Day: September 12, 2022

At a time of unprecedented challenges and upheaval, “solutions lie in solidarity,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message commemorating the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.

“South-South and triangular cooperation are critical for developing countries to mitigate and adapt to climate disruption, address the global health crisis, including COVID-19 recovery, and achieve all 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” said the top UN official.

The UN chief stressed the importance of Southern-led development solutions being shared “far and wide.”

“South-South and triangular cooperation must play an ever-increasing role in resolving our common challenges,” he said.

But that does not absolve wealthier states of their responsibilities to work constructively with the developing world, “especially to reduce growing inequalities between and within nations,” Guterres said.

In commemorating the day, he encouraged “all nations and communities to redouble cooperation and build bridges to achieve an equitable and sustainable future for all.”

“South-South and triangular cooperation must have a central place in our preparations for a strong recovery,” said the secretary-general.

“We will need the full contributions and cooperation of the global South to build more resilient economies and societies and implement the Sustainable Development Goals.”

To highlight the importance of South-South cooperation, the UN General Assembly proclaimed Sept. 12 as the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Ethiopians are celebrating the first day of the Ethiopian New Year 2015 Sunday (Sept 11).

Ethiopians do not celebrate their New Year on Jan 1 like many part of the world. The Ethiopian New Year falls on Sept 11 or 12 during a leap year.

The country has its own unique calendar in the world with 13 months. Each of the 12 months has 30 days. The 13th month, Pagumen, has 5 days or 6 during each leap year.

Ethiopian families celebrate the first day that heralds the Ethiopian New Year together attending traditional events.

For Ethiopians who celebrate the first day of the essentially indoor Ethiopian New Year mostly wearing traditional attire, slaughtering animals, preparing traditional drinks and foods, accompanied with songs and dances, and a lot more events is considered as a special moment of renewal.

The national dish doro wot (chicken stew), is among the common dishes served with Enjera (a flatbread) along with local alcoholic drinks on a large platter so that everyone can dine together.

There is no better time than the holidays such as this one for people who would like to relish Ethiopian coffee in all its glory.

Ethiopian President Sahle Work Zewde and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, among others, expressed their best wishes for the Ethiopians celebrating New Year in the country and abroad.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

The Ugandan government has paid shs250 billion($65million) to the Democratic Republic of Congo government in partial payment for war reparations.

“The payment of this indemnity is made in five installments of $65 million. The first had just been paid,” the DRC government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya said.

The International Court of Justice which is a United Nations’ top court in February ordered Uganda to pay Democratic Republic of Congo $325 million(Shs1.1 trillion) which was only a fraction of the $11 billion that the country had sought as reparations for the 1998 to 2003 war.

Earlier, at its height, the conflict in DRC drew in nine African countries, with Uganda and Rwanda backing rebel forces against ruling government as all parties tried to control the country’s mineral rich Ituri province.

In 2005, the UN court ruled that Uganda had violated international law when it occupied parts of Ituri with its troops and also supported other armed groups during the war in the province.

The court ordered the two countries to negotiate the compensation process but in 2005 DRC reported to the tribunal that negotiations had failed to yield anything and sought a final decision on the amount.

DRC asked for over $11 billion from Uganda for the occupation of Ituri.

The Hague based court ruled that Uganda should only pay $325 million(Shs1.1 trillion) and not $11 billion as had been requested by DRC.

“The court sets out the total amount of compensation awarded to the DRC, which is 325 million US dollars,” said Joan Donoghue, the chief judge.”

The amount was meant to cater for damage to persons including deaths, injuries and sexual violence totaling to $225 and $40 million for damage to property and $60 million for damage to natural resources that were looted.

The court notes that the reparation awarded to the DRC for damage to persons and to property reflects the harm suffered by individuals and communities as a result of Uganda’s breach of its international obligations,” the court said.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Ivory Coast said it will continue with its diplomatic efforts to get the release of 49 soldiers held in Mali since last July 10.

According to a source close to the presidency, local Executive also rejected that the (49) soldiers, who arrived in Bamako to support a UN peace mission, were taken hostage, according to the digital portal Africa News.

Days earlier, Malian transitional authorities accused the Ivorian soldiers of entering the country with no legal documents and of committing mercenarism.

The Ivorian soldiers, who arrived at Mali´s main international airport in the capital Bamako loaded with weapons and ammo, were positioned illegally in the national territory, with permission by the UN Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA), said Malian Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga.

The 49-soldier contingent was not part of MINUSMA, but was instead deployed by countries integrated into the mission.

The arrest of the 49 soldiers has triggered a diplomatic crisis between the two African governments.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK