DOCSLIB.ORG

Monthly Forecast

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Monthly Forecast August 2021 Monthly Forecast 1 Overview Overview 1 In Hindsight: Getting Across the Line on In August, India will have the presidency of the meetings on the political and humanitarian situa- Syria’s Cross-Border Security Council. Most meetings are expected to tions and on the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Mechanism be in person this month. Other Middle East issues on the programme of 4 Status Update since our India has chosen to convene two signature work this month are expected to be: July Forecast events during its presidency. One is a high-level • Lebanon, a meeting on the UN Interim Force 6 UN Peacekeeping videoconference (VTC) open debate on maritime in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the renewal of 7 Syria security. Narendra Modi, India’s prime minis- UNIFIL’s mandate; ter, will chair the meeting. Maria Luiza Ribeiro • Yemen, the monthly meeting on developments; 8 Maritime Security Viotti, the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, • “The situation in the Middle East, including 9 Lebanon and Ghada Fathi Waly, Executive Director of the Palestinian question”, the monthly meet- 11 Somalia the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), ing; and 12 Counter-Terrorism are expected to brief the Council. A presidential • Iraq, a meeting on the most recent devel- statement is an expected outcome. opments and the Secretary-General’s two 14 Yemen India is also planning to hold a ministerial-lev- upcoming reports concerning the UN Assis- 15 Iraq el open debate on “Technology and Peacekeep- tance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and missing 16 DPRK (North Korea) ing”. India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sub- Kuwaiti property and missing third party and 18 Mali rahmanyam Jaishankar, will chair the debate. Kuwaiti nationals. Under-Secretaries-General for Peace Operations African issues that the Council expects to and Operational Support, Jean-Pierre Lacroix address in August are: and Atul Khare, respectively, are expected to • Somalia, a meeting on the UN Assistance Mis- brief. A presidential statement is an anticipated sion in Somalia (UNSOM) and the renewal of outcome. India may also pursue a resolution on the UNSOM mandate; and the protection of peacekeepers during the month. • Mali, the renewal of the Mali asset freeze and The Council will meet to discuss the Secre- travel ban sanctions and the mandate of the tary-General’s 13th strategic-level report on the Mali Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts, threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the as well as consideration of the Secretary-Gener- Levant (ISIL or Da’esh) in August. India’s Minis- al’s 15 July report with recommendations on the ter of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, force level of the UN Multidimensional Integrat- is expected to chair the meeting. Under-Secre- ed Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). tary-General Vladimir Voronkov, the head of the The quarterly briefing by the chair of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and 1718 DPRK Sanctions Committee is also antic- Assistant Secretary-General Michèle Coninsx, ipated in August. the Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism The Council will continue to follow develop- Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), are ments in Ethiopia (Tigray), Haiti and Myanmar expected to brief. closely during the month. Meetings on these The Council is expected to hold its monthly and other issues are possible. In Hindsight: Getting Across the Line on Syria’s 30 July 2021 This report is available online at Cross-Border Mechanism securitycouncilreport.org. For daily insights by SCR on evolving Security Council actions please subscribe to our “What’s In Blue” On 9 July, in an astonishing show of unity on a humanitarian assistance into Syria’s northwest. series at securitycouncilreport.org or follow @SCRtweets on Twitter. perennially contentious issue, the Council unani- Not since the adoption of resolution 2332 in mously adopted resolution 2585, re-authoris- December 2016 had the Council reached consen- ing the cross-border mechanism to deliver sus on the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery Security Council Report Monthly Forecast August 2021 securitycouncilreport.org 1 In Hindsight: Getting Across the Line mechanism for Syria. And, unlike in December 2019, January 2020 outcome was by no means a foregone conclusion. The P5’s posi- and again in July 2020, the Council voted only on one draft text. tions were well-known. The Council’s ten elected members, whose While resolution 2585 offered the rarest of encouraging signs collective position was for keeping the cross-border mechanism open in the Council chamber on Syria, the unanimous adoption belied for another 12 months, had, however, expressed differing views on a difficult two weeks of negotiations. How the Council overcame the issue of sanctions and the role of cross-line deliveries. The co- its divisions to adopt this resolution is a classic diplomatic tale of penholders—Ireland and Norway, both fresh to the Council in compromise and constructive ambiguity. As one Council member 2021—aimed to sort out these differences, creating space for a deal noted privately, “every country got something it wanted in the end”. while maintaining a position that would hold the elected members But rifts may lie ahead: resolution 2585 also contains elements that together. Council members had fought against, sometimes vigorously. Against this backdrop, will the agreement allow the Council to put the acri- Negotiations Begin mony on the cross-border mechanism behind it and find new ways On 25 June, the co-penholders circulated a zero draft of their to work together on Syria? The text, and the process by which the resolution. One round of in-person negotiations among Council Council agreed on it, may offer some clues. experts took place on 30 June. The co-penholders’ zero draft was (For a detailed account of the background on the cross-border nearly identical to resolution 2533 of 2020—which re-authorised mechanism and the events surrounding last year’s adoption, please one border crossing (Bab al-Hawa) for 12 months—but included see our “In Hindsight” from the August 2020 Forecast, titled: “Six the authorisation of Al Yarubiyah, one of the four border crossings Days, Five Resolutions, One Border Crossing”.) originally authorised by the Council. The P3, along with Estonia, reiterated their position that the resolution should authorise three Lines Drawn border crossings (Bab al-Hawa, Al Yarubiyah and Bab al-Salam) for From the moment the Council renewed the cross-border mechanism a period of 12 months, while China, India and Russia raised con- with the adoption of resolution 2533 in July 2020, speculation about cerns that the zero draft referred neither to the need for increased its future was rife. Month after month, the Council’s regular ses- cross-line deliveries nor the adverse humanitarian effects of unilat- sions on the humanitarian situation in Syria painted an increasingly eral sanctions. Earlier that day, Russia’s permanent representative, dire picture. Council members remained rooted in their diverging Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, had described reopening the closed positions, notably over the impact of cross-line delivery of aid and cross-border points as “really a non-starter”. of sanctions, the duration of the cross-border mechanism and the A number of Council members privately characterised the days number of border crossings necessary to meet Syria’s humanitarian between the 30 June informal reading of the draft text and 6 July as needs, and the seemingly peripheral issue of early recovery funds. the proverbial calm before the storm. On 6 July, the Council held Russia and China have consistently argued that sanctions against closed consultations on Syria’s humanitarian situation, following Syria should be lifted, saying that they exacerbate the country’s wors- which the co-penholders placed their unchanged zero draft under ening economic conditions. They maintained that improvements silence until 7 July. Russia did not explicitly address the contents were needed in cross-line deliveries—humanitarian assistance that of the text or offer revisions, but China broke silence, saying that it crosses a domestic frontline from Syrian government-held areas could not accept an additional border crossing and calling for the into areas outside government control. These deliveries, they argued, text to include language on the expansion of cross-line deliveries and would be sufficient, obviating the need for assistance to flow into the adverse effects of unilateral sanctions. Syria’s northwest from Turkey. With the clock ticking (the mandate was set to expire on 10 July) Secretary-General António Guterres told the Council on 23 June and Russia refusing to formally engage on the text, the co-penhold- that “failure to extend the Council’s authorization would have dev- ers removed the language re-authorising the Al Yarubiyah crossing astating consequences”. While highlighting the importance of main- but made no further textual changes. They then placed the updated taining and expanding both cross-border and cross-line deliveries, draft under silence until 10 am on 8 July. China maintained its posi- the Secretary-General said that member states “must recognize that tion from the previous day. Nonetheless, the co-penholders decided [cross-line deliveries] will never be able to replace cross-border assis- to put the draft text in blue during the afternoon of 8 July, with the tance at the present levels”. In addition, the P3 (France, the United vote scheduled for 9 July. Kingdom and the United
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Visiting 2Nd Marine Air Wing
    Visiting 2nd Marine Air Wing February 14, 2019 2ND MARINE WING AT TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2018: THE CASE OF MAG-31 ............ 3 Col. Matthew H. Phares, MAG-31 Commanding Officer ................................................................. 7 Lt. Col. Joshua M. Pieczonka, VMFA(AW)-224 .............................................................................. 8 2ND MARINE WING AT TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2018: THE CASE OF MAG-26 ........... 10 Colonel Chris Boniface .................................................................................................................. 14 Lt. Col. Mark C. Fowler ................................................................................................................. 15 THE OSPREY AT 2ND MARINE AIR WING: AN UPDATE FROM COLONEL BONIFACE ......................................................................................................................... 16 THE USMC AND A NEW CHAPTER IN HEAVY LIFT: THE CH-53K LOGS DEMO AT NEW RIVER ........................................................................................................ 19 PREPARING FOR EFFECTIVE FLEET SUPPORT: THE CH-53K LOG DEMO AT NEW RIVER ................................................................................................................ 23 WORKING THE LOGISTICS CON-OPS AS THE CH-53K ENTERS THE FORCE ........ 28 2 2nd Marine Wing at Trident Juncture 2018: The Case of MAG-31 02/12/2019 By Robbin Laird Last year during my visit to Norway, I had a chance to visit several airbases and talk with a wide variety of Norwegian
    [Show full text]
  • Somalia, Kenya Leaders Thank Amir for Efforts to Mend Ties
    1996 - 2021 SILVER JUBILEE YEAR Bank of England Nadal reaches expects best year Madrid for UK economy quarters, Barty since 1941 into final Business | 13 Sport | 16 FRIDAY 7 MAY 2021 25 RAMADAN - 1442 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8615 www.thepeninsula.qa 2 RIYALS Somalia, Kenya leaders thank Amir for efforts to mend ties QNA — DOHA During the phone call, President of Kenya expressed his sincere Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin thanks to H H the Amir for Qatar’s Hamad Al Thani held a telephone efforts and endeavours to heal the conversation with President of rift between Kenya and Somalia, “I congratulate both H E President Farmajo and H E President the Federal Republic of Somalia, which resulted in the restoration Kenyatta, for their wise and courageous decision to restore H E Mohamed Abdullahi of diplomatic relations between diplomatic relations between Somalia and Kenya. Our Farmajo, last evening. the two countries. H H the Amir sincere wishes to the two neighbouring countries and their During the phone call, the expressed his congratulations to people for security and stability. I would like also assure Somali President expressed his President of Kenya for this wise that the State of Qatar will always strive for good relations sincere thanks to H H the Amir decision. and remain a peace maker.” for the State of Qatar’s efforts and H H the Amir also congratu- endeavours to heal the rift lated President of Somalia and between the Federal Republic of President of Kenya for their Somalia and the Republic of decision to restore diplomatic their people for security and relations and means of sup- Kenya, which resulted in the res- relations.
    [Show full text]
  • Open Letter to the Federal Government of Somalia to #Keepiton During
    July 23, 2021 #KeepItOn open letter: the Federal Government of Somalia must keep the internet open and secure during presidential and parliament elections Your Excellency Mohamed Hussein Roble, Prime Minister of Federal Government of Somalia, CC: Ministry of Posts, Telecom and Communications and Information Technology, Ministry of Interior, National Communications Authority, The Federal Member States of Puntland, Hirshabelle, Galmudug, South West and Jubaland, Hormuud Telecom, SOMNET, Somtel, Golis Telecom, Amtel. Nations across Africa, and the world, are intentionally shutting down the internet when people need it the most — during elections and important national events. This election, we urge the Federal Government of Somalia to #KeepItOn We, the undersigned organizations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network that unites over 240 organizations to end internet shutdowns globally — urgently appeal to you, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, to ensure that the internet, social media platforms, and all other communication channels are open, secure, and accessible throughout the upcoming election period. The people of Somalia will vote for their representatives in the Federal Upper House and Lower House elections scheduled for July 25, 2021 and August 10 to September 10 respectively. Parliamentarians will vote for the President on October 10. To safeguard democracy, your office must prioritise and protect fundamental rights such as freedom of opinion and expression, access to information, and the right to peaceful assembly throughout the elections and thereaer. Journalists in Somalia have long faced threats and attacks from state and non-state actors including government officials, and the Islamist armed group, Al-Shabaab. In 2020, Amnesty International reported an increase in violent attacks against journalists, describing Somalia as one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice journalism.
    [Show full text]
  • Relations Between the EU and the Republic of Moldova Moldova-EU Honeymoon Over, but Marriage Is Good, Says Dirk Schuebel “The
    Relations between the EU and the Republic of Moldova Moldova-EU honeymoon over, but marriage is good, says Dirk Schuebel “The ‘honeymoon’ in the relations between Moldova and the European Union passed, but the ‘marriage’ is good, at least better than the average,” the Head of the EU Delegation to Moldova Dirk Schuebel said in the meeting of the Chisinau Press Club, quoted by Info –Prim Neo. “This does not mean that these relations do not see good periods and difficult patches. But we are on the way of ultimately becoming a good family,” said the official. According to him, each of the sides should contribute to strengthening the relations and understand that this is very important. Moldova should stimulate the Europeanization reforms in the areas agreed with the EU, while the EU should increase its technical and financial assistance for facilitating these reforms. “This is what I meant when I referred to the ‘more for more’ principle. If a sector of the national economy does well and promotes reforms in a better manner, it will benefit from better support, while the sectors that will not cope with the reforms will receive less,” said Dirk Schuebel. He stressed that he does not work with certain political parties in Moldova, but with the country. “If the reformation strategy agreed by Moldova with the EU is not put into practice, we will not look for the persons or parties to blame. In such a case, it is the final result that counts for us and it would be a pity as the country will suffer.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 World Leaders: a Pronunciation Guide
    PRIMER Published September 17, 2020 • Updated February 9, 2021 • 12 minute read 2020 World Leaders: A Pronunciation Guide Pat Shilo Executive Coordinator @Pat_Shilo This guide lists the names, titles, and pronunciations of a wide range of foreign leaders from around the world. This is not a comprehensive list; it particularly includes countries that are critically important to US national security and foreign policy. The names and titles are from the CIA World Fact Book and recent media sources. Foreign leaders for each country are listed in descending order of potential engagement with US policymakers. Pronunciations are based primarily on Voice of America’s pronunciation guide. Upcoming election information has also been included for positions with scheduled elections. Africa Algeria Head of State: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune @TebbouneAmadjid (ab-dahl-mah-JEED teh-BOON) Since: December 12, 2019 Democratic Republic of Congo Head of State: President Felix Tshisekedi (fee-LIKS chee-seh-KEH-dee) Since: January 25, 2019 Next Election: December 2023 Djibouti Head of State: President Ismail Omar Guelleh @IsmailOguelleh (HIHS-mah-ihl OH-mahr GEH-leh) Since: May 8, 1999 Next Election: April 2021 Head of Government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed (Ab-dool-kaw-der Kah-meel moh-HAH-mehd) Since: April 1, 2013 Appointed by the president Egypt Head of State: President Abdel Fattah el-sisi @AlsisiOcial (AHB-dehl FAH-tah ah-SEE-see) Since: June 8, 2014 Next Election: March 2024 Head of Government: Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly (mohs-tah-fah
    [Show full text]
  • Rockets Hit Ain Al-Asad Military Base Housing US Forces in Western Iraq; No Casualties Reported [Last Update: Monday, 05 July 2021 9:31 PM]
    Rockets hit Ain al-Asad military base housing US forces in western Iraq; no casualties reported [Last Update: Monday, 05 July 2021 9:31 PM] US soldiers stand at the site of a retaliatory missile strike by Iran at Ain al-Asad Airbase in Anbar, western Iraq, on January 13, 2020. (Photo by Reuters) An airbase in Iraq’s western province of Anbar, where American military forces and trainers are stationed, has reportedly come under attack by a barrage of rockets. An Iraqi security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network that three Katyusha rockets targeted the vicinity of Ain al-Asad Air Base, located about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of the capital Baghdad, on Monday afternoon. He added that there were no casualties as a result of the rocket attack on the military base. “At approximately 2:45 PM local time (1145 GMT), Ain al-Assad Air Base was attacked by three rockets. The rockets landed on the base perimeter. There are no injuries and damage is being assessed,” Colonel Wayne Marotto, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, wrote in a post published on his official Twitter page on Monday. Meanwhile, Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel associated with Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units – better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi –, reported that eight 107mm rockets had targeted Ain al-Asad Air Base, and four of the projectiles had landed inside the military installation. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, which is the latest in a series of assaults that have targeted US occupation forces over the past few months.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Opinion Survey Residents of Moldova
    Public Opinion Survey Residents of Moldova March 2016 Detailed Methodology • The survey was coordinated and analyzed by Dr. Rasa Ališauskienė from public opinion and market research company Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization on behalf of the International Republican Institute. The field work was carried out by Magenta Consulting. • Data was collected throughout Moldova (except in Transnistria) between March 11-25, 2016 through face-to-face interviews at respondents’ homes. • The main sample consisted of 1,500 permanent residents of Moldova older than the age of 18 and eligible to vote with an oversample in the capital Chisinau. It is representative of the general population by age, gender, education, region and size of the settlement. • Multistage probability sampling method was used with the random route and next birthday respondent’s selection procedures. • Stage one: all districts of Moldova are grouped into 11 groups. All regions of Moldova were surveyed. • Stage two: selection of the settlements: cities and villages. o Settlements were selected at random. o The number of selected settlements in each region was proportional to the share of population living in a particular type of the settlement in each region. • Stage three: primary sampling units were described. • The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus 2.8 percent. • Response rate was 50 percent. • Charts and graphs may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding. • The survey was funded by the National Endowment for Democracy. 2 Overwhelming Dissatisfaction with Status
    [Show full text]
  • Monthly Forecast
    November 2020 Monthly Forecast 1 Overview Overview 2 In Hindsight 3 Status Update since our October Forecast Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has the pres- Adoptions are also anticipated to renew the idency of the Security Council in November. mandates of MINUSCA (Central African Repub- 5 Lebanon (1701) Although the Council held several meetings in the lic) and UNISFA (Abyei). 6 Peacebuilding and Council chamber in October, COVID-19 infec- The regular meetings on Syria, Yemen and Sustaining Peace tions at the mission of a member state led to the the situation in the Middle East, including the 8 UN Peacekeeping suspension of in-person meetings in late October, Palestinian Question, are also on the November 9 Central African and it is unclear when they will resume. programme of work. On Syria, there will be an Republic St Vincent and the Grenadines has chosen open and closed meeting on the political and 10 Bosnia and to hold a high-level open debate on “contempo- humanitarian situation and a closed meeting on Herzegovina rary drivers of conflict and insecurity”, under the the use of chemical weapons. The meetings on 11 Syria Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace agenda. The developments in Yemen and on the situation in Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grena- the Middle East are planned in both open and 13 Libya dines, Ralph Gonsalves, will chair the meeting. closed format. 15 Yemen The expected briefers are Deputy Secretary-Gen- Other meetings on the Middle East include: 16 International Court of eral Amina Mohammed; Chief Executive Officer • Iraq, with briefings and consultations on Justice of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development UNAMI and UNITAD; and 17 Sudan and South Ibrahim Mayaki; Vice-Chancellor of the Univer- • Lebanon, consultations on resolution 1701.
    [Show full text]
  • E-Journal, Year IX, Issues 166, April 2-15, 2011
    Governance and Democracy in Moldova E-journal, year IX, issue 166, April 2-15, 2011 "Governance and Democracy in Moldova" is a bi-weekly journal produced by the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, which tackles the quality of governance and reflects the evolution of political and democratic processes in the Republic of Moldova. The publication is issued with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, in framework of the project "Promoting Good Governance through Monitoring". Opinions expressed in the published articles do not necessarily represent also the point of view of the sponsor. The responsibility for the veracity of statements rests solely with the articles' authors. CONTENTS I. ACTIVITY OF PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ..................................................................................... 3 PARLIAMENT ........................................................................................................................... 3 1. Events of major importance............................................................................................... 3 Parliamentary Hearings on the elucidation of the events after April 5, 2009..................... 3 2. Dismissals ......................................................................................................................... 3 3. Legislative acts.................................................................................................................. 4 4. Parliamentary control. Hearings .......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Security Council Seventy-Sixth Year 8779Th Meeting
    United Nations S/PV.8779 Security Council Provisional Seventy-sixth year 8779th meeting Tuesday, 25 May 2021, 10 a.m. New York President: Mr. Zhang Jun/Mr. Dai Bing ....................... (China) Members: Estonia ........................................ Mr. Jürgenson France ........................................ Mrs. Broadhurst Estival India ......................................... Mr. Raguttahalli Ireland ........................................ Ms. Byrne Nason Kenya. Mr. Kimani Mexico ........................................ Mr. De la Fuente Ramírez Niger ......................................... Mr. Abarry Norway ....................................... Ms. Juul Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Nebenzia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ................... Ms. DeShong Tunisia ........................................ Mr. Ladeb United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .. Dame Barbara Woodward United States of America .......................... Mr. Mills Viet Nam ...................................... Mr. Dang Agenda The situation in Somalia Report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Somalia (S/2021/485) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the translation of speeches delivered in other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned
    [Show full text]
  • U.S. Military Bases and Facilities in the Middle East
    U.S. Military Bases and Facilities in the Middle East Fact Sheet - Matthew Wallin i June 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Honorable Gary Hart, Chairman Emeritus Admiral William Fallon, USN (Ret.) Senator Hart served the State of Colorado in the U.S. Senate Admiral Fallon has led U.S. and Allied forces and played a and was a member of the Committee on Armed Services leadership role in military and diplomatic matters at the highest during his tenure. levels of the U.S. government. Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Chairperson Raj Fernando Christine Todd Whitman is the President of the Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in energy Raj Fernando is CEO and founder of Chopper Trading, a and environmental issues. technology based trading firm headquartered in Chicago. Nelson W. Cunningham, President of ASP Nelson Cunningham is President of McLarty Associates, the Scott Gilbert international strategic advisory firm headed by former White Scott Gilbert is a Partner of Gilbert LLP and Managing House Chief of Staff and Special Envoy for the Americas Director of Reneo LLC. Thomas F. “Mack” McLarty, III. Brigadier General Stephen A. Cheney, USMC (Ret.) Vice Admiral Lee Gunn, USN (Ret.) Brigadier General Cheney is the Chief Executive Officer of Vice Admiral Gunn is the President of the Institute of Public ASP. Research at the CNA Corporation, a non-profit corporation in Virginia. Norman R. Augustine The Honorable Chuck Hagel Mr. Augustine was Chairman and Principal Officer of the Chuck Hagel served as the 24th U.S. Secretary of Defense and American Red Cross for nine years and Chairman of the served two terms in the United States Senate (1997-2009).
    [Show full text]
  • Informational Materials
    Received by NSD/FARA Registration Unit 07/06/2021 10:45:34 AM 07/02/21 Friday This material is distributed by Ghebi LLC on behalf of Federal State Unitary Enterprise Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, and additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, District of Columbia. Macron Receives Kenya’s Kenyatta as France Looks to Expand into Anglophone East Africa by Morgan Artvukhina Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta traveled to Paris earlier this week to seal the deal on a new highway, the latest of several joint economic projects. However, France isn’t just talking to Kenya, it’s expanding its influence across East Africa, an area outside its traditional sphere of influence on the continent. Kenyatta and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to finalize plans for construction of a 233-kilometer four-lane highway from the Kenyan capital of Nairobi to Mau Summit, greatly alleviating traffic congestion along one of the country’s primary travel arteries. The public-private partnership will see Kenya National Highways Authority partner with a French consortium of Vinci Highways SAS, Meridian Infrastructure Africa Fund, and Vinci Concessions SAS to build, operate, and maintain the highway for the next 30 years for 160 billion Kenyan shillings ($1.48 billion), according to Nairobi daily The Star. It will be a toll road. The project will also include widening the existing road along that route. Some of Vinci’s other work includes the A7-2 Motorway in Germany and the M11 Neva Highway in Russia. Kenyatta and Macron also discussed helping Kenya to manufacture vaccines locally, something Nairobi became more interested in after supplies of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines from India were interrupted in May, as COVID-19 cases exploded in that country.
    [Show full text]