The end of Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year rule provides a momentous opportunity for Sudan to put respect for human rights and rule of law at the center of its transition, Human Rights Watch said today. Sudan’s authorities should heed the peaceful protesters who for months have been calling for “freedom, peace, and justice” and immediately introduce reforms to help end decades of abuse and to protect human rights and the rule of law.
On April 11, 2019, Sudan’s vice president and defense minister, Awad Ibn Ouf, dissolved Sudan’s government, suspended its constitution, and announced that a military council would take over for a two-year transitional period. He also announced that all “political detainees” would be released, and that Sudan would remain committed to all regional and international agreements.
“This significant development reinforces the authorities’ obligation to address egregious human rights abuses suffered by so many Sudanese over the last three decades,” said Jehanne Henry, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Al-Bashir’s ouster is a testament to the tenacity of the protesters, who remained in the streets despite the government’s violent repression.”
Al-Bashir’s current whereabouts have not been made public. Ibn Ouf said that al-Bashir is under arrest and in a safe place. Authorities should also carry out the two International Criminal Court arrest warrants against al-Bashir for grave crimes in Darfur, as well as the warrant for Ahmed Haroun, acting head of the long-ruling National Congress Party, who is also wanted by the ICC for crimes in Darfur.
Since April 6, thousands of protesters have held sit-ins at the Sudan army general command in Khartoum. Government forces cracked down on the protesters, killing dozens. Sudan Doctors’ Central Committee, an opposition group, said that at least 26 protesters were killed. Media reports said clashes took place between soldiers from the armed forces and other security forces, as some army soldiers sought to protect protesters.
On the morning of April 11, military vehicles and troops were deployed in multiple locations around the city, including National Congress Party offices and the homes of senior government officials and al-Bashir’s family. Opposition groups including the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which has been at the forefront of the protests, insist that the military should hand over power to a civilian transitional government.
Witnesses in Khartoum told Human Rights Watch that on April 11, they saw protesters surround the national security complex in Bahri, Khartoum, and watched detainees being released. The overall number of detainees released is still unknown.
Ibn Ouf is among the Sudanese officials under sanction by the United States government for his role as head of military intelligence in commanding attacks on civilians in Darfur. With the situation still in flux and extremely tense, other governments and international entities including the United Nations and African Union should also press for full respect for the basic rights of Sudanese people.
Protests have taken place in major Sudanese cities since December 2018, both in response to Sudan’s declining economy and for an end to al-Bashir’s rule. Sudanese security forces cracked down violently on those protests, killing scores of protesters and rounding up hundreds, possibly thousands, for arrest and detention. Human Rights Watch has long documented grave human rights violations and potential war crimes in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile, as well as patterns of repression across the country, including killing protesters.
Al-Bashir is facing charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes at the ICC based on attacks against civilians in Darfur dating back to 2002. On March 31, 2005, the United Nations Security Council mandated the ICC prosecutor to conduct an investigation there.
“The release of detainees in Khartoum is a necessary start, but Sudan’s leaders need to ensure that all those wrongfully detained are released and that the rights of the Sudanese people to protest peacefully are fully respected,” Henry said. “They should also hand al-Bashir and the others facing ICC international arrest warrants over to the court at once as victims of the gravest crimes in Darfur should not have to wait any longer for justice.”
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: Human Rights Watch [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Rwandan President Kagame Makes a Case for Investment in Africa
Rwandan President Kagame said that Africa is open to business partnerships with the rest of the world and has since improved in openness and was moving as a bloc toward a free trade area.
President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, has called for increased investment in Africa, saying that countries on the continent understand the importance of foreign direct investments on their economies and have been working to create a friendly environment.
Kagame was speaking on Thursday evening in New York, United States at an NBA Board of Governors meeting that attracted NBA club owners and executives.
The President said that Africa is open to business partnerships with the rest of the world and has since improved in openness and was moving as a bloc toward a free trade area.
“Africans are beginning to understand that there are certain things we have to get for ourselves as they seek partnerships with the rest of the world,” the Head of State said.
Kagame said that the African continent has also been rolling out several integration initiatives further improving the business conditions.
“Africa is open to doing business with the rest of the world, Africa has a lot to offer,” he said.
He added: We are seeing increased openness, we have created a continental free trade area with 50 African countries signing up to that, with a number of them having already ratified the agreement.”
“We have brought Africa together and united it through regional integration. This is of interest to Africa but should be of interest to the United States and other partners as well.”
The President told the American investors in presence that the right moment to invest on the continent would be now because their ventures would grow with the continent.
“This is the moment to invest in Africa. You don’t have to wait, invest now and grow with Africa as it grows,” the Head of State added.
Kagame said that one of the benefits of investing in Africa is the demographic dividend, with a majority of the population being youthful.
The President also shared insights into Rwanda’s recovery following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed over one million lives.
He said that after the Genocide almost everything was a priority for the country considering the destruction.
“Everything was a priority and the biggest challenge was where do you start from? We started from scratch, we started by putting pieces together, bringing people back together, justice, security, rebuilding schools,” he said.
Over time, Kagame said, the country was able to create its own unique solutions and roll out initiatives which helped promote unity and reconciliation.
“In a period of 12 years, we created a justice system based on our tradition where we tried over one million people. We look back and find that national unity has been holding, justice has taken place, there has been forgiving,” he said.
Earlier Thursday, President Kagame held talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Sudan: al-Bashir Ousting Provides Opportunity for Human Rights and Justice Focus
The end of Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year rule provides a momentous opportunity for Sudan to put respect for human rights and rule of law at the center of its transition, Human Rights Watch said today. Sudan’s authorities should heed the peaceful protesters who for months have been calling for “freedom, peace, and justice” and immediately introduce reforms to help end decades of abuse and to protect human rights and the rule of law.
On April 11, 2019, Sudan’s vice president and defense minister, Awad Ibn Ouf, dissolved Sudan’s government, suspended its constitution, and announced that a military council would take over for a two-year transitional period. He also announced that all “political detainees” would be released, and that Sudan would remain committed to all regional and international agreements.
“This significant development reinforces the authorities’ obligation to address egregious human rights abuses suffered by so many Sudanese over the last three decades,” said Jehanne Henry, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Al-Bashir’s ouster is a testament to the tenacity of the protesters, who remained in the streets despite the government’s violent repression.”
Al-Bashir’s current whereabouts have not been made public. Ibn Ouf said that al-Bashir is under arrest and in a safe place. Authorities should also carry out the two International Criminal Court arrest warrants against al-Bashir for grave crimes in Darfur, as well as the warrant for Ahmed Haroun, acting head of the long-ruling National Congress Party, who is also wanted by the ICC for crimes in Darfur.
Since April 6, thousands of protesters have held sit-ins at the Sudan army general command in Khartoum. Government forces cracked down on the protesters, killing dozens. Sudan Doctors’ Central Committee, an opposition group, said that at least 26 protesters were killed. Media reports said clashes took place between soldiers from the armed forces and other security forces, as some army soldiers sought to protect protesters.
On the morning of April 11, military vehicles and troops were deployed in multiple locations around the city, including National Congress Party offices and the homes of senior government officials and al-Bashir’s family. Opposition groups including the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which has been at the forefront of the protests, insist that the military should hand over power to a civilian transitional government.
Witnesses in Khartoum told Human Rights Watch that on April 11, they saw protesters surround the national security complex in Bahri, Khartoum, and watched detainees being released. The overall number of detainees released is still unknown.
Ibn Ouf is among the Sudanese officials under sanction by the United States government for his role as head of military intelligence in commanding attacks on civilians in Darfur. With the situation still in flux and extremely tense, other governments and international entities including the United Nations and African Union should also press for full respect for the basic rights of Sudanese people.
Protests have taken place in major Sudanese cities since December 2018, both in response to Sudan’s declining economy and for an end to al-Bashir’s rule. Sudanese security forces cracked down violently on those protests, killing scores of protesters and rounding up hundreds, possibly thousands, for arrest and detention. Human Rights Watch has long documented grave human rights violations and potential war crimes in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile, as well as patterns of repression across the country, including killing protesters.
Al-Bashir is facing charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes at the ICC based on attacks against civilians in Darfur dating back to 2002. On March 31, 2005, the United Nations Security Council mandated the ICC prosecutor to conduct an investigation there.
“The release of detainees in Khartoum is a necessary start, but Sudan’s leaders need to ensure that all those wrongfully detained are released and that the rights of the Sudanese people to protest peacefully are fully respected,” Henry said. “They should also hand al-Bashir and the others facing ICC international arrest warrants over to the court at once as victims of the gravest crimes in Darfur should not have to wait any longer for justice.”
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: Human Rights Watch [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Ghanaian Educator Who Taught MS Word on a Chalkboard Reflects on the Past Year
When Richard Appiah Akoto appeared onstage at the 2018 Microsoft Educator Exchange (E2), a gathering of innovative educators discussing the latest tech trends in the sector, he received a long and standing ovation from fellow educators. They recognized him as the dedicated educator who resorted to using a chalkboard in his computer studies class because his school, the Betenase Municipal Assembly Junior High School, located in an impoverished farming village in Ghana, had no working PCs.
The photos of Richard painstakingly sketching out a mock-up of a Microsoft Word screen in colored chalk on his classroom blackboard so his students could learn digital skills even without devices, were shared thousands of times on social media. But it wasn’t the first time he’d used this technique – by the time his story went viral, he’d also drawn monitors, system units, keyboards, a mouse, formatting toolbars etc. on the chalkboard in effort to show his students what a computer screen looks like.
His story caught the attention of individuals and organisations everywhere. Microsoft, a company committed to helping every person on the planet achieve more, was particularly inspired by Richard’s determination in helping his students learn digital skills and invited him to attend the 2018 Microsoft Educator Exchange (E2) in Singapore.
A melting pot of skills transfer
E2 is an annual event that sees hundreds of the world’s most innovative educators gather in one place to celebrate incredible work done in the classroom.
During the event, educators share ideas and best practices, collaborate on projects and work together to make progress on some of the most challenging areas of education. Attendees are also energized by meeting like-minded educators and often form sustaining friendships that continue to blossom many months and years after the event has concluded.
This was exactly the case for Richard. “I’d never traveled outside of Ghana, so the opportunity to interact with educators just like me from other parts of the world was incredibly inspiring,” he says.
The seminars and workshops also gave Richard a first-hand glimpse at what the teaching process will look like in the digital future, and best practice tips on how to start preparing for that reality, today. “It was great to see how educators are using technology to teach their students beyond just the curriculum of their country. I was also inspired to learn how educators who experienced the same issues I did in terms of not having direct access to technology, overcame those challenges.”
Overall, Richard says the experience improved his ability to teach Information and Communication Technology (ICT). “Since returning from the event, I feel confident knowing what the future holds, for my profession as well as for my students who are preparing to enter the digital age. I teach with even more enthusiasm today because I know what the digital world of tomorrow looks like.”
Bringing the transformation home
Today, Richard can teach on a computer. With the assistance of organisations like Microsoft, the Sekyedomase village now has two fully-fledged computer centres. “After I returned from E2, we received donations in the form of laptops, textbooks and software from corporates and NGOs in Ghana. It was a great blessing for our community,” he says.
Richard also gained access to the Microsoft Certified Educator Programme (MCE) for professional development, so he can nurture his passion for teaching, and build rich, custom learning experiences.
Every day, Richard is inspired by the children he teaches. “It gives me joy to watch them learning to create the types of skills they will use in the future. From PowerPoint presentations to website codes, these kids are becoming future-ready and I am helping them as best I can using the knowledge I gained at E2 and the Microsoft Certified Educator Programme.”
This year’s E2 will be held in Paris, France from 3-4 April 2019. Microsoft will be bringing more educators like Richard together, not only to celebrate and acknowledge their efforts face-to-face but also to provide them with the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from each other.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Cape Town Hosts World Travel Market Africa to Attract More Tourists to the Continent
The doors to the Cape Town International Convention Centre were opened on Wednesday morning with the hope that hundreds of millions worth of currency would change hands in the coming days.
The World Travel Market (WTM) Africa began in Cape Town and focuses on promoting and networking the tourism industry in Africa. In 2017, $365m (about R5.1bn) was exchanged in business transactions at the three-day event.
Nearly 6,000 industry professionals are expected to attend.
“Platforms such as WTM Africa provide us with an opportunity as Africans to share with the world what we have to offer not only as a city, or as a country, but as an African region,” Cape Town mayor Dan Plato told delegates.
“We are looking forward to sharing ideas with our counterparts on how to continue building a globally competitive tourism and business destination.”
The opening seminar focused on the economic potential the tourism industry has for SA.
“Currently, the tourism economy in Cape Town employs around 150,000 people which makes it the sector with the highest growth and employment potential,” said Plato.
Other panelists outlined plans to bring more visitors to SA. Tourism Business Council of SA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa said the organisation aims to double the number of annual tourists in SA by 2030 to about 21-million.
Gillian Saunders, special adviser to tourism minister Derek Hanekom, said marketing strategies need to change be changed to attract more Africans to SA.
“Often aspirational destinations are in Europe, even though there is nothing wrong with Joburg and Cape Town,” Saunders said. “Aspirational destinations of Africans should also be down here.”
The event is hosting about 600 exhibitors and lasts until the evening of Friday 12 April 2019. For more information about the Expo, and to register, click here.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email marketing@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.
Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].