The Venus Consultancy Ltd’s Post

Meg Whitman, the billionaire former CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard and current US Ambassador to Kenya, has become a central figure in the Biden administration's strategic bet on Kenya and its president, William Ruto. Their close relationship, marked by joint business tours and Whitman's prominent role during Ruto's recent state visit to the US, has raised eyebrows among diplomats and opposition figures. While Whitman's business-focused approach aims to strengthen US-Kenya ties and counter growing Chinese and Russian influence in Africa, it has also exposed risks in the relationship. Given the complex dynamics at play, how can the United States effectively balance its strategic interests in Africa with its stated commitment to human rights and democracy? As the U.S. seeks to maintain influence in Africa amidst growing competition from other global powers, what approaches might allow it to pursue its geopolitical goals while still meaningfully promoting democratic values and human rights? Read on; https://lnkd.in/dERzpVGN

📞 **Blast from the Past: The One-Phone Gen X Household!** 🕒 Remember the days of high-stakes diplomacy just to chat with friends? Yes, those thrilling negotiations for phone time among siblings were more than just peacekeeping missions. They were our first crash course in negotiation skills! 🤝 Back then, we didn't just learn to wait our turn—we mastered the art of making deals and managing conflicts, all skills that have proven invaluable in our entrepreneurial journeys today. Turns out, those family 'phone treaties' weren't just about keeping the peace; they were prepping us for the big leagues of business. Who knew that juggling phone time would teach us how to navigate complex deals and challenges later in life? 🚀 **Ready to leverage your own Gen X negotiation prowess in your business? Let’s roll and show them what Gen X grit is all about!** #GenXGrit #EntrepreneurLife #NegotiationSkills

Here's to the next 30 years of Vodacom

On September 13, the US announced that it would support the creation of two new permanent seats for African countries. African countries have been making that request for a long time. The core issue is that the African Union lacks a concrete plan for assuming the permanent seat if the Security Council grants its request. This is putting the cart before the horse. So, what criteria should the AU use to select the most suitable candidates? - Should factors such as the quality of their democracy and track record in good governance be considered?  https://lnkd.in/e5yRkerU

Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, recently addressed the United Nations Security Council, emphasizing the critical need for permanent African representation in the Council. He highlighted that the lack of such representation results in decisions affecting Africa being made without adequate input from the continent. During a significant debate focused on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Addressing the historical injustice and enhancing Africa’s effective representation in the UN Security Council,” President Bio articulated the historical injustices faced by African nations and called for reforms to ensure that African voices are heard in global decision-making processes. President Bio said: “The absence of permanent African representation in the Security Council means that decisions impacting the continent are made without sufficient African inputs, leading to policies that may not align with the needs and aspirations of African nations.” His remarks underscored the importance of inclusivity in international governance, advocating for a restructuring of the Security Council to better reflect the interests and perspectives of African countries. This call for reform aligns with broader discussions about enhancing the effectiveness and legitimacy of the UN Security Council in addressing global peace and security challenges. Picture credit Isaac Bayoh #sallukamuskay #unsecuritycouncil #sierraleone #unsc

Our tenure will be marked by unwavering commitment to driving forward essential reforms within the Security Council. At the heart of our agenda is the urgent need to rectify the historical imbalance that has left Africa underrepresented in this pivotal global institution for nearly eight decades #WeWillDeliver United Nations

A senior American diplomat spied for Cuba for over 40 years. https://lnkd.in/edCm6BzA via @intelNewsOrg. Victor Manuel Rocha was one of the longest-serving and most successful spies in American history. Sadly, he was working against the USA's best interests. What damage did he do? For starters, the FBI don't know which means that with a bit of plea bargaining Rocha may walk scot-free If only the FBI agents had read the spy novel Beyond Enkription in TheBurlingtonFiles series earlier things might have turned out differently. The fact based thriller is about Pemberton’s People in MI6 and how Bill Fairclough survives several attempted murders – see https://lnkd.in/eQhrqfzv. It’s a must read for espionage cognoscenti – also see the brief news article dated 31 October 2022 in TheBurlingtonFiles website for more intriguing details at https://lnkd.in/e8DBJYWk. The news was released several years after Beyond Enkription was published. Little wonder Beyond Enkription is mandatory reading on some countries’ intelligence induction programs. So, if you have any friends in the FBI or other counter-intelligence organizations, you now know what to give them this Xmas!

Could changing U.S. leadership reshape Latin America's destiny? In a recent interview, our CEO, Bernardo Weaver, examined how shifts in U.S. political leadership affect countries like Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. He compared Trump’s confrontational policies, which focus heavily on immigration, with Biden’s more nuanced diplomatic approach. Bernardo highlights the complexities and potential consequences of these policies on the region's political landscape. Watch the full interview to gain a deeper understanding of these critical issues. #ForeignPolicy #LatinAmerica #USPolitics

The UN Security Council does not reflect the international community and is one of its most significant legitimacy challenges... The last expansion of non-permanent members from six to ten occurred over 60 years ago, in 1963. So, let's look at a few compelling reasons, outlined in a recent piece in The Conversation Africa, why Africa, in particular, should have permanent seats on the #UNSecurityCouncil. 🔴 Conflict within Africa occupies a disproportionate amount of the council’s time. 🔴African states also play an increasingly important role in supporting the international peace and security agenda. 🔴The diversity of the African continent makes the case for two seats more persuasive. There is a risk that a sole African permanent member may fail to represent more than one strand of the continent’s demographic makeup.