Category: Politics

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in South Africa on Sunday, in what analysts say is an attempt to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the region.

Relations between the U.S. and South Africa became strained during President Donald Trump’s time in office. President Joe Biden has taken pains to repair them, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has proved contentious.

The secretary of state’s second trip to Africa, and his first to South Africa — the continent’s most developed economy and a key democratic ally — comes after a flurry of visits to the region by top Chinese and Russian officials.

Analysts say that after disregarding Africa for some time, the U.S. is now playing catch-up and trying to counter the growing influence of Beijing and Moscow in the region, in what some say has elements of a new “Cold War.”

Washington also wants to build support for Ukraine, as many African governments have been loath to condemn Russia’s invasion, in part due to the Soviet Union’s support for African liberation movements during the years when the continent threw off European colonial rule.

Steven Gruzd, head of the African governance and diplomacy program at the South African Institute for International Affairs, said he doubted South Africa would be pushed into criticizing Russia, its partner, along with China, in the BRICS group of countries.

“I think Secretary Blinken is not going to find a receptive audience for his message that South Africa must come down on the side of the West, and the U.S. in particular, on the Ukraine-Russian conflict,” Gruzd said.

Meanwhile, Bob Wekesa, director of the African Center for the Study of the United States at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, noted that China’s influence in Africa has grown considerably, and many African leaders look to Beijing for no-strings-attached infrastructure investments. Russia, too, to a far lesser extent, has made investments in the continent, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a four-country visit to Africa last month.

“It’s actually true that there’s some form of Cold War, even if it’s not the kind of Cold War we saw from the end of the World War II, but it’s a form of geopolitical competition and the U.S. must, therefore, be prepared to be seen to be competing with other powers for influence in Africa,” Wekesa said.

Nontobeko Hlela, a researcher at the South African office of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, said negative comments about African and other developing countries by former U.S. president Donald Trump did nothing to improve relations.

“The U.S. will have to work hard to walk back some policy decisions and statements made by the former occupant of the White House,” Hlela said.

While in South Africa, Blinken will visit Johannesburg’s famous Soweto township, once home to liberation icon and first democratic president Nelson Mandela, as well as take part in South Africa’s Women’s Day celebrations.

On Monday, he will meet South African counterpart Naledi Pandor and launch the new U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change, trade, health and food insecurity will all be topics of discussion.

America’s top diplomat then heads to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, which are in the middle of a conflict.

Source: Voice of America

The National Council of Eritrean-Americans (NCEA) held its fourth conference from 1 to 3 August in Dallas under the theme “Building a Strong Nation Rooted in Grassroots Participation”.

The opening ceremony was highlighted by minutes of silence to commemorate Eritrean Martyrs, raising flags of Eritrea and the US, as well as a discussion focusing on the diplomatic activities of the council.

Commenting on the activities the National Council of Eritrean-Americans has been conducting, Mr. Berhane Gebrehiwet, Charge d’Affairs at the Eritrean Embassy, called for strengthening organizational capacity for a better outcome.

Mr. Yosuf Saiq, Chairman of PFDJ in the Central region also conducted a seminar focusing on the objective situation in the homeland as well as regional developments.

Mr. Saleh Ahmedin, chairman of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students also congratulated the 4th annual conference via virtual zoom from Eritrea.

On the occasion, Mr. Alazar Abraham, Mr. Abdlurahman Mohammed Nur, Dr. Mihreteab Gebrehiwet, and Ms. Tsige Nemariam gave briefings on the Decades of Grassroots Movements.

According to the report, the conference was attended by over 500 nationals from various areas in the United States.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea

The Executive Board of the National Union of Eritrean Women held six months activity assessment meeting on 1 and 2 August in Keren.

According to report presented at the meeting, the union has conducted praiseworthy activities in raising the awareness of members, supporting families of martyrs, developing participation of women in the national affairs as well as strengthening organizational capacity of women organizations in Government institutions among others.

The meeting also discussed on the importance of integrated effort for strengthening political awareness of women, reinforcing participation in development programs as well as in developing overall capacity of women and preserving the noble societal values.

The participants on their part conducted extensive discussion on the report presented and adopted various recommendations.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Tekea Tesfamicael, President of the National Union of Eritrean Women, commending for the effective implementation of the programs of the union inside the country and abroad said that effort will be conducted to develop socio-economic capacity as well as capacity building training programs for women.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia now ranks with Eritrea as the biggest jailers of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, a new report from the Committee to Protect Journalists says.

At least 63 journalists and media workers have been arrested in Ethiopia since the Tigray conflict broke out in November 2020, according to the report.

The advocacy group, which monitors media freedoms globally, said Ethiopia ranks as “sub-Saharan Africa’s worst jailer of journalists,” alongside Eritrea.

Ethiopia long had a reputation for media censorship under the previous government led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF, which is now fighting the federal government.

After he came to power in 2018, current Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed promised to ease restrictions and usher in a new area of freedom of expression.

But rights groups have documented a deteriorating media environment since the Tigray war started that has seen several journalists detained, threatened, and assaulted.

Two local journalists have been killed in disputed circumstances since November 2020, and two foreign correspondents working for The New York Times and The Economist have been expelled from the country.

The country has also seen several communications shutdowns, including in Tigray, which has been without phone and internet service since the TPLF retook most of the region in June 2021.

Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s representative for sub-Saharan Africa, said the arrested journalists were producing work that was “dissenting from the dominant state narrative of the war.”

“Some journalists have also been targeted due to perceptions that their work might favor certain political groups,” Mumo said. “But through all of this, what we can say is that these arrests indicate a conflation of journalistic work, of critical commentary with criminal activity, and that is very dangerous.”

At least eight of the journalists and media workers whose arrests were documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists remain behind bars.

The group said most of the arrests follow a “similar pattern,” with journalists held in detention for several weeks without having formal charges brought, while authorities request more time to investigate them.

Ethiopia’s government has previously denied targeting journalists, saying that the police have followed due process and only detained those who have broken the country’s media laws.

Source: Voice of America

The three-day COMESA Federation of National Associations of Women in Business Horn of Africa Summit that was conducted at the National Confederation of Eritrean Workers Hall concluded today 30 July.

The summit was attended by delegates from Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti.

The participants of the summit on 29 July visited development sites in the Southern Region and especially efforts that are being conducted to realize the socio-economic development of women.

The summit also discussed various issues of interest to the economic development of women in the Horn of Africa.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea

Note: This is the fourth article in a multi-part series reviewing Eritrea’s participation at the 2022 High-Level Political Forum and the country’s presentation of its Voluntary National Review report. While Part III highlighted the progress achieved on Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being) and 13 (climate action), this article briefly reviews Eritrea’s progress on some of the other Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to reviewing Eritrea’s progress on SDGs 3 and 13, the country’s inaugural VNR report highlighted progress in other areas of development.

To begin, progress has been achieved in reducing poverty, raising agricultural production and productivity, and ensuring food and nutrition security. The proportions of poor people and those suffering from food insecurity are believed to have declined substantially since independence in 1991.

A key part of the national strategy is reducing dependence on rainfed agriculture and modernizing the agricultural sector to increase productivity and adapt to climate change. Numerous dams and ponds have been constructed nationwide, aiming to raise availability of water for irrigation and household consumption. Additionally, a variety of initiatives are conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to assist farmers in increasing productivity and output, including water harvesting, increasing arable land, introducing better seeds, applying more efficient farming techniques, containing soil erosion, applying environment- and health-friendly fertilizers and pesticides, and promoting household income supplementing packages. Notably, experts from the MoA and the College of Agriculture also conduct workshops for farmers and communities.

Over the years, several initiatives have been implemented in an effort to reduce poverty, promote agriculture, and improve livelihoods. The Minimum Integrated Household Agricultural Package, which provides rural household with considerable support, has reached thousands of households, many poor and headed by women, ultimately promoting food and nutrition security, reducing poverty and inequality, and ensuring that more families can lead lives of dignity. The Savings and Micro-Credit Programme, which extends loans and credit through 538 village banks, has reached more than 69,000 individuals (66 percent women) and promoted greater financial inclusion, gender equality, and economic empowerment. As well, the new civil service remuneration system, introduced in 2016/17, has led to substantial wage increases for civil workers.

In terms of education, Eritrea aims to ensure equitable access and delivery of quality education at all levels for all citizens, guided by the principle of social justice. Basic education is compulsory for both girls and boys, and child marriage legislation has been enacted and is strictly enforced, thus keeping more youths in school and helping reduce historically massive gender disparities. School feeding programs and the universal free education, covering pre-primary to higher education, ensures that every child, irrespective of background, has the opportunity to enroll in education, become literate, and maximize their potential.

Significant resources continue to be invested in expanding infrastructure. The number of schools has increased significantly, rising from 526 in 1991/92 to 1,930 in 2015/16 and to 2,254 in 2020/21. This has increased capacity, reduced overcrowding, and raised enrolments. Enrolment at all levels was 346,266 in 1997/98 and has increased to 583,269 and 619,180 in 2015/16 and 2020/21, respectively. Importantly, female enrolment continues to steadily grow and the historically huge gender gap is being narrowed. Parity between boys and girls in primary education has been achieved, while gender disparities at higher levels continue to be reduced. Overall enrolments in technical and vocational education and training are also steadily increasing (with female enrolments nearing parity), providing youths with another avenue towards employment and sustainable livelihoods.

Like enrolments, literacy has improved. In 1990, the adult literacy rate was 46 percent (males at 59 percent and females at 35 percent). By 2018, adult literacy had improved to about 77 percent (males at 84 percent and females at 69 percent). During the same period, even steeper increases were achieved in youth literacy, indicating that efforts to strengthen the supply and quality of basic education programs have largely been successful. In 1990, youth literacy was about 61 percent (males at 73 percent and females at 49 percent). However, in 2018, youth literacy had climbed to 93 percent (males at 94 percent and females at 93 percent). According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s Institute for Statistics, “Eritrea has achieved one of the largest increases in youth literacy anywhere in the world over the past 50 years.”

Among the highest of Eritrea’s priorities is advancing gender equality, the empowering of women and girls, and the promoting and protection of their rights. Eritrea has signed and ratified human and gender rights instruments, as well as participated at international conferences. The country has established relevant institutional and policy frameworks, as well as detailed gender action plans, for achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, with a particular focus on reaching the most vulnerable, in line with international and regional gender equality standards and obligations.

Recognizing the differing life conditions and experiences of women and girls, and seeking to redress past inequities and historical disadvantages or discrimination, progressive and affirmative action measures have been enacted, most notably within the spheres of education, employment, and public life. National proclamations on labour, citizenship, and land reform have been passed and are strictly enforced to guarantee women equal access to citizenship and allow them the opportunity to access and utilize land without discrimination. Moreover, national laws and firm enforcement measures help protect women from violence and also prohibit harmful, traditional practices.

Noteworthy achievements have been recorded in the areas of women’s health, education, and participation in civil, cultural, economic, political, and social life. Long-standing disparities in education continue to be narrowed, a growing percentage of women now have land and are highly active in agriculture or other activities, and women constitute about 50 percent of the country’s labour force. In addition to their primary responsibility of family care, food processing and preparation, along with community activities, women contribute significantly to crop production and subsistence farming, while also being highly prominent and influential within a range of sectors.

The water sector remains critical for development, playing a significant role in economic growth, poverty alleviation, food security, and environmental sustainability. It also contributes to modernization, industries, tourism and agricultural activities. The Ministry of Land, Water, and Environment has put in place a comprehensive policy and legal framework for effective and sustainable management of the water sector. The Water Policy promotes the principles of integrated water resources management as a means to ensuring sustainable management and utilization of water resources, as well as promoting the full participation of women in all water management and development activities.

Through investments in infrastructure and conveyance systems, appropriate policies and regulations, and other efforts, access to safe, clean water has increased. The proportion of rural population with access to safe drinking water has risen from almost none (7 percent) in 1991 to 70 percent in 2021, while in urban areas access stands at 92 percent, up from 30 percent.

Regarding energy, Eritrea aims to develop the sector and ensure affordable, reliable access to electricity for all. Targets include electrifying 50 villages per year. In 2020, the percent of the population with access to electricity was about 52 percent, up from approximately 40 percent in 2010 and about 46 percent in 2015. Access in urban areas in 2020 was 76 percent, while in rural areas it was 39 percent. The completion of over 5,000 water catchments and dams, including the Hirgigo electricity project, has more than doubled the power generating capacity from 52 to 136 megawatts.

Although there is considerable still room for further expansion, Eritrea’s national road network has grown, expanding from approximately 4,930 km in 1991 to more than 15,100 km at present. Over 85 percent of cities and villages in the country are now connected by roads. Likewise, the availability of public transportation in the country has been improved. The number of buses in rural areas has increased from about 267 in 1991 to more than 2,000, while 85 percent of all cities and villages have access to public transportation.

Eritrea’s abundance of minerals, natural resources, and biodiversity, as well as its long, pristine shoreline on the Red Sea offer immense opportunities for economic growth. The presence of natural and biological resources, and their diversity, provide raw materials and inputs for domestic and commercial production along with consumption, as well as providing a range of ecosystem services which support human populations and their economic activities. In recent years, mining has emerged as an increasingly significant sector and now accounts for a large percentage of exports and FDI. Notably, the government has established favorable terms and a highly sophisticated regulatory framework, broadly consistent with global best practices. There is significant and growing foreign interest and investment, with engagement by multinational companies from around the world. Given the country’s large natural resource endowment, strong vigilance against corruption, generally attractive regulatory regime, and overall upside, there is substantial potential for further growth and expansion.

Rich biodiversity also allows for the possibility of future economic growth and holds intrinsic cultural, bequest and heritage values for the country. Importantly, Eritrea has taken concrete steps to protect its unique cultural and natural heritage. Two cornerstones for the country were the “Cultural and Natural Heritage Proclamation”, which, since 2015, lists immovable assets eligible for having national significance and the inclusion, in 2017, of Asmara in the UNESCO World Heritage List. To protect and sustainably manage both terrestrial and marine ecosystems in the country, extensive natural resources conservation measures have been undertaken by the government and development partners.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea

National Malaria Day was observed on 29 July at Adi-Guaedad, Gala-Nesfhi sub-zone, at Central Region level under the theme “Integrated Effort for Eradicating Malaria”.

Indicating that National Malaria Day is being observed every year from 25 to 30 July, Mr. Kibreab Tesfamicael, head of Malaria Control at the Ministry of Health branch in the Central Region, said that with the effort to realize the strategic plan of the Ministry of Health to eradicate malaria in the country from 2016 to 2030, malaria prevalence from 2018 to 2021 has been reduced from 0.4% to 0.05% in the Central Region.

Mr. Kibreab went on to say that from 2018 to 2021 over 14 thousand impregnated bed nets have been distributed to the public and from 2017 to 2020 over 60 thousand impregnated bed nets to residents in areas suspected for malaria mosquitoes breeding.

Mr. Amanuel Seyum, head of Social Service in the sub-zone, on his part called on the residents to conduct sustainable environmental sanitation activities with a view to control the prevalence of the diseases.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea