Memorandum N° 63/2018 | 19/07/2018

MEMORANDUM N° 63/2018 | 19/07/2018

More than 2,024 Daily Memoranda issued from 2006 to end of 2017, with 24,401 pages of Business Clips issued covering all African, European Institutions and African Union, as well as the Breton Woods Institutions. The subscription is free of charge, and sponsored by various Development Organisations and Corporations. The Memorandum is issued daily, with the sole purpose to provide updated basic business and economic information on Africa, to more than 45,000 European Companies, as well as their business parties in Africa. Should a reader require a copy of the Memoranda, please address the request to fernando.matos.rosa@sapo or [email protected].

12 YEARS OF PUBLICATION

SUMMARY

Saudi Arabia to invest $10bn in South Africa’s energy sector Page 2

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development supports Morocco's Energy with a €10 loan Page 3

Nigeria’s Third Mainland Bridge to be shut for tests this July Page 3

Cobalt explorers expect higher prices and grades to offset DRC’s new mine laws Page 3

Ethiopia to bridge electricity connectivity gap with new substations Page 4

South Africa: Consumer inflation accelerates as fuel prices bite Page 5

BBC report alleges MSF aid workers in Africa traded medicine for sex Page 5

Nigeria to launch new national airline that will be 95% private-sector owned Page 6

Nigerian youth in uproar as officials keep Chinese scholarships to themselves Page 7

Commercial flight between Eritrea and Ethiopia resumes after two decades Page 7

With just weeks before the elections, 300 independents are registered in Zimbabwe Page 9

Clashes intensify in crisis-hit Cameroon Page 10

Kenyans up in arms as 20 MPs go on ‘official business’ to World Cup Page 10

Uganda targets new oil storage facility Page 11

100 children smuggled from Morocco to Spain: European police hit two organised crime groups Page 12

The EU protects the rights of migrant children in Morocco Page 12

UfM to organize 1st Youth Forum for the Mediterranean to design regional cooperation projects Page 12

ACWA Power inaugurates 120MW Khalladi wind farm in Morocco Page 13

SAUDI ARABIA TO INVEST $10BN IN SOUTH AFRICA’S ENERGY SECTOR

Cyril Ramaphosa with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The state visit of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to Saudi Arabia has secured an agreement on the part of the Saudis to invest $10bn in the republic’s energy sector. Saudi developer ACWA Power and the state-owned Central Energy Fund of South Africa are aiming to develop solar projects. Mohammad Abunayyan, the chairman of ACWA Power, said the aim would be to make use of “the most advanced and versatile solar technology solutions which can efficiently and reliably produce clean energy throughout the 24-hour period”. The first project will be the 100MW Redstone concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) plant, to be located in the country’s Northern Cape Province. This will be capable of suppling power to 210,000 homes once operational. Other Saudi projects will include the construction of refineries and petrochemical plants. President Ramaphosa also visited Nigeria and the UAE. Following the visit, the UAE also announced plans for $10bn worth of investments into Africa's second biggest economy. Ramaphosa said on Saturday that this would be aimed at mining, tourism and “sustainable development”. In return for the investment, the Arab states are looking for access to South Africa’s market, the second largest in Africa, and may also be aimed at disrupting Pretoria’s close relationship with Iran. Ramaphosa is seeking $100bn in investment to address a series of economic and social problems in the republic. South Africa’s economy shrank 2.2% in the first quarter of 2018 owing to declining production in the agriculture, mining and steel production sectors. More generally, it faces structural problems with inadequate electricity generation and an overreliance on primary production, which exposes the economy to changes in commodity prices. Meanwhile, the country is facing a daunting set of social problems, including a 36% unemployment rate.(GCR 18-07- 2018)

THE EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS MOROCCO'S ENERGY SECTOR WITH A €10 MILLION LOAN 3

The EBRD is supporting SDX Energy Morocco with a loan of up to €10 million to finance the enhancement of upstream gas production and related gas transport infrastructure to Kenitra industrial zone customers, facilitating the switch away from polluting fuel oil. As a result, a reduction of 20,000 tonnes in CO2 emissions per year is anticipated. SDX Energy is an international company active in the exploration and production of oil and gas, currently operating in North Africa with assets in Egypt and Morocco. It was created in 2015 by the merger of Sea Dragon Energy and Madison PetroGas. The EBRD has been working in Morocco since 2012. To date, the Bank has invested over €1.5 billion in 36 projects across the country, in addition to over €250 million of trade facilitation credit lines with local banks.( EEAS 18-07-2018) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

NIGERIA’S THIRD MAINLAND BRIDGE TO BE SHUT FOR TESTS THIS JULY

Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos Nigeria will be shut to traffic at midnight on Thursday July 26 and reopened at midnight of Sunday July 29 this year to pave way for engineers conduct assessment tests on some sections of the bridge.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Adedamola Kuti, explained that if vehicles were allowed on the bridge during the tests, the movement will alter the readings expected from the tests. Mr. Kuti said the results of the tests will enable them to determine how to embark on actual repair work, adding that details of alternative routes would be provided to members of the public tomorrow after a stakeholders’ meeting in the afternoon tomorrow.

About Third Mainland Bridge Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, others are the Eko and Carter bridges. It was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was completed. The bridge starts from Oworonshoki which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi express way and Lagos- Ibadan express way, and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island. There is also a link midway through the bridge that leads to Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The bridge was built by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and opened by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1990; it measures about 11.8 km in length. Recently, there have been rumours of cracks on the bridge. This, however, was denied by authorities. The eight-lane bridge experienced a new look during the last repairing exercise, painting the bridge guide with the colour of Nigeria green, white, green, and also general painting was carried out for a new look. The repair works on the bridge has been completed and was opened on 30 October 2012.(CRO 18-07-2018)

COBALT EXPLORERS EXPECT HIGHER PRICES AND GRADES TO OFFSET DRC’S NEW MINE LAWS Junior miners exploring for cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reckon increased prices and the country’s high-grade deposits will offset the added costs of new legislation larger companies have opposed. 4

DRC, the world’s largest source of the metal, this month began implementing an amended mining code that introduces new taxes and increases royalty payments. Miners including Glencore, Randgold Resources and China Molybdenum have criticised the new law and threatened to sue to protect their investments. "We are comfortable with the high-level terms of this mining code," Jason Brewer, a director of three Australia-based companies exploring for copper, cobalt, gold and lithium, said. "It’s now just a question of getting the details associated with how you actually implement that." The average cost of producing cobalt in DRC is 30% lower than the rest of the world, London-based research company CRU Group said in May. That provides "some leeway for miners to absorb additional higher royalty payments" introduced in the code, it said. Junior miners do not need to worry about paying taxes or royalties until they start exporting metals Prices for cobalt, a key component in batteries that power electric vehicles, have more than tripled over the past two years as manufacturers strive to deliver more of their cars into the mainstream market. Among the companies most affected by the new legislation are those in the latter stages of building mines, such as Alphamin Resources and Ivanhoe Mines. They raised money assuming that a 10-year stability clause in the previous mining code protected them from paying higher taxes for another decade. Alphamin is developing the world’s highest-grade tin deposit, while Ivanhoe’s zinc and copper projects are due to start production in the coming years. "In terms of investor trust, this is a concern," Boris Kamstra, of CEO Alphamin, said in an interview. "It will increase the cost of capital for all projects in the DRC." Junior miners do not need to worry about paying taxes or royalties until they start exporting metals. But uncertainty over whether cobalt will be classified as a strategic metal and how a super-profit tax provided for in the new legislation will be applied is deterring some financiers from backing projects, Brewer said. Congo introduced a "strategic substance" categorisation in the new code, which may result in a 10% royalty rate on cobalt. Brewer is seeking clarity saying that "unless we are given that clarity, we are seeing a decline in interest", noting the combined market capitalisation of junior miners exploring for lithium in DRC has halved from about $1bn since the code’s promulgation in March. Still, they remain confident their projects can be successful. "We have to factor in the new code," said Serge Ngandu, president of the Congolese subsidiary of London-based African Battery Metals, a company with a cobalt exploration permit. "It should be viable because the DRC has got almost 60% of the world’s cobalt resources and it is cobalt which is easy to process." ( Bloomberg 21-06-2018)

ETHIOPIA TO BRIDGE ELECTRICITY CONNECTIVITY GAP WITH NEW SUBSTATIONS Over 70% of people in Ethiopia have no access to electricity. Although the grid covers about 60% of the towns in the country. To bridge electricity connectivity gap, the country is setting up new substations This gap necessitates for the government to seek various partnerships that will assist in connecting this number of people to the national grid. At the moment, global power firm, GE Grid Solutions announced it has completed a US $40m electricity transmission system improvement turnkey project in collaboration with the Ethiopian Electric Power. The project will raise access to electricity by transferring bulk electric power to the southern and south- western parts of the country. The company noted that new substations will also help reduce technical losses in the transmission system in the medium term. “This project will support overall electrification plans of Ethiopia, provide sustainable power and allow the transmission of reliable power from the interconnected system to demand centres across the country and in the region”, said Wudineh Yemane, project manager at Ethiopian Electric Power. “It will facilitate the implementation of the Universal Electrification Access programme as well as government’s ambition to export energy to Sudan,” Yemane added. 5

Reducing high transmission losses Lazarus Angbazo, regional leader for GE’s Grid Solutions Business in sub-Saharan Africa, underlined that there is an urgent need for household electrification and that the project will significantly reduce high transmission losses while improving system efficiency, stability and reliability.. “GE has always been a committed partner to Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), and we are honoured to be able to deliver the largest number of substations to EEP on a turnkey basis with this project,” said Lazarus.(CRO 16-06-2018)

SOUTH AFRICA: CONSUMER INFLATION ACCELERATES AS FUEL PRICES BITE

But the 4.6% increase in CPI was a little better than expected — possibly thanks to zero inflation in food prices Consumer inflation accelerated in June, thanks mainly to rising fuel prices. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.6% in June from a year earlier, picking up the pace from May’s 4.4% increase. The pace of acceleration was slightly slower than expected, though — expectations were for an increase of 4.8%. Fuel prices — which make up 4.58% of the CPI — increased by 16.3% in June from a year earlier, Statistics SA data showed on Wednesday. That followed a 9.4% increase in May from the previous year. Petrol prices rose by 82c a litre to a new record in June, while diesel prices rose by between 82c a litre and 87c a litre. There is little relief on the horizon for consumers, after further — though much smaller — increases took effect in July. A weaker rand and higher international oil prices have hit SA with a double whammy, and the outlook for both of these factors will be on the Reserve Bank’s mind as it meets for three days this week to decide on monetary policy. That decision is due on Thursday, and the Bank is expected to stay its hand. That would leave the repo rate at 6.5%, after the Bank delivered a 25 basis points cut in March, and left rates unchanged in May. Though the Bank bases its 3%-6% inflation-targeting band on CPI, it uses forward projections for CPI inflation when making its policy decision, rather than Stats SA’s historical data. Food inflation — which makes up more than 17% of the index — has slowed dramatically from the double-digit rates last seen in about April last year, and prices for food non-alcoholic beverages were flat in June — from inflation of 3.4% in May. Compared with May, the CPI increased 0.4% in June.(BD 18-07-2018)

BBC REPORT ALLEGES MSF AID WORKERS IN AFRICA TRADED MEDICINE FOR SEX

A former MSF employee said she had seen a senior staff member bring girls back to MSF housing while posted in Kenya, and it was ‘implicit’ they were there for sex Aid workers for charity Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) used prostitutes and bartered medicines for sex in Kenya, Liberia and Central Africa, a BBC report said on Thursday. The nongovernmental organisation said it took the allegations seriously but that it had been unable to confirm the claims, made by anonymous whistleblowers, and urged anyone with information to come forward. A former employee based in MSF’s London office told the BBC she had seen a senior staff member bring girls back to MSF accommodation while posted in Kenya. 6

"The girls were very young and rumoured to be prostitutes," she said, adding that it was "implicit" that they were there for sex. She said some of the older, long-standing male aid workers took advantage of their positions. "I felt that, with some of the older guys, there was definitely an abuse of power," she said. "They’d been there for a long time and took advantage of their exalted status as a Western aid worker." She questioned what the charity knew, saying: "There’s definitely a feeling that certain predatory men were seen as too big to fail." Another female employee who worked with HIV-positive patients in Central Africa said the use of local sex workers was widespread. "There was this older colleague, who actually moved a woman into the [charity] compound. It was pretty obvious that she was a prostitute but he’d call her his girlfriend," she said. A third whistleblower described how a senior colleague boasted of trading medication for sex with girls in Ebola-hit Liberia. "He said, ‘Oh, it’s so easy. It’s so easy to barter medication with these easy girls in Liberia’," she told the programme. "He was suggesting lots of the young girls who had lost their parents to the Ebola crisis, that they would do anything sexual in return for medication." In a statement, the agency said: "We do not tolerate abuse, harassment or exploitation within MSF. We are sorry for any instances where people have been subjected to harassment, abuse or otherwise mistreated and/or felt that it was not adequately dealt with." The allegations follow a crisis at British charity Oxfam over claims that its aid workers used prostitutes while stationed in Haiti after the devastating 2010 earthquake. "We know that MSF is not immune to these issues and we take any reports seriously," the charity’s statement said. But it said that "based on the information provided, we have been unable to confirm the specific allegations". "We would urge anyone with any concerns to report them via MSF’s confidential whistleblowing mechanisms so that we can take action," it said. The charity said it had complaints procedures in place but "we know we need to do more to ensure that they are known, trusted and used by the people who need them". (AFP 21-06-2018)

NIGERIA TO LAUNCH NEW NATIONAL AIRLINE THAT WILL BE 95% PRIVATE-SECTOR OWNED

The new carrier is planned to be launched in December, with the country already in talks with Airbus and Boeing Nigeria plans to re-launch a national airline in December, its junior aviation minister said on Wednesday, as the government seeks to make good on President Muhammadu Buhari’s election campaign promise to introduce a new carrier. Decades of neglect and lack of investment have left Nigeria with low-quality infrastructure seen as a hurdle to prosperity. The government has said that upgrading it will require private investment. The Nigerian government will not own more than 5% of the new carrier, Nigeria Air, junior minister Hadi Sirika said at the Farnborough Air Show in England, according to the government’s official Twitter account. "This will be a national carrier that is private-sector led and driven," Sirika said on the Twitter account. "It is a business, not a social service. Government will not be involved in running it or deciding who runs it. The investors will have full responsibility for this." The junior minister said 81 domestic, regional and international routes were planned, and that the government had been in talks with Airbus and Boeing about Nigeria Air’s planes. The government’s Twitter account did not quote Sirika elaborating on who the investors in the remaining 95% stake of the airline would be. 7

Nigeria Airways, the country’s original national airline, operated for 45 years until 2003. Air Nigeria, its successor, ran from 2005 to 2012. (Reuters 18-07-2018)

NIGERIAN YOUTH IN UPROAR AS OFFICIALS KEEP CHINESE SCHOLARSHIPS TO THEMSELVES

Okechukwu Enelamah, Nigeria’s trade minister, was among those invited to nominate candidates for the BSc scholarships

Young Nigerians, reportedly in the hundreds, protested in Abuja this week after the government refused their applications for scholarships to study rail engineering in China, offered by a Chinese contractor. They were told no such programme existed, but a newspaper investigation revealed that it did and that government officials had solicited nominations from their associates instead of opening the scheme to the public. On Wednesday (20 June) crowds of young people, many of whom had travelled long distances and at great expense, temporarily blocked the entrance to the Federal Ministry of Transportation. Based on social media reports, they had arrived hoping to apply for scholarships to study in China, which they thought were being offered by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a state-owned contractor building a standard-gauge railway from Lagos to Kano, reports newspaper Premium Times. But ministry officials turned them away, saying no such opportunities existed. That night the ministry issued a press statement saying it had never advertised such a programme, and would not receive applications “from the general public”. Government insiders, however, told a different story to the Times. One “top official” told the newspaper that CCECC had approached the transportation ministry with a plan to sponsor a number of young Nigerians to study railway engineering in China. That plan appears to have been leaked, and became prominent on social media for days. But rather than advertise the opportunities, the ministry contacted government officials – ministers, permanent secretaries, presidency officials and select federal lawmakers – to nominate candidates for the slots, sources told the Times. The newspaper obtained a copy of such a letter sent to trade minister Okechukwu Enelamah (pictured). Sent from the transport ministry’s permanent secretary, and dated 11 June, it sets out the criteria for nominees to a five-year bachelor of science degree to be undertaken in China. Interviews for the slots were scheduled for between June 21-23 at CCECC’s Abuja headquarters. 8

The Times interviewed a number of the protesters. “When will our government be sincere and help the masses?” asked Buhari Abubakar, an applicant from Kano who said his parents paid dearly for the 430-km trip to Abuja. Another applicant, Ismail Oyejola, said he was told about the scholarships by a neighbour who works with the Prison Services. He called the experience “a shattered dream for young Nigerians”. Parents joined the protests, as well. One angry mother, Nike Abdulrahman, said a letter about the scholarships had been in circulation since 12 June. “How can they say our [children] are not going to submit because it is fake?”, she said to the Times, adding it was irresponsible of the transport ministry of transport not to issue a disclaimer about the rumours. “This is a fraud on the public. You now raise the hope of youth across the 36 states and then dash it,” she said. When invited by the Times, neither the transport ministry nor CCECC would comment.(GCR 22-06- 2018)

COMMERCIAL FLIGHT BETWEEN ERITREA AND ETHIOPIA RESUMES AFTER TWO DECADES On Wednesday, Ethiopia and Eritrea resumed commercial airline flights for the first time in two decades, marking the latest phase in a whirlwind peace process between the former foes. Ethiopian Airlines said Flight ET0312 had arrived in the Eritrean capital Asmara after a one-and-a-half hour flight from Addis Ababa — the latest sign of a thaw between the neighbouring countries that began just six weeks ago. "The bird of peace has just flown to Asmara," the airline wrote on Twitter shortly after take-off from Bole International Airport. "This day marks a unique event in the history of Ethiopia and Eritrea," the airline’s CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said at a ceremony inaugurating the historic flight. Overwhelming demand saw the African aviation giant operate two flights within 15 minutes of each other. "The fact that we are taking two flights at a time shows the eagerness of the people," said Tewolde. An AFP journalist onboard the second flight said champagne was served to passengers in all classes, who toasted each other and posed for selfies shortly before take-off. Smiling flight attendants also handed out roses to the passengers. Ethiopian Airlines, one of Africa’s fastest growing carriers, has said it would initially operate a once-a-day return flight between Addis Ababa and Asmara. "With the demand we are witnessing, I think we’re going to increase the frequency to twice a day, thrice a day and even more," said Tewolde, adding that the opening of the Eritrean airspace to Ethiopian Airlines would also mean more efficient routes to the Middle East. Among the passengers on the first flight was former prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn, whose shock resignation in February was the first step in a series of shake ups in Ethiopian politics and the Horn of Africa at large. "I knew one day it would happen," he said of the peace with Eritrea. Hailemariam was succeeded in April by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a former army officer and cabinet minister described by analysts as a "man in an extreme hurry". After announcing the liberalisation of parts of the Ethiopian economy and releasing jailed dissidents, Abiy last month declared his intention to make peace with Eritrea after two decades of frozen relations. Eritrea was once part of Ethiopia and comprised its entire coastline on the Red Sea until it voted for independence in 1993 after decades of bloody conflict. A row over the demarcation of the shared border triggered a brutal 1998-2000 conflict which left 80,000 people dead before evolving into a bitter cold war. 9

Abiy stunned observers with his announcement he would finally accept a 2002 UN-backed border demarcation. However he has yet to announce a pull out of troops. He then paid a historic visit to Eritrea, during which he and President Isaias Afwerki declared an official end to the war. Afwerki reciprocated with a state visit to Ethiopia just days later. The emotion-filled reunion has been welcomed by Ethiopians, who share strong cultural ties with Eritreans, many of whom were completely cut off from family during the long years of enmity. On Monday, Afwerki reopened Eritrea’s embassy in Addis Ababa. The rapprochement is expected to provide an economic boost to both nations, offering booming Ethiopia — which currently channels its trade through Djiboutian ports — access to Eritrean shores. Amnesty International has said the new-found peace should be a catalyst for change in Eritrea, one of the world’s most isolated nations. Since the end of the war, Afwerki has used the threat of Ethiopian aggression to justify repressive policies, including an indefinite national service programme the UN has likened to slavery. (AFP 18-07-2018)

WITH JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS, 300 INDEPENDENTS ARE REGISTERED IN ZIMBABWE Two weeks ahead of general elections in Zimbabwe, Duduzile Nyirongo, a chartered accountant, will be hoping to become ward seven councilor in the country’s capital, Harare. She will be vying for political office alongside more than 300 candidates registered as independents in the polls, according to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission ZEC. From lawyers, accountants, actors, to businesspeople and lay preachers, Zimbabwe has seen a rise in the number of individuals running for office as independents for the presidential and parliamentary elections, as well as in local government. The choice to run as an independent candidate is driven by the inability of candidates to choose between the two main parties. Some break it down to the perceived wrecking of the economy by Zanu- PF and the failure by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to deliver on its promises. "Party politics has destroyed our country; we have had party politics for a long time ... I am not going to be in either Zanu-PF or in MDC, they both need to put their house in order. So I decided to play outside and have no political home," Nyirongo says.

For ... two prominent legislators in the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa, running as independent candidates was precipitated by a fallout with the party leadership. The MDC said legislators who had decided to stand as independent candidates against party orders were considered fired. Other prominent independent candidates include, Bryn Mteki, a musician and former Robert Mugabe praise singer, who is running for president; Evan Mawarire, the founder of the #This Flag Movement, who is looking to become a councilor in Harare; and Fadzayi Mahere, a lawyer running for parliament in the Mount Pleasant constituency. In the past, independents have been far and apart in Zimbabwe’s politics. The few notable names include Jonathan Moyo in 2005 and Temba Mliswa, the current independent legislator for Norton. Both were former Zanu-PF members. Political analyst Eldred Masunungure says there are two drivers responsible for the surge in independents. "The first is really a protest stance by political players, who feel aggrieved by their party’s handling of the primary elections; the second is a reflection of the opening up of the political space where more players can come in ... without fear of reprisal by authorities. In that sense, there has been a fundamental shift in the macro-political space since November last year." Even then, getting enough votes to win is a tall ask for an independent. Harare resident Patience Phiri says voting for an independent candidate would depend largely on whether the candidate has demonstrated knowledge of the task ahead. "I am not going to try and put into power a hungry and clueless person, as that will only worsen my own situation," she says. But such feelings are not enough to dissuade Nyirongo, a former activist. She says she got tired of "just making noise and going to demonstrations" with little change to show for it. "I said to myself, if there is a 10 gap in skills, such as in audit committee and a need to set policies, we are the people who are able to do that. So I decided to give back to the community, as my skills are needed at community level." However, for others such as Jessie Majome and James Maridadi, two prominent legislators in the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa, running as independent candidates was precipitated by a fallout with the party leadership. Last week, the MDC said legislators who had decided to stand as independent candidates against party orders were considered fired. "They have ignored the party in breach of our constitution, something that means automatic dismissal," says Morgan Komichi, the MDC chairperson. An expensive affair Without the backing of a political party, the campaign trail is also an expensive affair. Nyirongo raised $6,000 through crowd-sourcing to fund her campaign activities, which include printing brochures, flyers, posters, T-shirts, and paying for social media adverts. "It has not been easy to get campaign funds — financial constraints are my biggest challenge. I have raised about $6 000, but it’s not easy as people don’t have money." Nyirongo’s budget is dwarfed by the reported $200m war chest the Zanu-PF has for the election. The ruling party has spent a lot on billboards, posters, T-shirts and media adverts. Again, with no party backing, independent candidates also have to rely on volunteers to assist with their campaign. "Because people are volunteering, they are not there 100%," Nyirongo says, as she concedes her Zanu-PF rival has the advantage of having the party’s existing structures at his disposal. "He is well-off and has money. In the ward we are both contesting, he has also given people soap, sugar and about $2 each to vote for him." Tough as the going might be, tough for independents, collectively they could break the dominance of political parties, potentially turning the country’s politics on its head.(BD 17-07-2018)

CLASHES INTENSIFY IN CRISIS-HIT CAMEROON Clashes between army and Anglophone separatists claimed several lives in the town of Kumba in Cameroon’s troubled Southwest Region province, sources said Thursday. "Several people, including civilians, have been killed in Kumba since Monday," a source close to the town’s medical services said. "These people died during various army operations" after Kumba’s police superintendent was killed on Sunday, the source said. The murder has been blamed on separatists who want secession from the French-speaking bulk of Cameroon. "There were exchanges of gunfire for much of [Wednesday] night," one witness said. "I heard gunshots all night long. Things have quietened down, but people are beginning to leave town," said a teacher, who asked not be named. The security situation has been tense for days in Southwest Region, which along with the Northwest Region was once under British rule before joining Francophone Cameroon in 1961 after independence. At least three police officers have been killed since Sunday at Kumba and in the regional capital, Buea. For the first time since Anglophone protest over perceived neglect by the central government erupted at the end of 2016, fighting took place on Monday in Buea, a city patrolled by a large military force. Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo was paying an official visit on Thursday to the Southwest Region, where the separatist crisis became an armed struggle by radical foes of President Paul Biya’s regime late in 2017. (AFP 13-07-2018)

KENYANS UP IN ARMS AS 20 MPS GO ON ‘OFFICIAL BUSINESS’ TO WORLD CUP 11

Kenyans voiced outrage on Thursday as it emerged that a group of MPs had gone to the World Cup at the taxpayers’ expense, even though the country had failed to qualify for the tournament. The scandal erupted after some of the legislators posted selfies on social media of themselves at matches in Russia. "Isn’t that a big, bad joke, that leaders can travel all the way to Russia to watch football when we have a lot of problems here?" asked Sylvester Aseka, who sells computers in Nairobi. "Oh my God, I want to believe that is not true, the pictures some of them are posting," said Jacinta Mong’ina, 26, a student. "It means they have a lot of time and resources to go to Russia. When will they serve their constituents?" The Star daily newspaper reported that about 20 MPs had travelled to Russia at the start of the month and were expected to attend Sunday’s final. The cost of accommodation, per diems and match tickets was being carried by the government, it said. The Star’s estimate of the total cost was $450,000. By comparison, the minimum wage in Kenya is between $120 and $280 per month, depending on the level of skill. In parliament, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi confirmed the trip but said it was "not a bad thing". "They must prepare a report when they come back and table it in parliament. That’s the standard procedure," he said. According to The Star, Senate clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye called the trip "official business". "It is their responsibility to understand sports, how to host such international tournaments. This is not a holiday and it is too simplistic to look at it as a joyrider mission," he reportedly said. Kenya’s Harambee Stars have never reached the World Cup finals and have not qualified for any major international tournament since the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. Kenya’s MPs — among the highest paid in the world — have often rubbed public opinion up the wrong way over their salary demands. (AFP 13-07-2018)

UGANDA TARGETS NEW OIL STORAGE FACILITY Uganda, which plans to refine its own oil, says it will require as much as $70m to construct a storage facility for refined products on the outskirts of the capital, Kampala. The East African country will initially build storage with capacity for 60,000m³, which it may upgrade to 138,000m³ if there is demand, Josephine Wapakabulo, CEO of Kampala-based Uganda National Oil Company, said on Thursday in response to questions. Uganda, which plans to start oil production from its western Lake Albert region in 2020, will seek a joint venture partner for the project and will invite bids before the end of 2018, she said. It already has storage for 30,000-million litres in the eastern town of Jinja. Uganda signed in April a project framework agreement with the Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium, which includes a unit of General Electric, to develop a 60,000 barrel per day refinery. The facility in the oil-rich Hoima region will initially operate at half capacity before being upgraded. The Ugandan government will have a 40% stake in the refinery. Of that shareholding, 40% will be offered to Kenya and Tanzania, which "previously expressed interest", she said. The government has said Kenya and Tanzania wanted 2.5% and 8% stakes, respectively. France’s Total, China National Offshore Oil Corporation and London-based Tullow Oil are jointly developing Uganda’s crude finds of 6.5-billion barrels of oil resource that hold up to 1.7-billion barrels of recoverable oil. (Bloomberg 13-07-2018)

MORE THAN A 100 CHILDREN SMUGGLED FROM MOROCCO TO SPAIN: EUROPEAN POLICE HIT TWO ORGANISED CRIME GROUPS

With the support of Europol, the Spanish National Police has dismantled two organised crime groups dedicated to facilitating the illegal entry of unaccompanied minors from Morocco to Spain, in a two-phase investigation carried out across several provinces in Spain. Twenty-eight members of the criminal organisation were arrested in Spain and ten houses searched in various provinces across Spain. During the operation, police seized numerous fake documents, data storage devices and mobile phones. It is estimated that more than a hundred minors were smuggled using different mode operandi. The minors were recruited in Morocco and illegally entered Spain using dangerous means of transportation. Smuggling by land through border crossing points has been of special concern to Europol and is being closely monitored. (Europol 22-06-2018)

THE EU PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF MIGRANT CHILDREN IN MOROCCO On the occasion of the Global Forum on Migration and Development held in Agadir, Morocco, the Ministry in charge of Moroccans living abroad and Migration Affairs, the European Union in Morocco and the UNICEF have presented “Hijra wa Himaya”, a new project which aims at ensuring to migrant children in Morocco a better access to their rights. Migrant children in Morocco represent approximately 10% of the migrant population, 35% of them are girls. Two thousand accompanied and unaccompanied migrant children, including victims of child trafficking, will benefit from reinforced services, particularly in the Oriental region and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. Professionals of different partner sectors, such as social workers, health professionals, teachers, security officers, justice professionals and civil society actors will also benefit from this project through capacity-building activities. A total budget of €2.4 million is allocated to Hijra wa Himaya which covers the period 2018-2021. The European Union’s contribution amounts to approximately €1.8 million. (EEAS 22-06-2018) Hijra wa Himaya – Promoting the rights of migrant children in Morocco

UFM TO ORGANIZE 1ST YOUTH FORUM FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN TO DESIGN REGIONAL COOPERATION PROJECTS The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the Tarragona City Council will jointly organize the 1st Youth Forum for the Mediterranean on 6-9 July in Tarragona, Spain. Held in the framework of the XVIII Mediterranean Games, the Forum will bring together 45 representatives from youth-led organizations, platforms and networks from 20 countries to share their experience, best practices and innovative ideas with a view to developing regional cooperation projects led by youth in the Euro- Mediterranean region. The Forum aims to foster intercultural dialogue among youth organisations from both shores of the Mediterranean, and create space for project-building. It will provide the participants with a comprehensive knowledge on how to develop a regional cooperation project from its concept to its implementation. Each session will encourage collective thinking and exchange of methods and good practices on regional partnerships and project development, by bridging youth-led organisations and platforms with regional cooperation actors, such as the UfM and some of its key partners. The Forum will ultimately promote youth participation and action in the Euro-Mediterranean area and its action-oriented regional agenda. 13

Fostering a common vision and exchanging with senior experts from the region, the young Mediterranean practitioners are expected to present their ideas for potential regional projects that can be labelled by the UfM, in line with the current Euro-Mediterranean policy frameworks and focusing on the main strategic priorities of the Union for the Mediterranean, namely youth employability, women’s empowerment and sustainable development. The projects developed during the Forum will also seek to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Euro-Mediterranean region.(UfM 04-07-2018) The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)

ACWA POWER INAUGURATES 120MW KHALLADI WIND FARM IN MOROCCO

ACWA Power has inaugurated its 120MW Khalladi wind farm in Tangiers, with the aim of supplying clean power to a number of large industrial companies, mainly operating in the cement sector in Morocco at competitive prices. The wind firm is set to produce and supply 370 GWh of energy to industrial companies annually. This is equivalent to a yearly average consumption of a city of 400,000 people and will contribute to the reduction of more than 144,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year The Khalladi wind farm , which was developed by ACWA Power in collaboration with ARIF investment fund, is situated at Jbel Sendouq, 30km from Tangiers and represents an investment of US $170m. This entire project was privately funded and investment was financed with equity from ACWA Power and ARIF with a long tenor debt, from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in collaboration with the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), and the Moroccan BMCE Bank of Africa (BMCE). With renewable energy playing an important role in the overall development of countries in Africa, including Morocco, the Khalladi project will contribute Morocco in achieving of the 2020 target of increasing renewable energy component of the energy mix to 42%.Part of this ambition to also develop 2 GW of wind capacity all by 2020. According to ACWA Power chairman, Mohammad Abunayyan, “Morocco’s energy sector offers attractive investment opportunities, due to a well-established regulatory framework that was put in place by the Moroccan government and due to the country having already attracted significant investments in solar and wind energy. This has made it possible for ACWA Power to, within six years, deliver the NOOR I solar plant (160 MWe) and the Khalladi wind farm (120MW) and a series of other investments in construction which by the end of 2018, will accumulate to 800 MW of generation capacity in the country,”said Mohammad “Today, we are proud of having been able to establish in Morocco a solid foundation of seven power plants which will all be operational by the end of this year. With a portfolio valued at over US $3.2bn, we look forward to participating in the future tenders that will be offered to the private sector for power generation and desalinated water production capacity,”he added ACWA Power has made significant investments in Morocco, with projects and operations expected to be rolled out over the coming decades. ACWA Power Morocco will also serve as a platform for the development of other energy projects in the continent as the company grows its operations into West Africa. “We are contributing to the durability of Morocco’s economic and social development through the implementation an efficient environment friendly energy policy, which is bringing online significant capacity of reliable electricity supplies utilizing the renewable energy resources that Morocco is richly endowed with, thus reducing energy import bill and conserving foreign currency for decades to come, "said Paddy Padmanathan, president and CEO of ACWA Power. “We are also proud to not only be able deliver renewable energy at the lowest possible cost to the industries and people of the kingdom but also add value to social and economic development of the country and the communities within which our power plants are located by maximising local content and local employment creation and by contributing to community development,”he added. ACWA Power Khalladi is 75% and 25% owned by ACWA Power and ARIF Fund respectively,and it is managed by Infra Invest. (CRO 03-07-2018 14

The Memorandum is supported by the ACP-African, Caribbean, Pacific Secretariat, Chamber of Commerce Tenerife, Corporate Council on Africa, CIP-Confederation of Portuguese Enterprises, Hellenic-African Chamber of Commerce and Development, HTTC - Hungarian Trade & Cultural Centre, NABC- Netherlands-African Business Council, SwissCham-Africa and other organisations. The Memorandum is also made available by AHEAD-GLOBAL, BCA, Chamber of Tenerife (by posting it at the Africa Info Market), CCA - Canadian Council on Africa, CCA - Corporate Council on Africa (USA), CIP,HTTC,NABC (by posting selected news) and SwissCham-Africa to their Members.

www.acp.int www.camaratenerife.com www.ccafrica.ca

www.corporatecouncilonafrica.com www.cip.pt www.helafrican-chamber.gr

www.htcc.org.hu www.nabc.nl

Fernando Matos Rosa [email protected] [email protected]