The U.S. government applauds Maldives’ commitment to advance justice sector reform, good governance, rule of law, transparent public financial management, anti-corruption, growth of civil society, responsible infrastructure development, and education. We welcome the opportunity to deepen engagement with Maldives in support of common priorities and a shared vision for the Indian Ocean region, and today announced the intent to work with Congress to provide $9.75 million in new funding for public financial management, rule of law, governance, civil society strengthening, and vocational training. To date, our expanded outreach and assistance to Maldives encompasses:
Governance

• U.S. Department of the Treasury collaboration with the Government of Maldives to initiate assistance on debt strategy and domestic debt management.
• Initiation of a USAID program-based budgeting pilot with Maldives’ Ministry of Finance to promote public financial management best practices.

Development

• Initiation of a Development Objectives Assistance Agreement to facilitate sustained collaboration between Maldives and USAID.
• USAID-administered civil society youth and women’s economic and social empowerment programs.
• Continued USAID programming to improve management of coral reef ecosystems and build Maldives’ economic, social, and environmental resilience.

Security

• $7 million to support maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and military professionalization.
• Conclusion of a memorandum of agreement on the implementation of a $2 million program to enhance aviation security in Maldives.
• Ongoing upgrades to passenger screening systems at Maldivian ports of entry.

Rule of Law

• Deployment of a U.S. Department of Justice short-term legal advisor to support capacity building at Maldivian criminal justice institutions.
• Deployment of a U.S. Department of the Treasury team to assess Maldives’ technical assistance needs related to combatting financial crimes.

Education

• Ongoing panels, film screenings, workshops, and volunteer activities through the American Center in Malé that encourage Maldivian youth to develop their entrepreneurship skills and engage on community issues, including environmental concerns.
• Plans for five International Visitor Leadership Program exchanges in the next year.

Addis Ababa, February 15, 2019 – During the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Africa50, the pan-African infrastructure investment platform, signed on Monday, a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of the Republic of Congo to structure and mobilize financing for the expansion of one of its gas-fired power plants, the Centrale Électrique du Congo.

The project entails expanding the plant’s capacity from the current 300 MW to 450 MW in the short term, and possibly to 900 MW by 2027.

Africa50 will conduct a review of the power plant, including technical, financial and legal aspects, using its project development and financial expertise to ensure the project’s bankability and investment readiness, in collaboration with the existing shareholders. At a later stage Africa50 may invest in the project along with partners, including other development finance institutions and private sector lenders.

Speaking during a courtesy call by Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé before the signing, His Excellency Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, commended Africa50 for its engagement and pledged his full support for the project. “We are pleased to see African experts coming back to continent to join institutions such as Africa50 that can drive the transformational change envisioned in the AU’s Agenda 2063”, he said, adding that one of his priorities is to build regional networks to foster trade and economic development.  

Responding, Alain Ebobisse reiterated Africa50’s commitment to expanding Congo’s power generation capacity through sustainable, efficient, and expeditious project development.

This agreement comes shortly after the signing of an MOU between the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa50, and the African Development Bank to develop and fund a road-rail bridge linking Kinshasa and Brazzaville

KINGDOM HOTEL IN ZIMBABWE BY AYOUB MZEE

Press Releases: Secretary Pompeo's Calls With Nigerian Presidential Candidates President Muhammadu Buhari and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar

02/15/2019 12:16 PM EST

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

February 15, 2019

---

The below is attributable to Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino:‎
Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke with major Nigerian presidential candidates President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in advance of the country’s February 16 presidential election. The Secretary noted the deep and long-standing partnership between the United States and Nigeria, Africa’s most-populous democracy and largest economy. He underscored U.S. support for the Nigerian goal of free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people. He welcomed both candidates’ signing of a peace pledge and public commitment to renounce violence and to accept the results of a credible process. The Secretary noted the conduct of the elections is critical for the future of democracy in Nigeria and across Africa.

licking On Terrorist Propaganda Even Once Could Mean 15 Years In Prison

Anyone who views terrorist propaganda once online can be jailed for up to 15 years under new laws that have sparked human rights concerns. MPs had urged the government to scrap plans to criminalise viewing “information useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism”, which goes further than much-used laws that made physically collecting, downloading or disseminating the material illegal. A United Nations inspector accused the government of straying towards “thought crime” with the proposal, which originally stated that people would have to access propaganda “on three or more different occasions” to commit a terror offence. But the benchmark was removed from the draft law, meaning a single click is now illegal.

Security officials have told The Independent that discretion will be exercised and the law will help prosecute extremists in cases where other offences cannot be proven, or to prevent radicalization. A report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights said the offence “is a breach of the right to receive information and risks criminalising legitimate research and curiosity”.

The new law was introduced as part of the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act, which received royal assent this week. Max Hill QC, the former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation and current Director of Public Prosecutions, told the committee he found lengthy prison sentences “difficult to countenance when nothing is to be done with the material” last year.

Read more: Lizzie Dearden, Independent, https://is.gd/SqWaei

STOP KILLINGINNOCENT CHILDREN IN NJOMBE-TANZANIA

East africa education Foundation Fundrising Event in Romford Essex

The  event  was  attended  by  the Tanzania  High  commissioner  in UK Dr.Aha Rose Migiro