Chalice Gold Mines
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Below is an excerpt from an article published by Bloomberg:
African Boom
Five of the 20 projected fastest-growing countries last year were in Africa, including Ghana at 13.5 percent; Eritrea at 8.2 percent; Ethiopia at 7.5 percent; and Mozambique at 7.2 percent, the International Monetary Fund said.
O’Neill said non-BRICs emerging markets need to improve performance in economic policy, education and technology to sustain their strong growth.
The Goldman Sachs N-11 Equity Fund has lost 10.7 percent since inception on Feb. 28 while the Goldman Sachs BRIC Fund lost 24.3 percent. The Standard and Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) lost 5.3 percent in the same period.
Even as the BRICs slow, they may still outpace the developed world over the coming decades, enabling their share of global GDP to rise to almost 40 percent by 2050, Goldman estimates.
O’Neill’s book “The Growth Map,” published last month, says the group still has “rosy prospects.” He estimates that even with slower growth, the BRICs economies will collectively be bigger than the U.S. by 2015.
The full article can be found here: Bloomberg
Eritrea vs Rwanda
Eritrea was one of the few home sides during the CAF qualifying competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil that managed to avoid defeat as they secured a morale-boosting 1-1 draw against Rwanda.
This match between Eritrea and Rwanda brought together two of the CAF member sides, with only one of them able to progress to the group stages of World Cup qualifying.
Surprisingly for many pundits, it was Eritrea that took the lead in the 35th minute, and Rwanda found itself on the back foot. The crowd that was on hand was driven into a frenzy ten minutes before the halftime whistle as Eritrea (Tekle) scored the goal to take the 1-0 lead into the break.
Rwanda regrouped at half-time, however, and soon after the restart the Rwandan team found an equaliser (Uzamukunda), which would prove to be the final goal of the game (1:1). The second leg between both teams will be played in Kigali on the 15 November 2011.
Amanuel Biedemariam
As a lead diplomat for the Clinton Administration for Africa, Ambassador Rice failed the people of Africa and particularly Rwanda in the most negligent of ways imaginable. Of course, no one will accuse Ambassador Rice for creating the genocide but she is responsible in many ways. As a point woman, one of her responsibilities was to identify threats to civilians and she failed in that regard. She could have used US power to minimize the slaughter; could have done more to attract international attention to minimize the damages and she failed. In other words, she could have done more to minimize the scope, duration and magnitude of the genocide but failed miserably and allowed genocide of a biblical proportion to take place on her watch with indifference. That is undeniable historical fact!
Before she became the UN ambassador for the Obama Administration, Susan Rice gave many interviews to promote her bid for the position. During those interviews, she expressed regret after regret for watching the Rwandan Genocide unfold as a bystander. However, the regrets are not to repent mistakes she made; rather, it was to absolve herself from direct responsibilities by assigning the blame on US policies and directives. In an interview with Michele Norris of NPR Ambassador Rice said,
“No policymakers in Washington or on Capitol Hill or any editorial boards, for that matter, were advocating U.S. military intervention in Rwanda. It wasn’t an option that was ever credibly contemplated, whether or not that would have been the right option.”
This statement is nothing but a skillful diversion of responsibilities laced with a devious sales pitch for a new aggressive policy. However, it is unfortunate that Michele Norris and other US media outlets served as a PR tool to-a-failed diplomat that affected humanity in the most negative way imaginable by passively accepting her comments without any challenges, denying Americans an opportunity to make educated choice. They failed to question statements Ambassador Rice made admitting to the colossal failure when she said that she, “Learned that policymakers have to put all of the options, conceivable and inconceivable, before ourselves and before senior leadership so that we’re not in a position of saying that we didn’t give it full enough or ample enough consideration.”
She did not “put all of the options” or “give-it-full enough consideration” because she failed to anticipate the possibilities. That is an admission of failure. The Human Rights Watch’s Alison Des Forges stated how very “un-helpful” Susan Rice was when Des Forges was trying to mobilize action and raise the alarm in the early days of the Rwandan genocide.
But what I found troubling was her disingenuous crocodile tears and the fact that Rice used the genocide as a platform for her hawkish agendas. According to the New York Times, the Obama Administration appointed Susan Rice, “To send to the world organization a prominent and forceful advocate of stronger action, including military force if necessary, to stop mass killings like those in the Darfur region of Sudan in recent years.”
The Obama Administration did not have to select an individual with such a record. It is also unfortunate Ambassador Rice used the Rwanda genocide as a reason to forward the agenda of force as a primary option to impose change on countries of interest. Her primary tool of achieving US interests is force or credible threat of force. Ambassador Rice is not an advocate of peace, cooperation, the prevalence of the rule of law, diplomacy and welfare of the good of the people of the world and particularly Africa.
Ambassador Susan Rice was a miserable failure as a US point woman in Africa. In her watch, the Eritrea and Ethiopia peace process was botched leading to a war that took the lives of over 150,000 youth, with millions displaced and thousands-more maimed as a result. Somalia’s slide and mistrust for US policies goes back to her tenure. Yet, she is able to use these and other failures to lever her to a much higher cabinet level position. In fact, Rice advertised how she intended to accomplish her objectives by saying, “I swore to myself that if I ever faced such a crisis again, I would come down on the side of dramatic action, going down in flames if that was required.”
As a result, the US has a brazen, aggressive UN Ambassador. She is unbalanced on her approaches, unprincipled, hypocritical, and unashamed to make outlandish claims. Most importantly, her views, approaches and actions are damaging to US interests long term. She is intent to pass a robust and open-ended UNSC decisions to help launch full-scale attacks as in Libya.
It renders the average person even more helpless when failed-diplomats rise to a level of UN ambassadorship after a colossal failure such as Rwanda. The hypocrisy is even glaringly more apparent when one compares the scolding and rebukes the Captain of the ship Exxon Valdez (rightfully) received for creating environmental disaster after wrecking the tanker compared to the holocaust that Ambassador Rice bared witness as a bystander without any accountability.
The Alarm
Ambassador Susan Rice is pursuing reckless policies particularly in the Horn of Africa. As an American, I am deeply disturbed and concerned by the way she is pushing policies that will lead to uncontrolled bloodshed and genocides in Africa. No one expected what took place in Rwanda could have actually happened, but it did. There could have been warning signs, ignored signs. This time however, the world will have no excuse to plead ignorance. The responsibility befalls on all involved since the threats and warnings are real and based on substantive evidence.
Dr. Gregory Stanton, President and founder of Genocide Watch warned; ultimately, the people of Tigray will end up paying the price for the crimes the genocides Meles regime is perpetrating. He stated, “My job is to identify trends that could cause genocides and what I am witnessing in Ethiopia is a great deal of concern for the people of Tigray because the regime is committing these crimes on their names.”
Dr. Stanton did not express an isolated observation of warning. The Human rights Watch (an organization that pushes US agendas) and major humanitarian organizations have detailed genocides Meles Zenawi committed in Somalia, the Ogaden, and other parts of Ethiopia and warned successive US Administrations about the prevailing humanitarian crisis. Moreover, in 1st of October 2007, Human Rights Watch briefed The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and (concerned about how US interests could be impacted adversely)warned,
“Human Rights Watch would like to focus on the conduct of the Ethiopian military, not only because the Ethiopian government’s military forces have systematically committed atrocities and violated the basic laws of war, but because Ethiopia is a key ally and partner of the United States in the Horn of Africa. The crimes committed by Ethiopian forces in the Ogaden and in Somalia are not unique, on the contrary they add to a mounting toll of abuses that have made Ethiopian security forces among the most abusive on the continent. Human Rights Watch has previously documented crimes against humanity by Ethiopian military forces in Gambella, and serious abuses in Oromia, Addis Ababa and other parts of Ethiopia.”
Human Rights Watch and others have reported genocides the Meles regime committed evidenced by satellite photos of torched villages and systemic suffocation of large populations in various parts of Ethiopia. But what arouses the current concern is the fact that the actions and decisions Ambassador Rice is pursuing will unhinge the entire region and create a human calamity that can potentially dwarf the genocide of Rwanda.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released a report authored by Terence Lyons in June of 2011 called, “Ethiopia, Assessing Risks to Stability” highlighting the “brittle” nature of Ethiopia’s stability. The report detailed the faultiness and triggers to instability. According to the report, Ethiopia is a powder-cake with many challenges that in time will erupt when the risk factors coalesce. A powerful party that buys loyalty with economic incentives rules Ethiopia. Ethiopia is a country led by an ethnic Tigrayan minority that represents only 6% of 90 million populations. Ethiopia is a country divided ethnically with the ethnic groups having some autonomy but in time will demand more. Ethiopia faces insurrections in Oromia with the OLF, Ogaden ONLF, in Tigray TPDM and Afar etc… The ruling party is, resented throughout the entire nation. The country has a one party system that Ethiopians rejected in the 2005 elections. The army may be representative of the different ethnic groups but the leadership core is almost entirely from Tigray. Ethiopia is under a firm grip of a tyrant and when challenged could spell disaster for the nation. These threats represent internal threats only. The report outlines Ethiopia is susceptible to outside threats Somalia and Eritrea. In addition, instability and conflicts in the region can affect Ethiopia. For example, instability in South Sudan or other countries can easily spill over. The study hesitates to give a time-frame but stated when all these forces come together it will definitely lead to instability in Ethiopia.
The report is modest, conservative and minimizes the true dangers facing Ethiopia. The report however, is deadly accurate when it concluded that Ethiopia is given a pass on all its human rights violations because it is a vital ally of the US and Western interests. Ethiopia receives the highest development and security aid from the US, UK and other Western countries. According to USAID, Ethiopia is the highest recipient of bilateral aid in Africa. From 2008 to 2011, Ethiopia received 969,916,533 and 583 million US Dollars. From the Department for International Development’s (DFID) in 2009/2010 Ethiopia received a total of £214.3 aid from the UK and has chosen Ethiopia to be its biggest recipient $2 billion in British development total during the next four years. This is just a sample representative of the humanitarian, development, economic and security aid Ethiopia receives. Ethiopia receives these aid with a condition to, in effect, work as a subcontractor of Western security interest in the region. Ethiopian troops are active in peacekeeping missions in sensitive areas when Western troop presence could look like an occupation. They are in Darfur and recently, in the contested Abiye region in Sudan. They are doing countless missions in Somalia and elsewhere in Africa.
What this demonstrates clearly is Ethiopia’s dependence on Western powers for sustenance. As the report indicated inadvertently, Ethiopia has a mercenary army lead by Tigrayan Generals operating as hired guns for the West. Ethiopia is the most important country in the region because it serves as a linchpin in a strategic area of the world. And Ethiopia is a perfect candidate for that because Ethiopia has leaders that are warmongers and willing to do the dirty job and importantly, the regimes survivability depends upon the funds it generates from these activities. Absent of the funds the regime will collapse instantly.
The reason Ethiopia is important is that it allows the West to direct their activities from Ethiopia the headquarters of the African Union. US and Western interests in the region include, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda amongst others. Ethiopia as an anchor State allows US, to quarterback activities. These advantages, Westerners believe cannot afford to lose; therefore, they allow Ethiopia to get away with all the human rights and international laws violations with impunity. The West is also determined to accommodate Ethiopia’s wishes by providing political cover and support as Ethiopia pursues its interests. The regime in Ethiopia is emboldened as a result.
However, the US is pursuing a dangerous policy that could backfire and bring about significant setback to US interests in the region. The US is also playing Russian roulettes with the lives of millions and risking its influence and reach in the region. Instability in Ethiopia will affect the region negatively politically and economically. It will contribute to instabilities in South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda. In the aftermath of the 2007 election violence in Kenya, Uganda’s economy froze because Uganda imports all the goods it needs through the ports in Mombasa Kenya as a result the risks to instability in Uganda was high. This illustrates the region is interlinked at many levels and in many ways.
Ambassador Susan Rice is currently pursuing to impose additional sanctions on Eritrea for the second time under the pretext of “African Initiative.” This is a strategy the US is uses to avoid appearance of direct involvement. By using a regional grouping such as IGAD, Arab League etc…, the US has replaced the burden of proof or, legal process with un-provable slanderous allegations that can make a PR case against any nation in order to pass punitive measures. This strategy has proven its effectiveness. If the likes of the Arab league or African Union accuse a nation of malice there is no burden of proof required for the US to punish in order to pursue interest in this case Eritrea. Ambassador Rice will go to any length to ensure the development of the language she needs to achieve her objectives.
Recent leaks show how Ambassador Rice collaborated with Ethiopia to design the sanction against Eritrea. The cables show how Charge d’ affairs of Ethiopia Fesseha Tessema and Rice collaborated to forward the sanction measure to UNSC based on deception. Ambassador Rice is one more time pushing this agenda by using Gabon as she did with Uganda.
The problem with the resolution being-pursued is multi pronged. Firstly, as evidenced, the Ethiopian regime is driving the agenda. Ethiopia and Eritrea have been engaged in prolonged hostility where the US has sided with Ethiopia because Ethiopia is its strategic partner. Secondly, it is because the charges are baseless and unjustifiable. The accusing parties namely Ethiopia and the US are the destabilizing actors in Somalia parties that are culpable. The US and Ethiopia are the parties that invaded Somalia in December of 2006 and uprooted the only hope to stability the Somali’s created in nearly 20 years with Islamic Court Union (ICU) which was headed by the current TFG leader, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, whom the US detained after the invasion of Somalia. If it was not for the US and Ethiopia, there was a good chance Somalia could have reconstituted. But they concluded, it is a possible threat to US and Ethiopian interests and they forcibly disbanded them leading to the current holocaust the world is witnessing in horror. Thirdly, the resolution being-thought; was hatched in Ethiopia by the genocidal regime in Ethiopia. Fourthly and most importantly, Eritrea does not have access to effectively prove or disprove the charges and, to challenge a system that the US controls armed with a veto power. The Somali Monitoring Group tasked to look at these matters was set-up by Dr. Jendayi Frazer to pursue punitive measures against Eritrea. It is not a legal body with a process to stand. It is not a court of law where the plaintiff, the defendant and witnesses stand in front a of the judge to litigate; it is not an investigative body that has the ability to conduct its own investigation and present evidences; it is not an elected body beholden to any constituency; it is PR tool whose directives come from the State Department designed to legitimize illegal UN actions on nations that have no representation or voice. The world must stop this dangerous international precedent.
The above agenda’s design is to decapitate Eritrea; and place it under the control of the genocidal regime in Ethiopia. The first sanction Ambassador Rice passed was an arms embargo to tie the hands of the people of Eritrea while Ethiopia is occupying Eritrean territories in violation of international laws. This time, she is seeking to tighten the sanction to render the nation non-viable by using yet another African nation, Gabon. The question is what is Eritrea’s answer is going to be to the slow death-sentence Ambassador Rice decided upon it? Will Eritrea allow the hawkish Rice and the genocidal regime to collaborate and destroy Eritrean independence earned with the lives of thousands and over 50 years of colonial agony? The answer to that is Eritrea will do what is in the best interest of Eritrea whatever that may be!
Conclusion
The cumulative result of years of US and Western support of a tyrant that is unaccountable to Ethiopians and the needs of the people in the region has reached a critical stage as highlighted by Genocide Watch and others. The institutional and governance vacuum that it created in the region is evidenced by the holocaust we are witnessing in Somalia. The situation in Ethiopia is not any better. In addition to all the instability indicators, the CSIS outlined; on August 17, 2011, The Telegraph reported, “Ethiopia famine dwarfs Somalia’s tragedy in scale.” The US has provided all the resources and political cover Ethiopia needed to pursue US interests. In the process, the potential for one of the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world is ever closer to becoming a reality. The population in the region, namely Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, South Sudan and Eritrea is about 250 million. Another conflict in the region will set off events that Ambassador Susan Rice could not foresee.
Any future war in the region will have no end game other than a complete annihilation. The region has no reason to fight other than to pursue devious agendas based on irresponsible interests. And that will be bloody beyond imagination. But one thing for certain, Ethiopia and the region will never be the same.
The blood will-be shed as a direct result of policies Ambassador Rice pursued. Ethiopia could be, fragmented by region and ethnicity. And worse, there will be a religious conflict because the leadership in Ethiopia waved the holy-cross to invade an Islamic nation in Somalia. There are also populations and regions like Tigray that will face genocide as retribution because that is the home of the ruling party. Afar and the Amhara regions surround Tigray and they may-not have a warm feeling because of the hardship they endured due to a group that leads Ethiopia in the name of Tigray. Hence, any action by Ambassador Rice will be to light a fire and set off uncontrollable calamitous events that will destroy the lives of millions in the region. It will put the region in a permanent state of chaos.
This is a warning that all peace loving people need to take seriously because once events are set in motion it will be irreversible. The world must stop Ambassador Rice from passing decisions based on fabrications. The region suffers a great deal as a direct result of US involvement that does not consider the wellbeing of the people and long-term viability of the region. In other words, in order to achieve US interests the region is, denied the right to exist. That is unjustifiable and major crime against humanity. The people in the region have no recourse and ways they can address their grievances. Hence, it is incumbent upon all to stop it by campaigning against this evil design and stop Ambassador Susan Rice from triggering events that will lead to Rwanda like genocides in the Horn of Africa. This is what the “Is” is in the Horn of Africa today and tell President Obama it must not be.
Please spread the message to deter genocide.
Awetnayu@hotmail.com
On arrival at Entebe International Airport, he was accorded warm welcome by President Museveni, senior Ugandan government officials and Army commanders, as well as Ambassadors and Eritrean nationals residing in Uganda.
During the warm welcome accompanied by the national anthems of Eritrea and Uganda, a 21-gun salute featured and the residents of Kampala city staged songs and dances.
Following the welcoming ceremony, Presidents Isaias and Museveni held extensive discussion focusing on bilateral relations and regional issues of mutual interest.
In the course of the visit, President Isaias would conduct meetings, in addition to visiting various economic and trade institutions.
In a statement it issued in connection with President Isaias’ visit, the Government of Uganda pointed out that the visit would play significant role in promoting peace and security both at the regional and continental level.
China in Africa
Amanuel Biedemariam
Over the last decade China has received a favorable PR on the way that it deals with Africa. The perception is that China’s a-political approach of engaging Africa is good for Africa. It is also deemed that China’s economic investments are positive for Africa. The low bid contracts by Chinese companies are seen to be good alternative from the West that traditionally strangulated Africa with debt. China is helping African countries develop some capacities in various fields. These are amongst some of the advantages China provides African countries.
In November of 2006, China organized probably the largest gathering of African countries outside Africa a “China Africa Summit”. The gathering was hailed by African leaders because they believed it to be a good sign for future China-Africa relations. There were press accounts detailing satisfaction of African countries because they perceived that China was looking to partner with African countries. The very fact that China held the gathering was a big deal, a-first for Africa and, a knock at Western nations that treated Africans with utter disrespect for generations.
China’s involvement with Africa has its critics and supporters. The most glaring objection is that China is dealings with countries that the West claims-have bad human rights records. China is accused of encouraging corruption and corrupt leaders. China is criticized for not focusing on governance and human right issues. And for systematic denial of African countries from manufacturing their own products because of China’s insistence on selling products produced by China. In a nut shell this is the extent of the critical view China gets from the West.
China is the “anti West” in the way that it deals with African countries. For example in Ghana, a $270 million loan facility to carry out expansion works at the Kpong Water Project was agreed upon between the government of Ghana and China. What is different about the loans China provides Africa is the fact that these countries can use their resources, in effect bartering in exchange for projects, goods and services that these African countries need in this case, water. The Chinese have a lot of dollars that they must dump. This is leverage that Africa never had with the West.
What does it mean when we say is China a friend of Africa? How should friendship between China and Africa be defined? How deep of a friendship is China cultivating in Africa? How good of a friend is China to Africa? What does China’s friendship mean to African countries? And the main question; is China a friend of Africa?
For a layman and according to various dictionaries, a friend is: a person whom one knows, likes, and trusts; an acquaintance; an ally in a struggle or cause; a comrade; one who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement and, a member of the Society of Friends.
Using the basic understanding of the meaning of friendship, can Africa trust China; consider China as an ally and be confident that China is a comrade in the struggle towards economic emancipation and development? Can Africa “trust” China to support and be the party that stands for the security of Africa?
The attention China received for her dealing with Africa collectively was partly accentuated by China Africa Summit in other words self made. One thing that needs to be clear however, Africa is not one nation. Therefore, it is impossible to paint China-Africa relations with one brush and as such; fair to ask some basic questions in order to have a common-basic understanding of what China means to Africa. It is also important to look at history of relations of other nations for example, Great Britain and the US as a standard. It is important to see the historic interaction of UK and US in the realms of economic cooperation, cultural relations, friendly ties, political/diplomatic co-ordinations and importantly on national and global security matters as a guide…
Is there a country in Africa that has ties with China that remotely resembles the example above? Does China have allied countries in Africa? During the Cold War, the alliances were almost clearly defined. The countries that were pro-West received support from the West led by the US, and vice versa. Can African countries count on that type of support from China? While the author is not an advocate of Africa divided based on the interests of super powers; it is important to note that countries enjoyed qualified diplomatic and military support during that era from one side or the other. However, while the current world is considered to be multi-polar, the main powers are the US and China. These are veto wielding powers capable to impose their will on any nation around the world. Ironically, while the US is clear on whom their friends are and her interests; it is extremely difficult to gauge China’s intentions. And absent of any pronounced friendship with any country in Africa it is nearly impossible to say where China stands with any nation.
It is important to ask these questions of China considering the extent of China interaction with Africa over the last thirty years. It is even more crucial in light of the resolutions United Nations Security Council (UNSC) produced over the last ten years that profoundly impacted many countries in Africa. In 2005 alone, nearly 80% of the 70 deliberations and decisions the UNSC made were related to matters in African countries with the Middle East coming far-second and Third World countries such as Haiti and Bosnia Herzegovina filling-in the blanks. The reality is 2005 is not an aberration it is the annual reality in the UNSC. And the problem is the fact that the UNSC is making all these decisions without the affected parties having a say and a fighting chance against decisions that are affecting these nations in some cases altering the social landscapes violently. Moreover, the role China played or lack thereof is by far the most perplexing.
One needs to look at some of the recent developments in Africa pertaining to Libya, Sudan, Eritrea and others vis-à-vis Security Council decisions that the West and particularly the US perused in the region. China went along with decisions when it seemingly could impact its national interests. These decisions raise some serious questions about Chinese intentions and dealings in Africa.
China has been in Sudan for decades and it is one of the reasons why Sudan remained viable. China has heavy investments in Sudan primarily in the oil sector. China imports an estimated 7% of its oil from Sudan. Moreover, China has a sizeable human-resources invested in various sectors. In other words China’s investments in Sudan are numerous, extensive and took decades for China to build it that level. Yet, when we look at the future security and stability of Sudan, the West led by the US appears to be on the driver’s seat basically dictating terms while weakening Sudan and nailing wedges designed to fragment the nation into pieces. It is ironic because the US pushed measure after measure using the UNSC that China can stop using its veto power.
Moreover, if one is to add Eritrea into the mix it makes one wonder what China’s underlined interests are. Nearly all of China’s goods from Sudan are channeled through the Red Sea. Eritrea owns a large and strategic lane on the Red Sea. Eritrea is also bordered by Sudan. If Eritrea is to be what Ethiopia and the US wanted to be (an entity under their control in whatever shape or form); then Sudan would be encircled by countries that are propped by the US and, the US would have assumed control over the entire eastern part, the Horn, and the Northern parts of Africa.
The US is in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Egypt. The only countries left are Sudan and Eritrea. If the US is to succeed by accomplishing what they planned for Eritrea after World War II, then Sudan would have no fighting chance because it will be encircled. Moreover, US and her allies would have controlled the entire Red Sea territories namely Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti on one side and, Saudi Arabia, Yemen on the other. They will have the chokehold for any shipment that sails through that area. A good example to glean from is the Suez Canal and Iran. Eritrea controlled by the US can potentially limit China’s access to the area and give US the upper hand in the region.
It is with this background in mind that the author questions China’s role. Why is China allowing the US to pass measure after measure to pressure Sudan and Eritrea? The US, on Xmas Eve of 2009 imposed a sanction measure, by concocting lies and fabrications in the most brazen way that disregarded the existence of the people of Eritrea. They used a mechanism and methodology that denies Eritrea a say and moved along with a sanction.
In Libya when the UNSC authorized the No Fly Zone, this is the statement by China’s Ambassador to the UN LI BAODONG:
“The continuing deterioration of the situation in Libya was of great concern to China. However, the United Nations Charter must be respected and the current crisis must be ended through peaceful means. China was always against the use of force when those means were not exhausted. His delegation had asked specific questions that failed to be answered and, therefore, it had serious difficulty with the resolution. It had not blocked the passage of the resolution, however, because it attached great importance to the requests of the Arab League and the African Union. At the same time, he supported the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Envoy to resolve the situation by peaceful means.”
“The UN adopted Resolution 1973 (2011) by a vote of 10 in favor to none against, with 5 abstentions (Brazil, China, Germany, India, Russian Federation), the Council authorized Member States, acting nationally or through regional organizations or arrangements, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians under threat of attack in the country, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory — requesting them to immediately inform the Secretary-General of such measures, to establish a ban on all flights in the airspace of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya in order to help protect civilians.”
LI BAODONG statements are very troubling. Firstly, he stated that China wants the situation to have a peaceful end. And secondly China is against use of force. He continues, his delegation had asked specific questions that failed to be answered and, therefore, it had serious difficulty with the resolution. The most troubling statement however is, “It had not blocked the passage of the resolution, however, because it attached great importance to the requests of the Arab League and the African Union,” and passed a resolution with a vague and open-ended language that allowed NATO to destroy Libya in the name of protecting civilians.
The Irony, first of, the African Union was disregarded. And secondly, this was taking place in the most turbulent times in the history of the Middle East when countries were embroiled on their internal civil struggles. China passed the resolution not to protect the best interest of the people of Libya but to satisfy a nonexistent or a nominal Arab League and African Union. It is even more perplexing considering the number of Chinese that worked in Libya and the amount of investment that China had in Libya.
This begs the question; why is China allowing punitive measures against nations that are friendly; nations that are doing business and, nations that have accepted not only the diplomatic core but the Chinese people all around Africa? Why is China allowing the US and Western nations to take advantage of UNSC resolutions for their hegemonic objectives. The No Fly resolution was just a hook because soon after the decisions were made the French, UK and US did bait-and- switch, called for a regime change and escalated the operations including sending advisors into a civil war. The people of Libya are being terrorized by the most intensive bombing campaign the continent of Africa has ever seen. The people of Libya are being exposed to depleted uranium; Libyans are suffering and not better off. And contrary to China’s wish of peace, Libya is ensnared by violence of the brutish NATO forces. In short, China’s repeated abstentions do not absolve it from the responsibilities.
Conclusion
Dambisa Moyo and others have said a great deal of good about China’s economic programs in Africa. However, no-economic success means a-whole-lot unless coupled by peace. Africa’s problems are chronic by design and they continue because the West is intent on keeping Africa crippled. China was Africa’s first and best hope to counterbalance the negative role the West continues to play in Africa. Instead, China is tacitly accepting the label of new colonizer of Africa. On a setting that resembles a Hollywood’s scary witch-movie, Secretary Hillary Clinton stood on a dark room on a podium in Ethiopia and warned Africans to beware of the new colonizers that do not care about Africa. Her statements are evidence that Africa has effectively turned in the dinner table of hyenas and lions fighting for a carcass only this time; it is with the impending holocaust of the African continent.
The question is what can Africans do? The UN/UNSC is an organization designed to benefit the five permanent members at the expense of the world. The UNSC has literally turned the international order into that of the Jim-Crow laws that punishes without representation, due process and to send a message. They have established systems they can manipulate as they wish like the ICC that they are using to petrify leaders such as Beshir to get what they want. They are penalizing the people of entire regions based on their national interest-considerations and denying them the right to live in peace. Moreover, these are people that have never been able to establish institutions that can sustain them in bad times such as draught. The continuation of this holocaust is reaching biblical proportions. Yet, they are escalating these strategies.
The reality is there is no recourse for these transgressions and deliberate injustices. Therefore, the responsibility befalls on those countries that are being negatively affected by the injustices. Hence, the only solution is for nations to abandon the defunct UN and disqualify its purpose and create a mechanism to deal with world matters. Moreover, united vigilance of the people is far more important than ever because they are openly returning Africa back to the colonial era. China could also assume the just role of defending African because ultimately that will serve its interests in the right way.
Lilongwe, Malawi- The Federation of National Associations of Women in Business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) in collaboration with the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) held a consultative forum on food secutity and women in business March 28-30, 2011.
Participating countries included; Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe and the host Malawi.
FEMCOM is one of the umbrella associations involved in the implementation of the European Union supported COMESA Regional Agro Inputs Programme (COMRAP). The Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) has the mandate to coordinate COMRAP implementation and is working closely with FEMCOM in this regard to ensure appropriate gender mainstreaming in the COMRAP and other ACTESA led initiatives.
COMRAP has the overall objective of contributing to improving rural food security and livelihoods in the COMESA region through training and capacity building of national and regional input providers and harmonization of related regional legal frameworks.
The consultative forum should provide a conducive environment for COMESA member States to deliberate on appropriate programmes that will integrate women into trade and development through COMRAP activities within the region. But above all, this activity is a step towards contributing to the overall objective of ACTESA and COMESA in the agriculture sector which is to improve agriculture production and enhance food security within the region.
FEMCOM is a COMESA institution, established in July 1993 under Article 155 of the COMESA Treaty and the Secretariat is hosted in Malawi
The main objective of FEMCOM is to promote programmes that integrate women into trade and development activities in the region, in particular, in the fields of agriculture, industry, trade, services, fishing, mining, energy, transport, communications and natural resources. FEMCOM was founded on the idea that regional economic integration cannot be seen to have succeeded if it did not involve the full and equal participation of women in business.
FEMCOM is re-positioning itself to become a key player in regional trade activities at different levels especially in the agriculture sector is dominated by women
The consultative forum was expected to have attracted 60 participants from COMESA member States including representatives of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), Regional Food Security and Risk Management Programme (REFORM), Women in Agri-business in Sub Saharan Africa Alliance (WASAA), USAID, Market Linkages Initiative (a USAID funded project) and Agricultural Commodity Exchange for Africa (ACE).
Malawi has been chosen as a venue for the consultative forum based on its strong performance in boosting security through the wise leadership of President, Prof. Bingu Wa Mutharika of transforming the country from a food importing to a food exporting nation.
The major expected outcome of undertaking this consultative forum was to concretize strategies for enhancing partnerships, defining areas of collaboration and harmonizing programs for strengthening women networks among farmers, agro-dealers, agents and producers at regional and national levels.
USGS reports a magnitude 4.8 earthquake in Eritrea on 25 March 2011, 05:21:33 UTC.
Magnitude: 4.8
Date-Time: Friday, March 25, 2011 at 05:21:33 UTC. Friday, March 25, 2011 at 08:21:33 AM at epicenter. Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location: 15.224°N, 39.730°E
Depth: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Region: ERITREA
Distances from Earthquake Location:
86 km (53 miles) East of ASMARA, Eritrea, 192 km (119 miles) North of Mekele, Ethiopia, 208 km (129 miles) South East of Nak’fa, Eritrea, 349 km (216 miles) West of Al Hudaydah, Yemen
Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 19.5 km (12.1 miles); depth +/- 4.2 km (2.6 miles)
Parameters: NST= 59, Nph= 64, Dmin=506.5 km, Rmss=0.86 sec, Gp= 97°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=5
Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID: usc0002b8j
Nevsun Resources Ltd and South Boulder Mines Ltd will be presenting at the annual International Convention and Trade Show of Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in Toronto.
Both companies have promising mining projects in the Red Sea State of Eritrea. Nevsun has just announced that its Bisha mine has reached commercial production in February 2011 and South Boulder Mines spectacular share price surge seems not to be running out of fuel due to the huge potential investors see in potash and Eritrea.
PDAC is one of the most important investment trade events in the world of exploration. With over 22,000 industry representatives and delegates from over 118 countries the trade show hosts 400 exhibitors promoting mining industry services, products technology and jurisdictions.
The convention is known to be attended by many company representatives seeking out for the right investment and trade deal as well as Geoscientists, Mining media, Mining service sector representatives, International government representative and other industry stake holders.
Other exhibitors from secondary industries include Air Transportation Services, Insurance Companies, Internet Services, Labatories/Labatory Suppliers, Law Firms, Software Companies, Satellite Communications, Universities and more.
Nevsun Resources will be presenting on Monday, March 7 at 11:00 am in Room 801B in the Volcanogenic Massive Sulphides Session and exhibiting at booth 2608A on March 7 and 8 at the Investor Exchange floor.
South Boulder Mines Managing Director Lorry Hughes will be presenting on Tuesday, March 8 at 10:50 am in Room 715 AB, in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building.
Meeting to be staged in Dubai for the first timeDubai, UAE: One of Africa’s most important and influential investment forums – the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Investment Forum – will be hosted in Dubai under the Patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rahsid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Spearheaded by COMESA’s Regional Investment Agency – the investment promotion arm of COMESA – in partnership with Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, this year’s forum is entitled ‘Dubai to Africa – Unlocking the Markets of the Future’. With strong interest already having been generated by the event, over 800 regional, global and African business leaders are expected to participate to discuss about investment, finance, logistics and trade issues involving COMESA and Dubai.
Scheduled to take place on March 23-24, 2011, Dubai Chamber has stepped up preparations for the event by holding a meeting with Dubai Government’s COMESA Committee Members, in which they discussed their involvement in the forum and their plans to make it a success.
Presided over by HE Hamad Buamim, Director General of Dubai Chamber, the meeting was attended by representatives of The Ruler’s Court, the Department of Economic Development, the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs-Dubai and The Media office-Government of Dubai.
COMESA Regional Investment Agency was established with an aim of driving Foreign Direct Investment or FDI into Africa’s largest economic block. Having successfully launched its Custom Union in 2009, COMESA continues on the road of regional integration by supporting the continuous creation of better investment conditions, making it an increasingly internationally competitive economic community. And following the recent financial crisis and fundamental shifts in global economic power, COMESA is today a strong and attractive destination for investment with its growing and diversifying economies.
Dubai Chamber’s Director General said the staging of an event of this significance in Dubai is a key pillar in the Chamber’s strategy of reaching out to the new markets of Africa. It also serves to showcase how Dubai’s strength as an international business hub can be leveraged for the benefit of all parties concerned.
In order to highlight such matters, panel discussions such as ‘COMESA-Dubai: The New Business Partnership’ and ‘Dubai – A Gateway for Trade in Africa’ are to be conducted as part of the two-day forum.
“Dubai is ideally located to serve as a strategic international hub for business in and out of the COMESA region, hence the decision to hold the event here, where we can further showcase and reinforce that position, and also encourage investment into the region by addressing issues that are critical for local and international business,” Buamim explained.
“Furthermore, there is tremendous scope for COMESA members to benefit from Dubai business community’s wide and extensive experience in areas that are critical to the 19 member countries such as infrastructure development, agriculture, roadways and railways, logistics and supply chain management, aviation, and finance and banking.
”We will endeavour to identify the frameworks needed to enable growth and build a favourable business climate in the COMESA region and Africa by means of greater cooperation and complete regional integration. We also hope to take major strides in the development of a comprehensive set of regulatory reforms that will enable Dubai businesses to consolidate their trade ties with member countries mainly from the South and East Africa regions,” he added.
COMESA, being the largest economic block in Africa, holds the key to the economic development of the region. It is expected to exceed the size of its market of 500 million consumers by the year 2015, and is all set to lead to higher and sustainable levels of economic growth that will provide unparalleled opportunities for investors from all over the world.
The 4th COMESA Investment Forum is specifically designed to promote dialogue and action between investors, business leaders and senior policy makers, to create the necessary framework and drive investment opportunities and growth in COMESA and Africa.
To deliver the opening remarks at the event are H.E. Sultan Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy; Sindiso Ngwenya, COMESA Secretary General; H.E. Abdulrahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, UAE; and Hon. Minister Jabulile Mashwama, Swaziland Minister of Industry & Trade and Chairperson of COMESA Council of Ministers.
In the succeeding sessions, some of the speakers include Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin Managing Director, World Bank; H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade; Usman Ahmed, Managing Director, Corporate Banking, Barclays Africa; Sameer Al Ansari, CEO, SHUAA Capital, UAE; Lazarus A. Angbazo, President & CEO, GE East, Central & West Africa; Amadou Diallo, CEO of Africa & South Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding, Africa; Giulia Di Tommaso, Director of External Affairs for Africa, Middle East and Turkey, Unilever; Ashish Thakkar, CEO, Mara Group, Uganda; Hon. Minister Welshman Ncube, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Zimbabwe; Hon. Peter Sinon, Minister of Investment, Natural Resources & Industry of Seychelles; and Nicholas Nesbitt, CEO, Kencall.
Dubai Chamber
Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favorable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub
COMESA
COMESA’s member states include: Burundi, Comoros, D.R. Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is Africa’s largest economic block comprising a total of nineteen countries, with a population of over 430 million, and a combined GDP of over USD 447 Billion. Having successfully launched its Custom Union in 2009, COMESA continues on the road of regional integration by supporting the continuous creation of better investment conditions, making it an increasingly internationally competitive economic community.
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South Boulder Mines
South Boulder Mines Ltd is pleased to announce that diamond drilling has resumed at the Colluli Potash Project in Eritrea. The drilling is part of an expanded 5,000m exploration program designed to further define and extend known resources. The results will be incorporated into the current engineering scoping and feasibility studies.
To date approximately 1,407m of diamond core drilling has been completed at Colluli in 17 holes.
The planned locations of the first five diamond drill holes are shown in Figure 1. The location of additional drill holes for the program will be determined based on the new results.
In addition, a trial surface gravimetric survey has been completed with results currently being interpreted. Once outstanding drill results are received and interpreted together with the gravity data, the effectiveness of the gravity survey as a targeting tool will be assessed.
A number of key activities are planned to be completed over the coming months including;
Outstanding assay results and details on further exploration drilling will be released as they come to hand.
Investor Coverage
Recent investor relations, corporate videos and broker/media coverage on The Company’s projects can be viewed on the website in the “Media Centre” and “Investor Centre” sections by following the link www.southbouldermines.com.au.
About South Boulder Mines Ltd
Listed in 2003, South Boulder Mines (ASX: STB) is a diversified explorer primarily focused on potash, nickel and gold. South Boulder has a 100% interest in the Colluli Potash Project in Eritrea and a 100% interest in the Duketon Gold Project in Western Australia.
The Colluli Potash Project has a current JORC/43-101 Compliant Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 547.62Mt @ 18.58% KCl (total contained potash of 101.73Mt); Includes 119.21Mt @ 23.14% KCl; and an exploration target of 750Mt – 1.25 billion tonnes @ 18-20% KCl. The potential quantity and grade of the Colluli exploration target is conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource (outside the area shown in Figure 1) and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource (outside the area shown in Figure 1). An engineering scoping study into open pit mining and processing to produce up to 10Mt p.a of potash is underway.
Within the Duketon Gold Project area, South Boulder entered a farm-out Joint Venture (JV) Agreement with Independence, whereby Independence can earn a 70% interest in the nickel rights on JV tenements held by South Boulder in the Duketon Project, by the completion of a Bankable Feasibility Study within 5 years of the grant of the relevant tenement.
About the Nickel Joint Venture
The Duketon Nickel JV has had recent success at The Rosie and C2 Nickel sulphide prospects where drilling has defined intercepts of 5.20m @ 9.13% Ni, 1.09% Cu, 0.21% Co and 7.09g/t PGE’s at Rosie and 50m @ 0.92% Ni including 37m @ 1.05% Ni at C2. The deposits are located approximately 120km NNW of Laverton, W.A in the Duketon Greenstone Belt. The deposits are approximately 2km apart and the mineralisation at both prospects is considered open in most directions. A Mining Lease was granted over the Rosie and C2 deposits on the 19 th of November. The Mining Lease comprises a total of 19.13km 2 .
More information:
CAIRO – Traffic through Egypt’s Suez Canal was disrupted for four hours on Tuesday after a ship ran aground because of engine failure in bad weather, an official maritime source said.
“A cargo ship ran aground due to an engine malfunction in the southern sector of the canal, blocking five ships behind it,” the source said.
An official from the Suez Canal Authority said shipping returned to normal at 1200 GMT after the ship, and another that ran aground later, were freed and moved.
A union official said some employees in the office of canal authority chairman Ahmed Fadel had gone on strike, joining a wave of popular protests that has gripped Egypt. He said this had not affected the normal functioning of the canal.
Five of Egypt’s Red Sea ports were closed on Tuesday because of bad weather, a spokesman for the Red Sea Ports Authority said.
Those affected included Nuweiba, Port Tawfik and Adabiya.
Reuters
