The 23rd COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government and the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs took place in Bujumbura, Burundi, with President Ramkalawan represented by Ambassador Claude Morel. The theme of the Summit was “Accelerating Regional Integration through the Development of Regional Value Chains in Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Mining, and Tourism,” and saw the handover of the chairmanship of the COMESA Authority from Zambia to Burundi. Ambassador Morel highlighted security challenges facing island states during the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and announced that the next Summit will be held in Kenya in 2025.
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World Bank U-turn ends loan ban to Uganda over gay rights
The World Bank has lifted a two-year ban on loans to Uganda, imposed after the country enacted severe anti-LGBTQ legislation, including potential death sentences for certain same-sex acts. Despite reports of increased violence and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals following the law's passage, the World Bank is optimistic about implementing funding without harming marginalized communities, focusing on social protection and education projects. Critics argue that the law distracts from pressing issues like unemployment and that the...
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