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This week, the Italy-Africa Summit yields big promises, but the EU seems intent on undermining them. Plus, South Africa’s ruling party (finally) sours on its former president, and military regimes in West Africa fire a shot across the region’s bow. |
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Top newsPlaying bridge: Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pledged US$5.9 billion in investments to Africa in an effort to bolster energy ties and curb migration. She made the pledge at the Italy-Africa Summit, which was attended by 45 African countries. Italy is seeking to become a critical bridge between Africa and Europe, taking advantage of France and Germany’s weakened position in Africa. Moussa Faki, chair of the AU Commission, called for a “paradigm shift” in which African countries are treated as equals and not as “beggars.” He noted that Africans will not “be satisfied with mere promises that can’t be kept,” an echo of the growing frustration with unmet summit commitments. Italy joins China, France, Russia, and the US in hosting an African-focused summit in recent years. Actions. Speak. Louder.: In her speech at the Summit, Meloni rightfully noted that “mass immigration will never be stopped…if we do not address the many causes that push a person to leave their home.” And yet, on Thursday the EU Council approved a budget deal that will cut €2 billion from the EU’s overseas development budget and “redeploy” (EU-speak for cut) €1 billion from health programmes. The reason? To finance efforts to curb migration into Europe. Meloni’s speech may be good PR, but gutting development programmes to prevent migration speaks louder. Final straw: South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, has officially suspended the membership of ex-president Jacob Zuma. In an election year when the ruling party is at risk of losing its parliamentary majority, its executive council decided Zuma’s active campaigning for a rival political party could not go unpunished. What did they let go unpunished? Zuma’s many corruption scandals while president. ECOWASN’T: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger want out of the Economic Community of West African States. Citing the bloc’s sanctions in response to their coups as “inhumane and irresponsible,” the military leaders accuse ECOWAS of acting under foreign influence rather than in the interest of their countries’ citizens. The bloc’s economic sanctions on Niger have certainly worsened food insecurity for one of Africa’s poorest populations. But leaving the bloc will mean losing access to a US$700 billion market, likely making conditions worse for citizens of all three Sahelian states. All is not lost yet: ECOWAS requires one year’s notice for withdrawal, which leaves some hope that a resolution can be found. Peace on thin ice: Exiting ECOWAS isn’t the only dramatic about-turn Mali’s junta has made in the past week. The country’s military rulers also terminated a milestone peace deal made with rebel groups in 2015. As with the ECOWAS exit, Mali cited a desire to be free of foreign interference as a key reason for the decision. The undesirable foreign entity in this case is the Algerian government. Algeria was the chief mediator of the peace deal, but has had strained relations with the Malian junta that seized power in 2020. Although Mali says it will start renewed peace talks with rebel groups on its own, ending the 2015 deal could trigger a new round of extremist attacks. RU-turn: Kenyan President William Ruto came under fire for his presence at the Italy-Africa Summit after previously stating he would no longer attend summits between Africa and a single country. Many were quick to point out Ruto’s U-turn, especially after he initially followed through on his pledge by skipping last year’s Russia-Africa summit. Ruto defended his decision in his summit address, citing Italy’s “pragmatic approach” as “different and inspiring.” The Kenyan president has been on the defensive of late after the country’s judiciary stalled two of his signature policies. Do as we say (not as we do): The UK government reportedly has granted asylum to several Rwandans in recent months over fear for their safety, even as it continues to pursue a policy of deporting migrants and asylum seekers to the country. In a letter sent by the UK’s Home Office to one Rwandan refugee, the agency noted that “you have a well-founded fear of persecution and therefore cannot return to your country.” Beyond Rwanda’s troubling human rights record under long-serving President Paul Kagame, Rwanda has a poor track record of sustainably settling migrants. And hundreds of thousands of Rwandans who fled the country – many during the 1994 genocide and its aftermath – remain effectively stateless and unable to, or fearful of, returning home. What’s in a name? Brazil, this year’s G20 summit host, doesn’t seem keen on relitigating the G20’s name, even though the addition of the AU gives the body 21 members. The Brazilian government referred to the G20 as “a brand,” and emphasised that G20 membership includes 19 member states and two regional blocs, the EU and AU. The implication being that the “brand” is more important than expressly acknowledging the AU’s full participation in the “G20.” From the ONE Team
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Quote of the week
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What you should read, watch, and listen to:
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A LOOK AHEAD5 - 6 February: 1st G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group meeting. 5 - 9 February: The 66th meeting of the Global Environmental Facility Council in Washington, DC, US. 7 - 9 February: 2024 World Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi, India. |
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The ONE Campaign’s data.one.org provides cutting edge data and analysis on the economic, political, and social changes impacting Africa. Check it out HERE. |
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