African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat’s Post

South Kivu in Congo 🇨🇩 faces complex challenges linked to conflicts and the exploitation of natural resources. It is crucial to adopt a holistic approach to promote peace and sustainable development. 🕊️💡 #SouthKivu #SustainablePeace #JustGovernance

What does the AfCFTA Agreement require state parties like Kenya to do? Discover the obligations and opportunities for Kenyan exporters under the AfCFTA Agreement in our live webinar: https://lnkd.in/d8xgPi3z #ExportAgenaKE KRA(KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY)

Great to see GULFSANDS Senior Advisor Sir Alan Duncan KCMG on the front page of Arab News, drawing attention to one of the untold drivers of the enduring humanitarian crisis in Syria - oil. His article details how international sanctions imposed on the oil industry in Syria in 2011 have had the unintended effect of allowing the country’s oil wells and refineries to fall into the hands of unauthorised actors including the self-proclaimed Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Not only are vast quantities of oil being stolen, but these groups are also causing enormous damage to the environment through poor practices. Frequent oil spills have contaminated the soil and poisoned Syria’s waterways, in turn decimating agriculture and severely affecting the health and wellbeing of the local population. Cancer cases are increasingly concentrated in the country’s oil-producing north - and have grown up to three times faster than the comparative period before the war. It does not have to be this way. The energy industry could, with the right impetus, be the driver of a radical and impactful solution to improve the lives and wellbeing of the Syrian people. This is what we at GULFSANDS are pioneering with hashtag #ProjectHope. Through the selected lifting of sanctions or granting of specific waivers, international energy companies such as ours would return to parts of Syria and restore safe operations. Correct production standards can be reintroduced, and the environmental and health damage can begin to be reversed. And above all, the revenues generated from this oil production can be channelled into a humanitarian fund dedicated to meeting Syria’s critical needs — not least healthcare, water and schools. Continued inaction is, as Sir Alan says, “unacceptable and the growing consequences intolerable”. I invite you to read his article, share your thoughts, and get in touch if you’d like to help us drive the international community to make a lasting change for Syria. To read the full article: https://arab.news/6an8y To know more about Project Hope: https://lnkd.in/dxDEBQR8 #arabnews #almajalla Faisal J. Abbas Manal Alafrangi #oiltheft #ProjectHope

As we count days to the event, with #Tanzania being the host country to this important commemoration, The United Republic of Tanzania has showed its leadership in relation to SSF Guidelines implementation and launched its National Plan of Action to implement the SSF Guidelines as first country in the world in 2021. Therefore, the SSF Summit for Africa is expected to provide a platform for consensus around emerging opportunities in the Blue Economy to promote SSF socio-economic transformation and growth. #ssfguidelines #TAWFA

Somalia stands on the verge of a profound transformation, with momentous changes looming ahead. The primary cause of the protracted conflict that has plagued the nation for over three decades can largely be attributed to poverty. This state of destitution has, in my perspective, fuelled tribalism, as individuals often rely on their tribes for assistance during times of hardship. This dependence on tribal affiliations can result in a sense of duty to protect and even resort to violence in the name of one's tribe. Hence, I am delighted by the recent endorsement of a defence and economic cooperation agreement with Turkey by the Somali cabinet, as it will pave the way for progress. This agreement grants Ankara the opportunity to aid in the construction, training, and equipping of the Somali navy, while also safeguarding Somalia's territorial waters, particularly in light of tensions with Ethiopia. Furthermore, the regulations pertaining to offshore oil and gas licensing, revenue sharing frameworks, and agreements between the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States have streamlined the process of reaching consensus. As articulated by the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, Somalia is on the brink of a momentous achievement as it prepares to commence oil production within its borders by the conclusion of this year. Studies on geo-seismic activity suggest that Somalia poteklem2ntially possesses approximately 30 billion barrels of oil and gas reserves. #somalia #somali #somalioilproduction Ref: middleeasteye, international trade admiration, my personal knowledge of my people, the newarab

Gearing up for the #AfDB #AnnualMeetings at the end of May: a fruitful meeting with the incoming Governor of the #AfricanDevelopmentBank for #Angola, Minister of Plan Victor Hugo Gulherme and his team to discuss main priorities. Angola is a strong supporter of the AfDB's agenda for #Africa's transformation and is one of the few African donors to the #AfricanDevelopmentFund for lower income countries. Looking forward to a strong voice of Angola at the #AFDBAM2024 #ADF

World Fund for Development and Planning - WFDP issued a statement condemning the Berbera Agreement that was signed between Ethiopia and the Somaliland region, with the aim of Ethiopia obtaining access to and a port on the Red Sea. Ambassador Ekramy El Zaghat, president of WFDP, announced that the Somaliland region is not a separate region but rather an integral part of Somali territory, and it will not be possible to treat it as a sovereign region or state, explaining that there are international agreements to recognise territorial integrity and independence, stressing that Somalia is one country governed by one government, and its division will not be recognized for any reason. WFDP called on the General Secretariat of the United Nations and the international community to adhere to the international agreements concluded regarding the state of Somalia and its territorial integrity, under a unified confederal government with Mogadishu as its capital and to refuse to register any agreements with any region under the rule of the state in accordance with international law. He also stressed the commitment to support the State of Somalia regionally and globally in accordance with the agreements signed between the Fund and the Somali government. At the beginning of this year, Ethiopia, a country that does not have access to any outlet on the Red Sea, unexpectedly signed an agreement with the leader of Somaliland, in order to gain access to an outlet on the Red Sea. The agreement granted Ethiopia access to the Red Sea for 50 years, with a length of 20 kilometers. It includes the port of Berbera and a military base, in exchange for Addis Ababa recognizing Somaliland, a breakaway from Somalia, as an independent republic after the region failed to obtain recognition of its independence from any country in the world. This step sparked many criticisms, while the Somali President announced that he would not recognize the signed agreement. #wfdp #Somalia #UnitedNations

Sudanese General Hemetti's meeting with Ugandan President Museveni at Rwakitura delves into strategies for ending the Sudanese conflict. As they discuss a vision for negotiation and rebuilding Sudan, how can regional collaborations contribute to lasting solutions? Share your insights on diplomatic efforts in East Africa. #sudanconflict #diplomacy 🤝🌍

The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) has been met with great enthusiasm from both public and private sectors since its launch in 2021. However, it seems that Africa is moving at a slow pace in realizing the potential of this trade bloc. Despite recent announcements and shipments to Kenya and Uganda, there is still no preferential trade happening from South Africa to East, West or North Africa. The AFCFTA is a true gem for Africa, but we must acknowledge that it is still a pie in the sky. Africa must enforce the AFCFTA to benefit its private sector, reduce poverty and stop other continents from continuing to benefit from Africa's resources while Africa doesn't. #AFCFTA #AfricaTrade #EconomicDevelopment

NILE COOPERATIVE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT. On July 8, the South Sudanese parliament – the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) – ratified the Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement (CFA), a modern treaty that outlines the principles, rights and obligations for cooperation, management and development of the River Nile’s water resources. In effect, the new treaty, if it goes into force this October, will replace the colonial agreements of 1902, 1929 and 1959. These have been said to favour both Egypt and Sudan on the use of the River Nile water resources. Not surprisingly, Egypt and Sudan are yet to sign the new treaty. South Sudan’s signing of the treaty means that six countries of the substantive 10 Nile Basin member states have now signed the agreement which came into being on May 14, 2010. This was after Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda signed and endorsed it in Entebbe, Uganda. They were later joined by Kenya and Burundi. However, each of the signatories also had to ratify the agreement. For more information on the Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement : https://lnkd.in/dJ3ZPTPg #RiverNile #NileBasinCountries #Ethiopia #Uganda #Burundi #Rwanda #Tanzania #Kenya #SouthSudan #GERD