematically refusing to provide or renew identity documents to dissidents, journalists and activists abroad in a crackdown on opposition that extends beyond Egypt's borders, Human Rights Watch said. The U.S.-based group said it had interviewed 26 Egyptians living in countries including Turkey, Germany, Malaysia and Qatar last year, and had reviewed documents relating to nine of them. Egypt's state press centre and foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. "By arbitrarily depriving its citizens abroad from obtaining valid passports and other identity documents, the Egyptian authorities are violating both the constitution and international…
Read More
Pull investments from companies not committed to environment, pope says

Pull investments from companies not committed to environment, pope says

PHILIP PULLELLA  POPE Francis has urged people to pull investments from companies that are not committed to protecting the environment, adding his voice to calls for the economic model that emerges from the coronavirus pandemic to be a sustainable one. Francis spoke in a video message for an online event called "Countdown Global Launch, A Call to Action on Climate Change". "Science tells us, every day with more precision, that we need to act urgently ... if we are to have any hope of avoiding radical and catastrophic climate change," he said. The pope listed three action points: better education…
Read More
Sudan’s army launches legal action against ‘insulting’ activists

Sudan’s army launches legal action against ‘insulting’ activists

SUDAN's army has started legal action against activists and journalists who have "insulted" the military, it said in a statement. The army ruled Sudan for a few months after removing veteran leader Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, before signing a fragile three-year power-sharing deal with civilians under pressure from protesters. In a statement, the army said that legal action would be taken against activists, journalists and others both inside and outside Sudan. No further information was given, but the army said it would release more details in due course. "The armed forces took this step after systematic insults and accusations…
Read More