diplomacy&development

Human rights chiefs from the United Nations and the African Commission warned last 20 May 2020 that tens of millions may become destitute in Africa as a result of Covid-19 and its economic impact with catastrophic human rights consequences. Michelle Bachelet, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Solomon Dersso, Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), called for urgent measures to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic. As of 19 May, the disease had reached all 54 African States, infecting nearly 88,172  people. South Africa had the highest number of cases, with nearly 16,433 affected. The death toll on the continent stood at 2,834. Poverty, lack of social protection, limited access to water and poor sanitation infrastructure, a pre-existing disease burden, conflict situations and overstretched and poorly equipped health systems create heightened risk of the spread of the pandemic and its potentially dire consequences on the h...

Canadian P rime Minister Justin Trudeau The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau has met today 30 May 2020 with the Permanent Representatives of the United Nations Group of African States regarding Canada's bid to serve on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2021-2022.  The Canadian Prime Minister spoke with appreciation of the warm welcome he received during his visit to Ethiopia and Senegal in February, where he attended the events of the African Union Summit and met with African leaders.  He highlighted Canada's strong relationships with African countries, which are based on shared values, the close economic and trade ties that unite them, and the potential for increased partnerships and growth.  The Prime Minister of Canada has reiterated Canada’s commitment to act productively and collaboratively as a member of the UNSC and to work with partners to address complex global issues.  He cited the challenge posed by the COVID-19 pandemic a...

The African Development Bank mobilizes 264 million euros to support Morocco in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic The Bank's commitment to Morocco amounts to more than 10 billion euros with financing covering different sectors.    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org) approved Wednesday, May 27 in Abidjan, financing of 264 million euros for Morocco as part of its program support for Covid-19's response (PARC-19). With a rapid deployment of resources, PARC-19 contributes to the Kingdom’s response efforts to the health, economic and social crisis triggered by the Covid-19 epidemic.   "Faced with this unprecedented situation, we are doing everything in our power to support Morocco to contain the spread of the virus and to mitigate its economic and social consequences," said Mohamed El Azizi, Managing Director of the Bank for North Africa. . "With PARC-19, we do this through a multidimensional and targeted approach,...

The UN child rights committee has welcomed this Thursday 28 May 2020  Spain’s prompt decision to allow a 12-year old Moroccan girl to go to school in Melilla, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, setting a positive example for over 80 other similar unresolved instances.  The Spanish government’s action came some six weeks after the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) requested that Spain take interim measures to allow N.S., a Moroccan national born and raised in Melilla, to be admitted to a local primary school. “We congratulate Spain’s quick response,” said Committee member Ann Skelton. “N.S. will be able to reach her full potential now that she can access formal education in Spain, the only country she has known and where she has lived for her whole life. N.S. was born in Melilla to a Moroccan mother who herself had migrated there when she was a child. Both mother and daughter are categorized as irregular residents in the Spanish city and so N.S. was not able...

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday 28 May 2020  condemned the killing of George Floyd, an African American man whose death in police custody on Monday was captured on video and has led to serious ongoing protests in Minneapolis. “This is the latest in a long line of killings of unarmed African Americans by US police officers and members of the public,” Bachelet said.  “I am dismayed to have to add George Floyd’s name to that of Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and many other unarmed African Americans who have died over the years at the hands of the police -- as well as people such as Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin who were killed by armed members of the public.”  She added. “The US authorities must take serious action to stop such killings, and to ensure justice is done when they do occur. Procedures must change, prevention systems must be put in place, and above all police officers who resort to excessive use of for...

Laurent Gbabo and Charles Blegoudé during a trial at International Criminal Court On Thursday 28 May 2020, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”) decided to dismiss the request of the Defence for Mr Gbagbo for reconsideration of its judgment granting him and Mr Blé Goudé conditional release.  The Appeals Chamber however decided to review the conditions of release. This decision does not concern the appeal against the decision acquitting Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé. The Appeals Chamber noted that the Defence of Mr Gbagbo did not demonstrate a clear error of reasoning, nor that there are particular circumstances justifying reconsideration of the Judgment. The Appeals Chamber however decided to review the continued necessity of maintaining the conditions imposed on the release of the two acquitted individuals and decided to revoke the following conditions:  (1) Not to travel beyond the territorial limits of the municipality of th...

UN human rights experts urged this 29 May 2020 the United States Government to reduce the population in places of detention to prevent large outbreaks of COVID-19 and ease the mounting pressure on staff and the penitentiary system as a whole. “We call on the United States Government to act now. Failure to take timely action may have far-reaching consequences,” they said. “People in detention throughout the US are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and for many, their pre-existing medical conditions increase the risk of death,” the experts noted. “In these closed, and often overcrowded places, basic protective measures, such as physical distancing and hygiene rules, cannot be observed.   “Those at greatest risk should immediately be identified, taking into account situations of vulnerability, and release measures should be implemented,” the experts said. “Despite some steps at the federal and state levels to reduce the population of people in custody, the Gove...

The Ambassador of People's Republic of China in Democratic Republic of Congo, Mr. Zhu Jing attended this Friday 29, 2020 the donation of medical supplies to INRB in Kinshasa. The Chinese Diplomat has thanked at this occasion the Jack Ma Foundation and all the people who made their contribution in making this donation. The Chinese Embassy in the DRC has confirmed previously in April, the delivery of a batch of 100,000 masks, 20,000 test kits, 1000 protective suits, 1000 protective masks by the Jack Ma Foundation of the Alibaba group to the INRB to help the DRC in the response against the Covid-19. "100,000 masks, 20,000 test kits, 1,000 protective suits, 1,000 protective masks donated by the Jack Ma Foundation of the Alibaba group are donated to INRB to help the DRC in the response against Covid19," reads to the tweeter account of the Chinese Embassy in the DRC. China's ambassador to the DRC, Zhu Jing, told the press during the presentation of this ...

The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo received this Thursday, May 28, 2020, Mr. Jean Claude Ngakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Congo Brazzaville, emissary of President Denis Sassou Nguesso. The question of the presence of the Zambian soldiers on DR Congo soil was at the center of their discussions. But also the situation linked to the health crisis linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the end of their meeting, the Congolese diplomat Mr. Ngakosso stressed the fact that African leaders must work for the economic development in the sub-region for the benefit of their populations, therefore, cannot spend money in unnecessary fratricidal conflicts. To help appease the border between the DRC and Zambia, Minister Ngakosso was received by President Edgard Lungu of Zambia and this Friday will be received by President Emerson Mnagagwa of Zimbabwe, also in perspective to seek ways and means to achieve lasting peace. Cassien Tribunal ...

China State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi  On 24 May 2020, a press conference was held via video link on the margins of the Third Session of the 13th National People's Congress, during which State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi answered questions from Chinese and foreign media about China's foreign policy and external relations. https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjbxw/t1782369.shtml

Ceremony of handover of  high-performance videoconferencing equipment France believes in the importance of the State and the role of the senior civil service in the management of public policies which must contribute to the modernization of any country. It’s based on this conviction that it has been, since its creation, one of the very first partners of the National School of the Administration of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The health crisis we are going through is also impacting the students of the Etienne promotion Tshisekedi, threatening the educational continuity that is nevertheless necessary in order to ensure that the future senior officials can acquire the knowledge essential for their training.  Today, by equipping ENA RDC with high-performance videoconferencing equipment and providing students of an individual internet connection provided by the Orange company, cooperation French allows this pillar of the modernization of the Admini...

European Union Ambassador to the DRC Jean-Marc Châtaigner and the CENCO represented by Cardinal Ambongo The European Union through the EU Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Jean-Marc Châtaigner, the CENCO represented by Cardinal Ambongo as well as the representative of the Church of Christ in Congo Pastor Bakundoa have launched a prevention project against Covid- 19 in the DRC through communication for behavior change during and after the pandemic. This Covid-19 prevention project in 312 urban and rural communities in the DRC will benefit from the EU funding of 2 million euros to raise awareness and inform the public. CENCO and ECC will associate other religious denominations for the implementation of these activities which will consist of:  Firstly, Raising awareness of compliance with the barrier measures decreed by the Congolese authorities as well as by the World Health Organization;  Secondly, Keeping the good habits acquired after th...