AfDB donates Madagascar $1.5m to help join AfCFTA
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The African Development Bank has granted Madagascar $1.5 million in view of helping the African country work on its adherence to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), local media “Madagascar Tribune” reported.
The agreement signed between the Abidjan-based continental bank and the ministry of Finance and Economy will reduce tariffs between the zone’s member countries, and address policy issues such as trade facilitation and services, while also covering regulatory provisions. Such as sanitary standards and technical barriers to trade, the media noted.
Madagascar has signed AfCFTA agreement but has not ratified it yet. The free trade area, one of the 13 flagship projects of the African Union, is the world’s largest free trade area bringing together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight (8) Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the continental organization says.
It will progressively eliminate tariffs on intra-Africa trade, making it easier for African businesses to trade within the continent and benefit from the growing African market. The AfCFTA is expected to expand the size of Africa’s economy to US$29 trillion by 2050.
https://www.madagascar-tribune.com/BAD-1-3-million-de-dollars-pour-appuyer-le-processus-d-integration-de.html
15 killed in road accident in Mali
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15 people died Tuesday in Mali’s central region, near the city of Mopti, after three vehicles collided as result of speed excess.
The ministry of Transportation in the statement indicated that the incident took place on Tuesday dawn, at 4am, on the sixth national road, between the towns of Fana and Konobougou.
Two passenger buses on their way to the central city of Mopti collided with a 10-ton truck transporting cattle and traveling in the opposite direction, the ministry said adding that 32 other people were wounded in the tragedy.
“All victims were transported to the Fana health center by Dioïla Civil Protection officers, supported by elements of the road safety awareness caravan organized by the National Road Safety Agency”, the statement added.
Authorities blamed speeding and driver drowsiness for deadly accident. On Feb. 25, a minibus carrying students overturned on the road, killing two and injuring 21, Chinese news agency XinHua reports.
2020 data from the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that Road Traffic Accidents Deaths in Mali reached 4,465 or 3.26% of total deaths. The age adjusted Death Rate is 29.48 per 100,000 of population ranks Mali #51 in the world, the Geneva-based organizations adds.
https://www.aa.com.tr/fr/afrique/mali-15-morts-et-32-bless%C3%A9s-dans-un-accident-de-la-circulation/2921627
https://english.news.cn/africa/20230614/b99449d2d1334195b86d680ef0bd72f0/c.html
Congo launches EU-funded Police station revamping project
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Congo launched Tuesday Police+ program (Support for the professionalization of the police and the creation of model police stations) funded by the European Union (EU).
The program, $5.2 million, will improve detention facilities police stations in the cities of Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire of Congo.
The program stretches over 42 months and aims at strengthening the role of the Police in the criminal justice chain, to improve citizens’ access to justice, the state-run news agency ACI, notes.
It also comprises three components, namely monitoring and control of the penal chain, renovation of infrastructures to set up a model of pilot police stations, and training and mentoring of law enforcement officers, to consolidate police capacities in respect of human rights.
The project, the EU’s envoy to the African country Giacomo Durazzo notes, is a result of 2018 Chacona police station tragedy. 13 people, youngsters, died in July 2018 in a police custody of capital Brazzaville, as result of torture.
The financing agreement was signed last month and targets three priorities democracy, human rights and participatory governance.
CONGO: Plus de 3 milliards de Fcfa pour améliorer les conditions de détention dans les commissariats
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20180728-congo-brazzaville-commissariat-chaconat-mboulou-bebes-noirs
Burkina Faso leader gets BRICS Medal for fighting for country’s sovereignty
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The transitional President of the Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, announced Tuesday, he was awarded the BRICS Medal for his determination and courage in the interest of the West African country’s sovereignty.
The award was presented by Larissa Zelentsova, the President of the International Alliance of BRICS Strategic Projects.
The Russian BRICS boss was in Ouagadougou to open a representative office of the bloc.
She, Sputnik reports, stated that the bloc represents the link between the BRICS countries and non-member countries.
Traore and Zelentsova discussed BRICS cooperation and support for Burkina Faso. Traore came to power late September in a coup to interim president Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba.
He turned to Russia, Turkey and North Korea for military support in the fight against terrorism that has gripped the West African country for several years now. Ouagadougou has terminated defense cooperation agreements with former colonial power France.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230613/brics-alliance-office-to-open-in-burkina-faso-1059888958.html
Diplomatie : le Président de la Transition décoré de la Médaille des BRICS
