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Total cases: 9,058 (+103) Recovered: 6,940 (+62) | 76.6% Active cases: 2,006 Tests: 750,081 (+4,829) Deaths: 112 (+2) | 1.2% Test positivity rate: 2.1%
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (6th January 2021)

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Two of the most acute humanitarian crises in the world are currently taking place in the central Sahel and Lake Chad Basin regions. Africa’s Sahel region stretches across the continent from east to west—a semiarid belt that lies between the Saharan desert to north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. The region has historically experienced the most consistent and extreme droughts in Africa, which severely impact the livelihoods of people here, many of whom are semi-nomadic.

For the last decade, ethno-religious tensions, political instability, poverty, armed conflict, and natural disasters have plagued these two regions, resulting in food insecurity, mass displacement of people, and outbreaks of disease. Despite growing needs, the humanitarian response remains insufficient. In some areas, MSF is the only humanitarian agency present and the only health care provider.

The focus of international and local governments is on security and strategies to fight against armed groups, neglecting the humanitarian consequences. In both the central Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, non-state armed groups strengthen their influence by filling gaps in governance and providing basic services to neglected communities, sometimes including health care.

Armed conflict in the central Sahel
The central Sahel region spans Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The crisis there began in January 2012, when conflict erupted in northern Mali between security forces and armed groups fighting for independence. A coup d’état followed, essentially splitting Mali in two. By the end of the year, 340,000 people were displaced within the country and approximately 145,000 people, including many health workers, had sought refuge in neighboring countries.  

The crisis has since spread to northern Burkina Faso and western Niger, escalating to new levels in 2020. The three countries share a border region called the Liptako Gourma, which is affected by increasing violence perpetrated by state and non-state religious and political armed groups. These armed groups operate in an environment of growing competition over dwindling resources, exacerbated by climate change, high levels of poverty, rapid population growth, and limited access to basic services, like health care. Influential armed groups are taking advantage of existing inter-communal tensions and using targeted violence as part of their strategy to undermine people’s trust in local authorities. 

Communities are exposed to violent attacks, targeted killings, abductions, and harassment. Schools, health centers, and places of worship are frequently targeted. From January 2020 to December 2020, 5,989 people were killed in armed conflict involving armed groups in the region, according to the Armed Conflict Location &#038; Event Data Project (ACLED).

The rapidly deteriorating security situation has resulted in massive forced displacement. Across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, 1,930,482 people have been displaced within their countries and 851,338 have fled to other countries, as of November 2020.

As of October 15, 2020, more than 150 health centers in the region were closed or not fully functioning, leaving millions of people without access to adequate medical services. MSF is present in the region, supporting local hospitals with case referrals and emergency responses, and providing vaccination campaigns, mental health care, and mobile clinics. We are also distributing essential items and improving access to safe water and sanitation for displaced people who have lost everything.

Mass displacement in the Lake Chad region  
After five years of violence in northeastern Nigeria, in 2014 the conflict expanded further into the Lake Chad Basin—which includes northeastern Nigeria, Cameroon’s Far North region, western Chad, and southeastern Niger—creating one of the largest humanitarian crises in Africa today. Social inequality, poverty, poor infrastructure, and recurring drought also contribute to the terrible living conditions people are forced to endure. Food production and distribution have been disrupted, and MSF teams have witnessed widespread psychological trauma.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that almost three million people are displaced across the four countries, with more than two million people displaced in Nigeria alone, and almost 300,000 Nigerian refugees seeking safety in Chad, Cameroon, and Niger. More than 18,000 people have been killed in the conflict since January 2019, including more than 7,264 in Nigeria and 1,481 in Cameroon from January 1, 2020 to December 5, 2020, according to the ACLED.

MSF provides medical care, mental health care, social support, and essential relief items to people affected by conflict in the Diffa region in Niger, Borno State in Nigeria, and the Far North region of Cameroon.

Reaching people in need
The complex political and security situation in both regions makes it extremely challenging to access affected communities and ensure safe spaces to provide care. In Nigeria, according to the United Nations, 1.2 million people are living in areas that humanitarian organizations, including MSF, cannot access. The volatile security situation often prevents supplies—such as medicines and medical equipment—from being restocked, or emergency patients in rural communities from being referred to specialist medical facilities.

Armed groups have directly targeted health care workers. Many local medical professionals have fled to safer areas. On several occasions, MSF was forced to scale back outreach activities. For example, in August 2019, MSF had to suspend medical activities following a violent attack in Niger’s Diffa region.

In order to continue providing health care in areas that are extremely difficult to access, we have adapted how we deliver care. In Dounetza, Mali, for example, MSF has trained community health workers to treat common illness like malaria so they do not have to leave their villages. We also expanded the types of services we provide in mobile clinics as our teams do not know when they will be able to return or when the community will next be able to access quality health care. MSF also offers telemedicine consultations via a secure messaging platform in areas that medical specialists cannot access.

In a shrinking humanitarian space, MSF and other actors must develop new strategies to ensure access to safe and timely care for all communities, while also ensuring the safety of our staff.

A mental health crisis
MSF is witnessing a mental health crisis. Our teams are treating an increasing number of patients for psychological disorders and trauma-related mental health needs during our emergency interventions after attacks, including among children. There is a huge demand for psychological care but not enough providers. Most of the countries in the region do not have trained psychologists, psychiatrists, or psychiatric nurses, so MSF has incorporated mental health care into our projects across Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Nigeria.

COVID-19: Overshadowing emergencies
The already urgent humanitarian situation in the central Sahel and Lake Chad Basin worsened with the arrival of COVID-19. MSF adapted our programs in the region to keep them operating safely by implementing measures such as social distancing and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

MSF supported local COVID-19 responses in all six countries, but our focus remains on other emergencies, including seasonal peaks of malaria, mental health needs, malnutrition, and the increase in violence and displacement.

Our main concern is that the pandemic will drain resources and take attention away from other essential medical interventions. It is necessary to keep the spread of the virus under control, but that should not be done at the expense of other critical humanitarian initiatives. Since the beginning of the outbreak, MSF has been concerned about the effects of COVID-19 on routine vaccination activities and campaigns because of restrictions on movements and gatherings, and a lack of PPE. The fear of getting infected while visiting health centers also prevents people from accessing care.

It is estimated that COVID-19 has accounted for less than 1 percent of deaths in Africa in 2020, but it continues to be the focus of many emergency response plans in the region. This has hampered existing efforts to reduce transmission of other deadly diseases. Malaria, for example, is 10 times more deadly than COVID-19 in Africa. In 2019, the continent recorded 384,000 deaths due to malaria, according to the World Health Organization. In the Sahel region, the peak malaria period was more severe and has lasted longer than in previous years. The rainy season was longer and heavier than usual, and national malaria prevention activities—such as large-scale mosquito net distributions—were reduced or postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and the reallocation of vital resources.

In Cameroon, we have seen how allocating national health system staff and material resources towards COVID-19 has increased the risk of other outbreaks from diseases such as cholera and measles, which are endemic in Cameroon.

Continuity of care is crucial for communities and patients affected by other diseases, which means that the pandemic response has to be integrated into the regular health care system. COVID-19 continues to monopolize media attention around the world, but MSF is committed to raising awareness about these neglected crises.
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Responding to neglected crises in the Sahel

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Daily: Laboratory Test: 5,801 Severe Cases: 230 New Recovered: 161 New Deaths: 2 New Cases: 545

Total: Laboratory Test: 1,831,857 Active Cases: 11,845 Total Recovered: 112,974 Total Deaths: 1,965 Total Cases: 126,786
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Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 Update (6th January 2021)

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Three deadly attacks in the first week of 2021 mark the danger for children in the Sahel region, as a spike in violence has killed dozens of people, including at least 17 children, possibly more. Save the Children urges warring parties to ensure that children are protected from harm and that they can continue their schooling even if they had to flee violence.

At least 20 people were reportedly killed this weekend in Mali in a reported airstrike. In Northern Burkina Faso on Tuesday, 6 people were killed when armed fighters attacked a village. 100 people were killed in Niger on Saturday, including at least 17 children in two western villages in the country, after an attack by armed groups.

Amavi Akpamagbo, Country Director for Save the Children in Mali said:

“In at least two of these attacks, children were reportedly killed. But even if children are not directly harmed by the violence, they are losing their parents, their family members, their teachers. They are driven from their homes and schools; they have to leave friends behind. All these things have a deep and possibly long lasting impact on children.

“We strongly condemn the killing of children in the on-going conflict in the Sahel region. Governments and armed groups have an obligation to ensure that children, their families and their communities are properly protected from this ongoing threat. As well as being forgotten among victims at times, children do not always benefit from adequate psychosocial support to enable them to continue a normal life in their communities.

“Children living in the Sahel region who are impacted by the armed conflict are in dire need of protection and measures must be taken to ensure their safety, their access to education and other basic needs like food, clean water and shelter. We also urge the governments and donors in the regions to fully fund the protection of children, ensuring they and their families have access to mental health support.”

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Deadly start of 2021 for children in Sahel, Save the Children calls for their protection

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Results of COVID-19 tests done on 05 January 2021 confirm 295 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 36,702. 

4 COVID-19 deaths. The total COVID-19 deaths are 294.
The breakdown of the new cases are:
294 contacts and alerts: Kampala (189) Wakiso (38) Manafwa (8) Kabale (9) Luwero (6) Iganga (5) Mbarara (5) Bugiri (4) Busia (4) Kisoro (2) Amuru (10) Mbale (2) Mukono (2) Kaliro (2) Bugiri (2) Wakiso (2) Kiryandongo (2) Soroti (2) Pader (2) 1 Truck Driver from Elegu.
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Coronavirus – Uganda: COVID-19 Update (5th January 2021)

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Following major conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, over 60,000 refugees have fled over the border to Eastern Sudan; with thousands having arrived over the weekend. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is working with the Sudanese authorities to roll out emergency services to meet additional needs in both Um Rakuba Camp and the newly established Tenetba camp where 265 tents have been erected.

Carolyne Kanaiza, IRC East Sudan Emergency Response Director said, 

“The needs are extremely high and the logistics of transferring refugees to the camps because of the distance from the border plus inadequate provisions has slowed delivery of aid to those in need. We are working in Um Rakuba Camp as well as in Tenetba camp where 20,000 refugees will be relocated due to overcrowding in Um Rakuba. Of most concern; we are seeing extremely high numbers of unaccompanied children as compared to most crises; almost half the number of refugees are children. Due to the high risk of exploitation and abuse of children, especially those that have been separated from their families whilst fleeing the conflict, the IRC is implementing a protection program which will include psychological support for children that are often found to be severely traumatised.”

“As women, girls and children are more adversely affected by conflict and disaster, we have been engaging with female refugees to identify needs and will be providing women Protection services that includes psychological support and gender-based violence services whilst consultatively working with the community to protect the most vulnerable from exploitation and abuse. We will also be distributing essential items such as hygiene kits and menstrual management kits.”

“Our assessment shows a dire need for proper sanitation to avert diseases but also a mitigation measure for COVID-19. Our water and sanitation response will include the construction of 105 emergency latrines and 92 shared bathing spaces with proper waste management systems. We will also be distributing emergency cash so people can decide for themselves what they need most.”

Ethiopia’s Tigray region has been experiencing an intense bout of conflict since early November which has forced over 60,000 refugees to seek refuge in Eastern Sudan. The IRC calls on all parties to the conflict in Ethiopia to agree to an immediate ceasefire and ensure civilians, including refugees and aid workers, are protected and able to access and deliver life saving services.
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As thousands more fleeing conflict in Ethiopia arrive in Eastern Sudan, the IRC scales up emergency response to protect women and children

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The international medical humanitarian organization, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), treated eight people seriously injured in attacks on the villages of Bounty and Kikara, central Mali, on January 3. The patients were treated at the MSF-supported Douentza referral health center and had gunshot wounds and wounds from explosions.

&#8220;The region of central Mali has become the deadliest in the country for civilians,&#8221; said Juan Carlos Cano, country representative for Mali. &#8220;This latest [attack] is further complicating the already extremely limited access that thousands of Malians have to essential medical care.”
MSF sent two vehicles to transport the injured to the Douentza referral health center after local residents informed the team that there were people in need of urgent medical care.
Violence in central Mali has increased in both severity and frequency over the last two years. People are trapped by fighting between armed groups, self-defense groups, and national and international security forces. Armed groups also take avantage of existing inter-communal tensions and use inter-communal violence as part of their strategy to undermine people’s trust in local authorities.
As a result, communities are constantly exposed to violent attacks, targeted killings, abductions, and harassment. Schools, health centers, and places of worship are frequently targeted. MSF works in the region supporting the health system and providing community health care to people living in remote areas.
Since 2017, MSF has worked in Douentza referral health center supporting emergency care, pediatrics, neonatology, emergency surgery, and internal medicine. MSF also refers patients from the community health centers to the referral health center in Douentza and transfers the most complicated cases to the hospital in Sévaré. MSF supports three community health centers in the districts of Boni, Hombori, and Mondoro.
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MSF treats people injured in bombings in Bounty and Kikara, central Mali

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Blue Prism (AIM: PRSM) (http://investors.BluePrism.com) today announced a new offering of Blue Prism intelligent automation software on Microsoft’s AppSource and Azure Marketplaces. The move enhances access for both Blue Prism and Microsoft customers, and underwrites Blue Prism’s position as the intelligent automation and robotic process automation (RPA) leader in the cloud.

Blue Prism customers already have access to a scalable, enterprise-ready platform that combines robotic automation and smart workflows with technologies like machine learning, advanced analytics, natural language processing, process mining, and cognitive capabilities and this offering allows Blue Prism robots greater access to Microsoft Azure Apps too, with access to over 175 accelerators for Microsoft products within Blue Prism’s Digital Exchange.

The new Bring Your Own License (BYOL) offering for Azure Marketplace and AppSource is pre-loaded with select Azure Cognitive Services – including Azure Text Analytics, Azure Form Recognizer and Azure Computer Vision – all of which customers can license directly through Microsoft. This combines with Blue Prism Digital Exchange (bit.ly/3hPpe1r) where users can access more than 175 accelerators for Microsoft products to further enhance their enterprise automations.

“This combination of Blue Prism and Azure Cognitive Services gives our customers a greater choice with AI-enabled, self-service experience that is provisioned via Microsoft Azure,” says Chief Partner Strategy Officer at Blue Prism, Linda Dotts. “Advanced intelligent automation in the cloud provides multiple advantages for our customers, most notably the ability to instantly scale to meet enterprise demands.”

Blue Prism accelerators now exists for Microsoft Power Platform (bit.ly/3rYSHe1), Microsoft’s Power Automate gallery, Microsoft’s Healthcare Cloud; with Form Recognizer (bit.ly/2KZ96Pj), Text Analytics and Azure Computer Vision.

It also adds to the company’s growing portfolio of cloud offerings (bit.ly/2Lq0ocu), which include its Blue Prism Cloud SaaS platform (bit.ly/3nkfTjp), and expands a cloud strategy (bit.ly/3hPuVN5) that not only centres on making intelligent automation more accessible, but that also aligns with customer desires for interoperability, expanded automation solutions, consumable and extensible artificial intelligence, and a seamless intelligent automation journey.

“Customers can embrace the transformative potential of intelligent automation and drive impactful change within their organisations, and this is now fully supported by Microsoft,” says CEO and Executive Chairman of Blue Prism, Jason Kingdon, “We are offering customers more flexible cloud deployment options delivering on Blue Prism’s vision of giving customers end-to-end automation solutions that cover the broadest range of IT environments, including on-premises, hybrid, public cloud, and SaaS.

Find out more Find out (bit.ly/3nhy1uh) about the Blue Prism and Microsoft relationship and how we work together. Explore Blue Prism offerings on Azure Marketplace (bit.ly/3929xQG) and start automating today.
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Media Contact: Paul Taylor Blue Prism paul.taylor@blueprism.com

About Blue Prism: Blue Prism (www.BluePrism.com) is the global leader in intelligent automation for the enterprise, transforming the way work is done. At Blue Prism, we have users in over 170 countries in more than 2,000 businesses, including Fortune 500 and public sector organisations, that are creating value with new ways of working, unlocking efficiencies, and returning millions of hours of work back into their businesses. Our digital workforce is smart, secure, scalable and accessible to all; freeing up humans to re-imagine work. Blue Prism’s vision is to provide a digital workforce for every enterprise. To learn more visit www.BluePrism.com and follow us on Twitter @blue_prism (bit.ly/3olGm1w) and on LinkedIn (bit.ly/2MwmRVO).

© 2020 Blue Prism Limited. “Blue Prism”, the “Blue Prism” logo and Prism device are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Blue Prism Limited and its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Blue Prism accelerates intelligent automation for cloud users on Microsoft Azure

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St. Regis Hotels &#038; Resorts, part of Marriott International (www.Marriott.com), today announced the highly-anticipated opening of The St. Regis Cairo. Rising tall on the banks of the River Nile, The St. Regis Cairo is an illustrious icon weaving a powerful story of luxury in the region. Located at the North end of the Corniche, in the heart of Egypt’s bustling metropolis, the 39-story hotel offers easy access to the magnificent monuments of a city steeped in history.

To celebrate the opening, The St. Regis Cairo hosted a special ceremony which was attended by H.E. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, Minister of Finance for Qatar, Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman of Qatari Diar, Eng. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, CEO of Qatari Diar, Steven Mnuchin, United States Secretary of the Treasury, Dr. Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance, Satya Anand, President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, and other VIP’s.

“Egypt has historically been one of our key markets and strategically significant to our growth in the region,” said Satya Anand, President for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Cairo is a storied destination that has long mesmerized the global traveler with its incredible energy offering a vibrant mix of history, culture, tradition and glamour. The St. Regis Cairo is an exciting addition to our fast-growing brand portfolio and is set to elevate Cairo’s luxury hospitality landscape with its remarkable design, uncompromising service, and exceptional culinary venues.”

Eng. Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, CEO of Qatari Diar commented, “We are delighted to strengthen our global portfolio of hospitality developments with the opening of The St. Regis Cairo. This luxury landmark will introduce higher standards of hospitality to this beautiful destination with its unparalleled levels of luxury and exceptional service – both of which the iconic St. Regis brand is renowned for.”

Modern Egyptian Grandeur With its striking architecture, created by renowned architect Michael Graves, The St. Regis Cairo firmly establishes itself as a pivotal landmark in the city and beyond, carefully balancing opulence with refinement and elegance to evoke a profound sense of grandeur. Uncompromising in its decadence, the hotel is an exquisite reflection of a passionate vision that conscientiously draws on the city’s influential and storied past while confidently introducing its vibrant future.

Graceful geometric lines flow throughout the interiors, creating a repeated structural motif that quietly references the heritage of the region. Dark wood and rich textures combine with intricate embroidery, bejeweled paneling, bronze and wood carvings embellished with flashes of shimmering gold, mother of pearl inlays and imposing crystal chandeliers creating a dramatic Egyptian aesthetic with modern execution. A striking mural entitled “The Pink Sun” graces The St. Regis Bar.  Staunchly modern in its execution, the mural references ancient Egypt and the birth of a modern civilization.  

The hotel’s approach to design pays particular homage to the hundreds of craftspeople who dedicated their time and handiwork to perfecting each and every detail offering a distinctly modern vision that immerses guests in moments that are simply awe-inspiring.

Opulent Accommodation The St. Regis Cairo boasts of 286 lavishly appointed rooms and suites and 80 luxurious apartments, that offer unmatched indulgence. Three expansive Royal Suites define opulence, with plush interiors featuring a private fitness room, sauna and floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic Nile views. All guestrooms and suites enjoy the signature St. Regis Butler service, one of the most visible representations of the brand’s famed level of anticipatory service and personal attention.

Exquisite Culinary Experiences   The hotel is an engaging lifestyle destination with refined taste making offered at a diversified selection of restaurants, bars and lounges La Zisa is a modern and relaxed dining space that offers authentic Southern Italian cuisine where guests can enjoy their dining experience overlooking bright views of the Nile. Tianma takes you on a journey to Singapore and is a melting pot of exquisite flavors from China, India and Southeast Asia. The renowned J&#038;G Steakhouse offers a sophisticated collection of steakhouse favorites, premium meat cuts and fish sourced from around the world; expertly prepared and grilled to perfection. The poolside restaurant and bar, Sirocco, is the ideal place to enjoy a cocktail with a selection of Mediterranean and Egyptian dishes. For urban and chic lounge lovers, Envy is an enchanting and glamorous venue with bejeweled décor for a special night out.

The Library, embellished with artefacts, rich furnishings and books, offers a quiet corner for guests to seek a moment’s respite. The Water Garden, with its authentic Egyptian interiors, is poised to become a gathering place for both global luminaries and the local social vanguards be it for the signature Afternoon Tea or the Evening Ritual. The iconic St. Regis Bar is inspired by the King Cole Bar at the brand’s flagship in New York, where the world-renowned Bloody Mary cocktail was born in 1934. It features an exclusive selection of the world’s finest champagnes, rare vintage wines, hand-crafted cocktails, and the hotel’s own rendition of the signature St. Regis Bloody Mary, infused with exotic taste and fragrance of the Hibiscus flower.

Rejuvenation for the Body and Soul Spanning more than 1000 square meters, the St. Regis brand’s signature Iridium® Spa enables guests to indulge in a range of transformative treatments and bespoke signature experiences in a tranquil and inviting environment. Thermal therapy areas have been carefully designed for stimulating sensory experiences with a special range of unique facilities including sauna, steam, ice room, shock shower, adventure shower and a vitality pool. The St. Regis Cairo also features a well-equipped Athletic Club and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

The Address for Bespoke events The Astor Ballroom, with its curved, grand staircases that surround a strikingly imposing Swarovski chandelier provides a dramatic backdrop for weddings and celebrations. With a vaulted three-story high ceiling, the 990 square meter Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 1000 guests. The hotel also houses 10 flexible and elegant meeting venues with state-of-the-art technology.

With magnificent corridors, elegant venues and refined taste making, the hotel is set to play host to an array of important social moments and signature rituals. Bespoke and personalized services are delivered with a traditional finesse that embodies the spirit of both the location and the St. Regis brand. By paying particular attention to how it blends together these spaces, St. Regis Cairo is able to achieve a natural balance of both grand and intimate, yet bespoke moments for guests.

For more information, visit www.TheStRegisCairo.com.
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About St. Regis Hotels &#038; Resorts: Combining classic sophistication with a modern sensibility, St. Regis Hotels &#038; Resorts (www.St-Regis.Marriott.com), part of Marriott International, Inc., is committed to delivering exceptional experiences at 45 luxury hotels and resorts in the best addresses around the world. Since the opening of the first St. Regis hotel in New York City over a century ago by John Jacob Astor IV, the brand has remained committed to an uncompromising level of bespoke and anticipatory service for all of its guests, delivered flawlessly by signature St. Regis Butler Service. For more information and new openings, visit www.StRegis.com or follow Twitter (www.bit.ly/2XdUOwm), Instagram (www.bit.ly/3s2DhFY) and Facebook (www.bit.ly/38jyaJnSt). Regis is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments (www.bit.ly/2KYOwyx) and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.Marriott.com.

About Marriott International: Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,500 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 132 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.Marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.MarriottNewsCenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook (www.bit.ly/393f75u) and @MarriottIntl on Twitter (www.bit.ly/3nigsdB) and Instagram (www.bit.ly/35efrx9).
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St. Regis Hotels Heralds a New Beacon of Luxury on the Nile With the Opening of The St. Regis Cairo

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By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org)

For decades, many of Africa’s oil- and gas-producing states followed a predictable pattern. They treated their oil and gas primarily as raw materials that could be sold abroad for a quick profit, rather than as a means of supporting efforts to make more lasting changes in the economy of the nation as a whole.

This pattern has had unfortunate consequences. It discouraged investment in local capacity, and it fostered the development of arrangements under which most residents of the producing states could not see how the large amounts of money earned from oil and gas exports were improving their lives. In other words, it allowed most hydrocarbon revenues to flow back to the home offices of international oil companies (IOCs) or to go to national oil companies (NOCs) that transferred funds to local governments — and, in many cases, to individual government officials, along with their friends and family members.

Africans already know that focusing on oil exports doesn’t yield the best results. They already know that it ignores the need for long-term investment and fosters corruption.

But corruption isn’t the only issue. Africans also know that the old pattern of focusing on commodity exports doesn’t do enough to put their economies on track for long-term growth and keep them there.

They know, in other words, that the old habits don’t create jobs.

At least, maybe they don’t create large numbers of jobs. Or maybe they don’t create the kind of jobs that last long enough or have enough impact to lead to real change.

And why should it be that way? Africa’s oil and gas resources have the potential to accomplish so much good for the continent’s people – and that includes creating training and job opportunities across multiple sectors, which is one of the keys to sustainable economic growth. This can be accomplished by strategically harnessing oil and gas to monetize value chains and diversify economies. And to do that, we need to create an environment that enables new businesses to launch and thrive.

As the Chamber’s 2021 Africa Energy Outlook says, “Using the stimulus afforded by the natural resources to stimulate jobs in other economic sectors with higher labor intensity is where a significant amount of jobs can be created.”

So it’s time to broaden our view of Africa’s oil and gas resources. Instead of treating them only as a revenue source, we must approach them as a path towards a very important goal: empowering Africans to improve their own lives.

Local Content for Local Jobs

Africans understand the necessity of breaking free of old patterns, and they’ve tried to address the challenge with policy changes. In Angola’s case, they have sought to thwart old oil habits of the past by embarking on a fundamental reform of how the sector works. This entailed taking away regulatory powers for the sector from the national oil company Sonangol and giving those to the newly created National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG). The restructuring of the sector, that resulted in the creation of the ANPG and the reorientation of Sonangol, is arguably one of the greatest achievements of H.E. Diamantino Pedro Azevedo, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum who was brought in to reform the sector. This enabled Sonangol to embark on its own restructuring, at the core of which is the sale of non-core assets and a withdrawal of what Sonangol is expected to do; be a competent partner to foreign operators, and cost efficiently run its own operations. These changes, though very recent, have already stated bearing fruits. The newly created agency, under the chairmanship of a recognized industry expert Paulino Jeronimo, has moved swiftly, to usher in the implementation of new local content guidelines. They have also refocused their efforts on making new acreage in Angola attractive for investment, in an effort to stop the expected decline in output, mid to long-term.

In more general terms, though, they’ve also introduced policy initiatives that aim to create jobs. In Angola, the government recently rolled out a new legal regime for local content requirements after two years of concertation with the various stakeholders.

President João Lourenço, who introduced the new rules last month, has made the job-creation angle clear. He has described Presidential Decree 271/20 as a way to promote Angolan commercial entities’ participation in the development of the oil and gas sector. He has said he hopes the new measure will encourage IOCs to obtain goods and services (including raw materials) from local providers and to replace foreign experts with local workers.

Presidential Decree 271/20 also stresses the Angolan government’s desire to strengthen “national entrepreneurship.” It states that foreign technical assistance and management contracts must include provisions for the establishment of detailed training and professional development programs and the transfer of expertise and technology.

Training Across Sectors

This all sounds like a good idea — and a plan for concrete action as well. Presidential Decree 271/20 doesn’t just talk about increasing local content; it also replaces all the previous local content measures approved between 2003 and 2009. It offers a more detailed description of the factors that qualify an entity as an Angolan company and outlines the procedures that will allow the government to keep an up-to-date list of the parties that are pre-qualified to bid for contracts with IOCs

But does it really go far enough?

In some ways, it does. And by that, I mean that I’m glad to see that the decree talks about the need to make sure that Angolan workers have access to detailed, effective, and sophisticated training programs— and about the need to include provisions for such training in foreign management and technical assistance contracts.

In other ways, though, I’d like President Lourenço and his government to go further. I’d like them to think about exactly what kind of training might serve Angolans best. For example, what if they decided to prioritize training in information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) skills? Might they find that workers who learn how to operate the control systems used to maximize the efficiency of, say, gas pipelines also turn out to have the skills needed to operate similar equipment in manufacturing plants? And might such workers turn out to have something even more useful, such as the skills needed to set up and promote a new tech hub that could serve as another new source of jobs?

A More Expansive View of Oil and Gas

I also think there’s room for Angola to take a more expansive view of oil and gas. That is, I think the government ought to look further down the value chain so that its new policies don’t emphasize conventional upstream, midstream, and downstream operations (and the ways that Angolan companies can support them) while overlooking other opportunities. Oil and gas aren’t just raw materials to be exported. They can also serve as feedstock for the production of petrochemicals, fertilizers, and other value-added goods. They can be used to power energy-intensive industrial facilities such as manufacturing complexes. They can also fuel power plants that increase domestic electricity supplies to such an extent that life gets better for residential and business customers alike.

In turn, all of these new enterprises will have to hire people. They will need construction workers to build their physical plants, skilled and unskilled workers to keep their facilities running, IT and OT experts to operate and maintain the digital systems that help maximize efficiency, contractors to provide services such as food and transportation, and so on. In short, they will create jobs — and in so doing, they will show that oil and gas amount to something more than exportable raw materials.

Furthermore, if Angola can pull this feat off — if it can use its new policies to lay a foundation for job creation that both includes and transcends oil and gas — it will be in a position to show other countries in Africa how to do the same thing. It will be able to set an example capable of inspiring Africans who want to see the old patterns of hydrocarbon development broken.

Global impact and market stability
Finally, it is important to acknowledge the role that Angola and its current Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Pedro Azevedo is playing as president of the conference of ministers of OPEC. Without market stability and a realistic price environment for crude globally, all potential benefits from the industry in Angola will be short-lived. OPEC Plus’s January 5th 2021 agreement to allow some of its members to cautiously increase production in February and March in a coordinated manner, is also due to Diamantino’s tact and experience. It is even more encouraging for the global oil markets, that Saudi Arabia is backing the current OPEC Plus deal with additional cuts of its own. This is good for Angola’s oil sector and Angolan jobs.

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NJ Ayuk is Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, CEO of Centurion Law Group, and the author of several books about the oil and gas industry in Africa, including Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals.
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Angolan Legal Reform Shows How Africa Can Use Oil and Gas as a Springboard Towards Job Creation — But Only if It Looks Beyond the Obvious Options (By NJ Ayuk)

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Africa Oil &#038; Power (www.AfricaOilAndPower.com) will host Francophone African government delegations and European financiers at the first AOP Investor Forum to be held in Paris; the event is entirely dedicated to getting major commitments committed and signed between European investors and African companies and governments; the event will promote continued synergy between petroleum and renewables actors and will drive a new positive narrative aiming to balance African development needs, climate goals and economic growth in Africa.

African energy deals are on the table at the AOP Investor Forum: Paris 2021 on June 16-18. Africa Oil &#038; Power, the continent’s leading platform for investment in energy, will hold a two day event where European investors are invited to participate in deals that will drive Africa’s growth post-COVID.

Participants in the forum will include:
 	Senegal – home to West African renewables and gas megaprojects, and recipient of a record $983 million in FDI in 2019. 	Côte d’Ivoire – the leading economy in Francophone West Africa, looking to oil and gas for further growth. 	Niger – with a new government in place and a pipeline planned to Benin, Niger is emerging as a Sahelian energy hub. 	Mozambique – Africa’s future natural gas megaproducer, with the $20 billion Mozambique LNG project FID approved and projects moving ahead fast. 	Nigeria – opportunities are available for European investors to partner with local firms and build critical energy infrastructure in the continent’s largest market. 	Angola – A reformed sector and political will are driving Angola’s post-COVID recovery. Angola is home to Africa’s largest offshore projects and is holding a series of licensing rounds. 	Equatorial Guinea – the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons seeks investors for its ambitious gas megahub and continued gas development projects. 	Gabon – the Central African oil producer has reformed its sector in recent years, with a new petroleum code in 2019 and a licensing round ongoing from 2018 to 2020. 	Uganda – likely to become East Africa’s next oil producer, Uganda’s Lake Albert region has attracted great attention. The country will complete its national elections in January. 	South Sudan – celebrating a decade of independence this year, South Sudan has invested in power projects and is open to new entrants in renewables and petroleum. A licensing round is set to be held soon. 	Ghana – a stable environment and strong track record will promote interest in Ghana’s electricity, gas-to-power and oil projects in 2021. 

“Energy, in all its forms including oil and gas, is the cornerstone of Africa’s re-emergence from COVID. We believe that now is the time for African companies and governments to look again at their European partnerships and to push forward with deals that power their economies,” said AOP’s Managing Director Renée Montez-Avinir.

“The energy transition, and the future funding of African oil and gas projects, plus Europe’s role in African investment going forward, will be at the heart of our discussions at the Paris investor forum. Oil and gas will continue to play an important part in Africa’s energy mix and economic expansion,” she continued.

Africa Oil &#038; Power looks forward to welcoming major international oil companies, institutional investors and private equity firms to take part in the forum. AOP will make details of projects and deals available to its network in advance of the conference, and expects multiple agreements to be signed at the event itself. Join Africa’s and Europe’s leading investors at the AOP Investor Forum: Paris 2021 on June 16-18 and visit www.AfricaOilAndPower.com to find further updates.

Africa Oil &#038; Power invites finance institutions, E&#038;P firms, power companies and service providers to express their interest in taking part in the forum, and in meeting the government delegations of the abovementioned countries, by getting in contact with João Gaspar Marques, International Conference Director, at joao@africaoilandpower.com
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Dealmakers Gather in Paris: Africa Oil & Power (AOP) brings Euro Finance and African Power and Exploration & Production (E&P) Deals to Table in June 2021

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On 17 December 2020, a loan agreement between the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and the Development Bank of Germany (KfW) had been signed. KfW provides refinancing for DBN’s non-agricultural small business loan scheme which forms an integral part of Ministry of Finance “Economic Stimulus and Relief Package to Mitigate the Impact of COVID-19”.

The interest-reduced loan amounts to approx. N$455 million (or 25 million EUR). DBN will provide the actual loans to non-agricultural SMEs that have experienced significant losses of income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The relief measure is aimed at supporting cash flows and continued economic productive activities. The loans can also be used for investing into new business areas that help strengthening resilience of companies for future shocks. The loan is backed by the government guarantee, underscoring the resolve of the Government of the Republic of Namibia to promote access to affordable finance for SMEs, especially during these unprecedented times. “The extension of this loan facility comes as a good shot in the arm for the SME sector at this point in time. It is complementary to the suite of support packages extended to the SME sector as the engine of economic recovery, growth, jobs and wealth creation”, stated Mr Ipumbu Shiimi, Minister of Finance.
The DBN forecasts that the funding offers much sought financial relief to around 200 SMEs. The DBN will customize the loans based on individual enterprise needs. Industries such as tourism, hospitality, and transport and logistics, having experienced the largest loss of revenue due to lock-down related effects nationally, regionally and globally will be prioritized.
The highly valued support will contribute to preserving continuity of SME business activities and build a foundation for recovery, said CEO of DBN, Martin Inkumbi. Although the Bank will, through its normal SME lending window give attention to startups, the overwhelming priority for this Covid-19 relief measure loans will be to preserve business continuity and hopefully preserve jobs.
“We are proud to able to support the Namibian economy with affordable access to credit for businesses in Namibia affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and by this, to support employment and income opportunities during and after the Corona crisis&#8221;, said Barbara Pirich, director of the KfW office Windhoek in Namibia at the signing ceremony.
Beyond its emergency support character, the credit line complements the existing German-Namibian development cooperation in the focal area of sustainable economic development and contributes to the promotion of broad-based economic growth supported by the private sector, highlighted Mrs. Sauer, Counsellor for development cooperation at the German Embassy
The new relief programme is part of the German financial cooperation and builds on COVID-19 related support provided via technical cooperation implemented by GIZ in partnership with the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade and Ministry of Finance which targets Start-Up Businesses as well as SMEs.
“Start-up Namibia”, for example has disbursed approx. 600 Startup Survival Grants (worth N$15 000.00 each) to formally registered startups not older than five years. While the GIZ-programme “Promotion of Business Advisory and Transformation Services” is offering a grant scheme “Pitching for Recovery P4R)” in which micro enterprises in all 14 regions have the opportunity to receive financial support and coaching for their ideas on how to recover their businesses. In a close cooperation with between GIZ and the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), selected SMEs and companies from the tourism sector are also offered a supportive restructuring of their loans.
Background
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, Germany has so far provided N$850 million to Namibian partners to fight the pandemic and to mitigate the respective challenges on livelihoods and businesses in Namibia. Beyond approx.. N$530 million that have been mobilized to support SMEs and Start-ups to support their business continuity and recovery, N$250 million was mobilized to support Namibia in mitigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in the conservation and tourism sector. This builds on more than N$70 million that have been dedicated to various COVID-19 related immediate support measures in ongoing programs, e. health and prevention measures in informal settlements and markets or public transport
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Germany supports the Namibian Government in its endeavor to ensure business continuity and economic revival of Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

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Total cases: 8955 (+107) Recovered: 6878 (+62) &#8211; 76.8% Active cases: 1967 Tests: 745,252 (+4,216) Deaths: 110 (+5) 1.2% Test positivity rate: 2.5%
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (5th January 2021)

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New Cases: 37 Total Confirmed: 2,724 Deaths: 76 Recovered: 1,924 Total in quarantine: 453 Discharged from quarantine: 12,502

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Coronavirus – Sierra Leone: COVID-19 update (5 January 2021)

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New cases: 175 Total active cases: 948 Lost to follow-up: 134 (26 new) Total number of tests conducted: 88,638 (487 new) Total confirmed cases: 7110 Total recovered: 5,753 (35 new) Outcome under investigation: 76 Total deaths: 199 (3 new)
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Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (05 January 2021)

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Cumulative cases: 22,645 Total recoveries: 19,526 COVID-19 deaths: 140 COVID-19 associated deaths: 259 Total deaths: 412 Active cases: 2,707
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Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (05 January 2021)

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Active cases: 10 New cases: 6 New tests: 82 Total confirmed: 3,812 Recovered: 3,677 (+0) Deaths: 125 (+0)
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