News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

Kenya to host 2nd session of UNEA-2

Posted: 14 May 2016 05:18 AM PDT

According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the forum will provide an ideal platform for delegations to deliberate and chart the environmental agenda.

|||

Nairobi – The second session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) will be held in Nairobi from May 23 to 27.

The UNEA is the world’s highest level decision-making body on matters dealing with the environment.

According to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the forum will provide an ideal platform for delegations to deliberate and chart the environmental agenda, particularly the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that the response by participants, including delegations from member states and major groups and stakeholders, has been extremely encouraging. The overwhelming response reflects the fact that the assembly has a truly universal character,” Kenyatta said in a statement.

Kenyatta said he intended to use the assembly to raise the issue of illegal trade in wildlife.

“As you are aware, it has had serious ramifications for Kenya. Late last month, I set ablaze 105 tons of ivory [and rhino horn], representing more than 8000 slaughtered elephants and 343 rhino.

“Our government will seek a total ban of trade in ivory at the 17th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species [of Wild Fauna and Flora] (CITES) to be held in South Africa later this year,” he said.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said on its website the second session of the UNEA would take place at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, under the overarching theme of delivering on the environmental dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“The assembly, which represents the world’s highest level decision-making body on the environment, will culminate in resolutions and a global call to action to address the critical environmental challenges facing the world today,” the UNEP said.

UNEA enjoyed the universal membership of all 193 UN member states and the full involvement of major groups and stakeholders. With such wide reach into the legislative, financial, and development arenas, the UNEA provided a groundbreaking platform for leadership on global environmental policy.

UNEA-2 would reflect the latest global, regional, and national developments related to the environment. It would also provide the first global platform for reviewing progress on the sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly their environmental dimensions, the UNEP said.

African News Agency (ANA)

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Ugandan opposition leader charged with treason

Posted: 14 May 2016 02:33 AM PDT

Kizza Besigye was charged with treason for declaring himself president and challenging the election victory of veteran leader Yoweri Museveni.

|||

Kampala - Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye was charged with treason late on Friday for declaring himself president and challenging the election victory of veteran leader Yoweri Museveni, officials from both camps said.

The charge - which carries the death penalty - marked an escalation in recent confrontations between the government and Besigye who has been repeatedly arrested and accused authorities of beatings and intimidation.

Tensions have mounted since the disputed February poll and authorities this week blocked Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other social media, saying they were worried about security around Museveni's official inauguration on Thursday.

Government spokesman Shaban Bantariza said Besigye had been charged with treason because he had declared himself “an alternative president”.

“He has openly declared his intention to topple this government, that's not constitutional,” he said. Authorities have dismissed accusations of targeting Besigye, saying they have only acted to keep order.

Besigye was arrested in the capital Kampala on Wednesday, on charges of addressing an illegal assembly and was taken to Moroto town, 500 km (300 miles) away near the border with Kenya.

“He was charged with treason yesterday (Friday) in Moroto magistrates' court and remanded to prison,” Semujju Nganda, an opposition legislator and spokesman for Besigye's Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party told Reuters.

A party official told Reuters on Wednesday there had been a ceremony when their candidate was sworn in as president.

Official figures showed Museveni, in power since 1986, secured another term with 60 percent of the vote, trailed by Besigye with 35 percent.

Besigye rejected the results, calling the poll a sham and demanding an international investigation. He has been mostly confined to his house since election day on Feb. 18.

Museveni, 71, is credited with restoring order to the east African country after years of chaos. But experts say the growing economy has not kept up with a rising population, while critics complain about corruption and a clamp-down on dissent.

Besigye was also charged with treason in 2005, but a judge dismissed the case saying the evidence was insufficient.

Reuters

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now