UAE welcomes DOP between DR Congo, Congo River Alliance
He reaffirmed the UAE's support for all regional and international efforts aimed at resolving conflicts through peaceful means and strengthening the foundations of security and stability across the African continent and globally.
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Arabian Post
4 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Beijing Responds to Criticism Over Zambia Mine Incident
China has firmly defended the actions of one of its state-owned companies following a deadly mining disaster in Zambia, while indirectly rebuking the United States for its vocal criticism of the incident. The comments were made in response to mounting international scrutiny regarding the company's handling of the situation and the safety measures at its operations. A deadly incident occurred at the mine in Zambia, operated by a Chinese-owned firm, when a series of structural failures led to the collapse of part of the facility, resulting in the deaths of several workers. While rescue operations were swiftly launched, concerns have been raised over the adequacy of the safety protocols in place and the speed at which the company responded. Zambian officials have expressed their dissatisfaction with the company's handling of the aftermath, citing slow communication and insufficient measures to ensure worker safety. The Zambian government has also called for a thorough investigation into the incident, seeking accountability from the company involved. ADVERTISEMENT However, Beijing has vehemently rejected these claims, defending the Chinese company's actions as swift and appropriate under the circumstances. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasised that the company had complied with all local regulations and had done its best to contain the situation. 'The Chinese company acted according to the law and has already expressed condolences to the victims' families,' the spokesperson said. 'We urge all parties to focus on the facts rather than politicising the incident.' In addition to defending the company's response, Beijing also took the opportunity to respond to criticism from Washington, which had earlier raised concerns over the safety standards at Chinese-run mining operations in Zambia. The U. S. State Department had issued a statement urging for greater oversight of foreign companies operating in African nations, particularly those with close ties to Beijing. Beijing's response to the U. S. came swiftly, accusing Washington of engaging in 'unwarranted interference' and attempting to undermine China's positive contributions to Zambia's economic development. The spokesperson further stressed that China's investments in Zambia, particularly in the mining sector, had brought substantial benefits to the country, including job creation and infrastructure development. China has been heavily involved in Africa's mining industry for over two decades, with numerous Chinese firms operating in countries like Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa. The investments have often been a point of contention, with critics accusing China of exploiting the continent's natural resources while neglecting local environmental and labour regulations. On the other hand, proponents argue that these investments are vital for the development of Africa's infrastructure and economic growth. The mining accident in Zambia has brought the issue of safety at Chinese-run operations into sharper focus, particularly as Beijing expands its presence on the continent. Environmental activists and human rights groups have voiced concerns about the lack of adequate safety standards at Chinese-owned mines, warning that incidents like the one in Zambia could become more frequent unless serious reforms are implemented. Despite these concerns, China remains resolute in its commitment to enhancing its ties with African nations, emphasising the role of the Belt and Road Initiative in fostering deeper economic and diplomatic relations. Chinese officials have also pointed to the development of mining projects as a crucial part of their broader economic strategy, positioning themselves as key partners in Africa's industrialisation process.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
Rule of law is Africa's new gold: African Development Bank Group's (AfDB's) Adesina calls for bold legal and governance reforms to unlock prosperity
'When Africa stands for the rule of law, the world will stand with Africa,' the President of the African Development Bank Group ( Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has told more than 1,200 lawyers, judges, and government officials attending the Kenya Law Society's 2025 Annual Conference. Delivering the closing keynote, title Public Finance, Governance, Justice and Development, Dr. Adesina drew a clear link between judicial independence, sound public finance, and sustainable economic growth. He stressed that Africa's true wealth lies not only in its natural resources but also in its ability to govern them transparently, enforce contracts fairly, and ensure justice for all citizens. Turning challenges into opportunities Africa faces a $100 billion annual gap in foreign direct investment, he noted, a situation compounded by weak rule of law rankings, debt vulnerabilities, and predatory 'vulture fund' cases. These involve investors buying national debt at a discount on secondary markets, then exploiting weak legal systems to sue debtor nations for full repayment — plus backdated interest and legal fees. 'Evidence suggests that foreign direct investments move more to countries that have political stability, stable democracies, transparency, and low levels of corruption,' Adesina said during the conference held at Kenya's coastal town of Diani, some 35 kilometres south of Mombasa. Other key drivers, he added, include an independent and transparent judiciary, strong regulatory frameworks, public accountability, efficient public service, competition policy, and respect for intellectual property rights. He also underlined the vital connection between justice and development, arguing that access to justice must be universal. This means legal aid, digitised courts, and grievance mechanisms that bring the law closer to citizens. 'Justice is not a byproduct of development — it is the foundation of development,' he declared. Adesina urged African nations to: Strengthen judicial independence and transparency to attract global capital. Reform natural resource laws to ensure benefits reach communities, not elites. Develop sovereign wealth funds to safeguard prosperity for future generations. Build strong African arbitration systems to settle disputes locally and fairly. He challenged Africa's lawyers, judges, and arbitrators to rise as 'guardians of promise and stewards of destiny' by enforcing constitutional safeguards on public finance. He called on the Kenya Law Society members to champion ethics and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, digitise court systems, improve legal infrastructure, and protect national assets from predatory debt practices. Adesina's keynote culminated a 3-day conference focused on corporate governance, protecting constitutionalism and the rule of law, responsible public finance management, and digitalization of legal systems. The closing ceremony included the participation of Kenya's legal luminaries and government, including Kenya's Chief Justice Martha Koome, Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo, Mombasa County Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and the AfDB's Director General of East Africa Alex Mubiru. Solutions in motion The African Development Bank supports its regional member countries to address governance, public finance, and justice challenges. In Rwanda and Côte d'Ivoire, Bank support to create and modernise specialised commercial courts has reduced dispute resolution times by nearly half, unlocking more than $1 billion in investment. In Seychelles, Bank-backed constitutional reforms require all sovereign borrowing to receive parliamentary approval — contributing to a fall in the debt-to-GDP ratio from over 100% to below 55%. In Kenya, Bank-supported procurement and debt transparency reforms, including parliamentary oversight of public borrowing, are safeguarding public funds. Known as Africa's 'Optimist-in-Chief,' Adesina urged the continent's legal community to recognise that they hold the keys to turning governance into growth and making development a daily reality rather than a distant promise. 'Let us make a choice that history will record, and generations will remember,' he said. 'As lawyers, justices and guardians of the law, I urge you to uphold the rule of law, to execute justice with fairness and righteousness.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Global leaders unite in Cape Town to transform water investment strategy
For the first time on African soil, the African Union's Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025, places water security at the heart of global climate and finance discussions, aiming to shift from fragmented water investments to a coherent, co-ordinated, and well-capitalised global effort. Source: GCIS. President Cyril Ramaphosa urged that water investment be central to finance discussions at the AU-AIP Water Summit 2025, which aligns with the launch of the Rand Water Zuikerbosch System Purification Plant in Vereeniging which he attended last week. 'Water investment must be at the centre of these discussions and be financed, tracked and championed,' President Ramaphosa said. He was speaking at the opening of the African Union - Africa Water Investment Programme (AU-AIP) Water Summit 2025, currently underway at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Under the theme: 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability', the three-day summit, which kicked off on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 takes place during South Africa's G20 Presidency. It aims to place Africa's development challenges at the centre of the global agenda and to help address the continent's $30bn annual water-investment gap. In his address, President Ramaphosa challenged the attending Heads of State and delegates to leave the summit with deals, pipelines, partnerships and a permanent global mechanism to sustain the momentum. 'The matchmaking sessions planned for this summit should create long-lasting partnerships and increased investments in water. Let us build a world where every drop counts and every community thrives - a world where water is recognised as a human right and not weaponised against women, children and communities,' the President said. Global Outlook Council on Water Investments The summit also marked the launch of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investments, an initiative that will see the Africa Water Investment Programme scaled up into a Global Water Investment Platform. The President highlighted that the Global Outlook Council on Water Investment will serve as the world's premier high-level political and investment platform on water. President Ramaphosa described the Council as the world's premier high-level political and investment platform on water. 'It will mobilise leadership, capital and innovation to transform water from a crisis sector into an opportunity sector,' he said, adding that the initiative will align with the investment theme of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference: 'Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all'. 'It will track progress, unlock finance, report annually and align efforts across the G20, UN, multilateral development banks and the private sector. It will mobilise the leadership, capital and innovation required to transform water from a crisis sector into an opportunity sector,' President Ramaphosa said. He emphasised that the continent is looking forward to the alignment of the Global Outlook Council initiative with the investment theme of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The invited leaders that will work with the South Africa G20 Presidency as co-chair in the leadership of the council are United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, and co-chairperson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates. Alternate co-chairs include former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, who will facilitate effective broad engagement of the Council members. The invited leaders, as Council Members, include: • President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. • President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia. • Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom. • Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany. • Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy. • President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission. • President João Lourenço of Angola and African Union Chai. • President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal, who is co-host of the UN 2026 Water Conference. The Council will be supported by a network of global leaders acting as 'Council Champions' to strengthen advocacy and mobilise resources. President Ramaphosa commended the leaders, who have stepped forward to confront and overcome a challenge faced by billions of people across the world. 'In the words of the founding president of the democratic South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: 'It is now in our hands.' Let the work begin. Let us leave no-one behind."
