Algerian FM bemoans exclusion of Polisario from international fora – The North Africa Post
The exclusion of the Polisario separatists from international events bringing together the African Union and international partners is irking Algeria whose foreign minister Ahmed Attaf made a desperate plea to the African Union. Ironically, Attaf, whose country mobilizes all its resources to back the Polisario separatists, said the African Union has been created “to unite instead of dividing.”His plea mirrors the waning support for the Polisario separatist thesis within the African Union, as Algeria’s voice becomes inaudible and its influence weakens, including in its immediate Sahel neighborhood. Under pressure from Algeria, the African Union admitted in the 1980s the Polisario, an entity lacking all the attributes of a state, within a context marked by ideological fervor that is now anachronistic. So far 37 African states back Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara territory where 40% of African states have already opened consulates. Morocco has always stressed that the membership of Algeria’s Polisario proxies within the African Union stands as an aberration in total disregard for the UN process and for Morocco’s historical rights as a country that was divided by two colonial powers.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 12:16 UTC
Why are mini-grids not helping rural electrification in Nigeria?
With just over 4,000 megawatts supplying nearly 220 million people, the electricity access deficit stands at about 40% nationwide. Our team of development economists, geographers and sociologists studied how mini-grids fit into the picture of electricity access expansion in Nigeria. Of interestNigeria: Solar mini-grids greasing the palm oil industry for growthThe provisions were made with the aim of directing investment towards “unserved” rural areas. More importantly, the shift in strategy doesn’t resolve the problem of affordability in rural areas, which became glaring under the isolated supply model. There is a need to broaden the Regulation for Mini-grids 2016 and the Electricity Act 2023 to unlock substantial public spending for rural electrification.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 12:14 UTC
NATO appoints envoy for Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel
NATO appoints envoy for Middle East, North Africa and the SahelA NATO flag flies in the wind during the "National Guardian 2024" exercise as part of the "Quadriga" series of Bundeswehr exercises at the Oberlausitz military training area. Robert Michael/dpaNATO on Tuesday appointed a special representative for the defence alliance's "southern neighbourhood," meaning the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel. The new envoy is Javier Colomina, who previously served as NATO's special representative in the Caucasus and Central Asia. NATO member Spain also has some territory in North Africa, particularly the cities of Melilla and Ceuta. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement: "The Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel regions are important to our Alliance.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 11:11 UTC
Cape Town: New rules proposed for small-scale energy structures
The following would apply to small-scale energy structures, medium-scale energy structures and utility-scale energy structures:The City may approve a consent use application for a medium-scale energy structure or utility-scale energy structure, where a site development plan is submitted to the City for approval. An approved site development plan constitutes the development rules for a renewable energy structure. An energy structure is considered abandoned when the structure fails to continuously operate for more than two years. Kadri Nassiep, Executive Director of Energy at the City of Cape Town, on the municipality’s energy planFAQs on renewable energy/electricity in the City of Cape TownWhat is the City of Cape Town solar incentive? Cape Town nets R36m in carbon credits for waste to energy projects
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 10:52 UTC
Wind farm construction starts for energy cluster in Mpumalanga
Financial close has been reached on the first phase of the Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm in Mpumalanga, the first part of an eventual renewable energy cluster of farms. Plans for the eventual renewable energy cluster include a 150MW solar energy facility. The Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Energy Facility will include up to 111 wind turbines to the maximum hub height of up to 200m. The renewable energy cluster will also include a battery energy storage system of 200MW/800MWh. Of referenceBuilding human capacity for clean energy jobs across AfricaEach renewable energy facility will be constructed as a separate stand-alone project.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 10:47 UTC
Lancashire County Pension Fund Renews Asset Servicing Relationship with Northern Trust
A Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Lancashire County Pension Fund provides retirement benefits to approximately 189,000 employees and over 300 employers in the public sector across the county of Lancashire, North West England. “We are delighted that Lancashire County Pension Fund renewed our 13-year partnership,” said James Wright, Head of Asset Owners, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at Northern Trust. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and support to Lancashire County Pension Fund to deliver benefits for their members.”“As a leading asset servicing provider to UK pension funds, Northern Trust has a deep understanding of the LGPS sector, our scheme and more importantly our people,” said Sean Greene, Head of Service Pension Fund at Lancashire County Pension Fund. “Throughout the 13 years, Northern Trust has supported us in times of transformative changes with its client-centric and solution-driven approach. Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 10:25 UTC
Unlawful practices: How Europe can challenge Israel’s presence in Palestine
The court found that Israel’s continued presence in the entirety of the Palestinian territory is unlawful, and should be brought to an end as rapidly as possible. Now, rather than pursuing the chimera of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Europe should focus its immediate efforts on directly challenging Israel’s unlawful practices, and incentivising a future Israeli move towards de-occupation. This includes the need to prevent trade or investment relations with Israeli settlements, as highlighted by the court. The European Union and European states cannot continue business as usual with Israel, and must instead challenge the country’s unlawful practices. Excluding settlements, recognising PalestineWhile Europeans have already taken some significant steps to differentiate between Israel and its settlements, more are needed.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 10:08 UTC
Egyptian furniture e-commerce marketplace expands to Saudi Arabia following recent funding
Kemitt, Egypt’s leading e-commerce marketplace for furniture and home accessories, has expanded into the Saudi Arabian market following a recent undisclosed funding round. The startup’s recent funding round, although undisclosed, provides the necessary capital to support Kemitt’s ambitious growth plans. “We are incredibly excited to bring Kemitt to Saudi Arabia,” said Mahmoud Fouad, co-founder and CEO of Kemitt. The recent funding will enable us to scale our operations, enhance our technology, and offer our unique shopping experience to Saudi consumers. Our mission is to establish Kemitt as the go-to destination for furniture shopping in the region.”To mark the expansion, Kemitt has launched a dedicated website for Saudi Arabia, which now has over 25,000 SKUs.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 09:08 UTC
Norden acquires Norlat Shipping
Norden has entered into an agreement to acquire Norwegian dry bulk operator Norlat Shipping, which specialises in the shipment of forest products and other bulk commodities, with main trading routes from Northern Europe to North Africa and North America. “With a customer-centric business and trading routes complementary to Norden’s, Norlat is a great fit with Norden,” said Norden CEO Jan Rindbo. Joining Norden will help us bring out the untapped potential that our team possesses, we are looking forward to starting this new adventure,” said Norlat Managing Director Paal Henrik Boehaugen. “Norlat is an extremely skilled parcelling business, increasing Norden’s access to the Northern European forestry trade, new customers and cargo. Norlat Shipping will become part of the Projects & Parcelling team in Norden.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 08:11 UTC
Olympic Games Africa football predictions, guide, expectations
Open Extended ReactionsWhen Nigeria and Cameroon won back-to-back men's Olympic football gold medals in 1996 and 2000, it felt as though Africa was finally primed to start competing at the business end of major tournaments. Here's all you need to know about Africa's chances in the men's football tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games. Morocco wideman Abde Ezzalzouli may be one of the stars of the 2024 Olympic football tournament. Olympic pedigree: While Nigeria and Cameroon reached the pinnacle of Olympic football, Egypt are the continent's most consistent qualifiers, having reached the tournament on 14 previous occasions (two of which were withdrawals). He's already been capped by the senior team, and should be a joy to watch at the Games.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 07:26 UTC
SA fintech startup Peach Payments acquires custom software development firm Operativa
South African digital payments service provider Peach Payments has acquired customer software development firm Operativa as a going concern, in the first such deal since it closed a US$31 million funding round, led by the Apis Growth Fund II, last year. Founded in Cape Town in 2012, Peach Payments provides a complete toolkit to help businesses accept, manage and disburse payments through web and mobile. Operativa has worked with Peach Payments since 2022, building and maintaining a number of the company’s payments systems and solutions that have paved the way for Peach Payments’ rapid expansion, including integrating additional payment methods such as Apple Pay, and onboarding new merchants and banking partners. Bringing Operativa’s specialised skills and developers in-house allows Peach Payments to deliver on its growth strategy more quickly and efficiently, said said Rahul Jain, CEO and co-founder of Peach Payments. “We have always really enjoyed working with Peach Payments.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 06:43 UTC
Denmark's Norden to acquire Norwegian dry bulk company
Danish shipping company Norden has entered into an agreement to acquire Norwegian dry bulk operator Norlat Shipping, which specialises in the shipment of forest products and other bulk commodities, with main trading routes from Northern Europe to North Africa and North America. Norden Chief Executive Officer Jan Rindbo said the acquisition will allow Norden to reinforce its growing position within projects and parcelling, enabling the company to offer customers with fully flexible solutions as a global provider of ocean-based freight services for bulk and project cargo of all sizes. Privately owned Norlat was founded in 1986 and has since developed a core business focusing on the shipment of sawn timber from Baltic and Continental ports to North Africa and North America. The company has offices in Sarpsborg and Bergen in Norway and in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, from where the company’s eight employees operate the asset light business, based on chartered vessels with four to five monthly shipments on predominately Handysize ships.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 06:30 UTC
Tunisia : October hearing date set in Instalingo case
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Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 04:45 UTC
UN says nearly 40 million people had HIV in 2023 -- and every minute someone died
UNITED NATIONS — Nearly 40 million people were living with the HIV virus that causes AIDS last year, over 9 million weren’t getting any treatment, and the result was that every minute someone died of AIDS-related causes, the U.N. said in a new report launched Monday. In 2023, around 630,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses, a significant decline from the 2.1 million deaths in 2004. He said UNAIDS has been asking the manufacturer to make it available at lower cost to low and middle-income countries. Núñez said there have also been seven cases where people with HIV who were treated for leukemia emerged with no sign of the HIV virus in their system. It has allowed many countries to increase the number of people with HIV to receive treatment.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 04:29 UTC
How they painted India
A common thread that binds these works is how the foreign gaze offered a more private view of the then-Indian life. An ongoing exhibition comprising 103 works with 85 on display, ‘Destination India: Foreign Artists In India 1857-1947’, by DAG explores this lively representation of India, through the eyes of 39 foreign artists from 12 countries. “This is the first exhibition to demonstrate that a major branch of Orientalist painting was devoted to India (and not confined to just North Africa and West Asia). Landmark exhibitions that have focused on the genre of such paintings in the past, including ‘The Lure of the East: British Orientalist Painting’ (2008) at London’s Tate Gallery, do not mention India. The Indian chapter of Orientalist paintings has hardly been explored so this exhibit breaks new ground,” says Ashish Anand, CEO & MD, DAG.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 23, 2024 04:13 UTC