Latest news with #youthUnemployment
Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Kenyan president orders police to shoot Gen Z protesters in the legs
Kenya's president has ordered police to shoot Gen Z protesters vandalising businesses in the legs, ensuring they are debilitated but not killed. William Ruto declared on Wednesday that 'anyone caught burning another person's business or property should be shot in the leg, hospitalised, and later taken to court. Don't kill them, but ensure their legs are broken'. The UN has accused Kenyan police of using excessive force, including live ammunition, tear gas and rubber bullets in the latest wave of anti-government protests, as simmering anger against Mr Ruto's government erupted into clashes between protesters and police in the capital Nairobi and other cities. He accused protesters of trying to 'bring disaster' to Kenya in a bid to overthrow the government before the 2027 elections. 'This country will not be destroyed by a few people who are impatient and who want a change of government using unconstitutional means. It is not going to happen,' Mr Ruto added. The escalation of violence is the latest in a wider wave of protests, initially led by so-called Gen Z dissenters angry at the state of the economy, corruption and police brutality. Last summer, young Kenyan professionals took to social media to call for a 'Gen Z uprising' over proposed tax rises, which triggered widespread anger in a country grappling with a significant youth unemployment crisis. Protesters briefly seized control of parliament and set it ablaze following a week of countrywide riots that killed at least 27 people. Mr Rito later pulled the tax plans. The latest tensions peaked last month when the death of blogger Albert Obwang in police custody sparked widespread outrage against Mr Ruto's government across the country, with rights groups demanding that police be held accountable after a post-mortem examination revealed the probable cause of death was from being hit on the head. A total of 50 people have died and hundreds have been injured in the past two weeks during two separate waves of demonstrations. At least 31 people were killed and more than 100 others wounded in protests on Monday alone, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights also documenting at least 532 arrests and two forced disappearances. The UN criticised the Kenyan police for using 'lethal ammunition' against protesters and urged prompt thorough and independent investigations into the killings. Resistance leaders accused the government of deploying unmarked police vehicles to transport armed gangs to perceived opposition strongholds during the protests and called for a national boycott of all businesses affiliated with Mr Ruto's administration. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesman for the UN high commissioner for human rights, said in a news conference, 'It is essential that legitimate grievances at the root of these protests are addressed.' Mr Ruto has defended police brutality and on Wednesday said that attacks on security forces would be seen as a 'declaration of war'. 'You cannot sponsor violence and go scot-free,' he said, adding that 'Kenya cannot and will not be ruled through threats, terror, or chaos. Not under my watch'. Monday's protests were intended to commemorate Kenya's decades-long struggle for democracy – they fell on Saba Saba day, which in Swahili means 'Seven Seven', referring to the July 7 1990 protests – but they quickly escalated into deadly clashes in 17 out of the country's 47 counties, local media reported. Many of those demonstrating chanted 'Ruto must go' and 'wantam', meaning 'one term', a popular rallying call demanding Mr Ruto leave office. Mr Ruto has questioned why some Kenyans have been more critical of his administration than previous governments, claiming that the youth unemployment crisis was deep rooted and existed long before he came to power in 2022. He said that his administration was the first to take concrete steps to address it. 'Why cause all the chaos during my time?' Mr Ruto asked. 'You can call me whatever names you want to call me, but I will make sure there is peace and stability in Kenya.'
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
US tariffs: Lesotho declares state of disaster amid US tariff uncertainty
Lesotho has declared a national state of disaster over the country's "high rates of youth unemployment and job losses" as uncertainty over US tariffs hits the landlocked was hit by higher tariffs than any other country - 50% - when they were announced by President Donald Trump in April, although they have since been Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara said the state of disaster would be in force until 30 June in Lesotho stands at 30% but for young people the rate is almost 50%, according to official figures. The declaration, in line with the country's Disaster Management Act, allows the state to "take all necessary measures to... minimise the effects of disasters" among textile-dependent economy was already grappling with sky-high unemployment, especially among young people, before Trump slashed aid and raised trade barriers, according to an AFP tariffs could be death knell for US-Africa trade pactHow jeans and diamonds pushed Lesotho to the top of Trump's tariffs listLesotho was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the US's African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which gives favourable trade access to some countries to promote their economic to the US government, the two countries traded goods worth $240m (£187m) in 2024, mostly exports from Lesotho to the US, in particular textiles and that ended when Trump imposed a 10% tax on Lesotho, along with other nations, earlier this year. The additional 50% was of Trump's aims with his tariff announcement is to reduce his country's trade deficit with the rest of the government has warned it could lose up to 40,000 jobs if Agoa is not renewed at the end of September, according to Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile told South African business news site Moneyweb last month that US buyers were "not placing orders because they don't understand what is going to happen".The country was also hard-hit by the termination of the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) programmes around the is among those countries that benefited from the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), which was launched in 2003. More BBC stories on Lesotho: On the hunt for the fugitive linked to illegal South African gold mine where 78 diedWhy leaving his own charity will matter so much to Prince HarryNine things about Lesotho - the country 'nobody has ever heard of' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AfDB awards South Africa $1mln grant to boost green jobs
South Africa is facing a growing youth unemployment crisis. But developing its green economy may be a way out. Recently, the African Development Bank (AfDB) awarded South Africa's National Business Initiative (NBI) a $1m grant to establish a skills ecosystem that will provide the country's young people with emerging job opportunities in the green economy. Sustainable job creation The funding will support the country's Just Energy Transition Skilling for Employment Programme (JET SEP), led by the National Business Initiative in partnership with the management consultancy Boston Consulting Group. The initiative coordinates private sector efforts to prepare the workforce for the energy transition, in tandem with the government's JET Skilling Implementation Plan, focused on inclusive workforce development and sustainable job creation. Specifically, the grant will finance the programme's first phase, including feasibility studies for the design of skills development zones and capacity building within the public technical and vocational education and training system. Skills development zones will anchor the delivery of inclusive skills and foster local economic growth during the country's just-energy transition. Launched in 2024 and endorsed by the JET Project Management Unit under the presidency of the Government of South Africa, JET SEP has garnered support from over 30 influential South African CEOs, public sector leaders, and civil society leaders in the past year. Investing in energy The grant builds on the African Development Bank's significant investment in South Africa's energy sector. Since 2007, the bank has invested $3.4bn to support energy infrastructure, including renewable energy. The current grant will support the government's efforts to identify the skills needed for the sector, with a particular focus on renewable energy. Shameela Soobramoney, CEO of the National Business Initiative, said: 'This grant from the African Development Bank is a critical step toward turning vision into action, strengthening the national skills system, and ensuring that all South Africans are equipped to seize new opportunities in the green economy. 'We are proud to continue working alongside our partners and stakeholders to build an inclusive future-ready workforce and to stimulate local economies in a way that leaves no one behind.'
CBC
06-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
What's your job-search story this summer?
This Sunday it's Cross Country Checkup the JOBS edition. It's a tough market for young people -- and it's getting tougher in Canada faster than any other major economy in the world according to recent data. How are you affected by youth unemployment? What's your job-search story this summer? Plus, a re you thinking of quitting your job? A recent survey found that 4 out of 10 Canadians were planning on looking for a new job this year. How did you know it was the right time to leave your job? How did that decision change your path?
The Herald
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald
DA launches initiative in northern areas to assist job seekers
Scores of unemployed youth gathered at the West End Community Hall on Thursday, seeking assistance with job applications and tools to help them stand out in the job market. The launch of JobsConnectEC by the DA marks the beginning of several initiatives the party will roll out across the Eastern Cape over the next 18 months, aimed at tackling the province's unemployment rate of 39.3% and an expanded rate of 49%. The youth received assistance with drafting their CVs, were connected to job opportunities, and took tests provided by Action Volunteer Africa to help guide their career choices. Unveiling the programme, DA MPL Vicky Knoetze said they chose to launch it in the northern areas as it was affected by high levels of youth unemployment. 'We've created an opportunity centre by connecting people to opportunities after we realised that many don't have the tools to do job-seeking basics such as CVs, opening bank accounts or have access to clothing for a job interview,' Knoetze said. 'So we decided to bring all this together, including a Wi-Fi hotspot in our ward councillor's office. 'We want to roll this out in every constituency and municipality, especially in the rural areas where there's a complete lack of opportunities.' Robyn Rautenbach said she had spent five months job hunting after resigning from her previous job for personal reasons. 'It's been so difficult finding the opportunities and getting Wi-Fi access because it's so expensive.' Another unemployed youth, Anita Blaauw, said she had been looking for work for almost four years. 'I'm at a point where I don't know if there's something wrong with my CV or whether I'm applying for the wrong jobs, but it has been difficult. 'I understand that competition is tough among job seekers because there are too many of us gunning for the same jobs, but what can we do when you're striving for a better future for your children and family as a whole?' The Herald
