Month: February 2023

Yesterday, Ambassador James O’Brien, Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination, led an interagency discussion with leading companies and associations across the gold sector. The meeting focused on the importance of the gold industry’s robust implementation of Russia-focused sanctions and of applying broader due diligence standards, including to Russia-backed actors, such as the Wagner Group, around the globe. The United States remains committed to imposing economic consequences on Russia for its unprovoked war in Ukraine and destabilizing activities across Africa. The meeting also focused on the role gold plays in supporting other regimes of concern, including in Latin America and Africa, and illicit networks, as well as how the industry can mitigate the role of malign actors while also supporting economic development programs, with a focus on labor and human rights.

Source: US State Department

LAGOS– Nigeria confirmed 111 cases of diphtheria with 22 deaths, in four states, between Dec 1, 2022, and the third week in Jan, 2023, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said.

The north-western state of Kano registered the highest share of the confirmed cases at 107, with 21 confirmed deaths, the public health agency said, in its latest diphtheria situation report yesterday.

The south-western state of Lagos reported one confirmed case with one death, the north-eastern state of Yobe, two confirmed cases and no death, and the south-western state of Osun, one confirmed case and no death, said the report.

The NCDC is working with state health authorities and other partners, to improve surveillance and response to the outbreak in the affected states, it said.

Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by the Corynebacterium species of bacteria. Its symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes and swelling of the neck. In severe cases, a grey or white patch develops in the throat, making it hard to breathe and swallow.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Aminata Maiga of Côte d’Ivoire as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Senegal, with the host Government’s approval. She takes up her post on 1 February.

Ms. Maiga brings more than 25 years of experience in economic policy and international development with the United Nations and externally.

Prior to her appointment as United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Maiga served as Director of the Decent Work Technical Team for Central Africa and Country Director for Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Sao Tome and Principe at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Cameroon. She has supported Governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations in the formulation and implementation of policies, strategies and programmes for full and productive employment, social protection for all, international labour standards and social dialogue.

Before that, Ms. Maiga worked in Kinshasa as ILO Country Director for Angola, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon. She has also served as Senior Enterprise Specialist in Cameroon and Regional Coordinator for Women’s Entrepreneurship Development in Ethiopia.

Prior to joining the United Nations system, Ms. Maiga held several senior positions at the technical and managerial levels. She was an economic policy analyst in the Department of Finance of the Government of the Northwest Territories, a community-based entrepreneurship programmes manager and a private sector consultant in Canada.

In Côte d’Ivoire, she worked as a development economist and special economic adviser at the National Bureau of Technical and Development Studies.

Ms. Maiga holds master’s degrees in development and economics and in project analysis from the University of Clermont-Ferrand in France. She also obtained a Master of Business Administration from the HEC Montréal.

Source: United Nations