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Senegal Crisis: Opposition Criticizes Sonko Government’s Failures

by Chief editor of world-today-news.com
written by Chief editor of world-today-news.com




<a href="https://www.world-today-news.com/the-bad-fan-alludes-to-wearing-the-france-shirt-in-the-match-against-morocco/" title="The "bad fan" alludes to wearing the France shirt in the match against Morocco">Senegal</a>‘s Crisis: Deputy Warns of ‘Darkest Moments’ Amidst Economic and Political Failures

Senegal Faces ‘Darkest Moments’ Amidst Political and Economic Turmoil, Says Deputy

By World Today News Staff | May 15, 2024

Senegal is navigating what Deputy Abdou Mmbow describes as “the darkest moments in its history.” He asserts that a populist sect has seized power with the intent of establishing a dictatorship and silencing critical voices.This administration, in power for just over a year, is facing accusations of profound failure across key sectors.

Mmbow, speaking at a gathering of the Alliance for the Republic (APR) diaspora in France, detailed the dire state of the nation. He stated that health services are in disarray, education has been overlooked, and the economy is effectively paralyzed. The deputy’s remarks highlight meaningful concerns about the current government’s capacity to address the country’s pressing issues.

The deputy further criticized the leadership of the Diomaye-Sonko tandem, labeling their approach as “deep amateurism.” He believes this team, which he lik

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Sport

Hampton University Volleyball Stars Represent Team HBCU in Botswana

by Alex Carter - Sports Editor
written by Alex Carter - Sports Editor

Two promising freshmen from Hampton University’s volleyball programme, Taylor Shumate and Morgan Warren, recently had the distinct honor of representing Team HBCU at the Ditsala International cup in Gaborone, Botswana.This international competition, which took place from May 29 too June 2, brought together teams from various countries.

Shumate, hailing from Austin, Texas, and Warren, a native of Durham, North Carolina, were among a select group of HBCU student-athletes chosen for this prestigious event. Team HBCU competed against both collegiate teams from the United States and national teams from Southern Africa, ultimately achieving an undefeated record. Their notable performance culminated in winning the tournament championship after defeating a formidable team sponsored by Bring It Promotions (BIP).

Shumate shared her enthusiasm for the experience,describing it as “amazing” and highlighting the rewarding feeling of going undefeated in an international tournament. She also encouraged fellow HBCU volleyball players to embrace similar opportunities.

beyond the competitive aspect, the trip offered a profound developmental journey for the athletes. Following the tournament, they traveled to Francistown and Kasane, where they actively engaged with the local community by conducting youth volleyball clinics and leading coaching workshops. This outreach allowed them to contribute to the sport’s advancement while serving as global ambassadors.

The student-athletes also immersed themselves in the rich culture and natural beauty of Botswana.Their itinerary included wildlife safaris at Mokolodi Game Reserve and Khama rhino Sanctuary, as well as a boat safari on the Chobe river. The journey extended to Zambia and Zimbabwe, where they had the opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, a globally recognized natural wonder.

A significant moment during their international engagement was a visit to the U.S. Embassy in Botswana. There, they met with diplomats and gained valuable insights into the role of sports diplomacy and international relations.Warren expressed her deep thankfulness for the experience, stating her gratitude for the chance to represent Hampton University on such a historic occasion. She affirmed that the journey reinforced her dedication to achieving excellence both on and off the court and deepened her pride in being a part of Hampton’s esteemed legacy.

This international tour served as a powerful testament to the athletic prowess of Shumate and Warren, while also effectively showcasing the mission and excellence of Hampton University volleyball on a global platform. Their participation marked a significant achievement for the program, fostering a renewed sense of pride throughout the Pirate Nation.

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World

Ethiopia: NDB Emerges As Alternative Financial Institution – Brazilian Ambassador

by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor
written by Lucas Fernandez โ€“ World Editor

BRICS Bank Offers Developing Nations a Vital Alternative

New Development Bank Challenges Traditional Lenders with Inclusive Model

The New Development Bank (NDB) is providing developing countries with a crucial financial alternative, according to Brazil’s Ambassador to Ethiopia. The institution offers a pathway around the limitations of established multilateral lenders.

Addressing Global Financial Constraints

Ambassador Jamdyr Ferreira Santos highlighted the persistent lack of significant reforms in conventional financial institutions. He stated that this has historically restricted both the quantity and variety of credit available to emerging economies.

โ€œIn response to these limitations, the NDB has approved more than 120 investment projects worth over 40 billion USD since its establishment,โ€ the ambassador stated. โ€œThese projects support critical sectors such as clean energy, energy efficiency, transportation, environmental protection, water supply, and infrastructure.โ€

A Political Statement Rooted in Practice

Jamdyr Ferreira Santos described the NDB as more than just an institutional achievement; he called it a profound political declaration grounded in action and principle.

โ€œRather than imposing policy conditionalities, the bank finances projects that align with the national priorities of its member states,โ€ he explained. โ€œIt operates on a governance model of equal voting rights, avoiding the reinforcement of global inequalities.โ€

โ€”Jamdyr Ferreira Santos, Brazilian Ambassador to Ethiopia

The NDB was founded in Brazil during the 2014 BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, symbolizing the commitment of emerging economies to tackle substantial financing gaps hindering sustainable development.

The bank serves as concrete proof that a more equitable global financial system is both achievable and necessary. It demonstrates that development approaches can be more inclusive and just.

The NDB’s lending is notable for its focus on sustainable development, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. For instance, in 2023, the bank committed over $5 billion to green projects alone, a significant portion of its total lending (NDB Annual Report 2023).

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Business

Africa’s Rising Consumer Market: Opportunities and Challenges

by Priya Shah โ€“ Business Editor
written by Priya Shah โ€“ Business Editor

This article discusses the potential of Africa as a future market, but also highlights the challenges and complexities involved in accessing this market.Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

Africa’s Promise:

huge Market Potential: Africa is projected to have consumption expenses exceeding $2,100 billion by 2025, driven by a large and growing population (over 1.4 billion).
 Shifting Growth Engine: The continent is moving beyond being just a source of raw materials and is increasingly relying on domestic demand as a driver of economic growth. Emerging Middle Class: A young, urban, and connected middle class is emerging, leading to changes in spending priorities.The Nuances and Challenges:

Geographic Concentration: The projected consumption figures are heavily concentrated in a few key countries.Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa alone account for over half of the total. Growth is also concentrated in about twenty key markets. Structural Weaknesses: The article points to underlying structural issues that effect the accessibility and homogeneity of the African market.
 Differentiated Economic Trajectories: Not all African economies are developing at the same pace. Some are rising while others are facing challenges.
shifting Power Dynamics: while South Africa and Nigeria have historically been dominant, East Africa and French-speaking African countries are gaining momentum, perhaps at the expense of the conventional leaders.
 Reasons for the Shift:
Southern and English West Africa: Political instability and industrial weaknesses are hindering thier recovery. Emerging Poles: Countries like Senegal (Dakar), Kenya (Nairobi), and Morocco (Casablanca) are benefiting from emergence policies, relative stability, and openness to foreign investment.
Changing Consumption Patterns:
 Food Dominance: Food remains the largest expense, consuming a meaningful portion of household budgets.
Growth in Non-Essentials: The emerging middle class is driving growth in non-essential spending, particularly in:
 Digital Financial Services: Mobile money is facilitating e-commerce, which is expected to reach 10% of retail sales in major economies by 2025.
Well-being, Beauty, and Personal Services: This sector is also experiencing significant growth, with an estimated market of $10 billion.Morocco as a Case Study:

Positive Outlook: Morocco is presented as a significant player with positive economic forecasts,driven by agricultural recovery and a stable monetary environment.
stable Purchasing Power: Contained inflation contributes to relatively stable purchasing power, supporting household expenditure.
 Economic Opening Strategy: Morocco is actively pursuing modernization of distribution channels, the growth of shopping centers and large retail, and the rise of e-commerce.
Foreign Investment: The country is attracting foreign direct investment in strategic sectors like data centers, automotive, and aeronautics, integrating itself into global value chains.
 Persistent Disparities: Despite these positive developments,Morocco,like other African nations,faces deep disparities,particularly in access to financing.

The Core Question:

The article reiterates the central question: Is this billion people truly accessible for investors and businesses? The answer, as stated at the begining, is not binary. It’s a complex landscape with significant opportunities but also considerable hurdles that require careful navigation.

In essence,the article argues that while Africa presents a compelling future market,investors and businesses need to look beyond the aggregate figures and understand the nuanced realities of geographic concentration,structural challenges,and the evolving economic and social landscapes of individual countries.

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Business

Zimbabwe Democracy: Coups, Authoritarianism, and Western Response

by Priya Shah โ€“ Business Editor
written by Priya Shah โ€“ Business Editor

Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on its key arguments and structure:

Core argument:

The central argument of this text is that Western states‘ responses to the 2017 military coup in Zimbabwe, by not labeling it in this very way and focusing on the 2018 election, inadvertently enabled the coup-makers and ZANU PF to maintain and strengthen their authoritarian system. The authors contend that this Western approach prioritized a superficial democratic process (elections) over the crucial need for military reform,which is the bedrock of Zimbabwe’s authoritarianism.Key Points and Supporting Evidence:

Initial Hope for Stability (2009-2016):
 Formation of a Government of national Unity (GNU) with Robert Mugabe (President) and Morgan Tsvangirai (Prime Minister) after a period of conflict.
Signs of progress towards political stability: new constitution (2013),no coups,increased economic stability,reduced political persecution.

The 2017 Military Coup and its Reversal:
Mugabe ousted after 37 years in power.
 The authors argue this reversed progress in accountability (vertical, horizontal, diagonal) and set Zimbabwe back towards authoritarianism.
Crucial factor: The political role of the military, aligned with ZANU PF, sustains the authoritarian system.

International Response and its Consequences:
Initial “acceptance” or “tolerance” of the coup by international actors.
 Emphasis on a “reasonably credible” post-coup election in 2018 as a condition for legitimacy and aid. Critique: This emphasis on elections downplayed the urgent need for reform of the politically entrenched military.
 Result: More authoritarian continuity than democratic change since the coup and 2018 election. Factors Strengthening ZANU PF’s Hold:
 Mass emigration: Caused by weakening accountability and political persecution, which the government worsened by exacerbating a socioeconomic crisis.
Weak opposition: contributes to ZANU PF’s ability to retain power.
 repression of civil society: Further enables ZANU PF’s authoritarianism. Critique of Existing Scholarship:
 Studies on zimbabwean politics often fail to seriously engage with the role of Western actors in sustaining ZANU PF’s authoritarianism.

Paper’s Objective:
 To analyse how Western states reacted to the 2017 coup.
To argue that Western states chose not to call it a coup for complex reasons.
 To demonstrate how these responses allowed the coup-makers and ZANU PF to evade condemnation and gain a “veneer of legitimacy” through a problematic election.

Structure of the Paper (as outlined):

  1. Ancient Overview: Provides background on Zimbabwean politics since independence, highlighting the deep roots of ZANU PF’s authoritarianism.
  2. Domestic Factors: Examines how internal issues like declining civil society and emigration contribute to ZANU PF’s longevity and authoritarianism.
  3. Western Actors’ Responses: Focuses on how Western states reacted to the 2017 coup.
  4. Final Section (Incomplete): The text cuts off before detailing the fourth section, but it’s likely to synthesize the arguments and offer conclusions or policy recommendations.

In essence, the text argues that a well-intentioned but ultimately misguided international focus on electoral processes in Zimbabwe, following the 2017 coup, allowed the underlying authoritarian structures, particularly the military’s influence, to remain intact and even strengthen.

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Health

The UN warns millions will die by 2029 if US funding for HIV programs isn’t replaced

by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor
written by Dr. Michael Lee โ€“ Health Editor

U.S. Cuts Threaten Global AIDS Fight

UN Warns of Reversal in Decades of Progress Amid Funding Crisis

A sudden halt to U.S. funding for global AIDS programs is raising alarms at the U.N., with officials warning of a potential surge in deaths and new infections if the financial lifeline isn’t restored.

Dire Predictions

The withdrawal of U.S. funds has delivered a โ€œsystemic shock,โ€ according to U.N. officials. Without replacement funding, they project over 4 million AIDS-related deaths and 6 million new HIV infections by 2029.

A new UNAIDS report indicates that funding shortfalls have โ€œalready destabilized supply chains, led to the closure of health facilities, left thousands of health clinics without staff, set back prevention programs, disrupted HIV testing efforts and forced many community organizations to reduce or halt their HIV activities.โ€

The report expressed fears that other major donors might also scale back their support, jeopardizing multilateral cooperation due to geopolitical instability, wars and climate change.

Sudden Stop

In January, $4 billion in pledged U.S. funding for the global HIV response vanished when U.S. **President Donald Trump** suspended all foreign aid and moved to close the U.S. AID agency.

**Andrew Hill**, an HIV expert at the University of Liverpool, noted that while **Trump** can allocate U.S. funds as he sees fit, a responsible government would have provided advance notice to allow affected countries to prepare.

PEPFAR’s Legacy

The U.S. Presidentโ€™s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, launched in 2003 by **President George W. Bush**, represented the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease.

UNAIDS described PEPFAR as a โ€œlifelineโ€ for nations with high HIV rates, supporting testing for 84.1 million people and treatment for 20.6 million. In Nigeria, PEPFAR funded 99.9% of the countryโ€™s HIV prevention medicine budget.

**Angeli Achrekar**, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General and UNAIDS deputy executive director, mentioned that the program is under review by the **Trump** administration, with Secretary of State **Marco Rubio** issuing a waiver to continue life-saving treatment.

โ€œThe extent to which it will continue in the future, we donโ€™t know,โ€ she stated, expressing cautious hope that PEPFAR will continue supporting prevention and treatment services.

The Unfillable Void

In 2024, approximately 630,000 AIDS-related deaths occurred worldwide, according to UNAIDS. This figure has remained steady since 2022, following a peak of 2 million deaths in 2004.

Even prior to the U.S. funding cuts, progress in curbing HIV was inconsistent, with half of all new infections occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.

**Tom Ellman** of Doctors Without Borders asserted that while some poorer nations are increasing their investment in HIV programs, they cannot compensate for the loss of U.S. support.

โ€œThere’s nothing we can do that will protect these countries from the sudden, vicious withdrawal of support from the U.S.,โ€ said **Ellman**.

Experts also worry about the loss of HIV surveillance data in African countries, which was primarily funded by the U.S. According to Dr. **Chris Beyrer**, director of the Global Health Institute at Duke University, this includes hospital, patient, and electronic records.

โ€œWithout reliable data about how HIV is spreading, it will be incredibly hard to stop it,โ€ he said.

Hopeful Developments

New hope has emerged in the form of a twice-yearly injectable that many hope could end HIV. Studies indicate that the drug from Gilead was 100% effective in preventing the virus.

At a launch event, South Africa’s health minister **Aaron Motsoaledi** pledged to ensure access to the drug for every adolescent girl who needs it, noting the past dependence upon U.S. aid was โ€œscary.โ€

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug, called Yeztugo, last month. However, the pricing from Gilead may place it beyond reach for many countries.

While Gilead will sell generic versions in 120 poor countries with high HIV rates, it has excluded nearly all of Latin America, where rates are rising. Meanwhile, in the United States, the CDC estimates that 13% of people with HIV are unaware of their infection (CDC.gov, 2024).

โ€œWe could be ending AIDS,” said **Peter Maybarduk** of Public Citizen. โ€œInstead, the U.S. is abandoning the fight.โ€

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