Harrison Arubu

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for urgent steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.

A statement by his office on Tuesday evening said Guterres remained “seriously concerned” over the situation in the war-hit region.

The statement said he attached strong importance to the partnership between the Ethiopian government and the UN, through its Country Team, to address the “acute humanitarian needs of all affected populations”.

“He underlines the need for continued urgent steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation and extend the necessary protections to those at risk.

“In this context, the Secretary-General welcomes the positive engagement of the Government of Ethiopia during recent visits by senior UN officials.

“These engagements are undertaken in line with the Secretary-General’s call to the government for sustained, impartial and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected areas,” it said.

Ethiopia’s central government launched an offensive in November after the Tigray People’s Liberation Army (TPLA) seized military bases in the region in a secession attempt.

On Nov. 28, government troops captured the regional capital, Mekelle, ousting the TPLA, which had been Tigray’s ruling party for almost 30 years.

Guterres’ statement came amid reports that the Ethiopian government was denying the media and aid agencies access to the region.

Briefing newsmen on the situation on Monday, UN spokesman, Mr Stephane Guterres, said provision of humanitarian assistance continued to be challenged by “access constraints and administrative bureaucracy”.

“Access to essential services, livelihoods and cash remains restricted across large swathes of Tigray. 

“Two refugee camps remain inaccessible since November, hunger is increasing and the health system has reportedly collapsed,” Dujarric said citing reports by UN aid teams.

Earlier on Tuesday, opposition parties in Tigray reportedly warned that the crisis would soon degenerate into a “humanitarian disaster” if aid was not delivered urgently.

The parties said people were already dying from hunger and urged the international community to intervene, reports the BBC.

But Ethiopia’s government said aid was being delivered and nearly 1.5 million people have been reached, the news outlet added.

No fewer than 200,000 people are said to have been displaced by the conflict in which about 100,000 Eritrean refugees sheltering in UN-run camps in the region are reportedly caught up.

The BBC quoted a UN refugee agency spokesperson as saying they had received reports that some of them were eating bark of trees and drinking water from puddles. (NAN)

China’s foreign ministry, on Wednesday, rejected the suggestion that it supported or gave tacit consent to Monday’s military coup in neighbouring Myanmar.

“Relevant theories are not true.

“As Myanmar’s friendly neighbouring country, we wish that all sides in Myanmar can appropriately resolve their differences and uphold political and social stability,’’ Foreign Ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said in response to a question at a daily briefing.

The Chinese government’s top diplomat met last month during a scheduled visit to the Myanmar capital with officials including the country’s military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Hlaing, this week, seized power in the coup. (Reuters/NAN)

Lawyers for leading Russian dissident Alexei Navalny on Tuesday immediately said they would appeal a controversial 3.5-year prison sentence handed down by a court for a probation violation.

The court had ruled that Navalny should serve jail time for breaking the rules of his probation when he failed to check in with authorities while he was in Germany recovering from a poisoning attack.

According to his lawyers, Navalny may only have to serve two years and eight months of the sentence as a previous house arrest may be taken into account.

Navalny has been on probation since 2014 in a fraud case, which he has long condemned as political and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said involved “arbitrary and unfair” proceedings.

Navalny argued in court there was no way he could have followed the rules, noting that he was comatose at the time he was taken to Germany.

“I was being treated in Germany,” Navalny told the court ahead of sentencing.

But the Russian judge insisted that the terms of the probation apply whatever the circumstances.

“The court has ruled to satisfy the motion of the Federal Penitentiary Service,” said judge Natalya Repnikova as she announced the decision, in comments carried by TASS.

Navalny used the proceedings to once again pin the August attack, which involved the nerve agent Novichok being applied to his underpants, on Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the Kremlin leader would go down in history as “Vladimir, the underpants poisoner.”

Navalny said the attack was orchestrated by Putin and that an FSB domestic intelligence agency “hit squad” planted the Novichok in his underpants.

“We have proven that Putin committed this attempted murder,” Navalny said, and now “this little thieving person in his bunker” is going crazy because he had survived.

Putin and the FSB deny involvement.

Multiple independent labs have confirmed the presence of Novichok, which was used in at least one other attempted murder linked to the Kremlin.

Navalny returned to Russia from Germany earlier this month, even though Moscow made clear he would be detained upon arrival.

Since his detention, the country has endured two weekends of mass protests and arrests.

There were many arrests in Moscow on Tuesday evening following the verdict.

Videos on social networks showed Navalny supporters being taken away by security forces in the centre of the Russian capital and brought to police buses.

Human rights activists spoke of more than 850 arrests throughout the day.

Police were already detaining people during the trial, which lasted several hours.

Thousands of people took part in protests, according to estimates by observers.

The crowd chanted “Putin is a thief!” live images showed.

They also demanded Navalny’s release.

Cars honked in solidarity with the demonstrators.

In St Petersburg, in the country’s north-west, the security authorities also set up barriers in the city centre.

According to human rights activists, there were more than 170 arrests.

Navalny demanded the release of all political prisoners and called for his supporters not to be afraid.

“It’s not hard to imprison me,” Navalny said, adding: “But a whole country cannot be imprisoned.”

Putin has been in power for more than two decades, alternating between the presidency and the office of prime minister.

His rule has been characterised by increasing wealth in the country, but also by ever-increasing restrictions on free speech, the media and political opponents.

Prosecutors also said Navalny must pay a fine of 500,000 roubles (6,588 dollars).

It was not clear how the court decided on this.

During the sentencing, Navalny’s wife, Julia Navalnya, broke down in tears and removed her black face mask upon hearing the news.

“See you soon. Don’t be sad. Everything will be fine,” he said to her in farewell.

Internationally, the trial has been criticised as politically motivated, and many see it as a new attempt to silence Putin’s main political opponent.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed calls by the leaders of Britain, France, and the foreign ministers of Germany, Austria, Poland, the Scandinavian countries and the Czech Republic for Navalny’s immediate release.

“The United States is deeply concerned by Russian authorities’ decision to sentence opposition figure (Alexei) Navalny … replacing his suspended sentence with jail time,” Blinken said in a statement.

The EU will not accept the conviction, according to a statement by European Council President Charles Michel.

“We do not accept his sentence – justice must not be politicised.

”Protesters have the right to demonstrate peacefully and voice their political views,” Michel tweeted.

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell called Navalny’s conviction a violation of Russia’s international obligations regarding the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

“The sentencing of Alexey (Navalny) runs counter (to) Russia’s international commitments on rule of law & fundamental freedoms.

”It goes against the verdict of (the ECHR), which ruled this case arbitrary and unreasonable,” Borrell tweeted.

Earlier on Tuesday the Kremlin sharply rejected criticism of the trial, particularly from Brussels.

Russia would not accept “admonitions” by the European Union, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said according to news agency Interfax. (dpa/NAN)

Uganda has approved the purchase of 18 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India, said a government statement issued on Tuesday.

Uganda Media Centre in a statement said cabinet ministers in a meeting on Monday approved the purchase of the vaccine that will be used to vaccinate the elderly.

Others to be vaccinated are the people with underlying health issues, health workers, and security personnel among other essential social service providers.

The statement said a total of 9 million people would receive the vaccine in two doses separated by 28 days.

A tentative allocation of more than 3.5 million doses are expected by the end of this month or early next month.

The balance is expected on a quarterly basis, said the statement.

It said there was an emerging opportunity of acquiring vaccines through the AU mechanism coordinated by the African Vaccines Delivery Alliance.

Through this initiative, an initial 270 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the continent have been secured.

There is growing interest from the private sector to participate in the COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

“The interest of the private sector ranges from financing for vaccines targeting their staff and host communities on one hand to supporting the general service delivery components,” the statement said.

It said the ministry of health has developed a draft concept note to guide the participation of the private sector, detailing the regulatory process and controls to ensure harmonious implementation of the vaccination activities in the country. (Xinhua/NAN)

Siemens Energy plans to cut 7,800 jobs worldwide by 2025, the company said on Tuesday when presenting its results for the first fiscal quarter, which were positive.

Roughly one in 12 positions will go at the company, with 3,000 to be cut in Germany.

The company was spun off from the German engineering giant Siemens in 2020.

From October to December, the company earned 99 million euros on the bottom line, bringing it back to the profit zone.

In the previous fiscal year, Siemens Energy had made billions in losses.

“The energy market is changing rapidly, this offers us opportunities, but at the same time presents us with major challenges,” said chief executive Christian Bruch.

He said he would increase competitiveness with the savings being made.

“We are aware that our plans demand a lot from parts of the workforce, that’s why our goal is to implement these measures in as socially responsible a manner as possible.

“The company will not shut down entire sites,” he said.

Several days ago, Siemens Energy had reached an agreement with employee representatives on the restructuring of the company, which provided for getting by with as few layoffs as possible.

At the time, however, the company did not provide any figures.

The fact that business was good in the first quarter does not change the necessity of the restructuring, the company said.

The gas and power division is affected by the cuts.

It said the result was driven by operational improvements at gas and power and the wind power subsidiary Siemens Gamesa, and noted that it saved money during the pandemic because of cancelled business trips and staff working from home. (dpa/NAN)

Uganda’s main opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, on Monday petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking the nullification of President Yoweri Musevevi’s victory in last month’s election.

Reports from Kampala said Kyagulanyi, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), filed the petition against President Museveni, the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General.

Kyagulanyi contends that Museveni was not validly elected as the President of the Republic of Uganda, saying the 14 January election was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of the electoral laws and principles governing elections, which non-compliance affected the results of the election in a substantial manner.

“I want the court to annul and set aside the election of Museveni as President and order that a fresh election be conducted in accordance with the law,” he requested.

He is also seeking a permanent injunction, restraining the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) officers and intelligence services from involving themselves and interfering with electoral processes in future.

Kyagulanyi says he is aggrieved by the election and declaration of Museveni as President by the Electoral Commission (EC), adding that Museveni was not validly elected.

He contends that EC arbitrarily and unlawfully issued campaign guidelines, which hindered a free and fair campaign to his disadvantage, contrary to sections of the Presidential Elections Act.

“The EC enforced the said guidelines selectively to favour Museveni and his National Resistance Movement Organisation,” Kyagulanyi said. (PANA/NAN)

By Harrison  Arubu

A U.S.-based management and anti-graft expert, Dr Mannixs Paul, has attributed the difficulty being faced in the fight against corruption in African countries to the lack of a rule-based culture.

Paul disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York.

According to him, the community- or relationship-oriented culture existing in such countries only drive corruption.

Paul, a Nigerian, is the founder of Afro Red-Flag Protective Shield, an anti-graft initiative launched at the weekend to check white-collar crimes in the private sector of African countries.

He said: “There are anti-corruption laws in African countries that are well crafted but fail at the point of implementation.

“Most of these laws and rules were borrowed from the western world where they are effective, and they fail in Africa because of the difference in culture.

“The western world operates rule-based culture, which emphasises explicit, objective, and externally made rules that forbid personal preferences or favoured relationships.

“But the developing world operates under the community-based culture where relationships or connections dictate application of rules.

“It is very hard to fight fraud and corruption in a community-based culture, and the very few who stand their ground end up as enemies of society,” Paul said.

He called for a paradigm shift, emphasising that Africans “cannot continue to sustain the status quo and expect a new result.”

Paul, who is a licensed private investigator, described Afro Red-Flag Protective Shield as a robust anti-graft initiative established with the aim of cultivating an ethical and rule-oriented culture among business organisations.

According to him, the programme is designed to strategically modify the behaviours of employees and employers alike to ensure honesty, transparency, and accountability.

“Afro Red-Flag Protective Shield is a collection of professionals in different fields such as law, business management, criminology, psychology, and forensics, among others, committed to helping in tackling organisational issues.

“We will be conducting corruption risk assessments, system reviews, capacity building for employers and employees, and business intelligence reporting, among others, in entities that need our help.

“Our mission is to help business organisations and agencies to achieve corporate goals, save cost and time, maximise human capital, and regain prosperity with fewer resources.

“Ordinarily, it is called consulting, which businesses and organisations are supposed to pay for, but we are doing it free of charge.

“All you need as an organisation to assess the services, is to be a member of the Afro Red-Flag Group,” he stated.

Paul said the programme, designed exclusively for the private sector, was launching its pilot phase in Nigeria and would be extended to other parts of Africa in due course. (NAN)

Chinese authorities, on Monday, detained 80 people on suspicion of producing counterfeit coronavirus vaccines.

State news agency, Xinhua reported that the detained are alleged to have been bottling saline solution to sell as vaccine since September.

A total of 3,000 vaccine doses were confiscated, with raids taking place in several locations across the country.

China has developed a number of its own vaccines.

The Beijing government has set a goal of vaccinating 50 million people by mid-February. (dpa/NAN)

Ghana  is on course to get at least 17.6 million people vaccinated against COVID-19 pandemic by the end of June, President Nana Akufo-Addo has said.

In a televised speech late Sunday, he said the government is working with bilateral and multilateral partners to achieve its aim to vaccinate the entire population.

“I indicated our intention to procure our first consignment of the COVID vaccines within the first half of this year,’’ Akufo-Addo said.

“Much work has been done toward the realisation of this.’’

The president said the Food and Drugs Authority would use its established processes for granting emergency-use-authorisation for each vaccine in Ghana.

“The earliest vaccine will be in the country by March,’’ he said.

“We aim to vaccinate the entire population, with an initial target of 20 million people,’’ Akufo-Addo said.

“I assure you that only vaccines evaluated and declared as safe-for-use in Ghana will be administered.’’

The president said the government would continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation, urging citizens to fully embrace the safety protocols.

Police personnel have been deployed across the country to enforce preventive measures such as the wearing of face masks in public.