🇿🇲🇬🇧 Anglo American explores for copper, cobalt in Zambia
Anglo American, opens new tab is in the early stages of exploring for copper and cobalt in Zambia's North-Western province, its Chief Executive Officer Duncan Wanblad said.
"Zambia's mining sector appears to be on track for renewed activity - and that is good for Zambia and African mining," Wanblad told
"I am pleased that we are progressing with early-stage exploration in Zambia's North-Western Province to identify potential copper and cobalt opportunities."
However, Wanblad also said much more needed to be done to make a compelling argument for Africa given intense global competition.
Anglo American aims to cut capital expenditure by $1.8 billion by 2026, as it grapples with a fall in demand for most of the metals it mines and a writedown for its British fertiliser project.
#Zambia #UK
@africaintel
Anglo American, opens new tab is in the early stages of exploring for copper and cobalt in Zambia's North-Western province, its Chief Executive Officer Duncan Wanblad said.
"Zambia's mining sector appears to be on track for renewed activity - and that is good for Zambia and African mining," Wanblad told
"I am pleased that we are progressing with early-stage exploration in Zambia's North-Western Province to identify potential copper and cobalt opportunities."
However, Wanblad also said much more needed to be done to make a compelling argument for Africa given intense global competition.
Anglo American aims to cut capital expenditure by $1.8 billion by 2026, as it grapples with a fall in demand for most of the metals it mines and a writedown for its British fertiliser project.
#Zambia #UK
@africaintel
🇲🇬🇬🇧 Madagascar president's ex-aide offered influence for bribes, London jury told
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina's ex-chief of staff offered to use her influence to obtain bribes from precious stone miner Gemfields, opens new tab in exchange for help with lucrative mining rights, prosecutors told a London court.
Romy Andrianarisoa is accused of seeking substantial payments from Gemfields between 2021 and 2023 to help the company expand its business into Madagascar.
Prosecutor Alex Leach told jurors at Court that Andrianarisoa was, at the time of the alleged offending, a "trusted adviser" to Rajoelina.
Leach said that in 2021, Andrianarisoa met with senior Gemfields staff including CEO about the possibility of mining in Madagascar.
At the meeting, Andrianarisoa "made it clear she had direct influence on the president", Leach added.
According to the indictment, Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau allegedly sought around 270,000 Swiss francs ($310,000), plus a 5% stake in a Gemfield company mining in Madagascar.
#Madagascar #UK
@africaintel
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina's ex-chief of staff offered to use her influence to obtain bribes from precious stone miner Gemfields, opens new tab in exchange for help with lucrative mining rights, prosecutors told a London court.
Romy Andrianarisoa is accused of seeking substantial payments from Gemfields between 2021 and 2023 to help the company expand its business into Madagascar.
Prosecutor Alex Leach told jurors at Court that Andrianarisoa was, at the time of the alleged offending, a "trusted adviser" to Rajoelina.
Leach said that in 2021, Andrianarisoa met with senior Gemfields staff including CEO about the possibility of mining in Madagascar.
At the meeting, Andrianarisoa "made it clear she had direct influence on the president", Leach added.
According to the indictment, Andrianarisoa and Tabuteau allegedly sought around 270,000 Swiss francs ($310,000), plus a 5% stake in a Gemfield company mining in Madagascar.
#Madagascar #UK
@africaintel
🇲🇿🇬🇧 Mozambique president Nyusi fights for immunity in London 'tuna bond' case
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi asked a London court to uphold his immunity, while a shipbuilding company at the centre of Mozambique's litigation over the decade-long "tuna bond" scandal tried to drag him into an ongoing high court case.
Emirati-Lebanese shipbuilder Privinvest is embroiled in a $3.1-billion lawsuit from Mozambique, which accuses it of paying bribes to officials and Credit Suisse bankers.
London's High Court has yet to rule on the case following a trial last year. Mozambique settled with Credit Suisse's new owner UBS.
Shortly before last year's trial began, the High Court ruled that Nyusi had not been properly served with Privinvest's lawsuit and that he was entitled to immunity as a head of state.
However, as Nyusi did not claim immunity until 2023, "he was out of time and that is the end of the matter," Privinvest's lawyer said.
#Mozambique #UK
@africaintel
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi asked a London court to uphold his immunity, while a shipbuilding company at the centre of Mozambique's litigation over the decade-long "tuna bond" scandal tried to drag him into an ongoing high court case.
Emirati-Lebanese shipbuilder Privinvest is embroiled in a $3.1-billion lawsuit from Mozambique, which accuses it of paying bribes to officials and Credit Suisse bankers.
London's High Court has yet to rule on the case following a trial last year. Mozambique settled with Credit Suisse's new owner UBS.
Shortly before last year's trial began, the High Court ruled that Nyusi had not been properly served with Privinvest's lawsuit and that he was entitled to immunity as a head of state.
However, as Nyusi did not claim immunity until 2023, "he was out of time and that is the end of the matter," Privinvest's lawyer said.
#Mozambique #UK
@africaintel
🇿🇲🇬🇧 Zambian businessman loses London lawsuit against Bob Diamond's Atlas Mara
A Zambian businessman on Wednesday lost a London lawsuit against Atlas Mara, the African investment vehicle set up by former Barclays boss Bob Diamond, over the acquisition of a Zambian bank.
Rajan Mahtani sued Atlas Mara over the sale of Finance Bank Zambia, alleging he received less than a quarter of the $215 million said to have been offered in 2015.
But Judge Christopher Butcher dismissed Mahtani's case in a written ruling, following a trial at London's High Court last year.
Mahtani, who founded Finance Bank Zambia in 1986, had accused Atlas Mara of breaching the terms of the takeover deal.
Atlas Mara's lawyers, however, argued in court filings that the sums Mahtani was seeking had not been guaranteed to him but were dependent on conditions agreed by the parties.
#Zambia #UK
@africaintel
A Zambian businessman on Wednesday lost a London lawsuit against Atlas Mara, the African investment vehicle set up by former Barclays boss Bob Diamond, over the acquisition of a Zambian bank.
Rajan Mahtani sued Atlas Mara over the sale of Finance Bank Zambia, alleging he received less than a quarter of the $215 million said to have been offered in 2015.
But Judge Christopher Butcher dismissed Mahtani's case in a written ruling, following a trial at London's High Court last year.
Mahtani, who founded Finance Bank Zambia in 1986, had accused Atlas Mara of breaching the terms of the takeover deal.
Atlas Mara's lawyers, however, argued in court filings that the sums Mahtani was seeking had not been guaranteed to him but were dependent on conditions agreed by the parties.
#Zambia #UK
@africaintel
🇪🇹🇬🇧 Almost 10 million Ethiopians face extreme hunger said Oxfam
One in three people in northern Ethiopia are facing extreme hunger, the UK-based charity Oxfam says.
That's a total of almost 10 million people in the regions of Tigray and Amhara.
Conflict and drought have significantly reduced harvest forcing millions to resort to what the charity calls "unimaginable ways" to survive.
A report by a federal government agency said nearly 400 people had already died in the two regions due to starvation.
But this was contradicted by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who said no deaths had occurred in the country solely because of hunger.
Unless relief efforts are scaled up, Oxfam is warning that northern Ethiopia could see a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
#Ethiopia #UK
@africaintel
One in three people in northern Ethiopia are facing extreme hunger, the UK-based charity Oxfam says.
That's a total of almost 10 million people in the regions of Tigray and Amhara.
Conflict and drought have significantly reduced harvest forcing millions to resort to what the charity calls "unimaginable ways" to survive.
A report by a federal government agency said nearly 400 people had already died in the two regions due to starvation.
But this was contradicted by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who said no deaths had occurred in the country solely because of hunger.
Unless relief efforts are scaled up, Oxfam is warning that northern Ethiopia could see a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
#Ethiopia #UK
@africaintel
🇸🇳🇬🇧 Senegalese man convicted over UK migrant deaths
A man who piloted a boat in the English Channel has been found guilty of the manslaughter of four migrants who drowned when it ran into difficulty.
Ibrahima Bah, a Senegalese migrant, had offered to steer the dinghy in December 2022 in exchange for a free crossing.
He had claimed that he was forced by violent smugglers to make the journey with at least 43 other migrants.
A jury at Canterbury Crown Court also found Bah guilty of facilitating a breach of immigration law.
The case is the first time a migrant who navigated an inflatable has been found responsible for harm caused to other occupants.
#Senegal #UK
@africaintel
A man who piloted a boat in the English Channel has been found guilty of the manslaughter of four migrants who drowned when it ran into difficulty.
Ibrahima Bah, a Senegalese migrant, had offered to steer the dinghy in December 2022 in exchange for a free crossing.
He had claimed that he was forced by violent smugglers to make the journey with at least 43 other migrants.
A jury at Canterbury Crown Court also found Bah guilty of facilitating a breach of immigration law.
The case is the first time a migrant who navigated an inflatable has been found responsible for harm caused to other occupants.
#Senegal #UK
@africaintel
🇪🇹🇬🇧🇰🇪🇸🇴 Ethiopia, UK signed an MoU over Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia border security
Ethiopia and the United Kingdom on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) “Enhance Peace and Stability in the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia Border”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia (MFAE) said it “aims to boost the resilience of communities across the Ethiopia-Kenya-Somali borders to the drivers of violent extremism.”
It seems that the border security agreement was signed within the context of threat from Al-Shabaab. While the agreement is concerning “Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia Border,” Kenya and Somalia were not a party to this MoU agreement. However, Kenya had signed an agreement with Ethiopia this week.
“The two sides [Ethiopia and UK] expressed their commitment to working together to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab in the region,” said the news update from the MFAE.
#Ethiopia #UK #Kenya #Somalia
@africaintel
Ethiopia and the United Kingdom on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) “Enhance Peace and Stability in the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia Border”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia (MFAE) said it “aims to boost the resilience of communities across the Ethiopia-Kenya-Somali borders to the drivers of violent extremism.”
It seems that the border security agreement was signed within the context of threat from Al-Shabaab. While the agreement is concerning “Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia Border,” Kenya and Somalia were not a party to this MoU agreement. However, Kenya had signed an agreement with Ethiopia this week.
“The two sides [Ethiopia and UK] expressed their commitment to working together to reduce the threat posed by Al-Shabaab in the region,” said the news update from the MFAE.
#Ethiopia #UK #Kenya #Somalia
@africaintel
🇬🇧🇷🇼 UK to pay at least £370m to Rwanda for asylum deal
The UK will pay at least £370m to Rwanda as part of its plan to relocate asylum seekers there, the government's spending watchdog has revealed.
Up to £150,000 will also be paid for each person sent to the east African country over a five-year period.
Labour said the new figures in the report by the National Audit Office were a "national scandal".
However, the Home Office said: "Doing nothing is not without significant costs."
A spokesperson said: "Unless we act, the cost of housing asylum seekers is set to reach £11bn per year by 2026.
"Illegal migration costs lives and perpetuates human trafficking, and it is therefore right that we fund solutions to break this unsustainable cycle."
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
The UK will pay at least £370m to Rwanda as part of its plan to relocate asylum seekers there, the government's spending watchdog has revealed.
Up to £150,000 will also be paid for each person sent to the east African country over a five-year period.
Labour said the new figures in the report by the National Audit Office were a "national scandal".
However, the Home Office said: "Doing nothing is not without significant costs."
A spokesperson said: "Unless we act, the cost of housing asylum seekers is set to reach £11bn per year by 2026.
"Illegal migration costs lives and perpetuates human trafficking, and it is therefore right that we fund solutions to break this unsustainable cycle."
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
🇬🇧🇷🇼 UK plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda suffers first parliamentary defeats
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered his first defeats over his legislation to send asylum seekers to Rwanda after the upper house of parliament demanded greater protections to be introduced before deportation flights can take off.
Under the Rwanda plan, which has yet to be carried out, asylum seekers who arrive on England's southern coast in small, inflatable boats would be sent to live in Rwanda, but so far no one has been deported because of ongoing legal challenges.
Sunak's government is passing legislation through parliament that would block further legal challenges by declaring Rwanda a so-called safe country for asylum seekers.
Sunak has said he wants the first deportation flights to leave in the next few months - ahead of a general election expected in the second half of this year - so he can meet a pledge to "stop the boats".
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered his first defeats over his legislation to send asylum seekers to Rwanda after the upper house of parliament demanded greater protections to be introduced before deportation flights can take off.
Under the Rwanda plan, which has yet to be carried out, asylum seekers who arrive on England's southern coast in small, inflatable boats would be sent to live in Rwanda, but so far no one has been deported because of ongoing legal challenges.
Sunak's government is passing legislation through parliament that would block further legal challenges by declaring Rwanda a so-called safe country for asylum seekers.
Sunak has said he wants the first deportation flights to leave in the next few months - ahead of a general election expected in the second half of this year - so he can meet a pledge to "stop the boats".
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
🇬🇧🇷🇼 UK to pay asylum seekers £3,000 to move to Rwanda
Migrants whose asylum claims are rejected by the United Kingdom will be given £3,000 ($3,800) to move to Rwanda.
The UK has already has a plan in place which pays failed asylum seekers to return to their home countries.
But the new measure targets those who cannot return to their countries of origin, local press reported Tuesday.
The cash in exchange for moving to Rwanda is just another scheme in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to stop irregular migration.
It does not replace the plan to deport illegal arrivals to Rwanda, which has been blocked by courts over concerns about the east African country's safety.
To side step the court's concerns, the government introduced a bill which seeks to label Rwanda a safe country.
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
Migrants whose asylum claims are rejected by the United Kingdom will be given £3,000 ($3,800) to move to Rwanda.
The UK has already has a plan in place which pays failed asylum seekers to return to their home countries.
But the new measure targets those who cannot return to their countries of origin, local press reported Tuesday.
The cash in exchange for moving to Rwanda is just another scheme in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to stop irregular migration.
It does not replace the plan to deport illegal arrivals to Rwanda, which has been blocked by courts over concerns about the east African country's safety.
To side step the court's concerns, the government introduced a bill which seeks to label Rwanda a safe country.
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
Africa Intel
🇸🇴 Twenty armed people board cargo ship off Somalia, security firm says Twenty armed people have boarded a cargo ship off the coast of Somalia and have taken control of it, a maritime security firm said on Tuesday. The vessel is the latest to be targeted…
🇬🇧🇸🇴 British military reports pirate attack off Somalia
Several people boarded and took control of a ship during a suspected pirate attack in the Indian Ocean, nearly 1,100 km east of Somalia's coastal capital, Mogadishu, the British army reported on Tuesday.
The ship was boarded by several people on board two boats, "one large and the other small" , said a statement from the British army's maritime trade operation. “Unauthorized persons now have control of the vessel ,” the statement said.
British maritime security company Ambrey said 20 armed attackers took control of the ship as it traveled from Mozambique 's capital Maputo to Hamriya in the United Arab Emirates.
#UK #Somalia
@africaintel
Several people boarded and took control of a ship during a suspected pirate attack in the Indian Ocean, nearly 1,100 km east of Somalia's coastal capital, Mogadishu, the British army reported on Tuesday.
The ship was boarded by several people on board two boats, "one large and the other small" , said a statement from the British army's maritime trade operation. “Unauthorized persons now have control of the vessel ,” the statement said.
British maritime security company Ambrey said 20 armed attackers took control of the ship as it traveled from Mozambique 's capital Maputo to Hamriya in the United Arab Emirates.
#UK #Somalia
@africaintel
🇪🇬🇬🇧🇮🇹 Egyptians thought Regeni was British spy, Italian court told
Egyptian police detained an Italian student in Cairo because they thought he was a British spy, taking him to a security facility where he was tortured and murdered, an Italian prosecutor told a Rome court on Monday.
Italy has charged four Egyptian security agents with kidnapping and killing Giulio Regeni, a postgraduate student at Britain's Cambridge University, in Cairo in 2016.
The four men are being tried in absentia and have never responded publicly to the accusations. The Egyptian authorities have repeatedly denied any state involvement in Regeni's disappearance and death.
"Defendants were erroneously convinced that Regeni was an English spy, sent to give financing to unions close to the Muslim Brotherhood," the prosecutor said.
#Egypt #UK #Italy
@africaintel
Egyptian police detained an Italian student in Cairo because they thought he was a British spy, taking him to a security facility where he was tortured and murdered, an Italian prosecutor told a Rome court on Monday.
Italy has charged four Egyptian security agents with kidnapping and killing Giulio Regeni, a postgraduate student at Britain's Cambridge University, in Cairo in 2016.
The four men are being tried in absentia and have never responded publicly to the accusations. The Egyptian authorities have repeatedly denied any state involvement in Regeni's disappearance and death.
"Defendants were erroneously convinced that Regeni was an English spy, sent to give financing to unions close to the Muslim Brotherhood," the prosecutor said.
#Egypt #UK #Italy
@africaintel
🇬🇧🇷🇼 UK's Rwanda asylum legislation to return to parliament after Easter
Legislation that seeks to block further court challenges to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda will next be debated in parliament on April 15.
The government wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain on small, inflatable boats each year to live in Rwanda, but legal challenges have so far prevented anyone being sent to the East African country yet.
To overcome objections by the court, Sunak's government is passing the bill that declares Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers and disapplies parts of human rights law in an attempt to block further legal challenges.
The legislation will now be debated after the House of Commons' Easter break according to an announcement of upcoming parliamentary business by leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt.
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
Legislation that seeks to block further court challenges to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda will next be debated in parliament on April 15.
The government wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain on small, inflatable boats each year to live in Rwanda, but legal challenges have so far prevented anyone being sent to the East African country yet.
To overcome objections by the court, Sunak's government is passing the bill that declares Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers and disapplies parts of human rights law in an attempt to block further legal challenges.
The legislation will now be debated after the House of Commons' Easter break according to an announcement of upcoming parliamentary business by leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt.
#UK #Rwanda
@africaintel
🇸🇩🇬🇧 Food aid used as weapon of war in Sudan said UK MPs
British MPs have warned that food aid is being used as a weapon of war in Sudan’s bitter civil conflict.
Vicky Ford, the chair of parliament's all-party group on Sudan, said there was evidence both warring sides - the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces - were restricting humanitarian aid.
She was speaking after new research suggested more than 100 villages in western Sudan had been burned.
The Centre for Information Resilience – a government-funded research group – says that 108 villages and settlements in western Sudan have been fully or partially destroyed by fire since last April.
The UK Foreign Office says what’s happening bears all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing as black Africans are targeted by Arab militias.
Ford also said sexual violence against women was widespread, with evidence that some girls were deliberately disfiguring themselves to avoid rape.
#Sudan #UK
@africaintel
British MPs have warned that food aid is being used as a weapon of war in Sudan’s bitter civil conflict.
Vicky Ford, the chair of parliament's all-party group on Sudan, said there was evidence both warring sides - the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces - were restricting humanitarian aid.
She was speaking after new research suggested more than 100 villages in western Sudan had been burned.
The Centre for Information Resilience – a government-funded research group – says that 108 villages and settlements in western Sudan have been fully or partially destroyed by fire since last April.
The UK Foreign Office says what’s happening bears all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing as black Africans are targeted by Arab militias.
Ford also said sexual violence against women was widespread, with evidence that some girls were deliberately disfiguring themselves to avoid rape.
#Sudan #UK
@africaintel
🇷🇼🇬🇧 UK and Rwanda look forward to first migrant deportation flights in spring
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are looking forward to the first flights under Britain's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda departing in the spring, a readout of their meeting said on Tuesday.
Sunak wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain on small boats each year to Rwanda, but legal challenges have so far prevented anyone being sent there.
Following a meeting between Sunak and Kagame in London, Sunak's office said: "Both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring."
Before any flight can depart, Britain's government needs to pass new legislation which Sunak hopes will pave the way for the government to send asylum seekers who arrive in Britain without permission to the east African country.
Legislation that seeks to block further court challenges to the plan will next be debated in parliament on April 15.
Sunak has previously said he expects the first flights to leave in the spring - ahead of a national election expected in the second half of this year.
#Rwanda #UK
@africaintel
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Rwandan President Paul Kagame are looking forward to the first flights under Britain's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda departing in the spring, a readout of their meeting said on Tuesday.
Sunak wants to relocate thousands of asylum seekers who arrive in Britain on small boats each year to Rwanda, but legal challenges have so far prevented anyone being sent there.
Following a meeting between Sunak and Kagame in London, Sunak's office said: "Both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring."
Before any flight can depart, Britain's government needs to pass new legislation which Sunak hopes will pave the way for the government to send asylum seekers who arrive in Britain without permission to the east African country.
Legislation that seeks to block further court challenges to the plan will next be debated in parliament on April 15.
Sunak has previously said he expects the first flights to leave in the spring - ahead of a national election expected in the second half of this year.
#Rwanda #UK
@africaintel