Patrice Lumumba: DR Congo buries tooth of independence hero

 A ceremony is being held in the Democratic Republic of Congo to bury the gold-crowned tooth of independence hero Patrice Lumumba more than 60 years after he was assassinated.

It is the only part of his body that exists after his remains were dissolved in acid.

The Belgian policeman who oversaw the disposal took the tooth as a trophy.

It was returned to the family last week and has toured several parts of DR Congo in a coffin.

People have been able to pay their respects ahead of the funeral that is taking place in the capital, Kinshasa.

President Félix Tshisekedi, Lumumba’s family and other dignitaries are at the service which is taking place before the coffin is transferred to a specially built mausoleum.

Lumumba was the country’s first prime minister and one of the leaders of the struggle for independence. He was also seen as one of the most prominent voices in Africa’s anti-colonial movement.

Thursday marks 62 years since the former colonial power Belgium relinquished control of the vast country.

But it viewed Lumumba as a barrier to its efforts to maintain influence as well as hold on to important economic interests.

In a famous speech on independence day in 1960, in front of Belgian dignitaries including King Baudouin, Lumumba castigated Belgium saying that the Congolese had been held in “humiliating slavery”.

The Belgians were stunned as a black African had never dared speak like this in front of Europeans.

Lumumba was toppled as prime minister just over two months later. Then in January 1961, with the tacit backing of Belgium, he was shot by a firing squad, along with two allies.

Belgian policeman Gerard Soete kept the tooth in a padded box in his home in Belgium

A Belgian policeman, Gerard Soete, was given the job of getting rid of the evidence. It was during that process that he pocketed the tooth and took it back with him to Belgium.

It was decades later that he revealed that he still had the tooth and only two years ago that Belgium agreed that it should be returned to the family.

The Covid pandemic delayed the process but last week it was handed over in Brussels.

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Angola ex-president Dos Santos placed in coma – reports

 Angola’s immediate former president, José Eduardo dos Santos, is in an induced coma in a hospital in Barcelona, a Portuguese news agency is reporting.

“José Eduardo dos Santos is hospitalised in a clinic in Barcelona and is in a coma following a [relapse], after recovering from Covid-19,” said Portugal’s state-owned Lusa News Agency, which extensively covers developments in Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.

There has been increased speculation about Mr Dos Santos’ health, with Portuguese Expresso Newspaper describing his medical condition as “irreversible”.

Meanwhile, the former president’s daughter, Tchizé dos Santos, has criticised “those preparing his funeral”.

She also accused Angola’s President João Lourenço of politicising his father’s situation.

José Eduardo dos Santos served as the president of Angola from 1979 to 2017.

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Woman Made To Cook And Eat Human Flesh, Congo Group Tells U.N.

 

A Congolese woman was kidnapped twice by militants in the Democratic Republic of Congo, repeatedly raped and forced to cook and eat human flesh, a Congolese rights group told the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.

Julienne Lusenge, president of women’s rights group Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development (SOFEPADI), told the woman’s story while addressing the 15-member council about the conflict-torn east of Congo.

The U.N. Security Council was meeting for a regular briefing on Congo, where heavy fighting between the government and rebel groups since late May has sparked a surge in violence. read more

Lusenge said the woman was kidnapped by CODECO militants when she went to pay a ransom for another kidnapped family member. The woman told the rights group that she was repeatedly raped and physically abused. Then she said the militants slit a man’s throat.

“They pulled out his entrails and they asked me to cook them. They brought me two water containers to prepare the rest of the meal. They then fed all of the prisoners human flesh,” Lusenge told the Security Council, recounting the woman’s story.

Lusenge said the woman was released after a few days, but while trying to return home was kidnapped by another militia group whose members also repeatedly raped her.

“Again I was asked to cook and eat human flesh,” the woman, who eventually escaped, told SOFEPADI.

Lusenge did not name the second militant group during her council briefing. CODECO could not be reached for comment.

CODECO is one of several armed militias that have long been fighting over land and resources in Congo’s mineral-rich east – a conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions over the past decade.

Congo’s army has been locked in heavy fighting since late May with the M23 rebel group, which is waging its most sustained offensive since a 2012-2013 insurrection that seized vast swathes of territory.

U.N. peacekeepers have been deployed in Congo for more than 20 years.

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Sudanese killed in anti-military protests

 A Sudanese doctors’ union said a protester was killed during anti-military demonstrations on Wednesday in Khartoum Bahri, after security forces used excessive force.

“A martyr, who was not identified, has died after he was shot in the chest by the forces of darkness”, the Central Council of Sudanese Doctors (CCSD) said in a statement on Facebook.

The doctors said that the security forces “used excessive force, thinking they could silence the growing revolution”.

The CCSD said “this brings the death toll to 103”, as a result of the crackdown against the pro-democracy demonstrations prompted by the last October’s military coup.

Activists have planned another nationwide protest for Thursday to press for civilian rule.

Reports say authorities have already taken a number of measures ahead of the protests, including the deployment of security forces, closure of bridges, and a possible disconnection of the internet.

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Chad says $20m lost at state-owned hydrocarbons firm

 The authorities in Chad have said more than $20m (£16m) was allegedly embezzled from a state-owned hydrocarbons company.n

Information Minister Abderaman Koulamallah made the accusation on national television on Wednesday.

But a bank named in the alleged scandal has threatened to sue for defamation and has strongly denied any involvement in the transactions in question.

The minister – who is also the government spokesman – said “there was an investigation which led to the revelation of embezzlement at the Société des Hydrocarbures du Tchad”.

The government had appointed a new head and deputy two days before the announcement.

The former managers were arrested by the Chadian intelligence services.

The opposition party has asked for a change in the transition team governing the country following the death of President Idriss Déby in April last year.

On Tuesday, the UN World Food Programme warned that one in 10 Chadian children suffer from malnutrition. In June, the head of the transitional military council, Mahamat Déby Itno – son of the former president, declared a food emergency in the country.

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President discusses cooperation with Portuguese, Kenyan counterparts

Luanda - Bilateral cooperation was the main subject of talks on Monday between the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, and his counterparts from Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta.

President Joao Lourenço, who is in Lisbon to attend the International Conference on Oceans, also met the Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe, Jorge Bom Jesus.

During the talks, the Angolan statesman also discussed issues related to world politics, with emphasis on the conflicts in African countries, in particular, and in the world.

At the conference, which will run until July 1, world leaders are discussing how to conserve and use, in a sustained way, oceans, seas and marine resources for a development that does not harm the environment, nature and the planet.

Sonangol secures gas for future fertilizer factory

Soyo - Sonangol will supply around 76 million cubic feet of gas per day to the future Soyo Fertiliser Factory in northern Zaire province. 

The fact was revealed on Tuesday in Soyo by  Sonangol CEO, Sebastião Gaspar Martins, noting that the partnership was the result of an agreement signed in 2019 between the parties. 

He said that the volume of the supply, which would be for the first phase of operation of the factory, in four years time, could increase with the conclusion of the second phase of the unit. 

The manager, who was speaking at the ceremony to lay the first stone for construction of the fertilizer factory, noted that his company already supplied 75 million cubic feet to the Soyo Combined Cycle Power Plant. 

"This partnership emanates from Sonangol's strategic framework, in relation to the development of the gas industry in Angola," he noted. 

He highlighted the strategy of motorization of natural gas and its availability for the development of the industrial, stressing that work is being carried out with partners in the project to ensure that the subsequent stages are carried out, within the standards of quality, health, safety, environment and the established deadlines. 

The future fertilizer industrial complex in Soyo will produce 3,500 tons of granulated urea per day and 1.2 million tons per year. 

The Minister for Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, was responsible for laying the first stone for construction of the factory. 

Eni Angola to spend over 21 million Euros on health training

Luanda – At least 21.2 million Euros will be earmarked for the training of physicians, nurses and diagnostic and treatment technicians.

The amount, to be handed over to the Ministry of Health by Italian Eni Angola, will cover the specialised areas at secondary and tertiary healthcare levels. 

The agreement is part of a memorandum of understanding signed Monday in Luanda by the Minister of Health, Silvia Lutucuta and the director general of ENI Angola, Adriano Mongini.

The deal aims to launch, over three years, an international health capacity project at the Cardinal Dom Alexandre do Nascimento Cardio-Vascular Diseases Hospital Complex in Luanda. 

In November 2019, Eni Angola signed a memorandum of understanding with MINSA to improve the capacity to provide specialised medical services through collaboration between the Hospital Complex and other selected Hospitals in Angola with Italian research, care and training institutions. 

On 25 January 2022, MINSA requested Eni Angola to establish a specific training programme in the field of cardio surgery and hospital management, in cooperation with the Hospital Complex. 

The minister of Health Sílvia Lutucuta, recalled that training staff and specialised teams was one of the Angolan government's priorities for improving medical assistance to the population. 

The ceremony was attended by the Secretaries of State for the Hospital area and for Mineral Resources Leonardo Europeu and Jani Correia Victor, as well as Sonangol CEO, Sebastião Martins.

Angola beat Slovenia at handball world championship

Luanda – The Angolan junior women's handball team beat the hosts Slovenia 25-21 on Monday, in the round of 32 stage of the World Handball Championship of the category.

With this victory, Angola take an important step towards qualifying for the round of 16 phase, thus needing only a victory over Germany this Tuesday.

  

The Angolan ladies played a quiet game and managed to make the difference in the first minutes with six goals, while the hosts scored the first points just 11 minutes later.

 

Due to their defensive discipline and effective attack moves, the players coached by José Chuma were winning at half-time by 17-7.

 

In the second half, the Slovenians who were most affected, changed the flow of the game and started to lead the attacking tactics.

 

Despite being under pressure, Angola won the match by a difference of 4 goals (25-21).

 

The Angolan team will play again on Tuesday, with Germany.

 

In case Angola beat the opponent, the African squad will qualify for the round of 16 phase.

 

By being present at this stage of the world event, the continental champions have already improved the 19th place of the edition disputed in Hungary, in 2018, at a time when only 24 countries competed.

 

Angola are participating in this sports event with Domingas Mpangu, Cristina Miguel, Donana Epalanga, Tahany Castro, Liliane Mario and Roberta Lopes, Regina Marques, Lourdes Pedro, Marcia Manuel, Mbongo Masseu, Marcela Tati, Ruth Salgado, Dolores Rosário, Janeth Mutemeca, Stelvia Pascoal, Bernadeth Belo.

Angola’s Oceans Conference attendance positive - secretary of state

Lisbon – The Angolan multisectorial delegation had on Monday a “very positive” interaction in the first day of the discussions at the Oceans Conference, stressed the Angolan secretary of State for Environment, Paula Coelho.

According to the spokesperson of the Angolan delegation, Paula Coelho, Angola participated in the interactive panels, most of them focusing on the need to have specific legislation to fight common varieties of marine pollution.

 

“A general approach was made on issues related to food, microplastics, sustainable development and the possibility of what kind of food we are making”, stressed the official.

 

She went on to say that the interventions of countries and interactive dialogues will continue on Tuesday and are more linked to financing marine conservation projects.

 

The city of Lisbon, hosts until 01 July, the Conference on Oceans in which Angola is attending with a delegation headed by President João Lourenço.

 

The fight against marine pollution, management, protection, conservation and restoration of marine and coastal ecosystems, the minimizing of oceans acidification, deoxygenation and warming and promoting sustainable fisheries are among the goals to be pursued by the United Nations.

 

Among the measures, it also included scientific knowledge and development of marine technology research, the effective observation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and promotion of sustainable ocean-based economies.

 

The first United Nations Conference on Oceans took place five years ago in New York, but only in 2021 during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow, it was possible to introduce ocean in the articles of the final declaration, thus representing an advance compared to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. 

 

The conference plenary will be held daily at the Altice Arena (Lisbon) and will feature eight interactive dialogues throughout the week.

 

Alongside the plenary sessions and these dialogues, the Conference programme also has on schedule hundreds of side events.

 

These side events include the high level forums on Local Governance, Youth and Innovation, a Symposium and a sustainable Blue Economy panel.

Tunisia’s top union calls another general strike

Tunisia’s most powerful union has called for a second general strike in protest at government economic policies.

The UGTT has about a million members, and its last nationwide strike earlier this month brought the north African country to a standstill.

The Tunisian government is preparing to negotiate a loan with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to save public finances from bankruptcy.

The union, which represents many public sector workers, has said it will refuse to accept IMF demands for a wage freeze and cuts in food and energy subsidies.

No date has yet been set for the strike.

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African fund promises $3bn for vaccine self-sufficiency

Some $3bn (£2.4bn) will be invested over the next 10 years to end vaccine dependency across the continent, the Africa Development Bank (ADB) has pledged.

The plan incudes a new pharmaceutical centre for research, development and manufacturing based in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.

It has been widely lauded as key towards ending Africa’s dependence on outside donations, as recently witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic

ADB say it will also help patent and license African-made medicines, and support governments to navigate the intellectual property rights to global vaccines and medicines.

It follows a recent World Trade Organisation announcement of a partial waiver on coronavirus vaccine patents, allowing select developing countries to produce the jabs.

ADB says Africa currently imports more than 70% of all its medicines, spending about $14bn every year.

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Human Trafficking: Ghana Police Service Rescue 9 Victims On Lake Volta

The Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare have rescued nine trafficked victims from Yeji in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region.

The joint operation rescued four adult men and five boys from exploitation on the portion of the Volta Lake in Yeji.

Two of the four adult victims were trafficked 20 years ago and were said to have been brought to work on the lake at ages three and five respectively and the youngest of the five boys arrived less than a year ago.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema after the rescue mission, Mr Kojo Owiredu Kissi, Coordinator, Media and Communications, International Justice Mission (IJM), an anti-human trafficking not-for-profit organization in Ghana, said an operation by the two institutions led to the rescue of the victims in Yeji.

He indicated that the rescue process was owned and led by government partners from the Ghana Police Service and Department of Social Welfare with technical and logistical support from IJM Ghana.

Mr Kissi expressed heartfelt gratitude to the two institutions for their dedication and unflinching support towards ending human trafficking on the Volta Lake adding that, “they must be commended because this rescue was successful due to their dedication and collaborative efforts and outstanding work.”

Mr Kissi said six of the victims have been reintegrated and are currently at home with their families where they would be supported to go back to school or undertake vocational skills while three of them were in a shelter home.

He noted that the master, now a suspect, recruited the young children to work on the Lake for fishing.

Mr Kissi said the suspect controlled every aspect of the lives of the children adding that they were not allowed to play or associate with anybody outside of the suspect’s family and would be punished violently if they did.

He said anyone outside of the suspect’s family who tried to interact with the children would also be subject to violence, “if the children begin to develop relations with neighbours, they would be sent to more remote islands to ensure their isolation.”

Mr Kissi stated that the only movement the children were allowed to engage in was between the suspect’s house and his boat, noting that they were responsible both for housework and fishing on the lake.

He said the victims were identified to have been trafficked from the Volta and Bono Regions.

Source: GNA

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Why Rwanda-DR Congo spat is disrupting school

Rwandan students studying in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo are facing security threats arising from the ongoing spat between the two neighbouring countries.

DR Congo accuses Rwanda of backing the Congolese M23 rebels and has recently halted all trade and cooperation agreements. Rwanda denies the allegations.

The situation at the border is still tense and this is now causing concerns, with some parents worried for their children studying across the border.

Some students have told the BBC that they risk being targeted for who they are and this has had an impact on their education.

“I live in Rubavu and study medicine just across the border in Goma. When the protests started they chased Rwandese. The director [of my college] said those that have families in Goma can stay in school and those of us who study while crossing back to Rwanda should return home immediately,” a Rwandese student told the BBC.

A parent whose children study in DR Congo told the BBC that there was initially no problem with them studying in Goma and returning to Rwanda “but now we are very concerned”.

The mayor of Rubavu, Ildephonse Kambogo, said Rwanda has cautioned its citizens to observe their safety as a priority and reduce unnecessary travel across the border.

The exact number of Rwandan students studying in Goma is not known but there are thought to be many.

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Women Cannot Be Born With A Penis – Says Boris Johnson

British Prime minister, Boris Johnson has welcomed the decision to ban transgender women from competing in women’s swimming, saying women cannot be born with a penis.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that he supports FINA’s bar on transgender athletes who have gone through male puberty from competing in women’s events. The international swimming federation announced that it was changing its policies so that transgender women can only compete in the organisation’s female races if they have completed their transition by the age of 12.

Instead, an ‘open category’ will be set up for transgender athletes to compete against one another at events, including the World Aquatics Championships, World Swimming Championships, and the Swimming World Cup.

Asked about FINA’s ban, Mr. Johnson said: ‘I haven’t studied it in detail but I see no reason to dissent.’

After having the policy summarised to him, he added: ‘That follows from what I’ve previously said.’

Mr. Johnson was also asked if a woman can be born with a penis, amid a debate in some quarters about anatomy and gender.

‘Not without being a man, that’s my view about that,’ the Prime Minister replied.

Speaking to reporters travelling with him during his visit to Rwanda, he was asked if he thinks there is a difference between being a woman and a trans woman.

After pausing to think he said: ‘Yes.’

He added: ‘Look it’s very, very important that as a society we should be as understanding of everybody else as possible. I’ve always stood for that.

‘When you start to move from issues of sexuality to issues of gender you start to raise particular problems.

‘I think I’ve spoken of three concerns I’ve had in the past. They are to do with the age at which you can (become) Gillick competent to transition, the question of safe spaces for women, and the difficulties you have in sporting competitions.

‘These are all very difficult problems and you have to be very, very sensitive.’

LGBT charity Stonewall criticised the line of questioning, suggesting the Prime Minister would welcome it as a ‘distraction’ from the political turmoil.

Campaigns associate director Sasha Misra said: ‘The real question that should be on the nation’s lips is this: at a time when we are living through multiple national crises, why are journalists squandering valuable interview time by asking the Prime Minister leading questions about a tiny, vulnerable minority?

‘We know that the majority of the public feel supportive and compassionate towards trans people, who are their family, friends and neighbours.

‘All that is achieved by this kind of media coverage is that trans people feel less safe in their day to day lives, and the public has less opportunity to hear from the government on the pressing political matters of the day.

‘The Prime Minister might welcome the distraction, but he should not be fooled into thinking that anti-trans talking points will win votes.’

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Stocks Extend Bear Market Bounce As Inflation Angst Eases

World shares extended their bounce on Monday, building on Friday’s strong Wall Street close as off-peak oil prices helped sentiment improve and temper fears of prolonged inflation.

Strong morning gains in Europe and a rally across Asian markets after China further eased COVID-19 restrictions drove the MSCI’s benchmark for global stocks (.MIWD00000PUS) up for a third straight session, rising 0.5% by 0851 GMT.

Investors hope the oil prices slide from three-month peaks hit earlier in June could ease price pressures and allow the U.S. Federal Reserve to tighten policy less aggressively than initially feared, reducing the risk of an economic recession.

“We think there are more chances of seeing oil prices going lower simply because of easing demand from the U.S., Europe and China due to the slowdown in the economy. This in turn should help reduce expectations on inflation at least for the very end of this year,” said Jérôme Schupp, fund manager at Prime Partners in Geneva.

“The next Fed meeting in July will be quite important. We should see the Fed continue to hike rates, probably by 75 basis points. But more crucial will be the new message from (Fed Chair Jerome) Powell. Maybe he’ll say they’re happy with the new level of rates,” added Schupp.

Despite the strong three-day rebound which has helped the MSCI world benchmark distance further above the November 2020 lows hit earlier this month, the index remains down more than 20% from its record-high close in January, a fall that is commonly described as a bear market.

Traders said oversold market conditions and month-end portfolio rebalancing also contributed to the bounce, although they expected more volatility ahead as the second-quarter earnings seasons approaches.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares (.MIAP00000PUS) rose 1.6%. Beijing said on Saturday it would allow schools to resume in-person classes and Shanghai’s top party boss declared victory over COVID-19 after the city reported zero new local cases for the first time in two months.

The pan-regional STOXX 600 (.STOXX) benchmark added more than 1% as the easing in China restrictions boosted oil stocks and miners. Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures extended their gains with S&P 500 e-minis gaining around 0.6%.

Oil was volatile as the market grappled with concerns over an economic slowdown versus worries about lost Russian supply amid sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.

Brent prices rose 0.2% to $113.36 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures dipped 0.1% at $107.52.

U.S. 10-year Treasury yields stood just above 3% as traders removed bets for hikes next year but still pondered about aggressive tightening this year. They were up 2 basis points at 3.16%, off an 11-year high reached earlier this month.

“The market remains focused in the trade-off between the policy response to high inflation and fears of a hard landing,” Westpac rates strategist Damien McColough wrote in a note.

“There will be ongoing discussions as to whether long-end yields have peaked, however, we would not yet expect 10-year yields to fall materially or sustainably below 3%,” he added.

The dollar continued to consolidate near the lowest since the middle of the month against major peers, as traders reassessed the prospects of aggressive rate hikes.

The dollar index – which measures the currency versus six rivals – was down 0.2% at 103.82.

Gold rose 0.7% higher to $1,838.8 per ounce, supported by news of some Western nations planning to officially ban imports of the metal from Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Bitcoin was flat, trading at $21,170.88 after falling as low as $17,588.88 earlier this month.

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Commonwealth makes us forward-looking – Kagame

 The Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting has officially opened in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali.

The host, President Paul Kagame, who takes over chairmanship of the 54-nation group that represents a third of the world’s population, said it is values that define its membership.

These include good governance, rule of law and protection of rights.

Hosting the event has brought his own government under sharp criticism over its human rights record.

“Whenever we might fall short, we find solutions through consensus and dialogue,” he told the gathering, “we build each other up and move forward together.”

He said the country had come a long way since the genocide of 1994, in which more than 800,000 people were killed. “But today we are a nation transformed in heart, mind and body,” he added.

Much of the Commonwealth brings together countries that were part of the British Empire but has increasingly included others like Rwanda.

President Kagame said joining the organisation was aimed at making sure “our people are connected, included and forward-looking”.

Gabon – a former French colony – is set to be admitted to the body during this meeting.

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MPLA's President accuses opposition of delaying manoeuvres

 Saurimo - The President of MPLA, Joao Lourenço, accused the opposition of resorting to several delaying tactics in an attempt to overthrow his party.

Joao Lourenço was speaking at a mass political event in the outskirts of Saurimo, which brought together more than 50,000 people, including militants, supporters and friends of the party.

He urged the militants and supporters to work hard to ensure the victory of the party in the elections on 24 August.

He said the opposition had not succeeded in overthrowing the ruling MPLA for 27 consecutive years by force of arms or through elections, even if they had resorted to unimaginable alliances.

"They made the worst alliances imaginable, even to the Apartheid regime that oppressed Africans, our Angolan opposition had the nerve to ally itself with it, but they did not win," the MPLA leader said.

According to Joao Lourenço, the opposition concluded that by fighting individually against MPLA it would not come to power and "now they have decided to get together and have emptied some parties".

Railway

The president of MPLA announced, in this rally the construction of a new railway line that will link Benguela and Saurimo, capital of the province of Lunda-Sul.

He said that, as it is going to be done with the construction of the Luacano branch line to Zambia, the connection of the Benguela Railroad to Saurimo could be perfectly solved through studies. The Benguela Railroad is the main one of the three in the country (the others are the Luanda and Moçâmedes Railroads).

He said that the government was already working on this possibility, "we believe that, at the beginning of the mandate, we will have good news about the possibility of starting the works for the connection of Saurimo to the Benguela Railroad".

Joao Lourenço also announced the conclusion, in August 2023, of the rehabilitation works of National Road 230 (EN-230), which links the coast to the province of Lunda-Sul.

The leader of the ruling party noted that the government was also committed to rebuilding other roads to make the link between municipalities and neighbouring provinces easier, notably the Saurimo/Dala/Moxico and Saurimo/Lucapa sections.

He stressed that for this to become a reality, it is necessary for the MPLA to remain in power. "Only the MPLA is the one that thinks seriously in the resolution of the big problems of the people".

University Campus of Saurimo

He also spoke of the construction of a University Campus in the city of Saurimo, whose laying of the first stone was done a few days ago, by the Minister of Higher Education, as well as a Geoscientific Centre (to study the mineral resources of the country), which will generate more jobs for the youth.

He said that the Government is committed to creating jobs in that region of the country, in order to make the best use of the enormous mineral resources that this part of the national territory has.

Governance transparency

With a standing ovation, the MPLA leader recalled that since the beginning of its mandate, the Government had sought to ensure transparency in governance, in general, and in particular in the diamond mining sector. He recalled that the government had put an end to the monopoly on the sale of diamonds.

He made it known that, currently, investors who own diamond producing mines are free to market, themselves, a large percentage of what they produce and the rest they sell to SODIAM, which is a public company.

The MPLA leader recalled that, before, they were obliged to sell everything to SODIAM "and, as if that were not enough, SODIAM also had an exclusive client".

He said that his government was there to serve the majority and "not half a dozen people who think they have more rights than the 30 million Angolans".

On the subject of transparency, he said that articles often appeared "in the national and international press" about the lack of transparency in the diamond sector, particularly with regard to company shareholders.

In this regard, he said that the country had taken the initiative to join an international organisation called the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Angola was recently admitted, in Brussels, Belgium, to be part of this Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative family.

According to President João Lourenço, this is a very important step that the country has just taken in order to give more transparency to the diamond, oil, gas, iron, gold and copper businesses, among others.

Elections 2022: CNE invites foreign observers

 Luanda - National Electoral Commission (CNE) will invite nine international entities to observe the general elections in Angola, scheduled for 24 August, 2022.

The decision emerged from the CNE plenary held on Friday,  stating that the entities to be invited are those from  the African Union (AU), European Union (EU),  Southern African Development Community (SADC), Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries ( CPLP) and Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

The invitation is also extensive to the other institutions such as Carter Center,  SADC Electoral Forum, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGR) and the Conferences of African Jurisdictions, according to CNE spokesperson Lucas Quilundo.

He said that the CNE plenary also approved the date of 24 June, for the beginning of the invitations of electoral observation.

He recalled that, under the terms of the law, the President of the Republic and the CNE are the only entities with their own competence to issue invitations to institutions and personalities as international observers.

The spokesperson explained that election observation, as an activity, starts 30 days before the scheduled election date, that is, the 24th of July, and the process of requesting requests for observation must take place 30 days before the election campaign. .

Recently, the CNE set a limit of 2,000 national observers for the August 24 general elections.

On the other hand, Lucas Quilundo said that once the mapping of polling stations is completed, which will determine the number of polling stations to be installed nationwide, the recruitment of people who will work on election day will begin.

He added that after the mapping is completed, the process of accreditation of other electoral agents will begin, namely, the delegates on the list of political parties.

As for the early vote, he explained that the members of the plenary rejected its implementation in these general elections, as it imposes significant challenges in logistical terms, given the lack of time.

Angola will hold the fifth general elections, to choose the President of the Republic and the MPs.