🇺🇸🇰🇪🇭🇹 Blinken talks to Kenyan president about Haiti crisis, says State Deputy
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the Haiti crisis and the two men underscored their commitment to a multinational security mission to restore order, the State Department said on Saturday.
Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated while Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Nairobi seeking a deal for the long-delayed U.N.-backed mission.
Kenya announced last year it would lead the force but months of domestic legal wrangling have effectively placed the mission on hold.
In a statement, the State Department said Blinken and Ruto "underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission".
#USA #Kenya #Haiti
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto about the Haiti crisis and the two men underscored their commitment to a multinational security mission to restore order, the State Department said on Saturday.
Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated while Prime Minister Ariel Henry was in Nairobi seeking a deal for the long-delayed U.N.-backed mission.
Kenya announced last year it would lead the force but months of domestic legal wrangling have effectively placed the mission on hold.
In a statement, the State Department said Blinken and Ruto "underscored unwavering commitment to the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission".
#USA #Kenya #Haiti
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🇿🇦🇺🇸 South Africa opposition criticised for inviting US to observe poll
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised the country's main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party after it requested the US and European countries to monitor the upcoming elections.
The party made the request in a letter sent last week to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and some European foreign affairs ministers.
“The DA’s letter to the United States government is quite disingenuous and it is almost trying to sell our country to other powers in the world," President Ramaphosa said.
"And we have regional organisations in the world like Sadc, AU and have the UN as well. They always come to monitor our elections and now for a non-state entity to sell our democracy.”
The ruling African National Congress party also slammed DA for the letter on Saturday, accusing the opposition party of offering "South Africa's sovereignty on a silver platter".
#SouthAfrica #USA
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South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised the country's main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party after it requested the US and European countries to monitor the upcoming elections.
The party made the request in a letter sent last week to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and some European foreign affairs ministers.
“The DA’s letter to the United States government is quite disingenuous and it is almost trying to sell our country to other powers in the world," President Ramaphosa said.
"And we have regional organisations in the world like Sadc, AU and have the UN as well. They always come to monitor our elections and now for a non-state entity to sell our democracy.”
The ruling African National Congress party also slammed DA for the letter on Saturday, accusing the opposition party of offering "South Africa's sovereignty on a silver platter".
#SouthAfrica #USA
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🇺🇸🇸🇴 US targets al Shabaab fundraisers, money launderers with sanctions
The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Monday imposed sanctions on what it said was an international fundraising and money-laundering network for the al Shabaab militant group operating in Somalia.
The sanctions targeted 16 entities and individuals across the Horn of Africa region, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, the Treasury said in a statement.
The action, which follows U.S. sanctions against a separate network linked to al Shabaab in October 2022, freeze any U.S. assets of those targeted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.
It said al Shabaab, which Washington considers a terrorist group, generates over $100 million a year, including by extorting local businesses.
#USA #Somalia
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The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Monday imposed sanctions on what it said was an international fundraising and money-laundering network for the al Shabaab militant group operating in Somalia.
The sanctions targeted 16 entities and individuals across the Horn of Africa region, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, the Treasury said in a statement.
The action, which follows U.S. sanctions against a separate network linked to al Shabaab in October 2022, freeze any U.S. assets of those targeted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them.
It said al Shabaab, which Washington considers a terrorist group, generates over $100 million a year, including by extorting local businesses.
#USA #Somalia
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🇺🇸🇸🇩 US Sudan envoy to meet parties involved in Sudan war
The newly appointed US Special Envoy to Sudan has begun a diplomatic tour of East Africa and the Gulf.
Tom Perriello's trip comes weeks before the first anniversary of Sudan's civil war, and shortly after the UN Security Council's call for a ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
His visit will take in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - which has been widely accused of funding and arming the Sudanese paramilitary RSF. It denies the charges.
The new US envoy said his trip was focused on the urgent need to end the war, and to get humanitarian access to all the Sudanese people.
#USA #Sudan
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The newly appointed US Special Envoy to Sudan has begun a diplomatic tour of East Africa and the Gulf.
Tom Perriello's trip comes weeks before the first anniversary of Sudan's civil war, and shortly after the UN Security Council's call for a ceasefire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
His visit will take in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - which has been widely accused of funding and arming the Sudanese paramilitary RSF. It denies the charges.
The new US envoy said his trip was focused on the urgent need to end the war, and to get humanitarian access to all the Sudanese people.
#USA #Sudan
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🇺🇸🇿🇦 US Treasury's No. 2 urges South Africa to boost fight against corruption
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo on Wednesday urged South Africa to step up its battle against corruption, saying that work could help boost job creation in a country facing an unemployment rate of 43% among those under 35.
Adeyemo highlighted the need for increased anti-corruption efforts, continued work to accelerate South Africa's just transition to renewable energy, and steps to foster growth in its diverse service sector in a speech prepared for the American Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg.
"Investments alone cannot unlock the potential of your economy," Adeyemo said on the third day of his visit.
"My conversations with South Africans from a diversity of backgrounds makes clear that progress on reliable energy and addressing all the other challenges this great country faces is inhibited by corruption."
#USA #SouthAfrica
@africaintel
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo on Wednesday urged South Africa to step up its battle against corruption, saying that work could help boost job creation in a country facing an unemployment rate of 43% among those under 35.
Adeyemo highlighted the need for increased anti-corruption efforts, continued work to accelerate South Africa's just transition to renewable energy, and steps to foster growth in its diverse service sector in a speech prepared for the American Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg.
"Investments alone cannot unlock the potential of your economy," Adeyemo said on the third day of his visit.
"My conversations with South Africans from a diversity of backgrounds makes clear that progress on reliable energy and addressing all the other challenges this great country faces is inhibited by corruption."
#USA #SouthAfrica
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🇺🇸🇳🇪🇷🇺🇮🇷 US warned Niger about ties to Russia, Iran before junta revoked accord, Pentagon says
U.S. officials traveled to Niger last week to express concerns about the country's potential development of ties to Russia and Iran before the ruling junta on Saturday revoked an accord governing the roughly 1,000 U.S. military personnel there, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The Pentagon added it was "seeking clarification about the way ahead. "
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. government had "direct and frank" conversations in Niger ahead of the junta's announcement, and was continuing to communicate with Niger's ruling military council.
"The U.S. delegation was there to raise a number of concerns. We were troubled about the path that Niger is on. And so these were direct and frank conversations, to have those in person, to talk about our concerns and to also hear theirs," Singh said.
"U.S. officials expressed concern over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran."
#USA #Niger #Russia #Iran
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U.S. officials traveled to Niger last week to express concerns about the country's potential development of ties to Russia and Iran before the ruling junta on Saturday revoked an accord governing the roughly 1,000 U.S. military personnel there, the Pentagon said on Monday.
The Pentagon added it was "seeking clarification about the way ahead. "
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. government had "direct and frank" conversations in Niger ahead of the junta's announcement, and was continuing to communicate with Niger's ruling military council.
"The U.S. delegation was there to raise a number of concerns. We were troubled about the path that Niger is on. And so these were direct and frank conversations, to have those in person, to talk about our concerns and to also hear theirs," Singh said.
"U.S. officials expressed concern over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran."
#USA #Niger #Russia #Iran
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🇪🇬🇺🇸🇮🇱🇵🇸 Egypt's foreign minister said that the US should make clear to Israel consequences of Rafah operation
Egypt's foreign minister said on Monday the U.S. should make clear to Israel what the consequences of a military push into the south Gaza city of Rafah on the border with Egypt would be, after Washington voiced opposition to such a move.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed to a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israeli forces would thrust into Rafah.
"It is not enough for rhetoric, it is not enough to state opposition, it is also important to indicate what if that position is circumvented, what if that position is not respected," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.
"It is also up to the international community and the United States, who have indicated their refusal to such an eventuality, to make clear what are the consequences if their appeals are not heeded," Shoukry added.
#Egypt #USA #Israel #Palestine
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Egypt's foreign minister said on Monday the U.S. should make clear to Israel what the consequences of a military push into the south Gaza city of Rafah on the border with Egypt would be, after Washington voiced opposition to such a move.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed to a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israeli forces would thrust into Rafah.
"It is not enough for rhetoric, it is not enough to state opposition, it is also important to indicate what if that position is circumvented, what if that position is not respected," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.
"It is also up to the international community and the United States, who have indicated their refusal to such an eventuality, to make clear what are the consequences if their appeals are not heeded," Shoukry added.
#Egypt #USA #Israel #Palestine
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🇺🇸🇳🇪 US gets 'mixed signals' from Niger on future of US troops, US general says
The United States has received "mixed signals" from Niger following the ruling junta's weekend announcement that it had revoked an accord allowing U.S. troops to operate in the West African country, the top U.S. general said.
Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not elaborate on those mixed signals.
"As you saw over the course of the weekend, there was some announcements from Niger about our relationship. But even since then, there have been some mixed signals that we received," Brown told.
"So we will continue to make plans and prepare - if we stay or depart."
At the State Department, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington was still communicating with Niger's ruling military council.
#USA #Niger
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The United States has received "mixed signals" from Niger following the ruling junta's weekend announcement that it had revoked an accord allowing U.S. troops to operate in the West African country, the top U.S. general said.
Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, did not elaborate on those mixed signals.
"As you saw over the course of the weekend, there was some announcements from Niger about our relationship. But even since then, there have been some mixed signals that we received," Brown told.
"So we will continue to make plans and prepare - if we stay or depart."
At the State Department, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Washington was still communicating with Niger's ruling military council.
#USA #Niger
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🇺🇸🇲🇦 US approves possible Javelin missile sale to Morocco, Pentagon says
The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Javelin missiles and related equipment to Morocco for an estimated cost of $260 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
The prime contractors of the anti-tank missiles are Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp, the Pentagon said in a statement.
#USA #Morocco
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The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Javelin missiles and related equipment to Morocco for an estimated cost of $260 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
The prime contractors of the anti-tank missiles are Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp, the Pentagon said in a statement.
#USA #Morocco
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🇺🇸🇸🇸 US, allies urge South Sudan to ensure genuine elections
The United States, Britain and Norway on Tuesday called on South Sudan's leaders to take urgent steps to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 deal ended a five-year conflict responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, but violence between rival communities flares frequently.
The joint statement follows warnings from the United States that South Sudan is not on a path of free and fair elections to take place in December as planned unless action is taken.
"Following recent senior-level visits from our capitals to Juba, the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States reaffirm our call for South Sudan’s leaders urgently to take steps necessary to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December," the statement said, adding the process should address 10 questions posed by the United Nations, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
#USA #SouthSudan
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The United States, Britain and Norway on Tuesday called on South Sudan's leaders to take urgent steps to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December.
South Sudan has been formally at peace since a 2018 deal ended a five-year conflict responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, but violence between rival communities flares frequently.
The joint statement follows warnings from the United States that South Sudan is not on a path of free and fair elections to take place in December as planned unless action is taken.
"Following recent senior-level visits from our capitals to Juba, the Governments of Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States reaffirm our call for South Sudan’s leaders urgently to take steps necessary to ensure genuine and peaceful elections in December," the statement said, adding the process should address 10 questions posed by the United Nations, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
#USA #SouthSudan
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