Libya

141 Sudanese migrants return from Libya as part of EU initiative

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 09:30:01 +0000

141 Sudanese migrants return from Libya as part of EU initiative

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 09:30

Thursday, June 16, 2022

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Radio Dabanga - Latest news

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141 Sudanese migrants return from Libya as part of EU initiative

141 Sudanese migrants voluntarily returned from Benghazi and Tobruk in Libya to Khartoum Airport on Tuesday, as part of the joint initiative between the European Union and the International Organisation for Migration (EU-IOM).

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To Beat INEC’s Deadline, Tinubu Quietly Submits Forms, Includes ‘Place Holder’ as Running Mate

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 04:40:01 +0000

To Beat INEC’s Deadline, Tinubu Quietly Submits Forms, Includes ‘Place Holder’ as Running Mate

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admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 04:40

Thursday, June 16, 2022

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THISDAYLIVE

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To Beat INEC’s Deadline, Tinubu Quietly Submits Forms, Includes ‘Place Holder’ …

•PDP screens vice-presidential nominees today

•Party’s NWC meets over c’ttee’s recommendations on running mate

•Atiku speaks on how to free up funds for social investments

Iyobosa Uwugiaren and Chuks Okocha in Abuja

Desperate to beat deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has quietly submitted his forms, with the inclusion of a ‘place holder’ as running mate.

At the same time, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has constituted a 12-man committee-led by Chief Tom Ikimi, to screen the presidential nominees of the party.

Also, following the meetings of the various elders and consultative committees of the party, on the choice of a vice presidential candidate, the National Working Committee (NWC), of the PDP, met to decide on the recommendations made by the various committees.

This is as the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said his main objective was to have Nigerians, who would be the beneficiaries of his policy framework to interrogate the policies on how to reduce infrastructure deficit and free up funds for social investments in the country.

An insider in the ruling APC told THISDAY last night in Abuja that the action by Tinubu and the APC was aimed at meeting the statutory requirement and beat the Friday, June 17, 2022 deadline by INEC for presidential candidates to submit names of their deputies to the commission.

But the choice of running mate is yet to be resolved hence the decision to include a “place holder” instead as vice-presidential candidate, while Tinubu and the APC were still making consultations for a suitable deputy that would enhance the party’s victory in 2023.

The controversy over the suitability of the APC running with a Muslim-Muslim ticket or otherwise, has been very intense in the last few days.

“The name of the running mate submitted would be changed for another northern politician in the next few weeks. The one submitted is just holding the ticket in trust for another candidate to be picked by Tinubu and the party in the next few weeks.

“The candidate is still widely consulting, because the issues around the choice of running mate are many and he is yet to address them all. So, he is still asking for more time to look into it all – whether he is running a Muslim-Muslim or a Muslim-Christian ticket.

“He personally thinks there’s a need for more consultation and that’s what he is doing. The debate on the choice of deputy has assumed a level that is currently greater than the party and the candidate, hence the need for comprehensive consultation, which is what he is doing,” a reliable party source hinted last night.

Though some names had been mentioned as possible running-mate to the former Lagos state, it was gathered that no compromise have been reached yet.

A source in the Tinubu’s camp told THISDAY that all the northern governors want the position.

The source added that if Tinubu had his way, he would have loved to pick the former Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima as his running-mate, but he wanted the president and the governors to pick.

The source said: “All northern governors want it. If Tinubu has his way, it will be Senator Kashim. But he wants the president and governors to pick for him.”

Asked why Tinubu does not want to pick his running mate himself, the source stressed he didn’t want to be a winner takes it all.

“He does not want to be the winner takes it all. You need to respect the president. Buhari did not choose VP for himself in 2015.”

From the PDP camp, a credible party source, had disclosed that after an extensive deliberation, where Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and sacked former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, were considered, the vice-presidential nomination committee, settled for one of the governors.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, however, named Dr. Akilu Indabawa, as the Committee Secretary while Mr. Sunday Omobo, was nominated as Administrative Secretary.

“Pursuant to Part VI, Paragraph 14 of the the Electoral Guidelines of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Working Committee (NWC), has approved the nomination of the following party members to serve on the Vice Presidential Candidate Screening Committee for the screening/verifying of the nominated Vice Presidential Candidate of our Party for the 2023 general election,” the statement stated.

Other members of the committee, the statement listed, were Chief Osita Chidoka, Member; Rt. Hon. Binta Bello, Member; Chief Mrs. Alh. Mutiat Adedoja, Member; Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Member; Prof. Aisha Madawaki, Member; Mrs. Ayotunde George-Ologun, Member; Chief Mrs. Chidiebelu Mofus, Member; and H.E. Fidelis Tapgun, Member.

The party said the screening exercise would hold at the National Working Committee (NWC) Hall, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, today, June 16, 2022. at 10am.

Deadline for the submission of presidential candidates and the vice-presidential candidates ends tomorrow, June 17, as the INEC website shuts down automatically by 6pm.

Also, deadline for the submission of governorship and state assembly candidates ended yesterday, Wednesday, June 15, while the submission for National Assembly candidates ends tomorrow, Friday June 17.

Sources close to the party informed THISDAY that the NWC will submit the names of three vice presidential nominees to Atiku for his consideration.

The three nominees were of South South and South East zones.

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VI electricity costs near region’s average

admin — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:00:02 +0000

VI electricity costs near region’s average

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admin Wed, 02/23/2022 - 20:00

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

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Business – The BVI Beacon

Original Article

VI electricity costs near region’s average

Recent studies of global broadband and mobile data pricing from United Kingdom-based telecommunications provider Cable.co.uk haven’t turned out well for the Virgin Islands, which has consistently shown to have some of the highest prices in the world for those services.

However, when it comes to electricity, the VI ranks near the middle of the pack regionally.

Just 11 out of 28 Caribbean countries have cheaper electricity than the VI, according to a study released last month from the company.

But the region as a whole is far behind most of the world, and the VI ultimately ranked 175 out of the 230 countries analysed in the study.

“The Caribbean consists of island nations where electricity generation tends to be more difficult,” the study noted.

The study found that the average cost of electricity in the VI is $0.225 per kilowatt-hour, with the territory’s lowest cost at $0.1675 per kWh and its highest at $0.24.

The average price in the Caribbean is $0.237.

Most Caribbean nations are in the more expensive half of the study results. Curaçao ranked as most expensive in the Caribbean with an average of $0.419 per kWh, while electricity per kWH in Puerto Rico averages $0.049.

The next-cheapest countries and territories are Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, Cayman Islands, St. Martin, St Barthélemy, the Caribbean Netherlands, Martinique, Aruba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Global high, low

However, the VI still pays 32 times more than Libya, where consumers pay just $0.007 per kWh. But it doesn’t come close to the high prices in the Solomon Islands, a chain in the Pacific Ocean, which is the costliest in the world with an average price of $0.692 per kWh.

“The Caribbean consists of island nations where electricity generation tends to be more difficult,” the study’s authors wrote. “Clusters of more expensive countries in which to buy electricity tended to be in small island nations where electricity is harder to generate and/or there are no large-scale power stations.”

Researchers at Cable.co.uk worked for six months to complete an analysis of 3,883 energy tariffs around the world in order to measure the price of electricity in 230 countries.

The study noted that the most expensive countries on the list were all far-flung island nations. After the Solomon Islands, the five most expensive countries in terms of the average cost of one kWh were St. Helena ($0.612), Vanuatu ($0.591), the Cook Islands ($0.523) and Micronesia ($0.484).

‘Striking and obvious’

The study called the similarities between these five archipelagoes “both striking and obvious.” Four of five are in Oceania, and all five are island nations.

“Oceania is one of the most expensive regions in the world for electricity, while island nations also tend to be among the most expensive,” the study’s authors wrote.

After Libya, the five cheapest countries in terms of the average cost of one kWh were Angola ($0.013), Sudan ($0.014), Kyrgyzstan ($0.017), and Zimbabwe ($0.021).

“Conversely to the most expensive, none of these countries is an island, and three of the five are located in sub-Saharan Africa,” the study authors wrote. “The cheapest, Libya, is in Northern Africa, with the only non-African country being Kyrgyzstan.”

According to the study, the cheapest places in the world to buy electricity tend to be countries where either oil and gas prices are very cheap (i.e. countries which produce fossil fuels on a large scale), or where household electricity usage is very small and therefore tends not to require a lot of expensive infrastructure.

Around the world

The United States proved to be the cheapest country in North America, at $0.109 per kWh, followed by Canada ($0.124) and Greenland ($0.250). Oceania is the most expensive region in the world, averaging $0.303.

Meanwhile sub-Saharan Africa has four of the ten cheapest countries in the world and three of the ten most expensive.

Former Soviet countries are the cheapest on average regionally, with all 10 countries in the region in the top 70 cheapest in the world, three of them in the top 10.

The study pointed out that the UK, at $0.251 per kWh, pays the most for electricity in Western Europe and comes 190th in the world for cheap electricity.

“Almost every European nation is cheaper. Most African nations? Cheaper. There are even island nations where energy production is especially difficult that charge less than we are charged in the UK,” research analyst Dan Howdle said in a press release announcing the study results.

The post VI electricity costs near region’s average appeared first on The BVI Beacon.

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Business

U.S., some western media act against legitimate gov’t

admin — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 07:30:01 +0000

U.S., some western media act against legitimate gov’t admin Wed, 02/23/2022 - 07:30

Sunday, February 13, 2022

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News – Ethiopian Press Agency

Original Article

U.S., some western media act against legitimate gov’t

ADAMA – The U.S. and some Western-led media have always sought to achieve their ulterior motives by appointing gangsters over African continent, so stated one of the Diaspora Community members.

Having a stay with the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), the Diaspora hails from Virginia; America receiving the call made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) to join the Great Homecoming Challenge, Bekele Woldmekail said that the main aim of the U.S. and some western media is appointing gangsters to succeed their hidden interest. Bekele, who is also one of the Members of eyezonethiopia.com, stated that some countries like Afghan, Libya, and Syria were devastated by the U.S. and some western media orchestrated cruel acts.

They would also like to repeat the same on Ethiopia that would help them garner big opportunity to obtain political leverage in African continent.

For example, the U.S. frequently asks their citizens leave from Addis Ababa city that urging the city encircled by the terrorist group, though the situation is far from what the U.S. is stated.

Bekele further noted that the U.S. and some western media do not always allow legitimate government elected by the majority; it is rather they are interested in assigning puppet government to realize their interest.

That is why they put maximum pressure on Ethiopian government and its people by supporting terrorist TPLF to back. However, their plot is upturned by U.S., some western media act against legitimate gov’t Ethiopian united force. “In his living of Virginia State, they existing over 700,000 Ethiopian Diasporas who have been supporting their homeland through different mechanisms thereby joining the #NoMore Movement,” he added.

As to Bekele, though the contribution of the Diaspora community to their mother land is appreciable, it is not mean that adequately enough compared with the Pain of the Ethiopian people.

Therefore, strengthening unity, creating conducive area of the Diaspora community to support the people, fairness, and cutting bureaucratic red tape would play significant role to ensure national sovereignty for a sustainable manner.

BY MESERET BEHAILU

The Ethiopian Herald 13 February 2022

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Libya on bumpy road to uncertain elections

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:10:01 +0000

Libya on bumpy road to uncertain elections

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 08:10

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

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Africa – Capital News

Original Article

Libya on bumpy road to uncertain elections

Tripoli, Libya, Dec 1 – Libya is less than a month from elections seen as crucial to ending its long-running civil war, but deep political divisions could provoke a delay or even fresh violence.

In theory, the North African country is preparing to move beyond a decade of conflict since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising.

Western officials have talked up a UN-led peace process and insist on “inclusive” and “credible” elections starting on December 24, despite serious disputes over how they should be held.

Libya’s electoral commission has said it is ready to organise the process and has published an initial list of candidates and handed out voting cards.

The United Nations has said that nine international organisations have sought accreditations to observe the conduct of the vote.

But despite a year of relative calm since an October 2020 ceasefire, Libya’s deep political divisions remain.

Analysts warn that violence could easily flare again, with camps around eastern military chief Khalifa Haftar and the eastern-based parliament still mired in bitter disputes with a rival camp in the western capital Tripoli.

Map showing the areas of control by forces in Libya. © AFP

“The electoral process imposed by the parliament is so fragile, incomplete and dysfunctional and institutions in Tripoli are so eaten away by political factionalism that the dynamics of violence and polarisation are bound to come back before December 24,” said Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui.

“That’s almost certain, even assuming that the vote somehow takes place.”

– ‘Vague electoral law’ –

On Monday, gunmen backing eastern military chief Khalifa Haftar blocked roads leading to a court in the southern city of Sebha that had been set to examine an appeal by Seif al-Islam Kadhafi after he was barred from running for president.

Seif al-Islam is the second son of the ousted dictator, who was slain in the 2011 revolt.

The interim government in Tripoli said it was following the situation in Sebha with “great concern”.

But as forces led by Haftar — himself a presidential candidate — dominate eastern Libya and much of the sparsely populated south, the Tripoli-based administration admitted it could do little to intervene.

Electoral commission chief Imad al-Sayeh insists Libya is ready to go the polls on December 24, 2021 but few inside the country share his optimism © AFP / Mahmud Turkia

That was the latest in a string of ominous events that have overshadowed preparations for the polls and threaten to spark renewed violence.

With just weeks to go, the list of candidates has yet to be finalised.

A Tripoli appeals court on Wednesday rejected two petitions against interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, allowing him to take part, his lawyer Abdulraouf Qanbij said.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Khaled Mazen warned that the presidential election might have to be delayed if “violations” threatening the electoral process do not stop.

“We must not continue on a path that would lead to the deterioration of the security situation until it is out of control,” Mazen said.

Claudia Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group, said: “At the base of all these problems there is a vague electoral law and its contradictions.”

Parliamentary speaker Aguila Saleh sparked controversy in early September when he signed off on the bill without a vote in the assembly, putting into law a piece of legislation critics say was custom-made for his ally, Haftar.

In late September, the parliament based in the eastern city of Tobruk, itself well past its mandate, passed a vote of no confidence in the interim government.

– Security worries –

Seif al-Islam Kadhafi (at left), second son of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and was barred from seeking Libya’s presidency © libyan High National Electoral Commission FB Page/AFP/File / STRINGER

This month, notables in several cities called for a boycott and several voting offices were shut down by groups hostile to Kadhafi’s candidacy, preventing voters collecting their voting cards.

As Libya’s main political players wrangle, the security situation on the ground, controlled by an array of militias and foreign forces, has voters asking whether they will be able to cast their ballots in safety.

And even though 2.4 million voting cards have been collected in the country of seven million, some voters have arrived at electoral offices to find their cards have already been picked up by someone else.

“Nobody seriously has any illusion that security will be guaranteed at every voting station in Libya,” Harchaoui said.

“In any scenario, there will be fraud, boycotts, blockades, voter intimidation and clashes. The most optimistic scenario is that these irregularities aren’t too spectacular or big.”

For Gazzini, it is very unlikely that the elections will take place — “but a coalition of people on the international level continues to insist that they must happen on December 24”.

If they do, the results are “completely unpredictable”, she said.

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Libya court reinstates Kadhafi’s son as presidential candidate: media

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:10:01 +0000

Libya court reinstates Kadhafi’s son as presidential candidate: media

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 08:10

Thursday, December 2, 2021

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Africa – Capital News

Original Article

Libya court reinstates Kadhafi’s son as presidential candidate: media

Tripoli, Libya, Dec 2 – A Libyan court on Thursday reinstated Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, son of slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, as a candidate in next month’s presidential election, the latest twist in an increasingly shaky transition.

Seif al-Islam had emerged in July after years in the shadows, telling The New York Times that he was planning a political comeback to “restore the lost unity” of Libya, a decade after it was plunged into chaos by the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that overthrew and killed his father.

He had been the first heavyweight candidate to register for the election, part of a UN-brokered process aimed at bringing peace to the North African nation.

But the electoral commission last month rejected his application, pointing to articles of the electoral law stipulating that candidates “must not have been sentenced for a dishonourable crime” and must present a clean criminal record.

Seif al-Islam had lodged an appeal in the southern city of Sebha, but last week a “group of outlaws” launched an “odious” attack on the court, forcing it to shut hours before the hearing, the government in Tripoli said.

On Thursday the court ruled in his favour.

Western officials have talked up a United Nations-led peace process and insist on “inclusive” and “credible” elections starting on December 24 in the North African country, despite serious disputes over how they should be held, and questions over their credibility.

Thursday’s ruling adds to such questions, Libya analyst Emadeddin Badi wrote on Twitter.

“The electoral process is slowly achieving a hat trick, destroying the credibility of the UN, of #Libya’s judiciary, & of elections as a way (out) of the crisis,” he said.

Seif al-Islam’s lawyer Khaled al-Zaydi, however, hailed the candidate’s reinstatement as “a victory for justice and the people’s will.

In a reminder of the near-impossibility of holding a free and fair vote, on Thursday the electoral commission said more than 2,300 voter cards had been stolen from five polling stations by armed men in western Libya, including Tripoli.

– ‘Nostalgia’ for Kadhafi rule –

Seif al-Islam, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes, was among 25 candidates whose bids were rejected by the elections board last week.

Seif al-Islam Kadhafi (R) registers to run in Libya’s presidential election, in a photo released on November 14, 2021 © libyan High National Electoral Comission FB Page/AFP / STRINGER

He is far from being the only controversial figure to lodge a bid for the presidency.

Among them is military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls much of eastern and southern Libya and is despised by many in the country’s west after his ruinous year-long assault on Tripoli that ended in mid-2020.

Interim prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, head of the UN-backed unity government in Tripoli, is also in the running despite two petitions against his candidacy. Those were rejected on Wednesday by a Tripoli appeals court.

Amanda Kadlec, a former member of a UN panel of experts on the country, told AFP that “political divisions that were supposed to be put to rest with the formation of the ‘unity’ government are replaying with this electoral process.”

She said Seif al-Islam “represents a constituency that is nostalgic for his father’s reign” but, “Those who ousted the regime clearly want to prevent him from running — not to mention that he’s wanted by the ICC.”

In the Times interview, Seif al-Islam said he wanted to “restore the lost unity” of Libya after a decade of chaos.

The ICC in the Hague has repeatedly asked for him to be handed over for trial for crimes against humanity, specifically “murder and persecution” allegedly committed using state forces across Libya in February 2011.

Seif al-Islam had been sentenced to death by a Tripoli court for crimes committed during the revolt that toppled his father, but a rival administration in eastern Libya later pardoned him.

Libya

Africa

“I would rather be alive in Africa than to die at the Mediterranean Sea” -reintegrated migrant tells his story

admin — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 23:40:01 +0000

“I would rather be alive in Africa than to die at the Mediterranean Sea” -reintegrated migrant tells his story

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admin Fri, 12/10/2021 - 23:40

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

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Local – Sierra Leone Concord Times

Original Article

“I would rather be alive in Africa than to die at the Mediterranean Sea” -rein…

November 30, 2021

By Alhaji Haruna Sani

“I would rather be in Africa than to die and end up in a body bag at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea,” Bilal Kamara learnt his lesson after irregular migration.

After running out of money to keep studying at the LICCSAL Business College in Freetown, depressed and frustrated Bilal Kamara who could not manage his heartbreak decided to run away from shame.

Irregular migration (Temple run) was the only option available to him, thus he met a friend who was almost equally frustrated and was looking for opportunity to leave the country. Hence, they two left Sierra Leone in December 2014 with the aim of travelling to Italy via Temple run.

Kamara, who travelled with a keen mind of seeking reliable source of income, further his education, live a better life and help his family back home, returned and raised the standards of his life in Sierra Leone, after going through hell in other African nations.

Seven months after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication at the Fourah Bay College, Bilal Kamara finally shares his Temple Run experience with Concord Times, and explains how he was able to reintegrate into society. B

CT:Briefly tell us about yourself?

My name is Bilal Kamara. I was born and raised in West end of Freetown. I am the first born to my parents and I have four siblings. I am a bachelor that turned 29 this year.

CT: Would you mind sharing with us an account of your travelling experiences?

Well! my experience started in Guinea, where I spent two weeks after separating with my friend, and by the time I decided to proceed to Mali, I had ran out of money. I took some odd jobs in Guinea so as to generate money for my transportation, yet the jobs could earned me the regular transport charges to Mali, so I agreed to be loaded together with some goods in the booth of the sluggish yellow Peugeot car that took drove on the bumpy and long distance journey to Mali. I landed in Mali completely broke, so I accepted all sort of odd jobs in return for food or money. After spending a dreadful month in Mali where I slept in ghettos and car parks, I was able to generate the exact money that took me to the Malian border town of Gao.In Gao, I was taken to a camp headed by a ghetto master where migrants from different West African nations were placed. I faced huge problem of language barrier in the cam, until I met some Nigerians and Liberians who automatically became my friends because we shared similar parlance. I spent two months in the camp where a lot fellow migrants left me because I have no money to pay my way to Algeria. Later a friend took me to a nearby village where we settled for the less and accepted odd jobs to raise money to travel to Algeria. After raising the required sum for our transportation, the Ghetto Master who was also the transport coordinator negotiated with a pick-up truck driver who loaded about 100 of us to cross the Sahara Desert to Algeria.

Along the way, some among us were kidnapped whiles others were abducted by the Tureg rebels, until we arrived in a town called Azaward were the rest of us were finally kidnapped by the Tuaregs. Those who paid their ransom were allowed to go whiles the rest of us were held hostage. All my friends had earlier paid their ransom and forged ahead, save Coachi, my Liberian friend whom we came together from Gao.

In Awazard we spent two days in the camp without eating any food. consequently, Coachi fell ill and started experiencing diarrhea. But because of the 2014- 15 Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the Tuareg and fellow migrants shunned Coachi because he was from Liberia. I tried all possible ways to resuscitate Coachi, but to no avail hence, Coachi died in my hands.

After Coachi’s tragic death, the Tuareg felt sorry for me and loaded me in a truck to Algeria and left me somewhere in the desert. We trekked for about three days before reaching an Algerian suburb called Burg. From Burg, I forged ahead to another town called Tamanrasset where I resorted to street begging. Few weeks after, I travelled to the Libyan crossing point to the Mediterranean Sea to Italy where I also made new friends.

Finally, at the time of crossing the Mediterranean Sea I was asked out of the boat because of insufficient transportation fees. A day after the boat left, I received a devastating news that the boat had capsized leaving no one alive. Hence I said to myself that I would rather be in Africa, than to die and end up in a body bag at the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

CT:Which was/were your worst moment (s) during your travelling?

I actually had a lot of revolting moments among which was the time I received the news about the capsize of the boat in which my friends were. That dreadful incident made me finally decided to return home.

But my worst moment was the time I lost a friend and a brother Coachi, ouch! I really hate talking about this. With the short time I spent with Coachi I realized he was very kind and friendly. Coachi died in my hands just like a baby, o my God!. That was my worst and saddest moment not only in the journey but throughout my life so far. Shit! I wish I could never talk about this again.

Nonetheless, time I was forced to do inhumane labour was nothing good to write home about. Too many things happened to me which was very difficult to explain.

CT:What about your best day (s) during your travelling?

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News

GOL, Crusaders For Peace End Audition For Selection Of Drummers And Traditional Dancers For Dubai Expo 2020

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 14:40:01 +0000

GOL, Crusaders For Peace End Audition For Selection Of Drummers And Traditional Dancers For Dubai Expo 2020

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admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 14:40

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

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Business – FrontPageAfrica

Original Article

GOL, Crusaders For Peace End Audition For Selection Of Drummers And Traditional…

MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), the National Investment Commission (NIC) and the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP) have ended a day auditioning for the selection of traditional dancers and drummers to represent the country at the upcoming Dubai 2020 expo.

Dubai Expo 2020 was scheduled as a World Expo to be hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It was originally scheduled for October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, the new dates are October 1 to March 31, 2022. About 190 countries will participate in the world event.

Liberia is expected to participate in the event in November 2021.

In preparedness of the world event, the government and the LCP conducted the selection of talented Liberian drummers and traditional dancers to not only participate in the event, but to also bring accolades back home and make the nation and its people proud.

Speaking shortly after the audition, the Deputy Minister for Cultural Affairs at MICAT, Lance Gbagonyon, commended the participants for forming a part of the event.

He disclosed that the decision by government and the LCP to conduct auditioning was intended to make the selection process open and participatory.

He noted that though all of those who participated in the process will not be accepted, the best would be selected to represent Liberia in Dubai.

Minister Gbagonyon urged the participants to exhibit a high degree of respect for one another as they get prepare to represent their country.

He maintained that the spirit of unity and nationalism should be the hallmark of the delegates as they set the world stage on fire while representing their country.

He, however, pledged government’s commitment and willingness to support its delegation to the world event.

“We call you here today to make the process more transparent. This is about teamwork and bringing proud to our country. You all were at your best here today. We are not the only ones that will decide your fate. Others will view your performances and you will be selected. Government does not have the resources to carry everybody”.

He encouraged those who may not be selected to represent the motherland during the auditioning to continue to turn out for the practice sessions in a bid to have them added to the delegation just in case of eventuality.

Minister Gbagonyon further stressed the need for new traditional dancers and others to be recruited on the national cultural troupe of Liberia to enable others serve their country through cultural activities and performances.

For her part, the Executive Director of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP), Madam Juli Endee, renewed calls for investment in the arts and entertainment industry of the country.

According to her, many hidden talents would be exposed if the sector is prioritized by national government and others.

She said Liberia would be placed on the world map again if keen attention is given to the arts and entertainment industry.

Madam Endee further stressed that Liberia’s delegation to Dubai will “shine and bring glory” to the nation and its people if government and other corporate entities provide the requisite support to the steering committee and the artists.

“I just want to thank you for what you have done. This is a way of showcasing certain part of our culture which is arts. I am very grateful and everybody was superb. Some of you here travelled with me to Libya, United States, Senegal-and I know that wherever we go, we always bring glory”.

She used the occasion to call on companies, concessionaries and others operating in the country to ensure the adequate representation of Liberia to the event by living up to their corporate social responsibilities.

“I know that if the government can invest in the arts; with the 190 countries in Dubai, Liberia will shine. We have organizations and companies here that have corporate social responsibilities; so imagine if you can support just two or three artists, the team will make the stage beautiful in Dubai”.

At the event, she disclosed that Liberia will change the Covid-19 era to opportunities for the benefit of the nation and its people.

She said the team performances will also encourage and send a clear message to foreign investors that Liberia is free, ready, safe and open for businesses.

She expressed the hope that Liberia’s performances at the event will also attract investment into eco-tourism in the post-conflict nation.

Madam Endee, however, named President George Manneh Weah as the Chief Sponsor of this year’s world event.

“We are appealing to international partners and the Government of Liberia to support these artists. It is not a long term; we are going for a week to come back”.

The post GOL, Crusaders For Peace End Audition For Selection Of Drummers And Traditional Dancers For Dubai Expo 2020 appeared first on FrontPageAfrica.

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ANALYSIS: Increasing protests in Africa about more than macroeconomics

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ANALYSIS: Increasing protests in Africa about more than macroeconomics

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This Month in the Security Council – September 2021

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This Month in the Security Council – September 2021

In the month of September, the Security Council conducted most of its work tin-person, while a few agenda remained virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our delegation continued to work closely in the “A3+1” configuration with our African brothers and sisters (Niger, Kenya, and Tunisia) on many country-specific and thematic issues.

1. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): The 76th session of the UNGA opened in September, with the annual General Debate taking place from 21 to 25 September and 27 September. This year, the theme of the General Debate was “Building resilience through hope – to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations”. It was conducted in a hybrid fashion, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Heads of State or Government elected to either deliver their statement live from the podium in the General Assembly Hall, or via pre-recorded statement. Prime Minister Dr. The Honorable Ralph E. Gonsalves’ pre-recorded statement was delivered on Saturday 25 September.

2. Afghanistan: The A3+1 remains deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation and highlighted the need for dialogue and participation of women, youth and ethnic minorities. We encouraged regional countries to enhance cooperation in order to create more stable conditions to promote peaceful settlement in Afghanistan and regional security. The A3+1 reiterated full support for the UN personnel deployed and efforts by neighbouring countries in hosting large numbers of Afghan refugees. Our delegations reiterated our unwavering solidarity with the people of Afghanistan during these uncertain times.

3. Climate Change: At a high-level Open Debate on Climate and Security SVG emphasized the need for the Security Council to address the security implications of climate change. We underscored that as the foremost way to avert climate-driven security risks is still significant mitigation action, major and historical emitters must honour their commitments made under the Paris Agreement and act to keep temperature rise to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels. SVG further emphasized that it is also crucial that developed countries meet Overseas Development Assistance commitments and provide greater support for climate adaptation and mitigation as part of a strategy to avert climate-related security risks. Scaled-up support to conflict-affected countries through concessionary loans, debt relief, and quick impact projects should also be provided to alleviate some of the challenges encountered.

4. The Situation in Libya: SVG maintained support for the United Nations multitrack process in Libya and the very important work of the African Union, the League of Arab States, the European Union and other international partners in advancing the political process. We also underscored the importance of respecting Libya’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Libya is expected to hold critical national parliamentary and presidential elections in approximately three months. Our delegation reiterated concern about the human rights situation, especially the challenges facing the most vulnerable, specifically refugees and migrants, internally displaced persons, youth, women and girls.

5. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): The A3+1 recognized the 25th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Treaty and reaffirmed our commitment to upholding the global norm against nuclear testing. The Caribbean and Africa have, through meaningful action and partnership, remained unwavering in our call for the total elimination and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing. Our delegations underscored that a world without nuclear weapons is fundamental for the fulfilment of the legitimate aspirations of humanity such as peace, security and development

Meetings were also held to discuss the situations in the Middle East (Israel/Palestine, Syria and Yemen) and Somalia, as well as United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Please visit svg-un.org for the full text of all statements and other updates.

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