In Reaktion auf den Umsturz in Niamey haben Berlin und Paris jedenfalls gemeinsam Sanktionen gegen führende Mitglieder der Junta vorgeschlagen, was der EU-Außenbeauftragte Josep Borrell aufgegriffen hat. Baerbock betonte, dass man sich dabei eng abgestimmt habe mit der Regionalorganisation Ecowas, der 15 westafrikanische Staaten angehören.
Daily Archives: 31. August 2023
EU mulls sanctions against Niger junta
Following in the footsteps of the West African regional body ECOWAS, the EU aims to slap the same sanctions on the junta that seized power in Niger several weeks ago, EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed in Toledo, Spain on Wednesday (30 August).
EU grapples with its African army training dilemma as another coup rocks the continent
On Wednesday, the oil-rich nation of Gabon became the eighth Central or West African country to be hit by a military takeover in the last three years. The EU has not been training Gabon‘s armed forces -– although French troops have -– but it has funded and taught troops in Mali and Niger.
Zentralafrikanische Staaten verurteilen Putsch in Gabun
Nach dem Putsch in Gabun hat die Zentralafrikanische Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft (ECCAS) die neuen Militärmachthaber aufgefordert, die verfassungsmäßige Ordnung wiederherzustellen.
African leaders work on response to Gabon military coup ousting President Bongo
Central Africa‘s political bloc, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), condemned the coup in a statement, saying it planned an „imminent“ meeting of heads of state to determine how to respond. It did not give a date.
The African Union‘s Peace and Security Council will meet on Thursday to discuss the coup, a spokesperson for the African Union Commission chair said.
What’s Driving the Coups in Gabon and Across West Africa?
Four days after the central African nation held disputed presidential elections that incumbent Ali Bongo was reported to have won, army officers appeared on state television to announce they’d canceled the Aug. 26 vote and dissolved the country’s institutions. Bongo first took office in 2009, succeeding his late father, who had held power since 1967. While the oil producer hasn’t had to deal with the jihadist attacks or spreading insecurity that’s dogged much of West Africa, the ruling family’s grip on power has come under pressure in recent years.
What is the CFA franc zone?
The CFA franc zone consists of 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, each affiliated with one of two monetary unions. Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte D’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo comprise the West African Economic and Monetary Union, or WAEMU, founded in 1994 to build on the foundation of the West African Monetary Union, founded in 1973. The remaining six countries — Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon — comprise the Central African Economic and Monetary Union, or CAEMC.
These two unions maintain the same currency, the CFA franc, which stands for Communauté Financière Africaine (African Financial Community) within WAEMU and Coopération Financière en Afrique Centrale (Financial Cooperation in Central Africa) within CAEMC. WAEMU and CAEMC account for 14 percent of Africa’s population and 12 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP).
Eramet Shares Tumble as Gabon Coup Halts Manganese Mining
At 0811 GMT, shares in Eramet slumped 19% to EUR61.65.
The company said all operations have stopped and rail traffic has been suspended in the West African country, and that it has begun procedures to ensure the safety of staff and facilities of its two subsidiaries there, Comilog and Setrag.
The former operates the Moanda manganese mine–the world‘s largest–and Setrag is a rail transport company.
About us
No. 1
producer of manganese worldwide (Gabon)
Largest
nickel mine in the world (Indonesia)
1st
European company to develop responsible lithium production
4th
largest producer of titanium raw materials worldwide
Gabon – Mining and Minerals
The Directorate General of the Economy and Tax Policy (DGEPF) revealed that Gabon had produced 1.109 million tons of manganese in the first quarter of 2018, compared to 827,551 tons during the same period in 2017, an increase of 27.2%.
A number of other companies have or are exploring obtaining prospecting or exploration permits for iron, copper, diamonds, and other minerals.
Gabon soldiers seize power in OPEC member in latest coup
Gabon’s dollar bonds due June 2025 and November 2031 were the worst-performing in emerging markets on Wednesday. The 2025 notes fell 8.55 cents to 84.74 cents on the dollar as of 11:48 a.m. in London. Shares in French mining group Eramet SA, oil and gas producer Maurel & Prom SA and a listed unit of TotalEnergies SE, which all have operations in Gabon, sank in Paris trading.
Insider: Treffen zwischen Erdogan und Putin nächste Woche
Das von der Türkei und den Vereinten Nationen vermittelte Abkommen zur Ausfuhr von Getreide aus der Ukraine über das Schwarze Meer wurde von Russland im Juli nicht mehr verlängert.
Labour conference set to host weapons manufacturers and spy-tech firm
(23 August 2023)
“It is disgusting and disappointing to hear that arms companies will be sponsoring talks at the Labour Party conference,” Emily Apple, media coordinator at Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), told openDemocracy. “These companies should not be given this legitimacy or the opportunity to lobby policy makers in order to continue making profits for their shareholders from a deadly trade that causes destruction and misery around the world.”
She added: “Accepting sponsorship from these companies sends a bleak message to anyone thinking a future Labour government will adopt any kind of ethical stance towards the arms trade.”
Arms companies to descend on Labour party conference
Open Democracy reported that Boeing, Babcock International, and Palantir, will join fossil fuels firms, private healthcare companies, and banks as sponsors at the conference, which takes place in Liverpool this October. Many of the fringe events will be hosted by The New Statesman Media Group.
Boeing, one of the largest US arms companies, manufactures the land-based Minutemen Intercontinental Ballistic Missile for the US Air Force. The UK-based Babcock, which operates the Devonport dockyard in Plymouth, has been involved in designing components for and maintaining Britain’s nuclear-armed fleet for over 50 years.
Kiew schließt Vertrag mit siebentgrößtem Rüstungskonzern
BAE Systems wolle Partner der Ukraine sein im Krieg um Freiheit und Unabhängigkeit sowie beim Aufbau einer starken Rüstungsindustrie, sagte Firmenchef Charles Woodburn.
Der deutsche Waffenhersteller Rheinmetall hat mit dem staatlichen ukrainischen Rüstungskonzern Ukroboronprom im Mai ein Gemeinschaftsunternehmen gegründet.
BAE Systems to highlight Polish partnerships, vital defence technologies at MSPO 2023
(29.08.2023)
Kielce, Poland: BAE Systems (Hall F, stand 9) will demonstrate its range of defence and security solutions for land, sea, air, space and cyberspace at MSPO 2023. During the show, held at Targi Kielce, Poland, from 5 to 8 September, the Company will also showcase its teams working in Poland, its partnerships with the Polish military and other companies in the Polish defence sector.
BAE Systems will build and repair L119 howitzers in Ukraine
(Aug 31, 2023)
According to a press release, following the meeting of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with BAE Systems’ CEO Charles Woodburn to open a representative office of BAE Systems in Ukraine, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov and BAE Systems CEO signed a Framework Agreement on Cooperation on the repair, spare parts and production of new L119 howitzers.
BAE Systems says plan to open a Ukraine base is ‚progressing‘
(02.08.2023)
British defence company BAE Systems said it was making progress on a plan to set up a base in Ukraine to produce and repair weapons from tanks to artillery.
BAE Systems forecasts more growth on Ukraine conflict boost
(February 23, 2023)
BAE, whose biggest customers are the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia and Australia, forecast earnings per share (EPS) would rise 5% to 7% this year, after it posted a 9.5% rise in underlying EPS for 2022 on Thursday, beating forecasts on strong performances from its maritime and cyber units.
Cabinet reshuffle latest: Grant Shapps appointment ‚ruffles feathers‘ – as successor for his old job confirmed
Rishi Sunak is reshuffling his top team, with Grant Shapps succeeding Ben Wallace as defence secretary and Claire Coutinho entering cabinet as energy secretary.
Politics latest news: Grant Shapps announced as next Defence Secretary
Mr Wallace, who revealed his intention to quit back in July, said in his resignation letter: “After much reflection, I have taken the decision to ask that I be allowed to step down. I won my seat in 2005 and after so many years it is time for me to invest in the parts of life that I have neglected, and to explore new opportunities.”