Month: November 2024

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva closed the Group of 20 summit on Tuesday and handed over the presidency to South Africa.

“After the South African presidency, all the G20 countries will have exercised leadership of the group at least once. It will be a good time to evaluate the role we have played so far and how we should act from now on,” said Lula da Silva.

Leaders of the world’s 20 major economies gathered once again on Tuesday with a lighter schedule after they issued a joint declaration the night before

The document, which includes calls for a global pact to combat hunger, more aid for Gaza and the end of the war in Ukraine, was heavy on generalities and short on specifics.

The joint statement was endorsed by group members but fell short of complete unanimity. It also called for a future global tax on billionaires and for reforms allowing the eventual expansion of the U.N. Security Council beyond its five permanent members.

At the start of the three-day meeting which formally ends Wednesday, experts doubted Lula da Silva could convince the assembled leaders to hammer out any agreement at all in a gathering rife with uncertainty over the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, and heightened global tensions over wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Argentina challenged some of the language in initial drafts and was the one country that didn’t endorse the complete document

A newly released report from the U.S. government highlights a notable shift in visa overstay patterns, showing Ghana surpassing Nigeria in the misuse of B1/B2 and F, M, and J non-immigrant visas between October 2022 and September 2023.

The comprehensive analysis sheds light on individuals who remained in the United States beyond their authorized stay without a recorded departure or an approved visa extension.

According to the findings, there were 510,363 suspected in-country overstays, representing 1.31% of expected departures, alongside 54,792 out-of-country overstays, or 0.14% of expected departures.

Ghana’s Visa Overstay Statistics

In 2023, Ghanaians were issued 25,454 B1/B2 visas, typically granted for business or tourism purposes. Of these, 1,910 individuals overstayed their visas, equating to a 7.50% overstay rate. For student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J categories), Ghana recorded an even higher overstay rate of 21%, with 537 out of 2,559 visa holders remaining unlawfully in the U.S.

The data also shows that Ghana’s visa compliance has worsened compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, when 28,844 B1/B2 visas were issued, and the overstay rate stood at 5.09%. The student visa overstay rate in 2019 was 12.7%.

How Nigeria Compares

Nigeria, which issued 84,051 B1/B2 visas in 2023, recorded a marginally lower overstay rate of 7.14%, with 6,000 Nigerians staying beyond their permitted time. Nigeria had a 15.60% overstay rate for student and exchange visitor visas from 7,556 visas issued—significantly lower than Ghana’s 21% in the same category.

In 2019, Nigeria issued 177,835 B1/B2 visas with an overstay rate of 9.88%, while the student visa overstay rate was 13.43%.

Broader Regional Context

The report also highlights overstay rates for other African countries. Notably:

– Togo: 19%

– Burkina Faso: 12.13%

– Ivory Coast: 7.48%

– Mali: 5.27%

Understanding Visa Overstays

An overstay occurs when a traveller remains in the U.S. beyond their authorized admission period. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection categorizes these as either in-country overstays (no recorded departure) or out-of-country overstays (departure after the permitted time).

The report emphasizes that determining visa compliance involves more than comparing entry and exit data. Extensions or status adjustments must also be considered to identify true cases of overstaying.

This latest analysis reflects improved data collection methods designed to provide greater insight into visa compliance trends among international travellers to the U.S.

The EU council has pledged to give to the Rwanda Defence force €20 million to aid its deployment in Mozambique, where it’s supporting an effort to tackle an Islamic State-backed insurgency.

The move doubles the amount the EU previously pledged back in 2022.

Rwandan forces in Mozambique have played an important role in holding back the insurgency for three years, in a region where fighting has delayed a liquefied natural-gas export project.

Josep Borell, vice-president of the EU Commission said the ‘’presence of the Rwanda Defence Force troops has been instrumental to make progress and remains key.”

He also described the funding as a ‘’testimony of the EU’s support to ‘African solutions for African problems’.”

Although the deal was anticipated, it has sparked tensions. It also comes with the condition that the funding will be pulled if money is spent on operations elsewhere than in Mozambique.

This restriction is mainly the work of Belgium, which reiterated its condemnation of Rwandan troops’ alleged backing of M23 rebels in the DRC.

Earlier this year, a UN report accused Rwanda of helping the M23 rebel group fighting Congolese forces in eastern DRC.

President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed his intention to declare a national emergency to address border security and utilize the US military to execute a sweeping deportation initiative targeting undocumented migrants.

Immigration, a central theme of Trump’s campaign, is set to dominate his return to the White House. The former president has vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants and secure the southern border with Mexico, citing a surge in illegal crossings during President Joe Biden’s tenure.

Taking to his platform, Truth Social, Trump shared a post from a conservative activist, which claimed the president-elect was “ready to declare a national emergency and deploy military resources to reverse the Biden administration’s immigration policies through mass deportation.” Trump simply added, “True!” to the repost.

The announcement comes as Trump prepares to return to the Oval Office following his November 5 election victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. He has begun naming key figures to his administration, including immigration hardliner Tom Homan, who will serve as the “border czar.”

Homan, a former acting chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has long been an advocate for stricter immigration policies and recently urged undocumented migrants to “start packing now.”

The proposed deportation plan could affect millions of families across the United States. Authorities estimate there are approximately 11 million undocumented individuals in the country, with Trump’s sweeping policies expected to impact over 20 million people indirectly.

While border security has been a persistent challenge for successive administrations, Trump’s rhetoric has intensified concerns. Throughout his campaign, he described an ongoing “invasion” of migrants and used provocative language to allege that undocumented immigrants posed a threat to American society.

He also signaled plans to invoke the centuries-old Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a move critics say is outdated and reminiscent of controversial policies such as Japanese-American internment during World War II.

Trump has yet to detail the full scope of his immigration agenda but has made clear his intention to act swiftly. His remarks come as border patrol encounters have stabilized, mirroring 2020 levels after peaking at 250,000 in December 2023 — the highest monthly figure on record.

As Trump assembles his cabinet, his hardline stance on immigration signals that border policy will remain a focal point of his administration, reigniting debates on how to manage America’s complex immigration challenges effectively and humanely.

Somaliland’s opposition leader, Abdirahman Cirro, has won the region’s presidential election, the news outlet Garowe Online reported on Tuesday.

It reported the Electoral Commission as saying the leader of the opposition Waddani party won 64 per cent of the vote.

Incumbent President Muse Bihi Abdi, who was seeking a second term, won 35 per cent in the polls which took place last week.

Both candidates promised to strengthen democracy, boost economic growth, and gain the international recognition Somaliland has sought for 33 years.

It was the region’s fourth presidential poll since it broke away from Somalia over three decades ago.

Somaliland has since sustained its own government, currency, and security structures despite lacking global recognition which has restricted its access to international finance.

The region has built a stable political environment in sharp contrast to Somalia’s security struggles.

Voting took place amid rising tension with Mogadishu over Somaliland’s deal granting landlocked Ethiopia access to the Indian Ocean in exchange for political recognition.

Australian gold miner Resolute Mining has agreed to pay Mali’s military-led government $160 million (£126m) to resolve a tax dispute, following the detention of the company’s British CEO and two colleagues.

The trio, including CEO Terry Holohan, were reportedly arrested 10 days ago while traveling to the capital, Bamako, for what they had anticipated would be routine discussions. Their detention came amid heightened scrutiny of foreign mining firms in the West African nation.

Resolute, which operates a gold mine in Mali, announced on Sunday that it will make an initial payment of $80 million from existing cash reserves, with the remaining amount to be paid in the coming months.

Mali’s Push for Greater Mining Revenue

Mali, one of Africa’s leading gold producers, has been tightening its grip on foreign mining operators to secure a larger share of sector revenues. The arrest of the Resolute executives and the charges of forgery and damaging public property have been interpreted as part of the junta’s broader effort to extract more income from international mining companies, many of which are based in Western countries.

Reports suggest that the release of the three employees is contingent on signing a memorandum of understanding and completing the first payment. However, their release timeline remains uncertain.

Strained Relations with Foreign Partners

Since seizing power in a 2021 coup, Mali’s military rulers, led by President Col Assimi Goïta, have sought to overhaul the country’s trade and political relationships. Last year, the government introduced a new mining code that increased the maximum stake for state and local investors in mining operations from 20% to 35%.

The situation underscores growing tensions between Mali and foreign operators in its lucrative mining sector, with the military government adopting an assertive stance against Western interests as part of its broader reconfiguration of international ties.

This high-profile settlement highlights the complex challenges facing foreign companies in Mali, as the country’s government seeks to assert greater control over its natural resources.

Chidimma Adetshina was crowned miss Universe Africa and Oceania on Saturday (Nov. 16) in Mexico.

Adetshina who is law student and model born and raised in South Africa represented her father’s country Nigeria in this year’s beauty pageant.

She withdrew from the ten finalists of Miss South Africa in August after facing xenophobic attacks on social media.

And three months later, she became the first runner-up to Miss Denmark who was crowned Miss Universe 2024.

Victoria Kjær Theilvig succeeds to Sheynnis Palacios, Miss Nicaragua.

It is the first time a Danish contestant has won Miss Universe.

Miss Mexico, Miss Thailand and Miss Venezuela were respectively ranked second, third and fourth runner-up.

The 73rd edition was a proud moment for Africa. For the first time ever, 18 contestants from the continent competed for the crown. The competition saw 125 countries participate.

Nigeria and India have pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries during a meeting at which they also agreed on more support for Global South nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Abuja on Saturday, the first Indian premier to visit Nigeria in 17 years, following an invitation by President Bola Tinubu.

The two leaders spoke of a new chapter in their strategic partnerships in the areas of defence, energy, technology, trade, and development.

Gabon’s military rulers said the new constitution has been overwhelmingly approved in a referendum, according to provisional results published on Sunday.

Speaking on state television, the interior minister said  91.8 per cent of voters had said “yes” to the charter, with a turnout estimated at 53.5 per cent.

The junta in power, led by interim President Brice Oligui Nguema, has promised it will be a stepping stone in the transition to democratic rule, tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2025.

In a move large welcomed by the Gabonese, military officers seized power in a coup in August last year ousting President Ali Bongo.

His family had controlled the oil-rich country for almost 60 years, but left a stagnant economy with a third of the population living in poverty.

The proposed new constitution sets a two-term limit on the presidency, each lasting seven years, no prime minister, no dynastic transfer of power, and recognises French as Gabon’s working language.

It also requires presidential candidates to be exclusively Gabonese, with at least one Gabon-born parent, and have a Gabonese spouse.

The draft, however, does not bar Nguema from running for the presidency, raising concerns for some commentators about the junta’s ambitions.

The final tally will be announced by the Constitutional Court.

Financing is at the forefront of COP29 in Baku, where many are hoping to reach an agreement that unlocks trillions of dollars to help less privileged nations cope with the impacts of climate change.

According to the UN, rising temperatures and sea levels, varying precipitation and more extreme weather patterns pose an increasing threat to the African continent.

African officials attending the summit are calling on wealthy nations, who pollute the most, to pay up for the environmental harm they have caused.

”He who pollutes should meet the cost of clean up over the environment, should meet the cost of mitigation it should meet the cost of adaptation in that proportion, because to pollute, people have made the money to pollute,” says Barirega Akankwasah, executive director of the Uganda National Environment Management Authority.

”You pollute through production and so there is a benefit to you who has polluted in it principles of environmental management, the costing of good design. The services must integrate the full cost of production, including the cost to the environment,” he added.

Akankwasah is hoping that any agreement made at this year’s COP will clearly outline finance plans for a damage fund, stating that, the deal should ”have fully operational loss and damage fund with clear criteria on how much and who contributes and the criteria for access and disbursement of these funds.”

Protesters gathered in Baku on Friday also demanding that polluting nations pay their fair share to help less privileged nations adapt to climate change. They also called for the phasing out of fossil fuels.

More than 1,700 coal, oil and gas lobbyists have been given access to COP29.