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The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced Canada’s contribution of $15 million to the UN Peacebuilding Fund while co-chairing the virtual UN Peacebuilding Fund Replenishment Conference, along with the UN Secretary-General, Germany, Sierra Leone and Sudan.

Canada has consistently been among the top donors of the Fund since its inception in 2006. Our support empowers UN entities, local governments, regional organizations, financial institutions and civil society and helps prevent conflict and build peace in fragile states. This includes dialogue and reconciliation, improving human rights protections, justice and security sector reform, and demobilization and reintegration of combatants.
The contributions of Canada and other member states help underpin these efforts through predictable, sustained funding.

“Despite financial challenges, we must do better to prevent conflict and build peace by addressing tensions and injustice before the result in violence. We cannot afford to wait. Canada’s leadership at the UN Peacebuilding Commission and with the UN Peacebuilding Fund helps advance inclusive approaches to better prevent conflict, as well as build and sustain peace.” &#8211; Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts
To date, Canada has contributed over $86 million to the Fund since its inception in 2006, placing Canada consistently among the top ten donors. In 2019-20, Canada contributed more than $165 million toward peace and stability in more than 30 fragile countries. This funding helped support mediation, transitional justice and inclusive peace processes. As the 2020 Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission, Canada has advocated for sustained and predictable resources to be dedicated to countries’ peacebuilding priorities. The Peacebuilding Fund places great importance on gender equality, and engaging women and youth throughout its work. The Fund also plays a crucial role in the UN’s shift towards prevention, the UN’s comprehensive response to COVID-19, and integrating work by development, human rights, peace and security partners. Canada will continue to advocate for concrete action and commitments from UN Member States, as well as partners such as the World Bank and civil society.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs announces Canada’s contribution to the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund

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The international community must do more to save lives of refugees taking risky routes towards the Mediterranean, warns UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, releasing today its 2021 strategic action plan and related funding appeal for this situation.

Deeply worried about escalating conflicts and displacement in the Sahel, the new displacement in the East and Horn of Africa, increased sea arrivals to the Canary Islands and no less than 1,064 deaths recorded in the Central and Western Mediterranean in 2020 alone, UNHCR is seeking just over US$100 million to enhance refugee protection in African countries en route to the Mediterranean. Offering safe and viable alternatives to the perilous journeys marred by abuse and deaths is the critical priority.
Violence in the Sahel has now forced an estimated 2.9 million people to flee. With no prospects for peace and stability in the region, further displacement is highly likely. Facing protracted displacement, dire conditions in neighbouring host countries where they sought shelter, the continued economic impact of the COVID pandemic and a lack of viable alternatives, many continue to attempt risky sea journeys to Europe. Risks of trafficking and abuses, such as kidnap for ransom, forced labour, sexual servitude and gender-based violence at the hands of traffickers and gangs, are very likely to continue.
“We hear harrowing first-hand accounts of brutality and abuses that refugees and migrants suffer along the routes towards the Mediterranean. Many fall prey to traffickers and smugglers and are abused, extorted, raped, and sometimes killed or left to die,” said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR’s Special Envoy for the Central Mediterranean Situation.
“Many of these people flee violence and persecution and have dire and urgent protection needs. It is critical that they receive life-saving support and protection in the countries to which they initially flee.”
UNHCR’s strategy seeks to increase outreach, identification and assistance to refugees along the route, as well as enhance access to education and livelihoods in countries of asylum. Priority is also given to protection assessments for those in remote locations, and to increased cash-based assistance to vulnerable refugees in urban settings.
To mitigate the resort to dangerous journeys on land and sea, UNHCR is appealing to States to strengthen safe and legal pathways for refugees, including through family reunification, and by enhancing the use of the two Emergency Transit Mechanisms in Rwanda and Niger for those evacuated from Libya so as to facilitate solutions. In response to reported abuses, UNHCR also aims to broaden the support and services for survivors and facilitate better access to justice. Additional efforts to inform and alert populations on the move about the risks of onward movements and services available locally will be also ramped up.
In 2021 UNHCR hopes to identify and assist more refugees along these routes and in host countries and to strengthen access and delivery of protection for survivors of abuses.
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As Sub-Saharan crises force more to flee, UNHCR calls for stronger Mediterranean route response

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Active cases: 128 New cases: 4 New tests: 122 Total confirmed: 4,012 Recovered: 3,753 (+26) Deaths: 128 (+0)
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Coronavirus – Gambia: COVID-19 update (26 January 2021)

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As of 26th January, 2021, in the last 24 hrs we recorded 1,476 new cases (out of 11,683 tests) and 1,723 recoveries. On a sad note, we recorded 12 new deaths [MTSRIP].
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Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (26 January 2021)

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141 people have tested positive to the disease, out of a sample size of 3,571 tested in the last 24 hours. The total confirmed positive cases are now 100,193. The cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,162,491.

87 cases are from Nairobi, Kilifi 8, Kwale 7, Taita Taveta 6, Siaya 5, Nyeri 4, Uasin Gishu 3, Kericho 3, Mombasa 3, Nakuru 3, Garissa 2, Turkana 2, Kiambu 2, Kisumu 2, Machakos 1, Makueni 1, Murang’a 1 and Bungoma 1.

207 patients have recovered from the disease. 192 are from the Home-Based Isolation and Care while 15 are from our various facilities. The total recoveries now stand at 83,625.

6 patients have lost their lives pushing our cumulative fatalities to 1,750. Our sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those that have lost their loved ones.

500 patients are admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 1,340 are on Home Based Isolation and Care. 25 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit, 14 of whom are on ventilatory support and 10 on supplemental oxygen. 1 patient is under observation.

17 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 10 of them in the general wards and 7 in the High Dependency Unit.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (26 January 2021)

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Daily: Laboratory test: 6,342 Severe cases: 219 New recovered: 549 New deaths: 4 New cases: 437

Total: Laboratory test: 1,930,478 Active cases: 11,744 Total recovered: 120,748 Total deaths: 2,075 Total cases: 134,569
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Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (26 January 2021)

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1,303 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

Lagos-478 FCT-211 Nasarawa-83 Rivers-72 Kwara-42 Edo-36 Ondo-34 Benue-32 Kaduna-32 Katsina-26 Plateau-26 Kano-25 Taraba-25 Osun-22 Delta-21 Oyo-21 Niger-19 Sokoto-18 Ebonyi-17 Ekiti-14 Gombe-13 Ogun-12 Bauchi-11 Zamfara-8 Borno-4 Jigawa-1
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Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (26 January 2021)

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More than 30 local chiefs residing in Malakal town or in the peacekeeping mission’s protection of civilians site in that Upper Nile city have learnt valuable conflict management skills and skills to promote reconciliation and social cohesion in and between their communities.

“Social cohesion is the product of a reconciliation period that can be difficult. It may involve addressing anger, a desire for justice and the suppression of sorrow and fear, not to mention the acceptance of losses. For outsiders, it may be a repetitive and tiring process, but patience and tolerance are vital,” one traditional leader said at the conclusion of the two-day workshop, organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
By learning more about such mechanism, it is hoped that traditional leaders will become agents of peace, and better equipped to resolve minor disputes in and between communities on their own, and in an amicable way.
“Our approach when we discuss these sensitive topics is to break down conflicts and their implications in everyday life on different levels: for an individual, a family, a community or even a nation,” says Mohammed Abdi, a civil affairs officer serving with the peacekeeping mission.
“I think what we have seen and understood here is the power of healthy responses to resolve conflicts, like a readiness to forgive and move forward without resentment and anger. It works better than withholding love and engaging in rejection, isolation and shaming,” pondered a second traditional leader.
While there was a general consensus among participants that they themselves can act in positive ways that will make a difference, external and potentially conflict-inducing factors were also mentioned, not least by Deng Lual, a paramount chief in Akoka County.
“The state and national governments must speed up the appointment of a governor for Upper Nile State. Many minor differences and tensions felt in the region can be attributed to the lack of local government,” he said.
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Traditional leaders in Malakal trained on conflict management and reconciliation processes

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Health Minister Lizzie Nkosi announces 24 new COVID-19 deaths in Eswatini, taking total deaths to 517. &#8220;May their souls rest in peace.&#8221;

New cases: 208 Total cases: 14 830 Active cases: 4563 New recoveries: 148 Total recoveries: 9542 New deaths: 24 Total deaths: 517
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Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (26 January 2021)

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New cases: 843 Total active cases: 13,075 Lost to follow-up: 134 Total number of tests conducted: 132,915 (2,562 new) Total confirmed cases: 20,830 Total recovered: 7,005 (225 new) Outcome under investigation: 76 Total deaths: 540 (22 new)
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Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (26 January 2021)

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Supersapiens (www.Supersapiens.com) and Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com), Africa’s only UCI-registered WorldTour cycling team, are proud to announce they will be partnering for the 2021 race season.

Supersapiens, the first direct-to-consumer energy management ecosystem, utilizes the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, the first glucose sport biosensor designed specifically for athletic performance, to help the team manage their fueling strategies in training, racing, and recovery.
“Beyond the team’s incredible success over the last decade, we are inspired by their core mission — the Qhubeka organization’s vision to change lives through bicycles is in line with our own purpose,” said Phil Southerland, CEO and Founder of Supersapiens. “We’re thrilled to work with this team to incorporate feedback from these incredibly talented riders who will be utilizing our product at the highest level of the sport.” 
For any athlete, energy management is key to success. With the Supersapiens app paired to the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, Team Qhubeka ASSOS riders and staff will learn and train with real-time fueling data and powerful retrospective analysis tools. Continuous glucose monitoring will allow team riders to better understand their body’s individual fueling requirements, discover stable and sustainable fuel sources, dial in their pre-race glucose loading strategy, and maintain their optimal fuel ranges during races — allowing their body to put out it’s maximum effort without concern for running out of energy.
“Our team name Qhubeka means ‘to progress’ or ‘to move forward’ in Nguni,” said Doug Ryder, team founder and principal. “Not only will our team be focused on raising funds to purchase bicycles that will be used to improve lives, our partnership with Supersapiens also gives us new insight to better glucose management. This information and what we learn, will be shared with the company and improve performance for athletes around the world. All of this is true progression.” 
Team Qhubeka ASSOS will also kick off an affiliate program with Supersapiens. Using this link, athletes in the eight countries where Supersapiens is available can purchase the ecosystems and a portion of the sales will support the team and their mission to improve lives via bicycles. 
“We all know the consequences of poor fueling. Low or unstable glucose levels can cause an array of physiological and performance degradations, ranging from impaired judgment, to loss of power or speed, all the way down to completely depleted energy stores,” said Team Qhubeka ASSOS team sport scientist Elliot Lipski. “Working with Supersapiens will help us to train and race better as well as empower more athletes around the world to do the same.” 
The Supersapiens ecosystem includes the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, the Supersapiens app, and a wrist wearable device in the final stages of development that displays data from the biosensor in real time. The app continuously tracks glucose data and allows athletes to create Events — workouts or races, meals, and rest — so they can correlate specific glucose levels with their body’s physiological performance during racing, training, and recovery. And the Education Hub (https://bit.ly/2KQNx35) offers deep and insightful information to help athletes better understand glucose and the impact it has on performance, so anyone can learn how to optimize fueling for sustained performance.
The Supersapiens ecosystem powered by Abbott Libre Sense is now available in Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Learn more about the full line of Superaspiens products and purchase the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor at www.Supersapiens.com.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Supersapiens: Supersapiens (www.Supersapiens.com) is an Atlanta-based sports technology company focused on energy management systems to support sustained peak performance. Supersapiens empowers athletes to show up to the starting line optimally fueled, manage in-race fueling to sustain peak performance, and adequately refuel and recover.
The Supersapiens ecosystem, including the Abbott Libre Sense Glucose Sport Biosensor, is not available for sale in the U.S. at this time.
About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka (www.Qhubeka.org) is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.
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Supersapiens and Team Qhubeka ASSOS Announce Partnership

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James Chester, Senior Director.

A lot has changed in the past year. One thing that has remained constant is the state of stasis of South Africa’s new petroleum code.
Earlier this month, Africa Intelligence reported (https://bit.ly/3pn2MzH) in a headline: ‘Total makes development of block 11B/12B conditional on publication of Petroleum Bill.” The statement once again brings into focus South Africa’s need to create dedicated petroleum legislation, and the country’s lack of a clear position on natural gas.
Brulpadda and the New Petroleum Code
Total first tried to drill the Brulpadda prospect in 2014, and was held back by difficult deepwater conditions. In February 2019, the operator drilled again and struck gas condensate. Last year, in October, more deep-sea gas condensate was discovered at the Luiperd prospect. With two discoveries in block 11B/12B, Total and its partners Qatar Petroleum, CNRI and Africa Energy (via consortium Main Street) decided to move forward with discussions with government (https://bit.ly/3qZEQmH) on commercializing the gas. The partners are now in their third renewal period for exploring the acreage, set to expire September 2022.
Currently, oil and gas activities in South Africa are carried out under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), which came into force in 2004. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), under Minister Gwede Mantashe, plans to regulate oil and gas separately to mining, with the new Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill.
As the bill reached the community consultation stage in 2020, the pandemic struck, freezing the progress of the legislation. However, in a statement to AOP on 25 January, the DMRE said: “The Department has concluded consultations with interested and affected parties and will be processing the Bill for onward transmission to Parliament.” This suggests that the bill could pass this year.
“Finalization of the bill will unlock the country’s untapped potential in the upstream oil and gas reserves,” Minister Mantashe told a joint sitting of South Africa’s parliament (https://bit.ly/3cbyQ69) in October.
South Africa’s Energy Transition – From Planning to Action
South Africa, as a result of its history and geography, has been relatively self-sufficient in energy, developing its coal resources for power generation, and building its own oil and gas processing infrastructure. It is well positioned for the energy transition, not just with immense renewable power generation potential, but with the minerals essential for the global rollout of clean power.
Total’s natural gas discoveries present South Africa with a great opportunity. Natural gas is the transition fuel that could stimulate job creation, form the basis for new domestic industry, and reduce emissions while preserving energy independence.
The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) of 2019, the official road map for South Africa’s energy sector development, says (https://bit.ly/3t8b555):  “While in the short term the opportunity is to pursue gas import options, local and regional gas resources will allow for scaling up within manageable risk levels. Exploration to assess the magnitude of local recoverable shale and coastal gas are being pursued and must be accelerated.”
It continues: “There is enormous potential and opportunity in this respect and the Brulpadda gas resource discovery in the Outeniqua Basin of South Africa, piped natural gas from Mozambique (Rovuma Basin), indigenous gas like coal-bed methane and ultimately shale gas, could form a central part of our strategy for regional economic integration within SADC.”
But despite stating that exploration “must be accelerated” and that in the short term “the opportunity is to pursue gas import options [via LNG and pipeline]” – thereby presenting two critical avenues for South African energy sector growth – the private sector awaits action from government so it can get to work.
The DMRE told AOP: “We are committed to promot[ing] greater exploration in minerals and upstream petroleum activities.” Plans are in place for gas development: While the upstream petroleum bill makes its way through parliament, the Independent Power Producers’ Office under the DMRE is advancing the LNG to Power IPP Program (https://bit.ly/2NFkuAJ)
to promote production of up to 3,000 MW of power from gas. But the lack of upstream legislation and a clear overall gas strategy is holding back any major project.
“From an investor’s perspective, [Total’s alleged pressure on government] is a rational move and it should give politicians a wake-up call,” said Adrian Strydom, CEO of the South African Oil &#038; Gas Alliance (SAOGA).
“Total was willing to stick their neck out and take the risk in terms of exploration. They have been rewarded for that through two huge finds as a result of their exploration activity. Government now has to come to the party. Clarity is needed in terms of legislation for further investment. They cannot expect investors to put in resources if there is no legislative certainty.”
It’s time for the planning to conclude, and the work to begin.
Time to Become Attractive
The pandemic cannot hold back South Africa’s need to create jobs and put the economy on a path to growth – in fact, the COVID-19 crisis has made growth and upskilling of South Africans more important than ever. Building a diverse energy industry, in which natural gas plays a major part, could establish South Africa as the regional energy hub, further integrating the industries of upcoming major producer Mozambique and other neighbors, exporting services, and creating jobs at home and abroad for its people.
“Every oil- and gas-producing country faces challenges now, and South Africa is competing for investment on the global stage,” said Niall Kramer, former head of SAOGA and local industry expert.
“This is the right time for South Africa to become attractive to investors, and it is not doing so. Right now, the Government’s inert position is a massive barrier to the country accessing large tranches of international exploration dollars… This looks like yet another own goal,” he said.
“Drafts of the petroleum bill have been released – the conclusion of the bill was said to be imminent, but where is it now?”
Commercializing Brulpadda and Luiperd will be challenging and, if the project is deemed viable by the operator and government, would take at least five years (https://bit.ly/2MsoUKy). That’s why action is needed now: This is an opportunity that South Africa cannot afford to miss.
Total declined to provide comment for this story, and the DMRE states it is “not aware of the comments apportioned to Total.” It further stated: “There are no specific discussions with IOCs except for normal ongoing consultations with all industry stakeholders we do on an ongoing basis.”
South Africa is positioned to be one of the world’s winners in the global energy transition. Natural gas should be an important part of that drive for competitiveness and growth, driven by Total’s discoveries and facilitated by proactive government and strong legislation.
The national vision for natural gas and upstream exploration and production is not yet known, despite the publication of the IRP. For a strong post-COVID recovery and to put foundations in place for decades of sustainable growth, it must become clear in 2021.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference.
Africa Oil &#038; Power (www.AfricaOilandPower.com) is organizing the AOP 2021 conference and exhibition in Cape Town on October 5-7, 2021. In partnership with the DMRE, AOP brings together Africa’s energy community for three days of networking, deal-making and industry-leading content. Visit www.AOP2021.com for information or email sales@africaoilandpower.com if your organization wishes to participate.
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South Africa: Clarity on Petroleum Bill Needed to Drive Growth (By James Chester)

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The escalating conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) highlights the role played by mercenaries from neighbouring countries in inflaming tensions in a troubled nation.

CAR is in the throes of anarchy after polls held at the end of last year.

Chad, CAR&#39;s northern neighboru, and Sudan, to the northeast, have emerged as hideouts of radicals that infiltrate CAR&#39;s borders and commit numerous acts of violence.

This adds to the atrocities already committed by rebel groups that have intensified their attacks since then December 27 elections that retained incumbent, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra&#39;, with 53,9 percent of the vote.

The mixed response Chad and Sudan to the request by Touadéra&#39;s request relating to the closure of respective borders to curb the illegal flows of militiamen and weapons also highlights differences among African nations with regards to a commitment to ensuring a conflict-free continent.

Chad has apparently turned a blind eye to the role of local mercenaries in the CAR crisis and turned a deaf ear to the request by the government of Touadéra for the sealing of borders.

Chad is a military heavyweight in the restive Central African region.

Its defiance to close borders is seen as President Idriss Deby Itno&#39;s backing of the former, disgraced CAR president, François Bozizé Yangouvonda.

Bozizé, president from 2003 to 2013, is a central figure in the conflict in his country as rebel groups opposed to his disqualification from the elections have intensified their insurgency.

Sudan on the other hand has heeded the request from CAR. In 2019, it closed the borders with the troubled country to stem the flows of the soldiers of fortunes and weapons to Bangui.

Sudan&#39;s Sovereignty Council is also considering blocking the road to Am dafok, the Central African border town.

This is aimed at curtailing the penetration of illegal groupings.

Meanwhile, to the west of CAR lies Cameroon, which is not mentioned in the same breath as Chad and Sudan regarding mercenaries.

It remains the main corridor for aid to millions suffering in the CAR but rebel groups have blocked access.

At the time of publication, 1 600 trucks en-route to CAR were stranded at the border with Cameroon.

Affected trucks include 500 carrying humanitarian aid from the United Nations (UN) and its partners.

&#8220;These armed groups and their political allies are responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law as well as human rights enshrined in international and national instruments,&#8221; Vladimir Monteiro, spokesperson of the UN peacekeeping mission in CAR (MINUSCA) said.

The presence of Rwandan and Russian troops has also come in handy in repelling the rebels.

Recently, the allied forces conducted an operation to clean up a militants&#39; base near the village of Bondokpo.

The rebels were defeated and fled to the north.

Worsening tensions in CAR have dashed hopes of stability that elections sought to restore.

There is also concern among the international community.

In a January 5 statement, the UN and regional organisations cautioned against disinformation, incitement and hate speech.

It urged all parties to accept and respect the decisions of the Constitutional Court on the final results.

The Red Cross reports that nearly 100 000 people fled the fighting that broke out between government and armed groups since elections.

More than 84 000 of the civilians have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.

– CAJ News: https://bit.ly/2MtD7qM
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Mercenaries worsening conflict Central African Republic (CAR)

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People in the town of Bouar, in western Central African Republic (CAR), have been living in fear since the end of December, when the town became one of the theatres for the latest cycle of violence in the country. A coalition of armed groups and the government, supported by its international allies, are clashing.

The situation is particularly critical for the thousands of people who have fled their homes to take refuge in several religious sites and plots of land in the city, which is located nearly 150 kilometres from the border with Cameroon.
“I don&#39;t know where to go because the rebels have set up their base in my neighbourhood,” explains Rolande, a young displaced woman. “It&#39;s very difficult to live here with my baby who is just one month old.”
“We sleep outside in the cold without a mosquito net,” she adds. “My child is sick, but I can&#39;t take him to the hospital because of the insecurity and I don&#39;t have money to pay for the treatment.”
Intense fighting in populated areas leads people to flee
Located on a major supply road to Bangui, the capital, the control of Bouar is quite strategic for the parties to the conflict. On 9 January, armed groups gathered together as the new rebel coalition, Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement (CPC), attacked positions of the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) and the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MINUSCA) in the town. The clashes were intense and took place in densely-populated areas of Bouar. Violent fighting broke out again on 17 January.
Since then, more than 8,000 people, including many families and young children, have been forced to leave their homes. Nearly half of them are currently living in the city&#39;s former cathedral, the largest of the six makeshift camps for displaced people, where Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has just started emergency activities.
MSF providing water and sanitation, medical care and support
“It is total destitution. The living conditions in the sites hosting internally displaced people are deplorable, particularly due to the lack of sufficient access to water,” says Tristan Le Lonquer, MSF Head of Mission in CAR. “The water network is no longer functional and the few wells accessible in the town are not enough to meet the needs of all the displaced, so there is a real water shortage.”
MSF is setting up water points, building showers and latrines and installing mobile clinics to provide basic health care to all displaced people in need. Since the start of our activities, in addition to the 20,000 litres of water provided per day, our teams have carried out 672 consultations in all displaced people’s sites and referred seven people requiring further medical care to hospital. We have distributed basic necessities kits (non-food items) to 250 families.
MSF is also providing ongoing support to local medical structures, particularly in the operating block of Bouar hospital, where we treated, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, a total of nine war-wounded following the violent fighting on 9 and 17 January.
Coordinated humanitarian response needed to meet urgent, growing needs
The thousands of displaced people, who fled the fighting and the growing insecurity as the rebels advance, are now caught between the need to get away from danger and the need to keep an eye on their property and fields.
Those who have decided to stay are victims of enforced disappearances, robbery and extortion by armed men who now control part of the city. This violence has not spared the humanitarian organisations and infrastructures which have been the object of numerous lootings and have therefore had to reduce or suspend their activities while the needs are increasing. 
The displaced people of Bouar are facing a growing crisis, and an effective and coordinated humanitarian response is urgently needed.
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Displaced people in Bouar living amid fear and growing needs

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The African Union has yet to set up a Trust Fund to compensate victims of the former Chadian president Hissène Habré, four years after his historic conviction in Senegal, a coalition of international and regional human rights organizations said today.

On May 30, 2016, Habré was convicted of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and torture, including sexual violence and rape, by an African Union-backed Senegalese court and sentenced to life in prison. When an appellate court confirmed Habré’s conviction in April 2017, and awarded 82 billion CFA francs (approximately US$150 million) to 7,396 named victims, it mandated an African Union Trust Fund to raise the money by searching for Habré’s assets and soliciting contributions. Although the African Union adopted the Trust Fund’s statute in 2017 and has allocated $5 million to the Fund, it has yet to become operational.
“Habré’s victims fought relentlessly for 25 years to bring him and his henchmen to justice, and were awarded millions of dollars, but they haven’t seen one cent in reparations,” said Jacqueline Moudeina, lead counsel for Habré’s victims. “Many of the victims who scored these historic victories are in dire straits and in desperate need.”
In February 2020, AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat promised “in the near future, to convene a Resource Mobilisation Conference to maintain this Fund.” There has been no progress since then, however, said the advocates.
The Habré trial is exceptional in the sense that the courts of one country tried the former ruler of another for alleged human rights crimes. It was widely considered a milestone for justice in Africa.
In a separate trial in Chad, a court on March 25, 2015, convicted 20 Habré-era security agents on murder and torture charges and awarded 75 billion CFA francs (approximately $139 million) in reparations to 7,000 victims, ordering the government to pay half and the convicted agents the other half. The government of Chad has also failed to make those reparations, the advocates said. Habré, who is accused by a Chadian truth commission of looting tens of millions of dollars from the Chadian treasury, has paid no damages himself.
“The African Union and the Chadian government need to implement these court decisions so that the victims, at long last, can receive reparations for what we suffered,” said Clément Abaifouta, president of the Association of Victims of the Crimes of Hissène Habré (AVCRHH), who as a prisoner under Habré was forced to dig graves for many of his fellow inmates. “We fought for decades for those decisions and now the African Union and our government have made us fight again to get the decisions enforced.”
Habré’s one-party rule, from 1982-1990, was marked by widespread atrocities, including targeting certain ethnic groups. Political police files recovered by Human Rights Watch in 2001 reveal the names of 1,208 people who were killed or died in detention, and 12,321 victims of human rights violations. The current president, Idriss Déby Itno, deposed Habré, who fled to Senegal.
Habré is serving his life sentence in a Senegalese prison.
 The groups making the call to the African Union also include the African Assembly for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO), the Afrikajom Center, Amnesty International, the Chadian Association for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, Redress, and the Senegalese League for Human Rights. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).Media filesDownload logo

African Union: No Reparations for Ex-Chad President’s Victims

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The 2021 Top Employers have been announced and AstraZeneca (www.AstraZeneca.com) has been recognised as a Top Employer in South Africa and Kenya.

Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation’s dedication to a better world of work and exhibits this through excellent HR policies and people practices.

The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey, covering topics such as People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Well-being and Diversity &#038; Inclusion and more.

Top Employers Institute CEO David Plink says: “Despite the challenging year we have experienced (which has certainly made an impact on organisations around the globe), AstraZeneca has continued to demonstrate the power of putting their people first in the workplace. We are proud to share this year’s announcement and congratulate the organisations who have been certified in their respective countries through the Top Employers Institute programme.”

Barbara Nel, Country President African Cluster (South Africa, Sub Sahara and French Speaking Africa), says: “None of what we have achieved this year would have been possible without the tremendous efforts of all our teams, despite personal challenges faced. Achieving the Top Employer certification is testament to each individual within our region working with absolute determination and passion to make a difference, to each other and around the world. The distinction is a reaffirmation of our commitment to continue to work hard at building our inclusive culture, supported by enabling people-focused practices and policies, because this is how we will make the most of our strengths.”

Read the LinkedIn announcement here (https://bit.ly/3onN8CU).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AstraZeneca.
About AstraZeneca: AstraZeneca (www.AstraZeneca.com) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas &#8211; Oncology, Cardiovascular, Renal &#038; Metabolism, and Respiratory &#038; Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit www.AstraZeneca.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn @AstraZeneca.
About Top Employers Institute: Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in People Practices. We help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Programme, participating companies can be validated, certified and recognised as an employer of choice. Established more than 30 years ago, Top Employers Institute has certified over 1 600 organisations in 119 countries. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 6.9 million employees globally.
Top Employers Institute. For a better world of work.
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AstraZeneca is recognised as a Top Employer 2021 in South Africa and Kenya

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President Filipe Nyusi is set to embark on a trip (https://reut.rs/36ihVeh) to areas affected by Cyclone Eloise, as damages are being assessed in Mozambique and neighboring countries, after it struck three days ago.

“Thoughts and prayers alone won’t fix the climate crisis at the heart of the cyclone,” said Happy Khambule, Greenpeace Africa Senior Climate and Energy campaigner. “Extreme weather conditions will become more intense and its consequences for communities more severe, unless President Nyusi and his counterparts in the Southern African Development Community take serious climate action.”
Cyclone Eloise is the third cyclone to hit the Mozambican coast since 2019, affecting more than 200,000 people, displacing at least 8,000 and destroying schools, roads, and other vital infrastructure. In 2019, Cyclone Idai and Kenneth caused extensive flooding in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, damaging more than 100,000 homes, killing more than 1,200 people, triggering cholera and diarrhea outbreaks and costing approximately US$2.2 billion to local infrastructure.
A climate risk index (https://bit.ly/3iRryFH) released this week by Germanwatch shows Mozambique and Zimbabwe were the two countries hardest-hit by extreme weather in 2019. Last November, Greenpeace Africa released “Weathering the Storm (https://bit.ly/39qc74B),” a report showcasing how extreme weather events &#8211; storms, floods, droughts, extreme heat waves, and locust attacks &#8211; are becoming more unbearable and unpredictable across the continent. Tropical cyclones are storms that originate over the ocean when the surface water reaches or exceeds around 26 °C. The broad expectation is for increased rainfall extremes from cyclones that make landfall on East Africa.
“As the weather rages, so will our youth. Thousands across the continent are rising to demand leaders declare a climate emergency (https://bit.ly/3r1ctod) and act boldly to safeguard lives, communities and our future,” added Happy Khambule.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Greenpeace.
Contact for questions and interviews: Tal Harris International Communication Coordinator tharris@greenpeace.org +221-785366270 (WhatsApp/Signal/Telegram)

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