The FAO says pesticides deliveries to those fighting the pests are being delayed.

Secretary General of  the regional organisation IGAD Workneh Gebeyehu says they’ve been caught between the hammer and anvil.

The lockdown to-stem the COVID 19 pandemic comes at the crunch time for their fight against the desert locus swarms.

Head of Resilience at the Food and Agriculture Organisation Cyril Ferrand says the locusts are endangering the food security of more than 25 million people. 

This morning figures show COVID19 has infected nearly 8 000 people in Africa and killed 334.

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The UN health body’s emergency committee determined in Geneva yesterday that making such a declaration would have unwanted consequences for the Central African giant where more than 1400 people have died from the deadly hemorrhagic disease since last July.

WHO Director General Tedros Ghbreyesus acknowledges that EBOLA is very much an emergency for those affected by it.

The WHO emergency committee says the spread of the disease into Uganda is an extraordinary event of deep concern.

But the danger of it spreading into Rwanda and South Sudan is limited.

The declaration of a public health event of international concern, which would trigger more funding but also a travel ban, is not warranted. 

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The pro-democracy democracy have cut all talks with the military following yesterday’s attack on protestors that left at least 35 people dead.

The military brass in Sudan showed its hand by deploying the rapid support troops, which have their roots in the deadly militia called the Janjaweed that terrorized Darfur, to break up the months-long sit in outside military headquarters in Khartoum.

The move has been condemned by the United Nations, the African Union and Western governments.

It has put paid to talks designed to introduce a civilian-led administration in Sudan by the end of this month to avoid the nation being red-carded by the AU.

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At a Southern Africa Liaison Office seminar, Bangui’s chief envoy to South Africa appeals for continued support from the international community.

Ambassador Andrè Nzapayeke says the people of the CAR will overcome their troubled past and build a peace.

But they cannot do this alone.

“We will need the help of the international community,” he says. “The road to the land of milk and honey is long and rough. So, please, all of you stand with us.”

He thanks those, including the United Nations, the South African Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross for their efforts in ending the suffering of his compatriots  who have become poor people in a country blessed with natural riches.

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With tropical cyclone Idai expected to take landfall at Beira today, at least 120  people have died in Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa. Nearly a million have been displaced.

Mozambique is particularly prone to heavy rai  and flooding at this time of year.

800 people drowned in 2000 and  100 four years ago.

Heavy rain is forecast until at least the weekend.

The United Nations is calling for emergency assistance in both Mozambique and Malawi.

Gift Of The Givers is standing by to augment help expected from the South African National Defense Force with rescue boats, divers, aquatic rescue personnel, paramedics and medical teams.

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Somalia’s President Mohamed Farmaajo says there’s still a long way to go to defeating Al Shabaab and reducing the number of troops will reverse Amisom’s success.

The UN Security Council and the Western funders  of AMISOM these past 11 years, say the Somali National Army has been rebuilt and trained and is strong enough to defend the country.

Not so say the AMISOM troop contributing countries.

At a summit in Kampala at the weekend, they delegated Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to explain to the world and continental bodies how dangerous a troop draw down will be.

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Morocco’s decision to build a road in the buffer zone with the area its occupies illegally has caused armed clashes with Saharawi fighters.

A ceasefire negotiated in 1991 between Morocco and the armed wing of the Saharawi people, the Polisario Front ended 17 years of fighting following Morocco’s invasion and occupation of the territory.

That truce has been monitored by a UN force known as MINURSO.

Morocco has several times reneged on promises to allow the Saharawi people to determine their future by way of a referendum.

Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic President Jatri Adduh has expressed his disquiet to the United Nations Security Council about Morocco’s failure to make any progress on this as ordered in a resolution by the UN powerhouse in April.

The post Concern that Western Sahara clashes will threaten regional peace appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

But there’s as  diplomatic prize too.

Netanyahu is looking to persuade African nations to quit the voting bloc at the United Nations producing automatic anti-Israel majorities.

ends intro

An entourage of dozens of Israeli business executives is traveling through Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia with their premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

They’re looking to sell everything from Israeli-made plastic wrap, sprinklers and irrigation pipes to software, CCTV cameras and military equipment. Even agricultural  seeds.

However Netanyahu told reporters ahead of the trip that the 54 African could be allies of Israel like they were back in the 1960s and 70s

He’s confident this could change the automatic anti Israel majorities in the UN.

The post A hard business edge to Netanyahu’s safari appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu say they must act fast or there will be nothing left for them.

Ends intro

South Africa’s asking the United Nations to do things differently when procuring equipment for peacekeepers, says Small Business Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu,

She tells a joint UN South Africa gathering in Pretoria that countries where blue helmets are deployed should get a greater  piece of the pie.

But small and/ medium enterprises from her country must start looking further afield

(Take in Zulu clip here)

Zulu says South African business must stop thinking that changing people’s lives  is the exclusive role of the government.

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