🇱🇾 ICC Prosecutor notes positive progress in probes into crimes against migrants in Libya

The International Criminal court Prosecutor updated the United Nations Security Council on the progress in human trafficking investigations in Libya.

Karim Khan said his Office has undertaken over 15 investigation missions and collected more than 4,000 items of evidence over the last six months.

The update came 18 months after the implementation of a renewed Strategic Plan for the work of ICC in Libya.

“So over the last six months, my office has continued to work closely with the joint investigative team that is investigating crimes against migrants on the Central Mediterranean route," Karim Khan said.

"Based on this collective work, the office has been able to provide tangible support with respect to ongoing investigations and prosecutions, with respect to key suspects in human trafficking investigations and prosecutions in Italy and in the Netherlands.”

#Libya

@africaintel

🇰🇪🇭🇹🇺🇳 Kenya say it won't send police mission to Haiti until UN funds it

Kenya’s government has said it won't deploy its police officers to Haiti until all conditions on training and funding are met.

Last month the U.N Security Council gave its approval for Kenya to command a multinational mission to combat violent gangs in the troubled Caribbean country.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told Parliament’s Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security that “unless all resources are mobilized and availed, our troops will not leave the country.”

He said U.N. member states are securing resources and have identified how funds will be mobilised and made available to Kenya for the mission. However, it was not immediately clear when the forces would be fully trained and funded to allow for deployment, or when they might be deployed.

#Kenya #Haiti #UN

@africaintel

🇳🇬🇨🇿 Nigeria reportedly cancels visit by Czech Republic PM

Nigeria has cancelled a planned visit by Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala, several Czech media outlets say.

"Nigeria has informed us that it is unable to provide an adequate reception and programme, so we have agreed to cancel the visit," Czech Republic government spokesman Václav Smolka told.

Czech media, citing diplomatic sources, report that Nigeria’s decision is linked to the Czech Republic’s support of Israel in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

Nigeria, which has a large Muslim population, voted for a ceasefire, and some residents have held protests in support of Palestinians.

#Nigeria #Czech

@africaintel

🇿🇦 South Africa to miss 2030 emissions goal as it keeps coal plants burning

South Africa will miss its binding 2030 carbon emissions targets under the Paris climate agreement, three senior government officials confirmed, as the country plans to run eight coal-fired power plants for longer than planned.

South Africa is the world's 11th biggest greenhouse gas emitter and has one of the world's highest per capita emissions.

It had committed under the Paris Climate Accords to cut emissions to between 350 and 420 million tonnes by 2030, from 442 million tonnes in 2020.

Now a power supply crisis makes this target unrealistic, said the officials.

"Our models suggest we will miss the 2030 target," an official in the president's office said, although he added that a new decommissioning target for 2035 was being discussed.

An official from power utility Eskom also confirmed the target would be missed.

#SouthAfrica

@africaintel

🇰🇪🇯🇵 Kenya's Safaricom, Sumitomo launch support platform for start-ups

Kenyan telecoms operator Safaricom and Japan's Sumitomo Corp. have created a platform for supporting start-up companies, they said.

Although African economies like Kenya were in the past seen as the next frontier for start-ups especially in the technology sector, entrepreneurs faced issues including lack of financing and proper market strategies.

"Studies show that entrepreneurs in Kenya face major challenges, with a 30% lifetime survival rate for startups," Safaricom said in a statement.

Both companies have been joined by M-Pesa Africa in the venture that is called Spark Accelerator, they said. M-Pesa Africa manages Safaricom's M-Pesa mobile financial services platform.

"We trust this acceleration program will enable startups to create value within this ecosystem," said the managing director of M-Pesa Africa.

The platform aims to improve key sectors in Africa, said general manager for Sumitomo's smart communications platform division.

#Kenya #Japan

@africaintel

🇪🇬 Egypt's sovereign fund to complete historic hotels sale by year-end

Egypt will close the sale of a group of seven hotels, several of them historic, by the end of the year, the head of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt Ayman Soliman said.

"It has been awarded. So we're now in partnership moving towards a close before the end of the year, closing with the winning investors," Soliman said.

"They're going to turn around those trophy assets in Egypt, and with a view of taking those public as well."

Soliman did not give the name of the buyer. In June, Qatar was reported to be in talks over their purchase, but the following month Egypt's planning minister announced Egypt had awarded a $700 million stake in the hotels company to a consortium that included the local Talaat Mostafa Group Holding Co.

#Egypt

@africaintel

A pro-Israel prayer meeting that was planned in Sea Point, Cape Town, on Sunday afternoon was cancelled after about 1 000 Palestine supporters descended on the promenade just after 11:00.

This was according to prayer meeting organiser, Vivienne Myburgh, who said an Israel supporter's finger was broken after someone apparently grabbed a flag from his hand. The event was cancelled by the police due to safety concerns, she said.

Videos going viral on social media showed police nyalas and officers in rows trying to maintain order, while a water cannon was seen spraying crowds holding Palestinian flags.

— News24