REFLECTION

The Theatre of Global Migration: A Window into the African Expirience

Migration is, arguably, one of the most debated issues in Europe presently. Conferences and seminars are held to improve understanding of the phenomenon and how it has affected Europe in the last couple of decades. The European Union (EU) holds meetings with African leaders to develop common strategies on how to reduce the influx of migrants across the Mediterranean Sea, and the desire to exercise greater control of migration is said to be one of the reasons for the historic and stormy pull out of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU. It is still too early to map the impacts and implications of the Brexit for migration into the UK and the rest of Europe but it will be monumental. However, what is often forgotten in all this is that migration is part of the history of the whole of humanity, not just Europe.  Pope Francis underlines that the Bible as a whole recounts the history of a humanity on the move. Indeed, mobility is part of our human nature. Human history is made up of countless migrations… This is true both of individuals and of communities.  Read more

FROM THE AEFJN DESK

Turmoil in the EPA Negotiations 

The 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held in Nairobi (Kenya) in December 2015. It was the first time the Ministerial Conference had met in an African country. This fact had raised many expectations among Least Developed Countries (LDC). However, the expectation fell into disillusion because of the lack of scope of the final resolution, the so-called “Nairobi Package". Despite few agreements being reached during the MC10, this meeting allowed discussion of major issues such as the search for consensus on the continuation of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) as well as new guidelines for determining ‘Rules of Origin’ and LDC issues, the ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement and the adoption of the Information Technology Agreement. It could be said that the issues of the “Nairobi Package” had limited relevance for African countries.  Read more

Illegal Fishing: Extracting wealth from West-African waters

West Africa has become a hotspot for large commercial vessels from across the world: vessels from China, Europe, Russia and Korea all target African waters. However, African coastal states have benefited meagerly from the fishing activities in their waters, as 40% or more of the catches goes unreported. This accelerates the degradation of maritime environments and the depletion of fishing stocks, threatening local fishing economy. The problem of overfishing in western Africa the problem is severe due to the high rates of extraction of several species for commercial use, which has brought them on the brink of extinction as a consequence. The main culprit is illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). A lack of strong international governance is at the hearth of this problem. Read more

AFRICA

Gender Equality in Nigeria; Inheritance

Inheritance in Nigeria is complex. With culture being fundamental to Nigerian society, present at the grassroots and in national discourse and institutions, Nigeria’s hampering of gender empowerment perhaps derives from a rejection of western ideals, as well as being deep rooted in a harmonising society and so needing to remain unchanged. Recently Nigeria booted out the gender and equalities opportunity bill presented by Senator Abiodun Olujimi, leading others to question why a bill advocating basic human rights for women has no place in an up and coming global powerhouse. At present, like most countries today, Nigeria is absorbed by gender inequality; whilst the latter is a concept of heated controversy globally and prominent in Nigeria’s constitutional and social framework, this article aims to provide insight into male inheritance and gender mainstreaming against the backdrop of a complex paradox: customs versus universal legislation.  Read more

VOICES FROM THE NETWORK

Edisa, the Cameroon Antenna's Initiative to counter fake Medicines 

The Cameroon AEFJN antenna has sent us its first bulletin which aims to inform and motivate the public about action to improve social justice. The Belgian antenna is delighted to see that they are focussing on the same two issues as Cameroon: large-scale land grabbing and the battle against fake medicines.  Read more

New Intern at the Secretariat

For the month of July, AEFJN welcomed a new intern. Ignacio Machuca was born in Seville in 1997 and is currently studying journalism at the University of Seville. He is using his experience in communications and technology at the Secretariat, helping the team generally and taking a special interest in trade and international relations.  Read more

ADVOCACY

Letter to the Members of the European Parliament

The European Commission has proposed delegated acts that would see preferential market access withdrawn from 6 African countries: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. The Secretariat has contact with members of the International Trade (INTA) group at the European Parliament and has sent personal letters asking them to reject these proposals as they cannot be justified and would unnecessarily cause economic damage to developing countries in Africa. Read more

VIDEOS

OXFAM on tax: Byanyima argues for states co-operation in tax

Video Tax Evasion in Nigeria (2 min)

How does offshore finance work ?

Interactive game on offshore finance.

L'Afrique, victime de la fuite des capitaux illicites

Africa victim of illicit financial flows. (3 min)