Outrage as Faki and Ramaphosa muscle out competition for AU Chair’s position

At a time when the African continent is fully embracing democratic form of governance; at a time when coup leaders in Mali have been treated with zero tolerance by ECOWAS; and at a time when Africa needs it most, political competition for the person who leads the executive arm of the African Union has been stifled to leave one person running unopposed as the AU Commission Chairperson.

In an interview with DNT’s Diaspora Weekly, Yohannes Mezgebe, Leader of Ubuntu Leadership Institute, the organizers of the first every debate for the AU Commission Chairmanship contestants in 2016 laid the blame at the doorstep of the current Chairman of the African Union President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. “In his capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union,” Mezgebe said, “I would have expected him to follow President Kagame in demonstrating leadership to transform the organization.”

Rather, many observers are unanimous in their view that under Ramaphosa, the African Union has taken alarming steps backward and is becoming increasingly vulnerable to takeover from the highest foreign bidder. They believe Mossa Mahamat Faki is too inept and compromised to even be a candidate for AU Commission Chairperson let alone an unopposed candidate.

Advocate Sarfo Abebreseh was blunt in his assessment of Faki. “If he was just competent, I could understand it. But from the 17th floor on down to the ground floor of the AU Building in Addis Ababa, all the staff thinks he must go,” said Abebreseh also in an interview on DNT. Even some of the heads of state have reportedly referred to Faki as a ‘Dead Horse”.

Indeed the African Union Commission Staff Association in March accused their boss of “corruption, cronyism and a total collapse of leadership.” They said that the “AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat is involved in a “mafia-style” cartel that operates with impunity at the highest levels of the institution.” https://mg.co.za/article/2020-03-12-exclusive-a-mafia-style-cartel-is-running-the-african-union-claim-staff/

Yet the other four regions in Africa – Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Africa do not have candidates to compete with Central Africa’s Moussa Faki thanks to what observers call “Mafia dealings” behind the scenes led by current AU Chairman President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

To his credit, Ghana’s president Nana Akufo-Addo nominated former ECOWAS Chairman Ibn Chambas to represent the west only for the latter to withdraw his nomination under strange circumstances just 48 hours after his nomination.

An attempt by Zimabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa to nominate outspoken critic of France Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao to represent the southern region was stopped in its tracks by Ramaphosa who made it clear to Mnangagwa that he would not have his support as Chairman of AU.

Yet all other elected positions have multiple contestants. DNT is in possession of an AU Document listing all the candidates for all elected positions for the Commissions leadership and the Chairperson’s position is the only one without a single opposing candidate.

For the position of Deputy Chairperson, there are eight candidates – five women and three men. And with Faki running unopposed, the three men are wasting their time as candidates because per the AU charter, the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson cannot be of the same gender.

Many believe this alternate gender provision may be the reason why the incumbent, Ghana’s Kwesi Quartey who declared his interest to run for the number one position, has also been muscled out. All regions with the exception of Northern Africa, and Central because the incumbent Chairperson is from there, are represented in the contest for the Deputy Chair position.

The next position – Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development – sports 14 candidates covering four of the five regions with only Central not fielding a candidate. This means the incumbent, Sacko from Angola has 13 people – ten men and three women – vying for her position in keeping with the AU Charter.

For the position of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining the contestants are 16 including incumbent Zambia’s Albert Muchanga. Here again all regions are represented with the exception of Central Africa.

Education, Science, Technology and Innovation is an open field with 17 contestants representing all five regions but this time with no incumbent.

Egypt’s Amani Abou-Zeid is the incumbent in a filed of nine contestants vying for the position of Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner. All five regions are represented in this field.

Central is again the only region not represented as 15 contestants vy for the position of Political Affair, Peace and Security Commissioner with Burkina Faso’s Minate Samate as the incumbent.

Finally the position with the most contestants is the Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development. This position is an open field with all five regions fielding candidates.

We are preparing for the launch of the second phase of Africa Educates Her Campaign

In times of crisis or conflict, education is on the frontline. Everyone is affected but especially girls’ and women.

COVID-19 threatens the right of over 10 million African girls to education - these girls might never come back to school if we do not take action! Join us on the 11th of September for the launch of  Africa Educates Her Campaign, a continent-wide campaign to get African girls back to school post COVID19.

We are coming soon!!! 

Covid-19: Markets open from Tuesday to Saturday

 Unlike the three days set aside until today for sale in markets, during this period of the State of Public Calamity, these spaces will start operating, as of Wednesday (9 September) five days during the week, in sequence.

Thus, in the light of the new Presidential Decree on the extension of this period of isolation and social restrictions, the vendors are now authorised to sell, from Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and no longer only on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

According to the Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic, Adão de Almeida, Sundays and Mondays will be days of sanitization and/or spraying, and the markets should operate from 07h00 to 16h00, similarly to" hawkers. ".

When presenting the news of the third State of Calamity, to be in force for 30 days, the government official warned, in the press conference on the subject, that the use of the mask both for traders and buyers remains mandatory, under penalty of fines.

Covid-19: Churches in Luanda reopen this month

 Churches in Luanda province will reopen their doors to the faithful as of Tuesday 19 September, the Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic, Adão de Almeida, announced, Tuesday.

According to the minister, who was speaking at a press conference, masses should take place in just two days, namely on Saturdays and Sundays.

The celebrations, he said, should occur within the security parameters that the moment demands, with the mandatory use of the face mask and ventilation in the spaces, among other measures.

Covid-19: Angola reports 52 new infections and four deaths

 The health authorities have registered 52 new positive cases and four deaths in the last 24 hours.

FRANCO MUFINDA, STATE SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

Covid-19: Health ministry distributes more than 700 ventilators

 More than 700 ventilators, amongst invasive and non-invasive ones, have been installed in all hospitals and health centers designed to treat covid-19 in the country.

This was confirmed Tuesday in Luanda by minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, at
a press conference on the new measures of the new State of Public Calamity.

In addition to the ventilators installed, the Government still has a considerable number of this equipment to assemble or reinforce any deficits in hospitals.

The minister, who did not reveal the number of patients who are recovering with this equipment, said that the treatment strategy for patients has been changing, in recent times.

According to her, the invasive ventilators are used only for patients who are in critical situations.

With  52 new cases and four deaths in the last 24 hours, Angola has surpassed the barrier of three thousand infected, of which 1,215 recovered, 1,694 active and 124 deaths.

European Union supports Angola with USD 20 million

 The European Union (EU) will support the country with USD 20 million, to be applied in the fight against Covid-19 and diversification of the economy.

The information was provided Tuesday by Foreign Minister Teté António, in a statement to the press following the 5th Angola-European Union Ministerial Meeting, as part of the Joint Path programme, carried out by videoconference.

He said that the amount was in addition to the USD10 million already in the pipeline for the purchase of sanitary equipment and to mitigate other effects of the new coronavirus pandemic.

According to the minister, the parties will now work to implement this support, which in principle is guaranteed.

Teté António said that during the meeting it was also decided to hold a forum for European and Angolan businesspeople, as well as signing an investment agreement.

The European Union's plan to fight money laundering, which is part of the fight against corruption in Angola and the illicit flow of financial assets, were also discussed at the meeting.

Successful cooperation

The Secretary of State for the Economy, Mário Caetano João, said that as part of the "joint path" programme, a two million euro financing line was already being operational, of which one million euros had already been used in the areas of energy and good governance.

As part of the European Development Fund, he said, Angola was benefiting from over USD 130 million, which was applied to the agriculture and industry sectors.

"It is a cooperation that has good results and already lasts some time," he said, noting the introduction in the future cooperation package of the areas of digitalisation, environment and economic growth.

Covid-19: Motorists can drive without mask

 Luanda - Under the new period of the State of Public Calamity that Angolans are beginning to experience, as of midnight on Wednesday (9 September), drivers are free to wear or not to the face mask.

The deliberation was presented today, Tuesday, by the Minister of State and Head of the Civil House of the President of the Republic, Adão de Almeida, as he outlined, in a press conference, the prevailing new features of the continuity of that regime of isolation and social restrictions.

This new law is the result of the death of the doctor who was murdered by the police.

Covid-19: Education sector to conduct in-person assessment of students

 Angola’s minister of Education Luísa Grilo has announced in-person evaluation of students from the various educational subsystems this academic year, due to resume on October 5 countrywide.

The minister put out the word at the press conference on the rules of the new Presidential Decree on the Situation of Public Disaster on Tuesday.

Luísa Grilo announced plans to run face-to-face and semi-face-to-face model classes, starting with students in the second cycle of secondary and university education.
 

First cycle of Secondary Education and Primary Education classes go from October 26 until 31 March 2021, divided into groups of 30 students.

On alternate days, students who do not go to school will attend classes at a distance, via television and radio, and do their homework, she said.

Despite the cohabitation between in-person and distance learning system, the minister stressed that all assessments will be conducted at school.

However, she encouraged parents and guardians to take their children to schools, starting in October, so as not to lose evaluations.

"Parents are free whether or not to take their children to school. But the assessments will be in-person," said Minister Luísa Grilo, stressing her sector’s commitment to ensure biosafety conditions for education institutions.

Angola is the only country in the SADC region that has not yet reopened schools since March,  she said, calling for collaboration of the whole society.