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Africa: Baku Briefing – Uncertainty Looms Over Africa's Priorities At COP29

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2 months ago

November 21, 2024

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Some participants have expressed frustration over the ongoing deadlock on critical issues at COP29, amidst perceived lack of commitments from wealthy nations and the Donald Trump effect
The second week of negotiations is currently underway at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Summit-COP29, hosted in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan.
As negotiators strive to finalise agreements and establish positions, considerable uncertainty surrounds the foremost priorities for Africa and the Global South at this year’s conference. This unease is exacerbated by perceptions of sabotage and frustrations stemming from both developed nations and certain developing countries.
Parties have made some significant progress on key issues pertaining to the Carbon market, energy and stemming food wastages among others in the past nine days of engagement at the summit. Undoubtedly, the COP29 atmosphere is filled with uncertainties and frustration as delegates/participants await final decisions by the close of plenary session on Friday barring all odds.
The pace of progress on critical issues such as the ambitious climate finance deal, adaptation and just transition have been considerably negligible.
Some participants have expressed frustration over the ongoing deadlock, with some saying Parties are lukewarm about commitments due to concerns that US newly elected President Donald Trump, a renowned climate denier and fossil fuel enthusiast, would pull the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters, US, out of the Paris accord again upon resuming office next year.
Similarly, the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) have also expressed frustration over the ongoing process amidst accusations and counter accusations on who is blocking progress and what not.
On Tuesday, African Ministers restated that a deal on climate finance; the famous New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) must be agreed without compromise to their needs and those of other developing countries.
“They have reiterated their call for an ambitious, time bound finance goal that is responsive to, and commensurate with assessed needs of developing countries to support the implementation of current and future NDCs and NAPs,” said AGN Chair, Ali Mohamed.
Africa’s top priority and lingering concerns
This year, the COP29 agenda is expected to be anchored on climate finance, mitigation, and adaptation, with the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) designed to provide support for vulnerable communities in global climate solutions.
Last week, Mr Mohamed reiterated that climate finance and adaptation are Africa’s top priorities alongside other equally important agenda items, which include mitigation, carbon markets and Global Stock Take (GST).
However, he explained that Africa’s recurrent agenda on its “special needs and special circumstances” has continued to be sabotaged by both wealthy nations and certain developing countries.
“It is unfortunate that Africa’s repeated efforts to have an agenda item under the Paris Agreement on Africa’s Special Needs and Special Circumstances, continue to be frustrated by some fellow developing country members,” Mr Mohamed said.
He said “despite the genuine reasons presented by Africa and agreeable to most, certain developing country parties supporting developed countries in the attempts to weaken the provisions of the Convention, have ganged up to block the request which is recognised under para 4 (1)(e) of the Climate Change Convention.”
In the face of this, the AGN Chair said Africa will continue to demand implementation of the Convention which is the basis for the Paris Agreement and global climate action.
“This is not a vulnerability contest, but an issue of Africa’s unique economic and developmental circumstances. We hope the unity of developing countries will not be fractured by the actions of these Parties,” he said.
During a meeting with the World Health Organisation (WHO) team led by Elena Villalobos, Technical Officer for Climate Change and Health, the group highlighted how health was complicating and worsening the global disease burden, and the need to urgently mainstream it in climate processes and policies at global, regional and country levels.
The AGN seized the opportunity to highlight the realities of climate consequences in Africa and the group’s readiness to engage on the health agenda.
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“For us in Africa, we have always insisted that climate change is a matter of development. We see firsthand how climate continues to devastate our economies, affecting all key sectors, and health is at the receiving end of all these impacts,” the AGN group noted.
On Wednesday, negotiators following up on Adaptation, also expressed worry over the prospect of achieving significant milestones on adaptation funding for the Global South, particularly Africa.
“The process has not really shown commitment from annex 1 countries(wealthy nations )who are supposed to fund development as enshrined in the Paris Agreement,” a negotiator told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.
Some frustrated negotiators said the conversation on adaptation, which is a key priority for Africa, couldn’t get parties to agree on a draft decision.
“A couple of the draft decisions that were not agreed on have been shifted to SBC 2, Bonn, 2025. So far, the NAPs have hit a gap. We are really not excited as Africans, because one of our key demands coming to Baku is ensuring more finance on adaptation,” a negotiator said.
A negotiator said if there is no decision that has been agreed on, it then means that the adaptation decision has hit a slug here in Baku.
Read the original article on Premium Times.
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Africa: Senegal Coach Diallo – 'We Are Not Overwhelmed By the Pressure of Champions'

Published

28 minutes ago

January 13, 2025

An24 Africa

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Successor to Pape Thiaw, the man who led Senegal to the title of African champion at the TotalEnergies CHAN 2022 in Algeria, Souleymane Diallo now bears the responsibility of defending the continental crown.
A few weeks before the kick-off of the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) to be played in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 1-28 February, he shares his state of mind, his team’s preparations and the challenges of this new edition.
With a wealth of experience on the continental stage, Diallo is aware of the expectations placed on him and his squad, which is largely made up of new faces.
In this exclusive interview, he talks about the pressure of being the title holder and the strategic importance of the CHAN for domestic football. The challenge is immense, but Diallo approaches this competition with serenity and a plan, ready to write a new chapter in the history of Senegalese football.
CAFOnline: What is your state of mind a few weeks before the start of the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship?
Souleymane Diallo: I have a very good state of mind overall. I think the boys are aware of what is at stake in this competition, but we must not put ourselves under pressure. For me, the most important thing is the first game. We will have to approach it with a very good state of mind, a very good mentality, but above all an African mentality which consists of being serene first and identifying the obstacles we need to tackle.
How are your preparations going?
Overall, very good. The program plan that we have drawn up is proceeding normally. Now, we are in our 14th week, more precisely, including the preparation phases for the qualifiers. From Monday (13 January), we will take the boys in closed groups. We will stay there until the start of the competition. We will have a training camp in a country bordering the three host countries (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania).
Senegal is the title holder. Does this add extra pressure?
No, no pressure! I am used to saying that. Pressure is important in all things. Most importantly, the source of the pressure must first be identified. If you identify the source of the pressure and you identify the nature of the pressure, for me, right now, there’s no more pressure, but there’s situational awareness. It’s true that Senegal is African champion, but don’t forget that the African champion squad is not the same squad as we have at the moment. We only have two survivors (Serigné Koita and Aboudoulaye Dieng). So, we will have to analyse strongly. Does Senegal come with its African champions or does Senegal come with the title of African champion? We have to point out the nuanced difference between these two. But what is most important, we will come to approach this competition in the best possible way, while not hiding our coat as African champions. On the contrary, this awareness of our African champion mantle pushes us to have a much more cautious approach, a much more serene approach.
Why is the CHAN an important competition in your eyes?
The CHAN is a very important competition. I usually tell journalists that. Already, the CHAN reflects the level of competition of the nation itself. Today, the characteristic of the CHAN is that it takes into account players playing in their local championship. Today, I tell my colleagues that we represent the championship itself, the Senegalese championship, because the CHAN will reflect the level of the Senegalese league. That’s why, for me, it’s a special competition, a very important competition.
You were the coach of the Senegalese team at the African Games. How has this pan-African, continental experience been useful to you and will it serve you well for the CHAN?
I think that today, I have a little African experience. This pan-African experience will serve as a support for us to be able to approach this competition. I have had the opportunity to do several African and world competitions. Three Junior World Cups, three Junior African Cups, two African Games. I think we will base ourselves on these experiences, on these African competitions, to be able to approach this competition in the most serene way possible.
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Apart from Senegal, which teams can lift the trophy?
Today, it will be very, very difficult to say about the teams. You will of course agree with me that in Africa, all the teams are improving. The teams are very, very, very rigorous, both in terms of the training approach, but also in terms of management, because sporting performance is made up of two essential parameters. There are external factors and internal factors. In Africa, people are starting to work, to take these two factors into account. Previously, we were limited to the internal factors of performance. Today, most African teams work on their environment. So it will be very difficult, bordering on suicidal, to want to predict the potential winners.
The TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship 2024 (CHAN) Plane is almost ready to take off. ✈️👀 pic.twitter.com/w7DwqMelUA— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) December 31, 2024
Read the original article on CAF.
Will Kenyans Be Allowed Free Entry At CHAN?
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Govt Refutes Claims of Zambia’s Blacklisting from UN Human Rights Council

Published

1 hour ago

January 13, 2025

an24afri

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By Mary Kachepa

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed media reports suggesting that Zambia has been blacklisted from the United Nations Human Rights Council for alleged failure to uphold human rights standards. The Ministry clarified that the UN General Assembly has not considered nor adopted any resolution for the suspension or removal of Zambia from the Council because the country is currently not holding a seat at the Council.

Permanent Secretary in charge of International Relations and Cooperation, Etambuyu Gundersen, stated that Zambia intends to contest for a seat on the Council at the UN General Assembly elections in 2026 under the African States Region quota for SADC.

Ms. Gundersen told journalists at a media briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information and Media in Lusaka that the Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression is expected in the country on January 19 at the invitation of the government.

She noted that Zambia was among the inaugural members to serve on the Human Rights Council when it was established from 2006 to 2008.

Ms. Gundersen explained that the Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body under the United Nations that comprises 47 member states elected by a majority vote of the UN General Assembly to serve for three years on a rotational basis. She further explained that countries are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.

Ms. Gundersen described as false an article published by the Daily Nation Newspaper that the United Nations has sanctioned Zambia for rights violations. She advised that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it must be exercised within the limits and confines of the law.

The post Govt Refutes Claims of Zambia’s Blacklisting from UN Human Rights Council appeared first on ZNBC-Just for you.

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Africa: CAF Confederation Cup – Enyimba's Quarterfinal Hopes Under Threat After Al Masry Draw

Published

4 hours ago

January 13, 2025

An24 Africa

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The result leaves the two-time African champions in a precarious position, needing a win against group leaders Zamalek in their final match to have any chance of progressing to the quarterfinals
Nigeria Premier League side Enyimba are teetering on the brink of elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup.
This follows their 1-1 draw against Egyptian club Al Masry in their penultimate Group D fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Sunday.
The result leaves the two-time African champions in a precarious position, needing a win against group leaders Zamalek in their final match to progress to the quarterfinals.
Even a victory might not suffice, as their fate also hinges on bottom-placed Black Bulls denying Al Masry a win in their last group-stage encounter.
Match summary
The visitors, Al Masry, took an early lead in the 7th minute through Mohamed Hashem, capitalising on a defensive lapse by the People’s Elephant. Despite Enyimba’s spirited efforts to find a response, they went into halftime trailing 1-0.
The second half started with renewed intensity from Enyimba, and their persistence paid off just two minutes after the restart. Ifeanyi Ihemekwele headed home a sublime equaliser, much to the home crowd’s delight.
Goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena emerged as the night’s hero, pulling off a series of crucial saves, including a penalty stop in the 68th minute, to keep Enyimba in the contest.
However, despite dominating possession and creating chances, the Nigerian side failed to find the winner that could have bolstered their quarterfinal aspirations.
Group D standings
After five rounds of matches, Zamalek have already secured their place in the quarterfinals, sitting comfortably atop the group with 11 points.
Al Masry, with six points, occupy second place and only need a victory against the Black Bulls to advance.
NPFL: Ideye strikes again as Enyimba edge past Nasarawa United
Enyimba, currently third with five points, face a daunting trip to Egypt for their final group game, where they must not only beat Zamalek but also rely on a favourable result in the other group fixture.
What’s next?
Enyimba face a do-or-die clash against Zamalek in Egypt, needing both a win and a stroke of luck in the other Group D match to keep their Confederation Cup dreams alive. Meanwhile, Al Masry will aim to seal their qualification with a win over the Black Bulls.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the People’s Elephant as they prepare for their most critical game of the tournament.
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Team Lineups
Enyimba
Ani Ozoemena; Innocent Gabriel, Joseph Atule, Elijah Akanni, Nweke Kalu (Fatai Abdullahi 81′); Uwana Asuquo, Somiari Alalibo (Paschal Eze 80′), Chikamso Okechukwu; Divine Ukadike, Ekene Awazie (Brown Ideye 59′), Ifeanyi Ihemekwele (Bernard Ovoke 87′).
Al Masry:
Mahmoud Gad; Ahmed Eid, Mohamed Hashem, Khaled Sobhi, Hassan Ali; Samadou (Mohamed Makhlouf 32′), Mahmoud Hamada (Youssef El Gohary 78′), Khaled El-Ghandour (Karim Bambou 78′); Mohamed El-Shami, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef (Abdelrrehim Daghmoum 61′), Salah Mohsen.
Read the original article on Premium Times.
AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 110 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.
Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.
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