funding

R22 billion pledge in KwaZulu‑Natal shines light on a familiar fault line: money without trust and skills When Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation toured KwaZulu‑Natal last week, it did not find the comforting sight of hoses and concrete being laid across parched riverbeds. Instead, it encountered a recurring national headache: bold budget lines and high‑profile projects undermined by doubts about capacity and governance. The committee welcomed uMngeni‑Uthukela Water’s announcement that it plans to…

U.S. government grinds to a halt as partisan stalemate triggers shutdown WASHINGTON — Much of the United States federal government shut its doors early today after Congress failed to pass a short-term funding bill, setting off what officials warned could be a prolonged and costly stand‑off that will touch millions of Americans and ripple through global markets. The shutdown — the 15th since 1981 — began hours after the Senate rejected a stopgap measure that would have kept agencies operating through Nov. 21. Agencies…

African Union mission in Somalia teeters as $180 million shortfall threatens gains against al‑Shabab MOGADISHU — The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is confronting a funding cliff that could unravel years of hard-won progress against the Islamist insurgency, AU officials warned at the United Nations General Assembly. With about 11,000 troops from Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda deployed across Somali towns and desert tracks, the mission now faces an estimated $180 million…

Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab at a crossroads as funding and politics bite MOGADISHU — On a dusty frontline in Awdhegle district, where the landscape alternates between thorny scrub and rice paddies, Somalia’s military commanders are urging troops to press their advantage against Al-Shabaab even as the broader campaign faces growing uncertainty. General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, who oversees the Somali National Army’s land forces, travelled to the region this week to rally soldiers and allied African Union troops,…

At UN Week, Somalia and Allies Sound Alarm Over Funding Gap for AU Mission NEW YORK — Inside a packed conference room just off the United Nations General Assembly floor, Somalia and its closest partners issued an unusually blunt warning: if the world does not step up with reliable money, hard-won security gains against al-Shabab could begin to unravel within months. The urgency is not abstract. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) — the AU-led force that helps secure towns, main roads,…

Nicolas Sarkozy Sentenced to Five Years in Landmark Libyan Funding Case PARIS — A French court on Thursday handed former president Nicolas Sarkozy a five-year prison sentence after finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case tied to millions of euros of illicit funds allegedly originating from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Judge Nathalie Gavarino said prosecutors proved that Sarkozy allowed aides to approach Libyan officials for financial backing during his successful 2007 presidential bid. At the same…

World Bank's Climate Finance Faces Scrutiny: Oxfam Rings the Alarm Bell November 2024 – Nairobi — Oxfam International is sounding the alarm over the World Bank’s climate finance, pointing out murky waters in the Bank's transparency and accountability. Their latest doc, "Climate Finance Unchecked," pulls back the curtain on some dodgy discrepancies between budgeted and real spending in climate projects, hinting at shaky foundations in the fight against global warming. Drilling into data from 2017 to 2023, Oxfam spotlights…

In the bustling streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, an African Union peacekeeper strolls by a line of armored vehicles. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, better known as ATMIS, is grappling with the possibility of stumbling blocks in its concluding phase. Why? The culprits are inadequate funding and heightened regional unease, particularly with neighbor Ethiopia in the mix. Mogadishu (AX) — The African Union's mission in Somalia is hitting snags as it edges nearer to its finale. The root of the hiccups?…

Mogadishu (AX) — In the home stretch before the African Union forces exit, global partners are scrambling to lock down plans for a fresh strategy in Somalia. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is on deck to succeed ATMIS come January 2025. It’s a linchpin effort aimed at resisting the relentless Al-Shabaab insurgency threatening Somalia’s fragile peace.The African Union's Peace and Security Council has given two thumbs up to AUSSOM's strategic playbook, known as CONOPs. This mission’s…

Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni in Nairobi on September 18, 2024. Image: HANDOUT Kenya's proposed Sh6.7 billion Mpox response fund has been flagged as insufficient and misprioritized, according to various advocacy groups. Critics have pointed out a glaring omission: there's no budget allocation for vaccine procurement. Speaking in Nairobi, these groups urged the government to reallocate funds towards crucial areas like vaccine acquisition, advanced diagnostics, and community education. The…