UN Fact Finding Mission Calls for Neutral Force to Defend Civilians in Sudan

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights published on 6 September 2024 a press release titled "Sudan: UN Fact-Finding Mission Outlines Extensive Human Rights Violations, International Crimes, Urges Protection of Civilians." 

The three experts from Tanzania, Nigeria, and Jordan/Switzerland found an appalling range of human rights violations and international crimes in Sudan and called for immediate steps to protect civilians.  The experts were especially critical of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.  They underscored the need to expand the arms embargo in Darfur and the immediate need to create "an independent and impartial force with a mandate to safeguard civilians."

The Associated Press published on 6 September 2024 an article titled "UN Investigators Urge Impartial Force as Sudan War Crimes Intensify." 

The article reports on the UN Fact-Finding Mission press release but points out that the experts did not specify which countries are complicit in war crimes nor suggest which countries might join a neutral force to protect civilians in Sudan.

Sudan Armed Forces Offers Excuses for Boycotting Peace Talks

 PBS Newshour posted on 16 August 2024 a transcript titled "Amid Brutal Civil War, Sudan's VP Defends Refusal to Participate in U.S.-Led Peace Talks" by Leila Molana-Allen.  

Sudan's Vice President Malik Agar explained in an interview why the Sudan Armed Forces has refused to send a delegation to the U.S.-Saudi brokered peace talks in Switzerland.  Agar accused its enemy, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, as a tool of the UAE, an observer at the talks.  Agar added the United States is not serious about peace talks and will lose interest after the election.

The Status of Sudan Peace Talks

 The New Arab published on 21 August 2024 an article titled "What the Stalled Geneva Peace Talks Mean for Sudan's War" by Mohamed Mostafa. 

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has reportedly sent a delegation to the US-Saudi peace talks in Geneva while the Sudan Armed Forces is insisting on reviving the failed Jeddah talks in Cario.  The result so far is stasis, although US special envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, remains hopeful that progress can be reached in Geneva on humanitarian access to starving Sudanese.

African Arguments published on 21 August 2024 an analysis titled "US Calls for Ceasefire: Sudan's Peace Process at a Crossroads" by Elhadi Abdalla.

This is a more detailed background piece on the status of efforts to arrange a ceasefire and humanitarian access in Sudan.  

US Attempts to Energize Sudan Peace Process

 Foreign Policy published on 22 July 2024 an article titled "U.S. Works to Revamp Peace Process for War-Torn Sudan" by Robbie Gramer.  

The US plans to convene talks between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Switzerland in August in an effort to revive efforts to end the civil war in Sudan.  Switzerland and Saudi Arabia will co-host the talks.  

Who Leads FDI in Africa? It's Not China

 Ernst and Young Global Limited published in November 2023 "A Pivot to Growth: EY Attractiveness/Africa."

This is a trends and insights report that provides readers with a deeper understanding of the investment flows into the African market.  The section showing which countries provide the most FDI to Africa is especially revealing and underscores recent trends that are not well appreciated.  

From 2018 through 2022, the country financing the largest total number of projects in Africa was the United States, followed by France, United Kingdom, Germany, and China.  In 2022 alone, the United States led in total number of FDI projects at 93, followed by 78 for France, 64 for the UK, 60 for the UAE, 44 for Switzerland, 37 for Germany, and 21 for China.

When measured in terms of capital investment in 2022, the UAE led with $49.9 billion, followed by France at $26.5 billion, India at $22.2 billion, and the UK at $19.2 billion.  US capital investment in 2022 ranked 5th at $6.8 billion, followed by Canada at $5.1 billion, and China at $2.6 billion.

When looked at over a longer period of time, China does better.  Cumulative FDI between 2016 and 2022 puts China in fourth place by total projects and second by capital investment, behind the UAE.  Chinese FDI has also created more jobs per project than any other country.  But the trend is clear, Chinese FDI in Africa is on the decline.  

Red Sea Coral, Climate Change, and Regional Cooperation

The Swiss Connection recently posted a ten minute podcast titled "Science and Diplomacy Hope to Save Red Sea Coral" by Julia Crawford.

Scientists explain that corals in the Red Sea are more resistent to climate change than in most other parts of the world. But it is critical that littoral countries take steps to avoid pollution that can damage or kill existing coral reefs, which if properly managed can be an important tourist attraction. This is another reason for cooperation among countries bordering the Red Sea.

China and Incidents of Violence in African Mines

The China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) published in 2019 a policy brief titled "Disasters While Digging: Rates of Violence Against Mine Workers in Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Zambia" by Christian Freymeyer, MA candidate at SAIS.

The author looked at the question of instances of violence against workers and if they occur more frequently at Chinese-owned mines in the DRC, South Africa and Zambia than they do at other foreign owned mines. Contrary to the perception that Chinese mines are more prone to worker-based violence, mining companies from South Africa and the United Kingdom were at the top of the list, with eight instances each. These were followed by China (5), Australia (4), Switzerland (2), and Canada (2). The author acknowledged, however, that western companies have a larger footprint, more workers, and ultimately higher risk of violent incidents.