25 August 2022
ECOWAS: The organisation’s “free movement protocols have never been fully implemented”. Cross-border long-term residence and establishing of a business are difficult, there is harassment when trying to cross a border and there may be lack of identification documents. Sporadically, there is expulsion (from Ghana in 1954 and 1969; from Côte d’Ivoire 1958) and deportation (200 Nigerien “beggars” from Senegal and Ghana in 2022). At the same time – informally – “people continue to move relatively freely in the region”.
https://theconversation.com/free-movement-in-west-africa-the-culture-of-mobility-still-matters-despite-challenges-188607
Somaliland: Since 2017, Berbera port – the country’s “lifeline” – is being managed by Dubai Ports World (DP World),” a leading global port operator and logistics giant”. Modernisation undertaken since is to make the port a logistical hub on the Gulf of Aden, in competition with Mogadishu, Mombasa Djibouti. To make this happen, land-locked Ethiopia needs yet to come on board. For Somaliland, both economic development and international recognition are at stake.
https://theconversation.com/waiting-for-ethiopia-berbera-port-upgrade-raises-somalilands-hopes-for-trade-188949
Kenya: The recent elections have increased the number of women amongst the country’s 45 governors from 3 to 7. Nakuru, Kwale, Meru, Homa Bay, Embu, Machakos and Kirinyaga Counties will from now on have women governors.
BBC Africa Live 25 August 2022. 11:29
Sudan/USA: Two years after the removal of Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, US ambassador John Godfrey arrived in Khartoum yesterday Wednesday – the first US ambassador in 25 years. The timing seems somewhat unfortunate, seen that the country is ruled by a military junta, even if the US ambassador tweeted that he had come to support Sudan’s transition to democracy.
BBC Africa Live 25 August 2022. 7:09
25 August 2022
Tanzania: No right to voice one’s opinion on social media? A regional manager at Tanzania Railways Corporation has been sacked for voicing his disagreement with the government’s introduction of charges for mobile money transfers. The reason given was that “he had gone against the Public Service Act of 2003”. The concerned will appeal the sacking.
BBC Africa Live 24 August 2022. 7:39
South Africa: Worldwide, around 10% of victims of sexual violence are estimated to be male. It could be more in South Africa – but boys and men are even less likely than girls and women to report such sexual violence against them. Even if they do not risk to become pregnant, shame and stigma hit male victims as much as female victims. Thinking about sexual violence needs to start to include male victims – one of the advantages of this is that “the male rape victim brings home that sexual vulnerability is a social and political, and not a natural, biological condition”. In the article’s author’s view, this will not only undermine patriarchy but it “is also likely to open new avenues for alliance building and solidarity (between) women and men”.
https://theconversation.com/sexual-violence-in-south-africa-where-are-the-male-victims-186161
Uganda: To improve connectivity and as part of the “Digital Acceleration Programme”, Uganda will install 2,000 wi-fi hotspots country-wide for use “by government offices during working hours” and by “the public past working hours and during weekends.”
BBC Africa Live 24 August 2022. 8:52