Tax Justice Network Africa’s Post

DAY 62: RWANDA Throughout the course of this policy journey, I have tried to remain stoic, hopeful and composed. Today I am angry. I am angry because I can see the fear in people's eyes and messages. Will I be sent to Rwanda? This government is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to expel people. The policy makes no economic sense, everyone knows that. But morally - can you imagine sending someone to a country they have never been to straight after they have just run for their lives? It is the most cruel and upsetting thing I have seen since Grenfell. The policy is a system which will harm innocent people's lives. It will strike fear into people's spines. It will pick people out at random and subject them to life-changing consequences. Families will be separated and futures will be destroyed. It is organised, state-sponsored forced migration. It is also a symbol of the total abdication of the UK Government from the institution of refugee protection. The worst part of the policy is simply this: for what? What is the point of this policy? There is no evidence whatsover that policies with a logic of deterrance actually work. So the answer can only be political point-scoring. This horrible arrangement exists to win a few votes in an election which is overdue and in the views of many, a foregone conclusion. This is how far we have come on the journey of dehamunisation - which will always say more about those doing the dehumanising than anyone else. I am not usually political but this policy is too far. It is cruel, it makes no sense and it casts shame on this country. See you tomorrow.

The $13.78 cost to replace an ID in Uganda is 8 days' earnings for someone living on $1.77/day. Add travel and access issues, and the burden is unbearable. This financial strain must be addressed! Explore our full findings:http://bit.ly/uwidpp24 #UgandaID #NdagaMuntu

Over the past two decades, Africa has faced rising violent conflict and civil unrest, deepening extreme poverty. Our research on Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Programme shows it can reduce civil unrest by increasing trust in the government. Can social assistance programs break the cycle of poverty and foster peace? Read more from the paper: https://go.unu.edu/Pp0Oq

The first of a series of Blog posts of what a Union of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe is LIVE 🔴 This idea of such a Union lives rent-free in my head and I decided to write about it. For this first Blog post, I merely look at the numbers. Share, share your thoughts, and link to the blog post below 👇👇👇 https://lnkd.in/dkg3Qdxq

Just a few quick thoughts on the UK's passing of the Rwanda bill in terms of security. Impact on the security situation of the UK: I certainly believe that whilest this bill will cause some upheaval, there is little doubt that it will reduce risk and have a net positive impact on the UK's homeland security situation. The UK government will just have to carefully manage the operational security and logistics of carrying out the action carefully. Impact on the security situation of Rwanda: The Rwandan security establishment is going to have to really be on top of this. There is plenty of room for collapse of social cohesion if they drop the ball here and given the countries history, this would not be good. Having performed a security role in Rwanda a number of times over the last few years, I have found their police to be very professional and the country to be extremely safe. Granted, my experience has been limited to Kigali and therefore may not give me a complete picture. Rwanda is an exceptionally well run country with a lot of potential. I have no doubt they will rise to the challenge of the administrative and legal issues. The challenge here however, is going to be careful surveillance and very good social integration measures. The ideological differences between the local Rwandan population and the incoming asylum seekers are substantial. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

The European Commission’s Serbia 2024 report was another missed opportunity to start fact-based communication on the effects of the support of the EU taxpayers to people affected by energy poverty. The facts in this report and other recent communication materials are wrong. It is possible to use the old saying and state „so much worse for the facts“. But then, it is also so much worse for the vulnerable groups. And everyone else, since it is in public interest, that goes beyond humanity, to support them. Here is a message to each one of us participating in creating the EU support to Serbia, but primarily to those accountable to the EU taxpayers: “Please be better at how you support the energy poor in Serbia”. It matters. https://lnkd.in/dcCDXD2h

𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 Youth protests across Africa, including in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, are increasingly linked to high national debt and governance issues. In Kenya, demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024, which proposed steep tax hikes to manage debt, have evolved into broader demands for better governance. Despite shelving the bill and reshuffling the Cabinet, President William Ruto's government faces ongoing unrest. Experts like Jason Braganza from Afrodad point to unsustainable borrowing and lack of transparency as key issues fueling these protests. With Kenya's debt at Ksh10.3 trillion and Uganda's soaring to Ush96.1 trillion, the public outcry reflects deep frustration over economic mismanagement and corruption. In Nigeria, protests fueled by hashtags such as #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria and #EndBadGovernance2024 target President Bola Tinubu’s administration for similar issues. The UN warns that excessive debt servicing is stifling essential services and development efforts. What steps can African governments take to address these concerns and ensure sustainable economic growth? Share your thoughts below! #YouthProtests #AfricanDebt #Governance #EconomicJustice #Transparency #EndBadGovernance #Nigeria #Kenya #Uganda #Africa

Here is part of the State of Nation address delivered by State President His Excellency Dr Lazarus Chakwera. As he concluded his address, he called for seriousness in dealing with the state Malawi is in, focusing on priorities such as #foodsecurity, #wealthcreation and #EmploymentCreation. #youthvoicesonsona #youthdevelopmentfinancing #youthdevelopmentagenda #YouthSpeakForum #budget2024ipatsemoto

Shaping the Future of Civil Society: The NGO Bill 2024 Debate🚨 This week’s #NewsFlash unpacks the controversial NGO Bill 2024, sparking debate across Zambia's civil society sector. While it aims to promote transparency, concerns about freedom, self-regulation and government oversight loom large. Is this Bill a path to progress or a threat to democracy? Dive into the discussion: https://lnkd.in/d8nit9AZ #CivilSociety #NGOBill2024 #Transparency