Latest news with #EquatorialGuinean
The Guardian
09-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Internet shutdowns at record high in Africa as access ‘weaponised'
Digital blackouts reached a record high in 2024 in Africa as more governments sought to keep millions of citizens off the internet than in any other period over the last decade. A report released by the internet rights group Access Now and #KeepItOn, a coalition of hundreds of civil society organisations worldwide, found there were 21 shutdowns in 15 African countries, surpassing the existing record of 19 shutdowns in 2020 and 2021. Authorities in Comoros, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritius joined repeat offenders such as Burundi, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea and Kenya. Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania were also on the list. But perpetrators also included militias and other non-state actors. Telecommunication and internet service providers who shut services based on government orders are also complicit in violating people's rights, said Felicia Anthonio, the #KeepItOn campaign manager at Access Now, citing the UN guiding principles on business and human rights. The details showed that most of the shutdowns were imposed as a response to conflicts, protests and political instability. There were also restrictions during elections. The trend was replicated across the world with more internet shutdowns and in more countries: 296 shutdowns across 54 countries, compared with 283 shutdowns in 39 countries the previous year. Access Now said the figures were the worst since it started keeping records in 2016 and that the rise reflected 'a world where internet access is consistently weaponised, restricted, and precarious'. 'Behind each of the 1,754 shutdowns since 2016 is a story of people and communities cut off from the world and each other, often during political upheaval, unrest, violence and war,' the report said. At least five shutdowns in Africa had been imposed for more than a year by the end of 2024, according to Access Now. As of early 2025, the social network Meta was still restricted in Uganda, despite authorities engaging with its representatives. On the Equatorial Guinean island of Annobon, internet and cell services have been cut off since an August 2024 protest over environmental concerns and isolation from the rest of the country. The increase in shutdowns led the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to pass a landmark resolution in March 2024 to help reverse the trend. Sign up to The Long Wave Nesrine Malik and Jason Okundaye deliver your weekly dose of Black life and culture from around the world after newsletter promotion But the regression had continued, said Anthonio. 'It's rather unfortunate we saw more election-related shutdowns in Africa and other places in 2024 despite the adoption of the ACHPR resolution last year,' she said. 'Despite this, the resolution is a positive step as it has served as a vital resource and reference for civil society's advocacy against rights-harming shutdowns. It is difficult for us to tell if the resolution is yielding results already, but we did see authorities in countries like Mauritius and South Sudan [in January 2025] backtrack or reverse shutdown orders.'
Zawya
11-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt's 'Arab Contractors' awarded major housing contract in Equatorial Guinea
Egyptian construction giant 'Arab Contractors' has secured a new contract to undertake housing projects in Equatorial Guinea, as part of the country's national plan to build 100,000 housing units. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Sherif El-Sherbiny, and his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Clemente Ferreiro Villarino, the Minister of State for Public Works and Urban Planning. El-Sherbiny confirmed that the projects will be executed under the direct supervision of the Egyptian Ministry of Housing. 'Arab Contractors possesses significant capabilities and has carried out a number of distinguished projects in Equatorial Guinea,' the minister said. 'We will place the agreed-upon projects under our direct supervision, and their execution phases will be visited and inspected, just as is currently done with the Tanzanian dam, which is being implemented by the Egyptian-Swedish consortium 'Arab Contractors-Swedish Electric.' We will visit it tomorrow.' El-Sherbiny added that 'Arab Contractors is working to expand its presence on the African continent to spread development and transfer expertise to our brothers in various countries where it operates.' The company aims to implement the Egyptian government's directives by contributing to infrastructure, housing, and other projects to high standards, creating job opportunities for citizens in those countries, and working alongside their Egyptian counterparts, thereby strengthening relations between Egypt and African nations. Ahmed El-Assar, Chairperson of Arab Contractors, stated, 'Arab Contractors is present in 29 countries outside Egypt. Equatorial Guinea, in the west of the continent, is one of the most prominent success stories for Arab Contractors in implementing various projects.' He added that the company's projects have created a developing environment, and achieved international standards with the vision of development in Equatorial Guinea. Arab Contractors – Equatorial Guinea Limited was established in 2003 as an Egyptian-Guinean partnership. Since its inception, the company has gained the trust of the political leadership and the Guinean government due to the quality of its work and its commitment to deadlines. As a result, the company has been awarded three presidential medals from Equatorial Guinea in 2008, 2012, and 2015. Arab Contractors has become one of the most prominent examples of the distinguished relationship between Egypt and Equatorial Guinea. The company's total work volume since its establishment up to 2024 has reached approximately €1.5bn. El-Assar pointed out that since its establishment, the company has implemented numerous projects, including: The Nguema – Copoe Road A road to reach the summit of Mount Pico, including the construction of a church and associated accommodation The construction of 1,000 housing units in Fish Town, along with service buildings, roads, and drainage, water, and electricity networks The main Sipopo Road A meeting hall and a corniche overlooking the ocean, plus a helicopter landing pad The construction of a drinking water treatment plant in Malabo, including supply and fire extinguishing networks for the city The construction of two arrival and departure halls at Malabo International Airport The construction of the King Akaliong Road The upgrade of the Mitomo-Kojo Road The construction of a camp in the Bata area The construction of a sewage treatment plant in Malabo The Azok-Akasi Road (60km long) The internal roads of the Simo area (Phase 1: 26km, Phase 2: 11.5km) in Malabo The construction of 13 buildings in the camp in Malabo The construction of a camp in Mongomo The urban development of 9 villages in Malabo and in the continental part of the country The implementation of a medium-voltage power line He confirmed that work is currently underway on projects in Malabo, including the internal roads of the Simo area (Phase 2) with a length of 11.5 km, including rainwater drainage. There are also ongoing projects to develop the general site of the Riaba farm area (Phase 5), the general site of the Alegri area (Phase 1), the construction of fences with a length of 650 metres, and the operation and maintenance of the drinking water treatment plant for the city of Malabo with a capacity of 21,000 cubic metres per day. In the continental region of Equatorial Guinea, Arab Contractors is implementing a number of projects, including the construction of the Azok-Akasi Road (60 km long), the Imbini city road and electricity project (11 km long), the internal roads for the city of Kojo and the city of Kojo2 with a total length of approximately 21 km, and the Andong-Bedu Road. El-Assar affirmed that Arab Contractors continues to expand its operations in Equatorial Guinea to achieve the vision of sustainable development in Equatorial Guinea and to strengthen bilateral relations in the field of construction and development.
Daily News Egypt
10-02-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's 'Arab Contractors' awarded major housing contract in Equatorial Guinea
Egyptian construction giant 'Arab Contractors' has secured a new contract to undertake housing projects in Equatorial Guinea, as part of the country's national plan to build 100,000 housing units. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Sherif El-Sherbiny, and his Equatorial Guinean counterpart, Clemente Ferreiro Villarino, the Minister of State for Public Works and Urban Planning. El-Sherbiny confirmed that the projects will be executed under the direct supervision of the Egyptian Ministry of Housing. 'Arab Contractors possesses significant capabilities and has carried out a number of distinguished projects in Equatorial Guinea,' the minister said. 'We will place the agreed-upon projects under our direct supervision, and their execution phases will be visited and inspected, just as is currently done with the Tanzanian dam, which is being implemented by the Egyptian-Swedish consortium 'Arab Contractors-Swedish Electric.' We will visit it tomorrow.' El-Sherbiny added that 'Arab Contractors is working to expand its presence on the African continent to spread development and transfer expertise to our brothers in various countries where it operates.' The company aims to implement the Egyptian government's directives by contributing to infrastructure, housing, and other projects to high standards, creating job opportunities for citizens in those countries, and working alongside their Egyptian counterparts, thereby strengthening relations between Egypt and African nations. Ahmed El-Assar, Chairperson of Arab Contractors, stated, 'Arab Contractors is present in 29 countries outside Egypt. Equatorial Guinea, in the west of the continent, is one of the most prominent success stories for Arab Contractors in implementing various projects.' He added that the company's projects have created a developing environment, and achieved international standards with the vision of development in Equatorial Guinea. Arab Contractors – Equatorial Guinea Limited was established in 2003 as an Egyptian-Guinean partnership. Since its inception, the company has gained the trust of the political leadership and the Guinean government due to the quality of its work and its commitment to deadlines. As a result, the company has been awarded three presidential medals from Equatorial Guinea in 2008, 2012, and 2015. Arab Contractors has become one of the most prominent examples of the distinguished relationship between Egypt and Equatorial Guinea. The company's total work volume since its establishment up to 2024 has reached approximately €1.5bn. El-Assar pointed out that since its establishment, the company has implemented numerous projects, including: The Nguema – Copoe Road A road to reach the summit of Mount Pico, including the construction of a church and associated accommodation The construction of 1,000 housing units in Fish Town, along with service buildings, roads, and drainage, water, and electricity networks The main Sipopo Road A meeting hall and a corniche overlooking the ocean, plus a helicopter landing pad The construction of a drinking water treatment plant in Malabo, including supply and fire extinguishing networks for the city The construction of two arrival and departure halls at Malabo International Airport The construction of the King Akaliong Road The upgrade of the Mitomo-Kojo Road The construction of a camp in the Bata area The construction of a sewage treatment plant in Malabo The Azok-Akasi Road (60km long) The internal roads of the Simo area (Phase 1: 26km, Phase 2: 11.5km) in Malabo The construction of 13 buildings in the camp in Malabo The construction of a camp in Mongomo The urban development of 9 villages in Malabo and in the continental part of the country The implementation of a medium-voltage power line He confirmed that work is currently underway on projects in Malabo, including the internal roads of the Simo area (Phase 2) with a length of 11.5 km, including rainwater drainage. There are also ongoing projects to develop the general site of the Riaba farm area (Phase 5), the general site of the Alegri area (Phase 1), the construction of fences with a length of 650 metres, and the operation and maintenance of the drinking water treatment plant for the city of Malabo with a capacity of 21,000 cubic metres per day. In the continental region of Equatorial Guinea, Arab Contractors is implementing a number of projects, including the construction of the Azok-Akasi Road (60 km long), the Imbini city road and electricity project (11 km long), the internal roads for the city of Kojo and the city of Kojo2 with a total length of approximately 21 km, and the Andong-Bedu Road. El-Assar affirmed that Arab Contractors continues to expand its operations in Equatorial Guinea to achieve the vision of sustainable development in Equatorial Guinea and to strengthen bilateral relations in the field of construction and development.
