The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) welcomes the decision by Judge Unterhalter to send Africa Oil Week’s (AOW) defamation case against the AEC to a trial court – citing lack of merits for a summary judgment.

The AEC views this as a victory not just for the Chamber, but for the right of Africans continue exploring and producing oil and gas, despite pressure that we have seen from outside the African continent. We believe in free markets, limited government intervention, individual liberty and respect for African resources and energy companies.

Our counterclaim against AOW will continue, seeking justice for the African energy industry and all Africans fighting energy poverty. We look forward to a spirited litigation and defense against AOW’s allegations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Benin and Sierra Leone deposited their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies on 19 July, advancing the tally of formal acceptances to 80. Ambassador Corinne Brunet of Benin and Ambassador Lansana Gberie of Sierra Leone presented the instruments of acceptance to Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Director-General Okonjo-Iweala said: “I am delighted to receive formal acceptances of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from Benin and Sierra Leone. Their support underlines the importance that they, as least-developed members, place on this Agreement and on global cooperation for upholding ocean sustainability and combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, to support livelihoods and food security in West Africa and around the world. I hope the remaining WTO members — and we need only 30 more — will quickly follow the leadership of Benin and Sierra Leone, so that this landmark agreement enters into force soon.”

Ambassador Brunet said: “By accepting the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, Benin contributes to achieving a major and historic outcome for WTO members, underscoring our determination to combine economic prosperity with sustainable preservation of marine resources. This is a crucial step in our pursuit for balanced and environmentally respectful development. We are committed to fostering economic prosperity while safeguarding our natural capital for future generations. We call on all WTO members to work towards the swift entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by accelerating their national ratification processes.”

Ambassador Gberie said: “Sierra Leone’s ratification of this landmark fisheries subsidies agreement is a testament to our commitment to multilateralism, to the principles of sustainability and conservation, and to the fair and responsible exploitation of our natural resources. This ratification is firmly in keeping with our national policies, both economic and social, with a focus on preserving marine biodiversity, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and supporting the livelihoods of our fishing communities, some of which are under existential threats from foreign poachers and the adverse effects of climate change. With this instrument, we also commit to forging ahead with the second wave of negotiations, striving to achieve a meaningful agreement sooner rather than later. So, we call upon other countries that have not done so, particularly African and small coastal states like ours, to ratify this important agreement while engaged in further negotiations.”

These two deposits of instruments of acceptance bring to 80 the total number of WTO members that have formally accepted the Agreement. Fifteen African members have formally accepted the Agreement, of which nine are least-developed countries. Thirty more formal acceptances are needed for the Agreement to come into effect. The Agreement will enter into force upon acceptance by two-thirds of the membership.

Adopted by consensus at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva on 12-17 June 2022, the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies sets new, binding, multilateral rules to curb harmful subsidies, which are a key factor in the widespread depletion of the world’s fish stocks. In addition, the Agreement recognizes the needs of developing economies and least-developed countries and establishes a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building to help them implement the obligations.

The Agreement prohibits subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, for fishing overfished stocks, and for fishing on the unregulated high seas.

Members also agreed at MC12 to continue negotiations on outstanding issues, with a view to adopting additional provisions that would further enhance the disciplines of the Agreement.

The full text of the Agreement can be accessed here. The list of members that have deposited their instruments of acceptance is available here. Information for members on how to accept the Protocol of Amendment is available here.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Trade Organization (WTO).

Delivered by: UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan

We are extremely worried about the disappearance of two activists in the Republic of Guinea. Oumar Sylla (also known as Foniké Mengué) and Mamadou Billo Bah, leaders of the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), a civic movement, were arrested by security forces on 9 July in the capital, along with Mohamed Cissé, FNDC coordinator in Matoto, Conakry. Reports indicate that the arrest was carried out violently and without warrant.

While Cissé was released the following day, the fate of Sylla and Bah remains unknown, raising concerns about arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, in violation of international human rights law. The Attorney-General has publicly asserted that they were not held in any official detention centre. We have also received reports indicating that they were subjected to acts of torture, inhumane and degrading treatment.

We urge the transitional authorities in Guinea to immediately and unconditionally release the two activists, unless formally charged in accordance with established judicial procedures, guaranteeing their right to an adequate legal defence. The authorities should also conduct a prompt and independent investigation into the circumstances of their detention, disappearance as well the reports of torture and other forms of ill treatment. All those responsible for any violations of their human rights must be held accountable.

The rights to freedom of opinion, expression and peaceful assembly of all Guineans, including opposition activists, must be protected.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

President William Ruto has started the process of forming a new broad-based Cabinet by picking the first batch of 11 nominees.

The President retained six of his initial 22 Cabinet Secretaries and named five new faces for consideration and approval by the National Assembly.

 Nominees from the immediate past Cabinet are Prof Kithure Kindiki (Interior and National Administration), Mr Aden Duale (Defence), Mrs Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Urban Development and Housing), Ms Soipan Tuya (Environment, Climate Change and Forestry) and Mr Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport).

Ms Rebecca Miano is the Attorney-General nominee.

Mr Chirchir was previously the Energy Cabinet Secretary, while Ms Miano was the CS Investment, Trade and Industrialisation.

The new faces nominated to Cabinet are Dr Debra Mulongo Barasa (Health), Mr Julius Migosi Ogamba (Education), Dr Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development), Mr Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and Ms Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (Information, Communication and Digital Economy).

Speaking at a press conference at State House Nairobi on Friday, President Ruto said the government was enhancing, broadening and deepening the national economic turnaround Plan as outlined in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.

He said a wider range of ideas, programmes and interventions is needed to facilitate job creation, robust debt management, enhanced transparency and accountability in the use of public resources, mobilise more domestic resources and optimise public expenditure.

Referring to what has been happening in the country in the past one month, the President pointed out that Kenya’s credentials as a democratic nation have been severely tested.

“During this time, the country has engaged in a difficult public conversation, providing an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between fundamental rights and democratic freedoms, our collective aspirations for prosperity and efforts to secure opportunities for all, and the imperative to advance the security of the State,” said President Ruto.

In this discourse, President Ruto said the people of Kenya have expressed their views on governance, development, economic management, national finances and many other aspects of national life.

“It is of utmost importance that the Government takes measures to affirm our commitment to actualising the people’s aspirations, assure citizens that the State exists to serve them and to signal to all that our national values and principles of governance are the foundation of our national dispensation,” said Dr Ruto.

President Ruto pointed out the issues that have come to the fore in the ongoing national conservation, citing the need for accelerated programmes to increase food production, and thus reduce the cost of living, and expand existing job-creation programmes and create new intervention to address unemployment that affects millions of young people.

The President also cited the necessity for a public conversation on innovative, prudent, transparent and accountable use of public resources, along with people-friendly ways of mobilising domestic resource and reducing public expenditure.

He also cited also the imperative of addressing the challenge of public debt and the need to establish mechanisms that reduce public borrowing and insulate the country from risks associated with debt accumulation and financial management.

“It is therefore critically important to constitute a more inclusive government that unlocks the potential of citizens from all sectors to drive national transformation,” he added.

The President explained that he was fulfilling his undertaking to the nation to consult widely on the establishment of a broad-based Government that would harness the enormous potential in our country and boost economic transformation and inclusive growth.

“While the events of the past month have caused tremendous anxiety, concern and uncertainty, the crisis has presented us with a great opportunity to craft a broad-based and inclusive citizen coalition for national transformation and progress, made up of Kenyans from all walks of life,” he said.

The President made it clear that it was evident that the country has been in a crisis caused by multiple and complex factors.

“We should recognise that the opportunity before us is greater than the crisis. Together, we have a chance to take our country where we all want it to be and make our nation the Kenya we all want: A great nation,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of President of the Republic of Kenya.