China denies that its policies put African nations in “debt traps” that will collapse like a “house of cards,” a comment made last month by Adam Boehler, head of the United States International Development Finance Corporation. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday there is no connection between debt loads…
The South Sudanese vice president placed under sanctions by the United States government for human rights abuses insisted on Thursday that he has been wrongfully accused. The targeted sanctions against Taban Deng Gai were announced earlier this week by the U.S. Dept. of Treasury, and follow similar sanctions against five…
The United States government has put its previously threatened economic sanctions on Turkey into force, targeting top Turkish government agencies and officials as tensions between the two nations in the Middle East continued to escalate. “The Turkish government’s actions are endangering innocent civilians and destabilizing the region, including undermining the…
The United States announced new economic sanctions against the Gupta family and an associate on Thursday, adding another international layer of consequences to South Africa’s “State Capture” corruption saga – one that has ensnared numerous firms, state entities and elected officials including former president Jacob Zuma. The sanctions under the…
The United Nations Security Council agreed on Thursday to extend sanctions imposed in Mali against those who are interfering with the progress of a 2015 peace agreement for the Sahel nation. The sanctions, now in force until the end of August 2020, were first put in place in 2017. They…
Prominent actor George Clooney and human rights activist John Prendergast are the co-founders of The Sentry, an organization that tracks corruption and conflict. Now they’ve appealed to the United States government to act on the Sudan crisis with sanctions and anti-money laundering measures. The two wrote an appeal in a…
Sixteen human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the Enough Project as well as regional African groups, have asked the United Nations Security Council to maintain the arms embargo and other sanctions in South Sudan while pressuring leaders to implement the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict…
News that Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has hired a Washington DC firm to lobby the United States government on its behalf – and will spend $500,000 a year to do so – has raised a furor in the economically stricken southern African nation. The agreement, first reported by Politico…
While the European Union has declined to impose additional sanctions against Zimbabwe, there remains much concern over human rights and democratic principles amid the country’s economic and political crisis. “We have seen a crackdown on demonstrations in January – just a month ago – as well as the disproportionate use of force by…
South Africa has issued the latest appeal to the international community to lift longstanding sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe in order to alleviate pressures contributing to its economic and political crises. “Zimbabwe has been going through a challenging socioeconomic situation, which has inadvertently had an impact on South Africa. We have…
The United States on Monday announced criminal charges are filed against Chinese telecom giant Huawei, including relevant subsidiaries and executives, because of alleged violations of U.S. sanctions against Iran and related financial crimes. The Department of Justice filing targets Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou among them: She is charged with bank…
The European Union on Monday approved a one-year extension on sanctions placed against 14 people for human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the hand-picked presidential candidate and close ally of outgoing President Joseph Kabila. Emmanel Ramazani Shadary, the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) candidate…
The United States has banned former president Yahya Jammeh and members of his family from entering the country, announcing on Monday a decision tied to “involvement in significant corruption.” The law enabling the decision is applicable when, the department said, the Secretary of State has credible information of such corruption…
The CFO of Chinese technology company Huawei, a firm with significant investments across Africa, was detained in Canada earlier this week for extradition to the United States, the company confirmed early Thursday. Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the global company’s founder, is believed to be under investigation in connection with…
Eritrea, isolated by UN sanctions for a decade until they were lifted on 14 November 2018, is now working to regain its place in Africa and the international community. The sanctions were lifted after Eritrea made steps towards peace with its neighbours after being locked into deadly conflict for decades—Eritrean…
I am a London-based researcher specialized in security issues and environmental protection. He is currently writing a book about the role lobbying plays in keeping African leaders in power.