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Niger Breaks Off Military Deal With US

The pact played a central role in the US military’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region and is home to a major airbase….reports Asian Lite News

In a blow to the US security presence in Niger, the latter has suspended its military agreement with the former “with immediate effect”, Al Jazeera reported quoting the Niger’s ruling military spokesman, Colonel Amadou Abdramane.

The agreement that allowed US military personnel and civilian defence staff to operate from Niger lost its existence a week after senior US officials, led by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and US Africa Command head General Michael Langley, visited the West African country earlier this week to discuss democratic transition.

The pact played a central role in the US military’s operations in Africa’s Sahel region and is home to a major airbase.

Speaking on local television, Abdramane said the US delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol, and that Niger was not informed about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival or the agenda, Al Jazeera reported.

“Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,” Abdramane said.

The US military had some 650 personnel working in Niger in December, according to a White House report to Congress. The US military operates a major airbase in the Niger city of Agadez, some 920km (572 miles) from the capital of Niamey, using it for manned and unmanned surveillance flights and other operations.

According to the Al Jazeera report, a drone base known as Air Base 201 near Agadez was built at a cost of more than USD 100 million. Since 2018 the base has been used to target ISIL (ISIS) fighters and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, in the Sahel region.

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera correspondent Shihab Rattansi said the move is “a huge blow to the US”.

“Niger is the centre of US operations in west and north Africa, notably at its Air Base 201, the most expensive construction project ever undertaken by the US government. It’s there for war on terror operations but it’s really there also for great power projection against countries like Russia and China.”

Last October, Washington officially designated the military takeover as a coup. But in December, the top US envoy for Africa, Phee, said the US was willing to restore aid and security ties if Niger met certain conditions.

The military said the delegation had accused Niger of partnering with Russia and Iran on “secret” deals, which the government denies. Officials also said the US had “threatened” action against Niger if the Niamey fails to cut ties with both countries.

The military government “forcefully denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of retaliation from the head of the American delegation towards the Nigerien government and people”, spokesman Abdramane added.

Niger has been under military rule since July 2023 when an elite guard force led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani detained President Mohamed Bazoum and declared Tchiani ruler.

Like the military rulers in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger has also kicked out French and other European forces. Both Mali and Burkina Faso have turned to Russia for support. (ANI)

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Decline in Chinese Labour Force Across Africa

Earlier in 2015, 263,696 workers were recorded on the continent, which drastically declined to 88,371 in 2022….reports Asian Lite News

The number of Chinese workers across Africa has dropped significantly to its lowest level in more than a decade, Voice of America reported, citing data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics.

Earlier in 2015, 263,696 workers were recorded on the continent, which drastically declined to 88,371 in 2022.

The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University analysed data from 2009 to 2022 and attributed the drop in numbers partially to the pandemic, as Chinese workers left during that period and the country only reopened in early 2023, VOA reported.

However, the drop in numbers is also due to a variety of other factors, according to the experts, including oil prices and the downscaling of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s global Belt and Road Initiative, which initially saw thousands of Chinese sent out across the continent to work on large infrastructure projects.

When asked whether the numbers could have rebounded last year and might continue to do so, Deborah Brautigam, director at the China Africa Research Initiative, said, “We have no data for 2023, but anecdotally, we hear that more postponed projects are resuming. Yet we are unlikely to see the high numbers of the past.”

Yunnan Chen, a researcher at ODI Global, a UK-based research group, said, “It might be that some construction has restarted since 2022, but we know the number of overall Chinese-financed projects has been in decline for a number of years, and the last few years have put a damper on any new project deals. So I wouldn’t expect any dramatic increases in these numbers anytime soon.”

According to the statistics, the five countries with the most Chinese workers in 2022 were Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reported VOA.

While still leading in the number of workers, Algeria and Angola also saw the biggest drops.

Algeria had more than 91,000 Chinese workers in 2016, while Angola had a peak of 50,000. However, by 2022, only about 7,000 workers remained in each country.

The director of the China Africa Research Initiative further said that the huge drops “are explained by the price of oil. They’re both highly reliant on oil exports and they use this oil to pay for nearly all government spending.”

Moreover, China has been criticised for failing to aid job creation in Africa or equip local residents with new skills, despite its massive projects, as reported by VOA.

While large numbers of local workers have indeed been employed, it’s often been in the most basic of roles, whereas more senior jobs have been reserved for Chinese.

“Generally, Chinese projects do hire local labourers,” said Chen.

Even though China sends fewer of its people to Africa, hiring Africans for higher-paid, skilled jobs by Chinese companies may not happen immediately, Brautigam added. (ANI)

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Nicaragua-Germany Gaza case before ICJ

The Hague-based ICJ said it will hold hearings on April 8 and 9 for both countries to make submissions…reports Asian Lite News

Top UN judges will start listening to submissions next month in the case filed by Nicaragua accusing Berlin of facilitating “genocide” in Gaza because it supported Israel, officials said on Friday.

Two weeks ago, Nicaragua filed a case against Germany before the International Court of Justice, saying Berlin was “facilitating the commission of genocide and … failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide” in Gaza.

This included Berlin’s suspension of funding of the UN Palestinian refugee agency.

The Hague-based ICJ said it will hold hearings on April 8 and 9 for both countries to make submissions.

“The hearings will be devoted to the request for the indication of provisional measures contained in Nicaragua’s application,” the ICJ said in a statement.

Managua had asked the court to take a swift interim stance against Germany before judges gave the case an in-depth study.

The lodging of the case follows the ICJ saying on January 26 that Israel must do everything to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and take “immediate” measures for aid provisions.

That interim order was given as the court moves to weigh in full a case lodged in December by South Africa alleging that Israel was engaged in genocide in Gaza.

Israel has dismissed South Africa’s case as a “grossly distorted story.”

ICJ rulings are legally binding, but the court has no enforcement mechanism.

Accusations from Israel that staff from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel prompted several countries — including Germany, Britain, Japan and the US — to suspend their funding.

However, Canada and Sweden said they would resume UNRWA aid, and Spain has pledged an additional €20 million. Efforts have intensified to bring more aid into the war-devastated Gaza.

Scholz heads to Israel

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Israel on Saturday to allow humanitarian aid access to Gaza on a larger scale, ahead of a two-day trip to the Middle East.

Scholz will travel to the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba on Saturday to meet on Sunday with Jordan’s King Abdullah before flying on to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“It is necessary for aid to reach Gaza on a larger scale now. That will be a topic that I also have to talk about,” Scholz told journalists ahead of his trip.

He also voiced concern about Israel’s planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than half the Palestinian’s enclave’s population of 2.3 million have taken shelter.

“There is a danger that a comprehensive offensive in Rafah will result in many terrible civilian casualties, which must be strictly prohibited,” he added.

Germany’s air force said it dropped pallets with four tons of relief goods by air into the enclave on Saturday.

“Every package counts. But airdrops are just a drop in the ocean,” the foreign ministry said on the social media platform X.

Israel’s air and ground campaign in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, has displaced most of the population and left people in dire need of food and other essentials.

Germany joins operation to airdrop aid into Gaza

Germany said Wednesday it was joining an air bridge operation along with several other countries to drop desperately needed humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The operation, initiated by Jordan, already has the participation of several other countries including France and the United States.

The defense ministry said it would deploy the German part of a joint German-French air transport squadron to participate in the mission.

The team is equipped with C-130J Hercules transport planes, said the ministry, adding that Germany’s operation could begin as soon as the end of this week.

“The people in Gaza are lacking the most basic necessities. We want to do our part to ensure that they get access to food and medicine,” said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.

After one parachuted airdrop turned lethal on March 8, the minister sought to allay fears.

“The truth is that airdrops are not without danger. The crews responsible are trained for the relevant procedures and highly experienced,” he said.

Gaza has faced relentless bombardment by Israel since Hamas launched a cross-border attack on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israel’s retaliatory bombardment and ground offensive has killed 31,184 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

Aid groups say only a fraction of the supplies required to meet basic humanitarian needs have been allowed into Gaza since October.

With help entering Gaza by truck far below pre-war levels, and Gazans increasingly desperate, foreign governments have turned to airdrops and are now trying to open a maritime aid corridor from Cyprus.

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South Africa to arrest citizens fighting with Israeli forces

South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands on Dec. 29, alleging that it violated the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948…reports Asian Lite News

South African citizens fighting alongside or serving in the Israel army will face arrest when they return home, Israeli media reported Wednesday, citing the country’s foreign minister.

“I have already issued a statement alerting those who are South African and who are fighting alongside or in the Israeli Defense Forces. We are ready. When you come home, we’re going to arrest you,” The Times of Israel newspaper quoted Naledi Pandor as saying at a recent conference on solidarity with Palestinians in the South African capital Pretoria.

Her remarks came after an initial warning was issued in December by the South African Foreign Ministry which said alleged violations of international law by soldiers in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war made them “liable for prosecution in South Africa.”

South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands on Dec. 29, alleging that it violated the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948.

It asked the world court to issue provisional measures due to the urgency of the situation in Gaza, with hearings on the request held on Jan. 11-12 at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

The ICJ ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent acts defined in Article 2 of the Genocide Convention, to prevent, hinder and punish those calling for genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, to eliminate adverse living conditions by providing essential services and humanitarian aid and to take effective measures to prevent the destruction of evidence showing the violation of the Genocide Convention against Palestinians.

The ICJ also ordered Israel to submit a report on all the measures it had taken within one month from the date of the decision.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in which 1,163 people were killed.

More than 31,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza and over 73,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

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Senegal top court upholds March 24 presidential vote

President Macky Sall postponed the February election and tried to push it back to December at the last minute, sparking a crisis and deadly protests…reports Asian Lite News

Senegal’s top court on Friday upheld the holding of a deferred presidential election on March 24, rejecting an attempt by disqualified candidates to cancel the date.

The rejected candidates and allied lawmakers had called for presidential decrees temporarily suspending the date of the vote and the campaign’s duration.

If the Supreme Court had accepted the requests, the electoral process would have been called into question at the last minute.

The court said the issue did not fall within its purview, adding that the Constitutional Council had “full jurisdiction in electoral matters.”

President Macky Sall postponed the February election and tried to push it back to December at the last minute, sparking a crisis and deadly protests.

He was then forced to reset the date to March 24.

“This election is the most important we’ve ever had. Many people have died, life has become more expensive, and the Senegalese are tired. We need a new system,” said Hamza Soumboundou, a first-year applied arts student at Gaston Berger University in the northern city of Saint-Louis.

The 20-year-old wants the next president to create jobs, fight corruption and injustice, develop agriculture, and cancel foreign fishing agreements.

He also hopes for the re-establishment of the rule of law, which he says was flouted under outgoing President Sall.

UGB is the second largest in the country and was badly hit by the political crisis triggered by the delay to the February 25 presidential poll.

Two students were killed and several others injured in protests that left a total of four people dead across the country.

UGB has experienced less unrest than Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, but protests there are known to descend into violence. Clashes over grant payments in 2018 left one student dead.

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Blinken discusses Haiti crisis with Kenyan President

During their conversation, both leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in the region….reports Asian Lite News

The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto on Saturday to discuss the ongoing political and security crisis in Haiti.

During their conversation, both leaders reiterated their commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in the region.

“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto to discuss the ongoing political and security crisis in Haiti. They underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to support the Haitian National Police in creating the security conditions necessary to conduct free and fair elections,” US Department of State official spokesperson, Matthew Miller said in an official statement.

“Secretary Blinken also offered his appreciation for Kenya’s diplomatic work to support peace and security in the Horn of Africa,” he added.

This came after Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier warned of initiating a civil war and “genocide” unless Prime Minister Ariel Henry steps down from his post, reported Al Jazeera.

Jimmy Cherizier, also known as Barbecue, and other armed criminal gangs, who control large swathes of the country, launched a coordinated assault to remove the prime minister when he was out of the country last week.

Haitian PM Henry, who was supposed to step down in February, was in Puerto Rico, a United States territory, on Tuesday after the Dominican Republic refused permission for his plane to land.

Notably, the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, Al Jazeera reported.

“If Ariel Henry doesn’t resign, if the international community continues to support him, we’ll be heading straight for a civil war that will lead to genocide,” Cherizier, a 46-year-old former police officer who is under United Nations sanctions for human rights abuses, said.

“Either Haiti becomes a paradise or a hell for all of us. It’s out of the question for a small group of rich people living in big hotels to decide the fate of people living in working-class neighbourhoods,” he added.

On February 26, gangs opened fire on police outside the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince, as dozens of employees and other workers fled the bullets, Al Jazeera reported.

Following the incident, the airport remained closed on Tuesday, along with schools and banks.

Prior to that, the gangs raided Haiti’s two largest prisons over the weekend, enabling thousands of prisoners to escape.

“Haiti is now under the control of the gangs. The government isn’t present,” said Michel St-Louis, 40, standing in front of a burned-down police station in the capital. “I’m hoping they can keep Henry out so whoever takes power can restore order.”

On March 3, the Haitian government declared a state of emergency after thousands of prisoners escaped from its largest prison, Haiti’s National Penitentiary, during a surge of gang violence that has upended the Caribbean nation for months.

Henry, who came to power under a deal agreed with the opposition following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise, was supposed to step down in February so elections could be held, reported Al Jazeera. (ANI)

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UAE welcomes UNSC resolution calling for ceasefire in Sudan

Tens of thousands of people have since been killed, 8.3 million have been forcibly displaced and the fighting has additionally destroyed infrastructure and crippled the economy…reports Asian Lite News

The UAE has welcomed the UN Security Council resolution which calls for a ceasefire in Sudan during Ramadan, in light of the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed hope that this step would lead towards ending the crisis between the Sudanese parties, preventing further suffering of the Sudanese people, and facilitating the arrival of relief and humanitarian aid to the affected areas, especially for the most vulnerable groups, including the sick, children, the elderly and women.

The Ministry underscored its steadfast support for all endeavours working towards de-escalation, achieving a ceasefire, and initiating political dialogue, that facilitates the restoration of peace, safety and security and fulfils the aspirations of the brotherly Sudanese people for stability and prosperity.

Amid the prevailing violence in Sudan, the United Nations Security Council called for a ceasefire to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and allow aid to reach 25 million people in ‘desperate need of food’ with the humanitarian response at breaking point, Al Jazeera reported on Saturday.

According to the report, fourteen countries on the 15-member council on Friday backed the resolution proposed by the United Kingdom, with only Russia abstained on the vote that called on “all parties to the conflict to seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue.”

Fighting has been raging in Sudan since April 15, 2023, pitting the army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.

Tens of thousands of people have since been killed, 8.3 million have been forcibly displaced and the fighting has additionally destroyed infrastructure and crippled the economy.

Britain’s deputy UN ambassador, James Kariuki, urged the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF “to act on this united international call for peace and to silence the guns”.

The resolution called on all sides to adopt an immediate “cessation of hostilities” ahead of Ramadan, a time for fasting, prayer and reflection for Muslims worldwide.

It urged the warring parties to allow “unhindered” humanitarian access across borders and battlelines.

The resolution also expressed “grave concern over the spreading violence and the catastrophic and deteriorating humanitarian situation, including crisis levels, or worse, of acute food insecurity, particularly in Darfur”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that both sides should “honour the values of Ramadan by honouring a Ramadan cessation of hostilities” as he warned that the conflict threatens Sudan’s unity and “could ignite regional instability of dramatic proportions.”

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US Intercepts Drones, Missile From Yemen Targeting Warship

Despite repeated strikes by the US and UK, the Iran-backed Houthis continue to pose threats to vital trade routes….reports Asian Lite News

The United States military forces intercepted three drones and a missile aimed at a destroyer in the Red Sea, following announcements from Yemen’s Houthis of targeting two US warships.

Despite repeated strikes by the US and UK, the Iran-backed Houthis continue to pose threats to vital trade routes.

The US Central Command reported the downing of an anti-ship ballistic missile and three unmanned aerial systems launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards the USS Carney (DDG 64).

Although there were no casualties or damage to the ship, subsequent actions by US forces destroyed three anti-ship missiles and three naval drones in Yemen.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated their intention to persist until the siege on Gaza ends, linking their attacks to support for Palestinians.

Beginning in November, the Houthis targeted Red Sea shipping, citing solidarity with Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The US and UK responded with strikes, prompting the Houthis to consider American and British interests as legitimate targets.

Tensions escalate across the Middle East due to anger over Israel’s actions in Gaza, with Iran-backed groups involved in violence across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.”

Undersea Cable Damage Hits Global Communication

The damage caused to undersea cables in the Red Sea, following the Houthi strikes in the region, is disrupting global telecommunications networks and forcing internet providers to reroute as much as a quarter of traffic between Asia, Europe and the Middle East, reported CNN.

Hong Kong telecoms company HGC Global Communications, release a report as the Houthis continue to launch indiscriminate attacks targeting the commercial ships in the Red Sea.

According to the HGC, cables belonging to four major telecoms networks have been “cut” causing “significant” disruption to communications networks in the Middle East.

The telecom company estimated that 25 per cent of traffic between Asia and Europe as well the Middle East has been impacted, the report stated on Monday, according to CNN.

Further, the company said that it is rerouting traffic to minimize disruption for customers and also “extending assistance to affected businesses.”

However, the HGC did not mention the reason behind the cables damage or who was responsible.

This comes weeks after the official Yemeni government warned of the possibility of an attack on the cables by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have already disrupted global supply chains by attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea, CNN reported.

Israel news outlet Globes, in a report last weekm suggested that the Houthis had been behind the damage to the cables.

However, Yemeni rebel leader Abdel Malek al-Houthi denied the allegations and said, “We have no intention of targeting sea cables providing internet to countries in the region.”

Among the networks affected is the Europe India Gateway, spanning 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles) between Europe, the Middle East and India.

Moreover, Asia-Africa-Europe, a 25,000-kilometer cable system connecting South East Asia to Europe via Egypt, has also been damaged, as reported by CNN.

The Houthis have been carrying out attacks on commercial and military shipping since November.

The Houthis initially said that they would target Israel-linked ships in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, but later expanded their targets to include vessels linked to the United Kingdom and the US, Al Jazeera reported.

Last month, US forces and the United Kingdom Armed Forces, with the support of several other countries, conducted strikes against 18 Houthi targets in Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen. (with inputs from agencies)

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Global Student Prize Encourages Indian Students to Apply for 2024 Recognition

Both Deng and Bishnoi are calling upon Indian students to take advantage of this platform to share their stories and be recognized for their tireless efforts to address global challenges…reports Asian Lite News

The prestigious Chegg.org Global Student Prize, in collaboration with the Varkey Foundation, is set to recognize outstanding students who have made significant contributions to their communities and beyond. As applications open for the 2024 prize, past winners and finalists are urging Indian students to seize this opportunity to showcase their achievements and impact.

  • Nhial Deng, the winner of the 2023 Chegg.org Global Student Prize, has been recognized for his remarkable efforts in empowering over 20,000 refugees in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Through initiatives focused on peacebuilding, education, and entrepreneurship, Deng has created a transformative impact, providing a safe space for young people to heal from trauma.
  • Ravinder Bishnoi, a top 10 finalist for the 2023 prize, has showcased exceptional innovation in the field of robotics during his time as an information technology student at Chandigarh Engineering College, Landran, Mohali, Punjab.

Both Deng and Bishnoi are calling upon Indian students to take advantage of this platform to share their stories and be recognized for their tireless efforts to address global challenges. They emphasize the importance of celebrating the achievements of talented and innovative students across India.

Heather Hatlo Porter, Head of Chegg.org and Chief Communications Officer of Chegg, Inc., encourages student changemakers worldwide to apply for the 2024 Global Student Prize. She highlights the significance of recognizing their outstanding contributions and providing a platform for them to inspire others. Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, underscores the pivotal role of education in tackling humanity’s greatest challenges and stresses its importance on policymakers’ agendas.

Application Details:

  • The prize is open to students aged 16 and above, enrolled in academic institutions or training programs, including part-time and online students.
  • Applications can be submitted at www.globalteacherprize.org, with the deadline set for April 28, 2024.
  • Criteria for assessment include academic achievement, impact on peers and community, creativity, innovation, and global citizenship.
  • The prize will be awarded to a Top 10 finalist by the Global Student Prize Academy, comprising prominent individuals.

As the world faces unprecedented challenges, the Global Student Prize serves as a beacon of hope, celebrating the achievements and contributions of students who are shaping a brighter future. Indian students are encouraged to seize this opportunity and showcase their remarkable endeavors on the global stage.

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Kenya and Haiti sign key pacts

Kenya’s President said in a statement that he and Haitian PM Ariel Henry witnessed the signing of the reciprocal agreements between the two countries…reports Asian Lite News

Kenya and Haiti signed agreements Friday to try to salvage a plan for the African country to deploy 1,000 police officers to the troubled Caribbean nation to help combat gang violence that has surged to unprecedented levels. Kenya agreed in October to lead a U.N.-authorized international police force to Haiti, but the Kenyan High Court in January ruled the plan unconstitutional, in part because of a lack of reciprocal agreements between the two countries. Kenya’s President William Ruto said in a statement that he and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry witnessed the signing of the reciprocal agreements between the two countries on Friday. It was not immediately clear how, or if, the agreements could circumvent the court’s ruling, which also said that Kenya’s National Police Service cannot be deployed outside the country. Kenyan opposition politician Ekuru Aukot, who filed the High Court petition against the deployment, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Henry has no constitutional or legal powers to commit Haiti to any agreements with Kenya. In a public lecture at the United States International University in Kenya on Friday, Henry said elections in his country need to held as soon as possible to bring stability. “We need elections in order to stabilize the country. We need democratic governance in order to have people to come and invest in Haiti,” he said. Henry has repeatedly pledged to hold elections since being sworn in as prime minister and interim president after the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. But he and other officials say gang violence has not allowed them to move forward on those promises. Caribbean leaders said late Wednesday that Henry has agreed to hold general elections by mid-2025. Henry shrugged when asked if it was safe for him to return home from Kenya following a surge of gang violence in Haiti’s capital Port au Prince on Thursday. Gunmen shot at Haiti’s main international airport and other targets, including police stations, in a wave of violence that caught many people by surprise. Separately, at least four police officers, including two women, were killed in an attack on a station near the community of Canaan, according to a police union. The violence forced the airport, businesses, government agencies and schools to close as parents and young children fled through the streets in panic. At least one airline, Sunrise Airways, suspended all flights. Jimmy Chérizier, known as “Barbecue,” the leader of the gang federation G9 Family and Allies, announced in a recorded video that his group’s aim was to detain the police chief and government ministers and prevent Henry from returning to Haiti. “With our guns and with the Haitian people, we will free the country,” he said. Gangs have grown more powerful and political instability has increased since the assassination of President Moïse, who had faced protests calling for his resignation over corruption charges and claims that his five-year term had expired. More than 8,400 people were reported killed, injured or kidnapped in Haiti in 2023 — more than double the number reported in 2022. The gangs continue to fight over territory, and are estimated to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.

Over 1,100 people killed in Haiti gang violence

UN humanitarians have said they were deeply concerned about escalating unrest in Haiti’s major cities, where more than 1,100 people have been killed or injured in the first month of this year. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cited the UN Human Rights Office for the tally of casualties in the capital of Port-au-Prince and other major cities, the highest for the period in two years. “In recent days, outbreaks of deadly violence amid demonstrations have caused major disruptions to humanitarian operations, affecting our plans to reach civilians in need, especially those at displacement sites,” OCHA said on Friday. “There are more than 313,000 people displaced around the country.” The humanitarians said that road blockages and movement restrictions impact healthcare workers and compromise access to essential social services. Difficulties accessing roads and ports also affect the delivery of life-saving relief, Xinhua news agency reported. “One humanitarian organisation in the Department of Sud was also looted, which will have a major impact on its operations in the coming days,” said the office. Additionally, the humanitarians said more than 1,000 schools nationwide, including in Port-au-Prince and other urban areas, were temporarily closed in mid-January because of ongoing anti-gang demonstrations. OCHA said that violence in the country increased the price of food items by almost 25 per cent.  

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