Latest news with #AfricanSolidarity
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Somaliland is open to trade, innovation and dialogue
The warm welcome I received in Nairobi this past week is a testament to the enduring spirit of African solidarity and the potential of regional partnership. My meeting with President William Ruto on May 29 was not only cordial and constructive, but a clear signal that Somaliland and Kenya are ready to deepen engagement on the basis of mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for economic prosperity and security. The inauguration of Somaliland's expanded diplomatic mission in Nairobi marks a significant milestone in our bilateral relationship and our pursuit of international cooperation. Somaliland will continue to build bridges that reflect our readiness to contribute to peace, security, and economic development in the Horn of Africa. Somaliland's aspirations are grounded in a desire to be a responsible and reliable partner. We are not asking for favours, but offering partnership. A partnership based on mutual benefit, strategic interest, and the shared goal of a more stable and prosperous East Africa. With Kenya, this vision finds fertile ground. As one of Africa's most dynamic economies and democratic states, Kenya has long played a stabilising role in regional affairs. Our two nations share deep people-to-people ties, stemming from our historic legacies with the two countries share the same currency, banking, civil service and judicial systems for over half a century, and current growing commercial interests, and a strong convergence on key development priorities: inclusive economic growth, counterterrorism, and democratic governance. During my conversation with President Ruto, we reaffirmed our shared commitment to regional stability and explored new avenues for cooperation. From trade and infrastructure to security, there is ample room for collaboration. Somaliland is a stable partner to facilitate access to the Red Sea, enhancing maritime security, and strengthening commercial links across the Horn. We are investing heavily in the Port of Berbera, modernising our customs systems, and expanding road and telecom infrastructure. These are not just national projects; they are regional assets. Kenya's business community already understands this potential. I am excited to welcome a new air route directly between Nairobi and Hargeisa as one of the landmark issues to be agreed during my visit. Somaliland already receives a high number of Kenyan professionals every year and Kenyan enterprises are increasingly looking to Hargeisa as a destination for trade and investment. We want to build on this momentum. By establishing a formal diplomatic presence in Nairobi, we intend to streamline collaboration, facilitate business partnerships, and create new pathways for cultural and academic exchange. At the heart of this engagement is a simple proposition: Somaliland is open. Open to trade, to innovation, and to dialogue. Our message to the world is grounded in values: Democracy, security, opportunity. Somaliland has held successive peaceful elections, maintained one of the most secure environments in the Horn, and cultivated a pluralistic political culture that deserves to be part of the international conversation. Diaspora communities, students, entrepreneurs, and civil society actors are the lifeblood of regional integration. We believe in African solutions to African challenges, and this begins by strengthening our continental bonds. Somaliland's future will be shaped not just by our aspirations, but by our actions. We are working hard to create jobs for our youth, tackle climate vulnerabilities, reform our institutions, and modernise our economy. These are challenges Kenya also confronts, and we see opportunities to learn from each other, to co-invest in regional infrastructure, and to coordinate on key policy areas including energy transition, food security, and digital inclusion. In that spirit, I look forward to welcoming Kenyan delegations to Hargeisa in the months ahead. Our dialogue will be reciprocal, and our partnerships built on a foundation of trust and transparency. I also encourage regional think tanks, universities, and media to engage more deeply with Somaliland's story. We are more than a headline; we are a living example of resilience, innovation, and democratic promise in the Horn of Africa. To the people and Government of Kenya, I extend my sincere gratitude for your continued openness. In this time of regional flux and global uncertainty, let us reaffirm our shared purpose and invest in a future of African cooperation that delivers tangible results for our citizens. The work begins now. Together, Somaliland and Kenya can chart a path that not only serves our national interests but elevates the hopes of a region ready to rise. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Mail & Guardian
21-05-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
The Global Fund has just made history – now it must start a revolution
HIV treatment has, for the first time, been made in Africa. On 6 May 2025, a quiet revolution took place. The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced it had, for the first time in its history, For many outside Africa, this might seem like a footnote in global health procurement logistics. For us on the continent, it is nothing short of history. It's a symbolic and literal act of African solidarity, scientific excellence and economic assertion. Africa is standing up and saying: 'We will no longer be the last in line for our own survival; we are the source of our own solutions.' This is not just about pills in blister packs. It is about power, ownership and self-determination in a world where Africa has too often been positioned as a passive recipient of generosity rather than a co-architect of its future. We are on the cusp of a new era, one where African science, African economies and African futures are not afterthoughts in the global health agenda, but drivers of it. From political independence to pharmaceutical liberation Sixty years after many African nations won political independence, the continent is still shackled in economic and technological dependency. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the pharmaceutical sector. Despite bearing the highest burden of HIV globally, Africa has historically relied on imports for between More than 25 million Africans are living with HIV. Many rely on daily antiretroviral therapy to survive. Ensuring consistent, affordable and sovereign access to these treatments is not optional, it is urgent. But this moment also has implications beyond HIV. It can catalyse African manufacturing in drugs for TB, malaria and non-communicable diseases, vaccines and its pandemic preparedness. The Global Fund's procurement is the first stone in what could be a continental avalanche of pharmaceutical innovation and a positive step towards the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's goal to produce 60% of vaccine needs domestically by 2040 through the From an economic perspective, this move could reshape access to medicines. The benefits of local pharmaceutical production are well-documented but rarely supported at the scale required. Jobs, cost savings and resilience to health shocks When medicines are imported, African governments pay not only for the product but also for shipping, import duties and the often-exploitative pricing structures of external manufacturers. Local production, when scaled, African manufacturers are more likely to understand the price sensitivities of their domestic markets, making them natural allies in the fight for affordable treatment. When Africa produces at scale, we negotiate from strength. A diversified supply landscape A robust pharmaceutical sector means more than factories, it means engineers, scientists, quality-assurance professionals, logisticians and educators. It builds a value chain that uplifts entire communities and redirects millions in procurement spend into local economies. The ripple effect is massive: GDP growth, regional trade and reduced foreign currency outflows. The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of international medical supply chains. African countries were left scrambling for vaccines, oxygen and personal protective equipment. By strengthening domestic pharmaceutical capacity, we insulate our public health systems from geopolitical shocks and ensure more consistent access to life-saving drugs. Four steps to secure systemic change This procurement cannot remain an isolated incident, a singular success trotted out at conferences and summits. It must spark a movement. A revolution in how global health actors approach access, equity and economic justice in Africa. Here's what must happen next: 1. Global Fund must make local procurement a permanent policy. The fund and other major donors, such as Unitaid, must make local sourcing of commodities a default, not a deviation. Pepfar (before Trump got hold of it) was leading the way, aiming for 70% of its funding to go to local partners, but medicines and vaccines were still largely imported. Policies must be put in place to favour regional production when quality and cost-effectiveness are assured. The success in Kenya should lead to similar procurement from South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal, all of which have growing pharmaceutical capabilities. 2. It is time for African governments to move from rhetoric to investment. Local businesses cannot thrive without local demand. Tax incentives, infrastructure support and subsidies for research and development must be mobilised to grow local pharmaceutical industries. More importantly, governments must commit to procuring from African manufacturers, not only for export, but for national programmes. 3. Regional collaboration must replace national silos. The African Medicines Agency, operated by the AU, must fast-track regional regulatory harmonisation. This will allow a medicine approved in one country to move freely across borders, removing duplication and accelerating access. A thriving continental pharmaceutical market is only possible if we dismantle bureaucratic barriers. 4. Civil society must hold all stakeholders accountable. We, the people, cannot afford to be passive in this process. Civil society must monitor procurement decisions, expose backroom deals that favour multinationals and demand transparency in donor policies. Every dollar spent outside Africa, when there is a qualified African supplier is not just lost income, is a political betrayal We are the generations of return For centuries, Africa has been mined for its resources, such as gold, diamonds and rubber. Now, the world mines the continent for data, clinical-trial volunteers and intellectual labour. But we are the generations of return. We are bringing back sovereignty to our laboratories, dignity to our procurement systems and power to our people. This procurement by the Global Fund must be remembered not just as the first time an African-made HIV treatment was purchased, but as the last time it was considered unusual. It is the beginning of something long overdue — a health system made by us, for us, accountable to us. The symbolism is rich. The politics are radical. The economics are clear. Let the rest of the world catch up. Tian Johnson is the founder and strategist of the African Alliance, a pan-African health justice advocacy group.
