Category: Africa

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

A new study by the Secretariat of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, highlights risks of statelessness for refugees who have spent more than 20 years outside their country of origin, and especially for their descendants born in exile.

The study, “Refugees from Generation to Generation: Preventing Statelessness by Advancing Durable Solutions in the Great Lakes Region”, focused on Rwandan refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congolese refugees in Rwanda, and South Sudanese and Congolese refugees in Uganda. It was based on surveys and focus group discussions with refugees, as well as on legal and policy analysis and interviews with government officials where possible.

The study found that most long-term refugees lack any identity document from their country of origin and would face huge challenges in re-establishing nationality if they were ever to return to that country. They identify most closely with the country of asylum, and many – though not all – would like to acquire citizenship there. In practice, however, naturalization is impossible to access, while many refugees struggle even to renew their refugee identity documents. Gaps in nationality laws mean that those born in the country of asylum are at especially high risk of statelessness – above all, if their births were not registered.

According to the study, only eight percent of the adult long-term refugees surveyed had a birth certificate. Although birth registration rates have improved significantly for children of refugees born in asylum countries, most notably in Rwanda, only 28 percent of adult refugees born in Uganda, and six percent of adults born in the DRC held a birth certificate.

The study made recommendations to authorities of all three countries, as well as to the ICGLR and UNHCR, in order to address risk of statelessness in the context of these prolonged refugee situations. The recommendations included both legal reforms and practical initiatives to permit refugees to access legal pathways to citizenship that already exist on paper.

The recommendations also include the need for ICGLR Member States to continue efforts to ensure that all refugees have valid identity documents issued by the country of asylum, and achieve universal birth registration, including late registration of the adult refugee population born in country of asylum.

The study was launched during a regional experts’ conference on eradication of statelessness and access to legal documentation held in Nairobi, Kenya from 25 to 27 July 2023. The conference was organized thanks to the support of the European Union through its Directorate-General for International Partnerships. The three-day regional statelessness conference brought together government statelessness focal points from the 12 ICGLR Member States and other key experts to discuss the implementation of pledges made to eradicate statelessness in the region, and to consider new pledges to be made at the Global Refugee Forum in December 2023. The experts from the 12 ICGLR States adopted an outcome document with key recommendations to intensify efforts to end statelessness in the Great Lakes region.

“The ICGLR-UNHCR study’s findings are crucial to tackle statelessness risks among long-term refugees and their descendants in the region and will guide the development of the ICGLR Strategy for comprehensive durable solutions in the Great Lakes region,” emphasized Amb. Mohammed Yasir, ICGLR Deputy Executive Secretary.

“Preventing and addressing statelessness is critical for refugees who have spent over two decades in exile, as it paves the way for any durable solution. The efforts made at this conference and through the results of this study will assist governments’ efforts in addressing statelessness risks arising from prolonged displacement by facilitating refugees’ access to civil registry, identity, and nationality documentation which is extremely important.” said Kristine Hambrouck, UNHCR’s Regional Deputy Director for the East, Horn of Africa, and Great Lakes region.

In November 2014, UNHCR launched its global #IBelong Campaign to end statelessness by 2024. Since then, ICGLR Member States and the ICGLR Secretariat have shown political will and commitment to address statelessness. However, with only one and a half years left to the end of the campaign, only a small number of pledges and other commitments to address statelessness have been implemented by ICGLR Member States and other pledging entities.

According to UNHCR’s 2022 Global Trends report, there are over 103,000 stateless persons residing in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda. However, the actual number is presumed to be considerably higher since the existing statistics on statelessness only account for stateless populations in less than half of the ICGLR countries and do not include those who are in long-term or former refugees and their descendants without a recognized nationality.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today expressed deep regret at the closure of his office in Uganda, following the Government’s decision not to renew the Host Country Agreement. The office in Kampala will officially cease its operations on Saturday. Sub-offices in Gulu and Moroto closed on 30 June and 31 July.

“I regret that our office in Uganda had to close after 18 years, during which we were able to work closely with civil society, people from various walks of life in Uganda, as well as engaging with State institutions for the promotion and protection of the human rights of all Ugandans,” said Türk.

Since the establishment of the office in 2005, we have engaged closely with the Government and other partners on a range of human rights issues, including working with the authorities to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals into its national planning frameworks, as well as advising on bringing domestic legislation into compliance with international human rights laws and standards. In 2021, with the office’s support to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda became the second country in Africa to adopt a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.

“Much progress has been made in the country over the years, but serious human rights challenges remain in the path to full enjoyment of human rights for all,” the High Commissioner said.

Türk expressed particular concern about the human rights situation in Uganda ahead of the 2026 elections, given the increasingly hostile environment in which human rights defenders, civil society actors and journalists are operating.

He noted that most of the 54 NGOs that were arbitrarily suspended in August 2021 remain closed. The High Commissioner also expressed concerns that the amended Computer Misuse law may further erode free expression.

Türk warned against retrogression from Uganda’s commitments under the international human rights treaties it has ratified, including in the passage of the deeply discriminatory and harmful anti-homosexuality law, that is already having a negative impact on Ugandans.

Türk urged the Government to ensure the national human rights body can function effectively and independently, as the the main body tasked with human rights oversight in Uganda.

“The Uganda Human Rights Commission, our long-standing partner in the protection and promotion of human rights in the country, is chronically under-funded and under-staffed, and reports of political interference in its mandate undermine its legitimacy, independence and impartiality,” he said.

“I urge the Ugandan government to provide the Commission with adequate human, technical and financial resources so that it may more effectively execute its important mandate.”

“On our part, the UN Human Rights Office remains committed to working on human rights in Uganda, in line with my global mandate,” he added.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

The World Health Organization (WHO) South Sudan Country Office conducted a consultative meeting with the senior management of the Ministry of Health to review the progress made in the implementation of the 2022/2023 biennium plan.

The meeting from 18 to 19 July 2023 aimed to review the progress in implementing the 2022-23 biennium plan and chart ways to achieve the pending activities. WHO plans in two-year cycles (biennium), with the current biennial plan ending on 31 December 2023.

The meeting, attended by 40 participants, was officiated by the Honorable Dr Ader Macar Achiek, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, and Dr Fabian Ndenzako, the WHO Representative a.i. for South Sudan.

“To be able to deliver on our mandate of ensuring the health and wellbeing of our people, the Ministry of Health and WHO, among our other partners, need to work as a team.” I believe this meeting will strengthen WHO and the Ministry of Health’s partnership and cooperation and define the way forward on how to collaboratively achieve all that we planned in the 2022/2023 biennium”, said Dr Fabian Ndenzako, WHO Representative a.i for South Sudan.

“Despite all the challenges the country is going through, ranging from numerous disease outbreaks and other public health threats, including the impact of the ongoing Sudan conflict, we have made considerable progress in the implementation of our planned activities for this biennium,” said Dr Ndenzako. “Together with the Ministry of Health, we have made massive strides in the COVID-19 response by raising our vaccination coverage to 67.7 percent of the targeted population; we have reached 90 percent coverage for measles and cholera”.

The meeting conducted a detailed review of the progress made and assessed and discussed the operational issues facing implementing the 2022-23 biennium plan.

During the 2022-2023 biennium, the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, made several notable achievements, including enhancing the country’s core capacities to prepare and respond to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies, including responding to health humanitarian needs of the returnees and refugees fleeing the Sudan crisis, as well as Ebola preparedness and readiness following the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

In addition, the country conducted mass drug administrations. It achieved 65% coverage for selected Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and conducted its first National Malaria Conference in 2022 to galvanize support for the Malaria programme. The Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, strengthened Immunization activities and achieved 85 percent Penta 3 coverage and 92 percent Measles coverage of the target children. The country-maintained Polio Free Status since August 2020. In May 2022, WHO also supported the Ministry of Health to interrupt the circulating vaccine-derived outbreak of poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2).

Also, WHO supported the Ministry of Health in the development of important national strategic health sector policy documents, including the development and validation of the Health Sector Strategic Plan 2023-2027, the development of the annual National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) plan as well as development Health Information System (HIS) policy and HIS training guidelines among other documents.

Participants of the meeting recommended institutionalization of the Ministry of Health/WHO quarterly meetings, working together in the development of the 2024-25 biennium at the cluster/directorate level and mainstreaming the Prevention and Respond to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PRSEAH).

Other recommendations include the integration of all current data systems into the District Health Information System (DHIS2), strengthening the integration of the delivery of all programs using the Primary Healthcare (PHC) approach, including the Boma Health Initiative (community-based initiative), and strengthening resource mobilization for WHO activities especially in areas that are currently lowly funded.

Directors General, Directors, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Health, WHO Country office senior management, and some technical staff were in attendance.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

Reacting to the multiple restrictions on civic space and arbitrary arrests and detentions, Habibatou Gologo, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said: 

“The journalist Papé Alé Niang was arrested on the weekend of 29 July and then placed under a committal order on 1 August simply for doing his job as an independent journalist, investigating so-called sensitive political and legal cases. According to his lawyer, the prosecutor provided no evidence to justify the charges against his client. Amnesty International is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.

The media reported the deaths of at least three people on Monday 31 July following the violent demonstrations that broke out in various towns around Senegal. Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to investigate these deaths, together with all those recorded since March 2021.

The authorities should respect human rights, stop arbitrarily detaining journalists, members of the opposition and civil society, and respect rights to freedom of expression and information by immediately lifting the suspension of mobile Internet and the social networking site TikTok.” 

Background 

On the weekend of 29 July 2023, the journalist Papé Alé Niang, who was on bail at the time, was arrested and detained before being charged and placed under a committal order for calls to insurrection and acts or operations likely to compromise public security. Head of the news website Dakar matin, the journalist had commented on the arrest of Ousmane Sonko on 28 July in a video that was broadcast live on social media. Several other members of the PASTEF party, including the mayor of Parcelles Assainies and the mayor of Patte d’Oie, were arrested on 1 and 2 August and are being prosecuted for calling for insurrection and acts or manoeuvres likely to compromise public security.

On 31 July, the Senegalese authorities also ordered the dissolution of the PASTEF-Les Patriotes political party and suspended the Tik Tok social network and mobile internet connections.

Demonstrations broke out on 31 July following the arrest and committal order of opposition politician Ousmane Sonko. At least six people died during these protests, two of them as a result of a bus fire in Dakar.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

“I encourage those who fled their homes to do like me: to come back and rebuild their livelihoods. Our peace partners are supporting us with much-needed services that we can all enjoy. There is no place like home,” affirmed Sarah Jenty, a mother of five who recently returned to reside in Ezo.

“With this new pediatric ward, people can receive adequate treatment instead of the traditional medicines used before,” she added.

The new facilities in Ezo, which include a well-furnished outpatient department, a staff room and a store, have been constructed in the border area where South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo meet. That is a strategic location to fulfill its aim: to support both refugees and internally displaced persons moving back home.

The project, valued at 50,000 US dollars, was funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and implemented by the non-governmental Self-Help Development Organization.

Umjuma Charles is proof that not only returnees but also those still displaced from their birthplaces. She fled her village in Tambura following violent conflict in 2021, and now she prefers to stay in Ezo, her adopted home.

“We are happy and feel protected having UNMISS peacekeepers with us, and now we also have this building where our children will be taken care of. We are confident and thrilled that sick kids will get decent treatment,” she said.

Thomas Yeseke, Ezo County Health Director, believes that the pediatric ward will have its intended impact.

“As the peace process continues to advance, more people are likely to return home, where they will benefit from this health facility. We are grateful, and we hope that our peace partners will continue to support us,” he said.

Quick Impact Projects is one way for the peacekeeping mission to assist local communities with low-cost initiatives able to substantially improve their quality of life.

“We are committed to supporting the peace process, which includes the provision of basic services for the South Sudanese, to the best of our ability. Now people here have a clinic and I believe that they will take good care of it for the sake of their families,” stated Anthony Moudie, a Protection, Transition and Reintegration Officer serving with UNMISS.

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English

Pemba Town Council in Zambia’s Southern Province has embarked on an ambitious project to digitize its information management systems to improve governance and service delivery.

Established in 2013, the council has hitherto relied on paper-based records and manual processes for its operations. This has made access to information cumbersome for citizens, who have to physically visit council offices even for basic inquiries. It has also hampered the council’s ability to deliver efficient services.

To address these challenges, the council has now initiated a digitization drive with support from the International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) and UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

The overarching goal is to provide citizens access to council information and services through digital platforms. Specific objectives include improving internal efficiency of operations, promoting transparency and accountability, enhancing citizen participation and improving service delivery.

The target groups are council employees, local residents, marginalized communities, schools, cooperatives and community organizations. The core values highlighted are participation and transparency.

Council authorities say digitization will be a game-changer, allowing citizens to access details on budgets, projects, tender information, payments, application status and more – all remotely from their phones or computers. This is expected to significantly improve convenience, inclusion and satisfaction.

The council has already developed a web-based portal to manage information and applications for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This will allow real-time access to CDF details for citizens as well as oversight bodies. Similar online portals and databases are being developed for other council services.

Key hardware including computers, servers and internet connectivity has been put in place. Council staff are being trained on using technology to improve their productivity and customer service. Digitization of existing paper records is underway.

Pemba Town Council sees this as part of their modernization agenda and wants to be a model for leveraging technology to improve governance. They have engaged stakeholders including council leaders, the CDF committee and marginalized groups to get buy-in.

Pemba Town Council sees this as part of their modernization agenda and wants to be a model for leveraging technology to improve governance. They have engaged stakeholders including council leaders, the CDF committee and marginalized groups to get buy-in.