Day: June 23, 2023

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Uganda secures immediate IMF disbursement totaling $120M

Uganda is set to receive $120 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under a credit arrangement with the multilateral lender.

The immediate disbursement follows completion of a fourth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) to the tune of $1 billion approved in 2021 by the IMF board.

The funds are expected to help the East Africa Community (EAC) member state tackle near-term response to the COVID-19 pandemic and boost more inclusive private sector-led long-term growth.

As part of the package, Uganda is also expected to address reforms focusing on key social spending, preserve debt sustainability, strengthening governance and reduce corruption, and enhancing the monetary and financial sector frameworks, IMF said.

“The Ugandan authorities remain firmly committed to their economic program amidst a challenging environment. Most quantitative targets were met in December 2022 and March 2023. The Quantitative Performance Criterion (QPC) on the ceiling on the Bank of Uganda (BoU) net credit to government (NCG) was missed by a very small margin in March 2023. All structural benchmarks due between March and June 2023 have been met,” said Kenji Okamura, IMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair.

Completion of the fourth review now brings total disbursement to Uganda under ECF to $750 million.

IMF projects Uganda’s economy to grow 5.5pc in the current financial year despite external shocks and tighter financial condition, and 6pc in FY2023/24.

On the other hand, inflation is expected to reach 5pc as per the country’s central bank medium term target by end of the year.

“The banking system is well-capitalized, and liquidity has rebounded, but the asset quality of some banks has deteriorated. Against this backdrop, safeguarding financial stability and strengthening the supervisory framework remain paramount. The current monetary policy stance is appropriate, but the BoU should stand ready to resume its tightening if signs emerge of a slower-than-expected disinflation. Exchange rate flexibility remains crucial to preserve external buffers,” added Okamura

Source: Nam News Network

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Uganda plans to raise drinking age to 21

The Ugandan government has announced plans to increase the legal age for consuming alcohol from 18 to 21.

The World Health Statistics 2023 Report ranks Uganda among the leading countries for high rates of alcohol consumption.

According to the WHO report, it is estimated that Ugandans currently consume 12.2 litres of alcohol per person annually, which is significantly higher than the global average.

“Research has shown that if someone has not taken an addictive substance by 21, they are much less likely to use addictive substances later in life,” Dr Hafsa Lukwata, the Ministry of Health commissioner for mental health, alcohol and substance sbuse, told the BBC.

“There has been a public outcry over substance abuse in young people," Dr Lukwata added.

She said that parliament will discuss the age limit, among other measures, in the soon-to-be presented Alcohol Control Bill.

Source: BBC

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Rwandan President guest of honour at Seychelles’ National Day parade

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, will be the guest of honour at Seychelles' National Day parade on June 29 during his state visit, said State House on Friday.

Kagame's state visit from June 28 to July 2 is at the invitation of President Wavel Ramkalawan.

"During the visit, President Kagame will hold bilateral discussions with President Ramkalawan at State House and it is anticipated that memoranda of understanding and agreements will be signed. He will also address an Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly," said State House.

This will be the second visit of Kagame to Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean.

The Rwandan President made a private visit to the island nation in August 2018 during which he held discussions with Danny Faure, the President of Seychelles at the time.

Kagame, 65, served as Chair of the African Union (AU) from 2018 to 2019 and chaired the East African Community from 2018-2021. He continues to lead the AU institutional reforms and serves as the AU champion for domestic health financing.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Oceanika opens sustainable products trade show in Seychelles

Several companies in Seychelles are showcasing their sustainable products and services at the professional trade show being held at Savoy Resort and Spa in the northern Mahe district of Beau Vallon.

The two-day trade show is being organised by Oceanika, a non-profit organisation, where the products and services on show are focused on sustainable development.

Oceanika has offices in Geneva and Thailand and has recently established one in Seychelles, and its aim is to look for the fishing aggravating devices (FADS) stuck in the coral and dive to remove them.

"Our aim with this expo is to showcase the expertise of local businesses in sustainable products and solutions because it is no longer acceptable to hear from certain industries that Seychelles lacks solutions for responsible growth," said the president of Oceanika Seychelles, Olivier Manault.

One of the companies participating in the expo is Pop Sey producing organic popsicles. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The expo features about 15 companies, showcasing various products and services, such as electric vehicles and solar panels, organic foods and beverages, recycled products, as well as sustainable management consulting services.

The fair was officially opened by the Minister for Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Jean-Francois Ferrari, on Thursday.

"I want to thank the organisers of this event, as in Seychelles, it is not often that the private sector organises such events. Most of the time, it is left up to the government," said Ferrari, who added that this is a great initiative.

Among the participants at the event are Brikole, a company that is recycling waste found at sea, such as FADs, nets and ropes, ASD Professional products, which produces skin care products from organic materials, Pop Sey producing organic popsicles and ACM chartered accountants, offering sustainable management consulting services.

The products and services on show are focused on sustainable development. (Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The organisers of the event are getting help from the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

SCCI's chairperson, Oliver Bastienne, explained that while they were not at the forefront of organising the event, they found it important to get the businesses involved.

"I think this event needs to be used to continue encouraging more collaboration between the government and the private sector, as the climate is not only a global issue and not only concern one party," he said.

The event will also be open on Friday, for other businesses looking for sustainable solutions.

Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, is recognised by the international community for its work on environmental protection. It has worked for a long time with partners to put in place sustainable solutions that will minimise the impacts on its environment and ocean territory.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Customs: Seychelles adopts REX for exports to EU from July 1

A new self-certification system called the Registered Exporter System (REX) will go live in Seychelles as of July 1 for goods originating from the island nation to the European Union countries.

According to the manager of classification, valuation and rules of origin in the Customs Division, Gerda Cesar, this is a system that will replace the EUR.1 which is currently being used.

"This means that all exporters who send their products to European countries such as Belgium and France and were using the EUR.1 certificate to benefit from the reduced taxations except for those sending products to the UK, will also use this as proof that their products originate from Seychelles," explained Cesar.

She said that "how this will work is each time that an exporter will have a consignment to export to EU countries, they will use the REX number on the invoice as a statement of export."

In order to be able to issue such declarations, exporters will have to directly register in the REX system, an online database developed by the EU. Upon registration, the classification, valuation and origin section of the Customs Division will assign a REX number to the applicant. The number has to be mentioned on the statement of origin.

Registration under REX is done by the exporter once and the REX number can be used for exports to all EU countries.

Cesar said the REX system will be of benefit to exporters.

"Currently, each time there is a consignment leaving Seychelles for an EU country, exporters have to provide the EUR.1 certificate and pay SCR100 [$7] for each consignment. With the REX system, the exporters will do their own self-certification, so the SCR100 will fade out and exporters will not need to go to the Customs Division for endorsement," explained Cesar.

For the new REX system, the Customs Division of the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) has developed specific guidelines for the use of such a system that will soon be publicly available on its website.

Additionally, a seminar was organised in February at the Care House in Victoria to show local exporters how to register on the system.

Cesar also explained that SRC is in the process of providing exporters with their identifications so that they may begin using the system on July 1.

Gilberte Bristol, an officer in the classification, valuation and rules of origin in the Customs Division, told reporters that so far five exporters already have their identifications, while the remaining 10 will have theirs before REX goes live.

"We are now in communications with them to ensure that all their documents are in order," she added.

Although local exporters will be doing their own self-certification, Customs will still be monitoring exportation to EU countries.

"There will be monitoring because when an exporter will register in the REX system, the person will need to fill in an information sheet which will need to include all the products being exported and the HS code, and from there we will be able to monitor all exportation," said Cesar in a previous interview with SNA.

Customs approves all products for exportation after the division has conducted site visits to ensure that they meet the criteria as per the EU protocol.

Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, mainly exports tuna, canned tuna and cinnamon bark to EU countries.

The island nation, as well as Madagascar, Mauritius and Zimbabwe, signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU in 2009, which entered into force on a provisional basis in May 2012. In July 2017, the Comoros joined the EPA and started its provisional application in February 2019.

The agreement allows products originating from the four Indian Ocean islands and Zimbabwe to be imported into the EU duty free, quota free, provided they meet specific rules of origin that are set out in the agreement.

Bristol appealed to exporters to avail themselves of the various agreements that Seychelles is a party to if their products meet the criteria.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy: Tunisia commended for co-leading eighth review [Upd 1]

The United Nations General Assembly Thursday adopted a resolution on the eighth review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS).

This eighth review of the GCTS was co-led by Tunisia and Canada as facilitators over the last five months.

The GCTS is a comprehensive framework document intended to shape the policies and activities of individual states and UN bodies.

The President of the UN General Assembly and heads of delegations commended the active role played by the Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations and Canada's in bridging the gap between the views of member states, building consensus and updating the text in line with the current challenges, Tunisia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations said.

Entrusting Tunisia with facilitating the 8th review is an acknowledgement of its key role within international organisations and demonstrates the confidendce placed in it, further reads a Foreign Ministry press release.

The UN General Assembly reviews the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) every two years. This involves member states, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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Parliament condemns military escalation by Zionist occupation in Jenin

The Bureau of the Assembly of People's Representatives Assembly (ARP), which met on Thursday, condemned the "dangerous" military escalation of the Zionist occupation forces in parts of the West Bank, especially in Jenin, Palestine.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Bureau "strongly" condemned the crimes committed by the Zionist forces against the Palestinian people.

This is a flagrant violation of international charters and rights," it said.

It expressed its solidarity with the Palestinian people against these aggressions.

To this end, the ARP called on all regional and international parliamentary institutions to condemn these acts of aggression, which threaten peace and security in the entire region.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on Tunisian authorities to ‘stop restricting media freedoms’

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, on Friday, called on the Tunisian authorities to «stop restricting media freedoms and criminalising independent journalism.»

He expressed in a statement deep concern at the increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and press freedom in Tunisia.

«Vague legislation is being used to criminalise independent journalism and stifle criticism of the authorities,» he pointed out

He added: «It is troubling to see Tunisia, a country that once held so much hope, regressing and losing the human rights gains of the last decade.»

In this context, Trk said over the last three months, the Tunisian authorities have on five occasions used «vaguely worded legislation» to question, arrest and convict six journalists. This includes security and counter-terrorism legislation and the presidential decree Nº 2022-54 on cybercrimes, which carry punitive fines and lengthy prison sentences.

Since July 2021, the UN Human Rights Office in Tunisia has documented 21 cases of alleged human rights violations against journalists, including prosecutions before civilian and military courts, he further said.

The High Commission recalled that under international human rights law all public figures including heads of State may legitimately be subject to criticism.

Volker Trk called on the Tunisian authorities to respect due process and fair trial standards in all judicial proceedings and cease trying civilians before military courts.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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Case of conspiracy against State security: Chaïma Issa will not be released Friday

Arrested in connection with the conspiracy against state security case, National Salvation Front political activist Chaïma Issa will not be released on Friday, said Sami Trigui, a member of the defence group for those arrested in this case.

The reason is that the public prosecutor's office has appealed against the decision to release Issa. Such an appeal makes it legally impossible for her to be released Friday,» the lawyer added.

The appeal lodged by the public prosecutor's office will be heard by the indictment division, he told TAP.

The investigating judge of the Counter-Terrorism Judicial Division had earlier decided to release Chaïma Issa, who has been under arrest since February 2023.

Trigui said the defence group had submitted a request for the release of the remaining detainees, adding that the examining magistrate had refrained from deciding on their fate.

This means, de facto and de jure, that requests for the release of detainees fall within the jurisdiction of the Indictment Chamber, which will also have to consider the prosecution's appeal.

«The best we can do is to wait until the hearing on 5 July to see how the prosecution will rule on all the requests made," said the lawyer, adding that the defence has no choice because the transfer of cases is often prolonged due to procedures in place.

Chaïma Issa was arrested on February 22, 2023, along with a number of lawyers and politicians, on charges of conspiracy against state security.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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Tunisia expresses categorical rejection of June 23 statement by UN rights chief

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Tunisians Abroad has expressed Tunisia's categorical rejection of the statement issued by the High Commissioner for Human Rights on June 23.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, the Ministry reiterated that the Commission, as a UN body with a duty of impartiality, should seek accuracy and objectivity before adopting unrealistic positions.

Tunisia reaffirms that freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the text of the Constitution and is enshrined in reality. The judicial proceedings and arrests referred to in the High Commissioner's statement were based on acts punishable under Tunisian law and had nothing to do with the exercise of freedom of opinion and expression. They took place in full respect of the legal guarantees and procedures in force in Tunisia, the ministry said in the statement.

It also stressed that Tunisians do not expect any party to assess their internal situation and the application of their national legislation.

Tunisia called on its partners and all parties to respect the will and choices of the Tunisian people and their aspirations for reform and justice, and to refrain from attempts to interfere in its internal affairs and influence the course of its justice.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk, in a statement posted on the Commission's website, expressed his "deep concern" at the "increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and press freedom in Tunisia".

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse