Surprise package Eritrea held Cosafa Challenge Cup champions Zimbabwe to a goalless draw in a Group B match in Nairobi at the on-going Cecafa Orange Senior Challenge Cup.

The draw means Rwanda who beat Somalia 1-0 in the opening group game lead the group with three points, while Zimbabwe and Eritrea are at one point apiece. Source: (CAF)

In the sugarcane growing town of Mumias, Tanzania recovered from their 2-0 loss to defending champions Uganda to silence Zanzibar 1-0 in a game that ended with each team one man-less. Mrisho Ngassa scored in the 18th minute, but the Kilimanjaro Stars looked for a second goal but to no avail.

Zanzibar had their goalkeeper Ali Mwadin sent off towards the final whistle, while Tanzania’s Kiggi Makasi received a second caution in the 44th minute.

Tomorrow Ethiopia will be up against Chipolopolo of Zambia, while hosts Kenya line-up against Djibouti and Burundi battle 10-time winners Uganda Cranes.

Eritrea and Zimbabwe drew 0-0 in their first Group “B” standing at the 33rd Council for East Africa and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) at the National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya.

Eritrea is joined by Somalia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe in Group B and will face Rwanda in the next match on Thursday, December 3rd.

The cup is sponsored by Orange, one of the world’s leading telecommunication operators. CECAFA and Orange have agreed on a US$175,000 deal for the event, which takes place in the Kenyan towns of Nairobi and Mumias until Sunday, December 13th.

Further, Orange has agreed to sponsor the African Cups of Nations, the African Champions League, the African Confederations Cup, the Super Cup, the African Nations Championship and the African Youth Championship for the next eight years.

Erik Solheim

Norway has decided to increase emergency relief to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia because of the drought. The announcement states that at the same time it is important to increase food security.

According to the Norwegian Ministry of Environment and International Development more than 20 million people are suffering from hunger as a result of the severe drought and conflicts in this densely populated region. Norway is now allocating NOK 40 million in emergency relief to victims of the drought.

“I am deeply concerned about the civilian population, who are severely affected,” said Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim. “The situation is acute. Nearly half of the world’s food aid goes to the Horn of Africa today. At the same time we must focus on finding lasting political solutions to the conflicts in the region.”

The Norwegian allocation has already been disbursed, most of it through the World Food Programme (WFP). It is vital to increase food security in the region. In Somalia, the security situation of aid workers is so precarious that it is affecting the distribution of emergency aid. Kenya and Ethiopia are in a position to feed their own populations, but food aid undermines local food production and the people’s ability to help themselves. This creates new crises.

Norway is one of the largest donors to the Horn of Africa. Total Norwegian assistance to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2009 will total approximately NOK 270 million. This figure has increased by NOK 70 million since the previous announcement by the Norwegian Government to provide aid to the region in early September.

How can you halve the development cooperation budget when drought and climate change are making food shortages increase?’ This was the response of Bert Koenders, Minister for Development Cooperation, to the news that the World Food Programme needs another 5 billion dollars to save the lives of millions of people in the Horn of Africa.

Mr Koenders called the attitude of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Freedom Party (PVV), which want to make drastic cuts in the development assistance budget, ‘uncaring and short-sighted. Saving money by trampling on those who are most in need will only swell the numbers of refugees and increase the likelihood of terrorist activity,’ he added.

According to the UN, 24 million people in the Horn of Africa and Kenya are entirely dependent on food aid to survive. ‘Figures like these make it clear just how important it is to release funds for dealing with the effects of climate change,’ the minister said. Mr Koenders has decided to allocate an extra €2 million to emergency aid for Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. He is unable to commit any more as he has to make cuts of €550 million in this year’s development budget because it is tied to Gross National Product, which has fallen. Source: (Reliefweb)

Raytec

Raytec Metals Corporation has entered into negotiations to merge with Lion Petroleum Inc, a firm licensed to explore crude oil in Kenya.

The Toronto Stock Exchange listed company recently signed an agreement with Africa Oil Corporation that gives Raytec the right to earn an interest in 5 blocks in Kenya and Puntland, Somalia.

Raytec’s move to merge with Lion Petroleum which has oil prospecting rights in Mandera is part of the Canadian firm’s strategy to expand its presence in East and Central Africa region.

Gas assets

Lion, with offices in Nairobi, has the infrastructure in place to allow Raytec to continue building an Africa-based portfolio of oil and gas assets.

Raytec’s president Brian Thurston said the relationship is strategic as the firm is focused on becoming a significant player in the developing oil and gas industry in East and Central Africa.

“Raytec board members have laid out a critical path to achieve this goal, the first part of which was the recently announced farm-in agreement with Africa Oil Corporation,” he said.

Under a binding letter of intent signed by the two, the transaction is subject to certain conditions and completion of due diligence process.

The letter stipulates a business combination pursuant to which Raytec, or its subsidiary will acquire all of the 23,865,000 common shares issued and outstanding in the capital of Lion.

It is proposed that Lion’s chief executive Mike Devji becomes a director of Raytec, and then be appointed chairman of the board of directors of the firm. Mr Devji said the pair had decided to merge to create a bigger and more dynamic oil exploration company.

Lion is party to production sharing contract (PSC) relating to blocks 1 and 2B with the Kenyan Government. The PSCs grant Lion 100 per cent interest in the blocks subject only to an 18 per cent back-in right in favour of the government.

Block 1 covers about 31,781 square kilometres forming part of western portion of Mandera-Lugh basin that occupies a section of northeastern territory of Kenya and extends into Somalia and Ethiopia.

Mr Thurston said Lion has entered into a farm-in agreement with East African Exploration Ltd (EAX) of Dubai, on the Block 1 concession.

“EAX may earn 50 per cent in block 1 by conducting a work programme and making all financial commitments required of Lion to the government under the PSC,” he said.

Block 2B covers an area of approximately 7,807 square kilometres south of Block 1 in Northeastern Kenya and three separate rift basins; the Anza, Mandera-Lugh and Mochesa.

Raytec and Lion expect to complete their respective due diligence investigations, meet the conditions, and execute a definitive agreement shortly.

The transaction is subject to Toronto Stock Exchange acceptance, as well as approvals from Kenya’s regulatory authorities. A finders fee will be payable in accordance with exchange policies. Source: (Saturday Nation)