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EU, Tunisia Sign Partnership Deal to Combat People Trafficking
The European Union and Tunisia Monday signed a partnership deal aimed at combating people trafficking and improving border management.
The deal, which was announced in Tunis by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed, includes commitments to increase cooperation on search and rescue operations, improve the detection and dismantling of human trafficking networks, and strengthen border security.
The pact comes at a time when Tunisia is facing a growing migrant crisis. In recent years, the country has become a major departure point for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. In 2022, more than 30,000 migrants reached Italy from Tunisia, a significant increase from previous years.
The new partnership deal will see the EU provide €100 million in aid to Tunisia, which will be used to support border security, improve the management of migration flows, and provide assistance to migrants.
The deal has been welcomed by some as a positive step in the fight against people trafficking and the management of migration flows. However, others have expressed concerns about the deal’s potential impact on democracy and human rights in Tunisia. President Saïed has been accused of consolidating power and undermining democratic institutions in the country. In recent months, there have been reports of racist violence against black Africans in Tunisia, following controversial comments from President Saïed about the country’s demographics. The EU said that the deal is conditional on respect for democracy and the rule of law in Tunisia.
Chinese national convicted of child exploitation in Malawi, ordered to leave country
Lu Ke, a Chinese national, was found guilty of procuring children to take part in entertainment and racially exploiting them in Malawi. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, which he has already served, and ordered to leave the country within seven days and never return.
Lu Ke, also known as Susu, was arrested in July 2021 after he was exposed in a BBC Africa Eye investigation. The investigation revealed that he was filming local children making personalized greeting videos, some of which included racist content. The videos could be bought for up to $70 on Chinese social media and internet platforms.
When news of his offensive videos broke, Lu Ke fled to neighbouring Zambia. He was then detained in Zambia and convicted of entering the country illegally before later being extradited to Malawi.
The case against Lu Ke did not immediately start as authorities said they were still carrying out investigations. Lu Ke was denied bail and remained in police custody until his sentencing on Thursday.
The court was told that Lu Ke had already paid 16,000 kwacha (about $1,600) to the government of Malawi. The money is supposed to be used as compensation for his victims and for helping school children in the area of Njewa on the outskirts of Lilongwe, where Lu Ke made the videos.
Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe sentenced Lu Ke to 12 months in prison, which he has already served since he had been held in police custody for the past year. Michongwe also ordered Lu Ke “to leave the country within seven days and to never return to Malawi”.
Putin to skip BRICS summit in South Africa next month
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS summit in South Africa next month, following a “mutual” agreement between the two countries.
The decision comes after South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said Tuesday that any attempt to arrest Putin would be seen as a declaration of war by Russia.
Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes committed during the invasion of Ukraine, and South Africa is a signatory to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC.
As a result of the agreement, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent the country at the summit instead. However, Putin will still participate in the summit by video link.
The BRICS summit is an annual meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The grouping is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies. The BRICS summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from August 26-27, 2023.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
South Africa has said that it will abide by its obligations under the Rome Statute, but it has also said that it will not act unilaterally against Putin.
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