International News

commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to combat corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of law,” said Binken’s statement.

Blinken’s order was challenged as ineffective by some users of Twitter.

‘DEBT TRAP DIPLOMACY’ BLAMED FOR ZAMBIAN DEBT CRISIS

(GIN)—China, the builder of roads, energy, railways and telecom across Africa, came under fire from U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during her recent three-country African friendship tour when she singled out the Asian giant for Africa’s looming debt crisis.

Driving past Lusaka, the capital city, with its renovated international airport and newly built firms bearing Chinese signage, Yellen urged Zambian leaders to immediately address Zambia’s heavy debt burden with China.

But she failed to mention other countries and banks that contributed to Zambia’s unsustainable borrowing, leading it to become the first African nation to default on its $42.5 million Eurobond repayment.

Many are asking: How did Zambia get into so much debt?

According to a report by the Chr. Michelson Institute, the largest center for development research in Scandinavia, the Chinese are not the main culprits in Zambia’s looming debt crisis.

The beneficiary of an IMF/World Bank debt relief program, Zambia has borrowed heavily since 2012. China is the country’s single biggest creditor, but Zambia has also borrowed from several non-Chinese sources, including bilateral government loans; fuel supplier loans; the Arab Development Bank (BADEA); Israeli sources (for defense purposes); and regular international banks in the UK, Nigeria and South Africa.

Further, economic decision-making is centralized in the Office of the President without adequate economic considerations.

Several critics have raised the question of whether Zambia has “hidden loans,” similar to those disclosed recently in Mozambique that led to an economic crisis and major conflicts with donors who provide budget support and other grants.

Still, there is little transparen- cy in the Chinese lending operations. Neither the full scope of the loans nor their conditions are fully known. This leads to much uncertainty and speculation.

At present, 22 low-income African countries are either already in debt distress or at high risk of debt distress, according to the UK-based Chatham House. Chinese lenders account for 12% of Africa’s private and public external debt, which increased more than fivefold to $696 billion from 2000 to 2020.

Ultimately, the report concluded, the Zambian government must take full responsibility for the debt crisis because they have received ample warnings about the increasing debt burden from their own economists and opposition, as well as from external advisers, the IMF, the World Bank and donors. China, watching U.S. maneuvers in Africa, had this to say to the Treasury Secretary’s remarks: “The biggest contribution that the U.S. can make to the debt issues outside the country is to cope with its own debt problem and stop sabotaging other sovereign countries’ active efforts to solve their debt issues.”

U.S. TO DENY VISAS TO NIGERIANS WHO THREATEN DEMOCRACY AS ELECTION NEARS

(GIN)—Nigerians planning to visit the U.S. will be barred from entry if officials believe they pose a threat to upcoming elections in Nigeria, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement. The announcement also extends to the families of those accused of anti-democratic efforts, according to Blinken.

Nigeria’s February 25 elections will determine who will replace President Muhammadu Buhari, who has reached the country’s two-term limit after serving eight years in office.

“The visa restrictions announced today are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria. The restrictions reflect the

“The people who are actually behind such things all have green cards or US citizenship. Until you start revoking permanent residency and citizenship of them and their families, there is no reason to take you serious,” wrote David Hundeyin on Twitter.

Two weeks before, the British government impose a similar visa ban on Nigerian politicians involved in violence and rigging.

The vote in Nigeria comes as the country faces widespread insecurity, with the electoral commission itself targeted by recent violence.

Earlier this month, Nigerian police repelled attacks on election commission offices in the southeastern state of Enugu. In December, five people were killed in three attacks on offices in the southeastern state of Imo.

U.S. officials did not provide any details about how they would identify those who endanger the democratic polls.

Threats to the upcoming general elections were outlined by journalist Reuben Abati in This Day news:

“The biggest fear is that the current electoral process faces threats more than any other before…Yesterday in Ojota, Lagos, there was a shoot-out between members of the Oodua Progressives Congress (OPC), and the Oodua self-determination activists and Nigeria’s security agencies. Persons were killed, other were injured.

“By 9 am, concerned citizens declared Ojota a no-go area unless you would willingly take a stray bullet in your head and die just like that. In Anambra State, unidentified gun men burnt down a police station in Umuchu community in Aguata Local Government Area.

“Not enough has been done before the elections as indicated by the multiple security breaches around the country. The politicians are behaving as if the election this year is a kind of war. The last thing this country wants is any form of war.”

Attacks were also reported on candidate Peter Obi of the Labour Party after a rally in Katsina. There have been more than 400 cases of election-related violence across the country.

“Tighten your seat belts,” declared Abati. “This is bound to be a tough year for us, as Nigerians. The politicians will win or lose, but they don’t seem to care enough about us. This is our sad reality.”

‘BRUTAL KILLING’ OF PRODEMOCRACY ACTIVIST IN ESWATINI CONDEMNED (GIN)—Hundreds

of mourners around the world paid tribute to renowned human rights activist Thulani Masko, brazenly shot dead in front of his wife and two children at their home in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) a week ago.

His murder drew widespread condemnation, including from the United States, United Nations, European Union and political activists in Eswatini, a landlocked nation in southern Africa.

Kenya human rights defenders held a vigil in Nairobi in solidarity with the family of the assassinated lawyer and rights defender (#JusticeForThulani). Amnesty International called for a proper investigation. Maseko was reportedly shot twice through the window of his home, Amnesty said.

Maseko’s widow, Tanele Maseko, described the horror of sitting in their living room with her husband and their sons, ages 10 and 6, on a recent Saturday evening when he was shot, reported John Eligon of the New York Times

“That night felt like my chest had been opened and my heart ripped apart,” she said, her face covered by a black veil.

She explained that Maseko had refused to go into exile like other prodemocracy leaders, once telling her, “If they want me, they know where to find me, here at home.”

Maseko was born in Bhunya, in the western part of the country, the youngest of eight children. After obtaining a law degree from the University of Swaziland, he studied international law at the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.. He established his own law practice in Eswatini and organized legal groups focusing on democracy and human rights.

In 2014, Maseko and a prominent Swazi journalist were sentenced to two years in prison after publishing articles criticizing the country’s judiciary as lacking independence. They were released the next year after the Supreme Court overturned their convictions.