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Ubuntu-it's a word describing an African worldview, which translates as "I am because you are," and which means that individuals need other people to be fulfilled. And that is what this blog is all about.My contact details are: Ayoub Mzee- Tel +447960811614, email: swahilidiaries@yahoo.co.uk. Alternatively you can watch my program- swahili diaries on BEN TV SKY 184 or www.bentelevision.com every week Tuesdays at 10pm and Sundays at 10AM. Enjoy News stories in Photographs
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Afreximbank and BAFT Deliver Virtual Training Workshops on Correspondent Banking in Africa
Cairo/Washington 26 July 2021 – African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) today announced the launch of a series of training workshops for African respondent banks to enhance their ability to obtain and maintain correspondent banking relationships.
The first round of workshops, to be held virtually on 27, 28 and 29 July 2021, is primarily geared toward compliance and risk management staff, as well as transaction banking business line and credit officers from private sector and central banks across Africa.
In the current context where access to correspondent banking services is becoming increasingly costly due to heightened regulatory expectations, particularly in relation to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing, the three-day training sessions will provide an overview of important elements to be considered by respondent banks when establishing new correspondent banking relationships. Attendees will participate in in-depth discussions on respondent best practices for due diligence, maintaining relationships, and working with money service businesses and Fintech companies.
Afreximbank has identified BAFT as a strategic partner in this initiative, utilising the BAFT Respondent Playbook, the industry leading approach to capacity building.
“We are thrilled to launch such an important capacity building initiative in cooperation with Afreximbank in markets deeply affected by correspondent banking de-risking,” said Tod Burwell, BAFT president and CEO. “We hope that participants gain new knowledge and insight on ways to strengthen relationships with correspondent banks.”
“As part of Afreximbank’s Correspondent Banking and Trade Services Strategy, we have been supporting banks in our member states to have access to international banking market by providing them with trade finance lines and Advisory Services. Improving the capacity of African banks to enable them to access correspondent banking services is also key part of our mandate and capacity building is a major activity in this regard,” said Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President in charge of Finance, Administration and Banking Services.
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Office of the Spokesperson
The following statement was released by the Governments of Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Guatemala, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Korea, Ukraine, and the United States of America.
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We, the Foreign Ministers of Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Guatemala, Greece, Honduras, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Korea, and Ukraine, and the United States Secretary of State, condemn the mass arrests and detentions of protestors in Cuba and call on the government to respect the universal rights and freedoms of the Cuban people, including the free flow of information to all Cubans.
On July 11, tens of thousands of Cuban citizens participated in peaceful demonstrations across the country to protest deteriorating living conditions and to demand change. They exercised universal freedoms of expression and assembly, rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the American Convention on Human Rights, the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and the European Convention on Human Rights.
We call on the Cuban government to respect the legally guaranteed rights and freedoms of the Cuban people without fear of arrest and detention. We urge the Cuban government to release those detained for exercising their rights to peaceful protest. We call for press freedom and for the full restoration of Internet access, which allows economies and societies to thrive. We urge the Cuban government to heed the voices and demands of the Cuban people.
The international community will not waver in its support of the Cuban people and all those who stand up for the basic freedoms all people deserve.
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U.S.-Russia Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Challenge
Office of the Spokesperson
Joint Statement on the Climate Challenge between John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Russian Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues and Adviser to the President of Russia.
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Russian Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues Ruslan Edelgeriyev recognize the need to address the increasing climate challenge with seriousness and urgency. They are committed to the robust implementation of the Paris Agreement and its temperature goals, including through significant efforts in this decade and the global pursuit of net-zero emissions, recognizing the importance of enhancing carbon sequestration by forests and other ecosystems. They will work together and with others to actively promote a successful COP 26 in Glasgow, UK, and a G20 that contributes to such success. In addition, they will cooperate on climate-related issues in the Arctic.
They also intend to work together bilaterally on a range of climate-related issues. Topics will include, among others, satellite monitoring of emissions and removals of greenhouse gases; forests and agriculture; climate and the Arctic, including black carbon; reducing emissions from non-CO2 gases, including methane; enhanced nationally determined contributions and long-term strategies under the Paris Agreement; energy efficiency; climate finance; nature-based solutions; and implementation of joint climate projects.
Office of the Spokesperson
The United States and the European Union’s External Action Service held another meeting this week in their ongoing dialogue on nonproliferation, arms control, disarmament, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risk mitigation issues. Ann Ganzer, Senior Official for the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, and Bruce Turner, Senior Official for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, led discussions on the U.S. side. Marjolijn van Deelen, Special Envoy for Nonproliferation and Disarmament, led for the EEAS.
Statue Unveiled Honouring H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou’s Leadership in establishing the AfCFTA
Accra, 16 July 2021 – The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the African Union (AU), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announce the unveiling of a statue in honour of His Excellency Issoufou Mahamadou, former President of the Republic of Niger and African Union Champion of the AfCFTA in Accra, Ghana.
The statue is in commemoration of H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou’s pivotal leadership and Pan-African vision in driving the realisation of the AfCFTA. His key achievements in this respect include successfully leading the conclusion of the AfCFTA negotiations as AU Champion for AfCFTA; its entry into force; the launch of the operational phase of the AfCFTA; the 1st January 2021 start of trading under the AfCFTA; thus being pivotal in placing industrialisation, market liberalisation, economic diversification and economic integration at the centre of the African Union’s agenda.
H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, said: “His Excellency Issoufou Mahamadou went to great lengths to lead and oversee the establishment and implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area. This statue provides a lasting commemoration of his pivotal role both for today’s and for future generations of Africans. It represents a symbol for the collective effort and courage of African leaders in achieving that landmark. The AfCFTA provides Africa with immense opportunities for the industrialisation, diversification and economic development that will rapidly accelerate our continent to truly global competitiveness across multiple sectors.”
Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank, said: “The AfCFTA is therefore not only the most significant development in Africa since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, but also, the world’s second largest Free Trade Area, after the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in terms of the number of member states. The AfCFTA will bring together 55 African countries with over 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of US$3.4 trillion into a single free trade market. It was made possible by the vision, tenacity, courage and commitment of African leaders, the hard work of the African Union Commission and indeed the contributions of many from across the Continent. The AfCFTA provides the launchpad for Africa to genuinely compete as a major global economic powerhouse and substantially raise its market share of both intra-African and world trade in the years and decades ahead.”
The statue of H.E. Issoufou Mahamadou is sited at the AfCFTA Secretariat Building in Accra, Ghana, and was commissioned by the AfCFTA Secretariat, Afreximbank, and the African Union Commission.
The statue, which was unveiled at a ceremony on 16th July, is a product of Afreximbank’s Art Programme, which supports and promotes the African contemporary art ecosystem. In this regard, with the assistance of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Mr. Tafadzwa Tandi was selected to sculpt the statue. He used Black Serpentine Stone, relying on an ancient tradition of stone sculpting that can be traced back to the ancient Great Zimbabwe Kingdom (13th to 15th Century), which has morphed into a very popular contemporary art movement in Zimbabwe and is recognised all over the world for its craftmanship and skill.
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ecretary Blinken’s Call with Sudanese PM Abdalla Hamdok
Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
Secretary Antony J. Blinken spoke with Sudanese Prime Minister Hamdok today to discuss progress in achieving peace and implementing political, security, and economic reform. They also discussed regional stability, implementing Sudan’s peace agreements, and Sudan’s commitment to normalizing relations with Israel. The Secretary reaffirmed U.S. support for Prime Minister Hamdok and the Civilian-led Transitional Government, and they discussed the Prime Minister’s new initiative to enhance national unity and implement steps to create a legislative council, reform the Sudanese Armed Forces and integrate other forces into it as a professional army, and provide justice and accountability.
oint Statement on the Ministerial Meeting on Syria
Office of the Spokesperson
The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States, Italy, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and representatives of the League of Arab States and European Union, which met today to discuss the crisis in Syria.
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We, the Ministers and representatives of the United States, Italy, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and representatives of the League of Arab States and European Union, met today on the margins of the Defeat ISIS Coalition Ministerial to discuss the crisis in Syria. We stressed the critical importance of meeting humanitarian needs, including life-saving assistance and COVID-19 response for all Syrians in need through all modalities, including through the provision and expansion of the UN cross-border mechanism to which there is no adequate alternative. We also underlined the importance of continued support to Syrian refugees and host countries until Syrians can voluntarily return home with safety and dignity in line with UNHCR standards.
We welcomed UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen’s briefing and reaffirmed strong support for UN-led efforts to implement all aspects of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, including continued support for an immediate nation-wide ceasefire, the unimpeded and safe delivery of aid, and the Constitutional Committee, as well as fighting against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Reaffirming the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, we remain committed to continue working actively to reach a credible, sustainable, and inclusive political solution based on Resolution 2254. This is the only solution that will bring an end to Syria’s decade long conflict and guarantee the security of the Syrian people and fulfil their aspirations.
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ited States and the Holy See: Partners in Addressing Climate Change and Promoting Human Rights
Office of the Spokesperson
Secretary Antony J. Blinken will travel to Vatican City on June 28, where he will meet with Pope Francis and Archbishop Paul Gallagher to discuss efforts to work together to tackle the climate crisis and promote peace and human rights around the world.
The United States Celebrates Strong Relations with the Holy See
Tackling the Climate Crisis
Promoting Human Rights is a U.S.-Holy See Priority
Partnering with the Holy See to Combat Human Trafficking
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