Central African bloc suspends Gabon over coup

 The Central African regional bloc, known as Eccas, says it has suspended Gabon’s membership in response to last week’s coup.

Earlier on Monday the coup leader, Gen Brice Oligui Nguema, was sworn in as transitional president.

He seized power just after Ali Bongo was declared to have won a third term as president. He has not given a time frame for returning the country to civilian rule.

As leaders from central Africa sat around the table and decided to suspend Gabon because of the coup, there may have been a few moments of self-reflection.

Hosting the meeting was Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo who said neighbouring Gabon was a threat to peace, security and stability in the region.

The president of Equatorial Guinea is now 81 and has been in power since 1979.

His family – like that of Ali Bongo in Gabon – has been accused of large-scale looting of state resources and severe oppression of the opposition.

He is possibly not the only African leader who has stayed in power for ages and is a little jumpy at the word “coup”.

Source: BBC

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Heads of state and government attend Climate Summit

 Nairobi – Various presidents and heads of government from African countries, including Angola, are attending the first African Climate Summit today in Kenya’s capital.

The President of Angola, João Lourenço, is being represented by the Vice-President, Esperança da Costa, who is already at the event venue, to participate in the high-level segment of this Summit, organized by the government of Kenya and the African Union.

At the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), the arrivals of the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, the President of the European Union, Ursula Von, representatives of the African Union and other bodies of the United Nations system were also confirmed.

African countries, in this high-level session, will outline a new climate finance architecture, following defaults by industrialized countries.

In the high-level segment of the African Climate Summit, which brings together heads of State and Government, the African Union, among other partners, countries will create the conditions for the "Global Climate Agenda".

In this session, in which some heads of State and Government will speak, including Angola, the Nairobi Declaration and high-level statements from member states and guests will be adopted.

Running under the theme “Driving green growth and climate finance solutions for Africa and the world”, the summit focuses on showcasing innovative green growth and climate financing solutions in Africa and the world.

NE/VM/CF/jmc

Angola calls for a balanced global partnership

 Nairobi - Angola’s Vice President Esperança da Costa defended Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya, the promotion of a fairer and more balanced global partnership, as part of the challenges of climate change.

Speaking at the African Climate Summit, on behalf of the Angolan Head of State João Lourenço, the Vice President stated that investments in climate projects in Africa benefit Member States and contribute to global climate stability.

Addressing a forum, which brings together several Heads of State and Government from African countries, the Angolan leader recalled that climate change has caused considerable damage and losses in several States on the continent.

"Africa has been strongly affected by multiple global shocks", said Esperança da Costa, adding that such occurrences have a negative impact on the implementation of different national programmes and the achievement of sustainable development goals.

Angola gives priority to climate

Under the international commitments assumed by Angola, the Vice President noted that issues regarding climate change are among the priorities of the Angolan Executive and pointed to the National Development Plan (PDN) 2022/2027 as an example.

The aforementioned programme defines as priorities family farming, local development, adaptation to climate change, education, health and the greater development of human capital.

The strategy also includes the creation of jobs, modernisation and expansion of road, port and industrial hub infrastructures, within the framework of economic diversification and sustainable growth.

In her speech, Esperança da Costa noted that Angola is “fully committed” to the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

She stated that in line with the aforementioned Convention, the country has developed policies and action programmes, such as the National Strategy for Climate Change 2022-2035.

This is an issue that aims to respond to the challenges proposed by the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal.

Angola shares initiatives at the Summit

The Vice President shared several initiatives linked to the energy transition and clean renewable energy programme underway in the country.

Esperança da Costa spoke about solar panel projects being implemented in the country and which are contributing to reducing the impact of carbon dioxide emissions by around 935, 000 tons per year.

The Angolan Government's commitment is to reach the target of 70 percent renewable sources by 2025.

"The path that is being followed is long", stated the Vice-President of the Republic, for whom environmental challenges and sustainable production place Angola in the African alignment.

Another initiative shared by the Vice President was the construction of the Cafu Canal, in the southern region of the country, an infrastructure estimated at 130 million dollars.

The infrastructure is bringing water to populations and livestock affected by the drought, as well as allowing the resumption of agriculture in the region.

The African Climate Summit aims to identify durable solutions that respond to global climate-related challenges on the continent.  NE/AL/ADR/NIC