Category: Regional

EAC reviews single currency timelines as 2024 deadline pushed

East African Community Bank Governors have resolved to review timelines for the creation of a single currency as member states push the implementation to 2031 amid geopolitical tensions.

The regional bank governors reached the conclusion during an ordinary meeting chaired by South Sudan’s Bank Governor on 27 April in Juba.

In attendance were Mr Edouard Normand Bigendako, the Bank Governor of Burundi; Dr Kamau Thugge, Bank Governor of Kenya, Emmanuel M. Tutuba, Bank Governor of Tanzania; Dr. Thierry Migigo Kalisa, the Chief Economist at the National Bank of Rwanda and Dr. Adam Mugume who is the Executive Director at the Bank of Uganda.

The Bank Governors of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia did not turn up and had not representatives at the meeting.

In a joint statement, the Governors who make up the East Africa Community Monetary Affairs Committee said they reviewed the status of the implementation of the March 2023 ordinary meeting which resolved the single currency reunion to 2031.

The Governor said partners states have made progress towards implementing price-based monitory policy frameworks.

These include harmonizing regional macroeconomic and financial statistics to support policy formulation, implementing EAC financial market structure, harmonizing principles and rules for the regulation and supervision of the region’s financial system.

Other achievements noted is the enhancement of risk and crisis management frameworks to ensure stability of the region’s financial system, adoption of climate risk awareness and promotion of the use of regional cross-border payment system.

The Bank governors have now reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the remaining activities set out in the revised monetary union roadmap to achieve a single currency by 2031.

They have tasked themselves to review the performance of the convergence criteria including the timelines to meet the deadline.

In the push for single currency, the regional bank governors will have to grapple with what they called increase inflation due to high global commodities exerting  pressure on exchange rate and the adverse impact of climate-change and geopolitical tension.

“The region still faces unfavorable Global Financial conditions due to negative spill overs from geopolitical conflicts and the impact of climate change that continue to weigh on the economic performance of East African countries,” said Majok Nikodemo Arou , the spokesperson of Bank of South Sudan.

Despite improved GDP of the region, a rise from 2.8 to 8.1, the partners states, according to the bank governors, are confronted with high fuel and food import prices, costly market access and pressure on the exchange rate and foreign reserves.

“The region is confronted with high fuel and food import prices putting pressure on the exchange rate and foreign reserves.

‘The increase in inflation in 2022 and part of 2023 ,  driven by high global commodity prices mainly food and energy prices, have made significant strides towards implementing price-based monetary policy Frameworks harmonizing regional economics and financial statistics to support policy formulations,” he added.

 

 

 

 

 

Son of Sudan’s leader dies in Turkey

Mohamed Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, son of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman and Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, reportedly passed away on Friday in Turkey, the Sudan Tribune has reported.

He had been hospitalized since March after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident.

Genera al-Burhan arrived at Ankara Airport in the early hours of Saturday, where he was received by Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz ahead of his son’s funeral.

Details surrounding the accident remain unclear, but reports indicate Mohamed Abdel Fattah al-Burhan collided with a commercial vehicle last March.

He received treatment at Bilkent Hospital in Ankara until his passing.

Several Sudanese officials, including governors and ministers, offered their condolences.

These included Minni Minnawi (Governor of Darfur), Gibril Ibrahim (Finance Minister), Mohieldin Naim Mohamed (Minister of Energy and Mining), Ahmed Osman Hamza (Khartoum Governor), Mohamed Ahmed Hassan (Governor of Gedaref), and Al-Tahir Hajer (leader of the Gathering of Sudan Liberation Forces).

Neither the Sovereignty Council nor the Sudanese government has issued a formal announcement or condolence regarding Mohamed’s death.

Uganda’s Catholic church running out of wine – reports

The Catholic Church in Uganda is facing a critical shortage of altar wine, local media report.

The shortage is said to have persisted since February. It is being attributed to the war in Gaza, which has delayed imports.

Local media report that the church’s holding firm, JW InterServices, this week alerted dioceses regarding the matter, and advised them to cautiously use the stock they already had.

The church gets its wine from Spain and the product is normally shipped through the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

But because of a change in route, a consignment that had been due to arrive at the beginning of April, was now due by the end of this month.

“The ships have been diverted to take longer and safer routes through the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean which has caused a major crisis and delays of their arrival to Mombasa port,” the Observer newspaper quoted 

JW InterServices’ managing director, Father Asiku Alfred Tulu, as saying.

Altar wine is an important part of the ritual of Holy Communion – through which Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus’ death.

Ugandan govt closes Karuma Dam bridge

Uganda National Roads Authority has announced the closure of Karuma Bridge on Monday citing the bridge structure have deteriorated.

“Karuma Bridge will be closed to all lorries, trailers and buses from Monday 06th May 2024. Only passenger vehicles carrying up to 28 passengers will be allowed to use the bridge.

“The continued exposure of the bridge to the ever-increasing heavy traffic is likely to accelerate its deterioration and serviceability, if not addressed in time,” it said.

UNRA said it has commenced the process of identifying a competent contractor who will undertake the restoration of the bridge structure as quickly as possible.

The intervention is expected to be completed in 03 months. In the meantime, UNRA has identified alternative routes to all road users.

According to the advisory, “Motorists from Kampala heading to Gulu/West Nile are advised to use Luwero — Kafu – Masindi – Paraa (Murchison Falls National Park) to connect to Pakwach or Gulu via Olwiyo and vice versa from motorists from Gulu/West Nile.”

While Motorists to Lira are directed to use Iganga – Nakalama – Tirinyi – Pallisa – Kumi – Soroti – Lira and vice versa.

“The Government of Uganda is currently fast-tracking the process to secure funding for the construction of a new bridge at Karuma as a long-term solution,” UNRA added.

EAC Youth Speaker Tombe to host regional conference in Juba

Speaker of the East Africa Youth Parliament has announced plans to conduct an inter generational conference in Juba aimed at developing an agenda for the regional youth.

Savior Tombe did not disclose the date but says, the conference will be held among youth that will be drawn from the eight partner states of the East Africa Community.

The Speaker also said the youth leadership will equally organize South Sudan High Level Youth Forum in Juba to draw together development partners, private sectors and government leaders.

“We want to organize the South Sudan High Level Youth Forum here in Juba. This is going to bring the development partners, the private sector and government leaders together such that we provide awareness on the integration agenda.

Tombe made the remarks to the press after meeting with Central Equatoria State’s Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony on Tuesday, 30/04/2024 in Juba.

This according to him, seek to create awareness and solicit support from the development partners and the private sectors to the integration agenda.

“We want to present to the development partners and private sector the fact that their support in this integration agenda is crucial because the East African Community Youth Policy provides that the development partners and private sectors should support youth programs across the States.”

Additional Tombe said, “We have a discussion as youth of the region in Juba such that we will be able to come up and develop an agenda for the EAC Youth in general.”

The East Africa Youth Parliament (EAYP) is a cross boarder regional policy advocacy platform under the East Africa Legislative Assembly bringing together national sectorial youth leaders from the East African Community partner states.

It ranges from the sub-regional and regional to the East African level, in which young women and men are leaders, entrepreneurs, members of Parliament, national youth council, human rights activists and youth leaders, and representatives from civil society organizations.

The parliament focuses on the inclusion of young people in strengthening democracies, good governance, and political processes through civic engagement & creative advocacy in the East African Partner States.

The Youth Parliament allows young men and women to sit at one table, discuss the challenges and issues at the East Africa level and write resolutions.

With this, young men and women take part in the decision-making processes and physically practice the appropriate ways to advocate and push for their agenda in the decision-making body.

 

 

IGAD anticipates a week-long heat stress in South Sudan

The IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center has anticipated what it calls ‘episodes of elevated heat stress in South Sudan’ from now up to the end of this month.

In its weekly weather forecast released yesterday, ICPAC said temperature is predicted to be warmer than average across the Greater Horn of Africa.

According to environmental health and safety experts, heat stress includes a series of conditions where the body is under stress from overheating.

Heat-related illnesses include heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash, or heat stroke, each with its own symptoms and treatments. Symptoms can range from profuse sweating to dizziness, cessation of sweating, and collapse.

The IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center now says South Sudan is expected to experience the heat stress from April 23 for seven days.

Other countries that are expected to experience the heat stress within the same period are Sudan, eastern Kenya, and central to southern Somalia.

However, during the same period, ICPAC predicted heavy rainfall in parts of western and northern Kenya, north-eastern Uganda, southern Ethiopia and Somalia.

Last month, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry issued an extreme heat advisory – forecasting temperatures varying from 41 to 45 degrees Celsius for two weeks in Juba and most parts of South Sudan.

Joseph Africano Bartel, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Environment, urged the public to take precautions and avoid direct exposure to sun rays.

Bartel cautioned the public to avoid tedious outdoor activities during the daytime, stay hydrated, take cool showers, stay indoors as much as possible and avoid direct sunlight.

He also suggested regular check on those most at risk including infants, elderly and critically ill several times a day and advised against leaving children or pets alone in closed vehicles.

If in South Sudan, you are also encouraged to wear light weight, light-colored clothing, find an air-conditioned shelter if possible, and the phone number of your doctor or health facility readily available in case of emergency.

 

 

 

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